Chapter 25 Nine Eyes Shadow Gu

Despite the fact that most Gu could only produce a single effect, some possessed rippling extra effects, or inadvertent side effects as a result of its main ability. Most of these Gu often had associations with the Strength Path, Soul Path or Transformation Path, but it was possible to see these Gu from any Path.

White Boar Gu and Dragon Strength Gu were examples of this belonging to the Strength Path. While they could grant the Gu Master the strength of a White Boar or a Dragon, they could additionally be used to create White Boar Phantoms, or Dragon Phantoms, tangible constructs which possessed the might of their namesake.

There was also other Gu, such as Ice Muscle Gu and Jade Bone Gu, which transformed the muscles in a Gu Master's body into Ice Muscles, and their bones into Jade Bones. Ice Muscles increased the tensile strength and durability of a Gu Master's muscles, making them more resistant to heat and prevents a Gu Master from sweating or perspiring completely.

Jade Bone Gu transformed the bones into a substance reminiscent of jade. It made them harder and more supple, not at all reducing the flexibility of a Gu Master. This transformation process allowed a Gu Master to possess abilities without having to use primeval essence, and primarily focused on increasing one's physical capabilities.

Additionally, there existed Soul Path Gu such as Divine Soul Gu, Dragon Soul Gu, Wind Spirit Gu, and Qi Spirit Gu, which could transform the shape of a Gu Master's soul, giving it a higher affinity with a certain Path.

Transforming the soul was different to using Guts Gu to increase the foundations of a soul. Guts Gu did not favor a single Path and instead strengthened the innate qualities of a Soul. Transforming the Soul added qualities to the Soul.

What Xuanyuan wanted, was to add qualities to his shadow, which would then reflect changes to his physical abilities. He didn't want anything extreme like the Dragon Shadow Gu, or the Tiger Shadow Gu which transformed his shadow into that of a Dragon or Tiger. Both of them came with an increased physical strength, endurance and agility, although mutated the Gu Master's physical form.

What Xuanyuan wanted, was a little bit different in comparison.

"Xuanyuan... This Nine Eyes Shadow Gu of yours, how is it any different from Shadow Splitting Gu? Or even your current Shadow Eyes Gu? Shadow Splitting Gu can divide a Shadow into two equal parts, giving you two two shadows to draw from. I understand that Shadow Splitting Gu does not affect your physical form, so what is the difference between the two?".

Xuanyuan thought Elder Luo would ask this question and prepared his answer beforehand. Smiling at Elder Luo, he grabbed one of his notebooks and flicked towards one of the last pages.

"Shadow Splitting Gu can only split a single shadow in half, giving a Gu Master access to one shadow with two bodies. It is useful for a Gu Master who uses their shadow in combat, having multiple sources to draw from, but does not increase the strength of a shadow at all, merely cutting one in half".

"Shadow Eyes Gu only allows me to perceive Shadows within 30 feet. Even through walls or around corners, the shadows of living beings cannot be hidden from me. Nine Eyes Shadow Gu on the other hand essentially transforms my shadow so that it possesses additional eyes. While you think that this transformation may change my physical form, it is different in comparison to Dragon Shadow Gu and Tiger Shadow Gu in that there is no additional features that need to be added".

"A regular shadow, possesses neither depth nor color, and cannot interact with physical objects. Transforming the shadow, into a Fire Shadow adds a hint of red, and a touch of heat to the shadow. Lightning Shadow adds a hint of yellow and a minor electromagnetic field".

"Dragon Shadow adds scales, claws, whiskers and primal suppression of most beast type Shadows. Tiger Shadow adds fur, claws, fangs and a similar type of primal suppression. My Nine Eyes Shadow Gu will only gain more eyes, and no other apparent features or qualities".

Elder Luo frowned.

There... was something missing from Little Yuan's explanation. If his Nine Eyes Shadow Gu only added eyes to the Shadow, then it was worse than his current Shadow Eyes Gu.

It seemed useless as a Vital Gu. No passive supportive or defensive effects which most transformation type Gu possessed. It added additional eyes to Xuanyuan's shadow, and eyes were the organ which allowed a living being to see the world around them. 

More eyes didn't just mean that something could see better. It meant that their field of vision was significantly higher, and potentially, at higher Ranks, their depth of vision, the accuracy of their vision, and the limits of their vision increased significantly.

And if shadows were the reflection of all living beings then...

Xuanyuan could see the cogs in Elder Luo's brain slowly turn, as the Earth Soul Hall Elder raised an eyebrow.

"You should be able to... see through your shadow? But then, how is it any different from Shadow Sight Gu? Or even Shadow As Eyes Gu?".

Xuanyuan paused before shaking his head, letting out a small sigh. His Master was a powerful Gu Master, but his talents lie solely in the Space Path, and he had neglected to develop a sub-Path or a supporting Path to augment his main one.

Gesturing at his shadow, Elder Luo watched as it perfectly replicated his disciple's movements. He couldn't see anything in particular about his shadow, until Xuanyuan smacked himself in the face, watching as his shadow do the same.

A switch flicked on in Elder Luo's mind.

"... Because it only transforms your shadow, it leaves your actual Body and Soul free to transform using Ice Muscles Gu or Dragon Soul Gu. You are not limited to just a single transformation. Nine Eyes Shadow Gu can most likely increase the effectiveness of your Shadow Path Gu as well, albeit a relatively weak enhancement due to its Rank".

Xuanyuan smiled, nodding his head.

