One month passed after the Awakening Ceremony.
In the academy training field, fifty-seven youths stood in a loose half-circle around the academy elder. Tall spear bamboo surrounded the field like green walls, blocking most of the outside view. Several grass puppets had been placed not far away, each one standing upright like a silent target.
The academy elder raised his right hand.
"Today, I will teach you how to use Moonlight Gu."
The students immediately became focused.
Most of them had chosen Moonlight Gu as their vital Gu. Even those who had chosen other Gu still paid close attention. The Moonlight Gu was the Gu Yue clan's symbol. Knowing how it was used was basic knowledge for any clan Gu Master.
Fang Ming stood among the students, listening quietly.
A month had passed since his first copy.
His second copy had also succeeded.
The target had been the Liquor worm.
For that entire month, sitting beside Fang Yuan in class had become useful. There had been no need to follow, no need to approach deliberately, no need to create strange chances. The classroom itself gave him the distance he needed.
The copying process had taken longer than Fang Zheng's aptitude.
Much longer.
Even then, the result had been worth it.
Fang Ming now had his own Liquor worm.
This matter could not be exposed.
The Liquor worm was too valuable for a new Rank one Gu Master. If others learned he possessed one without any clear source, it would bring trouble. So publicly, Fang Ming remained an ordinary academy student with A-grade aptitude and a Moonlight Gu.
Secretly, his cultivation speed had already changed.
At the center of the field, the academy elder continued.
"Move your Moonlight Gu to the center of your palm. Then pour primeval essence into it. Once the moonlight condenses, release it with a cutting motion."
As he spoke, a crescent mark moved into his palm.
Pale blue light gathered.
Then the elder swung his hand.
A moonblade flew out, thin and sharp. It crossed the air and struck a grass puppet ten steps away. The puppet's neck was cut cleanly, and its head fell to the ground.
The students gasped.
Fang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had read about Moonlight Gu. He had imagined its power. But seeing it cut a thick grass puppet so cleanly still gave him a different feeling.
If that strike landed on a person's neck, the result would be death.
This was a deadly weapon.
"All students who have refined Moonlight Gu, step forward," the academy elder said. "Take a position before a grass puppet and practice."
Around thirty students stepped out.
Fang Ming was among them.
He stood before a grass puppet and raised his right hand. With a thought, the Moonlight Gu moved to his palm. A faint crescent mark appeared on his skin.
He guided green copper primeval essence into it.
Blue light slowly gathered.
The process was not hard.
The hard part was controlling it.
Fang Ming copied the elder's motion and swung his palm.
A faint moonblade flew out, but it tilted halfway and struck the grass puppet's shoulder instead of its neck. The cut was shallow. After a moment, the grass puppet began recovering.
Fang Ming looked at his palm.
The first try had failed.
He was not disappointed.
A-grade aptitude gave him more primeval essence and faster recovery. The Liquor worm could improve his essence quality in private. But neither of these things directly gave him technique.
Technique needed practice.
Around him, the other students also struggled.
Some could not release a moonblade at all. Some released light that scattered after a short distance. Some missed the target completely. A few managed to hit the grass puppets, but mostly by luck.
The academy elder walked between the students, correcting postures.
"Do not swing too hard. The motion guides the moonblade; it does not throw it by physical strength."
"Condense the light first."
"Your palm angle is wrong."
When he reached Fang Ming, he paused.
"Again," the elder said.
Fang Ming nodded and raised his hand.
Blue light condensed.
He swung.
This time, the moonblade flew straighter. It struck the grass puppet's chest, leaving a deep cut.
The academy elder nodded. "Your control is stable, but you are too cautious. Moonblade attacks require precision, but hesitation will weaken the release."
"Yes, elder."
Fang Ming remembered the words.
Too cautious.
This was indeed his problem.
He was careful because he feared exposing too much. He was careful because every step in the Gu World carried danger. But combat could not be fought with hesitation.
A moonblade had to be released cleanly.
He tried again.
The third moonblade flew faster than before. It still missed the neck, but the path was closer.
Fang Ming silently calculated.
Each moonblade used a notable portion of his primeval essence. Low aptitude students would only have a few chances before needing to rest. He had far more chances, but even he could not waste them casually.
The academy elder gave guidance to the other talented students as well. Fang Zheng, Mo Bei, Chi Chen—each received more attention than ordinary students. This was normal. The clan invested where returns were highest.
Fang Ming did not resent this.
He was one of those receiving attention.
After several rounds, the students' excitement began to fade. Using Moonlight Gu was not as easy as watching the elder use it. Their arms grew tired, their primeval essence dropped, and their confidence was cut down by repeated failure.
Fang Ming stepped back after exhausting much of his essence.
His expression remained calm, but his mind was active.
There were three parts to this technique.
Condensation.
Release.
Aim.
Condensation depended on primeval essence control.
Release depended on timing and confidence.
Aim depended on the body's movement matching the mind's intention.
His advantage was practice volume.
With A-grade aptitude, he could attempt more times than most. With primeval stones, he could extend practice further. With the Liquor worm, his foundation would soon become even better.
But the Liquor worm had to remain hidden. In public training, he could not show recovery that was too abnormal.
So he needed a balance.
The academy elder clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Enough for today."
The students lowered their hands, many of them sighing in relief.
The elder pointed at the grass puppets. "In three days, I will test your moonblade practice. Whoever performs best will receive ten primeval stones."
The tired students immediately became alert again.
Ten primeval stones.
Not as much as the first assessment reward, but still a valuable sum for new students.
Fang Ming's gaze moved to the grass puppet before him.
This reward mattered, but not as much as the result.
He had already taken first place once. If he won again, the impression would deepen. Fang Zheng would also try hard this time; after the previous assessment, he would not want to fall behind again.
For the next three days, he would practice seriously.
After the lesson ended, students left the training field in groups. Many were still discussing the elder's moonblade, excitedly describing how it had cut the puppet's neck.
Fang Ming stayed a little longer.
He faced the grass puppet again and raised his palm.
One more attempt.
Blue light gathered.
He adjusted his breathing, relaxed his wrist, and swung.
The moonblade flew out.
This time, it struck the side of the puppet, three days that was enough time to improve.