@DonGiovanni Why not? It's still only a small frontier noble family, with no particularly impressive cultivators. The whole city has degenerated, so it makes sense they were more powerful in the past, but, nevertheless, they weren't big and strong enough to establish a position better than they have now, unlike the three big families or even the other noble families that rule the core of the city (like Ning'er's family, whatever it was called).
@Kaarme well yeah, Nie Li said at some point that his family had a rich history, but that might have been a bluff, who knows. But this founder guy should know the legacy of heavenly marks, no? That's why I said it was strange.. and it's not like he knows their current state.
Something concerning the novel, but doesn't tell you anything unless you're up to date with it:
Tbh though, I've lost all faith in Mad Snail with the most recent novel chapters... It has been on the decline for a long time, but he forgot major plot points and basically repeated something that had already happened. He's lost all credibility with me...