"How come?"
"Who on earth is this Uchiha Fang Yuan?!"
Fang Yuan had a blank expression on his face as he walked through the depression, taking one step at a time. He seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll, as if he were on a gentle journey through life. However, the dangers of the path ahead made the onlookers anxious for him.
"Oh my god! Doesn't he feel any pain? The others are engulfed in flames, but Fang Yuan has become a man of fire!"
"Why is he so expressionless when the others are contorted in agony?"
"Such an extreme fire attribute chakra!!!"
At the table of clan elders, Uchiha Fugaku stood up in shock. He could not hide his excitement. As Fang Yuan took his first step into the depression, flames rose from his body to a height of more than ten feet. Now, the raging inferno reached the top of the cave, which was several dozen meters high.
"No way! If this were Fire Style, it would be comparable to an elite jōnin using their full strength! But this power is coming from a young boy!" someone exclaimed.
Everyone gasped.
What kind of monster is this Uchiha Fang Yuan?
"Fang Yuan-san! Will he be in danger?"
Compared to the shock of the others, only the little girl Uchiha Izumi looked at Fang Yuan with worry. She clenched her hands, wanting the clan elders to help Fang Yuan, but she was afraid that this would affect his grades.
"No! Impossible! How could my brother be so powerful?!" Fang Zheng muttered absentmindedly. The scenes before him were so shocking that they overwhelmed him. Even though Fang Zheng was not particularly bright, he knew the significance of his brother's achievements.
The more remarkable Fang Yuan was, the more Fang Zheng felt an unspeakable anger, accompanied by despair and loss.
I will never be able to surpass my brother...
Fang Zheng collapsed to the ground, trembling as if his spine had been ripped out.
In the crowd, a young boy with sharp eyes looked at Uchiha Fang Yuan. His face was cold, but a fighting spirit burned in his heart. The child had iconic nasolabial folds and a head of flying black hair. Although still small, he exuded the demeanor of a future strongman. Uchiha Itachi's handsome and youthful face was serious as he watched Fang Yuan move further away in the distance.
This was the first time Itachi felt a profound understanding of life from his peers and also the first time he felt such pressure.
"Do you know what the meaning of life is? Will you find the answer, Fang Yuan-jun?" Uchiha Itachi murmured to himself, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Twenty-seven steps... Twenty-eight steps... Twenty-nine steps...
As time passed quietly, Fang Yuan continued to advance. Though his movements were slow, he did not hesitate. By the 30th step, he showed no sign of faltering. At this moment, the flames on his body had surged to a height of over a hundred meters, forming dreamlike strands of light around him. His skin began to crack and wrinkle, and he was severely dehydrated. Some parts of him even began to burn and rot.
"That's enough. If I get a B now, people might say I'm hiding my abilities. Let's push a few more steps to secure an A."
Fang Yuan said to himself. Only with Class A qualifications could he get closer to Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha high-ranking officials, explore family secrets, and facilitate the trial approval for his parents' inheritance. Becoming Uchiha Fugaku's disciple would bring numerous benefits.
Previously, Fang Yuan might have considered hiding his abilities and biding his time, but learning about poisonous insects in this world had changed his perspective. With his unique power and foundation, he decided it was time to advance boldly and expand his influence.
With this thought, Fang Yuan took another step forward.
Step 31!
The Sharingan stone sculpture at the end of the cave suddenly trembled. It seemed to come alive, and a terrifying storm of pupil power condensed into substance, rushing towards Fang Yuan. This illusion exceeded all previous experiences. Even the elders at the observation point were horrified, and their red Sharingan opened involuntarily.
"How terrifying! Is this the eye power storm of Chisato's ancestor? Rumor has it she created the forbidden eye technique - Izanami, which can trap all surrounding matter and senses in infinite replication."
An elder exclaimed, his voice trembling.
Suddenly, everyone felt a strange sensation. Uchiha children in the distance were thrown backward by the energy wave, with many fainting on the spot. Those who remained conscious had tears and blood in their eyes and rolled on the ground in agony.
