Chapter 34 Xuanyuan vs Luo Le

"Platform 1: Xuanyuan vs Luo Le!".

Xuanyuan glanced at Luo Le, feeling his slightly unstable Peak Rank 1 Gu Master cultivation. Xuanyuan had remembered Luo Le as one of the few Gu Masters who was quite wasteful with his primeval essence, and that he also used Strength Path Gu.

His Vital Gu was a Rank 1 Frog Strength Gu, which granted him immense strength, and extreme mobility in his lower body. Frog Strength Gu also enhanced the stickiness of the palms and the soles of ones feet, albeit not nearly to a degree which allowed a Gu Master to stick to walls.

Seeing his opponent Luo Le paled significantly, remembering the outcome of Xuanyuan's fight with Yu Xiaolong. While Xuanyuan was respectful and even tried to assist Yu Xiaolong after the fight, Luo Le distinctly remembered how Xuanyuan had won his fight.

He just watched as the Elder disciple stood completely still, his fingers dancing lightly in the air. There was no explosion of fire or lightning, or sharp burst of ice or sword qi, no wave of poison or water surging towards his opponent. 

One second Yu Xiaolong was less than ten feet away from Xuanyuan, and the next, he was on the ground bleeding from dozens of deep wounds to his upper body. Whatever Xuanyuan had done, it had happened in an instant, and there was no way to tell what he exactly did, let alone figure out a countermeasure against it.

Stepping up to the platform, he unconsciously gulped seeing Xuanyuan step up on the opposite side as him. Luo Le turned towards the Rank 3 Gu Master referee, who just glanced at them both, giving them a small nod.

Xuanyuan returned it, but Luo Le couldn't help but speak up before the beginning of the match. His palms sweaty and clammy, the sound of his heart beating echoing throughout his skull.

"I know I can't win, and whatever I do won't make a difference. But I need to know... what type of Gu did you use to beat Yu Xiaolong!".

Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

"Really? I thought it was quite obvious".

Luo Le shook his head, letting out a scoff.

"One second Yu Xiaolong was charging at you, and the next he was bleeding out on the floor. There was nothing, no fire, no ice, no lightning. What was it? The Wisdom Path? The Space Path? I know Elder Luo is a Space Path Gu Master, so it would make sense for you to walk the same Path!".

Xuanyuan blinked, before shaking his head.

"No. I walk the Shadow Path. I have received instruction in the Space Path, but have no intention of taking it towards Rank 6. Perhaps as a sub-Path, but it is too early to decide something like that".

Luo Le, and the vast majority of the other Gu Masters in the arena all appeared somewhat dumbfounded.

'Shadow Path? What the hell was that?'.

Song Pei, Fang Long, Tai Yin and Tai Yang all nodded somewhat, understanding Xuanyuan's decision. Since they already knew what his Path was, there was no point in hiding it from Rank 1 Gu Masters without any chance of beating him.

A few of the others, like Bing Ti, Jia Yufei, Li Xiao Er and Yu Xiaolong all seemed surprised by Xuanyuan's reveal. They didn't expect him to be so forthcoming with the details of his Path, considering none of them could form a countermeasure against it while they didn't know what it was.

Yu Xiaolong in particular just nodded, wincing at the sensation of shadows cutting his flesh.

'So that's what it was... I didn't even know there was a Shadow Path. What is the difference between the Shadow Path and the Dark Path then? I thought they were the same thing?'.

Luo Le just stood there dumbfounded. Moving his gaze lower, towards Xuanyuan's shadow, he could faintly see some parts of it moving, shifting in its depths. Xuanyuan was quite a tall young man, probably around sixteen, yet his shadow was longer and darker than his own, an indication of his Path.

Luo Le just gave Xuanyuan a bow before nodding to the referee.

"I apologize for the delay! I am ready now!".

The Rank 3 Gu Master just nodded, not fazed at all by the delay. Raising his hand, he swung it down swiftly, signaling the beginning of the match.

