Gu Yue Fang Yuan

The morning sun rose, its rosy clouds brilliant and radiant.

The mountain mist was not very thick, easily pierced through by sunlight sharp as a sword.

More than a hundred fifteen-year-old youths had gathered before the Patriarch's Pavilion.

The Patriarch's Pavilion stood at the very center of the village. Five stories tall, with upturned eaves and raised corners, it was heavily guarded. Before it lay a plaza, while within were enshrined the memorial tablets of the Gu Yue ancestors. Every generation of clan leaders also lived here. Whenever there was a major ceremony or an unexpected emergency, the Clan Elders would be summoned here to discuss matters. This was the power center of the entire village.

"Very good, you all arrived on time. Today is the Aperture Opening Ceremony, a major turning point in your lives. No more idle chatter. Follow me." The one in charge of this trip was the Academy Elder. His hair and beard were entirely white, yet he was vigorous and spirited as he led the youths into the Patriarch's Pavilion.

However, they did not go upstairs. Instead, they passed through the entrance of the first-floor hall and headed down.

Following the carved stone stairs, they entered an underground cavern.

The youths cried out in wonder. The underground cavern was exquisite beyond compare; stalactites emitted seven-colored radiance—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. The light reflected across the youths' faces, dazzling as neon.

Fang Yuan stood mingled among the crowd, quietly surveying everything as he pondered inwardly, Several hundred years ago, the Gu Yue Clan migrated from the Central Continent to the Southern Border and settled on Qing Mao Mountain. They had set their eyes on the spirit spring within this underground cavern. That spirit spring produces vast quantities of Primeval Stones; it can be said to be the foundation of Gu Yue village.

After several hundred paces, the surroundings grew increasingly dark, and they could faintly hear the sound of water.

After turning a corner, an underground river over three zhang wide appeared before them.

The colorful glow of the stalactites had completely vanished here.

Yet in the darkness, the river water gave off a faint, ghostly blue radiance, like the Milky Way in the night sky.

The water flowed from the cavern's dark depths, crystal clear. They could even see the fish, aquatic plants, and sand and stones at the riverbed.

On the opposite bank lay a sea of flowers.

These were Moon Orchid flowers deliberately cultivated by the Gu Yue Clan. Their petals resembled crescent moons, an elegant and delicate blue-pink. Their stems were like jade, while their centers sparkled with the gentle luster of pearls refracting light.

At first glance, against the dark backdrop, the sea of flowers by the riverbank looked like a vast blue-green carpet studded with countless pearls.

"Moon Orchid flowers are food for many Gu insects. This flower sea can be called the clan's largest cultivation base." Fang Yuan knew this perfectly well.

"So beautiful."

"They really are gorgeous."

The youths had truly broadened their horizons. Their eyes shone as they were both excited and nervous.

"Alright, listen as I call the names. Those called are to cross this river and go to the other bank. Walk as far as you can—naturally, the farther the better. Do you understand?" the elder said.

"Understood." The youths responded one after another. Before coming here, they had all heard from family members or elders that the farther one could walk, the better one's aptitude, and the greater one's future achievements would be.

"Gu Yue Chen Bo." Holding the list, the elder called out the first name.

Though the river was wide, it was not deep, reaching only the youth's knees. Chen Bo wore a solemn expression as he stepped onto the flower-covered bank.

At once, he felt an invisible pressure, as though an unseen wall stood before him, blocking his advance.

Just as he was struggling to move forward, a cluster of light motes suddenly rose from the flowers by his feet. The motes were sparse and pale white.

The light gathered toward Chen Bo and entered his body.

Chen Bo instantly felt the pressure lessen greatly. That invisible wall suddenly became soft.

He gritted his teeth and pushed forward with all his strength, forcibly squeezing through. After taking three steps, the pressure ahead surged once more, solid as a wall just as before. He could not advance even an inch.

Seeing this, the elder sighed. As he recorded the result, he said, "Gu Yue Chen Bo, three steps, no Gu Master aptitude. Next, Gu Yue Zao Xie."

Chen Bo's face immediately turned pale. Gritting his teeth, he crossed the river and returned to where he had stood. Without aptitude, he could only live as a mortal in the future, occupying only the lowest position within the clan.

His body swayed as if he might collapse. The blow was too great; it was tantamount to strangling all hope from his life.

Many people cast sympathetic looks at him, but even more were focused on the second youth who had reached the opposite bank.

Unfortunately, that youth could only advance four steps. He too had no aptitude.

Not everyone possessed the aptitude for cultivation. Generally speaking, it was already good if five out of ten people could cultivate. Within the Gu Yue clan, that proportion was somewhat higher, reaching six out of ten.

This was because the Gu Yue ancestor—the first-generation clan leader—had been a legendary powerhouse of great renown. Due to his cultivation, his bloodline contained genes capable of bearing power. Since the Gu Yue clansmen carried his bloodline, their aptitudes were generally higher.

The consecutive appearance of two youths without aptitude made the other Clan Elders watching in secret look grim. Even the mature and steady Gu Yue Clan Leader slightly furrowed his brow.

At that moment, the Academy Elder called the third name. "Gu Yue Mo Bei."

"Here!" A horse-faced youth dressed in rough hemp clothes gave a low shout and stepped out from the crowd.

He was tall and far sturdier than others his age, exuding a trace of fierce vigor.

