Among those stares were shock, fear, mockery, and cold hostility.
Fang Yuan paid them no mind. He looked at the Academy Elder, one hand pointing at the unconscious guard sprawled on the floor, his expression solemn.
"Elder, I must report that these two guards harbored malicious intent — their treachery deserves punishment! At the most critical moment of my breakthrough to the Middle Stage, they forcibly kicked down the door and burst in. Everyone knows that a Gu Master's cultivation cannot be disturbed. This is especially true when attempting to advance to a higher realm. The slightest mishap would not only cause the breakthrough to fail, but could even damage one's Empty Orifice. Fortunately, I was lucky enough that in the very instant they barged in, I barely managed to step into the Middle Stage."
"But!" Before anyone could react, Fang Yuan pressed on without pause. "These two refused to admit the wrong they had just committed. Instead, they had the audacity to lay hands on me, even insulting my clan's ancestors, and falsely claiming that this disruption of my cultivation was done on your orders, Elder. I refused to believe such a lie and fought back desperately. These two are highly skilled martial artists — I had to fight through blood and sweat to finally defeat them."
"However, considering their status as Academy guards, I did not kill them. I only severed one's arm and cut off the other's leg. They've lost a fair bit of blood, but neither of them is dead yet. That is the full account of what happened. I humbly ask the Elder to uphold justice for this student!" With that, Fang Yuan cupped his fists toward the Academy Elder.
His words had come in a rapid torrent, leaving no room for anyone else to get a word in.
Only after he finished did the people around him slowly begin to process what they had heard.
"What did Fang Yuan just say? I'm not sure I caught all of that."
"He seemed to say he advanced to the Middle Stage!"
"That's impossible — he's a Grade C aptitude waste, and he was the first to advance to the Middle Stage?"
"He must be lying! He's afraid of the Academy's punishment, so he made up a story!"
The students began chattering loudly among themselves.
Compared to Fang Yuan advancing to the Middle Stage, the lives and deaths of the two guards were no longer important.
They didn't have the surname Gu Yue — who cared whether those two lived or died?
"You claim you've already advanced to the First Transformation Middle Stage?" The Academy Elder's voice was cold, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. "Fang Yuan, you must not speak carelessly about this. If you admit your mistake now, I can still show leniency on account of it being your first offense. But if you persist in this error, attempting to cover it up with lies, then I will tell you right now — lies are the easiest thing to see through."
Fang Yuan offered no defense. He simply let out a soft laugh and said to the Academy Elder, "Please, Elder, verify it yourself."
No further prompting was needed. The Academy Elder had already walked over.
He pressed his hand against Fang Yuan's lower abdomen, sending a thread of consciousness inside. Instantly, the scene within Fang Yuan's Empty Orifice appeared before him.
Inside the Empty Orifice, not a single Gu Insect could be found.
The Spring Autumn Cicada had already hidden itself. As a Sixth Transformation Gu Insect, its level far surpassed that of the Academy Elder who was only at the Third Transformation. With the Cicada deliberately concealing itself, it would not be easily discovered.
As for the Wine Worm, Fang Yuan had temporarily placed it in a wine jar in his dormitory rather than carrying it on his person.
The Academy Elder closed his eyes, and before him appeared a vast expanse of bronze-colored Yuan Sea, its surface utterly still.
Every drop of Yuan Water bore the deep cyan hue that only Middle Stage True Essence could produce.
He then turned his attention to the surrounding Orifice walls. The white walls shimmered with rippling light, as though they were composed entirely of flowing water. Countless streams of water coursed through them at tremendous speed.
Water Film!
"Truly advanced to Middle Stage — how is this possible!?" The Academy Elder's mind cried out in shock, a flicker of disbelief passing beneath his eyelids. But he suppressed it with all his might, his expression settling into a mask as still and deep as water.
After a moment, he absorbed the fact, slowly withdrew his hand, and spoke in a low voice: "It is indeed the Middle Stage."
The students had long been holding their breath, awaiting the result.
The moment the Academy Elder's words fell, the entire Academy erupted as though a cauldron had exploded.
The students were filled with uncertainty, each one's face showing a look of utter disbelief.
Fang Yuan was only Grade C, yet he was the first to break through to the Middle Stage — this completely defied common sense!
When Gu Masters cultivated and challenged their realm, aptitude should be the primary factor. Was this some kind of joke? A Grade C could be the first to advance? How were those with Grade A and Grade B aptitude supposed to feel about this?!
"This—!" Gu Yue Fang Zheng's face turned stark white. Just last night he had been brimming with confidence, but the facts now laid bare before him were too much to bear. He collapsed back into his seat.
Gu Yue Mobei clenched both fists tight, while Gu Yue Chicheng gritted his teeth hard.
The Academy Elder could not possibly be deceived — so how on earth had Fang Yuan managed this?
In that moment, every single student stared fixedly at Fang Yuan, and the same question arose in all their minds — with his Grade C aptitude, how had he advanced so quickly?
The Academy Elder's mind was equally filled with doubt.
Overcome by such overwhelming confusion, he cast aside his earlier thoughts of suppressing Fang Yuan and asked directly: "Fang Yuan, I want you to explain — how exactly did you advance to the Middle Stage?"
Fang Yuan smiled faintly and said: "Heaven rewards diligence. I have studied and practiced earnestly, accumulating bit by bit over time, so the result came naturally."
"Liar!"
"Pfft, if Heaven rewarded diligence, I'd have been first place long ago!"
"Studying and practicing hard? Just a while ago, I saw him strolling around the shops without a care in the world."
The students were clearly dissatisfied with his answer.
"Is that so?" The Academy Elder remained noncommittal, his gaze cold and pressing as he bore down on Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan's expression was open and honest as he met the Elder's stare without the slightest hint of fear.
His entire body was drenched in blood, his hemp robes in disarray, as though he had just been through an intense fight.
His pair of deep, dark eyes held a calm, an indifference, and even seemed to conceal a trace of amusement.
Seeing those eyes, the Academy Elder's resolve wavered despite himself.
*This Fang Yuan — unafraid, undaunted, unfazed, unshaken. How could he possibly be forced into a confession on the spot? With his Grade C Aptitude, he was the first to advance to the Middle Stage — there must be a secret behind it. But if he has no intention of revealing it, then as the Academy Elder, I cannot force him to speak. It seems I'll have to investigate in secret.* With that thought, the Academy Elder had no choice but to withdraw his gaze. The stern, severe expression on his face softened somewhat.
Fang Yuan, however, did not let the matter drop. "This student is terrified, sir. Academy Elder, what will you do about these two guards? They've lost far too much blood. If they aren't treated soon, they will die."
"'Terrified,' he says?" The Academy Elder let out an inward snort of contempt. His brows furrowed deeply.
Things had reached this point. As the one in charge of the Academy, he was obligated to step forward and handle the situation.
"But how should he handle it?" The Academy Elder found himself in a rather thorny predicament.
He fell into deep deliberation.
Fang Yuan took in every flicker of the Academy Elder's changing expressions. He chuckled inwardly — the Academy Elder must be having quite the difficult time right about now.