Chapter 77: Innate Locked Meridians

"Throw a few punches?"

Hearing Zhang Xuan's words, everyone was stunned.

Now everyone was concerned about the matter of you teaching a student into qi deviation, yet you tell him to throw punches—what are you doing?

Elder Shangchen also looked puzzled.

Throw punches?

Right now we're reviewing the matter of you teaching a student into qi deviation—don't change the subject, okay?

"Ahem, Master Zhang, I think you'd better explain the details of the qi deviation. What if... your teaching was correct, and it was... another reason?"

Huang Yu couldn't help but remind him.

Qi deviation has many causes; it could be the teacher's mistake, or it could be that the student misunderstood and practiced the wrong method. If it's the latter, although there is still some responsibility, at least it wouldn't be as severe as revoking the teaching qualification.

"Teacher, I followed Teacher Zhang's instructions exactly at the time, without any deviation, and ended up with qi deviation. Later, I specifically consulted Teacher Lu Xun, and his cultivation method was wrong—if you follow it, you'll definitely get qi deviation!"

Knowing her thoughts, Zhao Yanfeng said.

He harbored hatred for Zhang Xuan and, knowing he had a chance to get his teaching qualification revoked, naturally wouldn't let it go.

"Master Zhang..." Seeing the victim speak this way, Huang Yu had no way to explain further and could only look over helplessly.

"Perform a set of punches and let me see if you've made any progress lately!" Ignoring her劝阻, Zhang Xuan continued to look at the youth.

"Listen to Teacher Zhang and perform a set of punches first!" Seeing his insistence, Huang Yu, though full of confusion, couldn't help but turn and instruct.

"Yes!" Although he didn't know Huang Yu's identity, seeing even Elder Shangchen treat her with such respect, Zhao Yanfeng dared not refuse. He nodded and walked to the center of the hall.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The wind of the punches howled, full of power.

Although this fellow was young, his control over power was good, and his martial skills were quite exquisite—he was a decent seedling.

"Not bad, it seems Teacher Lu Xun has indeed eliminated the隐患 of his qi deviation!"

"At such a young age, to have this kind of power is already quite good!"

...

Almost everyone in the room was an expert in cultivation, and seeing Zhao Yanfeng's techniques, they all nodded.

Elder Shangchen quietly looked toward Zhang Xuan, expecting that when he had the youth perform punches, he would study them carefully and find some excuse or explanation. Instead, he saw that this fellow had somehow closed his eyes, looking completely at ease.

"What's he up to?"

Elder Shangchen's head was full of question marks.

This fellow hadn't gone mad from knowing he had no reason or evidence, had he?

"Are you done?"

Soon, after finishing the set of punches, seeing that the Teacher Zhang he hated had his eyes closed and hadn't even looked, Zhao Yanfeng was about to explode with anger and said through gritted teeth.

"Mm." Zhang Xuan opened his eyes.

"Alright, let's not waste time here. Since you've already admitted that your guidance caused Zhao Yanfeng's qi deviation, and he himself can testify, just confess quickly! No need for further trouble..."

Elder Shangchen, fearing delays, couldn't help but say.

"Not so fast!" Zhang Xuan interrupted his nonsense and looked around: "Since you all want to hear my explanation, then I'll explain it to you!"

Everyone perked up, wanting to hear how he would explain.

Even Zhao Yanfeng couldn't help but look over.

"Actually... I deliberately caused his qi deviation!" Zhang Xuan's voice came through.

"Ah?"

"Deliberately?"

Everyone was stunned.

What kind of joke is this?

This left no room for maneuver—he was definitely going to be dismissed!

"Haha!" Elder Shangchen clearly hadn't expected that this fellow, after all his mystification, would admit so readily and even say it was deliberate. He was so excited his eyes gleamed: "Good that you admit it! As a teacher, deliberately giving wrong guidance and putting a student in danger is a heinous crime. If we don't revoke your teaching qualification, it won't satisfy public outrage! Assistant Teacher Huang, Elder Mo, there should be no problem now, right?"

"..." Huang Yu looked helplessly at Zhang Xuan. With him admitting it this way, even if she wanted to help, she couldn't.

Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhao Yanfeng on the side clench his fists and grit his teeth, looking at Zhang Xuan with undisguised hatred: "May I ask how I have offended Teacher Zhang that you would want me dead?"

I am your student, yet you deliberately taught me wrong and caused me to have qi deviation—what grudge or grievance is this?

Others clearly thought of this too and all looked at Zhang Xuan.

On the side, Patriarch Wang Hong also began to reconsider whether having his son and daughter both apprentice to this teacher was right or wrong.

No matter how profound the theory or how good the teaching, what use was it?

What if, in a fit of temper, he deliberately taught wrong? That would be the end.

Qi deviation at the first level of martial arts could still be remedied, but at higher levels, it would be difficult.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes showing an expression that no one in the world understood him, and sighed: "Alas! It seems you still haven't understood."

"Understood?"

Zhao Yanfeng's face was full of black lines. If not for his lack of strength, he would have rushed up to punch him: "Understood what?"

You deliberately caused my qi deviation, and you want me to understand? Understand what? Understand death?

"Don't you all understand either?"

Zhang Xuan looked at Huang Yu, Elder Mo, and the others.

"Understand?"

The question left the two of them also bewildered.

You deliberately taught wrong—what could you want us to understand?

See... how you kill your student?

"Fine, since none of you saw it, I'll explain!" Zhang Xuan shook his head and looked over: "I wonder if any of you have heard of the constitution called 'Innate Locked Meridians'?"

"Innate Locked Meridians?" Huang Yu frowned, recalling something, and said: "I've heard of it. It's not a special constitution but a disease! People with this condition have many nodes in their meridians, like a river blocked by silt, making it impossible for true qi to flow through. Even if they can cultivate, their achievements are limited. The first level of martial arts is their limit; reaching the second level is nearly impossible!"

Hearing this explanation, everyone nodded.

Although Innate Locked Meridians was rare, there were examples. As teachers and regional overlords, they had heard of this constitution.

"Teacher Zhang mentions Innate Locked Meridians—could it be..."

Teacher Mo Xiang thought of something, his eyes widening as he looked over.

"Correct! Zhao Yanfeng has this constitution!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Me? I have Innate Locked Meridians?" Zhao Yanfeng was full of disbelief: "That's impossible... I didn't feel any obstruction when cultivating. How could I have Innate Locked Meridians?"

"No obstruction?" Zhang Xuan looked over, his smile意味深长: "Then let me ask you: before your qi deviation, when you cultivated, did you feel short of breath? Every time you gathered spiritual energy, did you feel a tearing sensation throughout your body?"

"You... how do you know?"

Zhao Yanfeng, who had been dismissive, thinking the other was talking nonsense, upon hearing this, his pupils contracted and his body involuntarily stiffened.