Chapter 12: Middle Stage
Inside his room, Fang Ming sat cross-legged.
The door was shut tight, and the room was quiet.
After the caravan matter, his situation had changed completely.
Before this, Fang Ming had been short on primeval stones. Even with Liquor Worm helping him refine jade-green primeval essence into pale-green primeval essence, he could not cultivate as freely as he wanted. Most of the time, he had to rely on his aperture recovering naturally, sharply reducing Moonlight Gu practice just to save primeval essence for cultivation.
But now it was different.
After selling Liquor Worm to the caravan, then later selling Green Blood Cockroach Gu to a Gu Yue clansman, Fang Ming had more than 1,000 primeval stones on hand.
This amount was not enough for true long-term, but for a Rank 1 academy student, it completely changed his current situation. He no longer had to count every primeval stone carefully or stop cultivating just because his aperture was empty.
From now on, speed came first.
Expenditure came second.
Fang Ming had also copied Fang Yuan's Liquor Worm again.
He had not exposed it yet, but he already knew that hiding it forever was impossible. With A-grade aptitude, enough primeval stones, and Liquor Worm refining his primeval essence, his cultivation speed would soon surpass Fang Zheng by a wide margin. If he continued to hide the Liquor Worm, there would be no reasonable explanation for his progress.
Fang Ming had no intention of slowing himself down just to appear ordinary.
If the Gu Yue elders questioned him later, he would simply admit that he had obtained Liquor Worm from the gambling den.
The explanation was already prepared.
The half-opened rock that Jia Jin Sheng tried to forcefully buy had contained a Gu. Fang Ming had seen a trace of white skin inside and stopped opening it because he was tired. Jia Jin Sheng noticed something unusual and wanted to take it, which led to the fight.
Later, Fang Ming opened it privately and obtained Liquor Worm.
As for Snow Larva Gu, Fang Ming would keep it hidden and sell it later when there was a chance. It was not important enough to expose now.
Liquor Worm was different.
Its value to his current cultivation was too great.
If the elders believed him, good.
If they doubted him, so what?
He had opened a living Gu in public already. He had nearly opened a second Gu in front of many witnesses. Jia Jin Sheng had indeed tried to interfere. The excuse had enough surface logic.
Fang Ming was simply lucky.
What could they do about it?
Inside his aperture, the jade-green primeval sea was calm.
The Liquor Worm floated above the sea, its fat white body giving off a faint wine fragrance. Under Fang Ming's will, it absorbed jade-green primeval essence and refined it into Rank 1 middle-stage pale-green primeval essence.
The pale-green essence sank back into the sea.
Compared with jade-green primeval essence, pale-green primeval essence was stronger, denser, and far more useful for tempering aperture walls. Fang Ming was still Rank 1 initial stage, but with Liquor Worm, he could use essence 1 small stage above his own level to push his cultivation forward.
This was the real value of Liquor Worm.
Combat improvement was only secondary.
A moonblade released with pale-green primeval essence was faster and stronger, and the same amount of essence allowed Fang Ming to release nearly twice as many attacks. But for Fang Ming, the most important thing was still cultivation speed.
He wanted Rank 2 before graduation.
For that, he could not cultivate slowly.
Fang Ming closed his eyes.
His mind entered his aperture.
The pale-green primeval sea surged under his will.
"Rise."
The primeval essence moved.
At first, the waves were small, only faint ripples rolling across the surface of the sea. Then, as Fang Ming pushed more primeval essence forward, the ripples grew into waves, rushing toward the surrounding aperture walls.
Splash.
Splash.
Splash.
Each wave struck the white light wall.
Most of the primeval essence scattered back into the sea after impact, but a small portion transformed into invisible energy, seeping into the aperture wall and tempering it.
Fang Ming did not stop.
Primeval essence was consumed quickly, but beside him were enough primeval stones. When the sea level dropped, he absorbed essence from the stones, recovered, and continued pushing forward.
Again.
And again.
Pale-green waves crashed against the aperture wall without pause.
The white light wall trembled faintly.
