Fang Yuan didn't relax. He forced the remaining black-red primeval essence out of his body.
It was unusable—injecting it into Gu worms would kill them.
Leaving it in the aperture would pollute the light membrane walls over time and weaken his aptitude.
After purging it all, he grabbed a primeval stone to start recovery.
A white-silver mist appeared, then condensed into droplets, forming his white-silver primeval sea.
For Gu Masters, Rank one was green copper, Rank two red steel, and Rank three white silver.
However, his primeval sea wasn't pure—black-red traces lingered, a side effect of the Man-beast Life Burial Gu.
Fang Yuan remained calm. He expelled the impure essence and refined more.
The black-red mix lessened by half.
Still unsatisfied, he repeated the process.
After several cycles, only faint traces remained.
No matter how many times he tried, those final remnants stayed—an unavoidable price of using the Man-beast Life Burial Gu.
Its effect was incredible—instantly advancing a Rank two peak Gu Master with no future into Rank three.
Such fate-defying power came with a flaw.
There was a way to remove the residue: the Cleansing Water Gu.
It could completely purify the aperture, but the Chi faction had already bought the only one from the treehouse.
For now, Fang Yuan had no means to remove the black-red traces.
"You bunch of useless idiots, what are you all doing! Not able to find such a large, lively person?!" In the medicine hall, Gu Yue Yao Ji flew into a furious rage, and her screaming caused even the window lattices and curtains to tremble.
Her heart was filled with fear, anger, and despair.
Three days had passed since the wolf tide ended and the village was safe again, yet Gu Yue Yao Le was still missing.
Despite calling in favors, organizing search teams, and scouring the battlefield, there was no sign of her.
The last ones to see Yao Le were Gu Masters who recalled her fleeing from a wolf encirclement, her situation worsening.
All signs pointed to her likely being devoured. But Gu Yue Yao Ji refused to accept it.
If it were any other girl, she might have let it go. But this was her granddaughter—the one she raised, her heir to the medicine hall. Smart, lovable, and full of life.
These past days, Gu Yue Yao Ji couldn't sleep. Her mind was haunted by Yao Le's image.
Once youthful in appearance, she now looked ten years older, her grief hollowing her out.
As she screamed in anguish, dozens of Gu Masters lowered their heads, silently enduring her fury.
"Reporting to medicine hall clan elder, this subordinate has something to report." At this time, a Rank two Gu Master walked in.
"What! Is it news about Yao Le?" Gu Yue Yao Ji's eyes shone, asking quickly.
"Someone advanced to Rank three, the clan leader is holding an elder meeting at the clan leader pavilion, to confirm the situation." The Gu Master quickly reported.
Gu Yue Yao Ji's eyes dimmed, waving her hands, "Not information about Yao Le, and still disturbing me? Wait… wait, what did you say… Someone advanced to Rank three and became a new clan elder?"
Halfway through, she reacted and lightly frowned.
This was too abrupt, with zero warning.
Gu Yue Yao Ji frowned, asking immediately, "Who advanced to Rank three?"
"Reporting to Lord Yao ji, it is Gu Yue Fang Yuan," the Gu Master answered.
"What? It's him!" At once, Gu Yue Yao Ji's iris shrunk; this was the worst of news to her.
In the hall, the Gu Masters also started to discuss violently.
"They couldn't have made a mistake could they, to think it's Fang Yuan?"
"Isn't he a C-grade talent? How can he become a Rank three Gu Master so quickly?"
"Once he's Rank three, he will be a clan elder, a higher-up in the clan. When we see him next time, we have to bow and greet him!"
"How can this be…. This is literally soaring through success!"
"Earlier, didn't they say he's dead? He went missing for three days and three nights, and his corpse could not be found on the battlefield. We thought he was eaten by lightning wolves already…"
They were stunned, jealous and confused.
"Missing for three days and three nights, without a corpse on the battlefield, isn't this the same as Yao Le's situation?"
Gu Yue Yao Ji's ears twitched, and her woman instinct caused her to have intense suspicion towards Fang Yuan for no reason!
She suddenly changed her mind; she is going to the clan leader's pavilion.
"He has truly advanced to Rank three!"
"This Rank three aura is genuine, and there is the white silver primeval essence; there is no mistake."
The atmosphere in the clan hall was solemn.
The clan head Gu Yue Bo was sitting on the highest seat, with many elders seated in rows by his left and right.
Whispers could be heard here and there, and dozen of people's attentions were more or less gathered on a young man who was standing upright in the center of the hall with his head held high.
The young man was Fang Yuan.
"To think this Fang Yuan advanced to Rank three."
"If I hadn't personally seen it, I would never have believed it….."
"Doesn't he only have C-grade aptitude? How could he advance so suddenly?"
"Actually, it can't be said to be sudden. Did you forget that he obtained two red steel Relic Gu?"
