Gu Emblem: Awakening! (Part Five)

The gossip's getting louder, the alpha's brow's getting furrowed. Everyone's being respectful, except Fang Yuan, who's straight-up napping. Major eyesore.

"A week and he's still like this? I was wrong about him," the alpha thinks, annoyed. He's tried talking to Fang Yuan, but no luck. Fang Yuan just sleeps through class, giving the elder a massive headache. "Whatever, he's just C-grade. If he can't handle this, he's a waste of resources," the alpha decides, officially done with Fang Yuan. Fang Zheng's A-grade, he's the one worth investing in.

While he's thinking this, he answers a student's question about clan history. "We've had two Rank 5 masters," he says. "Our ancestor, the first clan head, and the fourth clan head. He was super talented, could've hit Rank 6, but that lowlife Flower Wine Monk ambushed him." He sighs dramatically. The kids are furious.

"That Flower Wine Monk was a snake!"

"Our fourth clan head was too kind, died too young!"

"If I was there, I'd rip that demon's face off!"

The fourth clan head and Flower Wine Monk story is basically clan lore.

The Flower Wine Monk was a Rank 5 demon cultivator, a notorious flower thief back in the day. A few centuries ago, he rolled up to Qing Mao Mountain, tried to stir up trouble in Gooner Yue Village, but got caught by the fourth clan head. Epic battle ensued, Flower Wine Monk got his butt kicked, begged for mercy.

The clan head, being a chill dude who just liked cultivating, was about to let him go, but Flower Wine Monk pulled a sneak attack, seriously wounding him. Clan head got mad, killed him on the spot, but his own wounds were fatal. So, in the eyes of the Gooner Yue clan, the fourth clan head is a hero who died for the village.

"Flower Wine Monk, huh..." Fang Yuan wakes up to the classroom's noise. He stretches and thinks, "Where did that dude die? I've searched the whole village, still can't find his stash."

He remembers a story: a heartbroken Gu Master got wasted, passed out outside the village. The wine smell attracted a Liquor worm. The Gu Master chased it, found a secret cave, and discovered Flower Wine Monk's bones and inheritance. He came back, became a big shot, managed to rizz up his ex back, the whole nine yards.

"Too bad I only heard bits and pieces, don't know the exact location," Fang Yuan thinks. "Didn't know I'd be back in time. Flower Wine Monk, where are you hiding?"

He's been buying wine, getting drunk every night, just on that sigma male grindset, trying to attract that Liquor worm. No luck. "That Liquor worm would be way better than the clan's Moonlight Gu," he sighs. "It's already April, time's running out." He gazes out the window.

Okay, so, picture this: blue skies, fluffy clouds, mountains stretching for miles. And this bamboo grove? Straight-up spear bamboo. Like, each bamboo stick is perfectly straight, and the tips are sharp. Think natural shish kebabs.

The woods nearby are turning green, tender shoots popping up everywhere. Cute little sparrows are chilling on the branches. Spring breeze is blowing, bringing that fresh mountain air. Vibe.

Class is almost over. The alpha's like, "This week, we learned how to check your aperture and move your primeval essence. Now, it's vital Gu time! After class, head to the Gu room, pick your worm, and refine it. Once you're done, come back to class. Oh, and this is your first test. First one done gets 20 skibidi stones!"

Scene Transmission!

Gu room's right next to the academy, kinda small, like, 60 meters. Gu are the power-up item for Gu Masters.

Class ends, and it's a whole stampede to the Gu room.

"Line up, gooners!" guards yell. They file in and out, one by one. Fang Yuan's up.

The room's trippy. Walls are covered in square holes, sizes ranging from cooking pot to fist.

Holes are filled with containers: stone bowls, jade plates, grass cages, lil' stoves. And inside? Gu galore.

Some Gu are silent, some are making all sorts of chaotic noises: chirps, clucks, rustles. It's a whole symphony of chaos.

"Gu are ranked 1 to 9, same as us. Everything here's Rank 1," Fang Yuan observes.

Rank 1 Gu Masters use Rank 1 Gu. Higher levels? Too expensive, too risky. Newbies always pick Rank 1 as their first vital Gu.

First Gu is a big deal – it's your ride-or-die Gu, linked to your life. If it dips, you're toast.

Choosing your first Gu is like choosing your starter Pokemon - Fang Yuan always went with Mudkip back in his previous life, 'cuz everyone like's them. 

"Ugh, I wanted that Flower Wine Monk's Liquor worm," Fang Yuan thinks. "But can't find his bones. Guess I'll grab a Moonlight Gu for now." He heads to the left wall.

Top row's got silver plates with crescent-shaped Gu, like blue quartz. Pretty aesthetic, ngl.

These Gu are like sparkly blue crescent moons, super aesthetic. Chill vibes.

They're called Moonlight Gu, the Gooner Yue clan's signature Gu. Everyone here picks them as their vital Gu. They're not natural, the clan breeds them with a secret method. Basically, a Gooner Yue clan symbol.

All the Moonlight Gu here are Rank 1, so they're pretty much the same. Fang Yuan grabs one, it's light as a feather, about the size of a jade pendant. He can see right through it, checkin' out his palm lines.

Everything looks good, so he pockets it and leaves the Gu room. The line outside is still long. The next kid rushes in, hyped.

Most people would sprint home and refine their Gu, but Fang Yuan's still thinking about that Liquor worm.

Liquor worm > Moonlight Gu. Moonlight Gu is cool, but Liquor Worm is a straight up upgrade.

Fang Yuan heads to the tavern.

"Two jars of aged wine!" he says, dumping his remaining skibidi stone pieces on the counter.

He's been buying wine and wandering the village, trying to lure that Liquor worm. The shopkeeper, a short, oily dude, recognizes him.

"Sir, you're back," he says, grabbing the stones and weighing them in his hand. He smiles.

Skibidi stones are the currency here, and also a cultivation booster.