At nightfall, the sunset on the horizon was blood red.
The sunset was shining upon the interior of the schoolhouse. There, more than fifty disciples were sitting neatly. On the platform, the schoolhouse's Elder was calling out names, and distributing allowances.
Every seven days, the schoolhouse would send out Primeval Stones as a way to help these young men. With their abilities, they would run into financial pressure if they were to raise the Gu by their own means.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan." The Elder muttered.
Fang Yuan stood up from the seat at the corner beside the window. He walked up to the platform, receiving two big bags.
One was the three Primeval Stones that the clan distributed as an allowance. The other was the ten Primeval Stones that he was rewarded with.
"Try harder." The Elder gazed at Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan had come in first, twice in a row. This had made the Elder who had soon been disappointed, regain some attention.
Fang Yuan nodded, putting the bags in his bosom then returning to his seat.
"d.a.m.n it, letting him s.n.a.t.c.h first place again..." Gu Yue Mo Bei fiercely stared at Fang Yuan, feeling uncomfortable.
"Those two Moon Blades that continuously hit the scarecrow's neck was that his luck again, or was it his true competency?" Gu Yue Chi Cheng squinted his eyes. This doubt was lingering in his head ever since the examination had ended.
Not only him but several other disciples also unconsciously looked over to Fang Yuan.
This matter really troubled them. Although they had lost to him, they could not accept it. They were all dying to know the reason.
When everything was about to finish, the schoolhouse's Elder announced, "You guys have stayed in the schoolhouse for quite a while now, and are already used to using the Vitality Gu. Next, I will teach you guys how to nourish your vain aperture, and increase a Gu Master's cultivation base. The higher level a Gu Master is, the more condensed their Primeval Essence is. A level one Gu Master has a Bronze Primeval Essence, level two is Scarlet Steel Primeval Essence; level three is Silver Primeval Essence. One Scarlet Steel Primeval Essence can be compared to ten Bronze Primeval Essence. Likewise, the Scarlet Steel Primeval Essence is only one-tenth of the Silver Primeval Essence.
"You need to remember; Gu is just the tools we are using while cultivation base is the true foundation of a Gu Master. The higher the cultivation base is, the higher the level of Gu one will be able to use. In the next three months, whoever could reach the Intermediate Level One first will be rewarded with thirty Primeval Stones. Also, he will receive the priority of choosing the second Gu. Three months later, based on your results, I will appoint one cla.s.s monitor and two vice-monitors. The monitor will receive ten Primeval Stones as an allowance, and the vice-monitor will receive five! Alright, today ends here, cla.s.s is now dismissed."
Buzzing sounds started to reverberate as soon as the Elder finished.
"He wants to appoint cla.s.s monitor and vice-monitors!" Someone excitedly tightened his fists.
"The monitor will have ten Primeval Stones after each week; the vice-monitor will have five? If I could reach the Intermediate stage of level one first, then I could definitely become the cla.s.s monitor." Light started to lit up in this person's eyes.
"The Primeval Stones is not the key point. The key point is the monitor and vice-monitor position. They represent glory. Your status will be above everyone else. Normal disciples, when encountering the cla.s.s monitor, all have to bow down to greet him or her." Gu Yue Mo Bei and Gu Yue Chi Cheng did not lack Primeval Stones anyway. However, to them, this honor was extremely important.
"Being the cla.s.s monitor. Yes, I just need to reach Intermediate Level One first! Gege would need to bow down to greet me every time he sees me later. Wait, where is gege?" Gu Yue Fang Zheng unconsciously turned around, only to see Fang Yuan's seat was empty.
The disciples followed each other, exiting the schoolhouse.
"Where is Gu Yue Fang Yuan?" Gu Yue Mo Bei wanted to see Fang Yuan, to get an answer for his doubts. However, Fang Yuan had already left.
"Humph, he's escaped quickly. Is he afraid? It looks like he has once again gotten lucky in today examination." Gu Yue Chi Cheng coldly sneered.
