Chapter 32 Xuanyuan vs Yu Xiaolong

Xuanyuan watched a few fights on the platforms, only taking note if a Rank 2 Gu Master was participating in one of the fights. While the chances of them having a Rank 2 Gu was extremely low, Xuanyuan knew that it wouldn't do him well to ignore those who managed to cultivate all the way to Rank 2 in a single year.

Most of them were the descendants of merchants or wealthy Gu Masters, and could possibly have a Rank 2 Gu in their possession. Not only did it mean that they had the capacity to match Xuanyuan in terms of capability, but also meant that he had to be careful in regards to how much primeval essence he used during the fight.

Xuanyuan believed he could end a fight against a Rank 1 Gu Master without having to use too much primeval essence. Unless they had abilities like Bing Ti's Sword Mist Gu, he could just close the gap slowly and strike, not having to use that much primeval essence.

He noted that two young girls, a Jia Yufei and a Li Xiao Er were both Rank 2 Gu Masters, the former walking the Fire Path and the latter walking the Wind Path. Both were Early Stage Rank 2 Gu Masters, and both possessed strong offensive measures.

Jia Yufei had in her possession a powerful Rank 2 Fire Fox Gu which could track the movements of her targets. One boy, who attempted to move to the side in order to dodge it, had to be carted off to the Light Soul Hall for burn treatment. She received a wide berth after leaving the stage, not even so much as a hair out of place.

Li Xiao Er on the other hand, possessed a Rank 2 Chasing Wind Gu, which dramatically increased her running speed for a short duration. Xuanyuan had learned from the gossip around him that the Wind Chasing Gu was one of the better speed enhancement Gu for Rank 2.

The effect only lasted about 15 seconds, but it more than doubled the speed of the Gu Master. That, alongside her proficiency in martial arts, made her a force to be reckoned with.

Xuanyuan thought that there were more Rank 2 Gu Masters in the crowd that had yet to participate in their first fight. There were around a 120 new disciples this year, and even with eight fields active at any given point in time, it would still take a couple rounds for Xuanyuan to get his turn.

"Platform 4: Yu Xiaolong vs Xuanyuan!".

'Or maybe not', he thought.

The crowd went silent and the eyes of everyone in the arena landed on Xuanyuan. Standing up in the crowd, Xuanyuan glanced at a young man sitting further up from himself, smiling slightly, feeling the ripples of primeval essence come off him.

Xuanyuan could feel the ripples of light red primeval essence come off Yu Xiaolong, evidence of his Rank 2 Gu Master cultivation. The other young man showed an expression of distaste in his opponent, muttering something under his breath before heading down to platform 4.

This was the first fight between two Rank 2 Gu Masters. All of the others had been fights between Rank 1s or a Rank 1 Gu Master against a Rank 2. They wanted to see how two members of the more privileged class fought.

There was a tension in the air that wasn't present in previous matches. Xuanyuan didn't seem to phased by it, but the other boy, Yu Xiaolong, just stretched his shoulders, adjusting his breathing.

The Rank 3 Gu Master in charge of the platform grimaced for a moment, glancing at Xuanyuan and Yu Xiaolong. He could literally see the fights on other platforms halt, each of them watching the combatants on his platform.

Despite this however, his professionalism showed as he just nodded, raising an eyebrow at the pair.

"Are you two ready?", he said.

Xuanyuan nodded, not saying anything. Yu Xiaolong nodded too, the glint in his eyes turning serious.

The referee just suppressed a sigh, raising his hand up before swinging it down.

"Begin!".

Yu Xiaolong burst into motion, activating his Vital Gu. He was the child of a Rank 3 Gu Master merchant within Earth Soul City, so the breadth of his knowledge regarding Gu far exceeded that of most of his peers. 

Even if it wasn't a Rank 2 Gu, his Vital Gu was the strongest offensive power he had currently refined. Even injuring his Rank 2 Gu Master trainer, while he was only a Rank 1 Gu Master.