Fang Ming's expression remained calm.
This was not the first time he had tempered his aperture wall, but tonight was different. Before, he had always been limited by resources. If his primeval essence ran low, he had to stop and wait. Every round of cultivation had to be calculated carefully.
Now, he could continue.
Primeval stones dimmed one after another beside him.
The natural essence inside them entered his aperture, transformed into his own primeval essence, then passed through Liquor Worm and became pale-green essence before crashing into the aperture wall.
The process was dull.
Repetitive.
Expensive.
But effective.
The white light wall gradually grew brighter.
Fang Ming sensed the change and pushed harder.
The pale-green sea surged violently, waves rising higher than before and slamming into the aperture wall from all directions. The light wall shook again, and the gentle white color became sharper, almost dazzling.
This was the crucial point.
Fang Ming did not hesitate.
More primeval essence surged upward.
The waves crashed again and again, and after several breaths, thin strips of white light began to appear on the aperture wall. They flowed across the surface like water, colliding, merging, and spreading until the entire wall seemed to soften.
The original light wall began to change.
Its surface was no longer only a layer of white light. It thickened, condensed, and slowly transformed into a spherical water wall. Faint ripples moved across it, flowing continuously with a soft white glow.
Rank 1 middle stage.
Fang Ming opened his eyes.
The room was still dark, but faint light had begun to seep through the window.
The night had passed without him noticing.
Several primeval stones beside him had already turned dull and useless, their natural essence fully drained. The cost was not small, but Fang Ming did not care.
He had broken through.
Rank 1 middle stage meant more primeval essence, stronger cultivation foundation, and greater efficiency when using Moonlight Gu. With Liquor Worm, his middle-stage pale-green primeval essence could now be refined into Rank 1 upper-stage dark-green primeval essence.
His speed would only become faster from here.
Fang Ming looked toward the dim sky outside the window but did not rush to report his advancement.
He would just do it tomorrow.
There was still a whole month before Fang Yuan could break through, later followed by Fang Zheng and the others, so there was really no need to rush this late in the night.
The next morning, Fang Ming reported his advancement.
The news spread quickly through the academy, then from the academy to the clan.
Gu Yue Fang Ming had reached Rank 1 middle stage.
Too early.
Far too early.
Even for an A-grade talent, this speed was beyond what most people had expected. Fang Ming had not merely advanced faster than the ordinary students. He had advanced so early that many Gu Masters could not help but connect it to the gambling-den incident.
Then Fang Ming exposed Liquor Worm.
Once this news appeared, the clan became even more lively.
The explanation was simple.
The half-opened gambling rock from the Jia Jin Sheng incident had contained Liquor Worm. Fang Ming had stopped opening it at the time because he was tired, then later opened it privately and obtained the Gu. That was also why Jia Jin Sheng had acted so forcefully, and why the two of them had fought so fiercely in the gambling den.
The story was not flawless.
But it had enough support.
Many Gu Masters had seen Fang Ming open Green Blood Cockroach Gu in public. Many had also seen the second half-opened rock reveal a bit of white skin before Fang Ming put it away. Jia Jin Sheng had indeed tried to buy it, then placed his hand on Fang Ming's shoulder.
From the outside, the explanation made sense.
For a while, Fang Ming became the center of gossip in Gu Yue Village.
Only this time, what people discussed most was not his A-grade aptitude, nor his arrogance, nor his bad temper.
It was his luck.
"Such great luck. A-grade aptitude, and now even Liquor Worm from gambling rocks."
"If only I had that luck."
"From 7 stones, he opened 2 Gu, and one of them happened to be Liquor Worm. Is this still luck?"
"Ah, I remember now. No wonder this kid and that Jia second young master fought so madly. It was Liquor Worm after all. No wonder."
"He already had talent. Heaven even gave him fortune too."
Some clansmen were envious.
Some sighed.
Some felt regret.
A few Gu Masters who had visited the gambling tent that day even felt pain in their hearts when they remembered those rocks. They had walked past that gambling den many times. They had seen the same counters and the same piles of stones. Yet Fang Ming, an academy student, had gone in once and brought out a living Gu, then another Liquor Worm.
