Everyone stood, praising as they lifted their cups.
They either lacked strong backing or had none at all. Now that Fang Yuan was a clan elder, they feared his revenge and also hoped to join his circle.
Fang Yuan smiled calmly, raising his cup to toast them.
Outside, the dark clouds parted, and soft moonlight bathed the garden. Cool air carried a faint scent of blood, a reminder of harsh reality.
But inside the hall, everything was lavish—bright lights, fine wine, and smiling faces pretending this was paradise.
"This is the power of the system," Fang Yuan thought, his eyes reflecting the wine in his cup.
In the past, when he extorted classmates for a few primeval stones, everyone resented him.
Yet now, without saying a word, they rushed to offer bags of stones, each containing over a hundred.
On the surface, this was because he had become an elder.
In truth, it was because he'd moved from an outsider to a part of the system's leadership.
Within the system, everyone offered themselves up willingly. Even without any signal, they lined up to bribe him. Some relied on connections to join his faction, while others used charm to get close.
That was the way of this world—and the same was true on Earth.
Talents like Gu Yue Qing Shu, with B-grade aptitude, clearly had far greater potential than Fang Yuan.
Yet they all advanced slowly, stuck at Rank two for ages.
Was it because they didn't work hard enough?
Heh. What a joke.
This was the invisible deprivation and pressure of the system itself.
Ordinary people couldn't even sense it.
Take Fang Yuan's example—these primeval stones everyone gifted him could have fueled their own cultivation.
So bribery was simply another form of deprivation.
Countless lower-ranked members competed to hand over resources, further strengthening the higher-ups' control.
Beyond money, there was also the theft of time.
People like Gu Yue Qing Shu didn't have to bribe others, but their days were consumed running errands, completing missions, and currying favor—supposedly to earn recognition.
If that time had been spent cultivating, Qing Shu could have broken through Rank two peak and reached Rank three long ago. With the Wood Charm Gu, he might even have killed Bai Ning Bing.
But the elders had no interest in letting him advance too quickly.
A pawn that useful needed to stay beneath them. If he rose to Rank three and became their equal, how could they continue exploiting him?
No one wanted their power diminished.
So they deliberately delayed and restrained him, all while claiming—"I value this lad, but he must be tempered. Only through hardship can he become true jade…"
This is the truth of the system. If one cannot see beyond this, regardless of how heroic they are or how talented one is, they are merely tigers and dragons chained up, only being slaves. People like Gu Yue Qing Shu and Chi Zhong, no matter how intelligent or talented they are, so what?
"Everyone, please drink up!" Fang Yuan moved the cup to his lips, downing the drink in one mouthful.
Everyone quickly toasted him, not daring to leave behind a single drop.
"Goodbye." Fang Yuan cupped his fists, taking his leave. The family servants held the primeval stones as they followed behind him.
Everyone quickly sent him off.
"Please continue drinking, you don't have to send me off," Fang Yuan said, but everyone did not do so. Instead, they left their seats and continued their flattery.
Fang Yuan continued, "I like peace and quiet."
Seeing his expression, everyone finally got his intentions and remained in the hall.
Seeing Fang Yuan's figure leaving, some people sighed, while others remained silent, and someone exclaimed, "Elder Fang Yuan truly is a legend, such elegance..."
They were all like frogs at the bottom of a well, only able to admire the moon overhead. They looked at Fang Yuan's status with envy but couldn't see past the system's invisible chains.
Anyone who joined the system had to pay a price, sacrificing freedom and benefits.
Even the clan leader gave up much of his time and effort to keep things running.
Those at the bottom suffered the most, while the higher one climbed, the more privileges they received.
Back when Fang Yuan extorted primeval stones, he resisted the system, acting alone without caring even for his brother. That freed him from this hidden drain, letting him focus all his energy on cultivation and climb to Rank three, astonishing everyone.
Now he had transformed into a clan elder—mild, dignified, respected, enjoying all the perks that made others jealous.
