A new direction?

Yu Wen Zi was happy for his disciple but he reminded him that there are always bigger fish in the sea. Having a false A-grade aperture won't allow him to beat Bai Ning Bing. Gu Guangzhi became serious.

"I have goals much higher than that.", Gu Guangzhi replied.

"It's good if you don't let it get to your head. So what are your plans for the future? Do you want to stay in Xiong clan? Or do you want to go to a much bigger city to improve yourself?", asked Yu Wen Zi.

"I want to upgrade my gu insects before anything else. Finding materials required for Rank 3 refinement is not easy. I've been collecting many materials for this occasion for all these years. Having the backing of the Xiong clan wouldn't be a bad thing but since the clans are obsessed with bloodlines, I'm not sure if they will accept me whole heartedly."

"Hehehe. You're underestimating the selfishness of a clan. You aren't a Rank 2 gu master anymore. You are a Rank 3 gu master. The Xiong clan is not in a position to toss away such an ally. You'll soon learn that blood becomes incredibly thin when benefits are at stake."

"Alright teacher. Shall I use the Fake suppression Gu now?", asked Gu Guangzhi.

Yu Wen Zi and Gu Guangzhi had been planning this for a long time. When the clan leader and elders find out about Gu Guangzhi's promotion to Rank 3, they would definitely inspect Gu Guangzhi's aperture. After all, they had never heard of a gu master with a D-grade aptitude breaking through to Rank 3 before.

Initially, Gu Guangzhi wanted to use a Suppress aperture Gu that was commonly used on gu master prisoners to suppress their primeval essence. There were very few methods to increase one's primeval essence but to suppress them, there were many. However, Yu Wen Zi improved upon the refinement recipe and created Fake suppression Gu. The life of a gu master is full of dangers. In such situations, inhibiting one's primeval essence to fool a few people is akin to digging one's own grave. Fake suppression Gu only makes it seem like the maximum primeval essence is suppressed but in reality, the gu master will be able to use all their primeval essence.

"We'll go to the clan pavilion in the morning. You can use it then."

The next morning, the clan pavilion was in uproar. All the elders were shocked at the promotion of Gu Guangzhi to Rank 3. He was a D-grade gu master. Even as a Rank 2 gu master, his battle prowess had been excellent during the wolf tides with help from his water wolf with Peak Rank 3 strength. Now, as a Rank 3 gu master, he would be a new powerhouse in the clan.

"Congratulations Gu Guangzhi. I always had great hope for you but you really surprised me with your promotion to Rank 3.", said Xiong Jin Bo.

Xiong Jin Bo was the strength path master who first met in the mountains alongside Yu Wen Zi. He even helped Gu Guangzhi get into the clan by keeping silent about his aptitude when he first came to Xiong village.

"Elder Jin Bo, it is rude to call external elder Gu Guangzhi without a title. He is now a Rank 3 gu master just like you.", said Xiong Jiao Chin trying to sow discord between Gu Guangzhi and Jin Bo. Jin Bo always remained neutral in the clan. He rose to Rank 3 with his own strength and stayed out of politics. He didn't want Jin Bo now form a new faction with help of Gu Guangzhi.

"The clan leader hasn't officially given him the title yet. So it isn't inappropriate to address Gu Guangzhi without a title.", said Xiong Yuan Shuren. He was reprimanded by the clan leader for attacking Gu Guangzhi many years ago and his cultivation stalled for a while because of it. He was promoted to Rank 3 recently and he was not happy that Gu Guangzhi would soon be on equal footing with him.

The clan leader, Xiong Hu Zhong, called for silence and asked Gu Guangzhi, "Naturally, I am happy for the clan that a new Rank 3 gu master is now among us. However, I'm curious how you were able to rise to Rank 3 despite your D-grade attitude. Did you have any fortuitous encounters?"

"Clan leader, how can I rely on luck for breaking through to Rank 3? Rank 2 was like the Ordinary Abyss for me with a D-grade aptitude. I can only rely on myself to escape from it. I've been struggling to breakthrough to Rank 3 for three years now so I decided to gain inspiration by putting my life on the line. I challenged Bai Ning Bing of the Bai clan to a fight and gained insight from that fight to breakthrough.", replied Gu Guangzhi.

"Oh, you've been reading the legends of Ren Zu? I've definitely seen your perseverance over all these years. As a strength path gu master myself, I like people who work hard and take risks to achieve their goals. I too have heard about your fight with Bai Ning Bing. It is truly commendable. What insights did you gain from it?"

"Clan leader, I am still not entirely clear how to put it in words. I will surely work on it and leave it as my legacy to the next generation.", said Gu Guangzhi curtly.

A gu masters insights were as worthy as gu refinement recipes. And breaking through to Rank 3 as a D-grade gu master, it was extremely precious. He wasn't going to just give it away. Even the clan leader understood this.

Xiong clan leader spoke up, "I've expected Yu Wen Zi as the first external member to break into Rank 3 due to his B-grade aptitude but unfortunately his cultivation stalled due to a fight during a wolf tide."

Gu Guangzhi guessed that Yu Wen Zi was initially a Rank 5 gu master but his cultivation dropped to Rank 2 due to some catastrophic fight. He also assumed that this was the reason he couldn't advance smoothly to Rank 3. However, Yu Wen Zi told the other clan members that he was injured during a wolf tide and hence he had a difficulty in advancing to Rank 3.

The clan leader continued, "However, you have surpassed your teacher and broke through to Rank 3. Our clan isn't big enough to have external elders. You are of a good age and young. How about you marry someone from our clan and become a member of the clan? That way, I can promote you to an elder instead of external elder."

Gu Guangzhi was taken off guard and looked at his teacher Yu Wen Zi. Yu Wen Zi was smiling sheepishly. He remembered his teacher's words, 'Blood becomes incredibly thin when benefits are at stake.'