Reverend Insanity: Golden Beast

Five years had passed since the massacre that shattered Jin Xu's world. Now fifteen, he had grown leaner and sharper—a survivor hardened by loss and fueled by a burning need for retribution. Though he had been left alone in the aftermath of the devastation of the Jin Tribe, his life had not been idle. Under the strict tutelage of the mysterious cultivator who rescued him, Jin Xu had learned the basics of cultivation, combat, and even the ruthless political intricacies of the Gu world.

In a secluded training chamber deep within a rugged mountainside, where the only sounds were the whispering wind and the distant clatter of falling rocks, Jin Xu sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor. The dim light of dawn crept through a narrow window, casting long shadows that danced across the room. His mentor—a stern, weathered cultivator whose eyes had witnessed countless battles—stood before him, an inscrutable expression on his face.

"Today, you shall awaken your innate aptitude," the teacher announced. His voice was measured, echoing in the quiet space as he surveyed Jin Xu with critical eyes. "In the Gu world, every cultivator is marked from birth with a destiny, but that destiny is not a matter of fairness—it is a cruel game of chance."

Jin Xu's heart pounded in his chest. For years, he had dreamed of awakening with the destined, blazing talent that marked the champions. He had yearned for an A-grade aptitude, one that would set him apart and allow him to reclaim honor for his fallen tribe. 

After several long, agonizing minutes of hope, a surge of energy burst within him. The intricate patterns of his inner aperture flared to life, but rather than the brilliant display of an A-grade talent, what emerged was a B-grade aptitude—roughly seventy percent of what he had hoped for. His heart sank at the realization; his dream of blazing superiority was momentarily dashed.

The teacher's eyes softened slightly as he noted the disappointment flickering in Jin Xu's gaze. With measured calm, he began to speak, his tone carrying the weight of harsh truths.

"All cultivators are not born equal! Some are born with innate talent, while others struggle in mediocrity. Some are born with Gu apertures as vast as the heavens, while others are cursed with weak foundations. Fate has already woven its web, binding mortals and immortals alike to their destined fates. Equality? A mere delusion, spoken by the feeble to console themselves!"

He paused, letting the words sink in. Jin Xu listened, each syllable a bitter pill. The teacher continued, his voice rising with intensity.

"The Gu world is built upon competition. The weak are trampled upon, their corpses paving the path for the strong. The heavens bestow fortune upon those who seize it, not those who beg for it. Do rivers pity the fish? Do mountains mourn the trees they crush? No! The world is cruel and indifferent, and so too must we be!"

The teacher's words echoed through the chamber like a decree of nature itself. Jin Xu felt a mix of sorrow and a burgeoning, fierce determination as the truth of the world pressed in on him. Still, his heart clenched at the injustice, at the longing for what could have been.

"The weak lament the cruelty of the strong, yet they refuse to carve their own path through blood and ambition. They curse the heavens, yet they lack the courage to defy them! But tell me—who remembers the names of the weak? Only the strong carve their names into history, and only those who grasp power dictate the future!"

He took a deep breath before delivering the final blow of his lecture:

"This is the eternal truth of cultivation! Struggle, or be consumed! Rise, or be forgotten! The heavens do not favor righteousness or evil—they only favor the strong! So abandon your foolish notions of equality, for in this world, there is only one truth: power reigns supreme!"

Jin Xu sat in silence, his mind churning with the teacher's words. Tears welled up—not from weakness, but from the realization that revenge alone would never rebuild what was lost. To be strong, he must accept the harsh realities of the world and adapt. He wanted to scream in defiance, but instead, he swallowed the pain and resolved to forge his own destiny, however imperfect his talent might be.

After the intense lesson, the teacher walked slowly to a wooden table where an array of ancient texts and scrolls lay. He unfurled a faded parchment, its ink slightly smudged by time, and spread it out before Jin Xu.

"Now," the teacher said gravely, "the next step is choosing your path. You must understand that you have no backing of a clan, tribe, or sect to nurture your talents. You stand alone in this unforgiving world. Thus, you must choose a cultivation path that is simple, yet effective—one that you can master without reliance on external support."

He pointed to a chart meticulously drawn on the parchment. Five elemental paths were listed: Wood, Metal, Earth, Fire, and Water. Each had its own strengths and drawbacks.

Jin Xu's eyes brightened as he considered the options. Deep inside, he had already felt a natural inclination toward metal—his pulse quickened at the thought of his blood and bones transformed into a golden alloy. He remembered his secret wish from those desperate nights in the ruins: to become something as unbreakable as metal, something that could stand firm even against the might of his enemies.

"I choose… the Metal Path," he declared, his voice steadier than he felt. "I want to be as strong and unyielding as a metal. I want every drop of my blood and every fiber of my being to shine with power, even if it means I must bear the weight of mediocrity for now."

The teacher nodded slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. "Very well. You have chosen a path that demands both discipline and vision. The Metal Path is not for the faint-hearted. It will test you beyond measure. But if you succeed, you will become a beacon of strength in a world that spares no one."

For hours that day, Jin Xu immersed himself in the basics of Metal Path cultivation. He learned the delicate art of refining raw primeval essence.

As twilight descended, the teacher and Jin Xu sat together on a low stone bench outside their secluded training haven. The world was quiet except for the distant sounds of night creatures. Jin Xu's eyes, though heavy with fatigue, burned with a newfound determination. He recounted the day's lessons, the rough edges of his talent that still needed smoothing out, and the bitter taste of realizing that he had awakened a B-grade aptitude—70% of what he had hoped for.

