Chapter 4 Gu Yue Fang Yuan
The sun rises, its rays glowing brilliantly. []
The mountain mist isn't too thick, easily pierced by the sword-like sunlight.
Over a hundred fifteen-year-old youths now gather in front of the Ancestral Hall.
The Ancestral Hall stands at the very center of the mountain fortress, five stories high with soaring eaves and upturned corners, heavily guarded. Before the hall lies a plaza; inside, it houses the ancestral tablets of the Guyue ancestors. Each generation’s patriarch has also lived and worked within these walls, and during major ceremonies or sudden crises, elders are summoned here to confer and discuss matters. This is the nerve center of the entire mountain fortress.
"Very good, everyone is punctual. Today is the Awakening Ceremony—a major turning point in your lives. No more idle talk. Follow me." The one in charge is the School Elder. With white hair and beard, his spirits vigorous, he leads the youths into the Ancestral Hall.
Yet they do not ascend the stairs; instead, they enter the grand hall on the first floor and proceed downward.
Following the carved stone steps, they enter an underground karst cave.
The youths gasp in wonder. The cave is splendidly beautiful, with stalactites emitting a seven-colored glow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The light reflects on the young faces, shimmering like neon.
Fang Yuan mingles in the crowd, quietly surveying everything, his mind churning: "Hundreds of years ago, the Guyue clan migrated from the Central Plains to the Southern Frontier, settling here on Green Thatch Mountain. It was because of the Spirit Spring in this underground cave. The spring produces vast quantities of spirit stones, essentially the foundation of Guyue Fortress."
After walking several hundred steps, it grows darker, and the faint sound of water can be heard.
Rounding a corner, an underground river over three zhang wide reveals itself before them.
The colorful light from the stalactites has completely vanished here.
But in the darkness, the river emits a faint, ethereal blue glow, like a river of stars in the night sky.
The water flows from the dark depths of the cave, incredibly clear—one can even see fish swimming, aquatic plants, and sand and pebbles on the riverbed.
On the opposite bank lies a sea of flowers.
These are the Moon Orchids intentionally cultivated by the Guyue clan. Their petals are crescent-shaped, displaying a serene, elegant blue-pink hue. The stems are jade-like, and the flower hearts sparkle as if reflecting the soft luster of pearls under light.
At first glance, against the dark backdrop, the riverside flower sea looks like a vast blue-green carpet dotted with countless pearls.
"Moon Orchids are food for many Gu worms. This flower sea can be considered the clan's largest breeding ground," Fang Yuan thought, well aware of this.
"So beautiful."
"Truly gorgeous."
The youths are having their horizons broadened, eyes shining with both excitement and tension.
"Now, listen as I call names. When called, cross the river to the opposite bank. Walk as far as you can—the farther the better. Is that clear?" the Elder announces.
"Clear." The youths respond in unison. In truth, they had heard from family or seniors before coming that walking farther indicates better talent and greater future achievement.
"Guyue Chenbo." The Elder reads the first name from the list.
Though wide, the river isn't deep, only reaching the youths' knees. Chenbo, face solemn, steps onto the flower sea on the opposite bank.
Immediately, he feels an invisible pressure, as if an unseen wall is blocking his way forward.
Just as he struggles to move, a cluster of light particles rises from the flowers by his feet. The particles are sparse, presenting a plain white color.
The light gathers toward Chenbo and merges into his body.
Chenbo instantly feels the pressure drop dramatically. The invisible wall suddenly becomes soft.
He grits his teeth, forces himself forward, and squeezes in. After three steps, the pressure surges again, just like before, solid as a wall, allowing no further advance.
Seeing this, the Elder sighs, makes a note on the spot, and says: "Guyue Chenbo, three steps, no Gu Master talent. Next, Guyue Zaoxie."
Chenbo’s face turns pale. He clenches his teeth, crosses the river, and returns to his original spot. Without talent, he can only live as a mortal from now on, occupying the lowest status within the clan.
His body sways, the blow too great—it’s as if his life’s hope has been strangled.
Many cast him sympathetic glances; more focus on the second youth stepping onto the other bank.
Unfortunately, this youth only manages four steps—also without talent.
Not everyone possesses cultivation talent. Generally, if five out of ten can cultivate, that’s already considered good. In the Guyue clan, the ratio is slightly higher, reaching six.
This is because the Guyue ancestors—specifically, the first-generation patriarch—was a famed legendary powerhouse whose bloodline, due to cultivation, contains hidden genes carrying strength. Because they share his blood, the Guyue clan members generally have higher aptitude.
Two consecutive cases of no talent darken the faces of the other elders observing covertly. Even the steady, experienced Guyue Patriarch slightly furrows his brow.
