The clan head was not the only one disappointed by Fang Yuan's tactics.
"Man- why is that kid not using any gu worms?"
"I thought we'd see some cool Rank 2 action from him- but he hasn't even tossed out a single moonblade yet!"
"Yeah man, what's the point of cultivating if all you're going to do and jump and flail around like a monkey?"
Several people laughed, though a voice cut through all of the noise.
"You all cannot see Mt. Tai," Chi Shan said coldly. The laughter stopped. "Many times, Gu Masters run out of primeval essence and have to use their own fists to do the talking. That boy is a natural martial artist."
"Indeed, you're right, Chi Shan," someone chirped up. "I heard his uncle was the one who taught him how to fight like that."
"Oh, is that so?" Chi Shan thought, eyes shimmering. 'Perhaps I should also seek the advice of his uncle then... or maybe ask for a spar sometime later?'
Qing Shu agreed with Chi Shan's assessment. Qing Shu was a renowned Gu Master and considered to be the 'future clan head' by many until Fang Zheng had shown up. His family had been killed by wolves when he had been young, and he had been nurtured by the clan head after awakening his aperture. He had an aptitude close to the upper limit of B-grade, and could possibly cultivate to Rank 4 in the future.
His heart carried an immense sense of gratitude to the clan head and the clan who had nurtured him, and he had bore no ill will towards Fang Zheng when learning that he was an A-grade talent. Instead, he was overjoyed that the clan would have such a powerful clan head, someone who could maybe even reach Rank 5 one day. Fang Zheng's crippling had affected him greatly, though he had been told by the clan head that there was someone else they were nurturing.
"Who is that?" he had asked.
"Fang Yuan," the clan head said.
"Fang Yuan... Fang Yuan... that name sounds familiar."
"Yes, he was the one who found the Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance- I'm sure you've heard of him..."
"No... no... there was something else..." Qing Shu had said at the time, wondering where it was that he had heard that name before.
After some reflection, the answer became clear.
One day, when he had been out on a walk, he had seen a child limping along the road. His leg had been broken, though at the time, Qing Shu had been preoccupied with a mission and could not stop to help. As it was the injury did not place that boy's life in immediate danger. However, once he was done he went looking for that child, intending to help him, only to find that the child's leg had already been mended.
"Big Brother paid a Gu Master to fix it..." the child told him.
"Oh? And what was big brother's name?" Qing Shu had asked the boy.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan."
'So that was where I had heard his name!' Qing Shu thought. 'No wonder the clan head is interested in him. Not only is he this skilled- but he has a heart of gold. To spend his own primeval stones to help a child whom he had no relation to. Heh- the clan head said that I would have a new contender who could compete with me for the position of clan head. That seems to be true, but at the same time- I feel like even if I lost to Fang Yuan it would be alright. After all, he would be an excellent future leader for the clan.'
Competition brought out the best in people, and so no matter who won between the two of them, it was the village who would be the ultimate winner.
By now, most of the D-grade and C-grade talents had been eliminated. The semi-finals pitted Chi Cheng against Mo Bei, and Fang Yuan against a classmate who was already sweating bullets.
Chi Cheng and Mo Bei grit their teeth- they had both hoped that the other would be paired against Fang Yuan, but it was their bad luck that they were up against each other.
Mo Bei had chosen the Yellow Camel Longhorn Beetle Gu as his second gu worm, which greatly increased his endurance. Chi Cheng on the other hand, had chosen the Scarlet Pill Cricket Gu which greatly increased his agility.
The two of them danced on the stage, and for once, the whispers died down.
"Finally! A real fight between Gu Masters!"
Mo Bei could strike with precision and could keep up for a long time, while Chi Cheng could evade nearly everything that he did.
Ultimately their fight was decided by primeval essence. Chi Cheng was not a true B-grade talent and so he expended all of his first, and was no longer able to deal with Mo Bei, who tossed him out of the arena.
Cheers erupted for Mo Bei, while the Chi faction was sullen.
However, Mo Bei knew that the real fight had only just started. He was going to go up against Fang Yuan next- a Rank 2 Gu Master! Fang Yuan would be the one with an advantage when it came to primeval essence.
The clan head tapped his finger- perhaps now Fang Yuan would be forced to use gu worms?
The two fighters greeted each other, before Fang Yuan launched himself at Mo Bei.
'Not even using gu worms?' Mo Bei thought as he flicked out a moonblade, which Fang Yuan saw coming from a mile away.
As the fight continued, it was clear that Mo Bei was faltering. He had been struck in several non-vital areas, but it felt like Fang Yuan's bones were made of iron. When had he gained strength like this? Even then, back during the tournament, he had not shown this kind of power, yet Mo Bei could feel like his bones were going to crack.
And this was all without Fang Yuan using any gu worms! How terrifying would it be when he actually started using them?
Mo Bei needed to find a decisive moment to flip this battle around- a moment where he could beat Fang Yuan.
After a while, it seemed that Fang Yuan had faltered. 'An opening!' Though as he was about to strike, a blue glow erupted from Fang Yuan's right hand.
'A feint!' Mo Bei realized, trying to change the direction of his blow. But it was too late, as he was thrown off balance, Fang Yuan took the initiative to cancel his attack and instead strike him on his chest, knocking the wind out of Mo Bei, before striking him on the back of the neck, knocking him out.
Fang Yuan had won!
Mission Complete!
Reward: Aptitude increased by 2% permanently.
The clan head had expected this, but he had a thought in his mind - 'Didn't Fang Yuan use up the Moonlight Gu? Where did he get another one?'
In the crowd, Yu Sai was chuckling to himself. 'Fang Yuan agreed to give me five primeval stones to borrow it. Joke's on him- I would've done it for three!'
New Main Mission!
To Reach Rank 3
Description: Advance to Rank 3.
Reward: The location of a Paradise Earth Immortal Venerable's and Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable's combined inheritance.
New Main Mission!
Elder Gu Yue Fang Yuan
Description: Become an elder.
Reward: For every week spent as an elder, gain 5 Human Path dao marks.