Chapter 81

The wolf’s stalker turns out to be Gu Yue Chi Shan, a nearly two meters tall, bare chested rank two upper stage Gu Master of the Chi faction whose body runs entirely bright red muscle, carrying several small game carcasses including the old wolf he had just startled off. Fang Yuan recognizes him by reputation: a childhood prodigy who accidentally beat a family servant to death at age ten and could spin a heavy stone grinder like a frisbee at twelve, expected to test A grade until the awakening ceremony rated him only B grade. After that disappointment he matured, graduated top of his year, and rose to become an elite among the clan’s rank two Gu Masters. ^{ch. 81}

Watching Chi Shan pass, Fang Yuan reviews the clan’s stages of life: an awakening ceremony at fifteen, academy entry, and graduation into a five person mission group at sixteen, after which advancement to rank three grows rare. He judges that he is already rank one peak stage this time, against only rank one middle stage at the same point in his previous life. ^{ch. 81}

Fang Yuan knows that once the year end arena examination ends he can no longer stay at the hostel, and that at sixteen he must live independently rather than move in with his aunt and uncle as they would prefer, so he needs steady income once the academy’s allowance and his extortion income end at graduation. With winter nearing, he tallies his finances: he has raised six Gu worms by himself, a heavier draw on his primeval stones than Fang Zheng, Chi Cheng, or Mo Bei face, though the Spring Autumn Cicada and his two Earth Treasury flower finds have spared him some cost. That makes the year end exam’s reward of a hundred and fifty primeval stones for first place a serious target. ^{ch. 81}

On exam day, snow falls lightly over fifty seven students gathered on the academy arena before the clan leader, the academy elder, and the assembled clan elders, and a female Gu Master calls each forward for a cultivation check. Most students test at rank one middle stage or lower, but Chi Cheng draws the first gasp of the day by testing rank one peak stage, which elders credit to his B grade talent and his grandfather Gu Yue Chi Lian’s standing. Mo Bei matches Chi Cheng at rank one peak stage, and Fang Yuan, tested next, shocks the crowd by also reaching rank one peak stage despite his C grade talent, though onlookers console themselves that his edge comes only from the Liquor worm and will vanish once rank two primeval essence is needed. ^{ch. 81}

Called last among the four, Fang Zheng steps up under the clan leader’s encouraging smile and tests at rank two initial stage, drawing a roar of astonishment from the crowd. The clan elders credit the result to Gu Yue Bo’s personal nurturing and to the Jade Skin Gu the clan leader gave him half a year earlier. Fang Yuan, who had already guessed the outcome from Fang Zheng’s expression and felt no surprise, notes to himself that the result is even higher than what Fang Zheng achieved at this point in his previous life, while Fang Zheng silently vows that he has finally left the brother who once overshadowed him behind. ^{ch. 81}