As evening approached, the setting sun stained the sky like blood.

The academy was bathed in the afterglow, where over fifty students sat upright as the Academy Elder called out names one by one, distributing allowances.

This was the Primordial Stone allowance distributed every seven days by the academy, serving as support for these young individuals. After all, given their current abilities, feeding Gu Insects on their own posed a significant financial burden.

"Gu Yue Fang Yuan," the elder called.

Fang Yuan rose from his seat by the window in the last row, walked up to the stage, and received two pouches.

One pouch contained the clan allowance of three Primordial Stones. The other held a reward of ten Primordial Stones.

"Keep up the good work," the elder said, giving Fang Yuan a deep look. Fang Yuan had taken first place twice in a row, which had piqued the elder's interest, despite his initial disappointment in him.

Fang Yuan nodded, tucked the pouches into his chest, and returned to his seat.

"Damn it, he took first place again..." Gu Yue Mo Chen glared at Fang Yuan, feeling indignant.

"Those two Moon Blades hit the puppet's neck consecutively. Was it just dumb luck again, or true skill?" Gu Yue Chi Cheng squinted his eyes, the question lingering in his mind since the assessment ended.

He wasn't the only one; many students cast glances at Fang Yuan, either intentionally or unintentionally.

This question tormented them. Although they had lost, they were unwilling to accept it and desperately wanted to know the truth.

As the session was about to end, the Academy Elder announced, "You've been in the academy for some time now and are familiar with using your Life-Bound Gu. In the coming days, I'll teach you how to nurture your Empty Aperture and elevate your Gu Master's cultivation level. The higher the Gu Master's level, the more refined the True Essence. A Rank One Gu Master possesses Bronze True Essence, a Rank Two has Red-Iron True Essence, and a Rank Three has Silver True Essence. One unit of Red-Iron True Essence is equivalent to ten units of Bronze True Essence. Similarly, one unit of Silver True Essence is equivalent to ten units of Red-Iron True Essence!"

"Remember, Gu Insects are merely tools we use; cultivation is the foundation of a Gu Master. The higher your cultivation, the stronger the Gu Insects you can command. In the next three months, whoever advances to Rank One – Intermediate Stage first will receive a reward of thirty Primordial Stones and the priority to select a second Gu Insect. After three months, based on your performance, we will appoint one Squad Leader and two Vice Squad Leaders. The Squad Leader will receive a ten Primordial Stone subsidy, and the Vice Squad Leaders' subsidy will increase to five. That's all for today, everyone is dismissed."

The elder's words caused a buzz in the academy.

"They're going to appoint a Squad Leader and Vice Squad Leaders!" someone exclaimed excitedly, clenching their fist.

"A Squad Leader gets ten Primordial Stones every seven days, and a Vice Squad Leader gets five? If I can be the first to advance to Rank One – Intermediate Stage, I can definitely become the Squad Leader," someone else said, their eyes gleaming.

"The Primordial Stones aren't the main point; the key is that positions like Squad Leader and Vice Squad Leader represent honor, and their status is above others. Ordinary students must bow and greet the Squad Leader," Gu Yue Mo Bei and Chi Cheng, who weren't lacking in Primordial Stones, valued this honor greatly.

"Becoming the Squad Leader, that's right, the first to advance to Rank One – Intermediate Stage! So that my brother will have to bow and greet me in the future. Wait, where's my brother?" Gu Yue Fang Zheng instinctively turned around, only to find Fang Yuan's seat already empty.

The students gradually left the academy.

"Where's Gu Yue Fang Yuan?" Gu Yue Mo Bei wanted to find Fang Yuan and ask him directly. However, Fang Yuan had already left.

"Hmph, he ran off quickly. Is he scared? It seems today's assessment was just another stroke of luck for him," Gu Yue Chi Cheng sneered.

"Forget it, it's just a ten Primordial Stone reward. It's not worth worrying about. The priority now is to advance to the Intermediate Stage and seize the Squad Leader position," Gu Yue Mo Bei said, squinting at Gu Yue Chi Cheng and Gu Yue Fang Zheng beside him.

These two were his real competitors; as for Fang Yuan, someone with mere Grade C aptitude, he was not a threat.

"The last two times, Fang Yuan luckily got first place. But this time, the cultivation assessment focuses solely on aptitude. A higher aptitude gives a significant advantage," Gu Yue Chi Cheng thought, feeling suppressed, as his true aptitude was only Grade C, and he had only created the illusion of Grade B through cheating.

"The positions of one Squad Leader and two Vice Squad Leaders have them all eager to compete. Such a hot-blooded and naive age," Fang Yuan leaned against the academy's entrance, sneering inwardly.

The so-called honor was merely a tool for those in power to motivate their subordinates. At its core, it was just an illusory halo, utterly useless!

Five hundred years of life experience had long revealed the truth to Fang Yuan.

"Whether it's a clan, sect, or demon cult, whether in this world or on Earth, every organization operates this way. They establish hierarchical positions and clear promotion paths, encouraging people within the organization to climb from lower positions. Because pursuing profit is human nature, and power often gives people the illusion of being superior, of living a life more valuable than others."

"The word 'power' is like a carrot dangling in front of a donkey, stimulating people's desires, making them strive for it. Climbing one level, there's always a higher one. Little do they know, in their striving, their labor is exploited, and the value they create is siphoned by those above."

"Every organization, as long as there is a hierarchy, serves those in power. The so-called Squad Leader and Vice Squad Leaders are merely the smallest carrots, luring others into the clan's system. And to prevent those below from seeing the truth, those in power often unify values, clarify concepts of honor and merit, establish hierarchical positions, unequal benefits, or use religion to control people's hearts."

"This is the truth, but unfortunately, most people in the world don't understand it, foolishly working themselves to the bone for others. And at the most fundamental level, all organizations in the world have only one essence—resource redistribution, where those higher up enjoy more resources."

In his previous life, Fang Yuan founded the Bloodwing Demon Sect in Central Continent, with tens of thousands of followers. He established positions like Demon Soldier, Demon General, and Demon Marshal, offering corresponding benefits, attracting countless people to serve him. Such experiences made him deeply understand these principles.

"So, any organization is just a facade; the true essence is only one word — resources. Without resources to eat, one starves. Without resources to drink, one thirsts. Without resources for cultivation, one remains weak and will eventually be bullied to death."

"And Primordial Stones are the primary resource for a Gu Master's cultivation!" Fang Yuan's eyes were deep as an abyss, and thinking of this, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He had left the academy early and now stood at the entrance, watching the first batch of students approach him.

"It's Fang Yuan."

"What's he doing standing in the middle of the entrance?"

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"Hmph, every time I see him acting so arrogantly, it annoys me."

"Ignore him, he's probably waiting for someone."

The youths paid him no mind and were about to walk past when Fang Yuan stepped forward, blocking their way: "Robbery. Hand over one Primordial Stone each, and you can leave."