"Someone's here!!!"
Before the fierce shout even faded, a chilling moon blade shot out like an arrow piercing the air, slashing straight towards Wang Da's face.
Wang Da's reaction was astonishingly fast. In the blink of an eye, his entire figure seemed to merge with the black shadows, vanishing abruptly into the deep night without leaving a trace of his aura.
"Damn! It's the Shadow Following Gu!"
Gu Yue Jianghe stared at the now-empty spot, his face changing drastically, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
He knew all too well the power of this Gu—once activated, the Gu Master could hide within darkness, leaving no trace, making it the perfect weapon for an assassin.
However, this Gu was not without its weaknesses. Its sole fatal flaw was that it could not withstand even the slightest bit of strong light.
The Shadow Following Gu's utility far surpassed that of ordinary Gu worms. Without specialized countermeasures, most who faced it would suffer a heavy defeat.
But Gu Yue Jianghe was an obscure figure among Rank Two Gu Masters to begin with; what means could he possibly have to counter the Shadow Following Gu?
For now, all he could rely on was the faint, clear glow emitted by his own moonlight gu, barely holding its own against the darkness.
Right in this moment of stalemate, Fang Yuan's figure slowly emerged from the shadows—he had been waiting precisely for this moment when Wang Da would reveal himself.
"So it really is the Shadow Following Gu. Flash Gu!"
As the words fell, a blindingly intense light suddenly erupted from Fang Yuan's palm, like a miniature sun abruptly rising, instantly shredding the surrounding darkness to pieces.
Forced to expose himself, Wang Da grunted. The Shadow Following Gu inside his body, stimulated by the intense light, would be completely unusable for several hours.
"moonlight gu!"
Fang Yuan gave Wang Da no chance to catch his breath, raising his hand to unleash another moon blade. This blade came at an extremely tricky angle, whistling sharply through the air as it aimed straight for Wang Da's lower body.
Wang Da frantically twisted his body to dodge, but was ultimately half a step too slow. The moon blade grazed past his thigh, instantly carving a deep, bone-revealing wound. Blood immediately soaked through his clothing.
"Damn it... it's the Flash Gu! It just happens to counter my Shadow Following Gu!"
Clutching his bleeding wound, Wang Da gritted his teeth in hatred, yet there was nothing he could do.
He recognized this Gu—it was merely a one-time consumable Gu of the Rank One Light Path. This Gu had been purchased in advance by Yuan Fang for forty primeval stones, specifically to deal with Wang Da's Shadow Following Gu.
"Although Gu Yue Jianghe is a Rank Two Gu Master, Fang Yuan is just a Rank One brat, far less threatening than the former. I'll deal with Jianghe first, then take care of this vicious little punk!"
Once his mind was made up, Wang Da ignored the leg injury, forcefully pushing off with his feet and lunging at Gu Yue Jianghe like an arrow from a bowstring. Gu Yue Jianghe's heart tightened; he retreated several steps in succession, hastily activating a defensive Gu worm to barely block this thunderous strike.
"What! It's the love-shedding gu!"
Gu Yue Jianghe clearly saw the Gu worm Wang Da had activated and was so frightened his soul almost left his body. That was the number one poison among Rank Two Gu worms!
He didn't dare hesitate for even a moment, retreating with all his might to put several zhang of distance between himself and Wang Da, terrified of being touched by even a trace of this dreadful Gu worm.
The love-shedding gu was the number one poison among Rank Two Gu worms.
Once injured by this Gu, even a Rank Three healing Gu would find it difficult to save one's life—this Gu's power was tyrannical, sealing the throat with blood. A single successful strike was enough to claim a life.
This was precisely why Yuan Fang was so determined to refine the Rank Two white jade gu.
Although the Rank Two love-shedding gu was fierce and vicious, its effect was far too singular; it was merely a Gu worm for close-quarters combat, lacking both formidable piercing power and sharp slashing force.
In the original story, Fang Yuan had slaughtered Old Man Wang's entire Family. Seeking revenge, Wang Da mistakenly identified Fang Zheng as Fang Yuan and stabbed at Fang Zheng with the love-shedding gu.
That strike should have been fatal, but it was blocked for the most part by the Rank One jade skin gu.
It was precisely because he had figured this out that Yuan Fang dared to face Wang Da directly, having even set his sights on Wang Da's love-shedding gu long ago.
"Hmph! Gu Yue Jianghe runs fast enough! In that case, I'll kill Fang Yuan first!"
Wang Da shifted his attack, charging straight at Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan's expression remained unchanged; he simply raised his hand and waved, sending a moon blade shooting through the air to accurately slash Wang Da's chest.
Wang Da's chest was covered by a layer of protective leather armor. The moon blade split the armor, leaving only a deep, bone-revealing gash on his chest.
But Wang Da paid no heed to this injury. Enduring the heart-piercing pain, he instead quickened his pace, pouncing on Fang Yuan like a starving tiger.
