After the snow, the sky was naturally clear.
Early in the morning, Gu Masters began to walk into the academy one after another.
"The annual year-end examination has started again. Hehehe, thinking back, the scene of leaving the academy over ten years ago is still vivid in my mind." A middle-aged male Gu Master, with long cyan hair cascading down his back, stood in front of the academy doors and let out a sigh of emotion.
"Boss, let's just go in, you always love to be so sentimental." Beside him, a young female Gu Master with lips the color of blood, hands stuffed into her trouser pockets, and a piece of grass dangling from her mouth, rolled her eyes.
"Hehehe, Yao Hong, don't be in a rush. Going in early or late doesn't matter. Anyway, the clan head has already taken care of it, our new member for this year has long been decided," the green-haired male Gu Master laughed.
"Is it that A grade genius named Fang Zheng?" The female Gu Master named Gu Yue Yao Hong clicked her tongue and said dissatisfiedly, "Doesn't the clan head's intention just mean our group has to act as a nanny!"
"But this nanny task won't be easy to accomplish." The green-haired male Gu Master let out a sigh. "Forget it, let's talk about it after we go in."
As time passed, more and more Gu Masters entered the academy gates and took their places one by one in the martial arts arena.
These Gu Masters comprised both men and women, some with youthful faces, others middle-aged men, and even quite a few elderly individuals.
After a Gu Master studied in the academy for a full year, they would graduate, form groups, and complete missions issued by the clan. The Gu Masters who came to the martial arts arena today were all representatives of each group, coming to observe the students' performances; if they saw someone they liked, they would absorb them into their own group.
For a group, this was absorbing fresh blood to develop and grow stronger.
For the new members joining a group, under the leadership and guidance of the veteran members, they could quickly adapt to the new environment, complete clan missions more efficiently, and at the same time reduce casualties.
The sun gradually rose higher, and the students entered the arena one after another.
"There are so many people today," the youths marveled.
"Look quickly, that's Lord Qing Shu over there. He is the number one person among Rank Two in our Gu Yue village, Lord Qing Shu is famous for his gentle temper." Someone pointed at the green-haired male Gu Master and exclaimed.
"Senior Chi Shan is here too."
"Over there is the Mo family's eldest young miss, Mo Yan!"
Qing Shu, Chi Shan, and Mo Yan were dazzling stars among the Gu Masters, well-known to the students.
"Sigh, I definitely can't get into the groups of those three seniors. I only have D grade aptitude, and my vital Gu is just a Warm Silk Spider; in the future, I can only do logistics." A youth sighed repeatedly, then asked his close friend beside him, "What about you?"
"Oh, I pulled some strings and made arrangements already. It's the godson of my uncle's cousin's older sister."
…
While the students observed these Gu Masters, Qing Shu, Chi Shan, Mo Yan, and the others were also observing these students.
"Eh? There are actually two Gu Yue Fang Zhengs," Yao Hong couldn't help but say in surprise upon seeing Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng in the crowd.
The green-haired male Gu Master, Gu Yue Qing Shu, sighed helplessly. "Didn't you read the information I gave you yesterday? Fang Zheng has a twin brother; their appearances are very similar. However, his older brother only has C grade aptitude."
"So it's like that. Oh, I think I've heard of him, is he the Fang Yuan who composed a poem in his early years? Should we take him in then?" Yao Hong suddenly patted her forehead with her palm, speaking whatever came to mind.
Qing Shu, however, shook his head slightly, "The clan head specifically instructed us not to recruit him. It seems he wants to observe something. Moreover, the relationship between these two brothers is not harmonious. Even if we had the intention to recruit him, Fang Yuan probably wouldn't join."
Yao Hong didn't care at all, curling her lips as she said, "Among all the groups, we are recognized as the number one; joining us signifies a bright future. As long as someone is a student, they will be tempted. How could he possibly be unwilling?"
Qing Shu chuckled lightly, "That's because you don't understand him. You'd better read the information I gave you first before saying anymore."
At this moment, Clan Head Gu Yue Bo, along with the authoritative elders Gu Yue Chi Lian, Gu Yue Mo Chen, and others, filed in. They walked under the tent and sat down in order.
"This year, not only is the clan head attending personally, but the two elder lords Chi Lian and Mo Chen have also come."
Seeing this, whether it was the students or those Gu Masters, everyone felt a bit excited; such a situation had not occurred in previous years.
"This isn't surprising either, both Chi Lian's and Mo Chen's grandsons are in this batch."
"Fang Zheng is the successor the clan head is nurturing, the seed of hope to contend against that Bai Ning Bing in the future. Naturally, the clan head needs to observe carefully as well."
A noisy clamor of discussions spread through the crowd.
"Little brother, you must perform well," Mo Yan thought silently in her heart as she looked at Mo Bei in the crowd. Her group had the largest number of people and the grandest scale. Being surrounded by a circle of Gu Masters at this moment further showcased her imposing aura.
As for her sworn rival, Gu Yue Chi Shan from the Chi lineage, he stood alone. With his tall and mighty figure, he stood a full head taller than those around him, standing out like a red tower among a flock of chickens.
