Chapter 37: Discussion of the Dao Across Three Cities

The Four Spirits Body Refining technique: the Azure Dragon resides in the East and belongs to the Wood element.

Jiang Wang savored the vitality, feeling the growth of his blood and qi. He wondered if it was an illusion, but the newly born Dao Origin within his Heaven-Reaching Palace seemed a bit more agile, which significantly reduced the difficulty of arranging the formation nodes.

To be able to directly nourish the physical body with the vigorous essence of the Wood element before opening the Heaven and Earth Gate was undoubtedly one of the advantages of the Military School's cultivation method.

The Four Spirits Body Refining technique was exceptionally complete and aligned with the Great Dao: using the Metal element to temper the bones, the Fire element to forge the body, the Water element to nourish the flesh and blood, and adding the Wood element to increase blood and qi.

As for Jiang Wang, he had no intention of switching to the Military School's path, nor did he plan to attempt using blood and qi to surge through his meridians. However, the strengthened power of his blood and qi could also feed back into his Dao Origin, accelerating the speed at which he condensed his Dao Vortexes.

Originally, he could only perform two or three sessions of meridian-surging cultivation per day; any remaining time had to be spent honing his swordsmanship or studying Dao Classics. But now, his Purple Qi from the East Sword Art had reached a bottleneck. At least for his current self, diverting attention to body refining would not hinder his cultivation progress.

The prospects of the Zhou Tian Starry Map Foundation Diagram seemed very bright, but it was indeed too difficult and slow.

However, Jiang Wang was not anxious. When he was very young, his father had told him that a ninety-nine-year-old ginseng could sell for a hundred taels of silver, but if one were willing to wait one more year, the price of a century-old ginseng would be measured in gold.

Waiting was not in vain; some futures were worth the wait.

Thus, even as rumors spread through the Dao Academy—whispering that Fang Heling was about to condense his second Dao Vortex, or that someone else had already opened their meridians and would soon overtake everyone—Jiang Wang remained steady and unhurried. He kept to his routine, working tirelessly day and night.

...

October is also known as the Dew Moon. As autumn fades and winter approaches, dew forms more frequently, hence the name.

For the residents of Maple Forest City, the most important event this October was undoubtedly the Three-City Dao Debate.

The so-called Three-City Dao Debate, as the name implies, was a joint competitive debate and martial demonstration organized by the three neighboring city Dao Academies. Its purpose was mutual exchange and tempering, but in practice, it served as preparation for the County Dao Academy examinations held every November. Similar activities existed in various city academies throughout the State of Zhuang, just under different names.

For example, the "North Wind Snow Performance" organized by Qinglan City and White Deer City in the Daishan County region—named after the phrase "In the tenth month of early winter, the north wind lingers"—was much more elegant and interesting. It had even become a famous event in Daishan County, attracting many tourists every year. In reality, it was merely a joint competition among the five surrounding cities.

In comparison, the "Three-City Dao Debate" was much simpler and more plain. There was no helping it; the three neighboring cities were Wangjiang City, Maple Forest City, and Sanshan City.

Maple Forest City needed no explanation; plainness was its style. The red maples on the outskirts of the city were as fiery as flames, offering no lack of beautiful scenery, but its only somewhat famous poem was written by a passing cultivator from Qinglan City.

Wangjiang City was profit-driven to its core and cared nothing for elegance. Sanshan City was even simpler; its people were still disparagingly referred to as mountain barbarians to this day.

This was the foundation of the three cities, so there was nothing much to say. However, with development over the years, it had gradually become more than just an exchange between students. To some extent, it reflected the strength of the three cities and influenced the distribution of resources by the Zhuang Imperial Court, giving it a competitive edge.

This year, it happened to be Maple Forest City's turn, so the entire city, from the City Lord down to the common folk, paid close attention. Major restaurants were already decorated with lanterns and streamers, the government had tightened security, and thieves had vanished for the time being.

Within the Maple Forest City Dao Academy, a selection process was naturally underway.

...

"That is how things stand." Wei Quji rarely appeared at the same time as Dong A, but neither of them would sit; they both stood upon the stage.

"According to tradition, our city academy will each select two students from the first, third, and fifth years to participate in this debate." Wei Quji had dark skin and a stern gaze; he was truly intimidating when he wasn't smiling. "I will speak plainly: victory is expected, defeat is not permitted. Those who lose, do not blame me, Wei, for making your lives difficult."

The so-called "first-year students" were those who had been cultivating in the academy for about a year; in reality, the main force was selected from the previous year's disciples, who had been cultivating for over a year. The same applied to the third and fifth years. The reason there were no participants from students beyond the fifth year was that those who had not progressed to the County Dao Academy after five years had generally given up on cultivation to pursue wealth and status in the secular world.

