Fang Yuan sighed to himself, here he was meeting a legend in the Gu World, Shui Ni!
The pioneer of Water Path, the Water Emperor, neigh the Water Ancestor!
He was a man that made Water Path an actual Path,
Of course, Water Path had always existed.
The Heavenly Dao contains all Paths, any Path that was 'invented' or 'discovered' has always existed.
Dream Path, Time Path, Space Path, Heaven Path are just examples of Paths that have existed since time immemorial but were only official called Paths once someone pioneered them.
After all, it was one thing recognizing Water Path Gu and materials, but it was another thing altogether to form a cohesive system with them.
This represents the entire reason why the Heavenly Dao permits cultivators, people with the power to defy the Heavens, for its own benefit.
The Heavenly Dao cannot compete with the ingenuity that hundreds of millions, if not billions, of lifeforms who dedicate their life, time, and passion to something.
The Heavenly Dao may have created Water Path, but people advanced it.
They comprehended it and carved a way for them to use it.
And that has progressed the attainment of the world.
Which also shows the importance and benefits of keeping a Path secret.
Take Shui Ni, for example, the pioneer of Water Path.
He showed the world for the first time, the viability of Water Path.
He refined Water Path Gu, he made Water Path Killer Moves and he became a Water Path Pseudo-Venerable.
Almost becoming the first-ever Water Path Venerable.
But Water Path has since become one of the most used Paths in the entire Gu World.
This had led to countless advancements in Water Path, and led to Shui Ni losing his prestige as the number 1 Water Path cultivator.
Because his feats, were laughable by today's standards.
"This hurricane wall is all bark and bite, because ultimately this move would be better as a Compound Killer Move using Wind and Water Path. But Shui Ni is stubbornly using Water Path to mimic the effects of Wind Path to cover for the deficit!" Fang Yuan shook his head at the foolishness of Shui Ni.
"Not to mention that the Move is only impressive to look at but it's also highly unstable, forget Rank 8 even a Rank 7 could break through this move, or better yet, anyone could avoid harm by just standing where we are, in the eye of the storm!"
Fang Yuan in just 5 minutes was able to come up with dozens of Killer Moves that would achieve much greater effects for a fraction of the cost.
"*sigh* Quasi-Supreme Grandmaster has come a great deal further since the time of Shui Ni, and in just 300,000 years to boot."
This was the downside of exposing a Path to the world.
Competition.
When you have a monopoly over a Path, it gives you an advantage that no one else had.
But once you go public, everyone and their grandmother will be able to look for ways to counter your path, defend against your path or even surpass your own understanding of it!
This was why every Venerable had a Specialty Path, a Path that they would never expose to the world, as much as possible.
However, that wasn't to say that Venerables didn't share.
Fang Yuan stroked his chin: "There are benefits to sharing, it allows you to keep improving the Path at a speed not possible by 1 man alone."
Let's continue using Water Path as an example.
In Shui Ni's time, he was already able to use Water Path to emulate the effects of Wind Path.
But what about the modern version of Water Path?
You could mimic just about every path under the sun,
Wisdom Path, Blood Path, Sword Path, Earth Path, and even Fire Path!
Yes, Fire Path!
"Even though it's not perfect, it is possible to replicate the burning pain of Fire Path into Water Path," Fang Yuan thought to himself: "In fact, it's possible to leave burn marks through Water Path."
This was the benefit of spreading out a Path.
After all, all Paths lead to the Dao, thus, all Paths share some commonality to them, it's only the difference in attainment that separates the people who can see that connection and the people who can't.
And this was where Fang Yuan shone the most because who in the world had as much attainment as him?
At that moment Fang Yuan focused on reality,
A thunderous voice boomed, as the water pouring down from the rain began to congeal together, into the visage of a man.
The man had deep short blue hair, he was tall, with broad shoulders and he had a handsome face, that was displaying a fierce expression.
It was obviously Shui Ni!
But the Water didn't stop gathering, in fact, it not only continued but sped up!
More and more Water gathered into Shui Ni, causing him to grow taller and taller.
"Oh?" Fang Yuan was intrigued: "That's a surprise, to think he is actually able to temporarily graft Water Dao Marks on his body, fascinating."
This was nothing big by modern standards but 300,000 years ago it was certainly groundbreaking.
"I guess that's my cue," Fang Yuan activated the Water Path Escape Immortal Gu.
Shuai Ge was locked in place by the sheer might of Shui Ni, "Wait! This doesn't make sense, even if he is a Pseudo-Venerable, I shouldn't be so scared that my body refuses to move…unless."
