The sun climbed steadily into the sky, its brilliant rays piercing through the light mountain fog with ease.
In front of the clan pavilion, more than a hundred fifteen-year-old youths had assembled. The pavilion stood at the heart of the village, a five-story structure with steep, slanted roofs and strict security. A spacious square lay before it, while within its walls rested the ancestral shrine of the Gu Yue clan, housing generations of memorial tablets. Each clan leader throughout history had made their home in this building. Whenever important ceremonies or major events occurred, the clan elders would convene here for discussions. It served as the central seat of power for the entire village.
"Good, all of you are punctual. Today is the Awakening Ceremony; it is your life's great turning point. I won't say much, just come with me." The one responsible at the moment was the elder of the academy. His beard and hair were white and he was in high spirits as he led the young teenagers into the pavilion. However they did not go up, but were led downstairs after going through the entrance of a great hall. Following down a constructed stone ladder, they went into an underground cave.
The group of youths let out gasps of awe and wonder. The underground cave was a breathtaking sight, with stalactites shimmering in rainbow hues. The vibrant light danced across their faces, casting them in a dazzling glow of color.
Blending into the crowd, Fang Yuan silently observed the scene, his expression unreadable. Inwardly, he thought: First Gen Gu Yue was a blood path Gu Master of Southern Border. He was a founder and 1st ancestor of Gu Yue Clan.
First Gen Gu Yue was actually came from Central Continent's Immortal Crane Sect. Hundreds of years ago, he has junior brother named Lord Sky Crane, closer than real brothers, killing many demonic path Gu Masters and always working together, having perfect synergy with each other. Back then their name were called the Righteous Twin Cranes. In one of their attempts in chasing after demonic path Gu Masters, they found an inheritance ground. This inheritance was one of the many set up by the Blood Sea Ancestor. But if it was a normal inheritance, so be it, they would not have turned on each other. However, this inheritance ground's treasure was beyond precious, it could allow one to rise to the heavens and become an Gu Immortal from a Mortal Gu Master.
Thus, everything change when Lord Sky Crane and First Gen Gu Yue encountered Blood Sea Ancestor's true inheritance. Lord Sky Crane was quicker and obtained the Blood Sea Ancestor's true inheritance, but First Gen Gu Yue was corrupted by greed, First Gen Gu Yue schemed against Lord Sky Crane and stole the Gu Worms. Then First Gen Gu Yue attempted to kill Lord Sky Crane, but First Gen Gu Yue did not succeed, Lord Sky Crane managed to escape. Seeing that the matter was exposed, First Gen Gu Yue could only hide his name and escape everywhere, preventing himself from getting found by his former sect, Immortal Crane Sect.
After tens of years, he could not find a Lifespan Gu, thus in his final days he stood at Qing Mao Mountain in the Southern Border, changing his appearance and calling himself Gu Yue, establishing the Gu Yue village. One of the Gu from the Blood Sea Ancestor's true inheritance that he had possessed was the Blood Skull Gu. In order to increase his talent grade from C to A, he must kill his blood-related descendants. The First Gen Gu Yue took in many wives from his village to give birth to his descendants in order to bring his plan to fruition. When the Gu Yue Clan's first ancestor was about to die from old age he had used Blood Wight Gu in a different way, turning himself into zombie. He is no longer alive as human being, but he's alive as zombie for centuries. The First Gen Gu Yue had turned himself into a blood wight flying zombie and buried himself in Gu Yue Clan secret underground place.
These thoughts are mostly true due to the fact that Fang Yuan had read the memories of Lord Sky Crane, in other words, Fang Yuan knew more of the truth behind the spirit spring, even more than the current Clan Head.
As the crowd walked several hundred steps deeper into the cave. The surroundings grew darker, and the faint sound of flowing water began to echo through the stone walls. After rounding a bend, an underground river about three zhang wide or roughly 9.6 meters came into view. The multicolored glow of the stalactites had long faded, but now the river itself gave off a faint blue luminescence, like a river of stars stretching across the night sky.
The water flowed from the shadowy depths of the cave, crystal clear. Through its surface, one could clearly see fish swimming, aquatic plants swaying gently, and the fine sand lining the riverbed. On the far side of the river stretched a vast field of flowers.
These were the Gu Yue Clan's carefully cultivated moon orchids. Their delicate petals, tinted shades of blue and pink, curled like crescent moons. The stems gleamed like polished jade, while the centers of the blossoms glowed with a warm luster, reminiscent of pearls bathed in soft light. Against the cave's dark backdrop, the flower field resembled a wide expanse of bluish-green carpet scattered with countless shimmering pearls.
