"Try moving and see what happens?"

"You've already been poisoned by my exclusive poison Gu. Without my antidote Gu, you'll turn into pus and blood and die in seven days."

"Compared to Lord Wine-loving, I'm nothing! I must have lost my mind to offend you, Lord Wine-loving. Please, for the sake of my clan's previous hospitality, spare my life!"

On the wall, the scene began to replay for the second time.

Fang Yuan remained silent until the scene started repeating for the third time. He sighed softly and said, "I see."

The method of leaving the image and sound on the stone wall must be the work of the Wine-loving Wanderer using the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu. This Gu can imprint images and project them.

The Image-and-Sound Recording Gu survives by consuming light and sound. For some reason, this secret cave in the mountain wall constantly emits a red glow, and the stone crevices connect to the outside, allowing external sounds to penetrate. Here, Fang Yuan was surrounded by the roar of a small waterfall.

Thus, the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu managed to survive in this secret cave.

When Fang Yuan parted the dead vines, he must have startled the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu hidden in the stone wall.

With a bit of reasoning, one could deduce that this footage was likely genuine.

Back then, the Fourth Generation Clan Leader failed to ambush the Wine-loving Wanderer. After being defeated, he launched a sneak attack. Although he repelled the latter, he also died as a result. This part of history was disgraceful, so the surviving clan elders covered up and altered the truth.

They reversed the roles of the Fourth Generation Clan Leader and the Wine-loving Wanderer.

The Wine-loving Wanderer was portrayed as a defeated villain who was ambushed and killed on the spot, while the Fourth Generation was depicted as a righteous hero.

But this story had a major flaw.

If the Wine-loving Wanderer was indeed killed on the spot, and his remains were supposedly in the hands of the Gu Yue Clan, why was another set of bones discovered?

In his previous life, the Gu Master who discovered this place must have felt fear after seeing this footage.

Those surviving clan elders had long passed away, but to prevent the Wine-loving Wanderer from returning, this truth was likely secretly passed down among the clan's upper echelons.

The Gu Master realized that if he kept the hidden legacy to himself, it would be extremely risky. If it was later discovered that he had ties to the Wine-loving Wanderer, the clan's upper echelons would naturally purge him.

So, after weighing his options, he decided not to conceal the hidden legacy and reported it to the higher-ups.

This decision demonstrated his loyalty to the clan. His subsequent fate also showed that he made a wise choice.

However, his actions did not mean Fang Yuan would do the same.

"A hidden legacy painstakingly explored should be kept for oneself. Why share it with others? Even if discovered, so what? Without taking risks, there are no rewards. That Gu Master was truly timid." Fang Yuan sneered coldly, ignoring the repeating footage on the stone wall. Instead, he turned around, reached out, and forcefully pulled away the dead roots of the vines.

The Wine-loving Wanderer's remains were also disturbed, originally intact, now broken into several pieces.

Fang Yuan was indifferent, kicking aside a leg bone that was in his way. He squatted down again to search for the hidden legacy.

First, he found a bag of Primordial Stones. Upon opening it, there were only fifteen pieces.

"Poor guy," Fang Yuan remarked. Despite the Wine-loving Wanderer's glamorous appearance, his savings were unexpectedly meager.

However, he quickly realized the reason. After the fierce battle, the Wine-loving Wanderer, having been struck by the Moonshadow Gu, would have used Primordial Stones for healing. Having fifteen left was already quite good.

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Then, Fang Yuan discovered the remains of several dead Gu. Most were plant-type Gu, all completely withered.

Gu are also living beings and require food to be nurtured, and most are quite picky. Although Grass Gu and Flower Gu have minimal food requirements, this secret cave had no sunlight at all.

And then...

And then, there was nothing more.