Shuai Ge then felt wetness, where his hand gripped Shui Xin's neck:
"Son of a…he's using some kind of Killer Move to prevent me from moving by immobilizing the Water Path Dao Marks in my body!"
Once Shuai Ge realized the trick it was already too late, Shui Xin had turned into a body of pure water.
"Hmph!" Shuai Ge snorted: "Shui Ni I respect you for pioneering Water Path, but you're too naïve to believe a Rank 6 Water Path Movement Gu is good enough to escape from me!"
A loud snort of disdain could be heard coming from the giant: "And so what if it's only a Rank 6 Gu? You've lost your only leverage."
Shuai Ge started laughing maniacally, "HAHAHHAHAHAHA"
The Gu Immortals thought that Shuai Ge had gone crazy from fear.
"Old bastard you really think I have no tricks left?" Shuai Ge snickered, with a demonic grin: "Watch this!"
Shuai Ge throughout a few Water Path Immortal Gu Materials from his Aperture.
The Immortals at the side sniggered: "Ha-ha, you want to buy your life now? Fat chance, you should have taken our offer from the start, now no matter what you offer your life ends here today!"
But Shuai Ge shot back: "And we'll see whose life ends here today, mine or your precious princess!"
Before the Gu Immortals could retort, Shuai Ge pulled out a Rank 6 Water Path Gu.
Fang Yuan noticed it: "Here it comes, the first Demon of Water Path,"
As soon as the Gu was pulled out, anything with Water Path Dao Marks was pulled towards it, Immortal Materials, the Rain and even Shui Xin!
They all began to fuse together with the Gu that Shuai Ge had just pulled out.
The other Gu Immortals might not understand what was happening but Shui Ni, with his Quasi-Supreme Grandmaster attainment did.
"STOP!!" He commanded out and tried to fight against Shuai Ge's domination of Water Path.
"Father help me!" Shui Xin cried out, although internally Fang Yuan was calm.
Although Shui Ni was caught off guard by Shuai Ge's sudden move, he was still a Pseudo-Venerable and was easily able to mimic the effects of Shuai Ge's Gather Water Gu!
Indeed, this Gu was built to pull Water towards itself and with Shui Xin's current state being Water it was no wonder that Shuai Ge was not panicking.
Shuai Ge felt his pull being contested: "As expected of the number 1 Water Path cultivator in the world, I'd be worried, but the opportunity right now is just perfect!"
"Hey, girl you wanted to know what I wanted to buy from the Shui festival?" Shuai Ge began monologuing: "I'll tell you, what I needed to buy."
Shui Xin didn't have a face but if she did the look she would display would be horrified.
"I needed a catalyst for the refinement of my Rank 7 Gather Water Gu, and guess what. You're the perfect fit right now!" Shuai Ge laughed sadistically.
"Now you might be wondering how a Rank 4 Gu Master might provide enough Dao Marks to create a Rank 7 Gu? Simple. By using the powers of Heaven and Earth." As Shuai Ge said, Water Path Dao Marks were continuously gathering into the Refinement process, gradually the Refinement began to exert its own pull and was overpowering Shui Ni.
Shuai Ge then dispelled the Water Path Killer Move that allowed him to hide as a human and revealed himself to be: "My name is Wet Hair, a Hairyman travelling the world."
"I have just used the Hairyman Heaven and Earth Refinement style and soon your daughter is going to become an ingredient in my Gu unless you listen exactly as I say because I'm the only one who can stop this process!"
Shui Ni chocked on his words: "You!"
Wet Hair did not back down: "You may kill me after I'm done refining your daughter but before you do, I will detonate myself and every Gu I have, deal substantial damage, or at least waste your resources and if I'm not mistaken you have a Myriad Tribulation coming up, no?"
Shuai Ge thought to himself, "Great everything is playing out how the legend went, I should be able to clear up this Dream Realm soon and get out of this disgusting body."
Shuai Ge shuddered at the thought of having been a Hairyman, "No one in Heavenly Court can ever know!"
He did not know that Star Constellation was keeping a constant monitor on all Dreams that Heavenly Court members were in.
I will be obtaining my new keyboard later today can't wait !!!!
In case anyone's curious,
It's a Gateron Black Ink V2 (lubed and filmed)
And the keycaps are GMK Mizu
I am very excited to hear how it'll sound :)
I hope it'll be super smooth, because my current Razer Huntsmen Elite, is driving me crazy while writing.