Chapter 65 Don't Think So Much When Killing

"Ah! It seems that these two flowers weren't as alone as we originally thought! Younger brother, what's with the look on your face? We'll return your junior sisters to you soon, but I can't guarantee that they will want to stay with you, after we give them a taste of-".

Xuanyuan ignored the rest of the Rank 3 Gu Master's words, immediately using his Stepping Shadow Gu to flicker closer and closer towards the group of demonic Gu Masters. Excluding the one leading them, all of them had a Rank 2 cultivation or lower.

Xuanyuan didn't even so much as hesitate before flicking his hand out multiple times, sending more than a dozen Blade Shadows towards the group. 

To his surprise, the tanned middle aged man gritted his teeth, swinging his arm expanding the wall of liquid metal that surrounded his body towards that of his compatriots, narrowing his eyes at Xuanyuan, glaring at him before a bright silvery glow appeared behind them.

Xuanyuan felt Nine Eyes Shadow Gu warn him through the darkness, flickering again using Stepping Shadow, watching as a sharp brilliant metallic beam pierced through the spot where he once stood, his gaze narrowing, seeing the strength behind the attack.

'Rank 2 Liquid Metal Gu... Rank 2 Piercing Eyes Gu...'.

This man was obviously a demonic Gu Master, so naturally it would be more difficult for him to obtain a set of complimentary Gu. But in a place like Broken Blade Mountain, one with an overabundance of Metal Path and Blade Path Gu, this man naturally had no shortage of wild Gu just waiting to be found.

And with his Rank 3 cultivation, he must be an B Grade or an A Grade talent. That, or there was a Spirit Spring nearby which had evaded the detection of patrolling Ancient Soul Sect disciples.

Xuanyuan suppressed these thoughts, evading a volley of metal spikes, arrows and lances. Some launched ranged blade strikes towards Xuanyuan, others sent blade lights or blade qi towards him, causing him to focus on a single target.

Using Solid Shadow Gu in tandem with Rising Shadow Wall, Xuanyuan leapt up into the air, seeing the heads of the demonic Gu Masters raise, their Rank 3 leader grinning his eyes glowing a brilliant silver.

"Attack him now! He cannot move in the air!".

Xuanyuan didn't make any outward change in expression, placing his hand in front of him pointed down, activating Bright Red Light Gu. An explosive amount of light was released from the Gu, illuminating the forest grove, causing everyone to turn their gazes away from Xuanyuan, fearing the searing effect from the Gu.

They didn't even notice the dozen or so palm wide shadow blades that were hidden behind the burst of searing red light.

The Rank 3 Gu Master felt a small backlash from the failure of activating his Piercing Eyes Gu, and was unable to command his Liquid Metal to cover his allies. Suppressing the tears in his eyes, he turned and saw that five of their group of fifteen had limbs sliced clean of their bodies, one of them even been decapitated by the shadow blades.

He could hear Xuanyuan let out a tsk before flickering away to a nearby shadow. 

The Gu Master roared, not holding back sending beam after beam of piercing metal qi from his eyes, hoping to catch even a sliver of Xuanyuan's shadow. Gritting his teeth he screamed into the forest seeing his followers cut down and didn't hesitate, grabbing Li Xiao Er by the neck, causing the girl to scream and the others to clump around Jia Yufei.

Looking around for Xuanyuan, he clenched down hard on Li Xiao Er's neck, causing the girl to claw at his hand, trying to get him to release the hold on her throat.

"Brat! If you don't stop right now, I swear to Spectral Soul I'll kill her! I'm not playing around here boy! Do you here me!".

Xuanyuan narrowed his eyes noticing the approaching figures of Yu Xiaolong and the others. Seeing them approach, he gestured for them to circle around the grove seeing them nod and sprint off into the darkness. 

Holding his hands in the air, Xuanyuan stepped out from behind a tree, causing the man to grin, seeing him so compliant. These two junior sisters of his were quite the beauties, and members of the righteous path were always so easy to manipulate, he thought.

