Chapter 2034: The Seal Elder

"Elder Liu, this is the sect's Seal Elder, Elder Feng. Elder Feng, this is Elder Liu Yang, who will be taking on the Heavenly Bridge."

Arriving on the small boat, Sect Leader Kuixiao introduced them to each other.

"Elder Liu Yang!"

Looking at Zhang Xuan, the Seal Elder frowned slightly.

He had thought this was the sect leader's disciple, but unexpectedly, he was to participate in the Heavenly Bridge.

Such a decision meant that this person was the strongest under a hundred years old in the sect?

The strongest at around twenty years old?

Since when had the Seven Star Pavilion become so frivolous?

"Since you've been chosen for the Heavenly Bridge, you must be outstanding and admirable. I happen to have some cultivation doubts. I wonder if Elder Liu could enlighten me?"

He lowered his eyelids and cupped his fists.

Sect Leader Kuixiao said nothing.

Participating in the Heavenly Bridge, as long as one didn't fall, they would become the future sect leader of the Seven Star Pavilion. As the helm of the sect leader's hidden strength, Feng must submit completely.

Thus, this was a test for Elder Liu, and also the best opportunity for Elder Liu to establish his authority.

If he failed to seize it, the most powerful force under the sect leader would slip from his control, and the position of sect leader would not be so easily obtained.

"Please speak!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The Seal Elder said, "I cultivate the Seven Star Palm, but I've hit a bottleneck at the third level. Does Elder Liu have any good suggestions?"

The Seven Star Palm was one of the Seven Star Pavilion's signature martial techniques, immensely powerful, and many elders had cultivated it.

"This question is too vague..."

Before Zhang Xuan could answer, Sect Leader Kuixiao couldn't help but interject.

It was understandable for a subordinate to test before submitting, but at least he should explain the problem clearly.

Cultivating the Seven Star Palm and stopping at the third level—there were at least hundreds of possible reasons. Without mentioning his own condition, how could anyone answer?

Even he himself was completely in the dark.

"No matter!" Zhang Xuan interrupted Sect Leader Kuixiao, smiling slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, Elder Feng suffered internal energy damage eighty-one years ago and nearly died."

"Yes."

The Seal Elder nodded and glanced at Sect Leader Kuixiao.

Eighty-one years ago, he was besieged by enemies and nearly died. It was this man who saved him, leading him to pledge absolute loyalty and willingly work behind the scenes to smooth over all troubles.

This matter was supposed to be confidential. He hadn't expected Sect Leader Kuixiao to tell this person.

"I... didn't say..." Understanding the meaning in his eyes, Sect Leader Kuixiao quickly waved his hand.

Before coming, this person didn't even know who you were... How could he know you were severely injured eighty-one years ago? I'm also puzzled...

Just as he was about to explain in detail, Zhang Xuan interrupted him: "No need for others to tell me; I can see it. At that time, you spent many treasures. Although your strength and cultivation have recovered, there is actually a great hidden danger! If I'm not mistaken, when your immortal energy flows through the True Yin and Jiangyong acupoints, you feel numbness throughout your body. The Seven Star Palm relies heavily on these two acupoints. With body numbness and blocked meridians, naturally you cannot reach the fourth level!"

"This..." The Seal Elder was stunned.

What the other said were his own secrets, which he hadn't even told Sect Leader Kuixiao. How could this person speak them out at once... Could he really see it?

"Not only that, your left arm hasn't been as good as before in recent years, has it? It becomes stiff and uncontrollable?" Zhang Xuan continued.

The Seal Elder's expression tightened.

The other was still correct.

In the past two years, his left hand often twitched involuntarily and became extremely stiff. He had tried countless methods with no effect, and even consulted many famous doctors who couldn't explain the cause. How did this person know?

"The technique you initially cultivated was the Azure Wave Art, created by ancestors observing azure waves. After your internal energy was damaged, you felt this technique was insufficient in power, and with your true qi nearly depleted, you forcibly modified the technique and switched to the Blazing Sun Art you now practice... The power increased, but from the start of cultivation, your meridians were nourished by the Azure Wave. Suddenly switching to Blazing Sun is like fertile, moist land suddenly exposed to scorching sun without water replenishment... What do you think would happen?"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

"This..."

The Seal Elder's pupils contracted. "It would cause the land to crack and fertility to vanish..."

"Fertility vanishing is the simplest. Over time, it becomes dead land, barren of life." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Barren of life? It can't be that serious!" Sect Leader Kuixiao frowned.

He knew about the other's change of technique. Back then, Elder Feng was utterly despairing and willing to do anything for revenge.

So he took the risk and granted the Blazing Sun Art. During cultivation, there were indeed signs of trouble, but after Elder Feng reached the Demigod level, he personally nursed him back to health, spending countless treasures. He thought everything was resolved, but unexpectedly, there were still hidden dangers.

