Chapter 22 Validation

Elder Luo, Elder Kong and Elder Hu all went wide eyed at Xuanyuan's declaration. They all knew the meaning behind Xuanyuan's words, and immediately, felt the doubts in their heart vanish, their Gu telling them that he was telling the truth.

Xuanyuan had been suppressed while in the Ancient Soul Sect, being the target of jealousy and envy from his fellow disciples. It was enough to damage the mentality and self esteem of some young people, not able to shrug off insults and comments about themselves. Yet, despite the waves of malice and disgust that Xuanyuan seemed to trudge through everyday, his heart remained pure, loyal to the Ancient Soul Sect.

He was both talented and just. A paragon of the Righteous Path.

After all, could they know that this was his second time experiencing life as a teen? Children and young adults are all the same, regardless of whether this was Earth, or the Gu World. How could the emotions of children sway his heart, after it had experienced fear of death and then promise of rebirth?

Elder Kong just smiled, nodding multiple times while slapping Elder Luo on the shoulder.

"Old Luo... You've done well. Xuanyuan is a true member of our Ancient Soul Sect. There is no need to hold back any longer".

Elder Luo only smiled, suppressing the tears in his eyes.

"It seems that I must keep going a little longer. How can the younger generation flourish, if the older generation does not pave the path? Even if Little Yuan does not walk the same Path as I, his Talent can afford him learning the Space Path".

Elder Hu's expression softened quite a bit as she gazed at Xuanyuan's clear, yet dark eyes.

"Xuanyuan. You walk the Shadow Path correct? Although we walk different Paths, my Dark Path possesses similar characteristics to yours. Come visit the Dark Soul Hall some time, and I'll teach you a little about Dark Path Gu".

Xuanyuan just bowed deeply at Elder Hu, his heart still pumping extremely fast, even after the pressure on his body disappeared.

"I would be honored Elder Hu! Thank you for the opportunity!".

Elder Kong glanced at Elder Hu, shaking his head, knowing that Old Hu had gotten the leg up on him this time. He had already promised Xuanyuan an audience with Immortal Song, the Ancient Soul Sects only Shadow Path Gu Immortal, but that was conditional on that he would win the tournament.

If the others were breaking the rules, then it was only fair that Old Kong do the same right?

"Xuanyuan... I have no doubt that Elder Luo's instructions and Elder Hu's teachings will keep you more than occupied in the coming days. I already agreed to let you meet with Immortal Song, on the condition that you win the Tournament, however, I will give you a single boon right now should you ask for it". 

"Elder Huo and Elder Fang have broken the Sect rules and placed the importance of their descendants over the future of the Sect. A balance has been broken and is in need of being corrected. If there is something that is within my power, and does not go against the Sect, I will provide it to you".

Xuanyuan's breath hitched for a moment, the possibilities seemingly endless in his mind.

Xuanyuan couldn't suppress a gulp.

"Relic Gu?", he asked.

Elder Kong nodded.

"If that is what you desire then-".

Xuanyuan quickly shook his head, his thoughts travelling at a thousand miles a minute.

"No, wait, um...".

Xuanyuan paused, smoothing out his thoughts and slowing down his breathing. Within a matter of moments, he had returned to his calm and collected self.

He had just the thing in mind.

"It is fine if it is after the Tournament, but, if possible, would I be able to spend some time in one of the Immortals Blessed Lands? Time within moves quicker within so it would help-".

Elder Kong just nodded, not bothered at all about the request. 

"I'll inquire with Immortal Song first, but do you have a preference in terms of Paths?".

Xuanyuan had to suppress his jaw from dropping, but listed his preferences nonetheless.

"Shadow... then Time, Dark, Light, Wisdom, Space, Refinement, Moon, or Poison. In that order... if possible".

Elder Kong seemed slightly surprised at the length of the list, and about Wisdom and Poison being on the there, as did Elder Hu. Neither of them knew that Xuanyuan had researched those particular Paths, in particular Poison, considering it was an ambiguous Path in the eyes of the Righteous Path.