"Interesting."
Fang Yuan chuckled softly and instead charged actively towards Wang Da. Another moon blade erupted from his hand, slashing straight at Wang Da's face.
Wang Da hastily twisted aside to dodge, but Fang Yuan flicked his wrist, sending out another moon blade that struck his arm squarely. Blood immediately splattered, dyeing half his arm crimson.
Wang Da roared furiously, extending his uninjured other hand to grab at Fang Yuan like an eagle's talon. Fang Yuan neither dodged nor evaded, instantly activating the white jade gu and meeting the attack with a punch that landed squarely on Wang Da's chest.
A crisp *crack* sounded; this punch directly broke three of Wang Da's ribs, the immense force blasting his entire body away like a cannonball.
Fang Yuan then used the Misty Smoke Steps that Yuan Fang had taught him in advance. His figure chased after the flying Wang Da like a ghost, a faint, illusory boar-force shadow suddenly rising behind him.
That shadow, carrying the brute force of a charge, slammed heavily into Wang Da, smashing him hard to the ground.
Earlier, Fang Yuan had already used the white boar gu to grant himself the strength of one boar. This boar strength excelled at charging, and when paired with the elusive footwork of the Misty Smoke Steps, Fang Yuan's offensive was exquisitely executed.
"moonlight gu!"
Fang Yuan shouted softly, activating the moonlight gu to condense a moon blade. The sharp blade light slashed through the air, cleanly severing Wang Da's already injured arm.
In pain, Wang Da scrambled, rolling away several feet. Ignoring his injuries, he immediately activated the love-shedding gu, his withered fingers clawing at Fang Yuan like sharp talons.
But Fang Yuan's figure shifted slightly, avoiding this fatal claw like a breeze evading dust. Simultaneously, he raised his hand and unleashed another moon blade, slashing straight at Wang Da's head.
Where the cold light passed, Wang Da's head spun into the air, hot blood gushing forth like a fountain.
Before his death, a vague, guttural sound escaped his throat as he once again uttered his wife's name:
"Wan'er..."
"Do you regret it?"
Since the day his wife died tragically, Wang Da had asked himself this countless times in the dead of night.
Now, his head, filled with unwillingness, rolled to the ground. His headless body collapsed with a thud, devoid of any remaining vitality.
"I regret it... I regret it so much it's worse than death! The pain of regret is unbearable!"
In his fading consciousness, there was a heart-rending roar.
"But Wan'er... if everything could start over, I would still do it..."
Before Wang Da's eyes, his wife's gentle figure appeared one last time.
Finally, he breathed his last.
Thus, not a single living soul remained of Old Man Wang's Family; they had been completely exterminated.
Wang Da was truly, utterly dead.
Fang Yuan stepped forward, extracting two Gu worms from his body: one Rank Two love-shedding gu and one Rank Two Shadow Following Gu. Both were top-tier items among Rank Two Gu worms.
Especially that love-shedding gu, whose market price even exceeded some Rank Three Gu worms.
Seeing that Wang Da was dead, Gu Yue Jianghe finally returned, full of trepidation.
He had personally witnessed a Rank One Student actually kill a Demonic Path Rank Two Mid Stage Gu Master, a feat across ranks. He couldn't help but marvel inwardly:
Truly worthy of being the number one Genius of Gu Yue Village!
"Junior Brother Fang Yuan, impressive skills! However, in dealing with this Demonic Path Gu Master, I also contributed significantly..."
Gu Yue Jianghe attempted to claim credit, but his words were coldly interrupted by Fang Yuan:
"I found a hidden Demonic Path Gu Master in the village you were guarding. If I were to report this matter to the Family, Senior Brother, what do you think the outcome would be?"
"Huh? No, no, no! Junior Brother Fang Yuan, calm down first! That's not what I meant!" Gu Yue Jianghe instantly panicked.
He understood perfectly well that if Wang Da's matter became known to outsiders, coupled with the fact that Wang Da and Fang Yuan had fought, Gu Yue Jianghe's future would be utterly ruined.
"Fine. You killed the Demonic Path Gu Master, Nickname. That also counts as a great merit..."
"What Nickname?" Gu Yue Jianghe was very confused.
Fang Yuan was somewhat speechless. He glanced sideways at Gu Yue Jianghe, his tone carrying a hint of impatience: "Did you fucking not understand?"
"Oh, right, it's Nickname, yes." Gu Yue Jianghe coughed and hurriedly agreed. Fang Yuan gave Gu Yue Jianghe a deep look and continued:
"This Demonic Path Gu Master, Nickname, sent by the Bai Family Village, originally came to assassinate me. Fortunately, Senior Brother Jianghe stepped in to help. You risked your life to assist and ultimately cut down this Demonic Path Gu Master."
Thus, the matter of Wang Da was finally settled.
