The Road Ahead Will Be Brilliant

The aperture was extraordinarily profound. Although it was housed within Fang Yuan's body, it didn't share the same space as his internal organs. You could say it was infinitely large, or infinitely small.

Some called it the Purple Mansion, others the Brilliant Pool. However, most referred to it as the Primordial Sea Aperture.

The entire aperture was spherical, its surface shimmering with a white light, a film of light. This was the condensed layer of light from the previous explosion of the Hope Gu.

It was precisely because of this light film that the aperture was supported and prevented from collapsing.

Within the aperture, naturally, was the Primordial Sea.

The sea's surface was smooth as a mirror, a vibrant azure color, yet incredibly dense, possessing a metallic sheen.

This was the condensation of Bronze True Essence, unique to a Rank 1 Gu Master, commonly known as the Bronze Sea.

The sea level was less than half the aperture's height, only at forty-four percent. This was the limitation of a Grade C aptitude.

Every drop of this sea water was True Essence, representing the condensation of Fang Yuan's spirit, energy, and mind, symbolizing the life potential he had accumulated over fifteen years.

Gu Masters used this True Essence to activate Gu worms. In other words, from this moment on, Fang Yuan had officially entered the ranks of a Rank 1 Gu Master.

The aperture had opened, and no more Hope Gu flowed into Fang Yuan's body.

Fang Yuan withdrew his focus, feeling only a dense, wall-like pressure ahead, unable to advance further.

"Just like in my past life." He smiled indifferently at this outcome.

"Can't go any further?" the Academy Elder called out from the other side, holding onto a one-in-ten-thousand hope.

Fang Yuan turned and walked back directly, answering him with his actions.

At this, even the young boys reacted.

Suddenly, with a buzzing sound, the crowd erupted.

"What? Fang Yuan walked twenty-seven steps?"

"So he only has Grade C aptitude?!"

"Unbelievable, he's so talented, yet only Grade C?"

A huge wave of shock swept through the crowd.

"Brother..." Amidst the throng, Gu Yue Fang Zheng looked up, staring in disbelief at Fang Yuan, who was returning from crossing the river. He couldn't believe what he was seeing – his brother only had Grade C aptitude?

He had always believed his brother would have Grade A aptitude.

No, not just him; his uncle, aunt, and many in the clan had thought the same.

But now, this was the result!

"Damn it, only Grade C!" Gu Yue Clan Leader clenched his fists tightly, sighing deeply, his disappointment evident.

The elders watching from the shadows either frowned, lowered their heads to whisper, or sighed to the heavens.

"Could the test be wrong?"

"How is that possible? This method is incredibly accurate, and we were watching the entire time. Cheating would be difficult."

"But then, how do we explain his previous performance and talent?"

"It's true that youths with higher Primordial Sea aptitude often exhibit traits beyond the ordinary, such as intelligence, comprehension, memory, strength, agility, and so on. However, conversely, these traits don't necessarily indicate high aptitude. Everything must be based on the test results."

"Alas, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. The Gu Yue clan is declining generation by generation."

The icy river water soaked his socks, sending a chilling sensation through him.

Fang Yuan continued to walk with an expressionless face. As he drew closer, he could clearly see the Academy Elder's heavy expression and acutely sense the gazes of hundreds of youths.

These gazes held surprise, shock, mockery, schadenfreude, realization, and indifference.

This exact same situation made Fang Yuan inevitably think of his past life.

Back then, he felt like the sky had fallen. He stumbled and fell while crossing the river, drenched and utterly dejected. Not a single person offered him a hand.

These expressions and looks of disappointment and indifference were like sharp knives torturing his heart. His thoughts were a chaotic mess, and his chest ached faintly.

It was as if he had fallen from the clouds to the ground; the higher you stand, the harder you fall.

However, in this life.

Returning to this scene, Fang Yuan's heart was incredibly calm.

He thought of the legend: when facing adversity, one must surrender their heart to hope.

Now, this hope resided within him. Although it wasn't a great hope, it was still better than those with no cultivation aptitude.

If others were disappointed because of it, let them be. What could be done?

What did their disappointment have to do with him? The important thing was that he held hope in his heart!

His five hundred years of experience had taught him a truth: the brilliance of one's life lies in the process of pursuing one's dreams. There was no need to be overly concerned with whether others were disappointed or liked him.

Walk your own path, and let others be disappointed and dislike you!

"Alas..." The Academy Elder sighed deeply and called out again, "Next, Gu Yue Fang Zheng."

But there was no response.

"Gu Yue Fang Zheng!" the Elder shouted, his voice echoing through the cave.

"Ah? I'm here, I'm here!" Fang Zheng broke free from his shock and rushed out. Unfortunately, his foot slipped, and he stumbled, falling with a splash right into the river.

Immediately, the whole place erupted in laughter.

"The Fang brothers are nothing special," the Gu Yue Clan Leader snorted, a sense of annoyance growing towards Gu Yue Fang Zheng.

But just then, he suddenly felt a powerful force pulling him. His head finally broke free from the water, and he regained his balance.

Wiping his face in embarrassment, he looked again and saw his brother, Fang Yuan, holding him up by his collar.

"Brother..." he opened his mouth to speak, but only managed to swallow water, which led to a bout of violent coughing.

"Haha, the unfortunate brothers of the Fang family!" someone on the bank jeered.

The laughter grew even louder. The Academy Elder didn't step in to stop it. He frowned deeply, his heart filled with disappointment.

Fang Zheng was flustered. He then heard his brother's voice by his ear, "Go on, the road ahead will be brilliant."

Fang Zheng couldn't help but open his mouth in surprise. At this moment, Fang Yuan's back was to everyone, so those on the bank couldn't see clearly. However, Fang Zheng could clearly feel Fang Yuan's calmness. As he spoke, the corners of his mouth even turned up slightly, revealing a playful and profound smile.

Why is brother so calm when he only has a C-grade aptitude? Fang Zheng's heart was filled with confusion.

Fang Yuan said no more. He patted Fang Zheng's back and turned to leave.

Fang Zheng walked towards the sea of flowers, his expression dazed.

I didn't expect brother to be so calm. If it were me, I probably... He walked forward unconsciously, his head bowed. He didn't realize he was in the midst of a miraculous performance.

By the time he snapped back to reality, he was already standing deep within the sea of flowers, a distance no one had reached before.

Forty-three steps!

"My god, A-grade aptitude!!!" the Academy Elder shouted, losing his composure.

"A-grade, it's actually A-grade?!"

"After three years, the Gu Yue clan finally has another A-grade genius!"

The elders who were secretly observing also shouted in unison, losing all decorum.

"Hmph, the Fang lineage originally split from our Chi lineage. I, Chi Lian, will adopt this Gu Yue Fang Zheng," Gu Yue Chi Lian immediately announced.

"How is that possible? What right do you have, old ghost Chi Lian? You're quite good at misleading disciples. It would be better to let me, Gu Yue Mo Chen, raise this child," Gu Yue Mo Chen roared as if he had been electrocuted.

"No one argue. It's better for this child to be cultivated by me, the clan leader, than anyone else. Anyone who disagrees is opposing me, Gu Yue Bo!" The Gu Yue Clan Leader's eyes were red. He cast aside his previous disappointment and dejection, his entire demeanor becoming frenzied.