Chi Chen (1)

Gu Yue Chi Chen stood on the training ground, sweat pouring down his face as he gripped his sword tightly. He had been practicing with his Gu worms for hours, determined to improve his skills and impress his family.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling of inferiority that had been plaguing him lately. It all started when Mo Bei, the youngest member of the Mo family, had become first at refining the [Moonlight Gu]. Then, it seemed like the heavens favoured the young heir of the Mo family: Winning the [Liquor Worm Gu] in gambling, being the first to reach the middle stage, becoming class representative, winning the hunting competition by killing a wild boar king, and recently surviving an encounter with an evil path Gu Master in the Pao Village.

In comparison, Chi Chen felt lacking. Six months had passed, and he still could not break through the upper stage, something that Mo Bei and Fang Zheng managed to do more than a month ago. He knew that he was a fake, that he was a C-grade talent, and not a B-grade talent like everyone believed him to be. However, his grandfather helped him cultivate, so why was he lagging behind so much?

Mo Bei was a prodigy, with skills that surpassed those of his peers. He had quickly become a rising star within the clan, and his reputation had spread throughout the Qing Mao Mountains already, before he even graduated.

Gu Yue Chi Chen couldn't help but compare himself to Mo Bei, and the comparison only made him feel more inadequate. He knew that as the heir of the Chi family, he had a lot to live up to, but he couldn't seem to match Mo Bei's strength and talent. The Chi family was so much wealthier and stronger, so why could he not match its heir?

As he shot a moonlight blade, Gu Yue Chi Chen felt a surge of frustration and anger. He didn't want to be overshadowed by Mo Bei, but he didn't know how to improve his own skills. Cultivation? He could only do so much on a daily basis. Practicing his moonlight gu mastery? He already invested tens of hours into it every day. Strategy? Mo Bei had already proven to be an adequate leader, having won the heart and respect of everyone in the academy, capable of hunting in the wild to support his expenses.

He glanced over at Mo Bei, who was practicing with Tang Chi and Shi Feng nearby. Mo Bei noticed the stare and offered a friendly smile, but Gu Yue Chi Chen couldn't bring himself to respond.

He turned back to his own training, determined to push himself harder. He shot a moonlight blade with more force, trying to channel his frustration into his movements. But as the day wore on, Gu Yue Chi Chen only grew more tired and disheartened. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was no match for Mo Bei, no matter how hard he tried.

As the sun began to set, Gu Yue Chi Chen finally stopped and slumped to the ground. He felt defeated, and he knew that he needed to find a way to overcome his inferiority complex before it consumed him.

The next day, he sought out the advice of his grandfather, the head of the Chi family. His grandfather Gu Yue Chi Lian listened patiently as Gu Yue Chi Chen expressed his frustration and self-doubt.

In response, his grandfather offered him some sage advice. "Do not compare yourself to others," he said. "Each person has their own strengths and weaknesses. Instead, focus on improving yourself, and strive to be the best version of yourself that you can be."

Gu Yue Chi Chen took his grandfather's words to heart, but he still could not shake off the feeling of self-doubt.

In the Mo family mansion, Mo Bei knew that he had created inner demons in his rivals, both Chi Chen and Fang Zheng. Both were geniuses who would lead the clan in the future as elders, yet none of them seemed to express their full potential. In the book, Fang Zheng should have been able to reach the peak stage realm by now, yet he was still stuck in the upper realm. The same could be said for Chi Chen, who was stuck in a bottleneck in the middle stage.

There was no pity in Mo Bei's actions. Everything he did was calculated for his future. He knew that the Chi family would not hesitate to crush the Mo family if given the opportunity to do so. Mo Bei was the same in that aspect. He saw an opportunity to suppress the future heir of the Chi family, so why should he not grasp it?

Looking at the mirror, Mo Bei's eyes flashed with greed as an idea suddenly flashed in his mind.