After the snow, naturally, the sky was clear.
Early in the morning, Gu Masters filed into the Academy one after another.
"The annual year-end exam has begun once again. Hehehe, thinking back, the day I left the Academy more than ten years ago is still as vivid as ever." A middle-aged male Gu Master stood before the Academy gates, his long cyan hair draping down his back, and let out a wistful sigh.
"Chief, come on already. You always get so sentimental." Beside him, a young female Gu Master rolled her eyes. Her lips were red as blood, both hands stuffed into her pockets, and a blade of grass dangled from her lips.
"Hehehe, Yaohong, no rush. It doesn't matter whether we go in early or late. The Patriarch has already arranged it — our new members for this year are all set." The cyan-haired male Gu Master chuckled.
"That Grade A genius called Fang Zheng?" The female Gu Master called Gu Yue Yaohong clicked her tongue in displeasure. "Isn't the Patriarch just turning us into babysitters!"
"But this babysitting job won't be easy to pull off," the cyan-haired Gu Master sighed. "Forget it, let's talk inside."
As time passed, more and more Gu Masters walked through the Academy gates and took their positions in the training grounds.
These Gu Masters included men and women — young faces, middle-aged men, and even quite a few elders.
After completing one year at the Academy, Gu Masters would leave and form teams to complete missions issued by the clan. Those who had come to the training grounds were representatives of each team, there to observe the students' performance and recruit anyone who caught their eye.
For a team, this was a chance to absorb new blood and grow stronger.
For the new members joining a team, being guided and mentored by veteran members would help them adapt to the new environment quickly, complete clan missions more efficiently, and reduce casualties at the same time.
The sun gradually climbed higher as the students filed in one by one.
"There are so many people today," the young students murmured in awe.
"Look, that's Lord Qingshu! The number one Second Transformation Gu Master in our Guye Stockade. Lord Qingshu is famous for his gentle temperament." Someone pointed at the cyan-haired Gu Master and exclaimed.
"Senior Chishan is here too!"
"And over there — that's Miss Moyan from the Mo Family!"
Qingshu, Chishan, and Moyan were dazzling stars among the Gu Masters, well known to all the students.
"Sigh, there's no way I'm getting into any of those three seniors' teams. I only have Grade D aptitude, and my Life Gu is nothing but a Wensi Spider. I'll probably end up doing support work for the rest of my life." One youth sighed, then turned to the friend beside him. "What about you?"
"Oh, I pulled some strings. It's already arranged. Through my uncle's cousin's sister's godson..."
...
While the students were observing the Gu Masters, Qingshu, Chishan, Moyan, and the others were also observing the students.
"Huh? There are actually two Gu Yue Fang Zhengs." Yaohong spotted both Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng in the crowd and couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
The cyan-haired Gu Master, Gu Yue Qingshu, let out a helpless sigh. "Didn't you read the profiles I gave you yesterday? Fang Zheng has an identical twin brother, and they look very similar. But his brother is only Grade C aptitude."
"Oh, really? I think I've heard of him — isn't he the one who wrote poetry when he was young? That Fang Yuan? Should we recruit him too?" Yaohong slapped her forehead, speaking whatever came to mind.
But Qingshu shook his head slightly. "The Patriarch specifically told us not to recruit him. Seems like he wants to observe something. Besides, these two brothers don't get along. Even if we wanted to recruit him, Fang Yuan probably wouldn't join."
Yaohong was unconvinced, curling her lip. "Among all the teams, we're recognized as the number one. Joining us means a bright future. Any student would jump at the chance. How could he possibly refuse?"
Qingshu chuckled softly. "That's because you don't know him. You should read through the profiles I gave you first."
At that moment, Patriarch Gu Yue Bo, and reigning Elders Gu Yue Chilian and Gu Yue Mochen filed in one after another. They walked to the pavilion and took their seats in order.
"This year not only has the Patriarch come in person, but Elders Chilian and Mochen have both shown up too."
Seeing this, both the students and the Gu Masters grew excited. In previous years, this kind of scene had never occurred.
"That's not so strange — both Chilian and Mochen have grandsons in this cohort."
"Fang Zheng is the successor the Patriarch is personally grooming — the seed of hope for standing against that Bai Ningbing in the future. Of course the Patriarch wants to observe carefully."
The crowd buzzed with heated discussion.
"Little brother, you'd better put on a good show." Moyan gazed toward Mobei in the crowd, silently urging him in her heart. Her team was the largest in size, the most imposing in scale. Surrounded by a ring of Gu Masters at her side, her dominance was on full display.
And as her sworn rival, Gu Yue Chishan from the Chi branch stood alone. He was tall and imposing, a full head taller than everyone around him — like a red tower standing amid the crowd, commanding attention.
After giving Chicheng a brief, private glance, he withdrew his gaze.
After a short speech from the Patriarch, the year-end exam officially began.
Battles erupted simultaneously on three arena stages.
In an instant, battle cries, shouts, the whooshing of Moon Blades cutting through the air, the thud of fists and feet colliding, and the chatter of the Gu Masters below the stages all merged into a single roaring cacophony.