This shifting between defiance and belonging was an art in itself.
Yet few could see the truth.
Fang Yuan avoided being drained yet still reaped all the rewards. To ordinary people, this looked like true freedom and grace.
"Alright, put the things on the table and you can go," Fang Yuan said.
The family servants didn't dare voice any thoughts, silently setting everything down and bowing to Fang Yuan before leaving.
This wasn't the old rented apartment Fang Yuan used to live in.
After he became an elder, the clan provided him with a new bamboo building.
Inside were a study and a secret chamber for secluded cultivation, though there were no personal servants assigned—he would have to find those on his own.
"Tusita flower, come out."
Fang Yuan willed in his heart and with the injection of his white silver primeval essence, the tusita flower residing on his tongue as a tattoo came alive immediately.
He opened his mouth and spit out, only to see red light appearing as the tusita flower rotated gradually like a lantern in mid-air, floating and appearing in front of him.
Fang Yuan activated the Tusita Flower.
At once, a red glow filled the area, casting everything in crimson light.
As the light swept over the primeval stones, an invisible force pulled them from their bags, drawing them into the Tusita Flower.
Moments later, the red glow faded.
Fang Yuan opened his mouth, letting the Tusita Flower return inside, where it turned into a red lantern-shaped tattoo on his tongue.
"This tusita flower is a Rank three Gu, able to store primeval stones and other things. Among the Rank three storage Gu, this is one of the better ones, being able to store a max of thirty thousand primeval stones. But considering that I have to store other things as well, the most would probably be around fifteen thousand primeval stones." Fang Yuan estimated the limit of the Gu.
Primeval stones were undeniably the most essential resource for any Gu Master's cultivation.
Without them, one's progress would slow drastically.
They were also vital in replenishing primeval essence quickly, offering a huge advantage during combat.
For lone Gu Masters, primeval stones were the foundation of survival on the road.
Typically, carrying at least ten thousand stones was necessary to cover basic needs for a while, and these would still need to be restocked regularly.
"In the six classifications, I have the Blood Moon Gu and Sky Canopy Gu for attack and defense, Thunderwings for movement, tusita flower for storage, and Earth Communication Ear Grass for recon. I only lack a healing Gu," Fang Yuan calculated.
He previously had a Nine Leaf Vitality Grass, but Fang Yuan handed it up already, thus being able to get the tusita flower.
But for this Rank two Nine Leaf Vitality Grass, even in Fang Yuan's possession, the healing ability was not satisfactory.
"There are many Rank three healing Gu worms suitable for me to use, and even if I did not find them, I could simply create one on the spot. However, creating a new Gu worm would arouse suspicion and lead to investigations from others. Therefore, the best healing Gu for me right now is clearly the Self-reliance Gu, as it is also the most optimal," Fang Yuan thought in his heart.
"A week later, I will finish exploring the inheritance ground and subdue the Chainsaw Golden Centipede," Fang Yuan finally concluded his thoughts.
Although he intended to explore the Flower Wine inheritance ground, Fang Yuan hadn't been able to find the time. As an elder, he was constantly under watch, and with the wolf tide raging, countless battles demanded his attention, leaving him no chance to slip away.
It was a week later when he finally returned to the hidden cave within the rock fissure.
Late summer, at night.
The rain had just ended, and the air carried the coolness of autumn.
A golden moon hung overhead, full and bright like a polished plate.
Faint wolf howls blended with the last chirps of crickets as Fang Yuan stood on a slope, turning to look back.
Gu Yue Village glowed under countless lanterns. The battered walls had been mended again and again, losing their former calm. Now, it resembled a weary giant that had survived countless battles, sprawled out and struggling for breath.
"The thunder crown wolf will arrive either today or within the next three days. I should use this opportunity to subdue the Chainsaw Golden Centipede and dig some tunnels for my next plan." Fang Yuan took a look, before moving his sight. Tonight he had managed to squeeze out some time, and had to make good use of it.