"Whatever. It is just ten Primeval Stones. I should not be bothered with it. The priority now is to focus on reaching the Intermediate level one, and s.n.a.t.c.hing the cla.s.s monitor position." Gu Yue Mo Bei squinted his eyes, looking at Gu Yue Chi Cheng and Gu Yue Fang Zheng beside him.
These two were his true opponents. Fang Yuan was just a grade C; he was not worthy.
"Coming in first place twice in a row, Fang Yuan had gotten first place wholly based on his luck. However, this time, the cultivation base exam only focuses on one's apt.i.tude on his cultivation skills. The higher grade that one's apt.i.tude is, the better the advantage that one will have." Gu Yue Chi Cheng was feeling the pressure inside. He was a grade C apt.i.tude. He only displayed the performance of a grade B by cheating.
"They are already getting eager for a fight just because of one monitor and two vice-monitor positions. Such naive and hot blooded youths." Fang Yuan leaned on the grand gates of the schoolhouse and coldly laughed inside.
What was called glory, were just the tactics that the upper authorities used to arouse their subordinates' personal values. Basically, it was just a layer of an illusory halo. What could be useful in that!
Five hundred years of living had soon made Fang Yuan understand the profound meaning of it.
"No matter which clans, sects, demonic cults, no matter if it is this world, or Earth, all organizations are the same. They would establish higher and lower positions and a clear advancement standard. Then, they would let the ones at the lower position climbing up to a higher position constantly. Because profit-seeking is the nature of human and authority usually plants a false sense of being a notch above others, in a person's heart, that their own existence is more valuable than that of a regular person."
"Authority is like hanging a carrot in front of a donkey. People's desires are incited by it. A group of people toadying for personal gain non-stop. After climbing up one stair, there is another higher stair. They don't realize that along the way of toadying; their manpower is being squeezed out. The value coming from it is also being exploited by the higher authorities."
"No matter what organization it is, as long as there is a dependency, they are all serving the higher authorities. What is called the monitor, vice-monitor, are small carrots, luring people into the clan' system. To prevent the lower authorities from realizing this fact, the higher authorities usually integrates the value system, definite glory, contributions and other various concepts, establishing a hierarchy with unequaled rewards, or even utilizes religions to rule over people's hearts."
"This is the fact. It's a pity that the majority of this world is not aware of this, foolishly throwing their lives in for someone else. Also, the most fundamental nature of every organization in this world it - distributing resources. The higher authorities usually enjoy more benefits."
In his past life, Fang Yuan created the b.l.o.o.d.y Wing Demonic Cult with a couple ten thousand disciples in this continent. He then established a system of Demon Soldiers, Demon Generals, and Demon Commander-in-chief, and gave each of them corresponding benefits. This had made the others gone after it like a flock of ducks, letting Fang Yuan freely ordering them around. Such an experience had made him deeply comprehended such principles.
"Therefore, everything in an organization is just being symbolized. The true foundation is just one word -- resources. Without eating resources, they will die from starvation. Without drinking resources, they will be thirsty to death. Without resources for cultivating, they will become weaker, sooner or later; they will be killed by others."
"And Primeval Stones is the top resource for a Gu Master when cultivating!" Fang Yuan's pupils were as dull as a swamp. Thinking about this, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted, beaming a cold smile.
He had soon left the schoolhouse. When he was standing at the grand gates, the first group of disciples that came out started to approach him slowly.
"It's Fang Yuan."
"What is he blocking the main gate for?"
"Humph, every time I see him, he looks like he is dragging death along with him, it makes me feel uncomfortable."
"You don't need to bother yourself with him. Maybe he is waiting for someone else."
The group of young men did not pay attention to him. As they wanted to walk pa.s.s, Fang Yuan had already stridden over, stopping them, "This is a robbery. Everyone hand over a Primeval Stone, then you can go."