Reverend Insanity Chapter 4: Gu Yue Fang Yuan

Chapter 4: Gu Yue Fang Yuan

As the sun climbed into the morning sky, its brilliant rays pierced through the mountain fog with ease. Over a hundred fifteen-year-old youths converged before the clan pavilion, a grand, five-story structure with sharp, tilted roofs located at the heart of the village. Heavily guarded and austere, this building housed the shrine containing the memorial tablets of the Gu Yue ancestors. It served as both the residence for the clan head and the command center where elders convened to deliberate on major decisions and ceremonies.

“Excellent, everyone is on time,” the academy elder announced, his white hair and beard radiating vigor. “Today marks the Awakening Ceremony, the pivotal turning point of your existence. I shall keep my words brief; follow me.” He led the teenagers through the main hall and down a stone staircase, descending into a cavernous underground space. The youths gasped in collective wonder as stalactites illuminated the cave with a dazzling, prismatic display of neon light.

Fang Yuan remained silent within the throng, his gaze calculated. He recalled that centuries ago, the Gu Yue clan had migrated from the central lands to the Southern Border, settling here only after discovering the spirit spring within this cave. This spring, a source of primeval stones, was the literal bedrock of the Gu Yue village.

They marched several hundred paces until the surroundings dimmed and the rhythmic sound of water echoed nearby. After turning a bend, they encountered an underground river, three zhang wide, shimmering with an ethereal blue light in the darkness like a reflected star field. The clear water revealed fish and aquatic flora teeming beneath the surface. Beyond the bank lay a vast, breathtaking sea of moon orchids—petals shaped like crescent moons, stems like polished jade, and centers glowing with the soft luminosity of pearls. To an observer, the landscape resembled a massive, velvet-blue carpet dusted with countless radiant gems.

The moon orchid serves as fodder for many Gu, Fang Yuan mused; this field is the clan’s primary cultivation fuel.

“Incredible!” “So beautiful!” the youths exclaimed, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of nervous excitement and ambition.

“Be silent and listen,” the elder commanded. “When your name is called, cross the river to the opposite bank. Proceed as far as you are capable; naturally, the farther you reach, the greater your prospects. Is that understood?” The students nodded. They all knew the legend: depth of travel directly correlated to the strength of one’s cultivation talent.

“Gu Yue Chen Bo,” the elder called. The youth stepped into the knee-deep water, his expression grave. As he stepped onto the opposing bank, he encountered an invisible, crushing resistance. The moon orchids pulsed with a faint white light, feeding into his body and momentarily easing the pressure, but after three stiff steps, the barrier hardened, halting him entirely. The elder sighed as he recorded the result: “Gu Yue Chen Bo, three steps. No talent for cultivation.”

Chen Bo returned to the group, pale and shaking. Without talent, his future was relegated to that of a commoner—the lowest position in the clan. Most people have no aptitude for becoming a Gu Master; typically, only five out of ten possess the gift. The Gu Yue clan maintained a higher, sixty-percent success rate due to the powerful genetic legacy of their first-generation leader.

With two initial failures, the elders watching from the shadows grew tense. The academy elder then called out: “Gu Yue Mo Bei.” A sturdier youth with a horse-like face stepped forward, displaying a confident, brave aura. He crossed the river easily and continued walking until he hit the thirty-six-step mark. The watching crowd erupted in shock. The elder’s face brightened, “Excellent! Gu Yue Mo Bei, B-grade talent! Let me inspect your primeval sea.” A quick internal examination confirmed the results, which the elder recorded with obvious satisfaction.

Talent is categorized into four grades. D-grade youths, after three years of training, typically reach rank one. C-grade candidates become the backbone of the clan at rank two within two years. B-grade prospects are groomed as future elders, aiming for rank three within six or seven years. An A-grade genius, however, is a rare treasure capable of reaching rank four in a decade—a contender for the head of the clan. The elders exchanged jealous glances, specifically toward Gu Yue Mo Chen, the grandfather of the boy. “What do you think, Chi Lian? Not bad for a grandson, is he?” Mo Chen gloated. The red-haired Gu Yue Chi Lian merely snorted, his expression darkening.

Hours passed, and the results fluctuated. The clan head sighed, “The bloodline thins. Since the fourth generation leader perished alongside the Flower Wine Monk, we have lacked a true peak-tier powerhouse. Our successors are weakening.”

“Gu Yue Chi Chen!” the elder shouted. The youth, pockmarked and visibly sweating, stepped forward. He pushed through the floral barrier, reaching thirty-six steps. “Another B-grade!” The crowd cheered. “Thirty-six steps!” Gu Yue Chi Lian roared, aiming a smug look toward his rival, Mo Chen.

Gu Yue Chi Chen, eh? Fang Yuan thought, stroking his chin. In his previous life, this outcome had been exposed as a fraud—Chi Chen actually possessed only C-grade talent, bolstered by his grandfather’s interference. While Fang Yuan knew countless ways to cheat, he lacked the immediate resources, and unlike Chi Chen, he lacked a powerful elder to shield him. If he exposed the corruption now, he would gain nothing but the enmity of a patriarch. He watched in silence, his mind already crafting the next phase of his plans.