This kind of fortune made people uncomfortable.
As the gossip spread, the Shi faction head sat in his study with a dark expression.
He had heard everything.
Fang Ming had reached Rank 1 middle stage.
Fang Ming had exposed Liquor Worm.
Fang Ming had sold Green Blood Cockroach Gu to a Gu Yue clansman for 500 primeval stones.
One piece of news after another arrived, and each one made the Shi faction head feel worse.
For a long time, he did not speak.
He suddenly felt like a fool.
He had been calculating how to control Fang Ming's monthly income, how to control his cultivation speed, and how to make the boy gradually depend on the Shi faction. He had arranged the board carefully, thinking Fang Ming would have to play inside the space he prepared.
But Fang Ming had already left the board.
Not only had Fang Ming nearly broken free from relying on the Shi faction's monthly primeval stones, he had also obtained Liquor Worm, the exact Gu that suited his current cultivation.
The Shi faction head leaned back in his chair, his face gloomy.
He had planned many things around Fang Ming graduating from the academy as a Rank 1 Gu Master.
Once Fang Ming entered a team, the Shi faction could arrange for a Rank 2 senior to guide him. During a dangerous mission, that senior could save him. From there, they could slowly build a senior-junior relationship, teach him about Shi faction unity, and influence him through reliance and gratitude.
Fang Ming was still young.
No matter how arrogant he was, if this was done slowly and properly, there was a chance to change his views.
But now?
If Fang Ming reached Rank 2 before graduation, that plan would lose most of its meaning.
A Rank 1 Gu Master saved by a Rank 2 Gu Master would naturally feel pressure and gratitude.
But if Fang Ming was already Rank 2, and another Rank 2 saved him, then with that boy's arrogant nature, he might not feel gratitude at all. He might even be angry that someone of the same rank dared to act above him.
That was how troublesome Fang Ming was.
The Shi faction head knew this very clearly.
There were still ways to pull Fang Ming closer.
For example, when the next caravan arrived, the Shi faction could prepare a Red Steel Relic Gu for him. Such a gift would definitely make Fang Ming overjoyed, and it would naturally draw him toward the Shi faction camp.
But that was too expensive.
The Shi faction had already paid the Mo faction a great price to make them back off from competing over Fang Ming. Several businesses and resource interests had been handed over, and the faction had not yet recovered from that economic loss.
Now they were supposed to bleed again?
The Shi faction head's expression became uglier.
There was a saying: a drop in need was more valuable than a stream.
Giving Fang Ming a little help when he was desperate would be far more effective than pouring resources onto him when he was already rising by himself.
The original plan was cheaper and better.
Slow him down.
Let him feel difficulty.
Then appear as investors and saviors.
But Fang Ming's luck had ruined the rhythm.
The clan head and other factions were also watching. They would not allow the Shi faction to suppress Fang Ming too openly.
Bai Ning Bing from Bai clan had already begun putting pressure on Gu Yue clan. If Bai clan truly produced a second Rank 4 Gu Master, then Gu Yue clan would also need its own hope.
Fang Zheng was easier to control, but he belonged to the clan head's side.
The other elders and factions wanted balance.
Now that Gu Yue clan had 2 A-grade geniuses, they would not allow only Fang Zheng to rise smoothly while Fang Ming was suppressed. Either both rose together and balanced each other, or both remained at Rank 3 and waited for Gu Yue Bo's time to pass.
After thinking for a whole day, the Shi faction head left his study in a low mood.
There was nothing he could do about the current situation.
He could only wait and see how things developed.
A month later, Fang Yuan broke through to Rank 1 middle stage.
He also exposed Liquor Worm.
This news shocked Gu Yue Village again.
One Liquor Worm appearing among the academy students was already rare.
Now there were 2.
And both were said to have come from the same gambling den.
The clan's Gu Masters could no longer stay calm.
"2 Liquor Worms in the same gambling den?"
