Chapter 38 Observations From Tai Yang

Tai Yang just stared at Xuanyuan, muttering some words under his breath, over and over again in his mind. He knew better than most the complexities and the profundities hidden within the Sword Path, considering that his twin sister strove to become a Sword Path Gu Master.

He probably even knew better than that other young man, Bing Ti, who also desired to walk the Sword Path, even though he himself walked the Fire Path. Tai Yang and his sister regularly discussed the nature of the Path, hoping to understand some sort of hidden truth which could propel their attainment forward.

The Ancient Sword Sect didn't specialize in a single Path like the Immortal Crane Sect or the Heavenly Lotus Sect. The Immortal Crane Sect specialized in Enslavement Path techniques and to a lesser degree, Cloud Path and Wind Path. While the Heavenly Lotus Sect, founded by Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable, contained numerous inheritances relating to the Wood Path.

The Ancient Soul Sect had the advantage of having sole control over the Earth Abyss beneath their feet, not to mention the territory which extended several hundred thousand miles in any direction. The Earth Abyss alone guaranteed Earth Path, Dark Path, Blood Path, Soul Path and even Enslavement Path Gu and Gu materials. 

There were also... pockets of habitable space in the Earth Abyss, containing resource points of a myriad number of different Paths. The most valuable were often transferred into the Blessed Lands of Gu Immortals, while those nascent resource points were nurtured carefully and protected by Gu Immortals.

This didn't include the Limitless inheritance that the Sect was in possession of.

This guaranteed Gu Masters from over half a dozen different Paths. Easily accessible Gu and Gu materials allowed for a smoother cultivation, which is why the Ancient Soul Sect encouraged their disciples to choose any singular Path to cultivate. Even if only one in a generation became a Gu Immortal, their Blessed Land, and their knowledge would be passed down to the next generation.

Tai Yang knew that his father had tried to convene with the Fire Path and Sword Path Gu Immortals belonging to the Ancient Soul Sect, but neither had accepted Tai Yang or his sister as temporary disciples to help with their Blessed Lands. 

In fact, this tournament was supposed to help the two of them show off, so that Elder Tai could try and convince one of the other Gu Immortals to accept his children in their Blessed Lands for a year or two.

Tai Yang was the more rational of the two Tai siblings. He was much more logical than his sister, and preferred to cloister himself away researching Gu and Gu materials like a scholar than train his martial arts or practice with his Gu. Because of his father, he knew the importance of attainment at higher Ranks, as well as the existence of Dao Marks.

He didn't think lesser of mortal born Gu Masters, and admitted that he had an advantage over them, which is why he thought of himself as smarter and stronger than his peers... until, he met Xuanyuan however.

"Let swords and blades slice and cut off everything unnecessary! Let swords and blades remove the excess and refine the core! Let swords and blades pierce your very being, releasing your true self to the World!".

"It does not matter if there is a sword in my hand. I will cut away all excess with the sword in my heart...".

Tai Yang muttered those words, paralleling them to the fight that his sister had against Xuanyuan.

"Without a Sword in your heart Tai Yin, how can you expect to refine yourself when facing adversity? How can you expect to cut through to the heart of your opponent, if your own heart is beaten and battered under my words? How can you expect to reach the zenith of the Sword, if there is nothing there to dream!".

It seemed so... arbitrary.

What did it mean to have a sword in one's heart? What did he mean by refining oneself in the face of adversity? Why was having a sword in one's heart so important if they wanted to reach the zenith of the Sword? How was having a dream so important, that it affected the progression in one's heart?

"Was he talking about heart demons? During Immortal Ascension, regrets and strong emotions can cause hallucinations and illusions to appear around oneself, was that what he was referring to... or was it something else?", he muttered.

Tai Yang placed a hand over his heart, feeling the steady beat within his chest. There was a warmth there that had always been present, the warmth of touch, of life, of his own heart. Was there something... within him too?

'Is there a fire in my heart? Does that what it means to comprehend a Path? It's an abstract concept which a Gu Master has comprehended? No... if it was just that, then forget Xuanyuan, countless others would have become Gu Immortals long ago, there has to be something else...'.

Tai Yang didn't even so much as flinch as he felt a hand drop down on his shoulder, causing him to snap out of his train of thought and gaze up at the owner of the hand.

Seeing the familiar face, Tai Yang just nodded, seeing the other person sit down beside him.

"Is Tai Yin alright?", the other person asked.

"Yeah, just a cracked skull. Nothing Elder Bing could not fix", he replied.

The other young man just nodded, taking out a piece of fresh meat and throwing it towards his pet. The large, five meter long crocodile snapped up the meat swiftly, devouring it before laying back down in a spot not obscured by shade.

Most of the other Gu Masters gave the creature a wide berth, gazing at the beast with wide eyes and curious expressions.

Song Pei let out a small sigh, smiling softly.

"That's good. She put up a good fight, but Elder Luo's disciple came in at the last moment. If it was anyone else, I don't think they would have been able to dodge such a strike", Song Pei said.

The younger Tai sibling nodded and glanced at his friend. His gaze turned back to the arena, before focusing a single individual in the crowd.

"... Xuanyuan... he isn't... normal", he said.

