Chapter 3 Elder Luo

Xuanyuan blinked, turning his head back towards Senior Brother Tang. 

The older Gu Master had a small smile on his face, noticing that this Junior Brother of his was staring at the underground world around them. It was an expression he had seen many times before, on the faces of countless young boys and girls after seeing the grandeur of the Ancient Soul Sect.

Mortals couldn't truly realize just how large the Central Continent was, let alone the entirety of the Gu World. A mortal could spend their entire lifetime trying to reach from one side of the Central Continent to the other, and still not make the full distance.

And the depth of the World... even the Ancient Soul Sect hadn't explored the entirety of the Earth Abyss.

Tang San just shook his head, the small not leaving his face.

"Welcome to the Outer Soul Hall. It is common knowledge amongst members of the Ten Great Sects, but the mountain upon which the Ancient Soul Hall is built is just a facade, and the true Ancient Soul Hall is contained within False Soul Mountain. Earth Soul City was built around the Mountain and is filled with the families of disciples, merchants and regular mortals".

Xuanyuan hadn't even realized that the wisp he was so intently watching had vanished and instead gazed out at the vast hall he was standing in.

Countless men and women, of all ages, origins and Paths walked through his great hall, the vast majority guiding groups of young men and women around, obviously with jobs similar to Senior Brother Tang. 

'There must be a hundred new disciples each year. If all of them have B Grade Talents or higher then no wonder the Central Continent is the strongest of the five regions. If every one of the Ten Great Sects are like this, then no wonder the Heavenly Court possesses such a deep foundation...'.

If each of the most talented Gu Immortals in a generation join the Heavenly Court, then over 3 million years, their foundations would've reached an unfathomable depth. Individuals whom might not possess the same comprehension as a Immortal Venerable or Demonic Venerable, but certainly the same Talent might've joined the Heavenly Court as well.

Founders of different Paths might have also joined the Heavenly Court, granting not just another potential inheritance, but also a trump card over other factions.

'That isn't even including the 3 inheritances left behind by Primordial Origin, Star Constellation and Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable'.

Xuanyuan almost didn't even notice Senior Brother Tang head over to one of the other groups, whispering in the ear of the young woman leading them.

"Junior Sister Liu, could you take these two with the rest of your group? I have to meet with Elder Luo", he murmured.

The young woman raised an eyebrow, her gaze moving between Xuanyuan and Tang San before letting out a sigh and slowly nodding.

"Just treat me to some Spring Blossom Wine later. Come on you two, I was just about to take my group to the testing areas. Don't worry, you won't get kicked out of the Sect if you fail. The Sect encourages competition between disciples, so everyone in your generation will be ranked accordingly as a result of these tests. What are the tests you ask? Well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we...".

Xuanyuan watched as Chu Yueli and Lu Guo followed Senior Sister Liu off towards one of the side passages. He could see that some of the members of their group had glanced back towards him and Senior Brother Tang, narrowing their eyes before being led away somewhere.

Tang San just smiled before gesturing for Xuanyuan to follow him.

"Come on, I'll take you to meet Elder Luo".

Xuanyuan followed Senior Brother Tang, walking through numerous tunnels and underground pathways throughout False Soul Mountain before eventually reaching a small residence halfway up the mountain.

Tang San had informed Xuanyuan that only Sect Elders could have permanent residences on False Soul Mountain. Despite the fact that most of the Sect was underground, the higher up False Soul Mountain one went, the greater concentration of primeval energy a Gu Master could feel. 

The inverse was proportionally true however.

The deeper one delved into the Earth Abyss, the greater concentration of primeval energy they would be able to sense.

The existence of the Earth Abyss wasn't a secret amongst the Ten Great Sects, each of them had their own unique resource points, but in comparison, the size of the Earth Abyss equaled several other resource points in area, although they didn't necessarily need to know that.

"We're here".

Xuanyuan wiped a thin layer of sweat off his brow, feeling a slight burn in his legs as he ascended the mountain. Even if he was a Gu Master, his physique was barely better than that of a mortals. He had tried pushing and spinning the primeval essence in his aperture, but wasn't sure if this method of refinement was viable or just wasteful.

"I've let Elder Luo know that we're coming. I'm sure that he'll ask you some questions, and when he does, be as truthful as possible. Don't try to lie in front of him. He possesses Gu that can discern truth from Lies", Xuanyuan nodded at Tang San's words.

Investigation type Gu weren't the most common of Gu, especially in a world which valued martial strength over all, but it wouldn't be suspicious for a Rank 5, or even a Rank 4 Gu Master to possess a new complete set of mortal Gu.

Investigation, Concealment, Healing and even Cultivation type Gu were abundant in righteous factions. Work hard enough for the Sect, climb your way up the ladder and you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Such were the laws of the Righteous Path.

Stepping forward Xuanyuan couldn't help but straighten his back unconsciously, feeling slightly nervous at the meeting.

'Just a couple days ago I was living in the forest on the outskirts of Green Grass Village. Now I'm meeting with a Rank 4, maybe even a Rank 5 Gu Master. If this was any other Continent, things might have turned out very different'.

Xuanyuan was wary of both the Righteous and the Demonic Paths, and admitted that neither could be trusted wholeheartedly. While the Righteous Path undoubtably seemed more trustworthy, being ruled by their ethics and morals, the benefits of the Demonic Path were equally as opportunistic. 

Entering the residence, Xuanyuan could almost feel the amount of primeval energy in the air grow thicker, and was immediately greeted with an abundance of different materials and rare flora.