Xuanyuan narrowed his eyes, watching the unmoving form of Luo Le. The Rank 1 Gu Master was currently standing in place, a smile on his face as he remained unmoving from his initial starting position.

"Your strange shadow cutting Gu must have a short range for having such a strong effect! If I remain here, then you cannot reach me!".

Luo Le just grinned at his strategy. Xuanyuan suppressed an eye roll before walking towards Luo Le slowly, his fingers gently tapping the air. It was the same gesture he made last match, causing Luo Le to become wary, focusing solely on Xuanyuan's shadow.

Ten feet was the rough estimate on the range of his Gu, which is what most of the Gu Masters thought about Xuanyuan's unknown shadow cutting Gu. However, they were a vast number of different reactions, seeing the Shadow of the sixteen year old transform, a strange black appendage growing out of Xuanyuan's back.

Luo Le's eyes widened seeing an enormous, thick scorpion stinger manifest at base of Xuanyuan's spine. The Gu was raised, poised and ready to strike, its length far exceeding anything that Luo Le had seen before.

It was almost five meters long, and exceeded the effective range of Xuanyuan's Silhouette Strings Gu. But it was perfect to strike Luo Le with.

Xuanyuan flexed his tailbone, swinging the large Shadow Stinger Gu towards Luo Le. The young man immediately activated his Frog Strength Gu, swiftly dodging the strike, but felt his eyes widen as the black stinger passed through him harmlessly before his torso exploded with pain.

Luo Le was sent flying backwards, the blow from the large appendage causing the wind to leave his lungs, leaving him gasping for air. His mind in a state of confusion, feeling the delayed pain from the hit.

He didn't even notice Xuanyuan place his stinger directly on the head of his shadow, mere inches away from piercing his head. Seeing this, the Rank 3 Gu Master was forced to call the match. 

"Winner, Xuanyuan!".

Xuanyuan glanced at Luo Le, dismissing his Shadow Stinger Gu before extending his hand, gesturing for Luo Le to take it. The Strength Path Gu Master just blinked before taking his hand, lifted to his feet by Xuanyuan.

His gazed at the disappearing form of Xuanyuan's Shadow Stinger Gu watching it drip back down into Xuanyuan's shadow, like ink dripping down a canvas. The Gu looked as though it possessed substance, but vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Luo Le wasn't injured like Yu Xiaolong, so Xuanyuan just gestured to his shadow before making his way off the stage. The young man glanced towards his feet, specifically to his own shadow, holding onto its stomach. 

"Don't get distracted next time. Your reflexes are excellent, just keep an open mind when fighting Gu Masters who use obscure Paths. They have methods that are uncommon, and as such, aren't easy to deal with".

Xuanyuan walked off the stage and back towards the crowd. Luo Le unconsciously nodded at his words, still partly shocked at how he lost.

'His scorpion stinger passed right through me, but I didn't feel anything. Was it a delayed reaction? In so, Xuanyuan must've used another Gu in tandem with that large scorpion stinger Gu. But what type of Gu can delay pain? Is that what he meant by strange methods?'.

Luo Le rubbed his chin as he exited the platform. His mind still replaying the short fight in his head, slightly thankful that Xuanyuan didn't extend the fight, forcing him to use more primeval essence.

Others in the crowd also watched Xuanyuan's fight. They expected him to close the distance and use his strange cutting Gu to finish Luo Le off, but instead, he shocked everyone in the crowd with his enormous Rank 1 unknown Transformation Path Gu.

However, those with a more discerning eye in the crowd, could see the truth behind Xuanyuan's Gu.

Tai Yang glanced at his sister, seeing her shake her head.

"I don't recognize the Gu. It has to be something either from Elder Luo, or possibly from Elder Hu. I know that she favors Xuanyuan too, and Elder Kong has to remain as impartial as possible until the Abyssal Child is chosen".

Tai Yin nodded at her brothers words, taking out a small notebook and writing something down within it. Other than her, only her brother knew the contents of this notebook, not even their father, Elder Tai knew what was contained within.

