Since Wu Clan was a super clan whose influence spread across the entire Southern Border and controlled hundreds of mountains, it naturally resembled a super force in terms of the system for inheriting the position of clan leader.
The inheritance system in this world did not rely entirely on bloodline. Although bloodline played an important role, there were still thousands of people within the same clan who shared the same bloodline. Thus, inheritance was measured by a person's talent when their aperture awakened. Without power to support the position, the authority of a clan leader would be hollow and laughable.
However, with power, authority had a foundation, yet power without wisdom was useless. Even Ren Zu, when he possessed Strength Gu, was able to fight the Beasts of Predicament for a time before being forced to flee, and he could not defeat them without the aid of Wisdom Gu.
With both wisdom and power, a clan leader could elevate the clan's strength to higher heights or preserve its power without destroying the accumulations of the ancestors. On this basis, Wu Clan divided many of the clan's authorities among seven young masters who had achieved outstanding accomplishments in clan missions and contributed to the clan's growth and improvement.
These authorities took the form of vital operations within Wu Clan City related to trade or city security. Therefore, the city had several districts corresponding to trade, and the place Fang Tian was currently in belonged to the Gu Worm District, where Gu worms were sold, refined, and purchased.
There were many shops in this district, and the competition among them was fierce, yet they all belonged to the same superior. Still, they were like children trying to attract their father's attention. Fang Tian did not care about the internal politics of Wu Clan, but he had to learn about them. If he did not, he would be a great fool.
At a corner near the entrance of the Gu Worm District, Fang Tian found a very large shop. A painting of a giant Gu worm was drawn on one of its walls, adding a certain pleasing charm to the shop. Fang Tian's interest was piqued, so he headed toward the door, which fortunately was open.
Inside, incense smoke spread and its fragrant scent filled the air, making the atmosphere pleasant. The interior design was very much as expected. A table made of polished wood with a smooth texture stood inside, and a man in his early thirties wore a large yellow robe on his body, with golden embroidery woven as triple-thread patterns throughout his robe. His hands were hidden within the wide, long sleeves of his robe.
In addition, a young female Gu Master sat on a seat beside him, pouring fragrant tea for the man. The man raised his head when he saw Fang Tian, the lazy expression on his face vanishing as a trace of rank three upper stage aura leaked out.
"A good day to you, elder!"
Fang Tian bowed slightly and cupped his fists toward the man in respect. He had to create a pleasant atmosphere in order to make a good deal.
"It indeed is. Tell me, young one, are you here to buy or to sell? My attitude depends on that."
"Both, elder. I have many Gu worms that I do not need and that you might find useful. Some of them have a large market, while others are useful in their own way."
Fang Tian spoke smoothly, as if he had practiced this many times, yet he was tense inside. He did not want the shop owner to undercut his price. However, it seemed the shop owner saw through him and laughed.
"Don't worry, young one. I'm not such a bad person as to undercut a little fellow like you. At most, the Gu worms you sell will be worth one or two thousand primeval stones. Do you think I'm such a petty person that I would snatch away those primeval stones from you?"
"Ah, but elder, I also have many good Gu refinement materials."
"I told you I won't undercut your price, boy. How about this, to put your mind at ease, I'll buy them from you at market price?"
"Really? Can we do that?"
"Hahaha, of course, young one. Consider it a favor from an elder to a junior."
Fang Tian thought to himself without speaking the words.
"Let's see if you'll still laugh after I take out my Gu worms…"
Fang Tian did not expect this elder to be generous to him, but he was shameless enough to take advantage of it.
"Xiao Lao, go and bring Treasure Light Gu. Let's see the approximate value of his Gu worms… and you, young one, what is your name?"
"Elder, my name is Fang Tian."
"Strange. You don't belong to any clan, yet you are a rank two upper stage Gu Master at this age. Your talent must be remarkable…"
"Perhaps that is the case, elder, but I still don't know the elder's name?"
Fang Tian was sweating, his heart pounding hard. This man was probing him and his background through what seemed like friendly conversation. Fang Tian was not an old fox who could handle this situation. All he could do was answer a question with another question; this was his self-invented 'duckling' tactic.
"Oh, I am Wu Fan Shuo, merely an ordinary member of Wu Clan among many outstanding ones."
Fang Tian grew even more wary. The person before him belonged to Wu Clan, and the city he was in was Wu Clan City, so he had to be cautious here.
