Gu Yue Fangyuan!
1695 Words
The morning sun rose, painting the sky with brilliant rays.
The mountain mist was not thick, easily pierced by sunlight like sharp swords.
More than a hundred fifteen-year-old boys gathered in front of the Clan Lord Pavilion at this moment.
The Clan Lord Pavilion stood right in the center of the stronghold, five stories high with overhanging eaves and upturned corners, heavily guarded. In front of it was a square, and inside, the ancestral tablets of the Gu Yue Clan were enshrined. Each generation of clan leaders lived here; major ceremonies or sudden important matters would gather the clan elders here for discussion. This was the power center of the entire stronghold.
"Good, you're all here on time. Today is the Enlightenment Ceremony, a major turning point in your lives. No more idle talk—follow me." In charge of this event was the Elder of the Academy. With white hair and beard but a vigorous spirit, he led the boys into the Clan Lord Pavilion, Chapter Four: Gu Yue Fang Yuan!
However, they did not go upstairs. Instead, they descended through an entrance in the first-floor hall.
Following the stone stairs, they entered an underground cave.
Exclamations burst from the boys. The underground cave was magnificent—stalactites emitted seven colors of light: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. These lights reflected on the boys' faces, as** as neon.
Fang Yuan mixed in the middle of the crowd, quietly observing everything, thinking to himself: "Hundreds of years ago, the Gu Yue Clan migrated from the Central Plains to the Southern Border, settling in Green**. They chose this place because of a spiritual spring in this underground cave. This spring produces a large amount of yuan stones, which can be said to be the foundation of the Gu Yue stronghold."
After walking several hundred steps, it grew darker, and the sound of water could be faintly heard.
Turning a corner, an underground river more than three zhang wide appeared before them.
The colored light of the stalactites here had completely faded.
But in the darkness, the river water emitted a faint blue glow, like the galaxy in the night sky.
The river flowed from the dark depths of the cave, extremely clear—one could even see the fish, aquatic plants, and gravel at the bottom.
On the opposite bank of the river was a sea of flowers.
This, Chapter Four: Gu Yue Fang Yuan!, was a field of moon orchids intentionally cultivated by the Gu Yue Clan. Their petals were crescent-shaped, in a delicate blue-pink hue. Their stems were like jade, and their centers sparkled, as** as pearls reflecting light.
At first glance, against the dark background, the riverbank flower sea looked like a large blue-green carpet dotted with countless pearls.
"Moon orchids are food for many Gu insects. This flower sea is arguably the clan's largest cultivation base," Fang Yuan knew this well.
"So beautiful."
"Truly stunning."
The boys were dazzled, their eyes shining with excitement and nervousness.
"Alright, listen for your names. When called, cross the river to the opposite bank. Walk as far as you can—naturally, the farther the better. Do you all understand?" the elder said.
"Yes!" the boys replied in unison. In fact, they had all heard from family or elders beforehand: the farther one walked, the better their talent, and the greater their future achievements.
"Gu Yue Chenbo." The elder called out the first name from the list.
The river, though wide, was not deep—only reaching the boys' knees. Chenbo, with a serious look, stepped onto the riverbank flower sea.
Immediately, he felt an invisible pressure, like an unseen wall blocking his way.
Struggling to move forward, a cluster of light spots suddenly rose from the flowers at his feet—thin, pure white.
The light gathered toward Chenbo and entered his body.
Chenbo instantly felt the pressure ease. That invisible wall suddenly turned soft.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself forward, squeezing through. After three steps, the pressure surged again, as hard as a wall, and he could not move an inch further.
Seeing this, the elder sighed, took notes, and said: "Gu Yue Chenbo, three steps—no qualification to be a Gu Master. Next, Gu Yue Zaoxie."
Chenbo's face turned pale. Clenching his teeth, he crossed the river back to his original spot. Without qualification, he would live as an ordinary person from now on, at the bottom of the clan hierarchy.
He swayed unsteadily; the blow was too great, as if his life's hope had been crushed.
Many cast pitying glances at him, but more focused on the second boy stepping onto the opposite bank.
Unfortunately, this boy only managed four steps, also without qualification.
Not everyone has the talent for cultivation. Generally, five out of ten people being able to cultivate is good enough. In the Gu Yue Clan, this ratio is higher—six out of ten.
This is because the Gu Yue ancestor, the first clan leader, was a legendary powerhouse. His cultivation left genes***** power in his bloodline. Thus, the Gu Yue clansmen generally have better talent.
