63% versus 61%- the difference was only slight, but it was actually huge for someone like Fang Yuan. 61% would be just enough to overcome the aperture's rate of recovery, but not enough to make more than the slightest progress that would evaporate the moment that he took long breaks between cultivating- something that was nearly guaranteed to happen now that he was paired up with Qing Shu and his team.
Much like when he had been class president, he would be heaped with a mountain of useless tasks designed on the surface to increase his prestige, but mainly to waste his time and keep him occupied. It was much in the same of what they were doing with Qing Shu- else he'd be at Rank 3 as well.
This was the burden of the righteous path and why he had no desire to re-establish the Blood Wing Demon Sect in this life. His goal was to take as much from the clan as possible, and give as little back as possible.
But, that was why being at 63% was important, that small 2% difference would let him accumulate small bits of damage to the aperture wall over time even with short interruptions. Then, he would be able to take a few days out in closed door cultivation to break through in one go, so long as he had an adequate number of primeval stones. Which, once he got the inheritance, he would have access too.
The right time to use the two Red Steel Relic Gu were after the merchant caravan had come to the village, giving him a plausible reason as to where he had obtained them from. There was always the chance that the caravan would not have them, but based on his prior life's memories, there should have been at least one.
As he exited the mortal's house, he did not leave to go back home immediately but instead used One With Scenery Gu after recovering his primeval essence using primeval stones. He was looking for one of the gu worms that he thought he saw escape from the Twin-Headed Boar's corpse. He could've been wrong, but he thought that it was the Rank 2 Rush Gu- a type of movement gu worm that would increase one's speed while moving in one direction for a short duration. The issue was that once one had chosen a direction to move in they could not change it.
It could be advanced to the Rank 3 Rush Recklessly Gu- a gu worm that had higher speed and also increased one's strength while moving, though it had the same weakness.
Wild gu worms were common enough, to the point where they could be hazardous to a traveler wandering around their own if they were not at Rank 3. However, Fang Yuan did not fear the retaliation of a Rank 2 gu worm, not when he had the Spring Autumn Cicada which could instantly refine it. Actually, this difficulty in refining wild gu worms was why none of Qing Shu's team had bothered to try to go after it.
'Whether or not I can find the Rush Gu will be entirely based on my luck,' Fang Yuan thought.
He had thought the worm had moved in this direction, but it was a movement-based worm after all. It could very well be quite far from the area.
Despite trying for over an hour, even expending a good number of primeval stones to do so, he had not been able to find it. It had likely wandered far away into the wilderness. If he had acted sooner, he might've been able to catch it, but the 2% increase to his aptitude was far more beneficial to him than that gu worm. While it would've been wonderful if he could've obtained both of them at the same time, life rarely went the way that one wanted.
Fang Yuan knew when to cut his losses and went back to the village.
Standing near the mission hall was his uncle, dressed up in a Gu Master uniform that looked worn with the colors faded out. Several small tears could be seen in it, he had not had the time to repair it before trying to accost Fang Yuan. His arm was still in a sling, and the overall appearance gave him a pitiful look.
The hall already knew that Fang Yuan had taken care of the Hundred Beast King, and so it was a simple matter for Fang Yuan to obtain that inheritance. Naturally Uncle did not want such a thing to transpire, which is why he had bundled up his courage to confront Fang Yuan, forgetting his earlier fear of possibly being found out.
"Fang Yuan," Uncle said. "Think about what I've said to you earlier. Clan relationships are quite important. If you forego this inheritance, I am willing to offer you eight thousand primeval stones as well as my friendship."
Fang Yuan was a bit taken aback by the price, but that only made him want it even more.
"Fang Yuan, listen, don't be rash!"
"Fang Yuan, won't you take pity upon your aunt and uncle who raised you?"
"Fang Yuan, is this the disposition of a leader?"
These words fell on deaf ears as Fang Yuan advanced to take the inheritance. He scoffed at his uncle's foolishness- still being bound by the rules of the clan and being unable to do anything other than yell out rancid words at him.
He had not figured out that Uncle was behind the attack on Fang Zheng, even now.
Main mission complete!
Obtained familial inheritance!
Reward:
Rank 4 Doting Mother Gu (x 1)
Rank 4 Traveling Son Gu (x 1)
You have also obtained a small dream realm. Would you like to explore it now?
Fang Yuan took a look at his gains other than the ones he had inherited.
Doting Mother Gu and Traveling Son Gu were a pair- if one person had Traveling Son Gu they could instantly transport to the person who had Doting Mother Gu. That was true for their immortal forms, it was likely that these Rank 4 version had a limited range. While a powerful effect regardless, it could only be used one way and was of little use to a solo cultivator like Fang Yuan.
It had a few other drawbacks. Both of the people using it had to be of Rank 4 for it to have its full effect. It also did not work in reverse- the person with Doting Mother Gu could not teleport to the person who had Traveling Son Gu. The limitations were numerous, but that was also why its range of effect was likewise large.
'Also system, isn't this a bit on the nose? Are you making fun of me? After getting my inheritance from my dead parents you're giving me a gu worm called 'Doting Mother Gu' as if reminding me of what I don't have?' Fang Yuan thought.
The system would never dare do such a thing. Would you like to explore your dream realm now?
'Of course not, we're in the middle of the street,' Fang Yuan thought as he went back home.
The contents of the inheritance itself included a wine store, a set of bamboo buildings, and a Nine Leaf Vitality Grass Gu. No wonder Uncle had been willing to pay such a high price for all of this- to Fang Yuan most of the property would soon be useless, but the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass Gu was worth taking along even with him on his travels. It was a shame that he had been handed another healing gu worm when he already had Rank 3 Doctor Gu, but as a source of income it was not bad.