Reverend Insanity

Chapter Seven: The Nine Ranks of Gu Masters

A week swiftly passed.

"Humans are the spirit of all beings, while Gu are the essence of heaven and earth. In this world, there are countless types of Gu, living among us—in the soil, in the grass, and even within wild beasts."

"In the course of human history, our ancestors gradually discovered the mysteries of Gu insects. Those who have opened their apertures and use their primeval essence to feed, refine, and control these Gu to achieve various purposes are known as Gu Masters."

"Seven days ago, you all successfully opened your apertures during the opening ceremony, condensing your primeval sea. Now, you are all Rank One Gu Masters."

In the academy hall of the village, the elder was speaking eloquently.

Opposite him sat fifty-seven youths, all listening attentively.

The marvels and power of Gu Masters had long been ingrained in their hearts. Thus, everything the elder spoke of deeply captivated them.

A youth raised his hand and, with the elder's permission, stood up to ask, "Elder, I've known since I was little that Gu Masters have ranks from one to nine. Could you explain this in detail?"

The elder nodded and gestured for the youth to sit down. "Gu Masters have nine great realms, from Rank One to Rank Nine. Each rank is further divided into four stages: Initial, Middle, Upper, and Peak. You have just become Gu Masters, so you are all at the Initial stage of Rank One."

"If you continue to cultivate diligently, your cultivation level will naturally rise, and it is possible to advance to Rank Two or even Rank Three. Of course, the higher your aptitude, the greater the likelihood of advancement."

"With D-grade aptitude, your primeval sea occupies two to three tenths of your aperture and you often reach a maximum of Rank One or Rank Two. With C-grade aptitude, the primeval sea fills four to five tenths of the aperture, and you typically remain at Rank Two, though a few may break through to the Initial stage of Rank Three. B-grade aptitude fills six to seven tenths of the aperture, enabling cultivation to Rank Three or even Rank Four. A-grade aptitude, with a primeval sea occupying eight tenths of the aperture, is naturally the most gifted for cultivation, and can reach up to Rank Five."

"As for Gu Masters above Rank Six, each one is a legend, and even I am not fully clear on the specifics. Our Gu Yue clan has never had a Rank Six Gu Master, though we have had those at Rank Four and Rank Five."

The youths' ears perked up, their eyes gleaming with interest.

Many involuntarily looked towards Gu Yue Fang Zheng, who sat in the front row with perfect posture. An A-grade aptitude! Their gazes were filled with envy and jealousy.

Meanwhile, some eyes drifted to the back corner of the academy hall.

In that corner, leaning against the window, Gu Yue Fang Yuan was sprawled on his desk, fast asleep.

"Look, still sleeping," someone whispered.

"Hasn't he been sleeping for a week straight, still not recovered?" another scoffed.

"More than that, I heard he doesn't even return at night, wandering around the outskirts of the village."

"Someone even saw him hugging a wine jar, drunkenly passed out outside. Fortunately, the village surroundings have been cleared over the years, so it's relatively safe." Classmates whispered among themselves, spreading various rumors.

"Sigh, the blow must have been too much. He held the title of genius for so many years, only to find out he's just C-grade," someone said.

"It would be bad enough if that were all. But his own younger brother turned out to be A-grade, now enjoying the best treatment. The brother in the sky, and he on the ground, tsk tsk..."