Very soon, a week passed.
"Man is the Spirit of All Things, and Gu are the essence of Heaven and Earth. In this world, there are countless varieties of Gu, too many to number. They live all around us—in mineral soil, in grass thickets, even within the bodies of wild beasts."
"Over the course of humanity's propagation and survival, the sages of old gradually discovered the mysteries of Gu insects. Those who have opened an Aperture, using their own primeval essence to feed, refine, and control these Gu in order to achieve various purposes, are collectively known as Gu Masters."
"And during the Aperture Opening Ceremony seven days ago, all of you successfully opened your Apertures and condensed primeval essence seas. You are now all Rank 1 Gu Masters."
Inside the academy of the village, the Academy Elder was speaking with great animation.
Before him sat fifty-seven youths, each listening with rapt attention.
The wonder and might of Gu Masters had long since sunk deep into the youths' hearts. Thus, everything the elder spoke of deeply captivated them.
At that moment, one youth raised his hand. After receiving the elder's permission, he stood and asked, "Lord Academy Elder, I've known since I was little that Gu Masters are divided into Rank 1, rank 2, and so on. Could you explain it to us in detail?"
The Academy Elder nodded and gestured for the youth to sit. "Gu Masters have a total of nine major realms. From lowest to highest, they are Rank 1, rank 2, rank 3, all the way to Rank 9. Each major rank is further divided into four minor stages: initial, middle, upper, and peak. You have only just become Gu Masters, so you are all at Rank 1 initial stage."
"If you cultivate diligently in the future, your cultivation will naturally rise. It is possible for you to be promoted to rank 2 or rank 3. Of course, the higher your aptitude, the greater the possibility of promotion."
"With D-grade Aptitude, the primeval sea occupies twenty to thirty percent of the Aperture. One can generally cultivate at most to Rank 1 or rank 2. With C-grade Aptitude, the primeval sea occupies forty to fifty percent of the Aperture. One will usually stop at rank 2, with only a very small number luckily able to break through to rank 3 initial stage. With B-grade Aptitude, the primeval sea occupies sixty to seventy percent of the entire Aperture. One can cultivate to rank 3, or even Rank 4. With A-grade Aptitude, the primeval sea is abundant, occupying eighty to ninety percent of the Aperture. Such people naturally possess the highest talent and are best suited for Gu Master cultivation. They can cultivate to rank 5."
"As for Gu Masters at Rank 6 and above, every one of them is a legend. I do not know the details either. Our Gu Yue Clan has never produced a Rank 6 Gu Master, but we have had Rank 5 and Rank 4 Gu Masters."
The youths all pricked up their ears, their eyes shining brightly as they listened.
Many of them could not help looking toward Gu Yue Fang Zheng, who sat rigidly upright in the first row. This was A-grade Aptitude! Their gazes brimmed with envy and jealousy.
At the same time, some gazes drifted toward the corner of the academy's last row.
In that corner by the window, Gu Yue Fang Yuan was sprawled across his desk, sleeping soundly.
"Look, he's still sleeping," someone whispered.
"He's been sleeping like this for a whole week already, hasn't he? Still not over it?" someone said with a curl of his lip.
"More than that. I heard he doesn't even return home at night, wandering around outside the village."
"More than one person has seen him hugging a wine jar at night, dead drunk outside. Luckily, the area around the village has been cleared out over the years, so it's relatively safe." The classmates whispered among themselves as all sorts of rumors spread swiftly.
"Sigh, the blow really was too great. He carried the title of genius for so many years, only to find out in the end that he was merely C-grade. Heh heh."
"If that were all, it would be one thing. But his own younger brother tested as A-grade, becoming the focus of everyone's attention and enjoying the best treatment. The younger brother is in the heavens, while the elder brother is in the dirt. Tsk tsk..."
Heard the discussions around him growing louder and louder, the Academy Elder's brows had already knotted into a lump.
Throughout the classroom, every youth sat upright, overflowing with youthful vigor. This only made Fang Yuan, sprawled asleep on his desk, stand out all the more glaringly.
"It has already been a week, and he is still this dispirited. Hmph, I misjudged him back then. How could someone like this possibly be a genius!" The elder snorted unhappily in his heart. He had already spoken to Fang Yuan many times about this situation, but it had been completely ineffective. Fang Yuan still went his own way, sleeping through every lesson, giving the Academy Elder in charge of teaching a terrible headache and no small amount of anger.
"Forget it. He is only C-grade. If he cannot even withstand such a blow, then with a temperament like this, even if he is nurtured, he will be hard to put to great use. It would only waste the Lineage's resources." The elder was deeply disappointed in Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan was merely C-grade. Compared with him, his younger brother Fang Zheng possessed A-grade Aptitude. He was precisely the one worthy of the Lineage's full efforts in nurturing.
