Hundreds of years ago, a Demonic Path Gu Master arrived at Qing Mao Mountain and discovered a brand-new origin spring there.
This origin spring continuously produced dusty-looking primeval stones. Its productivity was strong enough to support the development of an entire School.
The Demonic Path Gu Master was overjoyed, so he settled down there, married, and started a Family. Because of this, Qing Mao Mountain became prosperous, forming the prototype of Gu Yue Village.
And this Demonic Path Gu Master who branched out the Family was none other than the later Gu Yue First Generation.
Many years later, another Rank Five Demonic Path powerhouse came to Qing Mao Mountain.
He went by the name Flower Wine; most notably, he had a completely bald head that could reflect sunlight.
Whether it was a layout of heaven's will or a stroke of luck, this great Devil Head known as the "Flower Wine Walker" actually stumbled upon the Gu recipe for the Rank Three heavenly origin treasure lotus.
This heavenly origin treasure lotus had a massive background: it could continuously produce primeval stones. If refined further, it would become the Rank Four heavenly origin precious lord lotus. Above the Rank Four heavenly origin precious lord lotus was the Rank Five heavenly origin supreme treasure lotus.
Legend has it that among the ten ancient venerables, the Heavenly Court's third-generation Immortal King, Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable, had the Rank Nine heavenly origin supreme treasure lotus as his vital Gu. Possessing such a Gu insect, he was called the wealthiest existence among the ten venerables.
Riding a Thousand-Mile Earth Wolf Spider, the Flower Wine Walker used the excuse of purchasing moon orchid petals from Gu Yue Village to try and destroy the origin spring of Qing Mao Mountain's Gu Yue Village.
To refine the heavenly origin treasure lotus, one needed to use an origin spring in the refining process.
Thus, under the pretext of purchasing moon orchid petals, the Flower Wine Walker infiltrated Gu Yue Village, attempting to destroy the Gu Yue Village origin spring.
Unexpectedly, before he could get his hands on the origin spring, he was first poisoned in his wine by the Fourth Generation Clan Leader—this poison provoked the Rank Five Flower Wine Walker's killing intent, and a great battle erupted.
The furious Flower Wine Walker engaged in a death match with the Fourth Generation Clan Leader, and the aftershocks of the fight nearly destroyed the entire Gu Yue Village.
Ultimately, the Fourth Generation Clan Leader was no match for the Flower Wine Walker. Having been struck by the Flower Wine Walker's unique poison Gu, he could only kneel and beg for mercy.
The Flower Wine Walker originally had no killing intent and only wanted to seize the origin spring; he didn't want to deal a fatal blow. He only requested that the Gu Yue Clan periodically hand over some moon orchid petals.
However, to the Flower Wine Walker's surprise, while begging for mercy, the Fourth Generation Clan Leader secretly planted a Rank Four moon shadow gu on him.
The ambushed Flower Wine Walker flew into a rage on the spot and killed the Fourth Generation Clan Leader. This moon shadow gu was incredibly overbearing when it took effect. Under the fierce attacks of the group of Elders, the Flower Wine Walker could only take the hits passively, finally dying a tragic death on Qing Mao Mountain.
This story was something even the recently reborn Fang Yuan might not have known; perhaps only the Clan Leader and Yuan Fang knew the inside story. But as for the various secrets before the Flower Wine Walker's death, even the Clan Leader likely had no way of knowing, while only Yuan Fang knew them clearly.
Heaven does not betray those who are diligent; the Flower Wine Walker eventually escaped the pursuit of the Elders and even found the Gu Yue Clan's origin spring.
Overjoyed, the Flower Wine Walker immediately set about Gu Refining. Just as the heavenly origin treasure lotus was about to be completed, countless blood-water dragged the Flower Wine Walker beneath the origin spring.
Deep within the origin spring was a crimson Blood Lake. The Gu Yue First Generation woke up from his coffin and engaged in a death struggle with the Flower Wine Walker.
