Chapter 12 I shall become Venerable

Just wanted to give a shoutout to a new Reverend Insanity fanfic; Reverend Insanity Otherworldly Demon Venerable by fotohhatab. 

I was inspired to write this fanfic by CreedFollower, the author of Blood Venerable Ascension, ACDPQS, the author of Poison Refining Demon Venerable, and Kamule, the author of Reverend Insanity: Phantom Spirit, all three of which have done the same thing and shouted out my fanfic in the past.

I probably won't write one of these again in the short term (unless another Reverend Insanity fanfic comes out), but thank you all for reading so far, and if you have any questions, I don't mind answering them so long as it doesn't involve any future plot points. 

Thank you all again.

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The next day, Xuanyuan went to Elder Luo who examined his cultivation base. The Rank 5 Gu Master examined the walls of his primeval essence sea, and just smiled slightly before handing Xuanyuan another small pouch of primeval essence stones.

"You've done well Xuanyuan. Your cultivation is progressing smoothly and without incident. Despite the fact that you are not the first Gu Master from your batch of disciples to become a Middle Stage Rank 1 Gu Master, as far as I am aware you are the first to do so without a cultivation type Gu".

Xuanyuan nodded at his Master's words. He wasn't surprised about that. Even someone like Fang Yuan could beat his brother, whose primeval essence sea was more than twice as large as his own, to the Middle Rank 1 Gu Master Stage with the help of a Liquor Worm Gu.

Fang Zheng did have to learn how to cultivate, and to refine his Vital Gu, and Fang Yuan did have the assistance of Spring Autumn Cicada to refine his Gu.

"Thank you Master for your praise. And thank you again for the books on Gu and Gu materials. I know that most of them would require primeval essence stones in order to be read".

Elder Luo just waved Xuanyuan off, patting his disciple on the shoulder gently.

"Do not concern yourself with the value of those books. They are only valuable to those who still have yet to gain from them. For an old man like myself, they hold little value. For a young Gu Master on the other hand, walking down his own Path, every word is priceless".

Xuanyuan just smiled in response, giving Elder Luo a deep bow before returning back to his study. His cultivation had increased, and as a result, the number of times he could use his Gu increased as well.

Xuanyuan only had the Shadow Eyes Gu at the moment, but hopefully that would change in the not-so-distant future.

'Deducing Gu recipes is the best way to earn money right now. Not only would I gain a reward from the Sect, but I will also be able to attempt the refinement of the Shadow Stinger Gu myself, adding it to my repertoire of available Gu'.

Xuanyuan's grasp of the Shadow Path was increasing by the day. Most Gu Masters couldn't make use of a Rank 5 Gu due to the primeval essence requirements, and most certainly didn't have Dao Marks for a Gu to draw its strength from either.

The fifteen year old reincarnate kept his pouch of twenty primeval essence stones to the side for the moment, saving them for a later date. Xuanyuan knew that he could potentially push his cultivation even further using them, but refrained himself for the time being.

Instead, he focused all of his attention and mental energy into deductions and Gu refinement methods. Shadow Thoughts bubbling up from the depths of his shadow like sea foam against a rocky shoreline. With his enhanced cultivation he could endure slightly more Shadow Thoughts than he could previously, and reduced the time it took to remove them by a couple minutes. 

Xuanyuan's days continued like this, researching Gu materials and refinements, attending classes on Shadow Path Gu, Wisdom Path Gu, basic Gu refinement and martial arts until eventually, someone else couldn't take it anymore.

"You think you're so cool don't you! Acting high and mighty just because you're the disciple of an Elder?".

Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow, not listening to the jeers and shouts of his fellow disciples in the stands. Currently in his martial arts class, Xuanyuan focused his attention on his opponent, a short, broad shouldered young man with short dark hair and thick, dark eyebrows.

Xuanyuan just remained silent, eyeing the other boy and ignoring his provocative taunts.

Something that he didn't take quite well.

He snarled at Xuanyuan, before extending his fist forward, swinging wide towards his head. Xuanyuan arched back slightly, letting the blow brush past him before landing his own jab deep into the boy's torso. 

The moment Xuanyuan felt his fist connect, a sharp burst of pain emanated from his hand, forcing him to step back. Glancing down at his fist, Xuanyuan could see a deep gash along his knuckles, blood pouring out of the wound incessantly.

"Oi! Xu Chen! I thought I said no Gu allowed!".

The teacher of the class, a Rank 3 Gu Master immediately appeared on the platform, glaring daggers at Xu Chen who just shrugged his shoulders.

"I apologies Teacher Li. I can't control my Gu very well. It must've acted on its own".

Teacher Li glanced at Xuanyuan's fist, suppressing a grimace before facing Xu Chen.

"This is your first and last warning Xu Chen. If you cannot control your own Gu properly, then perhaps you do not belong in the Ancient Soul Sect Xu Chen! We do not take weaklings, and we do not take those who cannot control themselves".

The young man scrunched up his face before removing his protective gear and throwing them on the ground.

"Fine then! Take his side for all I care! You're only protective of him because he is the disciple of an Elder! Free primeval essence stones, free Gu, free lessons, free protection! He is given everything, while the rest of us have to work in order obtain primeval essence stones!".

Xu Chen's words were less directed at Teacher Li, and more at the rest of the class. The young man tried to paint Xuanyuan in a certain light, and unfavorable light but Teacher Li wasn't having it.

