"Is that Fang Yuan or Fang Zheng?" Some students whispered among themselves, still unable to distinguish between the twin brothers, Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng.

"It's Fang Zheng. Fang Yuan always has a cold expression and would never look nervous," someone explained.

"Oh, then this should be interesting. Fang Zheng is the only Grade A genius our stronghold has seen in three years." The crowd turned their attention to him.

Fang Zheng felt the pressure from their gazes, which only made him more nervous.

Standing in the arena, his fingers trembled slightly.

He launched his first Moon Blade, originally aimed at the straw doll's chest, but due to his nerves, it went off course, landing on the puppet's neck instead.

A slight murmur of surprise spread among the youths.

They assumed Fang Zheng did it intentionally, choosing not to hit the easiest target, the puppet's chest, but aiming for the neck instead, showing confidence in his attack skills.

Unconsciously, they looked forward to Fang Zheng's next performance.

Gu Yue Mo Bei and Gu Yue Chi Cheng both had slightly somber expressions.

Only the Academy Elder and Fang Yuan could see Fang Zheng's mistake.

"That was close!" Fang Zheng thought to himself, feeling secretly relieved.

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and released two more Moon Blades. This time, he made no mistakes, both blades hitting the puppet's chest accurately.

This result made the Academy Elder nod in approval, while Mo Bei and Chi Cheng relaxed. Fang Zheng's performance was on par with theirs; it was up to the Academy Elder to decide the scores.

The other students sighed. Fang Zheng's subsequent performance wasn't spectacular, leaving them slightly disappointed.

The next few groups didn't offer much to watch. No one performed better than Mo Bei, Chi Cheng, or Fang Zheng.

The youths began to whisper among themselves.

"It seems the top spot in today's assessment will be among those three."

"They all hit the puppet. I wonder who the Elder will favor."

"Wait, it's the last group now, and Fang Yuan is up."

"Oh, the Grade C 'cold genius'? Ha."

It wasn't until the last group that Fang Yuan leisurely stepped onto the stage.

"That Fang Yuan..." Gu Yue Mo Bei glanced at him, then lowered his gaze, not paying much attention.

"Last time, you got lucky and picked a weak-willed Moonlight Gu, which let you take first place. Let's see how you perform this time!" Gu Yue Chi Cheng crossed his arms, waiting to see Fang Yuan make a fool of himself.

"Brother... this time is different from last. I've practiced hard, and I will surpass you." In the crowd, Gu Yue Fang Zheng pressed his lips together, his fists clenching unconsciously.

In the last Life-Bound Gu assessment, he had to settle for second place despite his Grade A aptitude, which naturally left him unsatisfied.

Especially after learning that Fang Yuan's victory was due to sheer luck, it made him even more unwilling to accept it.

For Gu Yue Fang Zheng, defeating his brother Fang Yuan held special significance.

Many eyes focused on Fang Yuan, including the Academy Elder's gaze.

Fang Yuan remained unmoved, his expression cold.

After standing still, True Essence flowed into the Moonlight Gu in his palm, and with a slash of his hand, he launched his first Moon Blade.

The Moon Blade flew high, not only passing over the puppet's head but also soaring above the bamboo wall. It traveled nearly fifteen meters before dimming and disappearing into the air.

"Pfft..." Someone couldn't help but laugh.

"That's way off," someone else sneered.

"Truly a genius, no wonder he got first in the Gu refining," another said sarcastically.

In his early years, Fang Yuan's talent in poetry and intelligence had already stirred dissatisfaction among these people. Later, when he won first place in Gu refining through "luck," it added jealousy to their discontent.

Many were waiting to see Fang Yuan, the "genius," make a fool of himself, and his first Moon Blade didn't disappoint them.

The Academy Elder shook his head slightly, laughing at himself for paying unnecessary attention to Fang Yuan. He was just a Grade C, who had only won the Gu refining by a stroke of luck.

He had already decided in his heart that although Mo Bei, Chi Cheng, and Fang Zheng had the same results, he would choose Fang Zheng as the first.

The struggle between Gu Yue Mo Bei and Gu Yue Chi Cheng mirrored the political battles between the two major ruling elders in the family. The Academy Elder was a centrist, unwilling to get involved in the political whirlpool.

The Academy Elder leaned towards the patriarch Gu Yue Bo, and Fang Zheng was part of the patriarch’s line. Plus, with his Grade A aptitude, choosing him as first, giving him some preferential treatment, would be acceptable to the family’s higher-ups.

A warm spring breeze blew in, carrying the scent of flowers into the Martial Training Ground.

Sunlight shone on Fang Yuan, casting a solitary shadow on the ground.

His expression remained cold as he quietly looked at the straw doll puppet ten meters away, the Moon Blade mark in his hand emitting a faint blue glow.

The first Moon Blade was intentionally off-target. Now, with only two chances left, considering the Academy Elder's stance, he had to create an attack effect far superior to the others to claim first place.

"Only two chances left, it's impossible. Brother, I've finally beaten you." Gu Yue Fang Zheng watched Fang Yuan intently, his eyes unblinking.

From childhood to now, the shadow his brother cast over his life was finally fading.

Fang Zheng felt victory was within reach, his fists clenching tightly, his whole body trembling with excitement.

"Brother, this victory is just the beginning. I will keep winning until I erase all the shadows in my heart. I will prove to the clan the excellence of a Grade A genius!" Fang Zheng said to himself.

But at that moment, Fang Yuan made his move.

His right hand, like a knife, slashed through the air.

With a soft hiss, the blue glow enveloping his hand detached, flying into the air, transforming into a crescent blue Moon Blade, shooting towards the straw puppet.

In the next second, Fang Yuan's right palm glowed blue again.

He flipped his hand and slashed out a third Moon Blade.

His two attacks flowed seamlessly, perfectly timed.

The two Moon Blades flew out in succession, less than half a meter apart in the air.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, both Moon Blades accurately hit the puppet's neck.

"This..." Fang Zheng's pupils contracted sharply, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

In the next moment, the students, with expressions of surprise, slowly opened their mouths.

They saw the puppet's head tilt to one side, then fall from its neck, bouncing once on the ground before rolling two or three meters away.

Fang Yuan had severed the head!

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This outcome was beyond everyone's expectations.

"Was it luck or skill?" The Academy Elder frowned.

This question lingered in the minds of the other students as well.

For a moment, the Martial Training Ground fell silent.

"How could this be..." Fang Zheng murmured, staring blankly at Fang Yuan, the surge of emotions in his heart suddenly emptying, plunging into a deep valley.

Fang Yuan squinted slightly, seemingly oblivious to the eyes on him.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, a flock of colorful parrots suddenly flapped their wings, soaring into the sky. They trailed their beautiful, long tails, cooing as they spiraled and played in the air.

Fang Yuan stood in the center of the Martial Training Ground, looking up. In the brilliant sunlight, the birds' rainbow feathers appeared even more dazzling and splendid.

His expression remained indifferent, as if he hadn't just severed the puppet's head.

"The spring sunshine is indeed bright..." he sighed inwardly.