According to the clan's regulations, the newly awakened youths were required to study within the academy for a full year. Only after this period would they graduate and officially be recognized as Rank 1 Gu Masters. To ensure these children could focus entirely on their studies, the clan had arranged individual dormitories for each of them. These accommodations were several times better than the old bamboo building Liu Chen had previously inhabited. The rooms were bright and spacious, and all the daily necessities had been replaced with brand-new items. Upon entering, he could smell a faint, refreshing fragrance that made him feel exceptionally comfortable.
Late that night, while the village was silent, Liu Chen sat alone in his dormitory room.
His focus shifted to the space beneath his field of vision, where three treasure boxes sat in a neat row. These boxes had been obtained from different sources: one from his own body, one from the Spirit Spring river, and the last "borrowed" from the Academy Elder.
After a moment of deep deliberation, Liu Chen made his decision. He reached for the silver treasure box he had swiped from the Academy Elder, choosing it as the first one to be opened.
"I'll start with you."
The moment he lightly lifted the lid, a mysterious radiance burst forth. Immediately, the synthetic voice of the system echoed within his mind:
"Reward obtained: [Gu Master Cultivation Foundation Knowledge]. Acquired various fundamental insights for Ranks 1 through 3 Gu Master cultivation."
As the notification faded, Liu Chen felt a massive influx of information surging into his brain. This knowledge was like a clear, refreshing spring, pouring steadily into his consciousness. The confusion he had previously felt regarding the path of cultivation vanished, replaced by an unprecedented clarity.
"Fundamental knowledge for Ranks 1 to 3... it seems my guess was correct. The colors of these treasure boxes correspond to the cultivation realm of the Gu Master they came from."
Having opened the silver box from the Academy Elder, Liu Chen felt nearly certain of this theory. However, he still needed to open the White Jade box to see what kind of reward it held.
"To think that even pure knowledge can be obtained directly!" Liu Chen marveled silently. "I wonder if I can obtain rewards that directly increase my aptitude from these boxes?"
With his heart full of anticipation, Liu Chen prepared to open the White Jade treasure box he had gathered from the Spirit Spring area.
Thinking back to the ceremony, he recalled his gaze falling upon the Clan Leader, Gu Yue Bo. He had noticed a treasure box floating near him as well but that box had been a dazzling Golden color.
Liu Chen mused to himself. If the silver boxes represented the Rank 3 level of the elders, then the purple and golden boxes must certainly be superior. After all, Gu Yue Bo was the leader of the clan and had already reached the peak of Rank 4. The treasure possessed by such a figure would naturally be extraordinary.
"Are these treasure boxes divided according to the realms of Gu Masters?" Liu Chen wondered as he looked at the multicolored boxes before him.
He examined them carefully. It seemed the tiers matched the cultivation ranks: from the lowest rustic red iron boxes, moving up to silver, then golden. Each one represented a different stage on the path of cultivation.
His thoughts then drifted to the White Jade box he had retrieved from the river. It was a color he hadn't seen on any of the elders or students. "This White Jade box... what exactly does it represent?"
"Gu Yue Qing Shu!"
Suddenly, a memory of the earlier ceremony surfaced. At the sound of that name, a graceful, handsome youth had stepped out from the crowd. His gait was light and steady, his every movement carrying an air of maturity and composure. When he reached the riverbank, he had bowed slightly to the elders, displaying impeccable manners.
"Gu Yue Qing Shu, thirty nine steps. B grade aptitude!"
The Academy Elder's voice had been thick with excitement. A result of thirty nine steps was exceptionally close to A grade. Such a talent meant Qing Shu could potentially break through the Rank 4 barrier and become a true powerhouse for the clan.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the cavern had grown tense. The Mo branch leader, Mo Chen, immediately stood up and addressed the other elders: "This Gu Yue Qing Shu is a descendant of a branch of my Mo family. Naturally, he should be nurtured by the Mo branch!"
However, before his voice could fade, Gu Yue Chi Lian snorted coldly. With a face full of disdain, he countered: "Nurtured by you? You might as well give him to my Chi branch instead! That boy is clearly a branch less orphan. Since when did he become a member of your Mo branch?"
For a time, the scene was chaotic as the elders argued over the rights to Qing Shu's potential.
Just as the dispute was reaching its peak, the Clan Leader, Gu Yue Bo, finally spoke: "Enough. Stop the arguing. This child does not belong to any specific branch. I shall take him as my godson and personal disciple; he will inherit my mantle."
Gu Yue Bo's words were like a thunderclap, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. The elders looked at each other, clearly not expecting the Clan Leader to claim Qing Shu so directly.
In recent years, the aptitude of the Gu Yue clansmen had been declining, which weighed heavily on Gu Yue Bo's heart. Among the crowd, Qing Shu's talent and potential were undoubtedly the most outstanding. Gu Yue Bo was unmarried and childless, having dedicated his entire life to the clan. Seeing Qing Shu, he couldn't help but feel a surge of hope a hope that this young man would be able to shoulder the clan's future and carry on its glory.
With the Clan Leader's declaration, the other elders fell silent. They knew Gu Yue Bo's strength and status; a Rank 4 Gu Master was not someone they could easily challenge. In this world where strength ruled supreme, these branch elders had no choice but to back down.
Liu Chen had watched the handsome youth from a distance, feeling a flicker of awe. Qing Shu seemed to be the embodiment of the clan's future. Yet, what had truly caught Liu Chen's eye wasn't just Qing Shu's talent, but the Silver treasure box floating beside him.
Since Qing Shu, no other high level talents had appeared.
As time passed, the Awakening Ceremony finally drew to a close. In this momentous hour, nearly forty youths who had successfully awakened were led into the clan academy by the Academy Elder.
There, it was officially announced that they were now Gu Yue disciples, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives as cultivators.