The fiery red sun gradually sank behind the western mountains.
Its light was soft and warm, not blinding, casting a gentle glow.
The western sky blushed with shades of red, the sunset radiance spreading like an imperial concubine joyfully embracing the emperor after receiving his favor.
Qing Mao Mountain was bathed in rose-colored light, with every building and rooftop wrapped in a golden hue.
The forest surrounding the academy appeared lightly brushed with oil, glistening under the fading sunlight.
A gentle breeze blew as students stepped out of the classroom, holding the primeval stones they had just received, their moods relaxed and content.
"I really don't know what Fang Yuan is thinking, to actually give up on the role of class chairman!"
"Heh heh heh, his brain is fried. I bet he thinks of killing people all day, let's not concern ourselves with this kind of crazy guy."
"Come to think of it, that day when he burst into the academy I was really freaked out. It was just so terrifying, I had a nightmare on the day itself after I went home."
The students were in groups of twos and threes as they walked.
"Good day class chairman."
"Mmm."
"Greetings class chairman."
"Mhmm."
Gu Yue Mo Bei strutted proudly as he walked, receiving respectful greetings from every student he passed.
His face couldn't hide the excitement and satisfaction he felt.
This was the allure of power.
Even a slight rise in status could boost one's confidence and sense of self-worth.
Right now as the dying sun looked as red as blood, Mo Bei watched it while his heart sang, "How is it that I have never realised before, this sunset's rosiness sure is adorable…"
"Hmph, going head over heels just because of becoming a chairman, as if it's so amazing." Gu Yue Chi Cheng purposely walked behind, since he just didn't want to greet Gu Yue Mo Bei at all.
"I really have no idea what Fang Yuan is thinking about, to think he actually let go of the position of chairman. However it's also a good thing, or else me as the third, how could I have been able to obtain the role of vice chairman?" Gu Yue Chi Cheng was confused in his heart, but he also felt happiness and relief.
"Good day vice chairman." At this moment a normal student walked past him and immediately bowed to greet him.
"Heh heh, good day to you too." Gu Yue Chi Cheng instantly nodded, his face full of smiles.
Once the student was gone, Chi Cheng naturally thought, "The taste of vice chairman is rather pleasant. I'm sure the feeling of being the class chairman is even better. If only I was not the vice chairman, but the chairman himself, how good that would be!"
The Chi Cheng who had just been rejoicing earlier was now already filled with insatiable greed, starting to amass expectations for the role of class chairman.
Within the clan's system, each higher rank was like a progressively larger carrot, tempting him more and more.
"Although I am only a C-grade talent, but I believe that everything will get better and better." Gu Yue Chi Cheng was full of hope for his future.
However right now, the other vice chairman Gu Yue Fang Zheng was feeling very much terrible in his heart, his face expression also quite unsightly.
"Big brother, you!" He looked wide-eyed with disbelief at the academy's gate entrance, where a lone figure stood.
"Old rules as usual, every person one piece of primeval stone." Fang Yuan stood while hugging his arms, his tone dull.
Fang Zheng's mouth opened and closed a few times, then after some moments of effort he finally said, "Big brother, but I am the vice chairman now!"
"That's true." Fang Yuan was expressionless as he nodded, giving Fang Zheng an indifferent look, "The vice chairman receives an allowance of five pieces each time. So you should give up three pieces instead."
Fang Zheng was flabbergasted, and for a moment he was unable to say a word.
A group of teenagers were crowding around Gu Yue Mo Bei as they walked over.
When they saw Fang Yuan blocking the school gate entrance, Gu Yue Mo Bei flew into a rage, his finger pointing towards Fang Yuan. "Fang Yuan! You sure have the guts to actually still dare hold us back?! Right now I am the chairman, and as a normal student when you see me, you should first bow and greet me!"
What answered him next was Fang Yuan's fist.
Gu Yue Mo Bei was caught unexpected. After being hit by the fist, he could not refrain from retreating a few big steps backwards, his face full of disbelief. "You hit me, you actually dared to hit me? I am but the chairman!"
What answered him again was still Fang Yuan's fists.
Bang, bang, bang.
After several rounds of attacking and defending, Gu Yue Mo Bei was ultimately knocked to the ground by Fang Yuan and lost consciousness.
The nearby students stared in shock, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
This outcome was completely unexpected!
Even the guards stationed at the gate, who had witnessed the entire scene, began murmuring to each other in surprise.
"Fang Yuan just knocked down the new class chairman, what do we do?"
"Salad dressing!"
"What do you mean?"
"It means just watch them, then call some other guys and tidy up the place."
"But…"
"Hey hey, you want to provoke a person like Fang Yuan? I hope you remember what happened to Wang Da and Wu Er!"
The questioning guard instantly fell silent, trembling slightly.
The two guards at the gate stood rigidly, pretending they had seen and heard nothing, as if the nearby commotion didn't exist.
After handling Gu Yue Mo Bei, Fang Yuan went on to deal with Fang Zheng and Chi Cheng as well.
Only then did the other students realize that nothing had really changed—Fang Yuan was still the same, and the extortion would continue as usual.
