Reverend Sanity

Inside the Gue Yue Academy, the fresh batch of students were staring at Fang Yuan with suppressed shock. They muttered to each other inaudibly.

"He actually refined his first gu worm before everyone else?" A student whispered.

"So I heard. Academy elder gave him the reward of 10 spirit stones!" Another one said.

"Ten spirit stones…sigh, such a stroke of luck and boon of wealth."

"Hmph! Ten spirit stones are nothing but chump change." A boy from a rich family snorted.

Fang Zhang stole a glance at Fang Yuan who was sleeping at his desk in the back row. He hadn't changed his ways at all. Fang Zhang sighed calmly. He wasn't perturbed. "I refined my gu worm on the first day of receiving it. But it is imperative that I keep it a secret. Ten spirit stones are useful to Fang Yuan, but he cannot outmatch me in this early phase of cultivation."

***

After a long day of classes, the students finally exited the Academy to return to their homes.

"What are you going to do with the 1 spirit stone given to us all? I myself am going to purchase food for my gu. Must fatten it up hehe." A boy asked his friend.

"Spirit stones are too precious. We must use them wisely. I will keep half the stone for cultivation, and purchase food for my gu with the other half." The girl replied.

"I am going to buy liquor." Fang Yuan said to them.

"Eh? That is such a bad thing to-" The girl paused, realizing it was Fang Yuan- the cold silent oddity in their batch, in front of them.

Fang Yuan extended his palm towards the two. "Hand over your spirit stones. You can keep a quarter of them."

"Eh? EHH?? You're joking, right?"

"Why would we give you our spirit stones?"

"Because if you don't…" Fang took a single step forward and slapped the girl on her chest, tossing her several steps back.

"Agh!"

"Fang Yuan what are you doing!? How dare you strike a girl?" The boy shouted, gaining everyone's attention.

"I believe in gender equality. Hand over you spirit stone if you don't want to roil in the dust." Fang Yuan said coldly.

"…" The boy pulled up his right hand's sleeve, showing the crescent moon symbol on his forearm which was glowing blue. He activated the moonlight gu. Fang Yuan stood silently. His moonlight gu was planted on his forehead, and remained inactive.

"W-wait! We are not allowed to use gu worms against each other. If we do, we'll be rusticated!" Someone reminded the boy, holding him back. Pretty much everyone from this year's batch had gathered there by now as there was only one exit gate and Fang Yuan was blocking it.

***

Fang Zhang took big strides without looking hasty. He saw the fight at the exit gate. Fang Yuan was teaching the girls about gender equality and the boys about manliness as he pummeled them all with the least bit of force needed. There was a fineness in his movements and accurateness in each strike.

Elders were watching from the upper storeys of the Academy building, observing everything and allowing the students to learn from this experience about the ruthless fact that the gu world was all about survival.

"Fang Yuan! Stop this madness!" Fang Zhang called him out as he approached. He had decided to stand for his classmates. He remembered how Fang Yuan had beaten him in his previous life and taken his spirit stones. Fang Zhang now however was a different person. It wasn't a matter of measly spirit stones, but justice.

"Ah, Fang Zhang. Come to give me your spirit stones?" Fang Yuan smirked.

Everyone watched silently as the Fang twins faced each other. Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Fang Zhang, and realizing that his little brother didn't seem the least bit afraid.

Swoosh!

Fang Zhang made his move, lunging at Fang Yuan with a fist. Fang Yuan spun on his heel, dodging and striking with his elbow, but Fang Zhang grabbed his elbow, using it to stop his own momentum and struck a low kick at Fang Yuan's knee. Fang Yuan knelt in response but struck with his fist at Fang Zhang's sternum. Fang Zhang blocked it timely but was pushed back.

At once, the two brothers paused, gauging each other. Everyone else was gawking at the speed of their fight.

Swoosh!

Fang Yuan leapt now, and Fang Zhang welcomed him. They began exchanging moves immediately.

Swoosh-swoosh! Thwok! Swish! Bam! Pow!

Their bodies moved swiftly and their arms seemed blurred to everyone as they struck, blocked and parried. They are at a stalemate.

"Amazing…" The Academy elder uttered. "It is understandable that Fang Zhang is so experienced in hand-to-hand combat already. He's been receiving Clan Lord's tutelage after all. But this Fang Yuan is naturally talented in fighting. He's a good seed to nurture as a future battle master."

