Reverend insanity: Heaven devouring demon venerable

In the dimly lit classroom, the academy elder stood at the front, his voice steady and authoritative as he addressed the students seated in orderly rows. His long robe, adorned with intricate patterns of swirling designs, brushed against the stone floor as he paced, occasionally pausing to emphasize a point.

Ning Zu sat near the top row, his posture relaxed yet attentive. Beside him sat Xiong Mo, the clan leader's son, his expression indifferent but eyes sharp, keenly absorbing every word. 

Their seats were an unspoken statement—reserved for those of higher status, a reminder to the rest of the class of their talent and potential. Behind them were other notable students, sons of elders, and a few C-grade talents, all carefully seated in order of hierarchy. The remaining students sat wherever they could, as long as they stayed clear of the first three rows. 

As the elder spoke, his words echoed through the room, explaining the fundamentals of Gu Master cultivation. 

"Gu Masters, as you all know," he began, his deep voice filling the space, "are divided into five ranks. From the bottom, Rank 1, all the way up to Rank 5, each rank is considered a major realm and is further divided into four stages—initial stage, middle stage, upper stage, and peak stage."

Ning Zu glanced around the room, noticing the subtle glances being thrown his way. He could feel the envy from some of the other students, their gazes lingering on him and Xiong Mo. It was no secret that Ning Zu's talent, being an A-grade, marked him as one of the most promising Gu Masters in the clan. Xiong Mo having B grade talent also shared this distinction, which only heightened the tension between them and the rest of the students. Yet, Ning Zu didn't mind. He had grown accustomed to such attention.

The elder continued, "A Gu Master's progression is largely determined by their aptitude. A D-grade talent will struggle to achieve anything beyond Rank 2. C-grade talents can usually reach Rank 2 or 3, and B-grade talents are capable of advancing to Rank 3 or 4. Only A-grade talents, the rarest of all, have the potential to reach Rank 4 or 5."

A murmur spread through the class, students whispering amongst themselves. Ning Zu overheard snippets of conversation—some students discussing their own limitations, others envying those born with greater potential.

"Look at Ning Zu and Xiong Mo," one of the students muttered quietly. "A and B grade talents… They're practically guaranteed to soar high in there cultivation."

"Yeah, it's not fair," another replied, casting a quick glance at Ning Zu. "Some of us can only dream of that kind of power."

Ning Zu ignored the comments, his attention returning to the elder. He had no interest in their petty complaints. His focus was on something far greater—his own cultivation and the plans he had set in motion.

The elder raised his hand, silencing the whispers. "Now, as I was saying, a Gu Master cultivates by refining the walls of their mortal aperture using primeval essence. The more essence they refine, the stronger their aperture becomes. But there is a limit. Once a Gu Master reaches the peak stage of their current rank, the walls of their aperture can no longer be refined."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "At that point, the Gu Master must use their primeval essence to break their aperture walls. When those walls are shattered, the aperture gives way to the next minor realm, or in the case of a rank breakthrough, to the next rank. This is how a Gu Master ascends."

Xiong Mo leaned over slightly, whispering to Ning Zu. "He makes it sound so simple, but we both know breaking through is anything but easy."

Ning Zu smirked, keeping his eyes forward. "The real challenge isn't just breaking through. It's having the resources and strategy to do it efficiently. Anyone can throw themselves at their aperture and hope for the best, but those who plan ahead… those are the ones who rise above."

Xiong Mo nodded, a glint of agreement in his eyes. "And those are the ones who dominate."

The academy elder, unaware of their conversation, continued his lecture. "Breaking through is a dangerous process. If a Gu Master isn't prepared, they could damage their aperture, or worse, suffer a backlash that could cripple their cultivation permanently. That's why preparation is key. Patience, persistence, and the right resources are what separate a true Gu Master from those who fail."

Ning Zu's thoughts drifted slightly as he listened. He had already begun cultivating with that exact mindset—strategically gathering resources, planning his every move. The Blue Lotus Sect was just a piece of his overall design. Bai Ning Bing, Su Lan, the secret squad he was forming—they were all part of his larger ambitions.

The elder continued, think Ning Zu was paying attention. "Refining the aperture is essential because it prepares the Gu Master for the next stage of cultivation. A poorly refined aperture will break under pressure, while a well-refined one will allow the Gu Master to reach their full potential."

As the elder turned back to the class, he added, "But remember, it's not just about refining. It's about control. A Gu Master without control is like a child wielding a sword. You must master your essence, your Gu, and your mind. Only then will you be able to ascend to the higher ranks."

Xiong Mo leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "Control, huh? Some of these students can barely control their jealousy, let alone their primeval essence."

Ning Zu chuckled quietly. "Let them be. They'll weed themselves out soon enough."

The class continued, the elder going into more detailed explanations about the specific techniques used to refine the aperture, and the importance of using the right Gu for each stage of cultivation. Ning Zu paid didn't pay close attention, he already knew all this information.

