Chapter 29 Meeting With A Gu Immortal

Earth Soul City was in quite the hubbub towards the end of the year, mortal celebrations and festivities lining the streets of the enormous City. Crimson ribbons and blood-coloured banners lined the streets, painting the town in bright shades of red. 

Fireworks lit up the skies at night, the glow and radiance of the stars were outshined by the multi-colored beams of light which pierced through the black sky. Joyous cries and screams of jubilation filled Earth Soul City, and Xuanyuan watched as mortals crowded together, families and loved ones taking part in the celebration.

"I'm another year older", he muttered.

Xuanyuan turned sixteen on the last day of the year. Sixteen years had passed since he was reborn in the Gu World, and almost a year since he had been recruited by the Ancient Soul Sect and become a Gu Master.

Xuanyuan felt at peace, watching the festivities from afar. He didn't hate the sounds of fireworks, and the screams of happiness and joy were something that was the same, regardless of the world he was born into. Xuanyuan just liked the scenery, and the vast shadows that were cast by the fireworks were enough attract his attention.

Every few minutes, light bloomed in the skies above Earth Soul City, banishing the darkness away, giving rise to countless shadows. They only lasted a few seconds, but they too were relishing in the new years celebrations, feeling the positive emotions of their reflection.

Xuanyuan didn't have Grandmaster attainment in the Shadow Path, but he could feel closer to shadows through the Nine Eyes Shadow Gu, letting him feel the presence of shadows within a certain radius.

The fifteen, now sixteen year old just smiled softly, watching again and again as fireworks lit up the night sky.

He almost didn't notice the young man standing beside him. If it wasn't for the presence of his shadow, he never would've noticed him standing in the corner of his eye. Xuanyuan's vision had increased beyond that of a regular mortals, so he unconsciously raised an eyebrow, knowing that this person was a Gu Master.

The young man in question didn't seem a day older than twenty. His features were soft, almost childlike, but Xuanyuan could see from the scars on his hands, that his true age was much higher than his appearance let on.

Xuanyuan gazed at the young man, causing him to smile and meet his gaze head on. Xuanyuan felt the world turn darker for a moment, causing Xuanyuan to frown, his attention still placed on the young man.

"... If you are with Huo Jin, your presence is not wanted here. Leave whatever enmity you have with me in this year, and do not carry it into the next".

The young man just smiled, shrugging his shoulders, letting the world return to its normal colors. The sound of fireworks echoing in the background surprised Xuanyuan, not noticing himself being cut off from the rest of the World.

'Even if it was just for a couple seconds, something took over my senses. It made everything... more-'.

"Dull? I have that effect unfortunately, a side effect of my Vital Gu".

The young looking man spoke, his voice clear and melodious, but with a strange tone that Xuanyuan had never heard before. Despite being dressed in all white, something twisted and squirmed in the alleyway behind him, a place where light was unable to reach.

It didn't feel familiar to Xuanyuan, but also, didn't feel inherently malicious or positive. Something in the darkness of the alleyway resembled something else in Xuanyuan's mind. He was unconsciously making connections to things that while similar to each other, were fundamentally not the same.

Xuanyuan paused for a moment, before a look of realization appeared on his face.

"Dark Path? You're a Dark Path Gu Master?", he asked.

The young man showed a thoughtful expression for a moment before smiling, not affirming or denying the allegation.

"You noticed it quicker than I thought. The last time I tried that, the poor sap didn't even notice until the darkness encroached on his lower body. If I were a demonic path Gu Master, he would've been dead a long time ago".

"So you're a member of the Ancient Soul Sect then?", Xuanyuan countered.

The young man nodded again, waving his hand and letting the darkness in the alleyway behind him return to its normal state. As time were reversing itself, splotches of ink travelled from the alleyway through the air, returning back to the man's sleeve, hiding in the darkness away from the light.

Xuanyuan wondered what type of Dark Path Gu possessed such abilities, but noticed the young man walk towards him, his hands behind his back, and a playful smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"When I heard that old Kong put forward a name for this generations Abyssal Child, I was quite surprised it was a name that he had mentioned to me a few weeks ago. Abyssal Children are those the Sect expect to become Gu Immortals, meaning that their strategic value exceed that of 90% of their entire generation. A single Gu Immortal is worth dozens of Rank 5 Gu Masters, one with even the lowest grade Blessed Land".