Little did the Academy elder know that either of the twins could murder him if they tried. They were a pair of future rank 8 gu immortal, and rank 9 demon Venerable!

Uncaring of what everyone might be thinking, Fang Zhang and Fang Yuan were fighting seriously. The more they fought, the more ruthless they became towards each other. In this mere exchange of moves, Fang Yuan realized that Fang Zhang wasn't ordinary. It was a strong possibility that he had reincarnated in the past with him!

Fang Zhang too realized that he was blowing his cover with every expert strike. But he saw hope. Hope of killing Fang Yuan in the here and now!

"I can do this! I can kill him! I can save the world!" Fang Zhang thought and struck more excitedly. He even displayed superior combat moves that no amount of training could allow a young lad to master.

"Eight legs, spider sickle!" Fang Zhang leapt forward, spinning speedily and kicking Fang Yuan 8 times successively from the joint between his shin and foot.

Swish-swish-swish-thwok-thwok-swish!

"Ughh…" Fang Yuan parried with his forearm and was forced to kneel down, but he grabbed Fang Zhang's ankle at the last strike and a strong pull allowed him to make Fang Zhang fall and drag him through the dirt.

"Ugh…" Fang Zhang squinted as dust got into his eyes. A shoe enlarged in his vision next before a kick to the nose made him roll over. He heard voices and several hands picked him up soon. Someone splashed water at his face which washed away the dust and blood. Fang Zhang realized that his nose had broken and his spirit stones had been looted.

"…"

"Wow, that was amazing, Fang Zhang!"

"You were fighting like the battle hall elder!"

"Yeah, he was literally spinning in the air!"

"Damned Fang Yuan has no shame! Kicking someone when he's down. His own brother at that!"

***

Fang Zhang sighed and relaxed in the large wooden bath tub filled with aromatic medicine. This has been prepared for his recovery by his uncle and aunt. They were showering all the care in the world upon him. It only saddened Fang Zhang further. Ever since he rebirthed, he had been giving ample thoughts to his past, trying to remember all the details. It didn't take him long to realize that his uncle and aunt were cunning bastards. They used him to keep his inheritance for themselves! They even fanned the flames of hatred between the twin brothers. At present as they pretended to be caring and loving, Fang Zhang wondered how good it would have been if their feelings were real.

"Gu masters & immortals are really so alone in such a selfish world. No wonder their marriages are merely an act of profit. Seldom do they fall in love and rarely do they manage to remain unchanged. History is full of stories where either of the partner betrayed the other after even a hundred years of marriage, in order to steal another's cultivation resource or gu worms. This fake parental love of my uncle and aunt is nothing."

Fang Zhang was absorbed in such deep thoughts when Shen Cui entered the bathroom. She blushed and spoke in a timid sweet voice.

"Young master Zhang. I've been sent to massage your aching body. It goes well with the medicinal bath. Please accept my service." She said.

"…." Fang Zhang observed Shen Cui. She was wearing a white gown that was slightly translucent and clung to her curvaceous body. Her nipples were erect and she was revealing her deep cleavage. She approached his bathtub and stood behind Zhang's head. With her slender soft hands she began to rub his chest. Her supple big breasts squished against his head.

Fang Zhang sighed audibly. This level of sultriness could not stir an incorrigible pervert; let alone a gu immortal.

Shen Cui realized that her method wasn't working, and she frowned anxiously. "Young Master, I heard about your fight with Fang Yuan. It was truly unfortunate but I'm happy that you stood up to him for your friends."

"…" Fang Zhang sighed again, realizing that now this young slut was trying to use the rift between the two brothers to gain his favor. At once, Fang Zhang felt disgusted. He didn't want to be touched by such a cheap girl.

"I'm fine. You may leave." Fang Zhang said coldly. Shen Cui's face fell and her heart beat speedily.

 "A-are you sure? I can make you feel so much better." Shen Cui said, daring to move her hand further down on Fang Zhang's body, reaching towards his crotch.

She grabbed his manhood and blushed as it turned hard and big in her grasp. The natural instincts of a man would not listen to reason. Shen Cui began to stroke the erect manhood while looking at him coquettishly.

