Near dusk, the setting sun at the horizon was red as blood.
The lingering glow shone over the academy. More than fifty students sat upright and proper while the Academy Elder called out names one by one from the platform, handing out subsidies.
This was the primeval stone subsidy distributed by the academy every seven days, considered aid for these youths. After all, with their strength, raising Gu insects on their own placed considerable financial pressure on them.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan," the elder called.
Fang Yuan rose from his seat by the window in the last row, walked onto the platform, and accepted two money pouches.
One pouch contained the lineage subsidy of three primeval stones. The other contained a reward of ten primeval stones.
"Work hard." The elder gave Fang Yuan a long, searching look. Fang Yuan had taken first place twice in a row, drawing a sliver of attention even from the elder, who had already given up on him.
Fang Yuan nodded, tucked the pouches into his robes, and returned to his seat.
"Damn it, he took first again..." Gu Yue Mo Chen stared hard at Fang Yuan, feeling deeply resentful.
"Those two moonblades struck the puppet's neck in succession. Did he step in dog shit again, or was that his true strength?" Gu Yue Chi Cheng narrowed his eyes. Since the assessment had ended, this question had continued to circle in his mind.
He was not the only one. Many students glanced at Fang Yuan, whether deliberately or not.
The question tormented them. Though they had lost, they were unwilling to accept it and desperately wanted to get to the bottom of it.
As the session was about to end, the Academy Elder announced something. "You have been at the academy for some time now, and you are familiar with using your Destined Gu. In the days ahead, I will teach you how to nourish your aperture and raise a Gu Master's cultivation realm. The higher a Gu Master's realm, the more condensed their true essence. Rank 1 Gu Masters possess Bronze True Essence, Rank 2 Gu Masters possess Red Iron True Essence, and Rank 3 Gu Masters possess Silver True Essence. One portion of Red Iron True Essence is worth ten portions of Bronze True Essence. Likewise, one portion of Silver True Essence is worth ten portions of Red Iron True Essence!"
"You must remember that Gu insects are merely tools for us to use. Cultivation is the foundation of us Gu Masters. Only with higher cultivation can you command more powerful Gu insects. Within the next three months, whoever is first to be promoted to Rank 1 Mid Stage will receive a reward of thirty primeval stones and priority in choosing a second Gu insect. Three months from now, based on your results, we will appoint one class leader and two deputy class leaders. The class leader will receive a subsidy of ten primeval stones, while the deputy class leaders' primeval stone subsidies will rise to five stones! That is all for today. You are dismissed."
The elder's words set the academy buzzing.
"They're appointing a class leader and deputy class leaders!" Someone clenched his fist excitedly.
"The class leader gets ten primeval stones every seven days, and even deputy class leaders get five? If I can be the first to advance to Rank 1 Mid Stage, I'll definitely become class leader." Someone's eyes gleamed.
"Primeval stones aren't the key. Positions like class leader and deputy class leader represent honor, and their status would stand above everyone else's. Ordinary students would have to bow and greet the class leader." Gu Yue Mo Bei, Chi Cheng, and the others did not lack primeval stones; what they valued was this honor.
"Becoming class leader—that's right, I must be the first to advance to Rank 1 Mid Stage! Then when Brother sees me in the future, he'll have to bow and greet me first. Wait, where's Brother?" Gu Yue Fang Zheng instinctively turned around, only to find Fang Yuan's seat already empty.
The students left the academy one after another.
"Where is Gu Yue Fang Yuan?" Gu Yue Mo Bei wanted to find Fang Yuan and demand an explanation face to face. But Fang Yuan had already left ahead of them.
"Hmph, he ran quite fast. Was he scared? It seems he stepped in dog shit again during today's assessment." Gu Yue Chi Cheng sneered.
"Forget it. It's only a reward of ten primeval stones, no need to care about such things. The top priority is advancing to the mid stage and seizing the class leader's position." Gu Yue Mo Bei narrowed his eyes and looked at Gu Yue Chi Cheng and Gu Yue Fang Zheng beside him.
Those two were his true opponents. As for Fang Yuan, mere C-grade Aptitude would not do.
"Fang Yuan got first place by luck in the first two rounds. But this time, the cultivation assessment only emphasizes cultivation aptitude. With aptitude one grade higher, the advantage is enormous." Gu Yue Chi Cheng suppressed his frustration. His true aptitude was only C-grade; it was only through cheating that he had created the illusion of B-grade aptitude.
"One class leader and two deputy class leader positions are enough to make them roll up their sleeves and flex their fists. What a hot-blooded, naïve age." Fang Yuan leaned against the academy gate, sneering inwardly.
So-called honor was merely a value-based tool used by those above to stir the enthusiasm of those below. At its root, it was just an illusory halo. What fucking use did it have?
Five hundred years of life experience had long since made Fang Yuan understand the mystery within.
"Whether it is a lineage, a sect, or a demonic cult; whether it is this world or Earth, every organization is the same. They establish ranks, clarify promotion rules, and make those within the organization climb endlessly from low positions upward. Pursuing profit is human nature, while authority often gives people the illusion that they stand above others, that their lives hold greater value than ordinary people's."
"The two words 'power and authority' are like a carrot dangling before a donkey's nose. People's desires are stirred by it, and one after another, they scheme and scramble for it. After climbing one rung, there is always another higher rung. Yet they do not realize that while scheming and scrambling, their labor is squeezed dry, and the value they produce is exploited by those above."
"Every organization, so long as it has a hierarchy of command, serves those above. So-called class leaders and deputy class leaders are merely the smallest carrots, luring everyone else into the lineage's system. To prevent those below from seeing through this truth, those above often unify values, define concepts such as honor and merit, establish ranks of authority and unequal benefits, or use religion to rule people's hearts."
"This was the truth. Unfortunately, most people in the world did not understand it. Like fools, they sold their strength and their lives for others. And at the deepest root, every organization in the world had only one essence—resource redistribution. The higher the level, the more resources it enjoyed."
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had founded the Blood Wing Demonic Cult in Central Continent, with tens of thousands of followers. He had established ranks such as Demonic Soldier, Demonic General, and Demonic Commander, granting corresponding benefits that made countless people flock to him like ducks. They became tools for Fang Yuan to command. That experience had let him see these principles straight through to the core.
"Therefore, every organization is merely an outward appearance. At the true root, there are only two words—resources. Without food resources, one starves to death. Without water resources, one dies of thirst. Without cultivation resources, one becomes weak and will sooner or later be bullied to death."
"And primeval stones are the foremost resource for a Gu Master's cultivation!" Fang Yuan's eyes were deep as shadowed pools. At this thought, the corners of his lips rose slightly, forming a hint of cold laughter.
He had left the academy early. Now he stood at the academy gate, watching the first group of students emerge and gradually approach him.
"It's Fang Yuan."
"What is he doing, blocking the middle of the gate?"
"Hmph, every time I see that dead arrogant look of his, it irritates me."
"Don't mind him. He's probably waiting for someone."
The youths paid him no mind and were about to walk past when Fang Yuan stepped sideways and blocked them. "Robbery. Hand over one primeval stone each before you may leave."
Before you continue