Yuxuan spent the entire night up.
It was a combination of reasons that led to his lack of tiredness, with the most prominent one being the fact that the Sovereign Immortal Body gave him a seemingly endless amount of stamina as well as an almost endless stream of mental power.
What did that mean?
Simply, it meant that Yuxuan did not experience mental or physical fatigue, and as a result, he did not need to rest.
That meant he had a lot of time to get answers to questions he had and also had plenty of time to start plotting his life in Gu Yue Village no matter how short of a time he would stay here.
He had received many enlightening things that allowed him to polish his plans.
One included the fact that the 'System' was something that existed only in his mind, not in the sense that he was crazy; rather, it was just that only he could see and interact with it.
Another thing was that the system shared all of his attainment levels and also all of his knowledge as well as knowledge of the other people in the Gu world that was revealed during the story.
Many other things were realised, but the vast majority of those things were things that were useless to a mortal – more precisely, they were useless for now.
In one month when he got his set of immortal stones, he would be able to gather materials and also get the system to refine Gu and start to develop his immortal aperture.
Anyway
The night had come to an end, and the sun had just started to rise.
When the first light had stretched across the sky and shone upon the mountain, Yuxuan was alerted by the light entering through the cracks of his shack.
29 days until essence stones are acquired.
That was one of the things that Yuxuan had commanded the system to do, an alarm of sorts that informed him of how long he needed to wait for his batch of essence stones.
Sitting up from the ground, Yuxuan started to dust himself off. He paid it no attention yesterday, but now looking at his clothes, he felt disgusted.
He squatted down and did something he didn't want to do.
He made himself more disgusting.
'... If it helps me out even a little, it's worth it!'
Stepping out of his shabby shack, he turned his head towards the village and felt the warmth of the sun on his back.
'Today will mark my journey to greatness.'
And everyone would soon know because he had already chosen to become an A-grade talent.
The thoughts of becoming a B-grade talent or even a C-grade in order to lessen the attention placed on him, but he wanted to take all the attention on himself.
There were many reasons for this; he would get good resources and treatment, and at the same time he would not have to hide any progress and power he gained after he started trading in Treasure Yellow Heaven.
Yuxuan took a step forward and then another.
This truly was the beginning of his story.
...
Yuxuan had walked towards the pavilion.
The building was a magnificent 5-storey structure that was located in the centre of the village.
As he walked through the village, he felt the crisp morning air fill his lungs and heard the sound of the silence around him, but that silence started to dissipate as he drew closer to the pavilion.
There were 2 handfuls of people that were already standing there.
Yuxuan was able to quickly deduce their identities.
The Gu Yue Clan Head
The elders of the minor clans like the Chi and Mo clans who stood there with their grandchildren
The academy elder was also there.
As he arrived earlier than the majority of the people who were set to come here, their gazes shifted to him, and when they did, he fell to his knees.
Yuxuan had spent a short while trying to determine how he would behave from now on.
He had no parents, saw them die in front of his eyes and was also shunned by everyone in the mortal branch of the village but also refused to die.
The perfect personality would be an antisocial, rough and quiet person who also longed for human connection besides not knowing how to act around people.
He moved from just being on his knees and brought his forehead to the ground, making sure to regulate its power in order to not crack the ground.
"This junior greets seniors!"
"Ho?"
The clan head was the first to respond, and a moment later the academy elder spoke too, trying to discern the identity of this body – "You are?"
His head was still on the ground as he spoke loudly.
"I am Yuxuan, soon to be Gu Yue Yuxuan, and a great talent of the Gu Clan!"
He currently did not have the Gu surname yet since he was just a mortal who was born from mortal parents, so his standing in the clan was similar to that of a dog.
Upon speaking his name, Yuxuan heard the academy elder sneer as if he had recognised something.
"Tch. You're the brat who got his parents killed by not watching where he was going."
He turned his head away in disgust.
Yuxuan had an even lower standard than even the other mortal-born children, and this old bastard seemed to know that too.
Please do not kill him now, Master.
The system spoke, which prevented him from getting up and snapping the bastard's head off his shoulders.
Perhaps it was because he was the clan leader, or maybe it was genuine care – which Yuxuan doubted tremendously, but Gu Yue Bo spoke to him with the strict tone of a leader.
"I hope you become an asset for the Gu clan." - He allowed a small smile to curve his lips. - "But you must also learn how to behave."
Yuxuan already knew he was doing something wrong.
He did not need to bow, at least not today, but he did anyway. The mortals were often at the complete mercy of Gu masters, so Yuxuan was trying to show that he had some level of trauma-based understanding about Gu masters.
"Forgive my mistakes, Clan Head!"
He raised his head and kowtowed again, banging his head down.
The clan head shook his head – "Stand", he spoke in a monotone voice.
Yuxuan shot up like a rocket and stood straight up like a tree.
"If you wish to be a Gu master, you must bow your head, not bend the knee unless instructed."
"Thank you for the advice, Clan Head!"
