A number of days had passed now after Yuxuan had brought Fang Yuan to his house, and as a result some things had changed.
Minor things, but they had changed nonetheless.
The first thing being that Yuxuan had acquired primeval stones by making copies of the stones that Fang Yuan had, Fang Yuan also did not have to spend those primeval stones on the wine needed to look for the liquor worm because Yuxuan had informed him of where it was and when he would go and get it
Initially Fang Yuan had spent most of them on buying the wine, a jar a day which cost 2 primeval stones, which he had wasted pouring around the village edges and drinking to attract the worm but now he could save them
Meaning Fang Yuan had saved the stones for later to aid in his cultivation, and also when they get the Gu worm, they could purchase the wine for its food instead of wasting it.
They had both decided to not go out to get the liquor worm until after they received their first mortal Gu; the reason for that was simple—there was no merit in doing so; in fact, there was risk
Yuxuan wanted to go and get it the next day but Fang Yuan had informed him of the risks involved with that plan
Yuxuan had a high enough aptitude to where his speedy cultivation would not incur suspicion but Fang Yuan would be under said suspicion if he used the liquor worm
Sure they could go and get it right now but that was unnecessary and would waste time for cultivation which they had both spent a decent amount of time doing
The other reason was that after Jing Xiao had seen them out there, she would most likely be reporting it to the clan head
What happens when they go in the same direction for no reason within a short amount of time? They would be followed and when they are followed the flower wine monks' inheritance would be recovered
So they did not go to get it just yet
After they received their first mortal Gu taking a walk around after refining Gu was a good way to calm the mind and body while they recovered essence
By then they would not be under as much of a watch and will give them the opportunity to slip away and get the inheritance
Which was what they were planning to do in a few hours
Right now it was morning and they were both sitting in class, Fang Yuan at the back next to the window and Yuxuan at the front next to the door
Yuxuan was listening to the teacher talk this time since he actually enjoyed this explanation, especially since he would be experiencing and living it
"Humans are above all creatures; Gu are the essence of heaven and earth. In this world there are thousands of species, a countless number of Gu. They live everywhere around us—in the soil, in the bushes, even on the bodies of wild beasts."
"As humans continue to propagate and grow, the scholars of the past gradually uncovered the mysteries of the Gu. Those who have opened the aperture, using their own primeval essence to feed, refine, and manipulate these Gu—people who have achieved these various purposes are what we call Gu Masters."
"And all of you have successfully opened your aperture in the Awakening Ceremony 7 days ago. With the coagulation of the Primeval Sea, right now you are all Rank-one Gu Masters."
He smiled listening to the student asking to elaborate on the correlation between ranks and aptitudes.
The explanation was neat and well-made, but Yuxuan was struggling not to laugh
In the Gu Yue clan, there has never been the appearance of a Rank 6 Gu master. Hah—they have a rank 6 existence in their class and soon will be rank 9 along with the other rank 9!'
He smiled as the eyes of the students came to him and some to fang yuan when they realised that they had the highest chances of attaining rank 5
Yuxuan actually felt quite annoyed when he saw Fang Zheng looking at him as well with that look in his eye
'Is that bastard jealous of me?'
Yuxuan felt annoyed; even for a child, in the previous life this wretch had treated Fang Yuan horribly and even in this lifetime he would try to do so and fail
And for what?
That girl Shen Cui and his aunt and uncle, whom he would soon take as his parents
Yuxuan was not a fan, not in his slightest
Many of the people who had been staring at him stopped when he put on the facade of being uncomfortable under their stares; instead, they changed their attention to Fang Yuan, who was focused on the teacher's words.
"Look at who decided to wake up."
"Yeah, I heard he stopped drinking too."
"What, does he think he can do anything with his talent?"
"Tch, his efforts are useless—he will be rank 2, and unless he has some fortuitous encounter, he will stay there with the highest rank he can reach being rank 3."
The elder watched the events unfold and felt the smallest trickle of emotion towards the boy; he was praised as a dragon soaring to the heavens only to fall like a phoenix to the earth
'Perhaps he will at least reach rank 3 in his lifetime and live comfortably as an elder in his last years.'