Slosh-slosh-slosh…fwap-fwap-slosh…

"..." Fang Zhang felt a rush of pleasure and comfort as Shen Cui gave him a handjob. She kept the movement up while stepping into the bathtub. The water made her gown transparent, and her nipples became visible. She looked at him coquettishly, releasing his manhood and slowly lying on top of him. Her soft hands began to caress Fang Zhang's naked chest while her lips approached his. Her inner thighs squeezed his manhood tightly and she began moving her hips back and forth.

Plap-splat-plap-slosh-slosh…

"Ahhn….ummmh…young master…" Chen Cui moaned erotically as she attempted to kiss him.

"Shen Cui…" Fang Zhang said, caressing her blushing cheek.

"Yes Young Master…" Shen Cui whispered.

PPAHHH!!

A strong slap hurled Shen Cui out of the bathtub and onto the floor. The girl was too stunned to react.

"Do not forget your station. You are a mere maid. Don't try to become my concubine. I have no need of your service. Begone!" Fang Zhang shouted.

"Uhh…uwahhh!!" Shen Cui wailed and cried. She got up and stormed out of the bathroom. Fang Zhang sighed. At once he felt utterly dirtied and fed up with all the fake people around him.

***

"Fang Zhang, how about you pick a girl as your partner? I married your aunt when I was your age." Fang Zhang's uncle said as they took dinner together.

"Uncle, I only want to focus on cultivation." Fang Zhang replied maturely.

"But you must have desires. Young blood is always boiling heheh." The uncle tried to get chummy with him.

"…"

"I remember when I took your aunt behind the Academy and…."

"Dear! What are you saying to our boy?!" The aunt exclaimed and blushed.

"Heheh, just sharing a few fond memories. You were so cute back then." The uncle snickered.

Fang Zhang stood up abruptly, making the dishes rattle. His uncle and aunt looked at him perplexed. This wasn't the reaction they were expecting.

"Excuse me, I just remembered I had to give a report to the clan leader about my cultivation progress. I'll be back late." Fang Zhang said and left. The uncle and aunt exchanged a grave look.

***

Fang Yuan had been chasing the little glowing bug since quite a while. His gaze was locked on the liquor gu worm.

"Finally, my weeks of patience paid off." He thought. "With this liquor worm, I can cultivate faster as it's able to refine & condense green copper primeval essence quickly, and help in raising cultivation level by small realms. I should upgrade it along in this life. Eventually it will help me refine a whole rank higher immortal essence!"

Fang Yuan had been using liquor to attract this particular gu worm for weeks. He would go around the outskirts of the village, at the location he had found the gu in previous life. This gu worm was very useful at rank 1 and 2. But more importantly, it was part of the Flower Wine Monk's inheritance.

The Flower Wine Monk was a rank 5 demonic gu master who had existed around 200 years ago and had visited Qing Mao mountain. He was infamous for drugging or intoxicating women with wine or perfumes and defile them. Eventually he was poisoned by the Gu Yue clan leader of that time who coveted his gu worms. Flower Wind Monk killed the Gu Yue Clan leader and hid in the mountain where he set up his inheritance, leaving his gu worms for someone of credible eligibility in the future to obtain it.

Fang Yuan had obtained this inheritance in the previous and set his foundation in the strength path. It helped him greatly during the early years of exploration. In this life too, he wanted to acquire it. He wouldn't be wasting time in trial and error this time as he knew exactly what to do and when, in order to acquire the series of gu worms left behind by the Flower Wine Monk.

Unaware of all this, Fang Zhang lurked one li away. He hadn't gone to the clan leader's house. That was just a lie. He had actually sensed Fang Yuan's movement exiting his perception. He grew suspicious and went to spy on him. He also managed to dupe the elders assigned for his protection, lurking in the shadows.

"Fang Yuan is entering farther into the dense forest. This is very dangerous with the wild beasts around. What could he be doing?" Fang Zhang thought and gave chase. He was able to use the 1li sense gu continuously because of the low amount of primeval essence it required. His primeval aperture's recovery was faster than the consumption of the essence by the gu anyway. He was thus able to keep a sharp vigilance on his brother and was now determined to deduce his actions that night.