Yuxuan bent his body down till his back was completely flat; he stayed like that until he saw the clan head's feet move, indicating that he turned.
Yuxuan internally gritted his teeth.
'That academy leader bastard... I'll show him!'
That bastard looked at him like scum, as if he held no talent and was destined for a life of mediocracy. It made sense after all; both his parents had no talent. He was also an annoying bug that pissed off all the mortals and even the Gu masters whom he had bumped into.
He judged him as a talentless person set to be a mortal forever.
Master must control himself better.
'This bastard is lucky he has more use alive!'
Yuxuan took his chance and backed away a few steps and stood there waiting patiently while looking around; soon the next child came and then the next one.
Many of them had varying expressions; most were nervous and some were confident – it was completely natural, today determined their entire future.
Yuxuan was not worried about engaging with any of them, and they tried their best to stay away from him as well. He was extremely filthy after all, and his hair had been roughed up by himself, so he looked like a hobo.
Yuxuan glanced through his periphery and saw Fang Yuan appear, and right behind him was Fang Zheng.
They truly were twins, with the only thing distinguishable between them being their eyes and demeanour.
Yuxuan turned his gaze away; Fang Yuan was going to be his pawn in a few days – he was not the protagonist of this story anymore.
Soon the time had come and all the children had been gathered.
The Clan Leader and Elders had already entered the cave a few minutes after he came here, so it was just the Academy Elder here waiting to guide all the participants in.
"Good, all of you are punctual. Today is the Awakening Ceremony; it is your life's great turning point. I won't say much; just come with me." - The elder of the academy spoke.
He turned and started to walk into the pavilion with all the students following behind him, with Yuxuan staying at the very back of the line.
They entered the pavilion, and just as he had read, there was a path leading down underground which they all walked through.
They walked for long down the tunnel; each step they took, the walkway became darker and darker, and eventually, after a few hundred steps, there was the faint sound of water – well, the sound was faint to the other children in the line, not to Yuxuan.
'The senses of the sovereign immortal body were great!' – Even the darkness did not give him much trouble.
After a bit more walking they came to a corner which they had to take.
In the darkness all the children could see was the faint blue light emitted by the river. Inside the river, one could see various beings, such as the fish, plants and even the sand beneath.
But that was not the thing that took their breaths away.
It was the sea of flowers opposite the river.
Yuxuan recognised them from the story – they had pink and blue crescent-shaped petals that connected to a blue jade-like stem.
This was the Gu Yue Clan's closely cultivated moon orchids.
'It was as beautiful as described.' - He thought to himself.
"Wow, so pretty!"
"It really is beautiful!"
He heard the other children say
The beautiful sight only added to their anxiety and longing – Yuxuan had the same reaction too.
He may have been an enigma in this world already, an impossibility, but this was also his first time seeing such a mystical sight.
'Can we take these into the immortal aperture?'
It is not advised to open the immortal aperture until Master reaches the immortal ranks – you might draw the attention of immortals to your location.
He let out a sigh.
The Moon orchid petals were unique to the Gu Yue clan; once this place is destroyed, they won't exist unless he tries to recreate it in the future once he becomes an immortal.
He was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts when he heard the academy elder.
"Alright, listen as I call your names. Those who are called must walk through this river to the opposite bank. Walk as far as you can, of course; the further you go, the better it is. Are all of you clear on that?" The elder said
"Yes," they replied.
Yuxuan looked around again and gazed at all their faces: fear, worry, anxiety, pride and even assurance.
'The Gu world is cruel to them...'
It was truly
More than 50% of the children here would fail; they would become the lowest of the clan and live day to day in a mediocre world.
Some would get D-grade talents and some C, who were essentially judged as useless.
But what about him?
He had the ability to choose his starting point; he could choose his aptitude.
One may have felt bad, even a bit of guilt – he did not.
Last night he had already decided to forget his past life.
He decided to forget how his dad died when he was 6; he decided to forget how his neglectful mother remarried and started to ignore his existence, and he decided to forget how his stepfamily tortured him and eventually kicked him out of the house at the age of 14.
He decided to forget the 4 years he spent on the street like a dog looking for scraps.
He had been given an ultimate chance by the gods themselves.
And he was not going to feel bad about it.
In a few moments he would become an A-grade talent of the clan.
In a few days he would have the future Heaven Refining Demon Venerable as a servant.
In a few weeks he would become an elder.
In a few months he would leave this mountain and gain glory.
In a few years he would become a true immortal.
And a while after that he would become a venerable!
This was his story now; this was the story of Yuxuan – of Gu Yue Yuxuan.
and this was simply the first step
So he waited to walk forward because he would never stop after that.
The academy elder called the first person – no talent.
Then he called the second – no talent either.
Then the rest of them started to step forwards one by one.
Gu Yue Mo Bei was called and announced to have a B-ranked aptitude after being checked by the elder.
Soon after that the other failures and other mediocre people stepped forward, most C and D
Then was Gu Yue Chin Chen, who was announced to have a B grade talent, which both he and Fang Yuan knew was a lie, but both of them had kept quiet.
