The aperture was an extraordinary profundity. Although it resided within Fang Yuan's body, it did not share the same space as his internal organs. One could say it was infinitely large, yet also infinitely small.
Some called it the Purple Prefecture; some called it the Flowery Pool. But most people referred to it as the Primeval Sea Aperture.
The entire aperture was spherical in shape. Flowing across the surface of the aperture was white light, forming a layer of light membrane. This was the layer of light condensed from the explosion of the Hope Gu earlier.
It was precisely because of this light membrane that the aperture was supported and would not collapse.
Within the aperture was naturally the primeval sea.
The seawater was as smooth as a mirror, displaying a jade-green color, yet incomparably thick and dense, bearing a metallic copper luster.
This was the condensed copper primeval essence unique to Rank 1 Gu Masters, commonly known as the Copper Sea.
The surface of the sea did not even reach half the height of the aperture, resting at only forty-four percent. This was the limitation of a C-grade aptitude.
Every drop of seawater was primeval essence, representing the condensation of Fang Yuan's essence, energy, and spirit, symbolizing the life potential he had accumulated over fifteen years.
Gu Masters used this primeval essence to activate Gu worms. In other words, from this moment on, Fang Yuan formally stepped into the ranks of Rank 1 Gu Masters.
With the aperture opened, no more Hope Gu flowed into Fang Yuan's body.
Fang Yuan gathered his mind and felt the pressure ahead was as solid and thick as a wall; he could not advance even another step.
"Just like my past life," he smiled indifferently at this result.
"Can you not walk any further?" The Academy Elder held onto a one-in-ten-thousand hope and shouted from across the bank.
Fang Yuan simply turned around and walked back, answering him with actual action.
At this, even the youths finally reacted.
Instantly, with a buzz, the crowd exploded into an uproar.
"What? Fang Yuan walked twenty-seven steps?"
"So he only has a C-grade aptitude?!"
"Unbelievable, he's such a genius, but only a C-grade?"
A massive commotion was stirred up within the crowd.
"Brother…" Within the crowd, Gu Yue Fang Zheng raised his head, looking in shock at Fang Yuan, who was wading back across the river. He couldn't believe the scene before his eyes. His own brother was actually only a C-grade?
He had always thought that his brother would have an A-grade aptitude.
No, not just him; his aunt, uncle, and many within the clan had thought the same.
But now, the result was actually this!
"Dammit, to think it's only a C-grade!" The Gu Yue Clan Head secretly clenched both fists and let out a deep sigh, his disappointment plain as day.
Among the clan elders watching from the shadows, some furrowed their brows, some lowered their heads in discussion, and some looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.
"Could there be an error in the test?"
"How is that possible? This method is incomparably accurate. Moreover, we have been keeping watch the whole time; even cheating is difficult."
"But then, how do you explain his past performance and talent?"
"Youths with higher primeval sea aptitudes indeed display traits surpassing ordinary people. For example, intelligence, comprehension, memory, strength, agility, and so on. But conversely, these traits do not mean their aptitude is definitely high. Everything must still depend on the test results."
"Sigh, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. The Gu Yue clan is truly getting worse with each generation."
…
The icy-cold river water soaked through his socks, feeling somewhat bitingly cold.
Fang Yuan continued walking expressionlessly. As the distance closed, he could clearly see the heavy expression on the Academy Elder's face and sharply perceive the gazes cast by over a hundred youths.
In these gazes were astonishment, shock, mockery, schadenfreude, sudden realization, and coldness.
The exact same situation made Fang Yuan involuntarily think back to his past life.
At that time, he felt as if the sky had fallen. He tripped and fell while crossing the river, got soaked to the bone, and was lost in despair. Yet, not a single person helped him up.
Those disappointed, indifferent expressions and gazes felt like sharp knives slicing his heart to pieces. His thoughts were incredibly chaotic, and his chest ached faintly.
It was as if he had fallen from the clouds to the ground; the higher he stood, the harder he fell.
However, in this life.
Revisiting such a scene, Fang Yuan's heart was incomparably calm.
He thought of that legend: when predicament arrives, one must give their heart to hope.