The Wine-loving Wanderer first engaged in a fierce battle with the Fourth Generation Clan Leader of equal rank, and then fought nearly ten clan elders. His Gu were already heavily depleted. After arriving here, he attempted to heal, thus activating the Wine Pouch Flower Gu and Rice Pouch Grass Gu. However, he ultimately succumbed to the Moonshadow Gu.

After three hundred years, all the Gu he had left died.

The only things remaining were the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu in the stone wall and the Wine Gu.

This Wine Gu must have survived with great difficulty by relying on the Wine Pouch Flower Gu. But as the Wine Pouch Flower Gu withered one by one, it lost its food source.

This forced it to venture out in search of wild Wine Pouch Flowers.

Then, on this night, it was drawn by the rich aroma of Green Bamboo Wine and came to Fang Yuan.

"The Image-and-Sound Recording Gu can only record once, it's a consumable Gu. It seems the Wine Gu is the biggest gain from this trip. No wonder that Gu Master reported it to the clan. The benefits were too small to justify the risk." Fang Yuan had an epiphany.

In his memory, that Gu Master was already Rank Three, while the Wine Gu was merely a Rank One Gu. It was relatively precious to Fang Yuan, but for that Gu Master, it was dispensable.

However, clearly, because of the Gu Master's report, the clan rewarded him handsomely.

"Should I also report to the clan?" Fang Yuan pondered for a moment, then dismissed the thought.

The Wine-loving Wanderer's hidden legacy seemed to consist only of the Wine Gu and Primordial Stones, but that wasn't the case.

The truly valuable part was the stone wall containing the Image-and-Sound Recording Gu.

Or rather, the footage continuously replaying on the stone wall.

This footage could be sold to other strongholds. It's certain that such solid evidence undermining the clan's beliefs would greatly interest the upper echelons of the other two strongholds on Green Reed Mountain. The price they offer would surely exceed the clan's reward.

What?

You speak of clan honor and a sense of belonging?

I'm sorry, Fang Yuan has none of that.

Moreover, this footage isn't some overwhelming force capable of destroying the clan; it won't cause significant harm.

And the indifferent clan won't value Fang Yuan. He needs to strive on his own, to develop cultivation resources, and in the early stages of cultivation, he needs to leverage support from all sides.

"Rely on the clan? Haha." Fang Yuan sneered internally, "How could I be as naive as in my previous life?"

Don't rely on anyone; everything in this world must be earned by oneself.

After confirming that the secret cave had been thoroughly searched, Fang Yuan retraced his steps.

Pushing against the water pressure, he squeezed out of the boulder and returned to the outside of the mountain. Looking back at the boulder, Fang Yuan suddenly recalled that in his previous life's memory, it was said that the bones were discovered in an underground secret cave. But this was no underground; it was clearly within the mountain wall.

No wonder he had such a hard time, searching for seven consecutive days without finding it.

It seems that after the clan discovered this place in his previous life, they must have destroyed the Shadow Wall immediately and then released mixed messages to mislead the clan members.

Being able to find this place tonight was partly luck, partly accumulation, and the biggest factor was probably the Green Bamboo Wine.

The aroma of this wine was truly rich, the best on Green Reed Mountain.

Perhaps in his previous life, that Gu Master drank this wine after a heartbreak.

But none of that matters anymore. The Wine-loving Wanderer's hidden legacy has been thoroughly excavated by Fang Yuan. Although the results were somewhat disappointing, they were within expectations. Most importantly, Fang Yuan's initial target (the Wine Gu) was in hand, and he also had what he needed most (Primordial Stones).

"Next, I'll focus on refining Gu at the inn. Once I have my Life-Bound Gu, I can return to the academy, qualify to live in the student dormitory, and use the clan's resources for cultivation. Staying at the inn once or twice is fine, but staying too long is too costly." Fang Yuan contemplated as he continued his journey to the stronghold.

He originally had two Primordial Stones left, and with the newly acquired fifteen, he had a total of seventeen. But for a Gu Master, what are these few Primordial Stones worth?