Yu Xiaolong thrust forward with his hand, tendrils of electricity rotating around his fingers and forearm. A burst of thunder exploded out from beneath his feet, propelling him halfway across the platform in an instant, creating a large divot where he once stood.

Xuanyuan's eyes widened as he saw Yu Xiaolong instantly bridge half the distance between them in a single leap. He didn't expect him to walk the Lightning Path, but knew that in terms of speed and offensive prowess, it was perhaps one of the strongest Paths in the Current Era.

But Xuanyuan remained calm, smiling as he activated a single Gu.

'It would have been better if he walked half the distance and then leaped forward. I would've been caught off guard better than way', he thought.

Most Elder descendants knew that Xuanyuan walked the Shadow Path, but the regular disciples did not. All of them were entranced by the speed and power of Yu Xiaolong's Gu, that they didn't even notice Xuanyuan's shadow pool around his feet, his fingers gently tapping the air around him.

One wouldn't be able to see anything in the air around Xuanyuan, but his shadow betrayed the trap that he had set. The Rank 3 Gu Master raised an eyebrow at Xuanyuan's strange finger movements, but felt his eyes widen greatly as he leapt to get in front of Yu Xiaolong.

Xuanyuan's expression didn't change, as Yu Xiaolong ran directly into his net of Silhouette Strings. Deep lacerations and cuts suddenly appeared all over his arm and upper body, his Gu unconsciously deactivating as he screamed, falling to the floor.

A loud screamed echoed from the arena stands, as a crimson color dyed the platform floor.

The Rank 3 Gu Master glanced at Xuanyuan and grimaced, before raising his hand, gesturing to Xuanyuan.

"Winner, Xuanyuan!".

He only spoke those words before lifting Yu Xiaolong off the stage and straight towards Elder Bing from Light Soul Hall. The Rank 5 Light Path Gu Master raised her hand, gently brushing it over Yu Xiaolong's wounds, healing them within a matter of moments.

Elder Bing frowned somewhat at Xuanyuan, but he ignored it, glancing at Elder Luo. The Space Path Gu Master just nodded back at him, causing Xuanyuan to smile, heading off the stage towards Elder Bing.

Yu Xiaolong, despite the fact that he had physically completely recovered, still remembered the physical pain that Xuanyuan inflicted on him. He didn't have any chance to see what had hit him, before his entire world burst into a deep, searing pain.

A small seed of fear was planted in Yu Xiaolong's heart.

Seeing Xuanyuan approach him, he unconsciously retreated back a step, but just watched as Xuanyuan gave Yu Xiaolong a small bow, before extending his hand towards him.

"I apologize for the attack. It was... excessive for its Rank. Your Lightning Path has developed well, and I unconsciously used it in reaction to your speed".

Elder Bing suppressed a snort, hearing the bullshit come out of Xuanyuan's mouth. He could hear the heartbeats of everyone within several hundred feet, and Xuanyuan's heart rate never once exceeded 70 beats per minute. 

It jumped from 50, to 68 after Yu Xiaolong used his Thunder Burst Gu to close the distance between them, but from her perspective, everything was within his calculations.

She didn't voice these concerns, just watching as Yu Xiaolong lifted his head up slightly, surprised by Xuanyuan's words. 

"You... were surprised?".

Xuanyuan nodded.

"I know that the first Gu you used was Lightning Piercing Gu, which increasing your piercing power by enhancing it with lightning. I do not recognize the second Gu that you used, but if you had used it a few seconds after closing the distance between us, you would've been able to strike me in an instant. I thought if you used the Gu again in quick succession, you would've immediately ended the fight".

"The Lightning Path is one of the most offensive Paths in the Current Era, alongside the Sword Path, Fire Path, Metal Path and Blood Path. However, in terms of speed, it exceeds the rest of them. I do not know about more... flexible methods of offensive lightning path techniques, but from these two factors alone, you are dangerous Yu Xiaolong. If it were anyone else, you probably would have won".