The consecutive cases of no qualification made the other elders watching** frown; even the steady clan leader knitted his brows slightly.
At this moment, the Academy Elder called out: "Gu Yue Mobei."
"Here!" A horse-faced boy in linen clothes stepped forward with a shout.
He was taller and sturdier than his peers, exuding a bold aura.
In a few steps, he crossed the river and stepped onto the opposite bank.
Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps—light spots continuously entered his body.
He walked thirty-six steps before stopping.
The boys on the other side stared in amazement. The elder exclaimed with joy: "Excellent! Gu Yue Mobei, Grade B qualification. Come here, let me check your Yuan Hai."
Gu Yue Mobei returned to the elder, who placed a hand on his shoulder, closed his eyes to sense, then withdrew his hand, nodded, and wrote: "Gu Yue Mobei, Yuan Hai at 66%—deserves intensive cultivation."
Qualifications were graded from top to bottom: A, B, C, D.
A Grade D youth, after three years of training, could become a senior First-Transformation Gu Master—the foundation of the clan.
A Grade C youth, after two years, could mostly become a Second-Transformation Gu Master—the backbone of the clan.
A Grade B youth needed careful nurturing. Often groomed as a future elder, they could reach Third-Transformation in six to seven years.
As for Grade A—even one such talent was a blessing for the entire clan. They would receive meticulous care and concentrated resources, reaching Fourth-Transformation in about ten years, eligible to compete for the clan leader position!
In other words, Gu Yue Mobei, when grown, would be an elder of the Gu Yue Clan. No wonder the Academy Elder laughed heartily, and the watching elders all sighed in relief, then cast envious glances at one elder.
This elder, also horse-faced, was Gu Yue Mobei's grandfather, Gu Yue Mochen. His face beamed with a smile, and he glanced**** at his old rival: "How about it? My grandson isn't bad, is he, Gu Yue Chilian?"
Elder Gu Yue Chilian, with red hair,**** without reply, his face dark and ugly.
Half an hour later, half the boys had stepped onto the flower sea. Many showed Grade C or D qualifications, but nearly half had none.
"Sigh, the bloodline grows thinner. Moreover, no Fourth-Transformation powerhouses have emerged in recent years to strengthen it. The fourth clan leader was the only Fifth-Transformation powerhouse, but he perished together with Flower Wine Wanderer, leaving no descendants. The talent of the Gu Yue younger generation grows weaker and weaker," the clan leader sighed deeply.
At that moment, the Academy Elder called: "Gu Yue Chicheng."
Hearing this name, the elders all looked at Gu Yue Chilian—this was his grandson.
Gu Yue Chicheng was short, with a pockmarked face. Clenching his fists, sweating profusely, he looked extremely nervous.
He stepped onto the opposite bank; light spots poured into his body. He walked thirty-six steps before stopping.
"Another Grade B!" the Academy Elder shouted.
The boys stirred, casting envious looks at Gu Yue Chicheng.
"Hahaha, thirty-six steps, thirty-six steps!" Gu Yue Chilian shouted, glaring**** at Gu Yue Mochen.
This time, it was Gu Yue Mochen's turn to turn livid.
"Gu Yue Chicheng..." In the crowd, Fang Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
In his memories, Chicheng had cheated in the Enlightenment Ceremony and received severe punishment from the clan.
In fact, his** was only Grade C, but his grandfather Gu Yue Chilian had faked it, creating the illusion of Grade B.
Fang Yuan knew dozens of cheating methods, some more perfect than Chicheng's. Showing Grade B or A** would surely earn the clan's intensive cultivation.
But first, he had** too recently, with no means to prepare such tricks given his situation.
Second, even if he cheated successfully, his future cultivation speed would give him away.
But Gu Yue Chicheng was different—his grandfather, Gu Yue Chilian, was one of the two most powerful elders in the clan, able to cover for him.
"Gu Yue Chilian has always been at odds with Gu Yue Mochen. These two elders lead the clan's two largest factions. To suppress his rival, he needs his grandson to have outstanding talent. It's precisely his cover that lets Gu Yue Chicheng hide the truth for a while. From what I remember, it was only an accident that exposed him later."
A sharp light flickered in Fang Yuan's eyes as he pondered how to exploit this for maximum gain.
Exposing it on the spot might earn some reward from the clan, but it would offend the powerful Gu Yue Chilian—absolutely not.
Blackmailing in the short term was also impossible. With his weak strength, it would only bring disaster.
As he thought, he suddenly heard the Academy Elder call his name: "Gu Yue Fang Yuan!!!"
- Writer