"Good! Get down on the ground! Place your hands on your head and keep them there! Kun, get the Focus Scattering Flower, make sure he inhales the pollen so he can't use his primeval essence!".

Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow, seeing why neither Jia Yufei or Li Xiao Er could use their Gu. 

Focus Scattering Flower caused a dissonance within the mind of a Gu Master. It scattered the thoughts of a Gu Master, causing them to be unable to think for a short duration. Every time they wanted to think about using a Gu, their thoughts would become murky, before crumbling apart like ash. 

Jia Yufei and Li Xiao Er looked horrified as the Rank 1 demonic Gu Master approached Xuanyuan, grabbing him by the hair, pulling tightly, before shoving the Focus Scattering Flower in his face. They could see Xuanyuan struggle, but also noticed him looking towards them, concern and worry evident on his face.

"No Xuanyuan! You won't be able to fight back if you-", Jia Yufei was slapped by one of the female Gu Masters, causing her to fall to the ground, lip bloodied. The demonic Gu Master glared down at Jia Yufei, seeing the blood on her lips even more vibrant than the color of her hair. 

One of the other Gu Masters, one with a Rank 2 aura glared at her, catching her hand as he attempted to strike at Jia Yufei.

"Don't harm her Li. The boss won't be happy if you mess her up before he gets a taste".

The demonic Gu Master Li frowned before shrugging her shoulders and crossing her arms. This girl was so young, beautiful and talented. If she awakened a better talent when she was younger, then perhaps it would be her on the ground and someone else standing above her. 

She had learnt about the harshness of reality long ago. And just glared at Jia Yufei from afar, rolling her eyes before noticing Xuanyuan being led over.

Her gaze brightened when she saw the handsome young man, taller than most of the other men here, but without the tanned dirtied skin and the scars from years of turmoil and hard work. The features of his face were sharp and somewhat immature, but his eyes shone, moonlight reflecting off them like precious gemstones or rare minerals.

A heat welled up from deep within her, but before she could make a move, the Rank 3 Gu Master grinned, before throwing Li Xiao Er to the side, and punching Xuanyuan in the chest.

The otherworldly demon felt his eyes widen, and crumbled to the ground, wheezing and coughing. Jia Yufei and Li Xiao Er both tried to reach for Xuanyuan but were only held back by the other Gu Masters, watching with delight in their eyes as their boss kneeled down, grabbing Xuanyuan by the hair. 

Licking his lips, he traced an edge across Xuanyuan's jaw, chuckling as his eyes wondered over the rest of his body.

Some of the other male Gu Masters looked at their boss with a hint of disgust in their eyes, but knew how lascivious and perverted he was. He had ruined countless beautiful women, and more than a few handsome looking men in his time. 

They moved their gazes back towards Jia Yufei and Li Xiao Er, feeling something rise up as they looked at their smooth skin and developing features. Their haul this time was several times better than their last dozen or so encounters, and none of them could wait to have a turn on any of the two girls.

The Rank 3 Gu Master smiled, but noticed Xuanyuan trying to mouth something, unable to without any air in his lungs. Seeing him try to speak, the boss smiled, shaking his head and laughing while gesturing to his followers.

"He certainly has a lot of will doesn't he! I'll have plenty of fun breaking this one in!".

The group of demonic Gu Masters forced a laugh, hearing the loud chuckles of their boss echo throughout the night. Being a Rank 3 Gu Master, just based on pure primeval essence alone this man could annihilate an entire group of Rank 2 Gu Masters without too much trouble. 

Even if he lacked a Gu equivalent in Rank to his cultivation base, he could outmaneuver, and overpower Rank 2 Gu Masters using an assortment of Rank 2 Gu. 

There had been Gu Masters whom had tried to stand up to him and needless to say... things didn't go well for them. 

Unbeknownst to any of them, faint black wisps emerged from out of Xuanyuan's shadow. Flashing through his mind like the silhouettes of forgotten memories. 

"... know... have... more...".