Upon hearing Fang Yuan's name being called, Yuxuan started to pay more attention.
'My turn is coming soon.'
He thought as he watched Fang Yuan step forwards; it was true.
Many people gazed, following him with a variety of different looks – pride, jealousy, hope
They all had such great expectations for the boy.
'A shame he won't work for you all, but he will be my servant instead.'
A wry smile crept onto Yuxuan's face as he observed
He watched Fang Yuan take those same 27 steps and stop walking.
He watched as the whispers around sounded in disappointment and shock.
He watched as Fang Yuan returned and was announced as a C-grade talent, and everyone seemed to lose hope.
Then he watched Fang Zheng get called and walk up, tripping on his way and being looked down upon, which changed as he got the A-grade aptitude with 80% primaeval sea.
Everyone celebrated and showed happiness, and the clan head chose to take him in as a disciple.
The remaining children went, and honestly those whose children had a B grade aptitude and above wanted to leave and were only still there for the respect of the ritual.
'I'm going to have to spice things up.'
He waited for all the people to be called, most of them mortal, some of them D grade and a few C grade, and then he heard his name.
"Gu Yue Yuxuan, come forward."
Yuxuan smiled and walked forward, making note of all the bad looks he was getting from those of the mortal village who knew him, and he saw the disinterest of those who were Gu masters.
He stopped in front of the academy leader and bowed his head only before turning back forward and continuing to walk, stepping into the waters.
The elder, of course, ignored him, wanting to end this ritual – this one was a guaranteed mortal as far as he was concerned.
He felt cool on his legs that were bare due to the lack of fitting clothes he had, and then he moved. forward
'Begin the aperture making.' - He yelled in his mind at the system.
Yes!
Yuxuan took a step forward and then another one and then another.
He didn't stop walking, making sure to pay attention to the hope gu that was flowing into the space between his kidneys. Each ball of light combined into another.
He continued to walk, admiring the sounds from behind.
'Serves you right, you lowly mortals!' – He laughed to himself. He may have been a mortal too, but a month from now he could leave and live as a Rank 6.
The excited whispers grew louder and louder as they watched him cross each step barrier.
10, 20, 30, 40
Eventually he stopped.
"48 Steps!" - The academy elder yelled.
"Another A-grade talent!" - One of the other elders spoke.
"The Heavens have blessed our clan!" - The elder spoke.
48 steps was the limit he had set for himself.
Just as he stopped, the ball of light seemed to explode; there was no pain – rather, the feeling was euphoric.
His aperture had formed.
He turned around and walked back, taking only 1 step out of the river and standing on the bank.
Everyone was shocked and in a heated state.
Right now there was a silent competition between the clans on Qing Mao Mountain.
The Xiong clan was not really a concern in terms of talents, but the Bai clan had the genius Bai Ning Bing, who had an extremely high aptitude.
So now the Gu Yue Clan that had been on the slow decline for a few years, having no A-grade geniuses, suddenly had 2
Suddenly everyone turned their attention to the Mo and Chi clan elders that were arguing over who was going to take this genius.
The clan head too watched Yuxuan with greed and made his bid as well.
Yuxuan just stood there patiently allowing them to make their decision.
"I will take this one too." - The clan head spoke.
The elders would not have made a fuss under normal circumstances, but right now the clan head already had an A-grade aptitude and was now trying to covet the other.
The academy elder too had been pulled out of his stupor by the 3 who were arguing and moved to test Yuxuan's primaeval sea.
The old man was gentle and seemed to have a soft smile and bright eyes.
Master, please refrain from killing him.
'This two-faced bastard...!'
Looking down on him like he was a snake now, gazing at him because he could soar like a dragon
"95% primaeval sea!" - The elder yelled.
There was another wave of commotion.
Fang Zheng had been an A grade too, but he had an 80% aptitude, and Yuxuan had 95% – comparing the 2 was like looking at the house of an elder and then the house of the clan head themself.
"Clan Head, you have already taken Fang Zheng; please give this talent to the Chi clan."
"No, the Chi clan produced a B-grade talent last year, and they have another this year. This one should belong to the Mo clan!"
They started to argue again, something about how one can compare an A grade and a B grade and some other bullshit.
Yuxuan ignored them both and walked over to the clan head and bowed.
"You have put my teachings into practice."
"Gu Yue Yuxuan greets the Clan Head."
"Huhu, well then, I believe the child has made his own choice!"
The arguing elders stopped their talking, realising the facts.
They had no chance at getting Yuxuan now, not because he had chosen to bow before the elder – that meant nothing because he was a brand new Gu master.
The reason they decided to give up was because the clan elder had already started to speak to the boy as if he were his disciple already.
There was no point in trying to convince him.
Yuxuan stood from his bow and gave a bright smile, especially since as he lifted his head, his eyes glanced at Fang Yuan's face.
Clearly Fang Yuan was confused as to who this new person was that had an A-grade aptitude since this did not happen in his past.