Xuanyuan had never seen a Gu in person, and yet right in front of him, was a large yellow-brown coloured anthill, silently emitting a pale yellow gas.

He could see small ants roaming over the anthill, greedily sucking in the pale yellow gas the anthill released.

He almost didn't notice the older gentleman standing beside it, smiling slightly as he watched Xuanyuan's reaction.

"You must be Xuanyuan! Little Tang mentioned that you were tall for your age, but I admit, your even taller than I anticipated".

Xuanyuan suppressed a gulp and bowed, clasping his hands together in front of him.

"This one greets Elder Luo".

Before Xuanyuan could raise his head, he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder, unconsciously stiffening at the sudden physical contact.

'Holy shit that was fast! That was more than 20 feet in the time it took to blink!'.

Xuanyuan felt a wave of primeval essence emanate from his shoulder, before a hearty chuckle escape Elder Luo's lips.

The older man, with more than a few greys filling his beard, nodded several times before shaking his head. His clothes were coloured black and yellow, with a small symbol over his heart, the emblem of the Ancient Soul Sect.

"Little Tang has found quite the Talent! Good! Good! I'll have to award him accordingly. Xuanyuan was it? Mind if I call you Little Yuan then?". Xuanyuan shook his head before replying.

"Not at all Elder Luo. I would be honoured".

Elder Luo stroked his beard, nodding a couple more times giving Xuanyuan another once over.

The latter could feel the former's eyes roam all over his body.

'He's evaluating me. There's no doubt about it. A perfect Talent. No mortal ties or bonds. And one yet to be taught the difference between Righteous and Demonic. Such a thing almost sounds too good to be true'.

'Tang San would be rewarded by the higher ups for bringing me to the Ancient Soul Sect, but he would be rewarded even more by directly bringing me to Elder Luo. Elder Luo can be given the credit for finding me, and take me under his wing, and by extension his faction within the Sect as well...'.

A perfect mortal Talent. Such a thing, perhaps even in a small Clan in the other four Continents was destined to become, at the very least a Rank 4 Gu Master.

Rank 5 so long as they were diligent and had sufficient resources.

Potentially, if they were fated, a Rank 6 Gu Immortal.

Xuanyuan possessed neither a desire to return to his previous World, like Thieving Heaven Demonic Venerable, nor a desire for immortality, like Fang Yuan.

He had questions about this World, specifically, the ending to Fang Yuan's story, but other than that, was equally as apprehensive about the Gu World, as he was curious about it.

He had questions about Paths such as Heaven Path and Human Path. And questions about Ren Zu and his other children.

Questions about the Ten Extreme Physiques, or Eleven Extreme Physiques including the perfected Pure Dream Reality Seeker Physique.

Questions about how an individual creates a Path. Do they discover it, or is it already existing somewhere in the World, just waiting to be discovered?

Xuanyuan wanted to know.

Knowledge and understanding. Not eternity or a desire to return home.

Xuanyuan straightened his back letting out a deep breath. His clear black eyes regained their clarity, causing Elder Luo to nod even more.

"Such nice eyes, so clear, yet so dark", Elder Luo muttered.

The Ancient Soul Sect Elder smiled before removing his hand from Xuanyuan's shoulder.

"I'm a complete stranger to you Xuanyuan. But nevertheless I still have to ask, if you were to join the Ancient Soul Sect, what would you want to achieve?". Elder Luo paused before continuing.

"I ask because the Gu World is neither kind, nor forgiving. It takes more than it gives. Just from the state of your clothes and your limbs I can tell that you already understand this".

"You have to be willing to fight for what you want. To fight for what you believe in. In doing so, you will gain the strength to protect the things that you care about most in this World. So tell me Xuanyuan... what is it you desire most?".

Elder Luo watched as the young, tall boy paused for a moment, before a small smile graced his lips.

"I cannot answer it in a single sentence. What I desire... what I seek to understand, can only be granted by a Venerable".

Elder Luo raised an eyebrow.

"You desire the title of Venerable?".

Xuanyuan shook his head, his smile growing slightly wider.

"Not the title of Venerable. Not the renown of Venerable. Not the strength of Venerable but... the comprehensions of a Venerable".

he Ancient Soul Sect Elder raised an eyebrow, his eyes still firmly locked with Xuanyuan's.

What do you mean by this Xuanyuan?", Elder Luo replied.

His demeanor shifted slightly and Elder Luo no longer seemed overly familiar with Xuanyuan, something that the younger boy noticed.

"Immortal Venerables and Demonic Venerables achieved absolute superiority over the Path they walked. They founded systems of Gu as well as Paths that are still used to this day. They created Gu using their minds and imaginations, using the comprehensions and understandings they had over the World and themselves. I wish to do the same".

Elder Luo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"You wish to found a Path? That is certainly ambitious. But, it is not necessary for you to be a Venerable in order to do so". Elder Luo didn't change his expression, but his tone and words said otherwise. He seemed much more curious about what Xuanyuan had to say.

The young man shook his head, the corners of his mouth raising slightly.

"There must be something special about Rank 9, other than the title. If only 10 people in recorded history have achieved such a thing, then something about it has to be different about it in comparison to Rank 8 and below. A qualitative change".

"It is selfish of me, but I desire the apex of a particular Path. Rank 8 might get me through the door, but it won't leave my name on it".

Elder Luo showed a bemused expression.

"And what Path would you walk, Little Yuan?".

Thus time, the young man couldn't suppress even his own smile.

"I have absolutely no idea".