"Grow up Xu Chen! This is the Ancient Soul Sect, not the mortal world. What the Elders do with their own resources are completely up to them to decide. You have no say in what a Rank 5 Gu Master is to do or not do. You do not dare to take it up with the Elders directly, so you breed resentment and discord amongst the other Rank 1 Gu Masters. You see Xuanyuan as someone born with a silver spoon, yet say nothing to those who are the descendants of wealthy merchants and the scions of other Elders".

Teacher Li continued before Xu Chen could respond. He puffed his chest out and tilted his head back to look down upon the younger boy.

"This is a Righteous Sect! Everyone is equal. As is their right. But everyone in this World is not born equal. You all have B Grade or A Grade Talents, allowing you to join the Ancient Soul Sect. This is a privilege, not a right. That privilege comes with responsibility to uphold the standards of the Sect wherever the time or place and whatever the circumstances may be! It is not becoming of a member of the Ancient Soul Sect to slander another with baseless accusations. It is not becoming of a member of the Ancient Soul Sect, to break the rules and use Gu against them in a spar. Is this understood, Xu Chen?".

Xu Chen clenched his fist tightly, his body trembling slightly under the intense reprimand that Teacher Li had given him. Xu Chen could feel the gazes of all the other disciples on his body, several of his other classmates were whispering, causing him to feel isolated, even while wearing the uniform of the Ancient Soul Sect.

Xuanyuan just glanced at the younger boy, before letting out a sigh and shaking his head.

'Teenagers are the worst to argue against. Most aren't exactly the most... open-minded of individuals. They see the world through their lens and their lens only, incapable of seeing a perspective other than their own'.

Xuanyuan just stepped forward, tearing off a long strip of his robe, wrapping it around his knuckles. He would have to go to the infirmary later and get it healed. He didn't want to risk infection, or the pain to annoy him while he was cultivating.

"Teacher Li, I think Xu Chen has had enough. I forgive him and will not seek reparations, so please, just leave it at that".

Teacher Li's eyes widened, and even Xu Chen couldn't believe the words coming out of Xuanyuan's mouth. 

"You... forgive him?".

Xuanyuan nodded, suppressing a wince as he tightened the strip of cloth around his knuckles.

"Yes I do believe I just said that".

Teacher Li just blinked, but Xu Chen spoke up before he could say anything.

"I don't need your forgiveness! I don't need anything from you".

Xuanyuan glanced at him, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. His dark, clear eyes reflecting Xu Chen's appearance, causing a shiver to creep down the younger boy's spine.

"That's okay too I guess. I don't really care".

 Teacher Li responded first this time.

"You don't... care that he broke the rules? You don't care that he injured you either?".

Xuanyuan clenched his torn fist slightly feeling the strip of cloth restrict most of the movement in his hand. Nodding slightly, Xuanyuan turned to face Teacher Li and Xu Chen.

"I care that he injured me, but I don't particularly care about his justifications for doing so. I don't care that he doesn't like me, so why would I bother wasting my time on resolving a one-sided conflict, when I can focus my time and energy on cultivation and research on Gu and Gu materials? Why would any of you?".

"Worrying about the opinions of others is irrelevant on the path of cultivation. We each seek to become stronger, out of fear, curiosity, love, or some other desire. Why would I choose to satisfy the arrogance and the needs of someone who only desires attention more than my own desires? Why would I waste my time on things that do not interest me?".

Xuanyuan glanced at his classmates, some of them gulping as his dark eyes washed over them.

"I shall become Venerable. I desire Truth .The absolute apex of a Path. To become the supreme grandmaster over an entire Path of Gu. And I will not arrive there by wasting my time with child-like squabbles. I will get there, by pouring every single drop of blood, sweat and tears I could possibly give, and then give some more in order to arrive at the pinnacle".

Xuanyuan turned back towards Xu Chen, who had gone pale in the face under the combined efforts of Teacher Li's reprimand and Xuanyuan's thousand yard stare.

"So no, I do not care about a meagre wound such as this one. I do not care about your feelings towards me at all. If you have a problem with me, ignore it. You'd be doing yourself a favor".

The fifteen year old nodded at Teacher Li, before removing his own protective equipment, placing it neatly on the side of the platform. The Rank 3 Gu Master just watched silently as Xuanyuan left the training grounds, his mind still processing the words that had just come out of Xuanyuan's mouth.

'I shall become Venerable... The supreme grandmaster over an entire Path of Gu... I desire the Truth'.

Li Rong had heard similar words before. The vast majority of Gu Masters saying something similar at least once in their entire lifetime.

'I shall become the next Immortal Venerable!'.

'I want to follow in the footsteps of Giant Sun, and marry all women beneath the Heavens and the Earth!'.

'Thieving Heaven roamed the three Worlds freely, travelling and enjoying life to its fullest. I desire to do the same!'.

'I want to be as famous as Star Constellation!'.

'I want to be as strong as Reckless Savage!'.

'I want help people as much as possible, just like Paradise Earth!'.

Gu Masters aspired to be like a Venerable. They wanted the same recognition and renown that these legendary figures possessed. They wanted their legends to be their own, and their strength and power to belong to them instead.

However... the words that came out of Xuanyuan's mouth.

'No... not just his tone'.

His tone, his demeanor, his disregard for others, his perspective of cultivation, of relationships. Everything, even his clear, black eyes all screamed out at Li Rong.

"I shall become Venerable", he muttered.

Never had Li Rong heard those words, and think that, even for a second, that it might come true. Li Rong had heard that even Elder Kong, one of the Elders closest to becoming a Gu Immortal, wasn't completely sure he could cross the divide between Rank 5 and Rank 6.

And yet... and yet this young man desired to reach Rank 9.

The only question in Li Rong's mind was...

"But what will you become Xuanyuan? An Immortal Venerable, or...?".