Two great banners fluttered in the wind, snapping and crackling.
One was the Merit Board — Fang Yuan had already made it into the top ten. The other banner listed various supplies, all of which required merit points to redeem.
But at this moment, on the bustling plaza crowded with coming and going Gu Masters, everyone's attention had been captured by a freshly posted decree.
The decree's general content read: The wolf tide was fierce, and casualties among the clan's Gu Masters were growing worse by the day. To strengthen healing capabilities, the Medicine Hall was ordering all Gu Masters who possessed Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass to temporarily surrender their Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass to the clan. The Medicine Hall would organize manpower to carry out unified production.
At the end of the decree was a list of names — the Gu Masters in the clan who owned Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass.
Needless to say, Fang Yuan's name was on the list.
At this moment, he stood in a distant corner, looking at the notice, his expression turning rather grim.
At a single glance, he immediately realized this was Gu Yue Yaoji targeting him, making a move against him.
"Hmph, this Gu Yue Yaoji — she tried to buy my Wine Worm before and failed, and she's never given up. I had long accumulated enough merit points to redeem that Three Step Fragrant Grass Gu, but she secretly blocked that too. And now she's coveting my Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass…"
However, Gu Yue Yaoji's actions were understandable.
Those in the same trade are natural rivals and enemies.
Gu Yue Yaoji controlled the sale of vitality leaves to consolidate her position, deepen her influence, and maintain her network of relationships. Fang Yuan, on the other hand, was secretly selling them and driving up prices, which indirectly infringed upon her interests and undermined her influence.
Right now, Fang Yuan had numerous Gu insects on him — White Jade Gu, Moon Ray Gu, Seize Gu, Water Shield Gu, Earth Listening Flesh Ear Grass, and others. The Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass was his primary source of income. Losing this Gu would be like having the fire pulled from under his pot. Gu Yue Yaoji's move was truly ruthless. Fang Yuan furrowed his brow.
The chatter of the surrounding Gu Masters drifted into his ears.
"This measure by the Medicine Hall is truly wonderful! There are far too few vitality leaves. They can't possibly meet our demand. Every time a batch appears on the supply board, it gets snapped up immediately."
"Elder Yaoji is truly compassionate and benevolent. Look at this list — some of the names are Chi Lineage and Mo Lineage Gu Masters. By doing this, she's undoubtedly offended many of the powerful elders."
"Lady Yaoji puts the clan first in everything she does — she deserves our respect!"
"Sigh, only someone like Lady Yaoji would have such courage. Which other elder would dare do something like this?"
"Oh! Look — the content of the decree has changed. The Chi Lineage and Mo Lineage Gu Masters have all surrendered their Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass."
The crowd erupted.
Consolidating the Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass for unified production meant more vitality leaves. For them, this was excellent news.
Fang Yuan focused his gaze and saw it clearly: after those Gu Masters' names, the words "Already Surrendered" had been added. And his own name had become all the more conspicuous because of it.
A heavier weight settled in his heart.
Gu Yue Yaoji was, after all, an old fox who had mastered the art of power. This move leveraged the broader situation to pressure Fang Yuan. If he tried to resist and refuse, he would only bring greater trouble upon himself and give others a handle against him. That would be anything but wise.
This was the true power of the clan system.
When the clan wanted you to sacrifice, it wouldn't say so directly. Instead, it would clothe itself in a gaudy skin, wrapped in righteousness, leaving you no choice but to comply.
Just like when they conscripted retired elder Gu Masters and asked them to sacrifice their lives — who among them dared to refuse?
Now, collecting the Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass meant asking Fang Yuan and a handful of other Gu Masters to sacrifice their own interests to benefit everyone — or rather, to benefit Yaoji's interests at the root. Anyone who dared refuse would be defying the clan, standing against the masses! They would be called traitors, reactionaries!
"To resolve this, stalling and stonewalling won't work — it will only put me in a more passive position. These are all petty tricks of conspiracy, but Yaoji's move comes wrapped in righteousness and popular sentiment. Any petty scheme will be crushed under it. The only way is to counter with an even greater force — to crush her momentum head-on through a direct, honorable assault. That is the solution."
Fang Yuan already had a fundamental plan in mind.
The plan was simple yet grand: advance to the Third Transformation.
The status of a Third Transformation and a Second Transformation Gu Master were completely different. Within the clan, once a Gu Master advanced to the Third Transformation, they immediately became an Elder and joined the inner circle of decision-makers. Even the Patriarch could not easily encroach upon their interests.
Never mind that in this decree, the Gu Masters of the Mo Lineage and Chi Lineage had obediently surrendered their Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass, seemingly sacrificing their own interests. In reality, behind the scenes, Gu Yue Yaoji had already completed covert exchanges of interests with Elders like Gu Yue Chilian and Gu Yue Mochen.
This was political bargaining.
But most people couldn't see the truth behind the curtain, and so they were all deceived by Yaoji.
If Fang Yuan were a Third Transformation Gu Master, even if he surrendered the Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass, he would certainly receive adequate compensation in other areas.
Why was Gu Yue Yaoji so eager to move against Fang Yuan?
First, it was because of interests — Fang Yuan's activities infringed upon hers, and moreover, some of the Gu insects on his person were ones she wanted to obtain.
Second, Fang Yuan had already reached the peak of the Second Transformation. If she didn't act against him now, once he became a Third Transformation Elder, there would be no more opportunities.
"Advancing to the Third Transformation is essential. To the clan, a Second Transformation Gu Master could be sacrificed, but once someone reached the Third Transformation, they became a pillar — losing even one would be a tremendous loss. Besides, I have plenty of trouble on me right now. The death of Qing Shu — the clan never conducted a thorough investigation. I'm still holding on to Water Shield Gu, Seize Gu, and others, and the clan turns a blind eye. My cultivation has advanced so rapidly that the clan's higher-ups have seen it all, yet they've been holding back, never investigating the secrets I carry."
Fang Yuan was fully aware of his current situation.
On the surface, he appeared powerful and thriving. In reality, danger lurked on every side.