The First Gu Refining Round

Following the main road up the mountain, he arrived at its halfway point. A broad platform had been carved out here, and three large characters were engraved on the mountain wall: "Disciple Selection Stage." It was presumably where the qualifications of prospective disciples were assessed each year, allowing the elders to choose their disciples.

But at this moment, the place had already undergone rough alterations.

A simple Gu formation had been laid across the stone tiles, dividing them into separate sections. Each section was marked with a number.

At intervals, the crowd ahead would move forward a stretch. Five Virtues Gate disciples along both sides of the path handed out number plates.

Fang Yuan received a number plate marked with the number sixty-three.

He walked onto the Disciple Selection Stage, found the spot numbered sixty-three, and sat cross-legged directly on the stone tiles.

A moment later, everyone in the square had taken their places. A Five Virtues Gate elder announced loudly, "The four entry questions of this Gu Refining Convention now begin!"

The next instant, the several hundred Gu Masters on the Disciple Selection Stage all made their moves, each displaying their own abilities.

Some held a ball of flame in their palms—the Fire Refining Method. Some spewed clouds of smoke from their mouths—the Smoke Refining Method. Some released several ice snakes, which raised their heads together and exhaled freezing air—this was ice refinement.

In Fang Yuan's hands, however, dozens of points of starlight fluttered about like a swarm of azure fireflies, circling and dancing around him.

Following the proper sequence, Fang Yuan methodically added the Gu refinement materials. A quarter of an hour later, he had completed every question and rose to his feet.

"What speed!" The Five Virtues Gate elder presiding over the scene had long learned that