As evening drew near, the remnants of the sun on the horizon burned like blood.
The lingering light fell upon the Academy. Over fifty students sat upright and attentive while the Academy Elder on the platform called out names one by one, distributing stipends.
This was the Yuan Stone stipend distributed by the Academy every seven days—a form of financial support for these youths. After all, given their strength, they still faced considerable economic pressure in feeding their Gu insects independently.
"Guye Fang Yuan," the Elder called.
Fang Yuan rose from his seat by the window in the last row, walked up to the platform, and accepted two money pouches.
One pouch contained three Yuan Stones—the clan stipend. The other held ten Yuan Stones as a reward.
"Keep up the good work." The Elder gave Fang Yuan a deep look. Fang Yuan had claimed first place two times in a row, which had caused even this previously disappointed Elder to pay him a small measure of attention.
Fang Yuan nodded, tucked the money pouches into his robes, and returned to his seat.
"Damn it, he took first place again..." Gu Yue Mochen stared daggers at Fang Yuan, seething inside.
"Those two Moon Blades hitting the puppet's neck in succession—was it just his damned luck again, or real skill?" Gu Yue Chicheng narrowed his eyes. Ever since the exam ended, this question had been circling in his mind.
He wasn't the only one. The gazes of many students drifted toward Fang Yuan, deliberately or not.
This question tormented them. Though they had lost, they were deeply unwilling to accept it and desperately wanted to get to the bottom of it.
As the session was about to end, the Academy Elder made an announcement:
"You have been at the Academy for some time now, and you have grown familiar with using your Life Gu. In the days ahead, I will teach you how to nurture your Empty Orifices and advance your cultivation as Gu Masters. The higher your cultivation, the more refined your True Essence becomes. A First Transformation Gu Master has Bronze True Essence. A Second Transformation Gu Master has Red Iron True Essence. A Third Transformation Gu Master possesses Silver True Essence. One unit of Red Iron True Essence is worth ten units of Bronze True Essence. Likewise, one unit of Silver True Essence is worth ten units of Red Iron True Essence!"
"You must remember—insects are merely our tools. Cultivation is the foundation of every Gu Master. The higher your cultivation, the more powerful the Gu insects you can command. Over the next three months, whoever advances to the Middle Stage of the First Transformation first will receive a reward of thirty Yuan Stones, along with priority in selecting a second Gu insect. After three months, based on results, we will appoint one Class Leader and two Deputy Class Leaders. The Class Leader will receive a stipend of ten Yuan Stones, and the Deputy Class Leaders' Yuan Stone stipend will increase to five! That's all for today. You are dismissed."
The Elder's words set the Academy buzzing with excitement.
"They're going to appoint Class Leaders and Deputy Class Leaders!" someone exclaimed, clenching a fist in excitement.
"A Class Leader gets ten Yuan Stones every seven days, and Deputy Class Leaders get five? If I can be the first to advance to the Middle Stage of the First Transformation, I'll definitely become the Class Leader." Someone's eyes lit up.
"The Yuan Stones aren't the main point. The key is that positions like Class Leader and Deputy Class Leader represent honor—your status rises above everyone else's. When ordinary students see the Class Leader, they have to bow and greet them." Gu Yue Mobei, Chicheng, and their circle didn't lack Yuan Stones; what they valued was the glory.
"Becoming the Class Leader—that's right, I'll be the first to advance to the Middle Stage of the First Transformation! When my brother sees me in the future, he'll have to bow and greet me first. Wait—where's my brother?" Fang Zheng subconsciously turned to look back, but Fang Yuan's seat was already empty.
The students filed out of the Academy one after another.
"Where's Guye Fang Yuan?" Gu Yue Mobei wanted to find Fang Yuan and get a clear answer face to face. But Fang Yuan had already left ahead of them all.