Chapter 13 I Am Not Wrong

Needless to say, Xuanyuan had become the target of countless rumors and gossip as the days went past. The vast majority of the Ancient Soul Sect didn't concern themselves with the idle gossip of Rank 1 Gu Masters, however, those hotheaded new disciples whom had just joined the Sect often competed against each other in order to assert dominance.

They were boisterous, loud and still didn't quite understand the difference between A Grade talents and B Grade Talents. They were all eager to prove themselves, or at the very least, those mortal born disciples were eager to prove themselves.

There were the descendants of Elders, and the scions of wealthy merchants that joined every year, none of which attracted that much attention. They had grown up under the umbrella of the righteous path, and were blessed with a background that allowed them to ignore rumors and hearsay.

They were all proud sons and daughters of heaven, but with ethics and morals aligning closer with the righteous path. 

However... most of them had heard Xuanyuan's little speech during one of the basic martial arts classes, causing public interest into Xuanyuan's background to extend beyond just the new batch of outer Sect disciples.

'I shall become Venerable. I desire the Truth. The supreme grandmaster of an entire Path'.

These words resonated with all Gu Masters everywhere. It didn't matter if it was a Rank 1 Gu Master just starting to walk their Path, or a Rank 5 Gu Master whom had almost touched upon the domain of Gu Immortals, all of them could understand Xuanyuan's words.

Elder Luo just shook his head, gazing at his unruly disciple.

"You've made a lot of powerful people interested in you Little Yuan. Your words struck a cord within the hearts of many Gu Masters in the Ancient Soul Sect. Why bother wasting your times with arguments and discord, when everyone seeks the limits of Gu and cultivation? I even had Elder Kong and Elder Hu message me personally, both envious that they couldn't steal you away from me".

Xuanyuan straightened his back, but lowered his head at Elder Luo's words.

"Was I too straightforward Master? I understand that my words were presumptuous and arrogant, but I truly meant it when I said I had no grudges against Xu Chen. I have never sought to start an enmity with someone, nor have I desired anyone to start one with me", Xuanyuan's tone was forthright, honest and revealed no lies to Elder Luo.

The grey haired man glanced at Xuanyuan, before shaking his head, his expression revealing no hint of his true emotions.

"I understand Little Yuan. And I know for a fact that you do not desire a conflict with your fellow disciples. However, your perspective on cultivation is... different to most in the Ancient Soul Sect".

Xuanyuan tilted his head, not understanding Elder Luo's words.

"How so Master?", he responded.

The Rank 5 Gu Master paused for a moment, before letting out a sigh, his expression becoming... more honest as he spoke.

"Cultivation, for the righteous path, is for the betterment of our fellow Man. It is not a selfish goal, although is, in of itself, something that only benefits ourselves. It is how we chose to use our cultivation, our strength, our knowledge, our understanding to make the world a better place. A safer place for all".

"Your words Xuanyuan, express only a selfish desire for Truth. You do not desire to help your friends or fellow disciples walk their own Path, in fact, you would rather each of us to walk our Path alone, as if other people did not exist. This is how the Demonic Path view their own cultivation, Little Yuan".

Xuanyuan's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch, before he frowned, shaking his head.

"But that is what cultivation is Master? It is a journey of self development. Of quiet meditation and self-reflection. Of personal research and endless development. My attainment is not yours, and yours in not mine. How can we share experiences, when we each walk our own Path?".

Elder Luo just shook his head at Xuanyuan's words. This time, it was a little more forceful than before.

"We can share experiences Xuanyuan. We can share knowledge. We can share techniques. We can share Gu and we can even share emotions and understandings. Your words from earlier still ring true. All Gu Masters can understand your desire to become Venerable, and it is from that commonality that the righteous path was born! We seek a common goal, and while the Paths we walk may lead us on different roads, some Paths can intersect leading to the creation of Sects and Clans".

"I have shared by knowledge with you Little Yuan. I did this not for my own betterment, but for the betterment of the Sect, and of the World. You have the potential to become great Xuanyuan. So great and so beautiful that it is almost blinding. But remember... humanity was not born alone. What is the point in having power and strength, if there is no-one there to celebrate your achievements with? What is the point in being a Venerable, if you are the only person that exists in the World? Self-validation can only take you so far. Please remember that, Little Yuan".

Elder Luo retired for the night after that, leaving Xuanyuan alone in the courtyard.

The reincarnated young man frowned, shaking his head while gazing up at the moon.

'I understand Elder Luo's perspective. But I also understand where Fang Yuan was coming from. Everything in the World is transient. Everything is just a shadow of its former self. Nothing, not even the very Heavens themselves remain the same. What is the point of other people, if they all wither and die, returning to dust that they were born from?'.

'But humanity was not born alone. What was the point of giving us emotions, if not to use them and relish in them. Humanity is capable of happiness and sadness, of joy and longing, of love and hate. Ignoring them, suppressing them, even removing them. Are you not rejecting a part of yourself? Doing so will only leave a gap in your soul, and you will spend the rest of your days trying to fill that gap with whatever you can get your hands on...'.

Xuanyuan had experienced life, death, rebirth and then life again. If our ends were already predestined, then what was the point in living? Did free will even exist if everything was predetermined from the moment of their conception?

Fate Gu ruled over the lives of billions upon billions of souls, pulling the strings of fate towards an ending of its own creation. While it existed, Xuanyuan would never find the answer to his question.

"I will find the answers to all my questions. I seek Truth and will not stop until I reach the end. After that... perhaps I'll find the answer to Master's question. Maybe even take a disciple of my own...".

