Chapter 27: The Elder's New Path

Chapter 27: The Elder's New Path

The night after Duan Liang's victory was a joyous blur of celebration with friends, but as morning broke, the weight of his new responsibilities settled upon his young shoulders. He was no longer merely a disciple; he was now the Youngest Elder of the Xiao family, a title that came with unique privileges and new opportunities.

He learned that as an Elder, he would have the chance to choose any two techniques from the second and third floors of the Cultivation Technique Hall. This was a privilege ordinary disciples could only dream of, and a subtle wave of excitement stirred within him.

Duan Liang made his way to the Cultivation Technique Hall. As he stepped inside the vast hall, his eyes immediately fell upon the two venerable Elders who had granted him the 'Ocean Blast' technique just a few months prior. This time, a clear expression of astonishment spread across their faces.

One of the Elders' eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "Is this the same Duan Liang we met just a few months ago for 'Ocean Blast'? I can't believe you've become an Elder so quickly!" His voice carried a mix of bewilderment and a hint of genuine delight.

The second Elder smiled faintly, adding, "Your progress is truly remarkable, young Duan Liang. It seems we made no mistake in recognizing your talent." His eyes held a deep understanding and satisfaction.

Duan Liang bowed respectfully, a calm demeanor masking the flicker of pride he felt at their reactions.

The Elders conversed with him for a while, sincerely praising his recent victory and his rapid advancement. Then, the Elder who had given him 'Ocean Blast' gestured with a sweeping hand. "Alright, Duan Liang. Now that you are an Elder, you are granted special privileges. You are allowed to choose any two techniques from the second and third floors of the Cultivation Technique Hall." His voice held an authoritative tone.

A faint smile touched Duan Liang's lips. This was indeed an opportunity he had never anticipated. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

As Duan Liang ascended the stairs to the second floor, the young disciples standing nearby began to whisper amongst themselves. Their eyes were filled with wonder and confusion.

"Look! That small boy is heading to the second floor," one disciple whispered, disbelief in his voice. "Is he lost? Only special individuals can go to the second floor!"

Another chimed in, "It seems a new disciple made a mistake. Someone should stop him before he gets into trouble."

But then, one disciple, who had witnessed Duan Liang's extraordinary capabilities in the arena, raised a hand to quiet them. A look of understanding crossed his face. He spoke in a low but clear voice, "Speak softer! That is no ordinary disciple. That is Duan Liang, the Youngest Elder of the Xiao family! He's not even nine years old yet."

Upon hearing this, all the disciples froze in astonishment. Their eyes widened in shock, and they stared at Duan Liang with disbelief as he calmly continued up the stairs to the second floor. Their initial confusion had now transformed into complete awe.

Selection of New Techniques and Elder's Counsel

Duan Liang reached the upper floors. Amidst the countless cultivation techniques, he delved into deep thought, meticulously examining each scroll. His eyes lingered on the details of each technique, weighing their advantages and disadvantages in his mind. After considerable deliberation, he chose two techniques. The first was a wind-based attack technique he named 'Void Wind Strike', a High-Stage Earth-level technique. The second was a movement technique, which he named 'Tempest Steps'.

He returned to the venerable Elders with these two techniques. When he presented 'Void Wind Strike', the Elder who had given him 'Ocean Blast' smiled. "Haha, child! You were looking for similar techniques last time too, wind-based ones. But know this, a wind-based attack technique like 'Void Wind Strike' is much weaker than an equivalent fire-based attack technique of the same level." His expression showed a slight hint of disappointment, yet also the seasoned wisdom of a true master.

Duan Liang listened to his words and immediately sank into deep contemplation. He understood that the Elder was guiding him towards a better option. Without hesitation, he returned 'Void Wind Strike' to its place.

Then, the Elder pointed to 'Tempest Steps' and said, "And this second technique you chose, 'Tempest Steps', it is absolutely correct! It is a bit difficult to learn. To this day, no one in our family's history has fully mastered it. This is a speed technique with 4 stages. To date, anyone who has learned it has only reached Stage 1, yet their speed is unbeatable among opponents of their same level, because speed truly is unconquerable in the universe! But for the attack technique you intend to choose, I advise you to select a fire-based one." His voice held both praise and a cautionary note.

Duan Liang politely replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder. But I have a question: my body possesses the wind element. Can a body not possess more than one element?" A curious expression was etched on his face.

The Elder chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Child, that is only true for those at cultivation levels 0 to 9. But the energy within you is very pure, and it is possible to possess the power of two or even three elements simultaneously. Perhaps it depends on the capability of the one learning. If you try to sense it, you will feel the fire element within you too. Your age is still at the very beginning of the cultivation journey, just a little over eight years old. You are promising; recognize your own potential." He gently patted Duan Liang's shoulder.

Duan Liang closed his eyes for a moment, pondering deeply over the Elder's words. Fire! Could he truly possess the fire element too? This was a new and intriguing possibility. He opened his eyes and asked, "Alright, Elder. Can you suggest any fire-related techniques?"

The Elder laughed, his laughter echoing through the hall. "For fire, you should ask the Elder sitting next to me; he knows it very well." He gestured towards the other Elder, whose eyes already held an expectant glint.

Duan Liang turned towards him and bowed respectfully. That Elder, whose face held a calm yet serious expression, spoke, "Young man, I am giving you a technique. It will provide you with unique defense and is also proficient in attack. How much you can learn from it depends on you. Its name is 'Fire Beast Clone'. It is an Earth-level Medium-Stage technique. Do not be discouraged by this. It is quite difficult to cultivate it to perfection, but if you even learn a little of it, it will be equivalent to a High-Stage Earth-level technique."

Duan Liang listened and once again fell into deep thought. 'A Medium-Stage Earth-level technique equivalent to a High-Stage Earth-level technique? This would be truly extraordinary!' The possibilities of this technique swirled in his mind. He then expressed his profound gratitude.

The Elder then added, "This technique was once possessed by the family leader. He gave it to me because I cultivate fire. But with my old bones, I couldn't learn much of it." His voice held a hint of regret, but also the satisfaction of passing on a valuable technique to the promising young Duan Liang.