The night grew deeper.
Fang Yuan slipped back into the village quietly, just before dawn, and returned to his small room without attracting a single glance. The household was still fast asleep; his younger brother Fang Zheng's soft breathing could be heard from the next room.
He closed the door gently and sat cross-legged on his bed, placing the clay pot containing the Moonlight Gu beside him.
Now that he had captured and refined his first Gu, the next step was to stabilize his cultivation and strengthen his True Yuan.
True Yuan was the foundation of a Gu Master's power. It was stored in the Hollow Aperture, and its quantity and recovery speed directly determined how often one could activate Gu worms. For a newly promoted Rank 1 Gu Master, the most urgent task was to familiarize himself with the circulation of True Yuan and expand his capacity as much as possible.
Fang Yuan closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into his own body.
Inside him lay the Hollow Aperture—a misty space about the size of a soybean, floating quietly in his lower abdomen. A thin stream of silvery-white True Yuan swirled slowly inside, weak but stable.
This was the gift of B-grade aptitude.
Ordinary teenagers needed days or even months to sense their Hollow Aperture and learn to circulate True Yuan. Most would fumble blindly, wasting time and energy. But for Fang Yuan, who had five hundred years of cultivation experience, it was as simple as breathing.
He guided his True Yuan with perfect precision, moving it along the most efficient pathway through his meridians. The stream flowed gently, circling through his body before returning to the Hollow Aperture.
Each circulation strengthened the True Yuan slightly, making it thicker and more stable.
Time passed quickly.
Outside the window, the eastern sky turned pale, and the first rays of morning sunlight spilled over the mountain peaks.
After a full night of practice, Fang Yuan's True Yuan had doubled in volume. His Hollow Aperture felt warm and full, and his body felt lighter and more agile than before.
He opened his eyes, and a faint silver light flickered in his pupils for a moment before fading away.
"One night of practice is enough to match ten days of an ordinary beginner's effort," Fang Yuan murmured to himself, his expression calm.
This was the advantage of experience. He did not need to explore, did not need to guess, and did not need to take detours. Every step he took was the shortest, most effective path to strength.
Just then, a soft knock came from the door.
"Brother? Are you awake?"
It was his younger brother, Fang Zheng.
Fang Yuan's expression softened imperceptibly. He hid the clay pot and said in a low voice, "Come in."
Fang Zheng pushed the door open and walked in, his eyes still bleary with sleep. In his hand, he held two steamed buns that had been warmed by the kitchen fire.
"Brother, Aunt made breakfast. She asked me to bring you some."
Fang Yuan took the buns silently.
In the clan, orphans like them received only the most basic care. Steamed buns were already considered a decent meal. In his previous life, he had resented this cold treatment, but now he felt nothing.
Weakness deserved indifference.
That was the way of the world.
"Brother… did you really get B-grade in the ceremony?" Fang Zheng asked hesitantly, looking up at him with concern. He had heard the villagers' whispers.
Fang Yuan took a bite of the steamed bun and nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"B‑grade is still very good!" Fang Zheng immediately puffed out his chest and comforted him earnestly, "Brother, you are the smartest. You will definitely become a very powerful Gu Master in the future!"
Looking at his young brother's innocent and firm expression, Fang Yuan's cold heart stirred faintly.
In his previous life, he had sacrificed this boy for his own path.
In this life, he would keep him safe.
It was a silent promise.
"I will," Fang Yuan said simply, his voice low and certain.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door, and his aunt Liu Shi's voice called out casually.
"Fang Zheng, stop disturbing your brother. Hurry and gather herbs in the back mountain after breakfast. Don't be lazy!"
"I'm coming!" Fang Zheng replied quickly.
Before leaving, he looked back at Fang Yuan and whispered, "Brother, I'll pick extra sweet herbs for you today!"
Then he ran out happily.
Fang Yuan watched his small figure disappear, then looked down at the steamed bun in his hand.
After a moment, he finished eating quietly.
He now had a Gu worm and could circulate True Yuan freely. He was officially a Rank 1 Gu Master.
But this was far from enough.
In Gu Yue Village, even Rank 1 Gu Masters were common. To gain status, resources, and true security, he needed to grow stronger—faster than anyone could imagine.
His eyes turned toward the distant back mountain.
There, in the depths of the forest, lay a secret that only he knew about: a wild Valley Gu that could help him increase his True Yuan rapidly.
It was time to make his next move.