The elder did not give Fang Yuan any respect in the original story since he had just came to class and slept, but now with this little bit of enthusiasm, the man seemed to look at him in a slightly altered light
Yuxuan had asked fang yuan if he could put on the act
The act of being a determined young man who aspires to reach greatness despite being a low-grade talent—if he showed enough determination, their attention towards his success would be slightly less suspicious in return
They would not pour resources into him, but they would not bother him if he were to come across some valuable encounter by himself—well, they would, but they would understand if he declined.
Yuxuan sat there looking at the teacher explain about those who were rank 5 in their clan and about how the flower wine monk had injured the fourth clan head
After a whole long while of speaking, the academy elder finally said the words that Yuxuan had been waiting for
"This week I have taught you all how to contemplate and check your own aperture's primeval sea and how to meditate and shift around the primeval essence inside your body. Now is the time for you all to refine your vital Gu. After this class ends, you will all go to the academy's Gu room and pick a Gu worm.
After choosing your Gu, please go home and focus on refining it. When you have finally refined your Gu, then you can come back to the academy and continue attending class. At the same time, this is your first assessment. Whoever can finish this assessment first will be rewarded a generous sum of 20 primeval stones."
Yuxuan smiled.
...
The students were lined out outside the Gu room of the academy, as they had been given instructions on what to do
Yuxuan moved to the back of the line on purpose to further iterate the idea that he did not enjoy being around people or induce the idea that he was not good at it.
The line moved slowly and eventually his turn came
Yuxuan entered the large room and began to look around for the moonlight Gu
There were undoubtedly other rank 1 gu in there that he could use and use to cultivate but unlike Fang Yuan, who had settled for the moonlight Gu since he could not get the liquor worm Yuxuan took it for another reason
The moonlight Gu was the signature Gu of the Gu Yue clan; it was also the Gu that most of the warriors and past and current elders and clan heads would choose as their vital Gu.
Taking it was the choice that would be the most approved by others as well
Yuxuans eyes landed on the silver dish and picked up the crescent moon-shaped blue Gu on it and held it in his hand gently—this was his first mortal Gu
He took the gu with him out of the room and exited, seeing no one aside from the academy elder and Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng
"What Gu did you choose, young man?" The elder inquired
Yuxuan looked at him with a soft smile—"The vital Gu of many of our clansman, elders and clan heads."
He opened his palm and revealed the moonlight Gu
"Huhu, good choice, Yuxan; your reasoning was good too!"
Yuxuan's gaze momentarily shifted to Fang Zheng, who appeared to be angry.
'Tch, not that he matters anyway.'
He bowed to the elder and then turned away—"Fang Yuan, can you show me how to refine Gu?"
Both the elder and Fang Zhenf looked at him and his goofy smile that he had showed to other student so far aside from Fang Yuan.
"Not today, Yuxuan. My brother has informed me that my Uncle and Aunt are calling me to their home."
Yuxuan had been expecting this—today was the day that Fang Zheng would have gone to the tavern and got the 'drunken' Fang Yuan to their uncles' and aunts' house, where they would be asked if they were okay with being adopted
But now, Fang Yuan was not at the tavern nor was he returning to his house in general, staying at Yuxuan's residence.
His uncle and aunt must have gotten worried thinking he was slipping away from their control more than he already had—it was too bad for them that Fang Yuan was going to decline regardless
But Yuxuan was not worried; Fang Yuan was more than qualified to take care of his own problems
Yuxuan put on a sad expression—"...Okay, can you show me tomorrow?"
The academy elder, in his curiousty asked - "I was not aware that you and Fang Yuan were close"
Yuxuan smiled again - "Brother Fang Yuan has been teaching me what sir has been teaching in class since i've... been struggling to grasp the concepts well"
"Oh? you could just ask me for help - nurturing a great talent is my jon after all"
Yuxuan rolled his eyes internally - "No thank you, I will wait for Brother Fang Yuan to show me - he explains it well for me to understand" He bowed slightly
The elder laughed - "Okay then but I suggest you start as early as you can, you don't want to loose out on the chance to loose the primeval stones no?"
He turned and walked away and Yuxuan who bowed to the Fang brothers and began to walk away
"Brother Fang Yuan, please come show me in the morning if you can!" He said from a distance and Fang Yuan nodded slowly turning to walk towards his uncle and aunts home
Yuxuan on the other hand was already smiling making his way to the tavern so he can wait for the night
That was when he gets the Flower Wine Monks inheritance