Just then, the School Elder calls out the third name: "Guyue Mobei."
"Here!" A tall youth with a horse-shaped face, wearing a hemp robe, steps out from the crowd.
He’s tall and much sturdier than his peers, exuding a hint of ferocity.
After a few steps across the river, he sets foot on the opposite bank.
Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps—faint glimmers of light flow into his body one after another.
He reaches thirty-six steps before finally coming to a halt.
The youths on the other side watch with jaws dropped. The School Elder shouts joyfully: "Excellent! Guyue Mobei, Grade B talent. Come here, let me examine your Origin Sea."
Guyue Mobei returns to the Elder, who places a hand on the youth’s shoulder, closes his eyes, and probes for a moment before withdrawing his hand. Nodding, he records on paper: "Guyue Mobei, Origin Sea sixty-six percent, worthy of strong nurturing."
The talent grades are ranked from highest to lowest: Grade A, B, C, D.
A youth with Grade D talent can be trained for three years to become a senior First Level Gu Master, becoming a cornerstone of the clan.
A youth with Grade C talent can, with two years of training, mostly reach Second Level Gu Master status, becoming a core part of the clan.
Grade B talent requires care and nurturing. Often cultivated as future elders, with six or seven years of effort, they can become Third Level Gu Masters.
As for Grade A talent, even one appearing is a blessing for the entire clan. They must be carefully tended to, with resources inclined towards them. In about ten years, they can become Fourth Level Gu Masters, at which point they can compete for the Patriarch’s position!
In other words, as long as Guyue Mobei grows up, he will become a future Elder of the Guyue clan. No wonder the School Elder laughs heartily, while the observing elders all breathe a sigh of relief before casting envious glances towards a particular elder.
This elder also has a horse-shaped face—Guyue Mochen, Guyue Mobei’s grandfather. His face already beams with a smile, and he shoots a provocative glance at his old rival: "Well, my grandson isn’t bad, is he, Guyue Chilian?"
Elder Guyue Chilian, with his red hair, merely snorts coldly without replying, his expression extremely grim.
Half an hour later, half the youths have stepped onto the flower sea. Quite a few with Grade C and D talent have emerged, though nearly half show no talent at all.
"Alas, the bloodline grows thinner and thinner. In recent years, the clan hasn’t produced several Fourth Level powerhouses to strengthen the bloodline. The Fourth Patriarch was the only Fifth Level powerhouse, but he perished alongside the Drunkard, leaving no descendants. The talent of the Guyue clan’s later generations grows weaker and weaker," the Patriarch sighs deeply.
Just then, the School Elder calls: "Guyue Chicheng."
Hearing this name, the elders all turn to look at Guyue Chilian—this is his grandson.
Guyue Chicheng is short, his face covered in pimples, fists clenched, sweating profusely, visibly extremely nervous.
He steps onto the opposite bank. Light particles stream into his body, walking steadily to thirty-six steps before stopping.
"Another Grade B!" the School Elder exclaims.
The youths stir, casting envious looks at Guyue Chicheng.
"Ha ha ha! Thirty-six steps, thirty-six steps!" Guyue Chilian shouts, glaring triumphantly at Guyue Mochen.
This time, it’s Guyue Mochen’s turn to turn iron-faced.
"Guyue Chicheng, huh..." In the crowd, Fang Yuan thoughtfully strokes his chin.
In his memory, this person was severely punished by the clan for cheating during the Awakening Ceremony.
In reality, his talent is only Grade C, but his grandfather Guyue Chilian falsified it, creating the illusion of Grade B.
Actually, Fang Yuan knows dozens of schemes to cheat, some more perfect than Guyue Chicheng’s. If he displayed Grade B or even Grade A talent, he would undoubtedly receive strong clan nurturing.
However, first, Fang Yuan has been reborn too recently; given his circumstances, he can hardly prepare cheating methods.
Second, even if cheating succeeded, the speed of cultivation later would be hard to conceal, and it would still be exposed.
But Guyue Chicheng is different—his grandfather is Guyue Chilian, one of the two most powerful elders in the clan, who can cover for him.
"Guyue Chilian has always been hostile toward Guyue Mochen. These two elders represent the largest factions in the clan. To suppress his rival, he needs his grandson to stand out. It’s precisely because he’s backing him up that Guyue Chicheng can hide it for now. In my memory, it was an accident that exposed him."
Fang Yuan’s eyes gleam as he considers how to exploit this for maximum benefit.
Exposing it on the spot might earn some clan reward, but it would offend the highly influential Guyue Chilian—absolutely not advisable.
In the short term, he can’t blackmail either. With his current low strength, it would only bring trouble upon himself.
Just as he’s pondering, he hears the School Elder call his name: "Guyue Fang Yuan!"