Elder Luo knew everything that Xuanyuan had ever researched. He had to approve the books themselves after all. He also knew that Xuanyuan had already started practicing the refinement of Gu, although was not completely sure on how he obtained a recipe for it.

He guessed it had something to do with Long Xi and Yu Zhong Er, but refrained in meddling in their relationship. The young should act young sometimes at least...

Elder Kong tapped his chin, but slowly nodded.

"Refinement... might not be possible. Immortal Gong is quite busy, regardless of the occasion. Immortal Li keeps her Blessed Land away from the Sect so contact with her is not absolute. Being a Poison Path Gu Immortal makes it difficult to be around mortals and Rank 1 Gu Masters. But the others should be fine. I'll inquire about spending a month inside their aperture. That would be the equivalent of a year, is that alright with you Elder Luo?".

The Space Path Elder glanced at Xuanyuan, before nodding shaking his head.

"I've already deprived my disciple enough, I think I can indulge him".

Xuanyuan felt his knees shake a little.

'Holy crap. I can spend a year in a Blessed Land!? Just my cultivation alone would soar! And if I can get the chance to interact with a Gu Immortal then...'.

Xuanyuan's mind went into overdrive calculating the possibilities.

'It doesn't particularly matter what the Path is if it isn't the Shadow Path. All the Paths I listed are Paths that I am considering for my sub-Path. Shadow Path takes priority, and creating synergy with the Shadow Path is my greatest goal for the time being. My attainment in my sub-Path would soar, being exposed to an entire small world designed by a single Path's Dao Marks'.

'The vast majority of materials, Gu, beasts and potentially even resource points are aligned with a single Path. Not only would the breadth of my knowledge deepen significantly, but I would be able to see the interaction between Dao Marks and Gu within a stable environment. I wouldn't have to senselessly explore the Gu World to find a natural resource point, or break into one owned by a Clan or Sect'.

'If I could receive advice, even just a couple of times from a Gu Immortal, my attainment could potentially soar in a single field. I could derive countless possibilities using Little Shadow with even a wisp of comprehension from a Gu Immortal. Assuming that they possess a Master level attainment or higher, I could potentially close the gap between my current attainment and the Master level!'.

Xuanyuan didn't believe that any Ancient Soul Sect Gu Immortal would be willing to leave Xuanyuan their complete inheritance, even if he was a talented disciple. Xuanyuan was still an Outer Sect disciple of the Ancient Soul Sect, and had yet to actually meet any Gu Immortals, the Supreme Elders, and the ones who truly governed the the Sect.

Xuanyuan wasn't sure if Elder Luo had any relations with any of the Gu Immortals belonging to the Ancient Soul Sect, but considered how they preferred to keep their hands clean of mortal affairs, chances were pretty low.

Xuanyuan could see the smile on Elder's face threaten to exceed the limits head. It had been a few months since his discussion with Elder Luo on the nature of humanity and their relationship with cultivation.

Xuanyuan wasn't fully convinced that cultivation wasn't a selfish endeavor. He also wasn't sure if the nature of Paths fully allowed someone to walk alongside someone else, nor could he disprove that Paths could be used to lift up the others around oneself.

But Xuanyuan couldn't deny the existence of emotions, no matter how much the logical part of his brain told him to.

Love Gu, was the greatest example of this. 

Love, as a concept, was probably one of, it not the most powerful concept beside Hope or Perseverance within the Gu World. Hope allowed an individual to walk the path to Immortality, awakening the aperture, and becoming a guiding light to those who have lost their way, or have their resolution waver in the face of extraordinary adversity.

Even in the face of Fate, Red Lotus Demonic Venerable held out hope that he might save his loved one from the strings of Fate Gu. It kept him going, despite possibly thousands upon thousands of cycles, trying different possibilities to save his wife from dying before he became a Venerable.

Love, could damage Fate to some extent. A single emotion so powerful that it defied a predestined path, allowing living beings to take control over a portion of their supposed fate. 

The power of emotions, and their place in the relationships between communities and individuals, was a recognized force in Xuanyuan's mind. Elder Luo's words had made sense to Xuanyuan, despite not completely agreeing with them.