Today, this hope resided within his own body. Although this hope was not large, it was already better than those who possessed no cultivation aptitude at all.
If others are disappointed because of this, then let them be disappointed. What does it matter?
What does the disappointment of others have to do with me? The important thing is that I harbor hope in my heart!
Five hundred years of life had made him understand a truth: the brilliance of a person's life lies in the process of chasing their dreams. There is no need to aggressively demand that others not be disappointed or that they like you.
Walk your own path, and let others be disappointed and dislike it!
"Sigh…" The Academy Elder let out a deep sigh and shouted again, "Next, Gu Yue Fang Zheng."
But no one answered.
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng!" The Elder shouted loudly, his voice echoing buzzingly in the karst cave.
"Ah? I'm here, I'm here!" Fang Zheng broke free from his shocked emotions and hurriedly ran out. Unfortuantely, he stumbled, instantly tumbling head over heels with a splash, coincidentally rolling into the river.
Instantly, the crowd burst into uproarious laughter.
"The two brothers of the Fang family, nothing more than this." The Gu Yue Clan Head snorted coldly, developing a sense of annoyance toward Gu Yue Fang Zheng as well.
"I've really lost a lot of face this time!" Fang Zheng thrashed around vigorously in the river water a few times, but alas, the riverbed was incredibly slippery, and he couldn't stand up at all. His efforts only made him appear even more clumsy. Hearing the persistent roars of laughter in his ears made the panic in his heart grow even wilder.
But right at this moment, he suddenly felt a great force grab hold of him. His head finally broke the surface of the water, and his body regained its balance.
He wiped his face wretchedly, and upon taking a closer look, it was his brother Fang Yuan holding his collar, pulling him up.
"Bro…" He opened his mouth to speak, but the result was choking on water, which then triggered a fit of violent coughing.
"Haha, the suffering brothers of the Fang family!" Someone on the bank laughed out loud in mockery.
The roaring laughter grew even louder. The Academy Elder did not step forward to stop it; his brows were deeply furrowed, his heart filled with disappointment.
Fang Zheng was completely at a loss when he heard his brother's voice by his ear: "Go, the path ahead will be very brilliant."
Fang Zheng involuntarily opened his mouth in surprise. At this moment, Fang Yuan had his back to the crowd, so the people on the bank couldn't see clearly. But Fang Zheng could clearly feel Fang Yuan's calmness; when he spoke, the corners of his mouth even curled up slightly, revealing a trace of a profound, contemplative smile.
"He clearly only has a C-grade aptitude, so why is brother still so calm?" Involuntarily, Fang Zheng's heart was filled with confusion.
Fang Yuan said no more. He patted Fang Zheng's back, turned around, and walked away.
With a blank expression, Fang Zheng walked toward the sea of flowers.
"I can't believe Brother was actually so calm. If it were me, I'm afraid…" He kept his head down, walking forward subconsciously. However, he didn't know that he was currently staging a miraculous performance.
By the time he snapped awake, he was already standing deep within the sea of flowers, at a distance no one had previously reached.
Forty-three steps!
"Heavens, A-grade aptitude!!!" The Academy Elder shouted, losing his composure.
"A-grade, it's actually an A-grade?!"
"Three years later, the Gu Yue clan has finally produced another genius with an A-grade aptitude!"
The clan elders watching from the shadows also shouted out simultaneously, massively losing their demeanor.
"Hmm, the Fang lineage originally split off from our Chi lineage. This Gu Yue Fang Zheng will be adopted by my Chi lineage." Gu Yue Chi Lian immediately announced.
"How is that possible? What virtue and ability do you have, Old Ghost Chi Lian? Your skill in leading youths astray is quite decent though. It would be better to hand this child over to me, Gu Yue Mo Chen, to be raised." Gu Yue Mo Chen roared immediately, as if he had been electrocuted.
"Stop fighting, everyone. No matter who nurtures this child, it won't be as good as this Clan Head nurturing him personally. Anyone who has an objection is opposing me, Gu Yue Bo!" The Gu Yue Clan Head's eyes were crimson red. Sweeping away his earlier disappointment and dejection, his entire person had gone frantic.