Xuanyuan muttered something under his breath, causing the Rank 3 Gu Master to raise an eyebrow, leaning down trying to hear what he had to say. Under the effects of a Rank 2 Focus Scattering Flower Gu, even Rank 3 Gu Masters would be affected for a short while. He didn't think that Xuanyuan could activate any of his Gu in this circumstance.

Lifting Xuanyuan up by the hair, he brought his head down, placing his ear beside Xuanyuan's mouth. The young man was muttering something, and he was curious on whether he would beg for his own life, or for the lives of his junior sisters.

But alas, curiosity often killed the cat.

Pausing, their was a silence in the forest for a moment, as Xuanyuan's voice suddenly became as clear as day.

"Did you know that sharks have a bite force of more than 4,000 pounds?".

The otherworldly demon expanded his jaws as far as humanly possible before crunching down on the neck of the Rank 3 Gu Master. He didn't have any time to react, or even activate his Liquid Metal Gu as Xuanyuan crunched through his trachea and carotid arteries.

None of the other Gu Masters could react in time either, their guards lowered after Xuanyuan was exposed to the Focus Scattering Flower. Their could only blink as two enormous scorpion stingers emerged from his back, striking out an impaling two Rank 2 Gu Masters.

It was like releasing a wolf into the rabbits den. 

Grabbing the Rank 3 Gu Master by the hair, Xuanyuan licked his lips seeing the horror and fear overwhelm his entire being. With every breath that he tried to take, more and more blood spurted out, causing him to clutch at the wound with both hands, unable to focus as his extremities felt cold and clammy.

Glancing around, he could see other Gu Masters emerge from the forest, waving swords and lightning, light and shadows, to slaughter and maim the other members of his group. 

Within a matter of moments, his bandit group, which comprised of members he had accumulated over the past decade, were either killed or captured. Nothing but the taste and scent of blood lingering in his mind.

Xuanyuan gestured to his stomach nodding as a soft smile made its way to his lips. The contrast between his smooth skin and the blood splattered across his face made him seem... like a demonic Gu Master.

It was an expression he had seen countless times before. There were demonic Gu Masters pushed to the demonic path due to revenge, love, hatred or even because that was the only way they could become strong. 

This was the most common type of demonic path Gu Master. Those who have committed demonic acts, but possessed morals and ethics like any regular Gu Master. A single action at one point in their lives resulted in them walking the demonic path, unable to return to the righteous path.

And then... there were people like the young man in front of him. Those who relished in atrocities and violence. Some who were ruled by their lusts and avarice, pillaging, looting, stealing even enjoying the act of forcefully taking another.

The man's eyes widened, before an expression of realization washed over him. 

"You... you're like me", he tried to say, only to spurt more blood out of his neck.

Xuanyuan patted the man's cheek, nodding his head.

"If you didn't try to take something of mine, I wouldn't have had to take your life. Fortunately, none of you will go to waste".

Xuanyuan gazed at the corpses of the female Gu Masters, smiling before turning back to the man, noticing that the life had already left his eyes. Letting out a sigh and shaking his head, Xuanyuan gazed up towards the moon, noticing its gentle rays peeking through the scattered clouds.

There was the faintest churning in his stomach, a sensation which vanished as quickly as it appeared. Blinking a few times Xuanyuan wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, slightly smearing crimson across his cheek. 

"So this is what it feels like", he muttered. 

Standing in his black robes, his pale skin dyed the color of blood, Xuanyuan just hummed having taken his first ever life. 

He was slightly surprised at how easy it was. Despite how grotesque and barbaric his methods were, a single bite was all that it took to end the life of another human being. Unpreparedness and arrogance clouded the man's thoughts, luring him into a false sense of security which Xuanyuan took advantage of.

Even the lives of the remaining Gu Masters, which burned so brightly with youth and vitality were snuffed out in an instant, like wet fingertips to a candle.

Within a matter of moments, Xuanyuan's worries cleared, and resolve strengthened. His heart was unmoved by death, somewhat understanding the feeling of ephemerality.

"... Don't think so much when killing", he muttered.