The next day, the news of Fang Yuan killing a Demonic Path Gu Master spread throughout the entire Gu Yue Village.
Moreover, that Demonic Path Gu Master possessed the number one poison Gu among Rank Two, the love-shedding gu. This matter caused an uproar within the village and immediately drew the attention of the Gu Yue higher-ups.
For safety reasons, Fang Yuan was sent to the medicine hall for examination and treatment.
Inside the Clan Leader Pavilion, the Clan Chief, Gu Yue Bo, sat solemnly in the main seat. The Elders from the various branches all wore gloomy expressions, the entire hall filled with oppressive tension.
Just then, Elder Medicinal Consort walked in. Gu Yue Bo immediately asked:
"How is Fang Yuan?"
"Fang Yuan has no injuries, and his Aptitude has not been damaged. He is currently still attending classes at the academy."
"Good, it's fine as long as his Aptitude hasn't dropped."
Only then did Gu Yue Bo breathe a sigh of relief. Fang Yuan was the hope for Gu Yue Village's rise, a future blade capable of rivaling Bai Ning Bing. He could not afford the slightest mishap.
Upon hearing the news that Fang Yuan was safe and sound, the oppressive feeling in the Elders' hearts eased slightly, and they all let out sighs of relief.
The Elder in charge of authority, Gu Yue Chi Lian, was the first to stand up, angrily stating:
"This Bai Family Village dares to assassinate our clan's Genius! We must demand an explanation!"
The other Elders also began angrily denouncing the Bai Family Village—although these Family members were usually divided into factions and engaged in open and covert strife, they were ultimately bound by Bloodline ties. When facing an external enemy, they could always quickly set aside their prejudices and unite against the common foe.
This was also the advantage of the Family system:
The School system of Central Continent was far less reliable in uniting hearts than the Family system.
"This Bai Family Village deserves a good lesson."
Gu Yue Bo said gravely, turning to look at the Dark Hall Elder. He said to him:
"Dark Hall Elder, it's time to activate the informants our clan has planted within the Bai Family Village. Let's make the Bai Family Village suffer a bit and learn their lesson."
In truth, it wasn't just Gu Yue Village that had informants within the Bai Family Village. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, let alone the three major Families standing in a tripartite balance?
The three major Families of Qing Mao Mountain planting spies and harming each other was simply the norm between villages.
"Gu Yue Ye."
Gu Yue Bo then looked at the Rank Three Clan Elder beside him, his tone serious:
"Fang Yuan is the undisputed number one Genius of our Gu Yue Village. His importance goes without saying. From now on, you will protect him in secret. He must never be ambushed again."
Although Gu Yue Ye was a Rank Three Clan Elder, he held no real authority, making him perfectly suited for this kind of covert guard duty. He immediately accepted the order.
In the following days, Fang Yuan buried himself in arduous cultivation. His cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, and he finally succeeded in advancing to a Rank Two Gu Master.
After his promotion, he went deep into the stone forest where the flower wine inheritance was located, hunted down a Hundred Beast King-level Jade Eye Stone Monkey, and obtained a Concealing Stone Gu from it.
Although this Concealing Stone Gu was a Rank One Gu worm, it had the wonderful ability to conceal one's figure, though it could not hide clothing.
In terms of concealment ability, it was not as good as the Shadow Following Gu, but it had the advantage of not being restricted by the environment—it could be activated anytime, day or night.
Unlike the Shadow Following Gu, which could only be used in darkness.
Fang Yuan had already made plans:
The Rank One Concealing Stone Gu and the Rank One Fish Scale Gu could be combined to refine into the Rank Two Hidden Scale Gu.
This Hidden Scale Gu could conceal both one's figure and clothing. If paired with the Shadow Following Gu, it would be enough to form a surprise Killer Move.
Therefore, he had no intention of selling the Concealing Stone Gu.
In addition, Fang Yuan also purchased a small light gu. Using two small light gu together with one moonlight gu, he refined a Rank Two moonlight gu.
The killing power of this moonlight gu far surpassed that of the moonlight gu; it was three times stronger.
It was a pity that he was short on primeval stones; otherwise, he would have liked to buy another Rank One Fish Scale Gu to refine the Rank Two Hidden Scale Gu.
On the eve of the year-end assessment, Fang Yuan's cultivation had been pushed to Rank Two Mid Stage. At that time, the other Students were still stuck at the Rank One Realm. Fang Yuan, who had just advanced to Rank Two, was already far ahead, taking first place in the year-end assessment without any suspense.
After the assessment concluded, the Students officially graduated. Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng were both assigned to Gu Yue Qing Shu's team.
According to the rules, after joining a team, one must perform Family tasks every month.
But how could Fang Yuan be willing to be controlled by others?
He already had a plan in mind, intending to use this opportunity to officially make the matter of the flower wine inheritance public.