The Peak Rank 2 Gu Master just hummed before placing the notebook back in her robes. Her eyes lingering on Xuanyuan has he walked back towards his seat.

"Be careful sister, otherwise people might get the wrong idea".

Tai Yin rolled her eyes at her brother, waving him off in a casual manner.

"I am the older sibling here. If I want to watch handsome Gu Masters fight and bleed I will do it for as long as I am entertained. The sword cuts through lies and fallacies, eventually I will see the man behind the shadow".

The younger Tai sibling just sighed, shaking his head.

This older sister of his, was quite the handful.

"The Shadow Path is quite interesting, don't you think Yin? The first time, during his fight with Yu Xiaolong, it was almost perfectly invisible, except for the shadows of strings connected to his on the floor. Even if Yu Xiaolong was paying attention, he was probably going to fast to stop anyway".

"And in the second fight... to be perfectly honest I almost thought it was a Transformation Path Gu. But when it phased through Luo Le as if it didn't exist, I knew that it was a Shadow Path Gu. It didn't even so much as hurt him, until Xuanyuan struck his shadow. The scorpion stinger must be an extremely powerful Gu for Rank 1, although the drawback is that it can only interact with other shadows".

Tai Yin nodded.

"Xuanyuan also refined a Shadow Eyes Gu as his Vital Gu. I don't know why he picked such a thing, considering it's future refinements are quite... lacking. Perhaps Elder Luo knows another refinement path, or a method to refine it into something else".

"I also heard rumors that he purchased two Rank 2 Gu in Earth Soul City. A Dense Shadow Blade Gu and a Bright Red Light Gu. Both of them together can probably match any Gu that father has given us. He might even have more, if Elder Luo was feeling particularly generous".

The siblings analyzed Xuanyuan's movements, reactions, Gu and even cultivation to the best of their abilities. Both of them knew that if either Elder Luo, Elder Hu or Xuanyuan himself tried to purchase a Liquor Worm or a Relic Gu, the other Elders would know about it.

Considering that they didn't have any information on it, and that Xuanyuan's cultivation was already at the Middle Stage Rank 2, he definitely lived up to his talent as a 99% primeval essence sea Gu Master.

It was possible that one of his friends had purchased one for him, but even if that were the case, he was a Rank 2 Gu Master now. A Rank 1 Liquor Worm Gu wouldn't work for a Rank 2 Gu Master, and a Cloud Essence Gu had greater diminishing returns with every small realm his cultivation progressed.

Both Tai Yin and Tai Yang knew that while their cultivation exceeded Xuanyuan's their comprehension most likely didn't. It was why ever since their Father pushed both of their cultivations to the Peak of Rank 2 the pair only focused on their respective Paths, trying to increase their understanding of the Sword Path and Fire Path. 

At this rate, both of their Vital Gu would still be Rank 1 by the time they both became Rank 3 Gu Masters. They knew that their Father could help them obtain the refinement recipes for both the Sword Shadow Gu and the Fire Cloak Gu, but considering the two were both their Vital Gu, both would have to complete the refinement themselves.

They additionally had more than a few other Gu which they could use to enhance their Vital Gu beyond their regular strength. It would allow them to use only a single Gu, even a Rank 1 Gu, and still display a strength equivalent to a Rank 2 Gu Master.

Tai Ying kept staring at Xuanyuan, and watched as the slightly older boy turned and faced her, staring her straight in the eyes.

She could see Xuanyuan's dark, clear eyes and unconsciously smiled, leaning back in her chair, winking at him. Her posture was quite masculine, arms spread open, behind either chair beside her and one foot placed over the other knee.

Xuanyuan didn't even so much as flinch, eyes roaming all over her body, before he smiled, giving her a small nod. His attention moved back towards Elder Chang, who was calling out the names for the next round.

Tai Yang, only just sighed, seeing the grin on his sisters face widen as she continued to stare at Xuanyuan.