"After finding out that old Kong put forward the name of a boy, who, hadn't even turned sixteen yet, I wasn't too happy with him. Abyssal Children should embody the morality of the Ancient Soul Sect, and possess a talent and comprehension exceeding that of everyone around them".

The young man paused less than a meter away from Xuanyuan. His eyes roaming all over his body, nodding as he meet Xuanyuan's gaze.

"So imagine my surprise, when young Song comes to me with a new Gu recipe, supposedly created by this Abyssal Child candidate. A transformation type Gu, although one that adds a quality to the shadow, rather than outright transform it. Simple, yet complex in its thinking. You are not a Transformation Path Gu Master, so why should you transform yourself needlessly?".

"It has three traits, reminiscent of Ice Muscles Gu, Dragon Strength Gu and Shadow Eyes Gu. It is a permanent enhancement, but also possessing an active quality whenever primeval essence flows into it. Similarly, it can enhance the effectiveness of Shadow Path Gu by a minute amount, although perhaps a Rank 4, or even a Rank 5 refinement would bring a significant boost to effectiveness".

"Your thought process was quite interesting as well. So many materials for a single Rank 1 Gu. You understand the Human Isolation Style quite well, as well as profundities of the Refinement Path. This Gu is extremely effective at what it does, and still leaves room for other visual enhancement type Gu. A truly wondrous creation".

"Tell me Abyssal Child candidate, what did you have in mind when you created your Nine Eyes Shadow Gu?".

The color drained from Xuanyuan's face. Familiar names, and a presence that exceeded anything he had ever felt before suddenly appeared right in front of him. His breath hitched for a moment, before Xuanyuan whispered.

"... Gu Immortal".

The young man nodded, not even so much as blinking as he leaned closer towards Xuanyuan.

"That's right. I, Chu Tianwu, have spent the better part of a millennia researching the Dark Path, understanding its profundities and its underlying truths. I researched its relationship to the Shadow Path, seeing as though Darkness and Light birth shadows, but never quite understood how shadows were the "reflection of all living beings". Strange really, I don't know why I didn't think of it before".

Xuanyuan gulped.

"The Shadow Path is easier to work with than the Dark Path. Shadows are a reflection of all living beings. Darkness is the primordial womb which birthed creation. It is a world without color. It is a world without change. It is a world without the "body". Trying to change the physical with the Dark Path is... counter-intuitive. It is, and always has been, a spiritual transformation".

This was Xuanyuan's understanding of the Dark Path, after completely digesting Long Xi's research, as well as his own comprehensions, based of its relationship with the Shadow Path and the Light Path.

It was rough, but partly true.

Darkness had no physical form, much like shadows. Darkness did not change on its own, remaining not stagnant, but motionless. Similar to a lake on a windless night, completely calm, not even so much as a ripple disturbing it.

The Gu Immortal raised an eyebrow, leaning back a blinking for a moment before letting out a laugh, slapping Xuanyuan on the shoulder.

"Darkness is the primordial womb which birthed creation! Ha! I like that kid, I'm gonna steal it".

The sudden tension in the air completely vanished, and the young looking Gu Immortal jus grinned letting out a sigh and shaking his head.

"Wow! When Elder Kong said you were smart, he was really underestimating you. I can't believe you came up with that conclusion after a single year of being a Gu Master. If this is your attainment in the Dark Path, then I can't even imagine how much you've developed your own Shadow Path".

Xuanyuan shook his head profusely.

"I'm not even a Master in the Shadow Path yet. My attainment in the Dark Path isn't quite at Quasi-Master, but in a couple years I hope to have reached that, in the Light Path as well that is".

Xuanyuan just heard the Dark Path Gu Immortal laugh even harder, watching as he ran his scarred hand through his hair. Xuanyuan could see, now that he was much closer, that a faint scar ran through the side of his head. Mostly obscured by hair, it was faint, but could be seen after he adjusted his fringe.

The Gu Immortal noticed Xuanyuan's gaze before pausing, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"I understand that you intend on going through with Limitless' inheritance if you become the Abyssal Child? Is that correct Xuanyuan?".

The otherworldly demon nodded.