"Each of you hand over one piece of primeval stone, vice chairmen three pieces, class chairman eight pieces." Fang Yuan announced the new rules.
The youths could only sigh and obediently fish out their primeval stones.
When they walked out of the school gates, suddenly someone slapped his head and exclaimed loudly, "I've thought of it, no wonder Fang Yuan did not want the position of class chairman. He wanted to continue extorting us!"
"That's right. Every time he does it he would get about fifty-nine pieces of primeval stones, and right now it's gone up to about sixty-eight pieces. If he was the class chairman, he'd only get ten pieces." Quite a few of them were enlightened.
"He's too treacherous, too cunning, too savage!" Some of them were slapping their thighs, full of hatred and resentment.
"Sigh, this way it means that there's nothing extraordinary about the position of class and vice chairman. They'll also be extorted and be left with two pieces, just like the rest of us."
Bang!
The academy elder slapped the table fiercely, feeling extremely furious.
"This Fang Yuan is just too absurd, what is he trying to do? To go as far as to continue extorting, taking eight pieces from the class chairman and three pieces from the vice chairman. With this, what is the difference of being a class and vice chairman in comparison with the other normal students?!" The academy elder tried his best to suppress his voice, but his tone was filled with fury.
By rejecting the class chairman position, Fang Yuan essentially distanced himself from the clan's system—an act seen as borderline betrayal. This angered the academy elder greatly.
Fang Yuan then went on to extort his classmates again, further crossing the elder's bottom line. His actions undermined the authority of the class chairman and vice chairmen, gradually eroding the students' respect for these roles.
Though his moves seemed minor, they symbolized a direct challenge to the clan's authority.
This deeply troubled the academy elder, who intended to nurture loyal successors—not rebels. Yet, despite Fang Yuan's defiance, the elder was powerless to stop him.
If he acted rashly, the clan head—who pinned his hopes on the resilient Fang Zheng—would be the first to oppose him. Likewise, elders Chi Lian and Mo Chen, who wanted their grandsons to grow through hardship, would also disapprove.
If the academy elder acted and replaced the students in punishing Fang yuan, once word got out then there would be the sayings of "Mo and Chi family's future successors could not beat Fang Yuan and could only let the elders help them out."
How unbearable that situation would be.
It would undoubtedly deal a serious blow to the reputation and prestige of the Mo and Chi families.
The academy elder wasn't truly concerned about a mere student like Fang Yuan, but rather about provoking backlash from three powerful factions—the clan head and the Mo and Chi bloodlines. Together, they represented nearly all of the Gu Yue leadership. As a minor elder, how could he possibly withstand such pressure?
"The root of this matter still goes back to Fang Yuan's secret. What in the world did he rely on to break through to the middle stage?" The academy elder restrained the fire in his heart and shot his gaze at the three investigation reports on his table.
The first report detailed Fang Yuan's family background.
He came from a respectable family with no unusual history. His parents had died, and he was raised by an uncle and aunt, though their relationship was strained. Since entering the academy, he had lived in the dorms.
The second report covered his early life.
Fang Yuan showed promise in childhood and was once seen as a potential A-grade talent. However, after the Awakening Ceremony, he was revealed to have only C-grade talent, disappointing the clan.
The third report outlined his recent activities.
His daily routine was disciplined—attending academy classes by day and cultivating at night. Occasionally, he visited the village inn for better food and green bamboo wine, which he was especially fond of. He stored dozens of wine pots under his bed.
After reviewing all three reports, the academy elder formed a clearer and deeper understanding of Fang Yuan.
"Both his parents died early, and he was unable to get along with his uncle and aunt… No wonder this brat Fang Yuan does not have a sense of belonging towards the clan. He was personally crowned as a genius among all by the clansmen, yet they also personally plucked him out of the sky and threw him down to the earth… No wonder he is so wild and unruly, and so peculiarly cold and detached. His life is so simple and he is assiduous towards cultivation. This is him holding back his breath, unwilling to concede, he wants to prove his ability to the clan! Thus that is why when I suppressed him, he retaliated so fiercely…"
After thinking it through, the academy elder let out a sigh.
The more he learned about Fang Yuan, the more he came to understand him.
However, understanding didn't mean forgiveness. Fang Yuan had challenged his authority, refused the class chairman role, and even extorted classmates—actions the elder couldn't accept.
"Although these reports are detailed, they have nothing to do with Fang Yuan's advancement secret. It has already been a few days, these people are atrocious!" The academy elder frowned again.
Thump, thump, thump
At this time, knocking sounds were heard on the door.
"Come inside," the academy elder said.
It was the clan head, Gu Yue Bo's personal guard. "The clan leader has orders, esteemed elder, please hurry to the main family pavilion, there is a matter to discuss."
"Oh, what's the matter?" The academy elder stood up from his seat, he had felt the severity of the issue from the guard's tone and expression.
"The Rank four Gu Master Sir Jia Fu has come back, his brother Jia Jin Sheng has gone missing!" The guard answered.
"Hiss…" The academy elder instantly drew a mouthful of cold air.