"The human body has its limits." Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back. "His internal energy was completely destroyed—that itself was a major trauma. Under such circumstances, instead of gently nurturing and slowly recovering strength, he forcibly changed his cultivation technique. It's already lucky he didn't die on the spot, and that you spent many treasures!"

"To tell you the truth, the arm stiffness is just the beginning. Within two years, your legs will also stiffen, your spine will deform, and walking will become difficult. If you don't find a solution quickly, within five years, all your meridians will be unable to bear the force and will shatter completely. Your entire cultivation will be destroyed..."

"You... are you telling the truth?"

The Seal Elder frowned.

Although his left arm had become stiff, he didn't believe what the other said was true.

It was too shocking.

Cultivation destroyed within five years... Why didn't he feel anything?

"If you don't believe me, I can show you."

With a light smile, Zhang Xuan formed his fingers into a sword and suddenly thrust forward.

It was just an ordinary move, without sword qi or immortal energy. A gentle tap landed on the Seal Elder's shoulder, and the latter immediately felt his whole body go rigid, as if frozen. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He stepped back to dodge, but saw the other's finger follow, striking another point on his chest.

As he tried to move, his internal energy seemed restrained, and a tearing pain shot through his meridians.

"Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, looking somewhat dispirited.

"How do you feel now?" Zhang Xuan withdrew his hand and said calmly.

"I... feel like my meridians could shatter at any moment..." After taking a few breaths, the Seal Elder looked at the young man again, his eyes filled with deep admiration. "Please, Elder Liu, guide me and help resolve this hidden danger. If successful, I will willingly accept you as sect leader, with no second thoughts!"

With just one glance, he had seen so many problems in his body and found the root cause. Both his strength and insight were worthy of respect.

"It's simple. Pick up your Azure Wave Art and cultivate it again."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Cultivate it again? This... how is that possible?" This time, not only the Seal Elder was puzzled, but Sect Leader Kuixiao was also stunned.

He was now cultivating the Blazing Sun Art. Cultivating the Azure Wave Art again would easily cause conflict between the two techniques. If he wasn't careful, instead of healing, he might suffer a qi deviation and die on the spot.

"Of course, not the Azure Wave Art you practiced before, but a modified version of mine..."

Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, took out a jade token, lightly tapped it with his finger, and sent a thought into it, recording a complete set of techniques.

The Seal Elder took it, glanced at it, and involuntarily circulated his immortal energy according to the instructions. After a moment, he spat out three mouthfuls of black blood, felt his whole body relax, no longer constrained as before, and his arm was no longer stiff.

"This..." He clenched his fist and looked at Zhang Xuan again, no longer just admiring, but in awe and worship.

With his level of cultivation, he knew his own body well. The technique the other had given him, after just a short practice, had such an effect. If he strictly followed it, all the hidden dangers in his body could be completely resolved.

The hidden danger that had plagued him for over eighty years, which had cost the sect countless treasures without resolution, was completely eliminated after just one glance and a set of techniques...

This ability was simply astounding!

Not only was he stunned, but Sect Leader Kuixiao was also completely dumbfounded.

He had worried earlier that the young man was too young to command respect, but he had proven so formidable with just one move.

Not only was his talent in martial techniques outstanding, but his understanding of medicine and cultivation had reached an unimaginable level, far beyond even his own.

"Alright, strictly follow the requirements of this technique, and within half a year, all the hidden dangers in your body will be resolved, and your cultivation may even advance a step!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

To him, it was just a simple task.

When the other drove the boat, he had used martial techniques, so Zhang Xuan saw the potential hidden dangers at a glance. Combining this with the manuals he had read recently, giving a suitable solution was not difficult.

"Thank you, Elder Liu!"

The Seal Elder bowed.

"Ahead should be the formations and seals you left behind, right?"

Knowing that the other was already full of admiration and further talk was unnecessary, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and looked ahead.

While they were speaking, the small boat had traveled over a hundred kilometers across the sea, and a stretch of water as smooth as a mirror appeared before them.

"This is the Small Mirror Sea. My formations and seals are indeed laid here..."

The Seal Elder nodded.

The Small Mirror Sea contained special aquatic plants that made the entire water surface resemble a mirror. Formations and seals laid here would be undetectable even by Demigod-level experts. How could this person see them?

Just as he was puzzled and about to ask, the young man's voice continued.

"The One Water Two Wave Formation, placed in the ocean, can indeed pass unnoticed and is quite powerful. But to trap a Demigod-level expert, it's still a bit weak! Most importantly... the opponent is a creature that lives in water year-round and has strong control over water currents. Once this formation is detected, instead of trapping him, it might allow him to use the power of the waves to escape, and you won't be able to catch up!"

"You can tell what formation I laid..."

The Seal Elder was stunned.