This sudden turn of events shocked Uchiha Fugaku. He jumped off the platform and ran towards the fallen youths. The Uchiha elders who reacted used their Sharingan to combat the endless storm of eye power and prepared for rescue.
"The stone carvings depict the pupil skills of our ancestors at their peak. No wonder this place was sealed off initially," Uchiha Fugaku said with an unsightly expression. He glanced nervously at Fang Yuan, who was standing firm in front of him.
Fang Yuan seemed like a lone figure in a storm. Though his body bent under the pressure, he did not fall. The visible pupil power turned into a storm of fluid that passed by him, blowing backward.
Fang Yuan felt as though he was climbing a mountain in a snowstorm, with the cold wind and frost piercing his face. But even so, he continued to move forward.
"Fang Yuan! What are you doing?! Stop now!"
Uchiha Fugaku cried out:
"Are you trying to die? Stop immediately! You have passed the test and are qualified to be my disciple! Just wait where you are and I will come to save you!"
"There's no need for that..."
Fang Yuan smiled faintly despite the storm of pupil power. He looked straight ahead, and at the end of his vision, the Uchiha stone sculpture shone brightly, like crystal diamonds.
This is the radiance of hope. It truly is Hope Gu!
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
Fang Yuan laughed heartily, feeling more passionate and heroic than ever before. Hope is awakening—it means that with the Hope Gu, he could officially become a first-level Gu Master! No matter how many hardships or difficulties lay ahead, he would face them courageously.
"He... is still moving forward!"
Some of the elders of the tribe expressed their admiration with trembling voices.
"What kind of willpower is this? What on earth is he persisting for?"
"The Uchiha clan is going to produce a great hero!"
"From now on, you, Uchiha Fang Yuan, will have a place in the Uchiha clan temple."
"Fang Yuan-san! Come on!"
Uchiha Izumi smiled at Fang Yuan with tears in her eyes.
At this moment, the eye technique engraved in the stone sculpture of the Sharingan finally manifested.
The final illusion from Uchiha Chisato, Izanami, covered the entire cave.
The black pupil power swept across all surrounding matter and senses. When everyone looked up again, the scene around them had changed...
Fang Yuan remained the same, still moving forward. Around him, the Datong Wind Curtain cut off everything, powerful enemies surrounded him, and the black coffin's deadly fate loomed over him. He was at the end of his rope.
Fang Yuan had three heads and six arms, transforming into a burly immortal zombie, but at this moment, his body was broken and his life was hanging by a thread.
In front of him stood another figure, like the setting sun, with flames surging into the sky. The will of the great sun was thunderous and resounding.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan! Hand over the 9th rank wisdom immortal Gu! You will not escape death today!"
"Is this... an illusion?"
Fang Yuan looked at the scene around him with surprise. The Uchiha clan members were still behind him, but what kind of illusion was this? Why did it seem so familiar?
Is this what happened in a parallel universe?
Fang Yuan was stunned, but his body instinctively laughed wildly as he took steps towards the emerald-like beautiful Gu insect before him.
Nine-turn Wisdom Gu?
A voice in Fang Yuan's mind confirmed his guess.
His body quickly withered and aged, turning gray under the light of wisdom. But amidst the despair, a glimmer of light appeared in Fang Yuan's hand, and his eyes widened.
The immortal zombie's white hair fluttered as he extended his six arms and shouted:
"Haven't you heard that there is always a way out? As long as I want to go, the path is right beneath my feet!!!"
"Immortal killer move - Wanwo!"
Countless figures of Fang Yuan appeared, overlapping and densely packed. His six arms struck out with punch after punch. Countless fist shadows shattered the isolating Datong Wind Curtain, dispersed the sun-like figures, and even destroyed all the illusions before his eyes.
Fang Yuan regained his senses. His fist was bleeding, and in front of him stood a shattered Sharingan stone sculpture. He held the Hope Gu tightly in his palm...