As the Academy Elder thought, he continued the earlier topic aloud. "In our clan's history, many powerful figures have appeared. Among them, there were two Rank 5 experts. One was the first clan leader, our ancestor, who founded Gu Yue village. The other was the fourth clan leader. His talent was outstanding, and he cultivated all the way to the realm of a Rank 5 Gu Master. Had that despicable demon, Flower Wine Wanderer, not launched a sneak attack, perhaps he might even have been promoted to a Rank 6 Gu Master. Sigh..."
At this point, the Academy Elder let out a deep sigh.
Below the platform, the youths began shouting indignantly.
"It was all because of that Flower Wine Wanderer! He was too sinister and cunning!"
"What a pity that our fourth clan leader possessed a benevolent heart and died young."
"I only hate that I was not born several hundred years earlier. Otherwise, if I encountered that demon, I would surely risk my life to expose his ugly true face."
There was not a single Gu Yue clansman who did not know the story of the fourth clan leader and Flower Wine Wanderer.
Flower Wine Wanderer had likewise been a Rank 5 Gu Master, a flower-plucking bandit who had committed evil for many years and had been renowned throughout the demonic path at the time. Several hundred years ago, he fled to Qing Mao Mountain, intending to commit a crime in Gu Yue village, only to be seen through by the fourth clan leader. After an earth-shaking fierce battle, Flower Wine Wanderer was beaten to his knees and begged for mercy. The fourth clan leader, merciful and kind-hearted, had intended to spare his life. Yet Flower Wine Wanderer suddenly turned hostile and launched a sneak attack, severely wounding the fourth clan leader.
The clan leader flew into a rage and killed Flower Wine Wanderer on the spot, but his own severe injuries soon proved fatal, and he passed away.
Therefore, in the hearts of all Gu Yue clansmen, the fourth clan leader was a heroic figure who had sacrificed himself for the village.
"Flower Wine Wanderer..." Awakened by the denunciations filling the academy, Fang Yuan opened his bleary eyes in the corner.
He stretched himself thoroughly in a great lazy stretch, resentment stirring in his heart as well. Where exactly did this Flower Wine Wanderer die? Why have I searched all around the village and still not found his inheritance?
In his memories, about two months later, a clan Gu Master who had gotten drunk over heartbreak had lain outside the village in a sodden heap. The overflowing fragrance of wine had accidentally drawn over a Wine Worm Gu.
The Gu Master was overjoyed and tried to capture it. The Wine Worm Gu hurriedly fled, while the Gu Master pursued without letup. Following its trail, he discovered a hidden cave entrance leading underground.
Wine Worm Gu was a very precious kind of Gu. Still carrying the scent of drink, the Gu Master boldly entered the cave and arrived at an underground secret cavern. There, he discovered Flower Wine Wanderer's remains, along with the inheritance he had left behind.
After returning to the village, the Gu Master reported all his discoveries, immediately causing a tremendous uproar throughout the entire clan.
That Gu Master also benefited from this, his cultivation becoming increasingly outstanding. He even drew back the affections of the lover who had once abandoned him, becoming a figure who stirred the winds and clouds for a time.
"What a pity. I only heard a rough account of this news and do not know the exact location. Back then, I never imagined there would come a day when I would be reborn. Flower Wine Wanderer, where exactly did you die?"
Over these past days, he had bought much wine and wandered around the village every night, hoping to use the scent of the wine to draw the Wine Worm Gu out. Unfortunately, the Wine Worm Gu never appeared, leaving him deeply disappointed.
"If I find that Wine Worm Gu and refine it into my Destined Gu, it will be far better than the Moonlight Gu in the clan. In the blink of an eye, it is already April. Time waits for no one." Fang Yuan sighed and turned his gaze toward the window.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, verdant mountain ranges stretched endlessly into the distance. Nearby stood a grove of bamboo.
This was Qing Mao Mountain's unique spear bamboo. Each stalk was straight as a line, while its tip was exceptionally sharp, like the point of a spear.
The forest not far away had already taken on fresh green hues. Newly sprouted buds spread in patches of yellow-green. From time to time, beautiful colorful birds alighted on the branches.
The spring breeze swept in, carrying the fresh breath of green mountains and clear waters as it scattered it across the human world.
Before they knew it, the lesson was nearing its end. The Academy Elder gave his final announcement. "Over this past week, I taught you how to meditate and observe your own Apertures and primeval seas, and how to sit in cultivation and mobilize the primeval essence within your bodies. Now it is time to refine your Destined Gu. After this lesson ends, go to the Gu room in the academy and choose a Gu insect. After choosing one, return home and cultivate in seclusion. Only after refining the Gu insect should you return to the academy to continue your lessons. At the same time, this will be your first assessment. Whoever can take the lead will receive a generous reward of twenty Primeval Stones."
The next instant, the entire academy erupted in cheers.
"Finally, it's time to refine Gu insects. What Gu insect should I choose?" A sharp gleam flashed through Fang Yuan's eyes, then vanished.
Before you continue