Chapter 77: Innate Pulse Locking

“A couple of punches?”

Everyone was stunned by Zhang Xuan’s words. We are here to discuss the incident where a student you taught went berserk, yet you’re asking him to demonstrate his punching skills. What's going on? Even Elder Shang Chen looked bewildered. Punching? We are here to investigate the incident where your student went berserk. Please don't try to change the subject!

“Cough, Master Zhang,” Huang Yu couldn't help but interject, “I think you should explain the details of the student going berserk. What if… what you taught was correct, and it was… due to other reasons?” There are many reasons for someone to go berserk during cultivation. It could be due to incorrect teaching by the instructor, or it could be that the student misunderstood and practiced the wrong method. If it’s the latter, while there’s still some responsibility, it wouldn't be as severe as revoking a teacher’s qualification.

“Teacher,” Zhao Yanfeng said, knowing what she was thinking, “at that time, I cultivated precisely according to Teacher Zhang’s instructions, without any deviation, yet I still went berserk. I later specifically consulted Teacher Lu Xun, and he confirmed that Teacher Zhang’s cultivation method was indeed flawed; anyone following it would surely go berserk!” He harbored resentment towards Zhang Xuan, and seeing an opportunity to have his teaching qualification revoked, he naturally wouldn’t let it go.

“Master Zhang…” Seeing the victim’s statement, Huang Yu found herself unable to defend him further and could only look over helplessly. “Perform a set of boxing moves for me; I want to see if you’ve made any recent progress!” Ignoring the attempts to dissuade him, Zhang Xuan continued to look at the young man.

“Listen to Teacher Zhang. Perform a set of punches first!” Seeing his persistence, Huang Yu, though still completely bewildered, couldn’t help but turn and instruct. “Yes!” Although he didn’t know Huang Yu’s identity, seeing how respectful even Elder Shang Chen was towards her, Zhao Yanfeng dared not refuse. He nodded and walked to the center of the hall.

Whoosh, whoosh! Fists whistled through the air, full of power. Although young, his control over power was excellent, and his martial arts were remarkably refined. He was indeed a promising talent.

“Not bad. It seems Teacher Lu Xun has indeed eliminated the hidden risk of him going berserk!” “To possess such strength at this age is quite impressive!” Nearly everyone in the room was a cultivation expert, and they all nodded in approval as they watched Zhao Yanfeng’s moves.

Elder Shang Chen, meanwhile, quietly observed Zhang Xuan. He had expected Zhang Xuan to meticulously study the young man’s punching, perhaps looking for an excuse, but instead, he saw that the man had inexplicably closed his eyes, looking completely at ease. “What on earth is he doing?” Elder Shang Chen’s mind was filled with questions. Has this fellow gone mad, perhaps realizing he has no basis or evidence?

“Are you done?” Soon, the set of punches was complete. Seeing that the hated Teacher Zhang had kept his eyes closed the entire time, not even bothering to watch, Zhao Yanfeng felt like he was about to explode with rage. He gritted his teeth and asked. “Hmm,” Zhang Xuan opened his eyes.

“Alright, stop wasting time here. Since you’ve already admitted to guiding Zhao Yanfeng into going berserk, and he himself can corroborate it, just confess quickly! There’s no need to drag this out any further…” Fearing further complications, Elder Shang Chen couldn’t help but interject. “Not so fast!” Zhang Xuan cut him off, looking around. “Since you all wish to hear my explanation, then I shall explain it to you!”

Everyone’s spirits were roused; they were all eager to hear his explanation. Even Zhao Yanfeng couldn't help but glance over. “Actually… I intentionally made him go berserk!” Zhang Xuan’s voice echoed.

“What?” “Intentionally?” Everyone froze in place. Are you joking? This leaves no room for maneuver; his expulsion is now guaranteed!

“Haha!” Elder Shang Chen clearly hadn’t expected the man before him, who had been playing coy for so long, to admit it so readily, and even openly declare his intent. His eyes gleamed with excitement: “It’s good that you admit it! As a teacher, intentionally giving incorrect guidance and putting students in danger is simply heinous. Not revoking your teaching qualification would hardly appease public outrage! Assistant Teacher Huang, Elder Mo, there should be no more issues this time, right?”

“…” Huang Yu looked at Zhang Xuan helplessly. With such an admission, she couldn't help him even if she wanted to. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhao Yanfeng on one side clenching his fists, his teeth clenched, glaring at Zhang Xuan with unconcealed hatred in his eyes. “I wonder how I offended Teacher Zhang so grievously that you would wish to see me dead?”

As your student, you deliberately taught me incorrectly, causing me to go berserk. What deep-seated hatred or grudge could you possibly hold against me? The others present clearly thought of this point as well, and they all looked at Zhang Xuan in unison. On one side, Clan Leader Wang Hong also began to reconsider whether it was truly right or wrong to have his son and daughter take this man as their teacher.

No matter how profound his theories, or how skilled he teaches, what good is it? If he loses his temper and intentionally teaches incorrectly, it would be truly disastrous. A martial artist going berserk at the first level can still be saved, but it becomes much harder at higher cultivation levels.

Ignoring the gazes of everyone present, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, a look in his eyes suggesting that no one in the world understood him. He sighed, “Alas! It seems you still haven’t grasped it!”

“Grasp what?” Zhao Yanfeng’s face darkened. If not for the disparity in their strength, he might have lunged at Zhang Xuan. “Grasp what? You intentionally made me go berserk, and you expect me to ‘grasp’ something? Grasp what? Grasp death?”

“Didn’t any of you understand it either?” Zhang Xuan looked at Huang Yu, Elder Mo, and the others. “Understand?” The question left both of them bewildered. You intentionally taught incorrectly; what could we possibly understand from that? To see… how you destroy a student’s life?

“Alright, since none of you seem to have figured it out, I’ll explain!” Zhang Xuan shook his head and looked their way. “Have any of you heard of a physique known as innate locked meridians?”

“Innate locked meridians?” Huang Yu frowned, then recalled something. “I’ve heard of it. It’s not a special physique, but rather a condition—a disease! Individuals with this condition have numerous blockages in their meridians, much like a river choked with silt, preventing true qi from flowing properly. Even if they can cultivate, their progress is severely limited; reaching the first level of martial arts is their absolute limit, and advancing to the second level is virtually impossible!”

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone nodded. Though innate locked meridians are rare, cases do exist. As teachers and influential figures in their respective domains, they had all heard of this condition.

“Teacher Zhang mentioned innate locked meridians, could it be…?” Teacher Mo Xiang remembered something, his eyes widening, and he couldn’t help but look over. “Precisely! Zhao Yanfeng possesses this physique!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

“Me? I have innate locked meridians?” Zhao Yanfeng was full of disbelief. “That’s impossible… I’ve never felt any impediment during my cultivation. How could I have innate locked meridians?”

“No impediments?” Zhang Xuan looked over, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. “Then let me ask you: before you went berserk, did you ever feel short of breath during cultivation? And each time you gathered spiritual energy, did you experience a sensation of your entire body being torn apart?”

“You… how do you know?” Zhao Yanfeng, who had initially dismissed it as nonsense, felt his pupils constrict upon hearing this. His body involuntarily stiffened.