"Talent alone is not enough, Jin Xu," the teacher said softly, gazing into the darkening horizon. "Hard work, strategy, and the willingness to embrace the world's harsh truths will shape you into a cultivator of true power. Remember, the world is not fair. It is a battlefield where only the strong survive."

Jin Xu's mind wandered to the future—an uncertain road filled with battles, political intrigues at the Imperial Court, and the inevitable quest for revenge against those who had annihilated his tribe. But for now, he focused on the path ahead. His decision to walk the Metal Path had been made with clarity: despite the sting of imperfection, he would transform every weakness into an advantage.

The next morning, at dawn's first light, Jin Xu accompanied his teacher on a journey to the Grand City—a sprawling metropolis where cultivators from all over converged. The Grand City was a place of bustling markets, towering pagodas, and hidden sects. For someone like Jin Xu, who had no familial or sect backing, it was a land of opportunity, albeit one filled with dangers and fierce competition.

As they traveled along a dusty road flanked by crumbling stone walls and fields scarred by battle, Jin Xu marveled at the sights and sounds of the journey. His teacher spoke little, allowing the silent expanse of the world to imprint itself upon his mind. Each step was a lesson in survival—a reminder that every cultivator must seize every chance to improve, no matter how small.

At last, they reached the outskirts of the Grand City. The marketplace was alive with color and noise: vendors shouted over the clamor of haggling crowds, exotic aromas mingled in the air, and the clinking of metal resonated from weapon stalls. Jin Xu felt a thrill of anticipation—here lay the resources he needed to advance his cultivation, to purchase specialized Metal Path gu that could unlock new techniques and bolster his defenses.

They approached a stall marked with ornate golden symbols, a sign that the vendor specialized in Metal Path gu. The teacher haggled with the stall owner—a burly man with a scarred face and a reputation for dealing in high-quality gu. Jin xu was attracted to a special gu, he ask for it and the burly man tell him it rank 1 titan bronze gu, capable of hardening all the body of a cultivator akin to a bronze. Jin Xu decided to have this gu has his vital gu.

As they left the stall, the teacher clapped Jin Xu on the shoulder. "Remember, Jin Xu: every piece of gu, every scrap of primeval essence you master, is a stepping stone on your path to power. The world is unforgiving, but if you harness even a fraction of its energy, you can reshape your destiny."

The words echoed in Jin Xu's mind as he walked through the crowded streets of the Grand City. Among the throngs of cultivators, he felt both invisible and exposed—a lone wolf amidst a sea of predators. Yet, beneath that vulnerable exterior, a fierce determination blazed. The loss of his tribe had forged him into something new, something that could one day rise to challenge the very foundations of the Gu world.

During his first night in the city, as he found a modest room in a crowded boarding house, Jin Xu lay awake pondering his future. He replayed the teacher's lecture over and over in his mind, the cold, harsh truth that not all are born equal. Every syllable urged him to fight harder, to seize every opportunity, and to never succumb to despair. The words rang in his ears:

"All cultivators are not born equal! Some are born with innate talent, while others struggle in mediocrity. Some are born with Gu apertures as vast as the heavens, while others are cursed with weak foundations. Fate has already woven its web, binding mortals and immortals alike to their destined fates. Equality? A mere delusion, spoken by the feeble to console themselves!

The Gu world is built upon competition. The weak are trampled upon, their corpses paving the path for the strong. The heavens bestow fortune upon those who seize it, not those who beg for it. Do rivers pity the fish? Do mountains mourn the trees they crush? No! The world is cruel and indifferent, and so too must we be!

The weak lament the cruelty of the strong, yet they refuse to carve their own path through blood and ambition. They curse the heavens, yet they lack the courage to defy them! But tell me—who remembers the names of the weak? Only the strong carve their names into history, and only those who grasp power dictate the future!

This is the eternal truth of cultivation! Struggle, or be consumed! Rise, or be forgotten! The heavens do not favor righteousness or evil—they only favor the strong! So abandon your foolish notions of equality, for in this world, there is only one truth: power reigns supreme!"

Those words, though brutal, ignited something within him—a determination to transform his mediocrity into might, to embrace the cruel reality of the Gu world and rise despite it all.

Over the following days, Jin Xu immersed himself in the practicalities of the Metal Path. He practiced the basic formations for refining primeval essence into gu, painstakingly replicating techniques demonstrated by his teacher. In the quiet hours before sunrise, he would train until his body ached, learning to channel his anger and sorrow into a potent, controlled force. His aptitude, though only B-grade at awakening, began to show signs of improvement with relentless practice.

At every turn, Jin Xu was reminded of the cruelty of fate—a fate that had robbed him of his family, his tribe, and his innocence. Yet it also fueled his resolve. He would not allow the weakness that marked his birth to define him. Instead, he would forge himself in the fires of adversity, much like metal refined into gold.

One crisp morning, as Jin Xu practiced in a secluded courtyard behind his boarding house, his teacher observed silently from the shadows. The young cultivator moved with a mixture of raw power and tentative grace, his every motion an echo of the Metal Path's brutal beauty. When he faltered, the teacher stepped forward, his voice low but firm.

And so, with the promise of a new dawn on the horizon, Jin Xu drifted into a fitful sleep, unaware that the road ahead would test him in ways he could scarcely imagine. The journey of a lone cultivator, once marked by tragedy and despair, had now taken its first definitive step toward becoming a legend of the Metal Path—a legend that would one day shake the very foundations of the Gu world.