He faced a long section full of thorny bushes and had no method to get across. He thus had to walk around it, spending more time. By the time he crossed it, he could no longer sense Fang Yuan. Frowning, he picked up the speed and rushed in all directions. After several minutes he became certain that he had lost Fang Yuan.

"Sigh, 1 li is not enough. I need to upgrade my gu worm to level 3 for it to be truly useful in keeping tabs on Fang Yuan." Fang Zhang thought. At this point he had reached a clearing and stopped there.

"You may come out. I can sense you." Fang Zhang called out.

A tall teenaged girl stepped into the clearing. She had a beautiful face, cold blue eyes, long white hair, huge dense breasts. She was wearing tight white pants, and a long loose white robe that revealed an alluring deep cleavage. She had no garment underneath the robe and her large pink areolas were sticking out.

Fang Zhang froze at once, making deductions about this person.

"I was out moon-gazing and hunting for lightning wolves, but you seem like a better prey." The girl said, extending her right hand. Ice emerged on her forearm, taking shape of a sickle.

"Bai Ning Bing…" Fang Zhang narrowed his eyes and took a battle stance despite knowing that his chances of survival were next to zero. Bai Ning Bing was a rank 3 gu master with a Northern Dark Ice Soul Physique. It was one of the 9 extreme physiques that provided great perks and insanely rapid cultivation growth.

Bai Ning Bing belonged to the Bai clan of the Qing Mao mountain and was the child of the clan leader. In previous life, Fang Zhang remembered, Bai Ning Bing was a boy with demonic nature who killed Qing Shu- the brotherly senior Fang Zhang looked up to. Later Bai Ning Bing had paired with Fang Yuan for a long time; eventually discovering his ancestor's blessed land and obtaining the way of upgrading himself. The process was basically refining one's own body. Bai Ning Bing won over death to emerge as a female dragonman- a variant human species. His gender changed into that of a woman as well.

Fang Zhang only bothered to think this much about Bai Ning Bing. His eyes dilated and his heartbeat escalated. He stood no chance against her, but he wasn't going to roll over and die easily either.

Swoosh!

Bai Ning Bing sprinted and swung her arm to hack at Fang Zhang who closed in, instead of backing away, escaping the trajectory of the ice sickle and slapped with both palms.

POW! Boing~~!

Bai Ning Bing was pushed several steps back but was uninjured. Her huge breasts had cushioned the impact. She snorted and lunged again.

Swish-swish-shwak!

Bai Ning Bing swung both arms which were in the shape of extended ice sickles. Fang Zhang was dexterous and managed to evade every single strike while jumping around in circles. He struck at every chance but he had the strength of an ordinary boy only.

After nearly ten minutes, Fang Zhang and Bai Ning Bing were panting. The stalemate had been interesting for the latter, and worrisome for the former.

"How strange. I haven't been able to slash you even once while you managed to touch my breasts multiple times." Bai Ning Bing said.

"What? I'm not trying to touch your breasts! This is a fight!" Fang Zhang flustered at this blatant accusation.

"Hmph, yeah right." Bai Ning Bing snickered and then resumed her cold expression. "I am done playing. I'll kill you right away now."

"Shit."

"Ice shards!" Bai Ning Bing unleashed a flurry of small ice shards striking Fang Zhang like bullets.

Fang Zhang dove into the bushes near him and escaped into the thicket. Bai Ning Bing gave chase while unleashing one move after another. Fang Zhang ran for his life, not bothering to even look back.

"Wait you scared rat! Fight me hahahaha!" Bai Ning Bing laughed and chased. She was enjoying the hunt. But Fang Zhang had an advantage over her and he played it to the maximum. The one li sense gu allowed him to accurately learn about his surroundings. He jumped over pitfalls, avoided bushes, used large rocks to hide from the ice projectiles, and eventually stopped near a river stream.

It took Bai Ning Bing several minutes to find him. She obviously had her own scouting gu worm. She sneered, looking at her prey.

"You chose a good place to die. It is the most peaceful section of the forest." She said, stepping forward.

At this point, there was a shift in the leaves and another person walked out. Bai Ning Bing blinked, looking from Fang Zhang to Fang Yuan. their clothes and faces were the exact same.

Fang Zhang had sensed Fang Yuan at some point when he was running from Bai Ning Bing, and thus led her straight to him! A mischievous smile rolled on his lips.