He crossed the river in a few strides and stepped onto the opposite bank.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps—faint glimmers entered his body one after another.

He kept walking until the thirty-sixth step, where he finally could not move any farther.

The youths on the other side stared dumbfoundedly. The Academy Elder cried out joyfully, "Good! Gu Yue Mo Bei, B-grade Aptitude! Come here and let me inspect your primeval sea."

Gu Yue Mo Bei returned to the Academy Elder's side. The latter reached out and placed a hand on the youth's shoulder. After closing his eyes and concentrating to inspect him, he withdrew his hand, nodded, and recorded on the paper, "Gu Yue Mo Bei, primeval sea at sixty-six percent. Worthy of vigorous cultivation."

Aptitude was divided into four grades from highest to lowest: A, B, C, and D.

A youth with D-grade Aptitude could, after three years of cultivation, advance to become an experienced Rank 1 Gu Master and serve as a foundation stone of the clan.

A youth with C-grade Aptitude could, after two years of cultivation, mostly become a Rank 2 Gu Master and form the clan's backbone.

A youth with B-grade Aptitude had to be carefully nurtured. They were often raised as future Clan Elders, and after six or seven years, could become Rank 3 Gu Masters.

As for A-grade Aptitude, even the appearance of one was the fortune of the entire clan. They had to be carefully attended to and given preferential resources. In around ten years, they could become Rank 4 Gu Masters, and by then they would be qualified to contend for the position of clan leader!

In other words, once Gu Yue Mo Bei grew up, he would become a Clan Elder of the Gu Yue Clan. No wonder the Academy Elder laughed aloud in delight, while the Clan Elders secretly observing all let out sighs of relief before casting envious looks toward one particular elder.

That elder also had a horse-shaped face. He was Gu Yue Mo Chen, Gu Yue Mo Bei's grandfather. His face had long since blossomed into a smile, and he cast a provocative glance at his old rival. "Well? My grandson isn't bad, is he, Gu Yue Chi Lian?"

Elder Gu Yue Chi Lian had a head of red hair. He merely snorted coldly without replying, his expression dark and ugly.

Half an hour later, half the youths had already stepped through the flower sea. Quite a few C-grade and D-grade aptitudes had emerged, though those with no aptitude at all accounted for nearly half.

"Alas, the bloodline is growing thinner and thinner. In recent years, the clan has not produced many Rank 4 powerhouses to strengthen the bloodline either. The fourth-generation clan leader was the only rank 5 powerhouse, yet he perished together with the Flower Wine Wanderer and left behind no Bloodline Descendant. The aptitude of the Gu Yue Clan's younger generations is becoming weaker and weaker." The clan leader sighed deeply.

At that moment, the Academy Elder called out, "Gu Yue Chi Cheng."

Upon hearing that name, the Clan Elders all looked toward Gu Yue Chi Lian. This was Gu Yue Chi Lian's grandson.

Gu Yue Chi Cheng was short and covered in pockmarks. His fists were clenched, sweat covered his face, and he looked exceptionally nervous.

He stepped onto the opposite bank, and light motes entered his body in succession. He walked all the way to the thirty-sixth step before stopping.

"Another B-grade!" the Academy Elder shouted.

The youths stirred, casting envious looks at Gu Yue Chi Cheng.

"Hahaha, thirty-six steps, thirty-six steps!" Gu Yue Chi Lian shouted, glaring at Gu Yue Mo Chen in a display of provocation.

This time, Gu Yue Mo Chen's face turned livid.

"Gu Yue Chi Cheng..." Amid the crowd, Fang Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

In his memories, Gu Yue Chi Cheng had cheated during the Aperture Opening Ceremony and received severe punishment from the clan.

In fact, his aptitude was only C-grade. But his grandfather, Gu Yue Chi Lian, had falsified the results, creating the illusion that he possessed B-grade Aptitude.

As for cheating, Fang Yuan had dozens of methods in mind, some of them even more flawless than Gu Yue Chi Cheng's. If he displayed B-grade or A-grade Aptitude, he would certainly receive the clan's vigorous cultivation.

But first, Fang Yuan had been reborn too recently. Given his circumstances, it was difficult for him to prepare any means of cheating.

Second, even if he succeeded in cheating, his cultivation speed in the future could not be concealed. He would still be exposed.

But Gu Yue Chi Cheng was different. His grandfather was Gu Yue Chi Lian, one of the two most powerful Clan Elders in the clan, capable of covering for him.

"Gu Yue Chi Lian has always been hostile toward Gu Yue Mo Chen. These two Clan Elders lead the clan's two greatest factions. In order to suppress his opponent, he needs his grandson to possess outstanding aptitude. It is precisely because he shields him from behind the scenes that Gu Yue Chi Cheng can conceal it for a time. In my memories, if not for that accident, he would not have been exposed."

A sharp gleam flickered in Fang Yuan's eyes as he considered how to use this matter to seize the greatest benefit.

Exposing him on the spot might earn him a small reward from the clan, but it would offend the high-ranking and powerful Gu Yue Chi Lian. It was absolutely inadvisable.

Nor could he blackmail him in the short term. His strength was too low; he would only bring disaster upon himself.

Just as he was pondering, he suddenly heard the Academy Elder call his name. "Gu Yue Fang Yuan!"