Chapter 2050: Is He Zhang Xuan?

"Of course!" Sect Master Kui Xiao nodded. Many of their secret manuals were available for sale. As an elder, and potentially the future sect master, he naturally had access to view them.

"Then it's no problem, I agree..."

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. If the other party could help him reach Immortal Monarch as quickly as possible, all his problems would be solved. After all, he was an elder in Lingyun Sword Pavilion and also the sect master of the Ten Thousand Beasts Gate. Since he was currently in disguise, at worst, he could just send his clone to impersonate his main body. As long as it wasn't the Sect Master... a normal elder posed no significant problem!

Seeing him agree, Sect Master Kui Xiao sighed in relief. As the remaining matters involved the Seven Star Tower's secrets, the elder from the Transcendent Hall naturally could not stay longer and turned to take his leave.

After the elder left, Sect Master Kui Xiao flipped his wrist, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm. "This is an Immortal Monarch-level Obstacle-Breaking Pill. It can increase your chances of breaking through to the Immortal Monarch realm by twenty percent! I see you've already reached the peak of True Immortal. As long as you're prepared, breaking through now shouldn't be difficult!"

For breaking through to Immortal Monarch, although it's only a twenty percent increase in chance, for many, it already makes an enormous difference. What's more, the other party was invincible at their current level, indicating an exceptionally profound understanding of martial techniques and cultivation methods. For someone like him, with this kind of pill, a breakthrough was practically guaranteed!

"Thank you!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up as he reached out and took the jade bottle. Although he had never seen one before, he had read enough books to know the immense value of such an Obstacle-Breaking Pill. A single pill was no less expensive than an Immortal Monarch realm weapon! To casually give away such a valuable medicine was indeed a significant favor. It seemed he would have to put his utmost effort into the combat challenge the other party wanted him to undertake.

"You're welcome! Within the sect, there's also a quiet room crafted from Serenity Stones. Cultivating there prevents the growth of inner demons and allows for a better breakthrough... If Elder Liu needs it, I can take you there now..." Sect Master Kui Xiao continued.

"That won't be necessary... I merely have some doubts regarding my cultivation. I believe I only need to read some books to find a solution and then I can break through successfully. May I ask... where is the Seven Star Tower's library? Could I go and take a look?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

As he cultivated the Heaven's Path Divine Art, he had no inner demons and thus would not suffer any backlash. The only time he had one, it was shattered by the pendant Luo Ruoxi had given him. Therefore, quiet rooms made of Serenity Stones or similar materials were of no use to him; it didn't matter whether he went or not.

"Read books?" Sect Master Kui Xiao had expected the person before him to immediately consume the pill and seize the opportunity to break through. He hadn't anticipated that he would want to read books to resolve his doubts. He couldn't help but nod, a look of satisfaction on his face. To be able to hold back from breaking through and instead seek the most suitable method... no wonder he was so powerful at his level! It seemed his previous concerns had been somewhat unnecessary.

"Grand Elder, please take Elder Liu there. If he needs it, he may also view the hidden collection of books!"

"Yes!" The Grand Elder nodded.

Seven Star Tower not only possessed its own sect's library but also had books that were put up for auction and sale, which was why their collection was so extensive. However, many of the books designated for sale involved other sects or secret arts. Disciples and elders within the sect were not permitted to view them, for fear of any mishaps. Given this person's firm resolve, it would do no harm for him to take a look. As stones from other hills can be used to polish jade, perhaps he could use this opportunity to successfully assault the Immortal Monarch realm!

The library was in the Heavenly Authority Hall. Following behind the Grand Elder, he entered directly.

"Feel free to browse. I'll head back first!" With that, the Grand Elder turned and left.

Zhang Xuan looked up. This library was much more spacious than Lingyun Sword Pavilion's and contained far more books. Various cultivation techniques were on display, a dazzling array, unlike the singular focus of Ten Thousand Beasts Gate and Sword Pavilion. He quickly absorbed all the books on the first floor into his mind, followed by the second and third floors. Three hours later, all the books in the entire library had been gathered into his mental library.

"There are indeed some soul cultivation techniques for the True Immortal realm here, but... they are far from reaching the Heaven's Path level!" He found a quiet room, sat down, and carefully sorted through the books he had just collected. The Seven Star Tower's cultivation methods were quite diverse. There were hundreds of books primarily focused on soul cultivation, but they still couldn't form a complete Heaven's Path level technique. As for Immortal Monarch realm cultivation methods, although there were more than at Ten Thousand Beasts Gate and Lingyun Sword Pavilion, there were only about thirty, still a great distance from the Heaven's Path level.

"It seems I still can't break through anytime soon..." Rubbing his temples, Zhang Xuan felt a little depressed. It seemed he definitely had to go to the Starchaser Palace.

While Zhang Xuan was reading books, the atmosphere in the Heavenly Pivot Hall was tense.

"Does the Sect Master intend for this outsider to fight on my behalf against other sects?" Elder Hong Wu's face was ashen. "I object!"

"You fought in the Transcendent Hall, and you couldn't even withstand a single move from the opponent. What is there to object to?" Sect Master Kui Xiao frowned.

"He's not a member of our Seven Star Tower. On what grounds does he deserve to receive the sect's once-a-century quota?" Elder Hong Wu shook his head. "This person claims his name is Liu Yang, but his true identity and origins are completely unknown, and we can't find anything through investigation. What if he's a disguised expert from the Divine Temple? Wouldn't we be slapping ourselves in the face? No, I must teach him a lesson and make him reveal his true intentions..."

