Chapter 24: Getting Stronger
Keeping a Low Profile Even If You Can Rizz a Boar
Time flew by, and it was already mid-June. The summer night was lit by a golden moon, casting its glow over the green mountains. The wind blew, leaves danced, and the sounds of cicadas and bullfrogs filled the air. Occasionally, a wolf's howl echoed in the distance.
By a riverbank, a battle was underway. A wounded mountain boar, covered in deep gashes, charged at Fang Yuan. Blood trailed behind it, painting the ground red.
Fang Yuan wrestled with the boar calmly, his 500 years of experience showing. He knew wild beasts were most dangerous when near death, their final bursts of energy capable of causing serious harm.
As the boar's attacks slowed, Fang Yuan seized the moment. With a grunt, he lifted the massive boar above his head, his face red from exertion.
"Gyatt, this boar is heavy!" he muttered, before throwing it onto a large rock. The boar cried out, bones cracking as it fell, blood oozing from its ears, nose, and mouth. It struggled briefly before going still.
The river carried the boar's blood downstream, and the area fell silent again.
Fang Yuan stood there, catching his breath. "My strength can now compete with a boar. Tonight, I'll test that giant rock in the passageway," he thought, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
He had been using the White Boar Gu to increase his strength, and the progress was clear. Where he once had to rely on kiting techniques with the moonblade, he could now physically overpower a wild boar.
After retrieving the boar's teeth and skin, Fang Yuan headed to his secret cave. The boar's corpse would soon be scavenged by other wild beasts, leaving no trace of his hunt.
In the cave, Fang Yuan added the boar's teeth to a growing pile in the corner. He then made his way to the tunnel, where a massive rock blocked his path.
With a deep breath, he pushed against the rock, straining with all his might. But it didn't budge.
"This rock weighs as much as five or six boars. No wonder I can't move it. The Flower Wine Monk's strength inheritance won't be easy to obtain," Fang Yuan thought, his determination unwavering.
He returned to the secret room and pulled out a bamboo tube containing a beast skin map. Unrolling it, he began memorizing the intricate details.
Fang Yuan didn't have a storage-type Gu, so he had to rely on his memory. He spent hours each day studying the map, determined to internalize every detail.
"If only I had a Bookworm," he mused. "But those are rare. For now, I'll have to make do with my own memory."
Fang Yuan's progress was impressive. Despite his C-grade talent, he was keeping pace with his peers, thanks to the Liquor worm and his relentless effort. However, he knew others like Fang Zheng, Mo Chen, and Chi Cheng were close to reaching the upper stage, their natural talent and resources giving them an edge.
But Fang Yuan wasn't concerned. His goal wasn't to compete for the academy's rewards. He needed to stay low-key, avoiding attention while he worked toward inheriting the Flower Wine Monk's strength.
"The academy's rewards are just carrots to motivate students. Fighting for them isn't wise. My real prize lies elsewhere," he thought, his gaze returning to the beast skin map.
The map was complex, with red crosses marking dangerous areas and red circles indicating mysterious spots. Fang Yuan had deciphered most of it, but the meaning of the red circles eluded him.
"These three red circles… what do they mean?" he wondered, his mind racing. "They're isolated and far apart, but old man Wang marked them for a reason. If only I could investigate them myself."
For now, Fang Yuan focused on his immediate goals: increasing his strength, memorizing the map, and staying under the radar. The path ahead was challenging, but he was ready.
As the night deepened, Fang Yuan's resolve only grew stronger. The mountains whispered secrets, and he was determined to uncover them all.
Gotta Be Loyal To The Organization
The hot summer sun blazed down on Qing Mao Mountain, the warm winds swirling around as the mountain seemed to steam under the heat. By the end of June, the academy was buzzing with activity.
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng!" the family elder called out.
Fang Zheng stood up, his face glowing with pride as he walked to the front of the class. Under the admiring gazes of his classmates, he received a heavy bag of primeval stones.
"Fang Zheng, you are the first to advance to the upper stage. This is your reward. Good job, continue working hard," the academy elder said with a smile, patting Fang Zheng's shoulder.
