Almost at the same time, on the other side.
"Father, Mother, that was basically what happened." Fang Zheng stood ramrod straight and spoke respectfully.
In the hall, Fang Yuan's Uncle, Gu Yue Dong Tu, and Aunt sat in wide-backed chairs, both frowning.
Aunt ground her teeth. On one hand, she sought justice for Fang Zheng; on the other, she could not help gloating. "That little bastard Fang Yuan, it would have been one thing if he only extorted others, but who would have thought he would not even spare his own younger brother? How utterly heartless and unrighteous! Still, after committing such a grave mistake this time, he will probably be expelled from the academy before long."
"Enough, say no more." Uncle sighed, then turned to Fang Zheng. "You lost a Primeval Stone, but it was only one, so it is no great matter. Go to the accounts office and collect another. There is nothing more for you here; go back and cultivate properly. With your A-grade Aptitude, it is highly likely that you will become the first middle-stage Gu Master. Do not squander your talent. Your mother and I are both looking forward to seeing you take first place."
"Yes, Father, Mother. Your son will take his leave." With a heart full of worries, Fang Zheng withdrew.
He secretly pondered, Brother blocked the academy gates today and robbed every student. The impact was so vile that he may truly be expelled. When that time comes, should I plead for him?
Two voices clashed in his mind.
One voice said, "There is no need to plead for him. He even wanted to rob his own younger brother of his Primeval Stone. If he is expelled, he will only have himself to blame. Heaven's sins may still be forgiven, but one who sins against oneself cannot live!"
The other voice said, "But he is your biological elder brother. You share similar faces, and blood is thicker than water. Fine, even if you refuse to acknowledge him, you must still plead for him. If you do not, what will outsiders think of you? They will surely see you as heartless and unrighteous."
Watching Fang Zheng leave the hall, Aunt could no longer hold herself back. She said happily, "Master, after we cut off Fang Yuan's living expenses, that little bastard could not endure it and committed a huge blunder this time! He actually dared to fight publicly at the academy gates and extort people. That is a challenge to the Academy Elder! I'd say his expulsion is nine chances out of ten."
But uncle shook his head. "You are making this matter too simple. Fang Yuan will not be expelled. He may not even receive any punishment."
"Why?" Aunt was utterly bewildered.
Uncle sneered. "Fighting is encouraged, as long as it does not lead to serious consequences. Did any students die in this fight? No."
Aunt was somewhat unconvinced. "How does Master know that no one died? Accidents always happen in fights."
Uncle closed his eyes and leaned against the chair back. "You foolish woman, you are simply too naïve. Do you truly think the Academy Elder is merely decoration? When did the guards act? They only acted at the end, which showed that the situation had remained under control. If anyone had been seriously injured, they would have rushed out long ago instead of waiting until the end."
"You are not a Gu Master, so you would not understand. The academy does not prohibit disputes between students; it even encourages them. The more they fight, the more it helps them in battle. Some students can even forge friendships as solid as iron through fighting. The elders will not pursue this matter either. It has long been the established custom. Whoever tries to protect their calf and step forward will be the one breaking the rules."
Aunt stared blankly as she listened, then said unwillingly, "So Fang Yuan robbed such a huge pile of Primeval Stones, and nothing happens to him at all? We are just letting him off like this? With so many Primeval Stones, it will help his cultivation tremendously."
Uncle opened his eyes, his face full of gloom. "What else can we do? Do you want me to go over and personally rob his Primeval Stones back? Still, this matter is not without use. Fang Yuan even robbed and extorted his younger brother Fang Zheng—this is his fatal mistake. Fang Zheng has A-grade Aptitude. One day, he will surpass Fang Yuan, and we can use this incident to drive a wedge between them. We will make Fang Zheng completely distance himself from Fang Yuan and use him for ourselves!"
And so, three days passed.
The uproar over Fang Yuan's robbery and extortion did not spread or blow up. Instead, it gradually showed signs of settling down.
No elders came personally to trouble Fang Yuan and break the rules, while the Academy Elder naturally turned a blind eye.
During this time, two or three youths had been unwilling to accept having their Primeval Stones forcibly taken and challenged Fang Yuan again.
But after Fang Yuan effortlessly knocked them flat, everyone realized that unless they diligently trained their fists and kicks, they could not defeat Fang Yuan.
Among these youths, a wave of fervent training in basic fist and kick techniques swept through the group.
The Punch and Kick Instructor was overjoyed. He had never seen a class of students so passionate and persistent about basic fist and kick techniques. When he taught in the past, the students had all been listless and yawning endlessly. Now, their eyes shone brightly as they constantly sought his instruction.
The Academy Elder specifically came to ask about the situation on his side.
With excitement in his voice, the Punch and Kick Instructor reported, "The students have displayed an unexpected enthusiasm. Their change has been tremendous. Only one among them, a student named Fang Yuan, remains as lazy and slack as before."
The Academy Elder laughed and patted his shoulder. "The student you mentioned is the source of the changes in everyone else."
The Punch and Kick Instructor was astonished and confused.
Of course, the changes went far beyond this.
After this incident, Fang Yuan had undoubtedly become the public enemy of all the students, hated and isolated by everyone.
No one spoke a word to him anymore, and no one greeted him.
Every youth strained with all their might, secretly and diligently training their basic fists and kicks. Encouraged and instructed by the elders behind them, they had already decided that they must personally win back their dignity.
Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents surged turbulently.
Another four days passed.
The Academy Elder distributed the Primeval Stone subsidies again, and it was time for Fang Yuan to act once more.
"Fang Yuan, robbing us once was not enough? You still want to rob our Primeval Stones?!" The students were blocked at the door by Fang Yuan again, shocked and furious.
Fang Yuan stood in the center of the gate, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was cold, and his tone calm. "One Primeval Stone per person, and you may avoid the pain of flesh and blood."
"Fang Yuan, you have gone too far in bullying others. I challenge you!" Gu Yue Mo Bei roared and was the first to step forward.
"Oh?" Fang Yuan's brow rose slightly.
Mo Bei raised his fists and charged forward. A few exchanges later, he collapsed unconscious on the ground.
"Mo Bei, you are too useless. Watch me!" Gu Yue Chi Cheng shouted and rushed toward Fang Yuan.
After the attack and defense shifted a bit, he followed in Mo Bei's footsteps.
Fang Yuan's combat experience exceeded theirs by tens of millions of times. Though he had only just begun cultivating, every shred of his strength was used at precisely the right moment.
These youths had only just started. If they had swarmed him together, they might have brought him a small amount of trouble. But challenging him one by one was even easier than the first robbery.
A quarter of an hour later, he left leisurely with a bulging money pouch. Behind him lay youths scattered all over the ground—some unconscious and utterly motionless, others clutching their stomachs or covering their crotches as they groaned and wailed.
"Brothers, hurry and clean up the scene!" the guards shouted as they surged forward.
Before you continue