With the City Lord speaking so directly, the students standing below the stage couldn't help but feel nervous. Some students who had planned to make a name for themselves in this debate began to hesitate immediately.

"A victory for a first-year student earns ten Dao Merit points. Twenty points for a third-year, and fifty for a fifth-year." While Dong A supplemented with words to warm up the crowd, his expression remained cold and solemn.

One with a dark face and one with a cold face—they complemented each other well. However, the two most prominent figures of Maple Forest City had both, coincidentally, demonstrated the importance they placed on this debate.

This did not just involve the allocation of resources; it was also a reflection of their governance and a matter of prestige.

Especially after an entire small town had been reduced to wasteland, Maple Forest City was desperate to project a powerful voice.

"I will now call the names directly. If anyone feels their strength is insufficient and wishes to withdraw, speak now." Since this debate was so important, Dong A did not bother with voluntary registration but instead called names directly: "This debate will be led by Zhang Linchuan..."

Below the stage, Zhang Linchuan pressed his forehead helplessly and muttered, "The pressure is huge."

"The pressure is huge?" Dong A's gaze had already fallen from the stage. With the cultivation of a Fifth-Rank expert, let alone a mutter, even if someone had just farted, he could find the owner immediately.

"But my confidence is high!" Zhang Linchuan immediately replied.

Only then did Dong A let him go and continue reading the other names.

"Senior Brother Zhang is truly worthy of the name; even the Dean recognizes you as the number one person in our academy!" Huang Azhan whispered flattery from the side.

Zhang Linchuan had arrived at the academy quite late today, so he simply didn't go to the front rows and instead stood with Jiang Wang and the others. Perhaps it was precisely to be ignored by the Dean, but he was still singled out immediately.

"If Zhu Weiwu and Wei Yan could both make it, would I have to work this hard?" Zhang Linchuan gave Huang Azhan a clear-eyed glare; he certainly didn't want Wei Yan showing up at his door with a blade tomorrow.

But he then immediately covered his nose with a handkerchief: "How long has it been since you bathed?"

"A real man cannot waste time on bathing!" Huang Azhan said righteously, before lowering his head to sniff a few more times. "No smell..."

Zhang Linchuan moved two steps forward in disgust.

Wei Yan was from the Ministry of War, so it was normal for him not to participate in the academy debate. But why wasn't Zhu Weiwu there? Shouldn't such a prominent figure appear at a time like this?

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang asked, "Why can't Senior Brother Zhu participate?"

"Oh, it seems he went to hunt a Heart-Swallowing Demon," Zhang Linchuan said casually.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Huang Azhan all stared, dumbfounded in unison.

Hunting?

The Nine Great Human Demons were fearsome! They ravaged nations and committed countless evils; it was no exaggeration to call them the world's most notorious criminals. Even if Xiong Wen only ranked among them through cruel means and was the weakest of the Nine Great Human Demons, he was still a Sixth-Rank expert who had opened the Heaven and Earth Gate—an existence qualified to be called a Tenglong (Soaring Dragon) cultivator!

A Ninth-Rank cultivator uses Dao Origin to arrange formation nodes and establish Dao Vortexes to complete the foundation. When the True Spirit of the Dao Pulse leaps within the Dao Vortex, they reach the Wandering Pulse Realm.

An Eighth-Rank cultivator establishes three Dao Vortexes and constructs a small Zhou Tian cycle within the Heaven-Reaching Palace. This is the Zhou Tian Realm.

A Seventh-Rank cultivator establishes the three small Zhou Tian cycles of Heaven, Earth, and Man, completes the Great Zhou Tian cycle, and then connects the physical body and cleanses the Heaven-Reaching Palace. Only then does the Great Dragon of the Dao Pulse awaken, allowing them to see the Heaven and Earth Gate! This is the Heaven-Reaching Realm.

The closed Heaven and Earth Gate of the Heaven-Reaching Palace is also known as the first hurdle of cultivation. Only by breaking through the Heaven and Earth Gate can one realize their true nature and allow the Dao Pulse to soar like a dragon.

Before the Sixth Rank, the standard Dao Academy robe for any student could only be made of hemp, signifying a heart that does not fear hardship and is ready to push through thorns.

Upon reaching the Sixth Rank, experts of the middle three ranks could wear the Tenglong Dao Robe. The three realms of Tenglong, Inner Mansion, and Outer Tower were only distinguished by minor details.

This was a symbol of status, a concrete manifestation of honor.

Any cultivator qualified to wear the Tenglong Dao Robe could be called an expert.

Moreover, a figure with a fearsome reputation like Xiong Wen was an elite among Tenglong Realm cultivators.

And now, Zhu Weiwu, a mere student of a city academy, was actually hunting him?