Fang Zheng nodded, his excitement barely contained. He returned to his seat, clutching the bag of primeval stones.
"I finally did it. The first to advance to the upper stage. Do you see that, big brother? I've finally beaten you for once!" Fang Zheng thought, his eyes shining as he glanced at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan, however, was sprawled on his desk, fast asleep. The previous night, he had killed another wild boar, used the White Boar Gu to enhance his strength, refined his primeval essence with the Liquor worm, and nurtured his aperture until morning. Exhausted, he had rushed to class and immediately dozed off.
"Hmph, even if you don't admit it, this is the truth. Big brother, I've finally surpassed you! This is the first time, and there will be more!" Fang Zheng clenched his fists, feeling a surge of hope and determination.
Meanwhile, other students like Mo Bei and Chi Cheng seethed with envy.
"I actually lost to Fang Zheng," Mo Bei muttered, crossing his arms.
"This is the advantage of an A-grade talent," Chi Cheng said darkly. Despite his grandfather's support and his own hard work, he had still fallen behind.
The classroom buzzed with chatter as students discussed Fang Zheng's achievement.
"Fang Zheng broke through to the upper stage first. Of course, he's A-grade talent."
"Even Mo Bei, Chi Cheng, and Fang Yuan lost to him. Fang Zheng has all the attention now."
"Fang Yuan has the Liquor worm but wastes his time sleeping in class. He might as well give it to someone else."
The academy elder called the students one by one to collect their monthly primeval stone allowances. Once everyone had received their share, the elder slammed his hand on the table, silencing the room.
"Now that you've all mastered your second Gu worm and some of you have even broken through to the upper stage, it's time for real training. True battles aren't fought against scarecrows or wooden puppets.
"The mid-year examination will be held in three days. All students must attend! The examination will involve hunting wild boars. You'll collect wild boar teeth as proof of your kills. The more teeth you collect, the higher your score. At the end of the exam, each tooth can be exchanged for ten primeval stones. You're also allowed to hunt in groups."
The announcement caused a stir among the students.
"The mid-year exam is finally here!"
"Hunting wild boars? My Gu isn't attack-based. How am I supposed to do that?"
"Didn't you hear? We can hunt in groups. We'll just team up and share the teeth."
Fang Yuan, now awake, listened carefully. The exam had changed from his previous life. Last time, it was about collecting wildlife honey. This time, it was wild boar teeth.
"Is this the butterfly effect?" Fang Yuan wondered. His actions since rebirth had caused ripples, altering events. The change in the exam was just the beginning.
"If I keep changing things, history might become unrecognizable. My advantage from rebirth could diminish," he thought, feeling a sense of urgency. But he quickly shook it off.
"No matter what, I can't stop it. I need to adapt and keep growing. Even if the future becomes unpredictable, I'll carve my own path through the thorns."
The exam presented an opportunity. Each wild boar tooth was worth ten primeval stones, a high price. Fang Yuan had a stockpile of teeth in his secret cave, but selling them openly would attract suspicion.
"Primeval stones aren't the priority. I can use this exam to reshape my image," Fang Yuan realized.
His current reputation was problematic. He was seen as a lone wolf, untrustworthy and disloyal. But loyalty was crucial in any organization, and the Gu Yue clan valued it highly. As Fang Yuan's cultivation level rose, the clan's higher-ups would grow more concerned. If they saw him as a threat, they might take drastic measures.
Fang Yuan needed to change his image, making the clan believe he had integrated into their system. But he couldn't do it abruptly—it had to be subtle.
"The mid-year exam is my chance. I'll start by leveraging the extortion scheme," Fang Yuan thought, his eyes gleaming with determination.
He needed to appear loyal while maintaining his independence. It was a delicate balance, but Fang Yuan was a master of manipulation.
As the class ended, Fang Yuan stood up, his mind already racing with plans. The exam was just the beginning. He would use it to secure his position, gain resources, and continue his path to power—all while staying one step ahead of everyone else.
"Loyalty is just another tool," Fang Yuan mused as he left the classroom. "And I'll wield it better than anyone."