Fang Yuan's words still echoed in everyone's ears.
In that moment, nearly every Second Transformation Gu Master below the stone tower directed their astonished gazes at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan ignored them all, standing with his arms crossed, his expression serene.
"Concede? He's actually conceding outright? I didn't mishear that, did I?"
"That's Fang Yuan? He doesn't even have the guts to make a move, heh."
"I have to admit Xiong Li's presence is truly imposing. But even if you're going to lose, you should at least go through the motions. Conceding outright not only shows your own cowardice but also shames the entire clan."
...
Gradually, the whispered murmurs spread like ripples across the surface of a still lake.
After the initial shock faded, the gazes of the numerous Gu Masters turned to contempt, disdain, and schadenfreude.
Many of the Guye Clan's Gu Masters shifted uneasily on their feet. The gazes from the Bear Family and Bai Family Gu Masters were like invisible needles, piercing their pride.
Fang Yuan was a member of the Guye Clan. His outright concession dragged them all into shame.
"How can you just concede? Fang Yuan, you're a man of the Guye family — step up and fight Xiong Li with honor!"
"Though, even losing wouldn't be the end of the world."
"Not even having the courage to fight — that's the real disgrace!"
Some of the Guye Clan's Gu Masters were shouting, goading Fang Yuan to go out and fight.
Fang Yuan's expression didn't change a whit. He listened to their words as though hearing a pack of dogs barking.
So-called reputation, honor, glory — nothing but empty promises. Shackles that those in power placed around the necks of their subordinates.
These Gu Masters were nothing more than leashed dogs.
Xiong Li stared fixedly at Fang Yuan, then suddenly laughed. "How disappointing. So this is the bravery of the Guye family?"
Those words made the Guye Clan Gu Masters' expressions darken.
Bursts of laughter erupted from the Bear Family Stronghold. Even the Bai Family Stronghold's Gu Masters regarded the Guye Clan with mocking gazes.
Those around Fang Yuan shuffled away one by one, all distancing themselves from him with expressions that said they were ashamed to be seen with him.
Soon, no one remained within five paces of Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan stood alone. Going his own way, out of place, yet perfectly calm.
Others prized the reputation of bravery, but Fang Yuan scoffed at it. This, almost involuntarily, fueled the crowd's resentment toward him.
Because Fang Yuan's contempt for reputation was a rejection of the masses' values. To reject those values was to reject everyone who had lived by them.
Naturally, no one wanted to believe their own values were wrong, that they had been living incorrectly. So unconsciously, they began to resist Fang Yuan, to reject him.
Those with weak hearts would be broken by such rejection, changing themselves to fit the mold.
But Fang Yuan needed exactly this kind of rejection. His secrets were multiplying, and he needed to walk alone. Besides, these people held no value as acquaintances. In his memories, the three great strongholds of Qing Mao Mountain had barely survived the wolf tide, only to be completely annihilated two years later after that incident. From then on, Qing Mao Mountain became a frozen, silent wasteland.
All Fang Yuan needed to do was use this time to grow as much as possible, leave the clan in time, and avoid the calamity that would take his life.
Watching this increasingly unfavorable situation, Qingshu — the foremost Second Transformation Gu Master of Guye Stockade — had no choice but to step forward.
"Xiong Li, why don't we have a friendly spar?"
"Heh, how do you want to do this?" Xiong Li smiled, though his expression carried a hint of gravity.
Gu Yue Qingshu didn't look at Xiong Li. Instead, he raised one palm slightly, secretly channeling his True Essence, his gaze lowered as he watched a green vine slowly growing from his palm.
He said slowly, "Let's test your strength. If you can break free from the bindings of my green vine, I'll concede defeat. How about that?"
"Heh, not a bad proposal. Let's do it." Xiong Li grinned, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
He thought to himself: He had already cultivated the Strength of One Bear, and with the explosive power of his Bear Might Gu, the two combined gave him the Strength of Two Bears. The green vine was tough, but with the Strength of Two Bears, he could certainly break free. Xiong Jiang had already defeated Bai Bingyi — if he could beat Qingshu as well, it would be a tremendous boost to his prestige!
Qingshu smiled gently and said no more. He simply extended both palms, flat and open. Two green vines grew longer and longer from his palms, like two agile green serpents, climbing up Xiong Li's body and coiling around him.
With Xiong Li's hands hanging at his sides, the vines wrapped around his arms, coiling over a dozen times in an instant, binding his hands and torso tightly together.
The other Gu Masters watched the confrontation with unblinking eyes.
"Please," Qingshu said to Xiong Li.
Xiong Li's eyes went wide as he clenched his fists and began to exert his strength.
Muscles bulged across his body, one section after another, like boulders stacked upon boulders.
The Strength of One Bear!
Snap. Snap. Snap.
Under his tremendous force, the green vines began to snap, one by one.