Next to the academy, a Gu Room was set up. The Gu Room wasn't large, only sixty square meters.
In the cultivation of a Gu Master, Gu insects are the key to power.
As soon as the class ended, the excited youths swarmed towards the Gu Room.
"Line up, enter one by one," came an angry shout, and naturally, someone was guarding the entrance to the Gu Room.
The youths went in one by one and came out again.
It was Fang Yuan's turn to enter the Gu Room.
Inside the room, there was much to see. The four walls were made into separated caves, with embedded grids lined up one after another. The grids varied in size, the largest no bigger than a clay pot, the smallest no larger than a fist.
In these densely packed grids were various vessels: some were gray stone basins, some were verdant jade plates, some were exquisite grass cages, and some were ceramic warmers.
These vessels housed a variety of Gu insects.
Some Gu insects were silent, while others were noisy, making all sorts of sounds like chirping, clucking, and rustling, forming a symphony of life.
"Gu insects are divided into nine levels, corresponding to the nine ranks of Gu Masters. These are all Rank One Gu insects," Fang Yuan glanced around, instantly understanding.
Generally speaking, a Rank One Gu Master can only use Rank One Gu insects. If they try to use higher-level Gu insects, they often have to pay a heavy price.
Moreover, Gu insects need to be fed, and the cost of feeding higher-level Gu insects is often beyond what lower-level Gu Masters can afford.
For new Gu Masters, unless in special circumstances, they would choose a Rank One Gu insect for their first refinement.
The first Gu insect refined by a Gu Master is significant, known as the Life-Bound Gu, with their lives intertwined. Once it perishes, the Gu Master will suffer severe damage.
"Sigh, I originally hoped to get the Wine Gu from the Wine-loving Wanderer and refine it as my Life-Bound Gu. But now, there's still no clue about the Wine-loving Wanderer's remains, and I don't know when it will be found or if someone else will discover it. To be safe, I should choose a Moonlight Gu."
Fang Yuan sighed inwardly as he walked straight to the left wall.
On a slightly higher level of this wall was a row of silver plates, each with a Gu insect on it.
This Gu insect was crystal clear, crescent-shaped like a piece of blue crystal, exuding a serene aura against the silver plate.
The Gu was named Moonlight, the Clan-Guarding Gu of the Gu Yue Clan. The vast majority of clan members chose it as their Life-Bound Gu. It was not a naturally-formed Gu insect but was cultivated through the secret methods of the Gu Yue Clan, unique to them and a symbol of their clan.
All Rank One Moonlight Gu were almost identical. Fang Yuan randomly picked one and held it in his hand.
The Moonlight Gu was very light, weighing no more than a thin sheet of paper. It occupied only a small part of his palm, about the size of a regular jade pendant. Holding it, Fang Yuan could see his palm lines through it.
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After a final glance, confirming there were no issues, Fang Yuan put it in his pocket and left the Gu Room.
Outside the Gu Room, a long line still waited. The next youth eagerly rushed into the Gu Room as soon as Fang Yuan came out.
If it were someone else, their first reaction after obtaining a Gu insect would be to rush home and refine it. But Fang Yuan was not in a hurry; he still had his mind on the Wine Gu.
The Wine Gu was more precious. Although the Moonlight Gu was a specialty of Gu Yue Village, it didn't offer as much help to a Gu Master as the Wine Gu.
***
Leaving the Gu Room, Fang Yuan headed straight to the tavern.
"Shopkeeper, two jars of aged wine," Fang Yuan said, digging into his pocket and placing his last Primordial Stone Fragments on the counter.
These days, he had been buying wine here and then wandering around the village outskirts, hoping to attract the Wine Gu to appear.
The shopkeeper was a short, chubby middle-aged man with a greasy face, who had become familiar with Fang Yuan over these days.
"Ah, you're here again," he greeted, skillfully sweeping up Fang Yuan's Primordial Stone Fragments with his thick, short hands.
After weighing them in his hand and finding the weight satisfactory, the shopkeeper's smile became even more amiable.
Primordial Stones were the currency of this world, used to measure the value of all goods. They were also the condensed essence of heaven and earth, usable by themselves to aid Gu Masters in their cultivation.
With both currency and commodity attributes, they were very similar to gold on Earth. Just as Earth once had a gold standard, this world had a Primordial Stone standard.
Thus, the purchasing power of Primordial Stones was quite astonishing.
However, no amount of Primordial Stones could withstand Fang Yuan's continuous expenditure.
"Two jars of wine every day, for a whole seven days. The Primordial Stones I had saved are almost all gone," Fang Yuan thought, frowning slightly as he left the tavern with two jars of wine.
Once one becomes a Gu Master, they can extract pure True Essence from Primordial Stones to replenish the Primal Sea in their empty aperture.
