The hot summer sun blazes on, the mountain winds blowing the warm winds around, Qing Mao Mountain steaming under the hot air.
In the blink of an eye, it was already near the end of June.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan!" In the academy, the family elder called out.
Fang Yuan got up from his seat and came before the Academy Elder,
Under the hatred and jealous gaze of his classmates, Fang Yuan received the heavy bag of primeval stones.
"Fang Yuan, continue working hard." The Academy Elder casually said to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan acknowledged with a nod and return to his seats.
"I was late again!" Fang Zheng stared at Fang Yuan with hatred.
"Looks like Fang Yuan got first place again." Mo Bei, on the other hand, was a bit more accepting of the result, as he had gradually become numb to all the incidents that had happened.
"This is the advantage of the Liquor worm. Damn it, if only I had the Liquor worm," Chi Cheng said with a dark expression. Even with his grandfather's help, his progress was still slow.
"Is still Fang Yuan that broke through to Upper stage first."
"Of course, he has the Liquor worm after all".
"Yeah, even Fang Zheng, Mo Bei and Chi Cheng lost to Fang Yuan. The ability of the Liquor worm is just too useful."
The surrounding students discussed, feeling indignant in their hearts, helplessness and envy.
The academy elder called them one by one, and students went up continuously to collect their primeval stones allowance, and returned to their seats.
"Everyone quieten down." After the allowance was given out, the academy elder used his hand to hit the table. All of a sudden, the academy became silent.
"Now, you've all mastered your second Gu worm and even so much as broke through into the upper stage. In the past half a year, you have all worked hard, and now you have some basics, it is time for you to train in the wilds. True battles, are not scarecrows or puppets, wooden puppets that stand there and await your attacks.
"The following mid year examination, will be held three days later, all students have to attend! The examination content is to hunt wild boars. By collecting wild boar teeth as results to record, those who collect the most wild boar teeth will get better scores. At the end of the examination, each wild boar teeth can be exchanged for ten primeval stones. Furthermore, you are allowed to hunt in groups."
The academy elder's words caused a commotion among the students.
"The mid-year exam is finally here!"
"Every year's students study at the academy for a year, and there is always a mid-year exam and an end of year exam. Looking at the time, it really is time for the mid-year exam."
"Every year's examination content is different, to think that this year, our examination is to hunt and acquire wild boar teeth."
"Each wild boar teeth can be exchanged for ten primeval stones, this is the academy encouraging us to hunt more wild boars, and the prize is set for that. For true market value, one primeval stone can buy twenty wild boar teeth."
The students had varying expressions, some were happy while other fretted, some were eager to go, while others called on companions.
"It still stayed the same, thankfully. I feared that my early actions of hunting the boars would affect the mid-year examination, but it looks like they did not," Fang Yuan thought.
"Every teeth for ten primeval stones — this price is very high. I'll be able to stock up on primeval stones. Not only that, but I'll also be able to rebuild my image and create the illusion of having a hidden backer supporting me," Fang Yuan calmly nurtured his aperture while thinking.
He needed to get rich secretly now, while being as low profile as possible. If the Flower Wine Monk's inheritance was exposed, he might even lose his life.
His current situation was quite awkward.
He stood isolated from his peers, positioned outside the clan's system. To the upper echelon, he appeared as a defiant, discontented, sharp-minded yet cold teenager with a mere C-grade talent.
This perception didn't work in his favor — it painted him as disloyal. And in any clan, or any structured organization for that matter, loyalty is everything. Whether to a clan, a country, a leader, a loved one, or a friend — loyalty remains a universally valued trait.
As Fang Yuan's cultivation advanced, the clan elders would grow increasingly wary of him. If the need arose, they wouldn't hesitate to take harsh measures. If that happened, Fang Yuan would lose his autonomy and be placed in a severely disadvantageous position.
But Fang Yuan loathed being at the mercy of others. He preferred to maintain absolute control over his fate.
Up until now, circumstances had forced him to act on the fly and depend on external forces. The reputation he had cultivated was nothing more than a shield — a tool to protect himself when he was still vulnerable.
Now that he had the strength to stand on his own, he needed to continue growing stronger.
That meant reshaping his image — making it seem like he had decided to submit to the clan and integrate into its structure. However, this shift couldn't be too sudden, or it would raise suspicion.
More importantly, this 'integration' would be purely superficial. Fang Yuan had no intention of truly surrendering to the clan's control. He had too many secrets to risk exposure.
What he needed was freedom — and he would continue to act as a lone operator, free from anyone's leash.
And now, the mid-year examination was the perfect opportunity to begin this transformation.
"Same as last time, I'll start from the extortion." Fang Yuan's gaze became certain as everything fell into his scheme.
After the class has ended
Inside the Academy Elder room
"You said that during Fang Yuan's extortion this time, although he defeated Fang Zheng, Chi Cheng and Mo Bei, he left go of them and did not take their primeval stones?" Hearing the guard's report, the academy elder revealed a slightly shocked expression.
"I dare not lie to lord, it is indeed like this." The guard kneeling on the ground immediately responded.
"Mm." The academy elder did not express his opinion, and waved his hand, "I have understood this matter, you may go."
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Once the guard had left, the academy elder immediately fell into deep thoughts.
He pondered, why didn't Fang Yuan snatch primeval stones from Fang Zheng, Mo Bei, and Chi Cheng?
"What is the reason?" The academy elder was truly confused.
But as time passed, the academy elder contemplated, his eyebrows gradually relaxing. He had come to a realization.
Mo Bei, Chi Cheng and Fang Zheng, they could be said to represent the three factions of the clan. Letting go of them, the meaning was that he was appealing to the three different factions. This was understandable, as Fang Yuan's attitude change meant that he was finally willing to lower his head to the clan.
"Understandable. As he cultivated, Fang Yuan may have the Liquor worm, but the situation has gotten clearer to him. The inability of a C-grade talent, after a few outbursts, and letting go of the majority of his negative feelings, he is probably rather downhearted and depressed now."
"It seems the clan leader's words make sense, Fang Yuan is after all a fifteen year old, how can he go against the clan's system? Now that he has started to accept reality, once he finds the position that he belongs to, he would fuse into the clan naturally."
Thinking of this, the academy elder breathed out a sigh of relief, his feelings becoming more cheerful.