Chapter 20 Primordial Domain
Xuanyuan had resolved himself to contribute the completed Shadow Stinger Gu and the Formless Shadow Gu recipes to the Sect. The estimated market price of both of the Gu were 250 and 200 primeval essence stones respectively, and were roughly 1,500 and 1,000 primeval essence stones respectively.
Xuanyuan didn't mention to Elder Kui about him completing the Shadow Stinger Gu and the Formless Shadow Gu, meeting with another Elder from the Refinement Soul Hall instead.
The Elder saw Xuanyuan's Rank 2 Gu Master cultivation and didn't associate it with the cultivation of a new disciple. He just stroked his beard nodding at Xuanyuan as he revealed both his Shadow Stinger Gu and his Formless Shadow Gu.
"Your contributions to the Sect will not remain unnoticed young man. With your Talent you could do well in our Refinement Soul Hall", the Elder offered.
Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow before giving the Elder a deep bow.
"My apologies Elder Gong. However I am striving to be a member of the Sky Soul Hall. I have already discussed things with Elder Kong", Xuanyuan apologized to the Elder, refusing his offer.
Elder Gong seemed surprised at the mention of Sky Soul Hall but just let out a sigh shaking his head from side to side.
"Ah. It seems Elder Kong's foresight is as accurate as ever. Refinement Soul Hall has lost a potential genius in the Refinement Path".
Xuanyuan had exchanged a few ideas with Elder Gong, the old man happily giving wisdom to a talented member of the younger generation.
Xuanyuan's knowledge on the Refinement Path was shallow in comparison to his attainment in the Shadow, Dark or Light Paths.
Elder Gong had even given Xuanyuan a special pass, which he could use to access one of the higher tier refinement rooms. The concentration of primeval energy was much higher in these rooms, increasing the likelihood that the refinement would be a success.
In Elder Gong's eyes, he still could potentially poach Xuanyuan from under Elder Kong, so long as the offer was sweet enough.
Giving Xuanyuan a Refinement Soul Hall Token meant that he was inevitably come back, allowing Elder Gong to make additional offers or give advice to Xuanyuan.
'Old Kong doesn't understand how vital my Refinement Soul Hall is. Would the Sect even have a future foundation if the no-one could carry on my legacy?!'.
Xuanyuan didn't realize that he had sparked a flame in Elder Gong's heart and left the Refinement Soul Hall and headed towards Earth Soul City.
Now armed with 2,500 primeval essence stones Xuanyuan went on a spending spree, purchasing two Rank 2 Shadow Path Gu directly, as well as dozens of different Gu materials from several different Paths.
Xuanyuan purchased Rank 2 Dense Shadow Blade Gu, and a Rank 2 Bright Red Light Gu.
Dense Shadow Blade Gu was similar to Moonblade Gu of the Gu Yue Clan. Although, this particular Rank 2 refinement increased the cutting power and range in exchange for the size of the shadow blade.
It was roughly only the same width of a palm, but could reach target's up to 60 feet away. Additionally, it could completely cut through a grown man's torso, although the quality of the shadow blade would decrease in proportion to the distance it travelled.
At a closer range, it was a guaranteed death sentence.
Bright Red Light Gu on the other hand, was a Rank 2 Light Path Gu which produced a bright red light. It was the direct and most common refinement path for the Rank 1 Red Light Gu.
Using these two Gu in tandem, increased the effectiveness of the Rank 2 Dense Shadow Blade Gu by more than double. The primeval essence cost was large, considering Xuanyuan only had a light red primeval essence, but that problem would go away as Xuanyuan's cultivation developed. These two Gu, had an offensive power greater than every single other Gu Xuanyuan had in his possession, combined.
Such was the disparity between Ranks.
"If I can obtain a Splitting Shadow Gu, or even something like a Breaking Light Gu, combined with a Dark Shadow Qi, or a Dual Shadow Gu, I would have an enormous combat potential for an Initial Stage Rank 2 Gu Master".
With his Quasi-Master attainment in the Shadow Path, Xuanyuan had reached a level that even most Rank 4 and Rank 5 Gu Masters only reached towards the end of their lifespan.
Xuanyuan's comprehension regarding the Shadow Path was immense, and Shadows As Thought Gu only boosted the speed at which he could prove his theories finalize his attainment.
Although Xuanyuan had yet to unconsciously form an intuition relating the Shadow Path, he was abundant in both ideas and concepts. Shadow Thoughts bounced around the inside of his mind, sometimes combining with other Shadow Thoughts and other times bouncing off each other, not compatible under Xuanyuan's current attainment.
Xuanyuan didn't have a great enough grasp to create a mortal killer move. Not to mention that a such a killer move could involve more than a dozen different Gu.
Xuanyuan tapped his chin for a moment.
"Using Dense Shadow Gu to form the basis for a mortal killer move could be possible. Although, I would need all of the other Gu that I listed earlier in order to complete it. Not to mention other Light Path Gu in order to increase its potency and strength enough to match that of a mortal killer move".
The image of dozens of Dense Shadow Blades exploding out in a single direction flashed in Xuanyuan's mind. A potentially powerful mortal killer move, albeit without a lot of room for growth.
It only created shadow blades and fired them in a single direction. The amount was impressive, but other than that, Xuanyuan would have to introduce another element into the mortal killer move in order to improve its potential for growth.
Xuanyuan needed to complete a set of Gu before he even considered creating a foundation for mortal killer moves.
Both Dense Shadow Gu and Bright Red Light Gu were offensive type Gu. Xuanyuan possessed Formless Shadow Gu in terms of movement type Gu, but it was only a Rank 1 Gu.
Xuanyuan had no defensive type Gu, and no healing type Gu or concealment type Gu.