The moon orchid is food for a lot of Gu and it is also a gu refinement material. This flower sea could be said as the clan's biggest cultivation medium, Fang Yuan thought knowingly to himself.
"Wow, so pretty!"
"It really is beautiful!"
The new sight opened the young teenagers' eyes. Each one of them had a light radiating from their gaze with excited and anxious feelings.
"Alright, listen as I call your names. Those who are called must walk through this river to the opposite bank. Walk as far as you can, of course the further you go the better it is. Are you all clear?" The elder of the academy said.
"All clear"
The youths replied. They have already been brief by their family members or seniors about the procedure.
"Gu Yue Chen Bo." The elder held the name list and called out the first person.
The river, though wide, was shallow its waters only reaching up to a youth's knees. Chen Bo wore a solemn expression as he stepped onto the flower-covered shore. The moment his foot touched the ground, he felt an invisible pressure, as if an unseen wall stood before him, silently barring his path. Then, the moon orchids at his feet began to emit a faint white glow. The gentle light gathered around him and slowly seeped into his body. For a brief moment, the pressure lessened the unseen barrier before him seemed to soften. Gritting his teeth, Chen Bo summoned his strength and pushed forward. He managed to take a few stiff steps, forcing his way ahead. But after just three strides, the barrier abruptly grew firm once more, returning to its original resistance. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't advance any farther.
As he watched this the elder sighed. While recording what happened, he said, "Gu Yue Chen Bo, 3 steps, no talent to become a Gu Master. Next, Gu Yue Zao Xie!"
Chen Bo was deathly pale, as he knew he did not have the talent to be Gu master.
The following youth could only walk four steps forward meaning he also did not have the talent either.
Not everyone has the natural talent to be a Gu Master. Generally speaking, it is not bad if five out of ten people have talent. In the Gu Clan, this ratio is higher, reaching six people. This is because the Gu Yue clan's ancestor The first generation clan leader was a blood path cultivator. Due to cultivation reasons his bloodline carried powerful genes, thus the average quality of talent in the Gu Yue clan was generally higher as they carried his blood in their veins.
The observing elders were starting to make ugly expressions because of the two consecutive failures. The next moment, the academy elder called out the third name: Gu Yue Mo Bei.
"Here!" A horse-faced youth dressed in linen robes lightly called as he came forth. He was tall in build, looking much sturdier than his peers. There was a brave aura about him. He crossed the river in a few steps and reached the opposite bank. 10 steps, 20 steps, 30 steps; one after another small lights entered his body. He walked until he reached 36 steps before he could finally go no further.
The youths at the riverbank watched with wide opened eyes, shocked. The academy elder happily exclaimed, "Good, Gu Yue Mo Bei, B-grade talent! Come here, let me see your Primeval sea."
Gu Yue Mo Bei walked back to the academy elder's side. The latter stretched out his hand and put it on the juvenile's shoulder, closing his eyes as he checked with focus. Then he retracted his hand and nodded, recording down on the paper: Gu Yue Mo Bei, primeval sea measuring 66%, can be vigorously trained.
Talents can be measured into four grades, which are A-grade to D-grade. D-grade has a capacity of 1-39% of primeval essence. C-grand has a capacity of 40-59%. B-grade has a capacity of 60-79%. A-grade has a capacity of 80-99%. Normally D-grade can only achieve rank 1-2, C-grade can achieve rank 2-3, B-grade can achieve rank 3-4 and A-grade can usually achieve rank 4-5. Of course these are only applicable if the Gu master is cultivating normally and not using special means to up-rank.
When it comes to A-grade, a middle-low tier clan like the Gu Yue Clan will cherish the person, with his/her talent they would be able to get a rank 4-5 Gu master.
This elder was also horse-faced, known as Gu Yue Mo Bei's grandfather, Gu Yue Mo Chen. His face was already smiling. He provokingly looked at his old nemesis and said, "What do you think? My grandson isn't bad huh, Gu Yue Chi Lian."
Gu Yue Chi Lian had a head full of red hair. He made an annoyed 'hmph', not replying to other. It was apparent that his face expression was really dark.
After an hour later, half of the youth had already walked through and the result was quite a number of C and D grade with some having no talent at all, but none was grade B or A aside from Gu Yue Mo Bei that achieve B-grade.