"Right, it was two whole Relic Gu, they can completely raise his cultivation steeply. Just thinking back when I cultivated, sigh….."
The group of elders were both amazed and puzzled; this matter had caught them completely unprepared.
"This Fang Yuan was able to advance to Rank three! He is merely of C-grade aptitude, but could actually have such accomplishments in this short time. This is really a surprise." Gu Yue Mo Chen who was seated on the frontmost seat in the left row exclaimed inwardly. He thought of two-three years ago, when Fang Yuan was still in the academy, and killed a servant of his family. He had already forgotten the name of this servant. But the minced corpse Fang Yuan sent over had left a profound impression on him.
"If I had recruited him before, I would be able to use this impact and gain political dominance. Sigh, it really is a pity….." Thinking of this, Gu Yue Mo Chen couldn't help but glance in front of him.
His old rival Gu Yue Chi Lian was seated on the frontmost seat in the right row. Right now he had a gloomy expression and obscure light flashed in his eyes.
"This Fang Yuan definitely has secrets on him. Although he had the help from the two red steel Relic Gu, he couldn't have had advanced to Rank three so fast, this is something even Qing Shu couldn't accomplish," Gu Yue Bo was also pondering.
He unavoidably thought of his adopted son Qing Shu, and sighed.
Were Gu Yue Qing Shu alive, he might also have Rank three cultivation by now. Unfortunately, reality is cruel.
"Medicine hall elder Lord Gu Yue Yao Ji has arrived—!" At this moment, the doorguard suddenly announced loudly.
Following his announcement, an old woman walked in through the door. Her face was pale and filled with wrinkles, but under her weary eyelids were extremely sharp eyes that locked onto Fang Yuan in an instant.
Gu Yue Yao Ji spoke as she walked forward quickly, "Fang Yuan, you advanced to Rank three? I don't believe it! I will personally verify it, let me inspect your aperture!"
Fang Yuan slightly turned his body and looked at Yao Ji who was walking over. He replied with a sneer, "Gu Yue Yao Ji, on what basis are you demanding to inspect my aperture?"
"Outrageous! You, a junior dares to call me by name?" Yao Ji's eyes widened, "Why can't I inspect you? With my identity as the medicine hall elder and also as your elder, I have the right to do so!"
"Hmph, old hag, calling you by name is giving you respect. I still have yet to settle the scores between us. You harbored a grudge towards me when I didn't sell you my Liquor worm, and actually wanted to plunder my Nine Leaf Vitality Grass? Hmph, I also wanted to exchange my merits for that Three Step Fragrant Grass Gu, but you prevented it in the dark. Now, I am also a Rank three Gu Master, so you had better stop putting on airs!" Fang Yuan's eyes were narrowed and his words sharp as a blade. He was very clear-cut with his words, completely showing off his hostility towards Yao Ji.
If he had said this as a Rank one or two, he would've been silenced or attacked.
But now as a Rank three, his status matched the elders.
When Fang Yuan insulted Gu Yue Yao Ji, the elders chose to watch in silence.
High-ranking figures thought deeply—whether by nature or shaped by years of power struggles.
They didn't know much about Fang Yuan and used this chance to observe him.
"Brat, you have the cheeks to slander me!" Gu Yue Yao Ji was furious due to the humiliation. What Fang Yuan said was true, but why would she admit it in front of everyone?
Hearing Gu Yue Yao Ji's retort, Fang Yuan only gave a cold laugh and stayed silent.
Her voice echoed through the hall.
She trembled slightly—this silence made her feel isolated.
Something had shifted.
The situation was no longer what it used to be.
Fang Yuan was now Rank three.
Though not officially named, his elder status was already recognized.
His conflict with Gu Yue Yao Ji had become a clash among the upper ranks.
As a new elder, Fang Yuan had no roots or backing—giving him nothing to lose and no fear.
In contrast, Gu Yue Yao Ji was old.
She held power and influence, but that made her vulnerable.
Her heir was missing, and her wealth tempted others.
In peaceful times, she'd be secure—but during the wolf tide, even elders could die.
This was a chaotic time.
Newcomers rose, veterans fell.
No elder, not even the clan head, was safe.
Gu Yue Yao Ji felt like the situation had turned thorny.
The hall was silent.
Worn out from three sleepless nights over her granddaughter, Gu Yue Yao Ji now stood under an invisible pressure that chilled her with sweat.
She felt like a crippled old wolf, alone and surrounded by silent predators watching from the shadows.
Fang Yuan stood before her, sharp and unshaken—a young, rising wolf full of energy and ambition.
It was just as the saying went: the old make way for the new, and each generation is replaced.
At this moment, Gu Yue Yao Ji felt that she had really aged. Very much so!
However, Gu Yue Yao Le's figure appeared in her mind; she forcefully opened her blurred eyes, her aura increasing suddenly.