Chapter 131: A New Technique

After several days of long-distance flight, Lu Zhe and Elder Ye once again stepped into the Boundless Desert.

Looking out over the endless expanse of sand, Lu Zhe was at a loss for words, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. This was the place where he had obtained the "Polar Mountain Fire Sunflower," but it was also the site of his most dangerous encounters, where he had brushed against death on more than one occasion. Suffice it to say, everything that had happened here remained vivid in his memory, leaving a profound impression on him.

"Let's go," Elder Ye said, tapping him on the shoulder to urge him forward as he gazed into the distance.

Lu Zhe offered a bitter, helpless smile before quickening his pace to follow the elder into the depths of the desert.

The Boundless Desert knew no distinct seasons. If one had to describe it, the first half of the year was slightly cooler, while the latter half reached blistering temperatures. Consequently, those traveling or conducting business here generally chose the first half of the year. Every day was defined by a scorching sun that seemed to make the sand smoke. Dust storms that blotted out the sky occurred frequently, and the ground was riddled with hidden patches of quicksand. Ironically, it was because of one such patch that Lu Zhe had stumbled upon the Polar Mountain Fire Sunflower; in a way, he owed that treacherous ground a debt of gratitude.

As the two trekked through the yellow sand, sinking with every step, Lu Zhe looked up at the sky and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He pulled a canteen from his storage ring, took a few gulps, adjusted his alchemist’s robe, and continued to follow Elder Ye’s aimless path.

Even though his alchemist’s robe was designed to keep the wearer cool in summer and warm in winter, Lu Zhe still felt uncomfortably hot. The daytime temperatures here could reach fifty degrees Celsius; an ordinary person would have died of dehydration long ago. If Lu Zhe were not a fire-attribute practitioner, he would have fainted from the heat hours ago. Even so, seeing that Elder Ye showed no sign of stopping, he had no choice but to push on.

After walking for nearly an hour, Elder Ye suddenly stopped and turned back to say, "Let's take a rest."

Hearing this, joy immediately lit up Lu Zhe’s face. He hurried to sit on the ground, drank deeply from his canteen, and caught his breath. After resting for a while, he realized he was still sweltering. He looked up at the fierce sun and pulled his hood forward to shield himself from the glare.

Elder Ye seemed to notice the oppressive heat as well. He scanned the surroundings, finding no shade, and hesitated for a moment. Suddenly, he slammed his staff into the ground with great force, driving it deep into the sand. With a twist of his wrist, a low, booming rumble echoed from beneath the earth. Before Lu Zhe could react, a massive, lush tree erupted from the sand directly in front of the elder.

Lu Zhe watched, stunned, and swallowed hard. Elder Ye took a few steps into the shade and remarked, "Well? Are you planning on standing in the sun?"

Lu Zhe scrambled to his feet, dashed under the tree, and collapsed at the base of its trunk, letting out a sigh of relief. The tree Elder Ye had conjured was truly remarkable; with its thick trunk and dense canopy, it blocked out a vast patch of sunlight, serving as an oasis of comfort in the heat-blasted desert.

After cooling down for a while, Elder Ye approached Lu Zhe. Observing his student’s look of relief, a strange expression flickered in the elder’s eyes. He touched the storage ring on his left pinky finger, and after a flash of light, a long object wrapped tightly in black cloth appeared in his hand.

"Lu Zhe," Elder Ye called out softly.

Lu Zhe turned his head, and as Elder Ye tossed the dark, heavy-looking object toward him, he instinctively reached out to catch it. To his surprise, the item was incredibly heavy, causing him to stumble forward and fall face-first into the sand.

"Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo!" Lu Zhe spat out the sand, shook his head to clear his hair, and looked down at the object.

He used all his strength to lift the wrapped item and tore away the black cloth, revealing a gleaming silver iron mace.

"So it really is my 'Meteor Mystery Mace'." Lu Zhe had suspected as much when the elder tossed it, and the sheer weight of it had confirmed his theory. He wasn't particularly surprised by its appearance.

"What do you mean by giving this to me?" Lu Zhe asked, struggling to hold the weapon up.

Elder Ye, his face partially hidden by a green scarf, replied calmly, "You are now a Seven-Star Spirit Master; you are ready to wield it."

Lu Zhe nodded, examined the mace carefully, and then wrapped it back in the black cloth.

"Do you remember when I made you practice swinging that log?" Elder Ye suddenly asked.

Lu Zhe nodded. "I remember. Why do you ask?"

Elder Ye said nothing, but strolled out from under the shade, saying over his shoulder, "At the time, you asked me why you needed to practice swinging wood. Today, I will show you the reason!"

Lu Zhe’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. He watched as Elder Ye stepped several yards away and stood silently before a dune that looked like a small mountain.