Song Pei turned and looked at his friend, watching his expression for a moment.

"How so?".

Tai Yang just sighed, shaking his head.

"I can guarantee that his attainment in the Sword Path must be higher than Yin's. He walks the Shadow Path earnestly, but, if given the chance, I think he would be able to walk more than a single Path beyond Rank 5".

The Enslavement Path Gu Master raised an eyebrow. The tone of his friend's voice was... strange.

"So he is smart then? His comprehension is high, equal to that of his innate talent. That doesn't directly correlate to combat prowess or Gu refinement. I admit, he is someone to be wary of, but he is not omnipotent Tai Yang".

Tai Yang just shook his head once more, this time meeting his friend's gaze. The pair stared at each other for a moment, before Tai Yang gestured towards Xuanyuan.

"If there was someone destined to become a Venerable, I think I would put my money on Xuanyuan. I don't know how he does it, luck, comprehension, or some other unfathomable ability, but I've never been intimidated by someone my own age before... until now".

Song Pei traced Tai Yang's gaze, seeing Xuanyuan sit beside Yu Xiaolong and Lu Guo. The three were chatting, although Xuanyuan seemed quite calm and collected for someone who had just screamed their heart out earlier.

Song Pei had heard the words that Xuanyuan spoke, about the "sword in my heart", and dismissed most of it, citing it as rhetoric to force Tai Yin's heart to waver. It succeeded, which ultimately, cost her the match.

The Enslavement Path Gu Master turned back towards his friend, a distinct frown evident on his face.

"Are you serious? You're afraid of Xuanyuan?".

Tai Yang nodded.

"He... isn't normal. He doesn't think the same way we do. He can see the World differently to us. We we see Light, Darkness and Shadows, he sees Truth, Profundities and Knowledge. Seeing the world through the lens of a Gu Immortal as a Gu Master. That is how I would describe Xuanyuan".

Song Pei seemed more interested in that description.

"He is Elder Luo's disciple, he probably knows about Immortal Gu and Immortal Ascension, as well as the importance of attainment and Dao Marks. I wouldn't be surprised if Elder Luo or Elder Hu have told him about the Abyssal Child selection. He might have even come into contact with one of the Sect's Gu Immortals, like we were".

Tai Yang didn't say that he and Tai Yin weren't chosen, and just nodded to Song Pei. He trusted his friend, but if he was lying, Song Pei could very well be lying back to him as well.

The Abyssal Child was simply, a Gu Immortal seed. Someone with a talent expected to reach Rank 6. Even the strongest A Grade talents were only expected to reach the peak of Rank 4. They would need the help of Gu, or an exorbitant number of primeval essence stones to reach Rank 5.

As the Abyssal Child, the entire Sect would be open to them. Gu and primeval essence stones were of no consequence. As such, they only needed to focus on strengthening their foundation for their Immortal Ascension.

"I heard that Huo Jin and Fang Kai were both rejected by Gu Immortals. Of all the other disciples in the Sect, there are only four others who were considered candidates. Besides us and Xuanyuan of course".

Tai Yang raised an eyebrow. He hadn't heard this bit of information yet, probably due to the lack of response his father received from the Sky Soul Hall.

Song Pei nodded.

"I don't know their names, but there is a candidate from Burning Soul Hall, one from Light Soul Hall, one from Strength Soul Hall and the final candidate is from Golden Soul Hall. Each has a cultivation exceeding that of a Rank 2 Gu Master, and everyone is twenty years old or younger".

Tai Yang bit his lip, knowing that becoming a Rank 3 Gu Master in under five years was no easy feat. Even if himself and his sister used Relic Gu to push themselves to the peak of Rank 2, the others most certainly didn't.

He considered that the deciding factor in him being a candidate for the next Abyssal Child, but could only let out a sigh, not having this information sooner.

Someone like Xuanyuan could become a Rank 2 Middle Stage Gu Master in just under a year. Even if his cultivation slowed, there was a high chance that he would reach at least a Rank 2 Peak Stage Gu Master cultivation in another year from now.

With any luck, he would already be a Rank 3 Gu Master.

"I wonder how the Abyssal Child will be chosen?", Song Pei said to himself, tapping his chin.

Tai Yang glanced at his friend shaking his head.

"My father told me that in the generation before his, the Abyssal Child was chosen by one of the Sects Rank 8 Gu Immortals in some sort of inheritance. One of the founders of the Sect, or a former powerhouse with close ties to the Ancient Soul Sect".

Song Pei nodded, the young man hearing his name being called, forcing him to stand up and stretch his legs slightly. Looking at his friend he patted him on the shoulder smiling at him.

"Anyway, wish me luck! And if either of us get chosen to fight Xuanyuan, make sure to fight him in an extended battle! In terms of primeval essence, neither of us can lose!".

Tai Yang stared at his friend for a moment before smiling and shaking his head. It felt sore from doing it so many times today, but he did it again for good measure. He watched as Song Pei and his crocodile beast walked down to the arena, towards a Rank 1 Gu Master whose name escaped them both.

"Good luck", he muttered.

His gaze swiftly moved away from Song Pei and back towards Xuanyuan.

'What is the Fire Path? How would Xuanyuan explain the Fire Path? Should I... ask him?', he thought.