How could the Flower Wine Walker be a match for the Gu Yue First Generation? After a period of fighting, the Flower Wine Walker was heavily injured and fled in panic, knowing he would surely die. Before his death, he hastily left a Legacy in the Rock Crevice Secret Cave, which eventually led Fang Yuan to discover the flower wine inheritance.
After the Fourth Generation Clan Leader died in battle, the Flower Wine Walker also died in the Rock Crevice Secret Cave. The Gu Yue First Generation returned to his slumber. The Gu Yue Elders on Qing Mao Mountain all sang praises of their "heroic" Fourth Generation Clan Leader, even swapping the identities of the Flower Wine Walker and the Fourth Generation Clan Leader.
The Fourth Generation Clan Leader displayed Divine Might, defeated the Flower Wine Walker, and saved Gu Yue Village. The Flower Wine Walker was despicable and shameless, launching a secret ambush, and was killed on the spot by the Fourth Generation Clan Leader's palm. However, the Fourth Generation Clan Leader's injuries were ultimately untreatable, and he died shortly thereafter.
"History has always been written by the victors. Gu Yue Village needed a hero, so the Fourth Generation Clan Leader was molded into such a hero."
Outside the Clan Leader Pavilion, Yuan Fang sneered in his heart. At this moment, the control of this body was in his hands.
A moment later, a guard stepped out of the Clan Leader Pavilion and signaled for him to enter. Yuan Fang stepped into the pavilion and at once saw the seated Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader's expression was complex and hard to read. As the head of a clan, if he couldn't even see through the hidden details within this, then his position as Clan Chief would have been held in vain.
"Lord Clan Leader, since yesterday's Aperture Opening Ceremony, I was fortunately tested to have A-grade aptitude. My heart was filled with joy, so I bought a jar of green bamboo wine at the inn. Last night, I overindulged and became dead drunk. In my stupor, I accidentally entered a Rock Crevice Secret Cave and actually discovered this thing inside."
Yuan Fang said all this in one breath, putting on a look of utter nervousness. In the palm of his right hand lay a Gu quietly; it was none other than the Photo-Audio Gu.
Seeing this, the Clan Leader immediately took the Gu to inspect it carefully. When he saw the series of images showing the great battle between the Fourth Generation Clan Leader and the Flower Wine Walker, ending with the former kneeling to beg for mercy, his expression grew increasingly grave. He said in a deep voice:
"Fang Yuan, I ask you, besides yourself, does anyone else know about this?"
"Reporting to Lord Clan Leader, this matter concerns the honor and rise or fall of my Gu Yue Clan. As a disciple of the clan, I would never dare to leak even a fraction of this matter."
Yuan Fang's tone was earnest, and his eyes seemed to hold only sincerity and loyalty toward the Family.
The Clan Leader sized up the youth before him, feeling secretly pleased in his heart:
"Although this kid stumbled upon such a secret and looks flustered on the surface, his heart is as calm and self-possessed as ice and snow. Facing me, the Clan Chief, he appears extremely nervous, yet his responses are logical, clear, and neither humble nor arrogant. With such a steady Heart-Nature and being endowed with A-grade aptitude, in time, he might just become a pillar of my Gu Yue Clan."
"The Bai family's Bai Ning Bing is truly a difficult and ruthless character. I wonder if Fang Yuan can defeat this Bai Ning Bing. Sigh... Bai Ning Bing... just thinking about her is terrifying."
At the thought of Bai Ning Bing, the Clan Leader couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart. That was a top-tier Aptitude of ninety-nine percent A-grade! In the past, with only Rank Two cultivation, she could go head-to-head with a Rank Three clan Elder; such strength was truly terrifying to the extreme.
The Clan Leader did not know that on a certain day in the past, while Bai Ning Bing was cultivating, her aperture Aptitude had actually surged to ten percent Perfection—that was the true Ten Extreme Aptitudes! Relying solely on the foundation of the Northern Darkness Ice Soul Body, calling her the number one Genius of Qing Mao Mountain was not an exaggeration at all.