Confused, Lu Zhe scratched his head, ready to call out to him. Suddenly, Elder Ye’s robes began to flutter without a breeze, and the yellow sand beneath his feet swirled into a tornado-like dust storm that circled him incessantly. Elder Ye raised his arm horizontally, gripping his ever-present green bamboo staff. When his arm was level, he pulled it back sharply, stepped forward with his left foot into a deep lunge, and bent his left arm while extending his right behind him. Suddenly, he swung his right arm forward, and the bamboo staff erupted with a brilliant green light. As the light reached a blinding intensity, Elder Ye let out a shout and swung his arm in an arc. A crescent-shaped wave of green energy shot from the staff, slamming heavily into the sand dune.

*BOOM!*

With a thunderous crash, the green energy struck the dune, splitting it clean in half. A massive wall of sand surged toward them, threatening to bury them alive.

Seeing the sky-blackening wave of sand, Lu Zhe broke into a cold sweat and prepared to flee. But just then, Elder Ye looked up at the encroaching disaster and flicked his right hand upward. A flash of green light cut through the air, and the entire wave of sand was sliced in two, right down the middle!

The split sand bypassed them, surging past on either side before collapsing behind them, leaving a new, mountain-like dune in its wake.

Lu Zhe had watched the entire process, utterly stunned by the sheer power of the display.

Elder Ye straightened his robes and walked back into the shade. Seeing Lu Zhe staring with eyes as wide as saucers, he patted him on the shoulder. "What’s wrong?"

The question snapped Lu Zhe out of his trance. Looking at his master, his face filled with irrepressible excitement. "Master, what technique was that just now?"

Elder Ye smiled faintly. "That was the 'Sever' technique from the 'Rising Sun Hundred-Refinement Mace'."

"'Rising Sun Hundred-Refinement Mace'?" Lu Zhe murmured to himself, then asked, "What does 'Sever' mean?"

Elder Ye explained with a smile, "The Rising Sun Hundred-Refinement Mace is an offensive art consisting of several forms. 'Sever' is just one of them, much like a crushing punch. Beyond that, there are also 'Rift,' 'Break,' 'Hundred-Strike,' 'Blazing Sun,' and 'Wind Sweeping Away the Clouds,' among others."

After hearing this, Lu Zhe’s eyes sparkled. "Teach me! Teach me!"

Elder Ye laughed. "Alright, alright, don't be so impatient. I will teach you. But first, you must be able to wield that iron mace proficiently."

Lu Zhe turned to look at the mace, swallowed hard, and walked over to it. He bent down, used all his strength to lift it, and swung it a few times, quickly finding himself panting like an ox.

Elder Ye walked over and watched his student gasping for air. "I believe I told you before: this 'Meteor Mystery Mace' is forged from 'Meteor Mystery Iron,' one of the six great miracle metals. It is not only incredibly heavy but also has the effect of suppressing the circulation of spiritual energy within the wielder. If you want to use it with ease, you must practice more."

Lu Zhe nodded. Gathering his strength and gritting his teeth, he stepped out of the shade and began to swing the mace again.

Elder Ye nodded, sat cross-legged on the ground, and watched quietly as Lu Zhe, bare-chested under the scorching sun, practiced his swings. This went on, master watching and student practicing, until the sun dipped below the horizon.

The temperature difference between day and night in the Boundless Desert was like heaven and earth—one could die of heat by day and freeze by night.

That evening, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. A lonely wind whistled through the endless desert, evoking a profound sense of solitude.

Elder Ye had built a campfire under the tree. Opposite him lay Lu Zhe, who had spent the entire day swinging the mace. He was sprawled on the sand, utterly exhausted, seemingly lacking the strength even to open his mouth to speak.

The firelight flickered, burning quietly in the desolate wilderness.

Watching the spent Lu Zhe, Elder Ye asked with a smile, "How do you feel?"

Lu Zhe didn't even turn his head; moving seemed too much effort. Gazing at the pitch-black night sky, he replied faintly, "Tired enough to die."

Elder Ye chuckled, the reflection of the fire dancing in his dark, deep eyes. He threw a twig into the flames and continued, "Being tired is good. It means you worked hard."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Lu Zhe’s mouth. Still staring at the ink-black sky, he blinked and asked, "Master, what were you doing all those days you weren't with me?"

Elder Ye’s brow twitched, not expecting the question, but he replied, "I went to handle some very important matters."

Lu Zhe said nothing more and did not press for details. After all, he didn't need to worry about what his master was doing.

After a while, Elder Ye said, "Zhe'er, you..." But before he could finish his sentence, a soft snoring sound drifted over.

Elder Ye offered a wry smile, pulled a blanket from his storage ring to cover Lu Zhe, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

That night, the moon was bright, the stars were sparse, and the vault of heaven was like ink. The wind blew gently across the desert...