Elder Bing raised an eyebrow, not feeling any lies in Xuanyuan's words. She could feel heartbeats, and could detect irregularities in their rhythm, but felt no disturbance from Xuanyuan.

She was a little upset from Xuanyuan's heavy handedness, knowing that he just let Yu Xiaolong run into his threads. He hadn't even moved from his initial starting position, and yet he had just won after messing around with a couple of finger movements.

Yu Xiaolong on the other hand seemed even more surprised by Xuanyuan's analysis of his abilities.

He had recognized the first Gu he had used, his Vital Gu, while he didn't even know what Path of Gu Xuanyuan had used. Thinking back, if he had crossed most of the distance without using Gu, and then surprised Xuanyuan, it is possible that he could've ended the fight then and there.

Nodding, he took Xuanyuan's hand shaking it firmly.

"I thought that you were just a lucky guy who managed to catch the eye of an Elder. But... you are quite smart, you know that?".

Xuanyuan just smiled, glancing at Elder Bing for a moment.

"It's my best trait... or so I'm told".

Yu Xiaolong chuckled before giving Elder Bing a deep bow, returning with Xuanyuan to the stands. Despite having just giving him extremely deep wounds for a meagre fight, he was already asking Xuanyuan questions about the Lightning Path.

He didn't realize how approachable Xuanyuan was, until after speaking with him. Even though he walked a different Path, Yu Xiaolong could immediately tell that Xuanyuan was much more knowledgeable than anyone else realized. 

"If you possessed a Thunder Spear Gu it would probably increase your combat effectiveness the most, although you would need to be proficient in such a weapon. Ranged methods are also useful, Thunderball Gu is a pretty common offensive Rank 1 Lightning Path Gu, but is limited in terms of area of effect and accuracy".

"Something like Thunderwave Gu which affects an area around the Gu Master, or Lightning Bomb Gu which can be thrown and affects a small area are both quite useful. You will not be pressed for choice if you walk the Lightning Path, and supportive elements are more important in the long run".

Yu Xiaolong blinked, not fully understanding Xuanyuan's words.

"Supportive Lightning Path Gu? But I thought that the Lightning Path is a purely offensive Path? You have to use other types of Gu in tandem with the Lightning Path in order to strengthen it?".

Xuanyuan shook his head letting out a small sigh.

"That is partially true, but all Paths possess a myriad number of Gu. The most common supportive type Gu is probably something like Lightning Soul Gu, or Thunder Spirit Gu. Both of them redefine the shape of your Soul, so that it is more akin to the essence of Lightning. Similarly, there is Lightning Qi Gu, which increases the effectiveness of all Lightning Path Gu".

"Both of these Gu are from the Soul Path and the Qi Path respectively, however, pure Lightning Path supportive Gu are a little bit more nuanced than that".

Xuanyuan started listing things off on his fingers.

"You have Quick Nerves Gu, which can increase the speed of your Thoughts using Lightning. Electric Barrier Gu which is uniquely effective against Metal Path and Sword Path Gu. Thunder Fire Gu, which can transform your regular lightning into a more offensive Thunder Fire. Lightning Strikes Forest Gu, which can heal wounds using lightning. Lightning As Hair Gu which can be used both defensively and offensively. Thunder Taunt Gu which uses lightning to attract the Thoughts of nearby opponents. And lastly, and my personal favorite, Shadows As Lightning Gu".

Yu Xiaolong leaned forward, having never heard such a Gu before.

In fact, he hadn't heard of most of the Gu Xuanyuan had told him.

"Shadows As Lightning can transform your shadow into lightning temporarily. While this occurs, you yourself will gain... lightning like qualities for the duration that the Gu is active. The number of qualities will increase the higher the Rank of Gu. Essentially, it is a method of transforming yourself into Lightning".

Yu Xiaolong felt an entire world open before his very eyes. 

The Lightning Path was slowly revealing itself, peeling back the curtain using Xuanyuan's words.