In terms of support type Gu he had Shadow Qi Gu and in terms of cultivation type Gu, he would be able to get his hands on a Rank 2 Four Fragrances Liquor Worm soon.
Xuanyuan's mind thought back to the discussion he had with Elder Luo and Elder Kong.
'If I can attain first place, I can meet with an actual Shadow Path Gu Immortal. I might even be able to see their Blessed Land as well!'.
In Xuanyuan's mind, a Rank 6 Gu Immortal should have at least a Master level attainment in their main path. Higher if either their comprehension and luck were found in abundance.
Xuanyuan couldn't be sure about the personality of the Gu Immortal, whether they would be receptive to discussing the Dao of the Shadow Path with a junior, but even just a single question would be enough for Xuanyuan.
Letting out a small sigh, Xuanyuan closed his eyes and stopped his deductions.
"I suspect that even with a Master level attainment in the Light Path and Shadow Path I wouldn't be able to deduce the Crimson Shadow Gu. The Gu carries to many profundities from each Path for it to be deduced with just a single one".
The Crimson Shadow Gu interested Xuanyuan the most, out of all of the incomplete Gu recipes that Elder Kui gave him. Xuanyuan initially suspected that it carried some sort of Fire Path profundity, but through his deductions came to the conclusion that it was both a Shadow Path, and a Light Path Gu.
The Crimson Shadow Gu used some sort of unique type of Light in order to be refined. That light carried both an intense heat, but also the most distinct element of blood.
Xuanyuan's knowledge on the Blood Path was absolutely zero. Elder Luo hadn't permitted any books from any of the Paths the Ten Great Sects considered Demonic Paths.
If the Crimson Shadow Gu required Blood Path Gu materials in order to be refined, then Xuanyuan was fresh out of luck in that regard.
"The description of the Crimson Shadow Gu is similar to Shadows As Thought Gu in some regards. The Crimson Shadow Gu produces Crimson Shadows which inherently act like a Fire Path Gu. Their Shadow could effectively burn the shadows of others, or transform a regular shadow into a Crimson Shadow through complimentary Gu or a killer move".
While Shadow Qi enhanced whatever the qualities of the shadow was, Crimson Shadow Gu transformed said qualities.
It made Xuanyuan question just how many different types of shadows existed in the Gu World.
"If shadows are the reflections of all living beings, then surely they must carry qualities relating to the existence they reflect right? The shadow of a fish must carry the shape of a fish, while the shadow of a Man must carry the shape of a Man".
But what about more abstract concepts?
What are the differences in the shadows of a Rank 5 Gu Master and a Rank 6 Gu Immortal?
Do the shadows cast by Gu, have a different quality in comparison to beasts and humans?
Does the shadow of the sun or moon, or Secluded Domains Of Heaven and Earth have a quality not found anywhere else in the Gu World?
Souls can be physically extracted using Soul Path methods, and Guts Gu have the ability to strengthen the Soul of a Gu Master. Was it possible for Shadows to be extracted, and if so what were the repercussions of doing such a thing? Was there a Gu like Guts Gu which could strengthen the foundation of an individual's shadow?
If Xuanyuan's shadow took on the shape of a Desolate Beast, would his physical body transform accordingly? Ren Zu had his physical body grow as his shadow did, so would Xuanyuan's physical form mutate to match that of his shadow?
This required a Grandmaster level attainment in order to be understood. Using Shadow Path methods in order to imitate and make use of the specialty traits and advantages of other Paths.
"Using Shadow Path in order to mimic the Transformation Path, by transforming into a desolate beast. Or using Shadow Path to mimic the Food Path by devouring other shadows. Either one would require an extraordinary attainment in their respective Paths".
Xuanyuan could see that Immortal Venerables and Demonic Venerables could easily achieve such a thing. Spectral Soul had used the Soul Path in order to replicate the Food Path, giving rise to his Devour Soul Immortal Killer Move.
Thieving Heaven Demonic Venerable created his Ghostly Concealment Immortal Killer Move which veiled the user in a "silk-like" garment of Thief Path Dao Marks. It concealed the user from all souls, but not from living beings or Heavens Will. While Divine Concealment on the other hand, concealed the user from deductions and from Heavens Will.
The existence of Ghostly Concealment and Divine Concealment meant that it was possible for the shape of Dao Marks to differ, despite belonging to the same Path. Their self regenerating capabilities aside, Xuanyuan wanted to know how arranging Dao Marks in a certain formation, or a certain pattern created these artificial Secluded Domains Of Heaven and Earth.
"If it is possible for Thief Path Dao Marks to take a shape reminiscent of Soul Path, then would it be possible for Shadow Path Dao Marks to do the same with other Paths?".
Xuanyuan let out a sigh, not being able to answer his own question.
Xuanyuan had too many questions for his own good. There weren't as many chances to increase his attainment in comparison to the number of chances he had to increase his cultivation.
Attainment was a matter of comprehension and knowledge. There was no way to rush either of them when Xuanyuan was limited by both.
Xuanyuan didn't have the privilege of future knowledge, or being blessed by Fate and given an Immortal Dream Path Gu. Dream Realms were not something that Xuanyuan could consistently rely on unless he was also in possession of Dang Hun Mountain.
Considering that Shadow Sect still existed, and Spectral Soul hadn't gone crazy yet either, looking for Inheritances relating to Devour Soul Immortal Killer Move was unfeasible and unlikely.
There was possibly one thing that Xuanyuan could do, but it required either an immense amount of luck, or, the protection of a near invincible Gu like Love Gu.
Other than that, perhaps only a Rank 9 Gu Immortal could reach the place that Xuanyuan wanted.
"Primordial Domain...".