Therefore, for a Gu Master, Primordial Stones are not only currency but also an aid in cultivation.
With enough Primordial Stones, one's cultivation speed can be significantly increased, somewhat compensating for any shortcomings in aptitude.
"Tomorrow, I won't have any Primordial Stones left to buy wine, and the Wine Gu still hasn't appeared. Do I really have to refine the Moonlight Gu as my Life-Bound Gu?" Fang Yuan felt a bit unwilling.
Leaving the tavern, Fang Yuan carried the two jars of wine, pondering as he walked, "The Academy Elder said that the first to refine their Life-Bound Gu in this assessment would receive a reward of twenty Primordial Stones. Many are probably at home, giving it their all, refining Gu insects, striving to be the first. Unfortunately, refining a Life-Bound Gu is a severe test of aptitude. Those with good aptitude have a significant advantage. With my Grade C aptitude, without other means, there's no hope of winning."
Just then, Gu Yue Fang Zheng's voice came from behind, "Brother, you're really here at the tavern again! Come with me, Uncle and Aunt want to see you."
Fang Yuan stopped and turned around.
He found that his younger brother no longer spoke with his head down as he used to.
The brothers' gazes met.
A gust of wind howled by, lifting the elder brother's disheveled black hair and the younger brother's clothes.
In just a month, everything had changed.
A week ago, the Aperture Opening Ceremony had been a significant change for both brothers.
Elder brother Fang Yuan had fallen from grace, his halo of genius stripped away. Meanwhile, the younger brother began to shine, rising like a new star.
For the younger brother, Gu Yue Fang Zheng, this change was nothing short of a revolution.
He finally experienced what his brother had felt, being the one people pinned their hopes on, being looked at with envy or jealousy.
He felt as if he had suddenly moved from a dark corner to a paradise filled with light.
Every day he woke up, he felt as if he were in a beautiful dream. The stark difference in treatment left him somewhat incredulous and strongly uncomfortable.
Unaccustomed.
Suddenly going from obscurity to being closely watched and talked about.
Sometimes, walking on the street, hearing passersby discussing and praising him made his face flush, leaving him at a loss, his eyes darting, almost forgetting how to walk!
In the first ten days or so, Gu Yue Fang Zheng inexplicably lost weight, but his spirit grew more vigorous.
From deep within his heart, something called "confidence" began to sprout.
"So this is what my brother used to feel, so wonderful yet painful!" Inevitably, he thought of his brother, Gu Yue Fang Yuan, and wondered how his brother had coped with such discussions and attention.
He subconsciously began to imitate Fang Yuan, pretending to be expressionless, but soon realized he wasn't cut out for it.
Sometimes in the academy, a girl's shout would make him blush. On the street, the teasing of older women would often send him fleeing in embarrassment.
He was like a baby learning to walk, stumbling as he adapted to his new life.
In the process, he inevitably heard rumors about his brother—depressed, turning to alcohol, staying out all night, sleeping in the academy.
At first, he was shocked. How could his brother, once so strong and talented, become like this?!
But gradually, he began to understand. His brother was human too; facing such setbacks and blows, depression was inevitable.
With this understanding, Fang Zheng felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
This satisfaction was something he was reluctant to admit, but it undeniably existed.
The brother once hailed as a genius, who had overshadowed him, was now so down and out. This, in a way, validated his own growth, didn't it?
He was excellent; that was the truth!
Therefore, seeing Fang Yuan with wine jars, disheveled hair, and untidy clothes, Gu Yue Fang Zheng felt a sense of relief, breathing easier.
But he still said, "Brother, you can't keep drinking like this. You don't know how worried those who care about you are. You need to pull yourself together!"
Fang Yuan remained expressionless, not saying a word.
The brothers locked eyes.
In Fang Zheng's eyes, there was a sharp glint, while Fang Yuan's eyes were deep and dark, like an ancient, still pond.
Such eyes made Fang Zheng feel an inexplicable pressure. Unable to maintain eye contact for long, he instinctively looked away.
But when he realized it, a surge of anger rose within him.
Anger at himself.
What was wrong with him? Did he not even have the courage to meet his brother's gaze?
I've changed; I've completely changed!
Thinking this, his gaze sharpened again, sweeping back.
But Fang Yuan was no longer looking at him, instead walking past him with a jar of wine in each hand, his voice calm, "What are you standing there for? Let's go."
Fang Zheng's breath hitched, the pent-up frustration within him finding no outlet, leaving him feeling inexplicably stifled.
Seeing his brother already walking away, he had no choice but to catch up quickly.
This time, however, he no longer hung his head but faced the setting sun with his head held high.
His gaze was fixed on his own feet, stepping on the shadow of his brother, Fang Yuan.
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