"Nine Eyes Shadow Gu should theoretically give me an enormous visual enhancement. Additionally, it enhances the strength or effectiveness of my other Shadow Path Gu. Not only that, but I should be able to peer through my own shadow's eyes without using Shadow As Eyes Gu. This is a result of me, more closely reflecting my shadow, not the other way around".

Elder Luo nodded unconsciously, stroking his beard.

"Interesting. It is different to most transformation type Gu of the Shadow Path. Instead of trying to transform it into something else, provoking a reaction in its reflection, you are trying to keep them as similar as possible, provoking greater synergy. Interesting Little Yuan... If this works, it could potentially be used to create similar Gu, such as Nine Heart Shadow Gu, or even Nine Senses Shadow Gu. Nine is the highest level of cultivation possible, so it makes sense that it would stop there...".

Elder Luo underestimated the potential of his disciple. Even if it was still only a theoretical Gu, it spoke volumes of Xuanyuan's comprehension in the Shadow Path.

Not to mention, it made him slightly interested in future refinements of the Gu. 

Could it be refined into a Ninety Nine Eyes Shadow Gu?

Or something like a Wandering Eyes Shadow Gu?

What about a Imperial Eyes Shadow Gu?

Or even something more drastic, like Eight Spider Eyes Shadow Gu?

The last one perhaps was a little too overboard, and considering it would probably transform Xuanyuan's shadow, rather than add qualities to it like he originally planned. But considering that the Nine Eyes Shadow Gu imparted the ability to peer through the Gu Master's shadow in a way similar to Black Boar or White Boar Gu, there was a certain level of compatibility and technique in using the Gu.

Elder Luo frowned for a moment.

'It isn't a one time use Gu either... Wolf Soul Gu and Wind Spirit Gu are both one time use Gu, and have to be reused every time a Gu Master uses something like Guts Gu to increase the foundations of their Soul. It is neither reminiscent of the Strength Path, Bone Path or the Soul Path in that respect. Does that mean that the shadow cannot have its foundations increased like the Soul or physical strength?'.

There was something there, some sort of profundity that Elder Luo failed to grasp. He couldn't comprehend how the shadow could become stronger without something like Soul Path Guts Gu, or Strength Path Jin Gu which could increase the foundations of a Gu Masters strength.

Elder Luo peered at his disciple, seeing him glance over his notebooks, watching as he peered into the Legends Of Ren Zu occasionally, nodding his head.

'He has found some profundity hidden within the Legend Of Ren Zu? How old is he again? Even if he had been reading since the moment he came out of the womb, isn't this a little too fast?', he thought.

Xuanyuan didn't think that he had obtained some sort of profundity from the Legend Of Ren Zu. In fact, the book itself had told him how Ren Zu and Shadow Gu had become strong enough to escape the Shadowless Ocean.

Shadows, reflectionless and without purpose, were able to be devoured by Shadow Gu, increasing its strength. This alone would not be enough. If such a thing were possible, the Shadow Path would have grown to a size similar to the Soul Path, or the Wisdom Path over such years.

What Xuanyuan needed were shadows without reflections, and light. Enormous amounts of light, capable of creating a vast shadow, of unmeasurable size and depth. This, came in the form of Moon Gu in the Legends Of Ren Zu. 

'The gentle thrum of Moon Gu illuminated the Shadowless Ocean, releasing soft melodies and gentle harmonies. The light of the Moon, which paled in brilliance and glory to the light of the Sun, was gentle and all embracing, lulling the reflectionless shadows into a sweet and gentle slumber. Shadow Gu, on the other hand, enraptured by the beauty of the Moon, grew restless, malcontent, vicious as it slaughtered shadow after shadow after shadow'.

'The Moon, transcient and illusory over the water's surface, could never be touched by Shadow Gu. It clawed and slashed at its reflection, never once realizing the truth behind its existence. The Moon, like Shadows, was unable to be touched by regular means. The light that it emitted, waned and waxed as time passed, rising and falling with the ocean tide. Shadow Gu, even the size of a mountain, could only claw helplessly, when faced with the immensity of the Moon...'.

In other words, moonlight was more useful in helping shadows grow, while presumably, other kinds of light were more useful in the creation or destruction of shadows.

At least, outside of Shadowless Ocean and Lightless Heaven.

Secluded Domains Of Heaven And Earth were the exception to this rule. They could produce all sorts of Gu and Gu materials that could not be found anywhere else in the Gu World.

Elder Luo just listened to Xuanyuan's words, hearing his explanation for using Moon Path Gu materials in order to create light for his Gu refinement. It seemed obvious in hindsight, but Luo Yu never would have thought to use moonlight in order to nurture shadows.

Although his attainment in both the Moon Path, Light Path and Shadow Path wasn't even at the Quasi-Master level, he was at least three times Xuanyuan's age, meaning that the breadth of his knowledge and the depth of his experiences should far exceed his disciple's.

Elder Luo would've felt inferior, but just shook his head letting out a small sigh.

"I shall become Venerable indeed...", he muttered.

The Space Path Gu Master took in a deep breath gazing at his disciple, who was still explaining the steps and deductions he took in order to finalize the Gu recipe for the Nine Eyes Shadow Gu. He could hear him theorize that the Shadow Path was less about using reflections to transform the self, and more about using it to build a foundation for Immortal Ascension.

Hearing a fifteen year old Rank 2 Gu Master talk about Immortal Ascension was extremely strange, but, hearing it sparked an idea within Luo Yu's heart.

'Immortal Ascension huh... Maybe I've got some life left in these old bones...'.