Chapter 13: Ocean Blast: A Fated Connection
Duan Liyang clutched the metal token tightly, the words of Xiang Rui's grandfather still echoing in his mind. The Cultivation Technique Hall! This was a place where ordinary outer disciples were not even allowed to dream of entering. It was an unprecedented opportunity, a chance that could help him defeat Wang Xiao and understand his own unique power.
He walked towards the Cultivation Technique Hall, located in the main compound of the Xiao family.
It was an ancient, grand building, its walls made of dark stones and its roof soaring high. Two guards, resembling inner disciples, stood before the building, their faces solemn.
Duan Liyang clutched the token tightly in his hand and approached the door. As he neared the guards, one of them raised his hand. "Stop! This is the Cultivation Technique Hall. Outer disciples are not permitted here."
Without a word, Duan Liyang simply extended the token towards the guard. The guard looked at the token, and his eyes widened. "This... this is an elder's token!" he whispered. The guard looked at his companion, who nodded. They knew what this token signified.
"My apologies, Disciple," the guard said, his voice now respectful. "You may enter."
The doors swung open, and Duan Liyang stepped inside.
The hall was vast, with towering ceilings and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of scrolls and books. Air carried the scent of ancient paper and dried herbs. A few other disciples were also in the hall, engrossed in deep study, but none were as young as Duan Liyang.
All of them were inner disciples, their auras clearly visible to Duan Liyang's heightened vision, all at Level 5 or above.
Duan Liyang stared for a moment, overwhelmed. He didn't know where to begin. He needed a technique that could enhance his offensive power, especially his control over wind.
He focused on the blue particles in his eyes, sharpening his vision further. He tried to perceive the energy emanating from each scroll and book on the shelves.
He saw a small room in the hall where an elder was seated. He looked peculiar.
Half of his face and body appeared burnt, while the other half was normal. He sat still, as if sleeping, and his aura was so calm that Duan Liyang was slightly surprised to see him. He was the hall's custodian.
Duan Liyang respectfully bowed before the elder. The elder slowly opened his eyes. One eye was normal, while the other was slightly distorted due to burnt skin, but they held a deep, ancient understanding. He looked at Duan Liyang with a meaningful glance, as if peering into his soul.
"Alright," he said in a slow, crackling voice. "Go to the first floor. Choose any cultivation technique you want."
Duan Liyang thanked the elder and proceeded towards the first floor.
The first floor was filled with hundreds of Earth-Rank techniques. Duan Liyang activated the blue particles in his eyes and began scanning each technique.
He picked up a book titled, 'Fire Blast Technique'. He opened it and read. "Concentrating fire to create an explosion..." Duan Liyang immediately put it back. This was fire-based, not wind. He needed a technique that would enhance his own wind-based power.
He looked through many more books and scrolls. 'Earth Fist,' 'Water Sword,' 'Light Shield'... they were all powerful, but none matched his unique wind-related ability.
He found no technique that could help him improve his own 'air compression blast' method. Disappointment began to settle in his mind.
After searching for a long time, Duan Liyang found no technique that could help him progress beyond his 'pop' punch. Disheartened, he walked back downstairs, where the same elder was still seated in his spot, eyes closed.
Duan Liyang bowed again. "Elder," he asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Is there no cultivation technique here that is related to wind? Especially something like compressing air to create an explosion, or a technique that helps with offensive power?"
The elder slowly opened his eyes. His deep eyes looked at Duan Liyang, as if piercing his soul. A faint, inscrutable smile appeared on his face.
"Wind... offense?" he whispered, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Wind is considered the weakest element in nature. No one learns it for offense, unless it's to increase speed. No one uses wind for fighting. That's why it's placed at the bottom tier among elements." A faint, mocking smile touched his lips.
Duan Liyang's heart sank. His face fell. He had thought his 'pop' punch was a unique strength, but the elder's words made him feel as though wind was truly useless for offense.
Disappointment clouded his eyes. He thought to himself, 'It seems my coming here was pointless. But yes, one thing I learned: wind is not good for offense, but it's flawless for speed.' Yet, he kept thinking, 'But I can use wind for offense!'
The elder looked at Duan Liyang's sad face, and pity appeared in his eyes. "But yes, child," he continued, a slight seriousness in his voice, "in terms of speed, air are at the forefront in this area." He took a deep breath.
"According to your current situation, the family does not have a suitable technique here for your current level. There are no speed techniques here either, as such rare techniques are very valuable, and you would need to reach Level 8 to access them."
"But I have one." the elder said, his eyes gleaming. He took out an old, yellowed scroll from under the table. It had no name, only a strange symbol. "Its name is 'Ocean Blast.'"
Duan Liyang's eyes widened.
"This is a very special technique," the elder said. "No one I have ever given it to has been able to learn it. But you..." He looked at Duan Liyang. "You can defeat a Level 4 even at Level 0."
Duan Liyang was astonished. "Elder, how did you know?" he stammered.
The elder smiled faintly. "Before you arrived, Big Sister Xiang Rui's grandfather told me everything about you." His smile deepened. "Let's see what you do."
The elder extended the scroll towards Duan Liyang. Duan Liyang took it, his fingers trembling slightly. As he touched the scroll, he felt an unclear sensation.
He felt as if this technique was made for him, and something within him desperately yearned for this technique, a deep, unknown calling. A cold, powerful energy coursed through his veins, connecting with his unique power within. Duan Liyang looked at the elder with gratitude and bowed his head. "Thank you very much, Elder." he said.
Duan Liyang left the Cultivation Technique Hall, clutching the 'Ocean Blast' scroll tightly in his hand. A new hope filled his eyes. He rushed straight back to his hut.
As he walked away, another elder emerged from within the hall. His stride commanded respect, and he went directly to the hall's custodian. "Do you know which technique that is, Elder?" he asked in a low voice, curiosity in his eyes.
The hall's custodian slowly opened his eyes. His deep eyes, one normal and one burnt, looked in the direction of Duan Liyang, who was walking away. A faint, inscrutable smile touched his lips.
"Yes," the hall's custodian whispered, a strange resonance in his voice. "My inner sight tells me he is worthy of it, and he will be able to learn this technique." He closed his eyes again.
"And yes," the second elder said, his voice a little more serious. "You know who gave him the token, right?"
At this question, the hall's custodian opened his eyes again. His eyes now glowed brighter than usual. A look of fear and profound respect appeared on his face. He said nothing, simply watched Duan Liyang walking away.
End of Chapter 13