"I've never heard the elder's name before. Perhaps the elder is too lofty for someone of my level to know."
The man laughed happily, seeming to truly enjoy teasing Fang Tian. But before he could ask another question, the female Gu Master returned with a Gu worm emitting a faint glow. This Gu worm resembled a firefly, yet the light it emitted was like staring directly at the sun.
"Ah, it was truly pleasant chatting with you, young Fang, but now it's time for business. Take out your goods."
Fang Tian nodded and took out Gu worms one after another from his aperture.
"Oh, good, this is Purifying Water Gu, and also Green Copper Relic Gu. No, actually two of them. Alright, this is a strange Gu, but it can be used as long as it's rank two… Ah, this is Horse Strength Gu. It seems your journey has gone well for you to obtain something like this so early in your cultivation… But isn't this a bit too much?"
Fang Tian had taken out around forty Gu worms and scattered them across the wooden table, yet he was still taking out more. He still had around a hundred Gu worms left! After emptying most of his aperture of Gu worms—aside from rank three Gu worms and the Gu worms he used—Fang Tian looked at the elder, who wore a slightly shocked expression, then cleared his throat, adjusted his ring, and laughed dryly.
"Hah, young Fang, anyone who sees what you have now would say you looted a clan treasury to possess this many Gu worms, and some of them are even rare, or I can't even recognize them."
If the elder had been affected at first, it was merely due to envy. Fang Tian was young and talented, yet he possessed these Gu worms; this was simply something to be jealous of for an elder who was bound by clan rules and reward systems. But he was no longer affected. Although the quantity was large, these Gu worms were only rank one and rank two.
However, the young female Gu Master was greatly affected. She was rank two, yet still at the initial stage, and this alone could not explain the huge gap in wealth between her and Fang Tian. She remained stiff for a moment until Elder Wu Fan Shuo called to her gently.
"Xiao Lao, why aren't you using Treasure Light Gu?"
"Ah, yes, elder!"
The young female Gu Master injected her light crimson steel primeval essence into the rank three Treasure Light Gu. Treasure Light Gu was rank three, but it required only a small amount of primeval essence, and even a rank two Gu Master like her could barely activate it.
Treasure Light Gu transformed into a pillar of light and rose above the cluster of Gu worms to a height of seven feet, nearly touching the ceiling. Elder Wu Fan Shuo stroked his chin, then after a moment of contemplation, said,
"Alright, seven feet of treasure light ranges between fourteen to fifteen thousand primeval stones, but I'll keep my word and give you fifteen thousand primeval stones… are you satisfied?"
"No problem, elder, but I still have Gu refinement materials. Would you like to buy them?"
"Oh, right, yes. Take them out so I can appraise their price while Treasure Light Gu is still active."
Fang Tian took out the Silver Merchant Pocket Gu, which drew Wu Fan Shuo's attention because of its rank three aura. When he recognized the Gu worm, his eyes shone with brilliance.
The carefully stored refinement materials fell onto the shop floor until the ground was filled, then piled up into a small mountain of Gu refinement materials. Bones mixed with plants and stones, containers with lights and flames burning without air or source, jars filled with strange waters of all kinds, massive clumps of frozen soil, branches and twigs, strange fruits, animal claws, even their saliva, and various poisons.
The treasure light rose above the mountain of materials, flickering weakly at first, then surging upward and piercing through the ceiling, making its true height unknown. Fang Tian laughed in delight, while Elder Wu Fan Shuo frowned.
"Xiao Lao, go check the true height of the pillar of light."
The young female Gu Master hurried outside, while Fang Tian struggled with the urge to go out and check the treasure light himself. He did not know whether the young female Gu Master was as innocent as she appeared or a crafty merchant, but he gave face to the elder beside him and waited for her return.
Xiao Lao returned and spoke excitedly.
"Elder Fan, the treasure light is twenty-four feet tall. This is amazing, the quantity of materials is huge!"
"Hahaha… just as you say, little one, it is amazing. You are truly lucky, boy… the value of these materials is about sixty thousand primeval stones. It's your lucky day!"
Elder Wu Fan Shuo took out a Gu worm that Fang Tian immediately recognized as Primeval Elder Gu, and flung a mountain of primeval stones toward Fang Tian. Fang Tian did not hesitate and pulled the primeval stones into the Silver Merchant Pocket Gu, then looked at Wu Fan Shuo once more.
"May I purchase now?"
He had to properly equip his Gu worms so that they could stay with him for a long time.