"Four hundred thousand primeval stones, and I can forgo the position of Clan Elder."
"Clan Leader, you only need to spend these four hundred thousand primeval stones to obtain all the contents of the inheritance."
Of course, excluding the bone flesh reunion gu.
"With this inheritance, Gu Yue Village can continuously refine Gu like the bone spear gu. This deal is a guaranteed profit for you."
Fang Yuan looked directly at the Clan Leader. Even though he was just a Rank Two pawn, he remained composed and calm in the face of this Rank Four powerhouse, showing no trace of fear in his conversation.
After hearing this, the Clan Leader slammed the table in rage, pointing at Fang Yuan's nose and shouting:
"Fang Yuan, oh Fang Yuan! How can you be so cold!? You are connected to the clan not just by interests, but by blood and kinship. Is your heart made of iron and stone?"
Fang Yuan remained unmoved, meeting strength with softness, and slowly responded to the furious Clan Leader in a calm tone:
"Clan Leader, that is where you are wrong. We are talking business right now. Business is about mutual consent; how can you bring up kinship? Could it be that if I buy moon orchid petals in Gu Yue Village, I can get a discount just based on kinship?"
The corners of Fang Yuan's mouth curled up slightly. The Clan Leader was so angry his whole body trembled, and the muscles in his cheeks twitched. He suppressed his anger and said in a low voice:
"Fang Yuan, you are the number one Genius of our clan. Your cultivation requires massive resources; when has the Family ever not given their all to supply you?"
"You wanted to inherit the flower wine inheritance, and the Family even exempted you from all missions; you wanted to reclaim your parents' inheritance, and it was the clan members who helped you complete the inheritance missions so you could strike it rich overnight with a large amount of primeval stones!"
"Clan Leader, you are wrong again. Precisely because I am the number one Genius in the clan, the stronger I am, the stronger Gu Yue Village will be."
"The more cultivation resources I control, the stronger I can become. Now that I finally have a chance to accumulate resources, should I just give them away to help the Family train a few more ordinary Rank One or Rank Two Gu Masters?"
Fang Yuan remained unhurried, his tone carrying a hint of a rhetorical question.
The Clan Leader was momentarily speechless because everything Fang Yuan said was the truth.
In this Gu World where strength is respected, individual power can often override an organization—a hundred Rank Two Gu Masters might not necessarily be a match for one Rank Four Gu Master.
A Rank Five Gu Master can handle dozens of Rank Four Gu Masters with ease; if it were someone like the Elder of Chang Family, he could kill a Rank Four with a single punch. Those exotic beasts with the combat power of a Ten Thousand Beast King were nothing but ants before him.
In the Clan Leader's eyes, Fang Yuan possessed A-grade aptitude and was precocious, so he was bound to be a top existence among those of the same rank; even fighting above his rank wouldn't be difficult. But he ultimately underestimated Bai Ning Bing, and even more so underestimated Fang Yuan's true strength.
The one on the martial arts field with the phantoms of eight beast strengths was him; the Wolf King, Elder of Chang Family, who tore apart Cheng Long, Cheng Hu, Ma Zun, and the Eagle King in the Horde Contest was also him; Liu Guanyi, who refined the Persistence Immortal Gu on the Reverse Flow River, was still him.
The Clan Leader would never have imagined that Fang Yuan would not only make the whole clan A-grade, but even make everyone in Gu Yue Village a Gu Immortal, even having a fifty percent chance of becoming a Venerable.
Although after the first volume, the only ones left alive were Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng.
At this moment, what truly troubled the Clan Leader was never the primeval stones, but that Fang Yuan had none of the sense of belonging to the Family that Fang Zheng or Qing Shu had. It just so happened that this youth had a meticulous Heart-Nature and his own values were already formed, making them impossible to change.
"Fang Yuan, you are the most intelligent youth I have ever seen, yet you just can't see through this one point..."
The Clan Leader sighed inwardly. From Fang Yuan, he seemed to see the shadow of Bai Ning Bing—it was a demonic nature that did not cultivate good karma, only sought the Dao, and was intolerable to heaven and earth.
Bai Ning Bing was a true demon, and Fang Yuan was the same.
While the Clan Leader was worrying, Fang Yuan took in all the changes in his expression and spoke slowly:
"However, besides selling the inheritance contents, I also plan to sell some Gu worms."
Before his voice had even faded, another large vat flew out from the Skull Gu's mouth, still densely packed with Gu worms. At the same time, Fang Yuan took the Rank Three Milk Spring Gu from his aperture and placed it by the vat.
"These Gu worms could sell for about seventy or eighty thousand primeval stones in Shang Family City; I will sell them for forty thousand."
Fang Yuan did not lack primeval stones now; he was only a Rank Two Gu Master and didn't need so many resources. Pausing, he added:
"The Family's situation is difficult right now. I can lend these four hundred thousand primeval stones to the Family first, and when I need them in the future, I will take them back from the Family."