"Yes. Even if I am not fated for it, if I can increase my attainment in the Rule Path, I can use it to bridge my Shadow Path up to the same realm. Additionally, I hope to create Rule Path Gu, or Shadow Path Gu which can mimic the other Path. I do not know much about Rule Path Gu, but I know how Rules Gu and Regulations Gu work!".

The Gu Immortal paused, before asking Xuanyuan a question.

"You... would only use the Rule Path to push your current Path forward? Wouldn't switching to the Rule Path be quicker for your cultivation?".

Xuanyuan shook his head in reply.

"I am not sure if it is destiny, or love, but only the Shadow Path holds appeal to me. Other Paths are only useful to augment my Shadow Path. That isn't to say that other Paths are worthless to me, Dark and Light Paths are examples of this, but in my heart, only shadows have a place".

Xuanyuan also wanted to keep his options open in the future, seeing if he could comprehend Heaven Path or Human Path, but didn't say that in front of a Gu Immortal. Having an understanding, or even knowing that it existed as a Gu Master was just asking for trouble.

The unnamed Gu Immortal just smiled, not saying anything.

'I was like that once', he thought.

Before he became a Gu Immortal in the Dark Path, he dreamt of using the Dark Path to copy the qualities of all other Paths in the World. The Dark Path was colorless and corruptive, yet also cold and nurturing. 

It took him a long time before he realized that only darkness existed before creation existed. That darkness was an eternal presence in the World. People feared what they could not see. People feared what they could not understand. They could not see Darkness, and how could they understand that which they could not see?

Everyone started somewhere. Even Gu Immortals.

This particular Gu Immortal just let out a loud sigh, feeling some weight within his shoulders disappear along with his worries and troubles.

"If I had even half, or a quarter, or a fifth of your comprehension Xuanyuan, I daresay I wouldn't have stopped at Rank 7, gaining the courage to develop my Blessed Land into a Grotto Heaven. I am envious, and at the same time thankful for your existence".

Xuanyuan didn't say anything, letting the man continue.

"With you around, the future of my Ancient Soul Sect is guaranteed for the next millennia, possibly several millennia. If there is someone who can obtain the complete inheritance of Limitless, it is you. I have seen Abyssal Child after Abyssal Child try and fail, but you are the most suitable candidate I have ever seen for the trial, without question".

"When you become a Rank 5 Gu Master, you'll be given everything the Sect has to offer in preparation for your Immortal Ascension. We will want you to be as perfect as you possibly can be Xuanyuan, but it will rely on your own hard work, not just the efforts of others. Is that... understood Xuanyuan?".

The Rank 2 Middle stage Gu Master nodded, but frowned for a moment, his desires getting the better of him. The Gu Immortal noticed this, and couldn't help but ask what was wrong.

"Is there something the matter Xuanyuan? I understand that the pressure is immense, but the accumulation of your own experiences and attainment can only be done by you and you alone. If others interfere then-".

Xuanyuan shook his head, taking in a deep breath and gazing at the Gu Immortal in front of him.

"Does the Sect have any method of refining a Second Aperture Gu?".

The Dark Path Gu Immortal seemed stunned and blinked a couple times, before letting out a sigh, shaking his head.

"I wish I could say yes, Xuanyuan. Our Ancient Soul Sect has several Immortal Gu recipes in its possession, and multiple Immortal Gu, however, Second Aperture Gu is not one of them. Even if we did have one, I have no doubt that it would have been used a long time ago, by a previous Abyssal Child, or the descendant of a greedy Elder".

Xuanyuan shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head. His tone was formal, but Xuanyuan knew that this Gu Immortal wouldn't ask for a bow or kowtow.

"My apologies, Supreme Elder, I did not mean to be so presumptuous".

The Ancient Soul Sect Supreme Elder just nodded, giving Xuanyuan one last nod.

"Good luck tomorrow Xuanyuan. I hope we meet again soon".

The moment those words left his lips, the figure of the Gu Immortal vanished into splotches of dark ink. Nothing, but the faint cries of mortals and the booming fireworks could be heard in the alleyway that Xuanyuan was in. Shrugging his shoulders, Xuanyuan walked back towards False Soul Mountain, letting out a small sigh.

"It was worth a try I guess".