"Were those rocks hiding a whole group of Liquor Worms?"
"Maybe they were raised together before sealing themselves."
"Damn it, why did I not gamble there?"
"Those stones were right in front of us."
"Fang Ming got one. Fang Yuan got one. Maybe there were more."
Some Gu Masters felt envy.
Some felt regret.
Some even felt faint resentment toward Fang Ming and Fang Yuan, as if the two of them had taken fortune that should have been shared by everyone.
Fang Ming did not pay much attention to the commotion.
He had obtained Liquor Worm through gambling rocks from the caravan.
At least, that was the origin spoken of openly.
Whether others believed it completely was not important.
If they did not believe it, so what?
These clansmen had tightly bound themselves with ropes called clan rules and relationships. If someone wanted to jump out and accuse him, they would need evidence. If they had no evidence, the first to strike them down would be the elders.
Because many of those elders also had hidden and unspoken gains that could not see the light.
Dead Gu Masters' Gu.
Stolen inheritances.
Private opportunities.
Unrecorded benefits.
As long as there was no evidence, everyone could sleep peacefully at night. But if people began accusing others without evidence, many would become unsafe.
Because of that, rules and regulations existed.
Even though both Fang Ming and Fang Yuan's excuses were flawed, they still had excuses.
As long as they had excuses, the clan could only accept them.
Time passed.
Soon, the academy began the second Gu selection.
According to the order of advancement, Fang Ming entered first.
Then Fang Yuan.
After that, Fang Zheng.
Inside the Gu room, there were not many types of Gu prepared for the students. Most were ordinary Rank 1 Gu suitable for beginners. A few were better than the rest.
Fang Ming glanced over them calmly.
There were defensive Gu, movement Gu, healing Gu, and several support Gu.
After casually looking through the options, Fang Ming finally chose one.
Little Light Gu.
This Gu was not impressive by itself, but it had a clear use.
Little Light Gu could be combined with Moonlight Gu later to help upgrade it into Rank 2 Moonglow Gu.
Fang Ming's logic was simple.
He preferred having one Rank 2 Gu over several Rank 1 Gu.
By the time he truly needed to engage in serious battles, he would already be Rank 2. Since that was the case, there was no imminent danger where he needed a defensive Rank 1 Gu to protect himself. He could afford to have no defensive Gu for now and focus on preparing for his Rank 2 Gu.
Little Light Gu suited this plan.
It could help upgrade Moonlight Gu into Rank 2 Moonglow Gu, giving Fang Ming a strong Rank 2 attack Gu early.
Its feeding requirement was also easy and cheap, so it would not burden his finances.
Fang Ming took Little Light Gu and left the Gu room.
His copy chance had already recovered a few days ago. He had delayed using it because he wanted to see whether there was anything worth copying in the academy Gu room.
Now the result was clear.
There was nothing worth using a copy chance on.
So his current plan was to look around the clansman and see if any of them has anything intersting.
After the Gu selection ended, the academy students naturally began comparing what everyone had chosen.
This was normal.
They were young, curious, and competitive.
When they heard that Fang Ming had chosen Little Light Gu, many were surprised.
"Little Light Gu?"
"Why did Fang Ming also choose that?"
"Didn't Fang Yuan choose it too?"
"Shouldn't he choose a defensive Gu or movement Gu?"
Most students thought the same way.
After choosing Moonlight Gu as their vital Gu, the normal next choice was defense or movement. That way, attack and survival would be balanced.
Choosing Little Light Gu puzzled them.
Several brave and curious classmates came to ask Fang Ming.
Fang Ming did not avoid the question.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"You are thinking too much."
The nearby students looked at him, waiting for his answer.
Fang Ming held Little Light Gu's container and said calmly, "I am different from you. I am an A-grade talent."
The students were stunned.
Then came indignation.
"If you were not going to explain, then do not explain! What does that even mean?"
Another student muttered, "How about we ask Fang Yuan? He also chose Little Light Gu."
A student looked toward Fang Yuan's completely lifeless eyes, then lowered his voice.
"How about we just forget it?"