Hearing this, the Clan Leader's anger dissipated by more than half, and he even felt a bit of hope—perhaps there was still a chance to change Fang Yuan's nature.
At the same time, he was secretly shocked. Fang Yuan was only sixteen, yet he could let go of such a massive amount of primeval stones; this Heart-Nature was truly rare.
Fang Yuan and the Clan Leader talked for an entire afternoon.
In the end, Fang Yuan used the Skull Gu and ten thousand primeval stones to exchange for a Rank Three storage-type Gu worm from the Family—the doushuai flower.
Although the doushuai flower and the Skull Gu were both Rank Three storage Gu, the utility of the Skull Gu was far inferior to the doushuai flower.
After obtaining the doushuai flower, Fang Yuan sold the Rank Three rib Gu in exchange for thirty thousand primeval stones, plus a Rank One Fish Scale Gu, a Rank Two water vapor gu, a Rank One Bear Strength Gu, and the Gu materials and Gu worms to refine the Rank Three copper skin gu.
The Fish Scale Gu is a defense Gu, a specialty of Bai Family Village. By refining it with the Rank One Concealing Stone Gu in Fang Yuan's hand, he could refine the Rank Two Hidden Scale Gu.
The water vapor gu is also a defense Gu. In Fang Yuan's memory, refining it with the white jade gu and a water path defense Gu could create the Rank Three Heavenly Canopy Gu, which has impressive defensive power, and he happened to have a white jade gu in his hand.
As for the Rank Three copper skin gu, it can permanently transform a Gu Master's skin. Combined with the Iron Bone Gu in Fang Yuan's hand, it could achieve the powerful effect of 'copper skin and iron bones.'
The Bear Strength Gu can permanently add the strength of one bear to a Gu Master; it is the signature Gu worm of the neighboring Xiong Family Village.
Although the Xiong family regarded it as a treasure, Gu Yue Clan Members had also killed Xiong family Gu Masters and seized this Gu, so the clan did not lack this worm.
In addition, Fang Yuan sold the arm bone wing gu and the flying bone shield gu in exchange for a Silver Sarira Gu, as well as four kinds of fine wine—sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy—plus ten thousand primeval stones.
The two talked in the Clan Leader Pavilion until nightfall, both quite satisfied with the transaction. Feeling hungry, the Clan Leader ordered the kitchen to prepare several delicacies.
Not long after, the food was brought to the table. Gu Yue Qing Shu was the Clan Leader's adopted son, so he was naturally invited to attend.
Looking at the steaming dishes, the Clan Leader lamented the lack of good wine to go with them, so he simply unsealed a jar of monkey wine he had kept for ten years.
The fragrance of the wine instantly filled the air. This monkey wine is a fine wine brewed by monkeys. Legend has it that Ren Zu's eldest son, Great Sun Yang Mang, loved this wine the most, even giving birth to the roaming immortal gu because of it.
The Clan Leader's jar of monkey wine was even more mellow than the one Fang Yuan had stolen from the Grass Skirt Monkey Group last time. Yuan Fang was itching to taste this wine, so Fang Yuan handed over control of the body.
After the three had their fill of food and wine, Gu Yue Qing Shu took his leave first. As soon as he left, Fang Yuan told the Clan Leader he had a confidential matter to discuss.
The Clan Leader was not drunk; he never had the habit of getting drunk, so he immediately waved his hand for the surrounding attendants to withdraw.
Seeing there was no one around, Fang Yuan was still worried about eavesdroppers. Seeing this, the Clan Leader took out an Information Path Gu, and the two communicated through it.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan finally felt relieved and explained the origin and details of the bone flesh reunion gu one by one.
After hearing this, the Clan Leader was instantly shocked. Without a doubt, this was a Gu worm capable of changing one's fate against the heavens. Even the Wu family and Shang family would be envious of it, as it could allow a Gu Master with mediocre Aptitude to increase their cultivation rapidly.
If outsiders found out, it would surely bring a disaster of total annihilation to Gu Yue Village.
"Does anyone else know about this?"
The Clan Leader looked at the bone flesh reunion gu in Fang Yuan's hand with a complex expression, momentarily unsure whether to be happy or worried.
"Only Fang Zheng knows. The Clan Leader can rest assured; his lips are sealed."
Fang Yuan's words made the Clan Leader breathe a sigh of relief. From that night on, with the Clan Leader's help, Fang Yuan cultivated every day using Rank Four Golden True Essence.
A month later, Fang Yuan broke through to Rank Three cultivation and became a Rank Three Clan Elder of Gu Yue Village.
When the news spread, the whole village celebrated—he had become a Rank Three Clan Elder in less than two years. This speed drew the attention of the Genius youth from the Bai Family Village on Qing Mao Mountain, Bai Ning Bing.