'As cringe as the power of Love might be, it can be used to resist Fate to some degree. It isn't some make believe bullshit from fairy tales and TV shows, it quite literally is, a force of nature within the Gu World'.

Simply put, it meant that relationships were not worthless, despite the fact that eventually they all withered away and died. Even if Life, and the Sun and Moon and Stars all eventually faded away, none of them, to Xuanyuan's current awareness, could resist the power of Fate.

But Love Gu could.

'A literal cheat code. There is no other way to describe it! It's too broken!'.

Elder Luo patted Xuanyuan's shoulder, as the older man tilted his head back a little, looking fondly at his tall disciple.

"We'll begin your introduction into the Space Path tomorrow Little Yuan. I'll even lend you some Gu to use from my own collection. Nothing offensive for the time being, I'll wait for that until after the tournament finishes. But, I'll teach you a couple of tricks Little Yuan".

Xuanyuan smiled, nodding at his Master.

"Thank you Master. I hope you have enough books stored up".

Elder Luo let out a hearty unrestrained chuckle, earning an eye roll from Elder Hu and a small smile from Elder Kong. The Sky Soul Hall Elder peered at his fellow Elder, raising an eyebrow as he watched him and his disciple interact.

There was... a slight chance in the human qi in the air. It was so faint, so imperceptible Elder Kong almost didn't catch it, but as someone who regularly interacted with Gu Immortals, and as someone who knew the profundities of Immortal Ascension, Elder Kong knew what this change meant.

'Elder Luo... somehow just gained insight into his own human qi. Such a thing usually occurs from reaching an extraordinary attainment in a Path, or comprehending something beneath Heaven and Earth, or something from the Legends of Ren Zu... Their relationship must be more important to the man than I originally thought'.

Xuanyuan couldn't comprehend this, but through his assertion and validation of Elder Luo's words, had unconsciously allowed the man to nurture and refine his own Path. His belief in the Righteous Path, in the worth of his morals and ethics, had been grind against Xuanyuan's opposition, forming a keen edge, eventually breaking through to the young man.

He had found his Path. He had been wandering aimlessly for so long but now...

Elder Kong, felt as though he needed to watch Elder Luo in the coming years. Even if it wasn't in the next twelve months. Even if it was three, or even five years from now, so long as he progressed down this Path, there was a chance he could reach Rank 6.

A new Gu Immortal in the Ancient Soul Sect. And a Space Path one at that.

Elder Kong, as a member of the Sky Soul Hall, was privilege to some information that regular Elders had no idea about.

Most of the Sects resources, came from resource points within the apertures of their Gu Immortals. The Earth Abyss aside, it was the safest, and the easiest way to transport vast amounts of Gu and Gu materials, while simultaneously protecting them from the attacks of Demonic Path Gu Masters.

It was important for a Sect to possess Gu Immortals from a myriad number of different Paths. Not only did it leave a potential inheritance for future generations, but also increased the number of resources the Sect could nurture at any given point in time.

Elder Kong was slightly surprised that Xuanyuan asked to meet with the Immortal Li, their Supreme Elder of the Poison Path. Poison Path possessed an extraordinarily high attack power, but was also indiscriminate with who and who it did not attack. Elder Li was a Rank 7 Gu Immortal whom mainly concerned herself with the more... supportive elements of the Poison Path.

She created most of the herbal remedies and Gu related to the purging or purification of poison and venom in the Sect. She had some offensive type Gu as well, however she possessed a large number of Poison Path beasts in her Blessed Land which she usually used offensively.

Elder Kong had been to Immortal Li's Blessed Land once in his lifetime, and couldn't help but gasp at the enormous dark green swamp covering all of her Blessed Land. It stretched as far as the eye could see and carried within it an immense amount of Wood Path and Water Path Dao Marks despite her being a Poison Path Gu Immortal.

He had seen a huge toad which slept in the depths of this swamp, radiating the aura of an Immortal Gu!

Elder Kong dispelled those thoughts, just smiling at Elder Luo.

A Space Path Gu Immortal... was even more valuable than a Poison Path Gu Immortal.