"Fang Yuan, you have done well! I indeed did not misjudge you. That you can consider the Family with such loyalty makes me very gratified. It so happens I have a Gu here; I shall gift it to you."
Before his voice had even faded, a lustrous Gu insect emerged in the Clan Leader's palm. Fang Yuan looked up and felt his heart sink suddenly, then throb wildly, his heart filled with a joy that almost overflowed—the Gu before him was the famous Bronze Sarira Gu!
The Bronze Sarira Gu was a rare, one-time consumable Gu insect that was only effective for Rank One Gu Masters. Once activated, it could allow a Rank One Gu Master's cultivation to directly rise by one minor stage. If Fang Yuan used it now, he could reach the heavens in a single bound and directly become a Rank One Middle Stage Gu Master.
"Bronze Sarira Gu! This... this is too precious..." Fang Yuan feigned panic, his tone full of being overwhelmed by the favor.
"It's fine, the market price of this Gu insect is only a few hundred primeval stones; it's nothing much." The Clan Leader waved his hand, his tone indifferent.
"Then... then alright, thank you, Lord Clan Leader!" Fang Yuan no longer declined and directly took the Bronze Sarira Gu.
Immediately, with a thought, a chubby, round silkworm-like Gu insect appeared in his palm. Sniffing carefully, one could even detect a faint scent of wine.
"This is... this is a wine worm!" The Clan Leader recognized the Gu insect at a glance, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
"Lord Clan Leader is indeed knowledgeable! This wine worm was found by me next to the remains of the Flower Wine Walker. At that time, it was in a deep slumber. I acted decisively and took it, and in just a few moments, I completely refined this wine worm." Fang Yuan's tone was calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter.
The Clan Leader didn't find it strange at all that Fang Yuan could refine the wine worm in an instant. The way of raising Gu was much like keeping a mistress; most of these Gu insects were very picky eaters, and some had staggering appetites. Many Gu Masters' Gu insects ended up starving to death.
But there were also Gu insects that would turn into stubborn stones. Gu insects that turned into stones were extremely weak and could be easily refined by a Gu Master. Being able to refine a wine worm wasn't considered unusual.
How could the Clan Leader know that the wine worm had not been in a deep slumber at all; it had been forcibly refined by Fang Yuan in an instant using lightning-fast methods.
But these minor details were unimportant. What mattered was that Fang Yuan had not only obtained this wine worm but had very likely found the Flower Wine Walker's power Legacy.
But even so, what of it? If it were any other Rank One or Rank Two Gu Master who discovered the Flower Wine Walker's Legacy, the Clan Leader would certainly use the banner of "serving the Family" to rightfully take the Legacy as his own.
But the person who obtained the Legacy just happened to be Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan possessed A-grade aptitude; as long as he grew up smoothly, he could at least become a Rank Four Gu Master in the future.
If he could rely on this Rank Five Legacy, breaking through to the Rank Five Realm wouldn't be a fantasy. One day, even breaking through to Rank Five Peak and becoming a Rank Six Gu Immortal might not be an unreachable dream.
"Fang Yuan, oh Fang Yuan, the road ahead is long and exciting. If you can grow robustly with the support of the Flower Wine Legacy and the full cultivation of my Gu Yue Clan, you will surely spread the fame of my Gu Yue Clan far and wide."
The Clan Leader pondered this in his heart. As the head of a clan, he certainly had a selfish side, but in the face of the Family's overall situation, he was also willing to pay the necessary price and effort for the prosperity of the Gu Yue Clan.
The Clan Leader could never see through Fang Yuan, yet Fang Yuan had grasped the Clan Leader's thoughts perfectly.
And precisely because of the Opportunity provided by this wine worm, Fang Yuan, with the indirect help of the Clan Leader, secured the top prize for the vital Gu Refining assessment—a full ten primeval stones.