As the lesson drew to a close, the elder gave them one final piece of advice. "Remember, your path as a Gu Master is not a race. It's a journey. You must be patient, but also ambitious. Keep your goals in sight, but never rush into a breakthrough. It's better to cultivate steadily than to cripple yourself in haste."

'The elder is talking about the students with a shity background, he also looks out for those who have no talent, how cute.'

"Now everyone," said the elder "Do any of you have any questions?"

The classroom was silent for a moment, the elder's words about control and patience sinking in. One of the younger students raised his hand hesitantly. "Elder, has our clan ever had a Rank 5 Gu Master?" 

The elder paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the question. He then spoke, his tone reverent yet somber. "Yes, we did. The first leader of our clan, our ancestor Xiong was a Rank 5 Gu Master. He was a man of unimaginable strength, capable of feats that could erase mountains with a wave of his hand. He founded our sect with only a few children, setting the foundations of what we are today."

The students were awestruck, their eyes widening as they exchanged excited whispers. But the elder's voice cut through their wonder as he continued, "However, even someone as powerful as Xiong fell victim to the dangers of cultivation. He died while attempting to refine a powerful Gu. The process backfired, and his death was sudden. His ambition and strength couldn't protect him in the end."

A heavy silence followed, the students digesting the elder's words. The fall of such a mighty figure left a bitter reminder of the perils of cultivation. One misstep could cost everything, even for the strongest Gu Masters.

"Alright, time's up. Now, it's time for each of you to select your first gu, which will also be your vital Gu. I've already explained the importance of a vital gu, and I will do it again, vital gu is a gu that will be with you for the rest of your life, breaking it will give you severe backlash, that might even kill you, but luckily, your vital gu won't break when you want to refine it to another gu."

"For now, remember: the first person to successfully refine their gu will receive a reward of 15 primeval stones. Class is dismissed."

As the class was dismissed, excitement replaced the solemn atmosphere. Today, the students would get to pick their first Gu—an important step in their cultivation journey. 

Ning Zu stood up, stretching lazily, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation. Xiong Mo was beside him, just as eager, though he masked it with his usual calm demeanor.

The students made their way to the gu storage room in groups, and as expected, Ning Zu was given the honor of picking first. He stepped forward confidently, scanning the various gu available to the young cultivators. His hand hovered over several options before finally selecting the Tough Bones gu, a defensive gu that would fortify his body's bones, making it harder for enemies to inflict heavy damage.

Next, Xiong Mo approached the selection. After only a moment's thought, he reached for the Bear Strength gu, a powerful enhancement gu that would increase his physical strength exponentially. Several other students followed suit, selecting the same gu as Xiong Mo, as this gu was the one with the most recipes in the clan.

With their selections made, the students left the storage room, brimming with excitement. This was their first real step toward becoming true Gu Masters, and they couldn't wait to begin refining their newly chosen gu.

Ning Zu returned home after parting ways with Xiong Mo and the other students. His thoughts were already on the next phase of his plan. As soon as he entered his private chamber, he found a servant waiting for him, carrying four large jars of wine.

The sight of the wine brought a small smile to Ning Zu's face. "You brought them so quickly," he remarked, surprised by the speed of the delivery. "Who sent you?"

The servant bowed respectfully, keeping his eyes low. "I am a servant of the clan leader's family. This wine is a gift from Young Master Xiong Mo. He heard about your request for wine and ordered it personally."

Ning Zu took the wine and told the servant to wait.

His smile faded into a neutral expression as he placed the wine jars down in his cultivation room. Instead of gratitude, an unsettling calm washed over him. Without another word, he closed his eyes and extended his consciousness. In a moment, his soul left his body, slipping into the servant's body with practiced ease.

The servant's body stiffened momentarily before Ning Zu took full control. He looked down at the servant's hands, flexing them experimentally before nodding in satisfaction. His mind was already focused on the next piece of his plan.

Ning Zu, in the servant's body, left the house quietly. His destination was clear—the clan leader's house. He moved with purpose, his steps steady but not hurried. 

When he entered the house, his presence in this new body went unnoticed, as the house was quiet. The clan leader's children were outside, indulging in sweets and play, while the rest of the servants were having their midday meal, Ning Zu went to a room specific for servants and laid in one of the many beds.   

Once inside the clan leader's home, Ning Zu allowed himself a brief moment of triumph. This was only the beginning. With the wines now in his possession and his infiltration of the clan leader's household underway, the final pieces were falling into place. Soon, he would have everything he needed to complete the refinement of his secret gu.

Returning to his own body, he took a deep breath, allowing the day's events to settle in his mind. The pieces were moving. Soon, he would have the last ingredient required.

Satisfied with the progress he had made, Ning Zu lay down on his bed, closing his eyes. But his mind was still restless. He allowed his consciousness to return once more to the servant's body.

The house was still and quiet.

Ning Zu smiled in the servant's body, his thoughts already planning what he would do next. The path to power was filled with risks and schemes, but Ning Zu had always been a master of control. Now, as the servant stood within the clan leader's home, he knew that this was only the beginning of his climb to the top.

He looked at the servant's aperture, where a gu was laying quietly. 

'Theft path gu, exactly what I was looking for.'