Philosophy was an enormous part of the Gu World. Xuanyuan didn't believe things to be that complicated when he was just reading words on a page, but experiencing it, living through it was a completely different perspective.

Xuanyuan didn't completely agree with Fang Yuan. There was a line, and crossing it was the difference between Righteous and Demonic. Actions were the ultimate factor in determining good and evil but...

Xuanyuan just shook his head, a self-deprecating smile marring his face.

'Good and Evil? When did I start buying into that kind of stuff? Nothing is inherently good or bad, it is humans who ascribe such definitions to them. If something was evil, then some almighty power must've decreed it so. But in this World where Paths such as Enslavement and Blood exist, there is no such thing as Good or Evil'.

Primordial Origin was rewarded for founding the Enslavement Path.

Giant Sun was rewarded for founding the Blood Path.

Spectral Soul was rewarded for founding the Soul Path.

Would Xuanyuan be rewarded for reaching the limits of the Shadow Path? Would he be rewarded for mass genocide, or for lusting after women like previous Venerables did?

Under the light of the moon, Xuanyuan felt his perspective shift, opening his eyes towards the silver moon. His black eyes seemed so clear, like obsidian, so beautiful one could almost see their own reflection.

"Humanity is not born alone... right?".

Xuanyuan stood alone under the watchful gaze of the moon, his mind becoming clearer, the mental fog that plagued him slowly parting under the silvery moonlight. Xuanyuan didn't know if this was enlightenment, or, that he had just come to terms with himself and his worldview.

He didn't know how to explain it, whether it was the blessing of the moon, or the understanding of his place in the World, but he knew... he knew what he was missing.

'Little Shadow... Poison is the answer'.

A shadowy wisp rose up from Xuanyuan's shadow.

'Poison Path Gu material?'.

Xuanyuan nodded, swiftly returning towards his study. His mind was as clear and serene as the ocean on a windless night. A great sea reflected the image of the heavens and the earth, a shadow of creation being cast over vast and immense landscape.

Xuanyuan just knew what he was missing. He had no rational way of describing it. He knew what he was looking for, and only had to reach out in order to grasp it.

"Rise", he spoke aloud, generating an enormous amount of Shadow Thoughts all relating to the Poison Path.

"Green-Yellow Acid is a Poison Path Gu material compatible with Selena Flower Petals and Eight Layered Ginseng. Green-Yellow Acid develops stronger, more potent toxic properties in the presence of Wood Path Gu materials. It breaks down materials belonging to the Sun Path, but can also be consumed by Moon Path beasts in order to strengthen their veins and blood vessels...'.

"Wolf-Faced Poisonous Spider is a Poison Path beast compatible with Radiant Veil Root and Eight Layered Ginseng. It creates enormous webs spanning an entire tree, releasing a sickly sweet scent in order to attract predators towards itself. Its excrement, blood and bones provide excellent nourishment towards Wood Path Gu materials, while web itself can produce moonlight in minor quantities...".

Xuanyuan was searching for a compatibility between Wood Path, Poison Path and Moon Path. His attainment in all three was lacking, but the recipe itself was sympathetic towards the Shadow Path. They needed to birth shadows, nurture shadows, refine shadows, and eventually give rise to a Shadow Path Gu.

Materials that created friction or imbalance were thrown aside, as Xuanyuan analyzed countless Shadow Thoughts created by Shadows As Thought Gu. 

Gu and Gu material after Gu material was sorted by Xuanyuan, some deriving more Shadow Thoughts, while others were discarded, creating an imbalance or a complete failure.

The blood vessels in Xuanyuan's eyes expanded, causing bursts of tiny red lines to grow throughout his sclera. The pressure created by the uncountable number of Thoughts was beyond what Xuanyuan could normally withstand but...

'I will get there, by pouring every single drop of blood, sweat and tears I could possibly give, and then give some more in order to arrive at the pinnacle'.

His own words echoed throughout his mind. He would not arrive at the apex without pushing himself past his limitations. He would not arrive at Truth without affirming his own philosophy, without affirming the righteousness behind his own desires!

Cultivation was a selfish endeavor! Even if others did not approve of him, even if the World did not approve of him, so long as he himself affirmed his desire, Xuanyuan would not falter.

'Toxic Blood Lily... No its properties would overpower the other materials...'.

'Corrosion Roots... Again too much Poison would create an imbalance!'

'Four Poison Sands... Too many variables to consider...'.

Xuanyuan paused for a moment, before the image of a small, four-legged lizard came to mind. Yellow in colour, with large pad-like hands more reminiscent of frog appeared within the sea of Shadow Thoughts.

'Nervous Sand Gecko... it is compatible with both Eight Layered Ginseng and Lunar Soup Frogs. Nervous Sand Geckos lay their eggs near Wood Path Gu materials, allowing nurturing their young from the moment they are born. While Lunar Soup Frogs prey on Nervous Sand Geckos, nurturing them in turn'.

'Lunar Soup Frogs as Twilight. Crimson Night Flower as Night. Eight Layered Ginseng as Life. Nervous Sand Gecko as Poison. And Twilight Scorpion blood as Shadows. Night to nurture Shadows. Poison to Nurture the Moon. And Life to nurture all things. The final result would be a Shadow Stinger Gu!'.

Xuanyuan opened his eyes, tears of blood streaming down his face. The pain that coursed through is head was nothing in comparison to the sheer elation of increasing his attainment in the Shadow Path!

Looking up at the ceiling, Xuanyuan could imagine the silver moon staring back at him. 

He smiled.

"I am not wrong", he muttered as vision slowly turned to black.