After secretly sizing up Chi Cheng for a moment, he withdrew his gaze.
Following a brief speech from the clan head, the year-end examination commenced.
Battles took place simultaneously on the three arenas.
For a time, shouts, cheers, the hissing sounds of moonblades flying, the clashing sounds of fists and feet, and the discussions of the Gu Masters below the stage all merged together.
"The level of martial arts in this batch is quite high," Yao Hong quickly noticed the difference.
"Hehehe, this is all thanks to Fang Yuan," Gu Yue Qing Shu smiled.
"What do you mean?" Yao Hong was greatly puzzled.
Qing Shu then explained once over.
Hearing this, Yao Hong could not help clicking her tongue in wonder, "This kid Fang Yuan is quite gutsy, with a bit of a lawless flavor to him. Hehe, he even bullies his own biological younger brother, how interesting."
She looked at Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng in the crowd, unable to help but ponder in her heart—between these two, who exactly was the older brother, and who was the younger brother.
"Next battle, Gu Yue Jin Zhu against Gu Yue Mo Bei." On one arena, the presiding Gu Master shouted loudly.
Gu Yue Mo Bei leaped up, while Gu Yue Jin Zhu walked up the steps with a solemn expression on her face.
The two sides exchanged a salute and, without much talk, engaged immediately. In an instant, blue moonblades danced in the air.
The two sides continuously shot at each other, while simultaneously moving and dodging constantly.
Although Jin Zhu was a girl, her basic skills were extraordinarily solid, surprisingly fighting on par with Mo Bei for a short period. However, as time progressed, her stamina gradually fell short, and she fell into a disadvantageous position.
Ultimately, dripping with delicate sweat and devoid of strength, she could only concede defeat.
In contrast to Mo Bei, whose face was not red and who was not panting.
"A Gu worm that enhances stamina? It might be the Yellow Camel Longhorn Beetle Gu…" Below the stage, Fang Yuan observed, instantly seeing through Gu Yue Mo Bei's true situation.
Fang Yuan possessed six Gu worms in his hands, but this was a special case. Among peers, everyone generally only had two Gu worms on hand.
This was not only because of the financial pressure of feeding Gu worms, but also another point: utilizing Gu worms also required continuous practice to accumulate rich experience.
Biting off more than one can chew—the students had only preliminarily come into contact with Gu worms and just started their Gu Master cultivation; two Gu worms were enough for them to practice and master.
Only a special case like Fang Yuan, due to his rich past life experience, resulted in almost every Gu worm falling into his hands being swiftly mastered, used methodically and proficiently.
The examination continued.
"Dammit, jumping around like a rabbit!" On another arena, a youth shouted angrily. "Gu Yue Chi Cheng, are you a man or not, do you dare to fight me in close combat!?"
"Tch, only an idiot would fight you in close combat." On the arena, Gu Yue Chi Cheng laughed disdainfully. Relying on the Dragon Pill Cricket Gu, he jumped here and there, his agility extremely high.
Meanwhile, his opponent only held a Flower Boar Gu; although it could temporarily surge with the strength of one boar, there was no place for a hero to use his might. The shrewd Chi Cheng fundamentally refused to engage him in close-quarters combat.
Eventually, his chest was struck by one of Chi Cheng's moonblades, and losing too much blood, he was defeated.
The healing Gu Masters offstage immediately swarmed up to treat his injuries.
As time passed, many students were ruthlessly eliminated, while at the same time, quite a few youths began to distinguish themselves.
Chi Cheng, Mo Bei, Fang Yuan, Fang Zheng…
Eventually, it reached noon.
The students with D grade aptitude had all been entirely weeded out. Their aptitude was limited, and they had all chosen logistical-type Gu worms; these Gu worms were rather suitable for tasks like production, transportation, and so on. If used for combat, the assistance they provided to a Gu Master was simply too low.
"Junior sister, your vital Gu is a Vitality Grass, right? Our group currently needs a healing Gu Master."
"Senior, I wish to join your group, my vital Gu is the Moonlight Gu."
"Sorry, our group is temporarily not lacking offensive Gu Masters."
…
The various groups had already started taking in newcomers, while the students were also picking their groups.
The battles on the arenas were actually not highly entertaining to watch. After a few matches, there were not many highlights, being quite lackluster. Because many people chose the Moonlight Gu, generally speaking, when the two sides fought, it always started with shooting moonblades at each other. More often than not, whoever exhausted their primeval essence first would lose.
If both sides' primeval essence ran out at the same time, then they would compete in fist and kick skills. In short, ultimately, one person would always fall.
Whether it was the students, the Gu Masters, or those elders, everyone watched with somewhat wavering interest, and some people were almost about to doze off.
By the time dusk approached, there was only a single-digit number of students remaining on the field.
"It's finally coming to an end." Some Gu Masters yawned, forcing themselves to perk up.
Right at this moment, a Gu Master shouted loudly, "Next match, Gu Yue Fang Zheng against Gu Yue Mo Chen!"