After learning the other party's name was Liu Yang, he had specifically sent people to investigate, but so far, there was no useful information whatsoever! It was as if this person had appeared out of thin air! Under normal circumstances, someone at the peak of the True Immortal realm with such powerful combat ability couldn't possibly be unknown. The inability to find anything was truly unsettling. After all, the Bridge to Heaven determined the sect's direction for the next hundred years. If any mistake occurred, it was uncertain whether Seven Star Tower could even remain among the six major sects.

"I've fought with experts from the Divine Temple. His cultivation methods and martial techniques are not theirs!" Sect Master Kui Xiao shook his head. "However, the name Liu Yang is probably false. I've already had the Grand Elder investigate based on his appearance. Barring any surprises, we should have news soon!"

What the other party could think of, he naturally could as well. Allowing the other party to replace Elder Hong Wu at the Bridge to Heaven would be tantamount to pre-establishing his status as sect master, so caution was definitely required.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Grand Elder re-entered the room.

"How is it?" Sect Master Kui Xiao looked over.

"I have relayed the information to all Seven Star Tower branches, and no genius with the same appearance or soul aura as this Liu Yang has been detected!" The Grand Elder cupped his fist.

Seven Star Tower was not like Lingyun Sword Pavilion; instead, it was structured more like a trading company, with countless branches across the continent. Cultivators could purchase treasures, cultivation methods, and more there! This was why their information network was so extensive.

"None?" Sect Master Kui Xiao frowned and asked, "What about Sect Master Zhang Xuan's and Sect Master Zheng Yang's appearance and soul aura?"

"Here..." The Grand Elder took out a jade tablet and handed it over. Sect Master Kui Xiao lightly brushed his finger over the tablet, and two figures immediately appeared: Zhang Xuan, and Zheng Yang, whom he had impersonated!

Zhang Xuan had stayed in Lingyun Sword Pavilion for a relatively long time, so it wasn't surprising that his appearance and soul aura could be found. However, he had spent no more than a day in Ten Thousand Beasts Gate, and few people had seen him there, yet the other party could still find him... Seven Star Tower's information gathering ability was indeed terrifyingly powerful!

"Sect Master, do you suspect... that this Liu Yang might be Sect Master Zhang Xuan or Sect Master Zheng Yang in disguise?" Seeing him observe so carefully, the Grand Elder couldn't help but look over.

Sect Master Kui Xiao nodded.

"Sect Master Zhang Xuan is at the peak of the True Immortal realm, which matches Liu Yang. However, he comprehends the Divine Sword Intent and has exceptional swordsmanship... This person before us defeated both of us easily with just his bare hands... There wasn't the slightest hint of sword intent in his moves, so it shouldn't be him, right?" The Grand Elder frowned. "As for... Sect Master Zheng Yang, according to the incoming reports, he is at the peak of the Immortal Monarch realm, which is why he could easily tame flood dragons and nine-headed fire phoenix beasts... This makes him even more incompatible with Liu Yang! Moreover, I specifically observed their soul auras, and there's no similarity between any of the three..." He didn't understand why the Sect Master would have such suspicions. It was quite obvious they were completely different.

"In the City of Sunken Traps, there grows a type of herb called the 'Form-Changing Grass.' After consuming it, one can not only alter their skin color and appearance but also make their soul aura completely different from before!" Sect Master Kui Xiao said. "I've seen this item once, but I couldn't obtain it!"

"Sect Master, do you suspect... this Liu Yang consumed Form-Changing Grass?" The Grand Elder was stunned.

"Not exactly. I'm just saying that a completely different appearance and soul aura doesn't necessarily mean it's not the same person!" Sect Master Kui Xiao's brow furrowed. "I just find it a bit strange!"

"Strange?"

"Lingyun Sword Pavilion just found a sect master who comprehended Divine Sword Intent. Then, Ten Thousand Beasts Gate suddenly produced an unparalleled genius whose beast taming skills surpassed even their founding patriarch's, even capable of modifying beast taming techniques that had remained unchanged for thousands of years... And now, our Seven Star Tower has abruptly seen the emergence of someone invincible at the True Immortal realm, with no one able to match him..." Sect Master Kui Xiao shook his head. "Don't you think... the appearance of all these geniuses is too strange?"

The Grand Elder was momentarily stunned. He hadn't noticed it until the Sect Master pointed it out, but indeed, it was true. Normally, the emergence of a genius of this caliber once every few centuries would be extraordinary. Yet, in just over ten days, three had appeared... It was indeed a bit abnormal.

"So the Sect Master also finds him suspicious?" Upon hearing the Sect Master's words, Elder Hong Wu's eyes lit up. He had thought the Sect Master was perhaps getting muddled in his old age, being so generous to someone he had just met. Now, however, it seemed he was as wise as ever. At the very least, these were things he hadn't considered.

"It's not that I find him suspicious..." Sect Master Kui Xiao shook his head. "I just thoroughly questioned the elder from the Transcendent Hall. This Liu Yang initially wanted to rent a flying immortal beast to quickly reach the Sea of Starchasers. It was through the elder's introduction that he decided to travel with us. The Transcendent Hall was trying to make a profit and quoted too high a price, and because he lacked the money, he went to participate in the open challenge! So, he didn't challenge to attract our attention, nor does he have any other designs on Seven Star Tower. Furthermore... from what I observed, when we sparred with him, he had no idea that the people he 'killed' were us!"

"This..." The Grand Elder and Elder Hong Wu were both speechless.

He didn't know who they were, and so... he knocked them out one by one with a single palm strike?