Bai Ning Bing looked toward Gu Yue Village, her gaze holding a hint of anticipation:
"I wonder if this Fang Yuan can add a bit of excitement to my life?"
In addition, Fang Yuan refined the Hidden Scale Gu, blood moon gu, Heavenly Canopy Gu, and copper skin gu, and then transformed himself with the copper skin gu and Iron Bone Gu, achieving 'copper skin and iron bones.'
With the boost from the pig strength gu and Bear Strength Gu, plus the strength of two boars and his own strength, he was enough to shatter Bai Ning Bing's Ice Skin Gu plus Fish Scale Gu defense with one punch, unless Bai Ning Bing activated the Rank Three Frost Demon Gu to resist.
The day after Fang Yuan broke through to Rank Three, the Jia Family's toad Caravan arrived at Gu Yue Village.
The Caravan leader was still Jia Fu, who had Rank Four cultivation. Just like last year, he rode on the Rank Three mount Gu, the Treasure Artifact Bronze Toad, surrounded by countless wagons.
From the Caravan, Fang Yuan purchased a wine worm, a Silver Sarira Gu, a raw iron gu, and a direct impact gu.
He paired the new wine worm with his old wine worm, and added the four wines—sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy—to refine the Rank Two Four-Flavor Wine Worm, which could refine red iron primeval essence.
Fang Yuan then prepared various Gu materials and upgraded the Four-Flavor Wine Worm into the Rank Three seven-fragrance wine worm to refine silver primeval essence.
Fang Yuan used up two Silver Sarira Gu, reaching Rank Three high stage cultivation. Then, after refining with the seven-fragrance wine worm, he achieved Rank Three Peak Snow Silver Primeval Essence, with some of the Clan Leader's Golden True Essence still remaining in his aperture.
The raw iron gu was used to maintain the Serrated Gold Centipede. Although the Serrated Gold Centipede had low durability, after being treated by the raw iron gu, its silver-edged serrations were sharp once again, just like before.
The direct impact gu is a Rank Three Strength Path Gu worm that allows a Gu Master to dash forward fifty paces at extreme speed, excelling most in ramming. Fang Yuan, possessing the strength of two boars, could cause an irresistible impact when combined with the direct impact gu.
In addition, Fang Yuan refined the meat of the Six-legged Crocodile King into blood path gu material, and secretly killed the Rank Three Clan Elder of Bai Family Village, Bai Songsi, using his body as blood path gu material to successfully upgrade the blood wing gu into a Rank Three Gu worm.
After the Caravan left, just like the plot of the original work, a Rank Five River Swallowing Toad drifted down the Yellow Dragon River to Gu Yue Village. The clan forcibly ordered Fang Yuan to deal with this 'ferocious' River Swallowing Toad.
Following the trajectory of the original work, Fang Yuan pushed the River Swallowing Toad awake, thereby becoming a great hero of Qing Mao Mountain, his fame spreading across the entire mountain.
After this incident, combined with Fang Yuan's increasing strength, Gu Yue Village simply publicized his prestige, claiming he possessed twelve Rank Three Gu worms.
They were the Iron Bone Gu, Jade Bone Gu, copper skin gu, Heavenly Canopy Gu, blood moon gu, Serrated Gold Centipede, blood wing gu, direct impact gu, Flesh White Gu, bone flesh reunion gu, doushuai flower, and seven-fragrance wine worm, listed as if they were Family treasures.
Of course, the specific Gu worms were not announced to the public; it was only claimed that Fang Yuan had twelve Rank Three Gu worms.
One must know that in the original work, Bai Ning Bing only had three Rank Three Gu worms: the Frost Demon Gu, Ice Skin Gu, and Blue Bird Ice Coffin Gu. Furthermore, that Ice Skin Gu was contributed to the Family after use.
Even so, Fang Yuan did not dare to look down on Bai Ning Bing.
He knew in his heart that once Bai Ning Bing got serious, her Rank Two Gu worms, with the support of the Northern Darkness Ice Soul Body, could exert Rank Three power; her Rank Three Gu worms could even explode with Rank Four strength.
"I wonder if Bai Ning Bing will become even stronger than in the original work because of my appearance?"
Yuan Fang wondered to himself.
Gu Yue Village grew increasingly prosperous because of him. Gu Yue Qing Shu had also broken through to Rank Three not long ago and obtained a new Rank Three Gu worm.
Fang Yuan also sold the black swine gu, Bear Strength Gu, and pig strength gu to Gu Yue Chi Shan, and lent out the Iron Bone Gu. Chi Shan also broke through from Second Rank High Stage to Rank Two Peak, and could even kill a Rank Three Clan Elder above his rank.
Later, Gu Yue Village organized a Family competition. In the competition, Fang Yuan fought five opponents alone.
Since then, Fang Yuan gained the title of 'The Number One Person Below Rank Four on Qing Mao Mountain.'