Chapter 38: Can I Hurt People? (Begging for recommendation votes)

“The Eldest Senior Brother is truly the Eldest Senior Brother,” Ling He sighed, feeling a sense of profound awe.

“Then what is Senior Brother Zhu’s current cultivation level?” Jiang Wang asked again.

“I haven't seen him in a while either,” Zhang Linchuan sighed inexplicably. “He should have broken through the Heaven-Earth Gate by now...”

“Then he isn't much different from you, Senior Brother! You're neck and neck! As for being number one in the City Dao Academy, I still bet on you, Senior Brother Zhang!” Huang Azhan was extremely persistent in his sycophancy.

Everyone knew that Zhang Linchuan had seen the Heaven-Earth Gate long ago and was just one step away from the Sixth Grade Dragon Soaring Realm. So, saying they weren't much different wasn't entirely inaccurate, but...

Zhang Linchuan gave Huang Azhan a very strange look and took two steps back.

Although Zhu Weiwu had only just entered the Sixth Grade, he was hunting the Heart-Swallowing Demon across the entire world! How could he be an ordinary Sixth Grade practitioner?

Zhao Rucheng and Jiang Wang exchanged a glance and, with perfect tacit understanding, also shuffled away to a different spot.

“Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by that?” Huang Azhan clamored.

Zhao Rucheng sighed. “I finally understand why Du the Tiger is getting stupider and stupider.”

Jiang Wang also looked up at the sky. “Perhaps stupidity is contagious...”

At that moment, Dong A read out the last slot for those born in the first year: “Following tradition, during the Dao Discourse for those born in the first year, each Dao Academy shall have one slot reserved for its newest generation of disciples, to signify that new talents emerge in every generation...”

Below the stands, Fang Heling suddenly clenched his fists!

Among the academy disciples of his same cohort, only he and Jiang Wang had opened their meridians first. Now, several months had passed, and while other students had completed their meridian opening, he, Fang Heling, was the only one who had already completed the Foundation Stage.

He was finally standing in the spotlight!

If one were to represent the level of the new students of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, who else could it be but him?

This was a glory! It was enough to wash away the doubts surrounding his father, who had gone against all opposition to purchase a Meridian Opening Pill for him.

He, Fang Heling, must...

“Jiang Wang,” Dong A said.

A commotion broke out below the stage. As the first outer disciple to enter the inner sect, and having won decisively in a Dao-Proving Death Match in front of the public, Jiang Wang's name was well known throughout the City Dao Academy. The fact that he had lingered for a long time before completing his Foundation Stage had also spread widely, fueled by certain people's provocations.

Talk of his "exhausted talent" and "lack of follow-through" revolved around that single matter.

Yet, in the eyes of Dean Dong A, he was actually representing the strongest level of the new students?

“Dean!” Fang Heling stepped forward indignantly. Meeting Dong A's cold, solemn gaze, he felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He was extremely anxious, but he quickly stiffened his neck. “I... I am not convinced!”

“Ha.” Wei Quji laughed. He was quite happy to see Dong A being questioned, even though he believed Dong A's judgment was never wrong.

“It's simple,” Wei Quji said. “Come up on stage. Have a fight. Whoever wins takes the slot.”

Only after the words left his mouth did he realize how foolish he had been. No matter what, he could not, and should not, question Dong A in such a setting—questioning a great figure who could easily decide his future.

Fang Heling felt his heels trembling, but he still forced himself to stand tall and look at Dong A. He had ridden the tiger too far to dismount now.

Fortunately, Dong A seemed to have no intention of making things difficult for him, nor did he wish to offend Wei Quji.

“Very well,” he said.

Fang Heling breathed a sigh of relief. He tried his best to straighten his back and walked toward the high platform under the gaze of the crowd.

He would use his proficient Daoist techniques to crush his opponent with overwhelming force. He would prove that he wasn't doing this for himself, but for the reputation of the entire Fenglin City Dao Academy. How could the prestigious Three-City Martial Arts Competition send a fighter who hadn't even completed the Foundation Stage?

He felt the eyes of the crowd upon him—some filled with wonder and envy, others with jealousy and solemnity.

Walking down the path cleared by the crowd, he suddenly wondered: when his cousin Fang Pengju was at his peak of glory, did he feel this same way?

But Fang Pengju had died before entering the inner sect, while he had already become a proper inner sect disciple!

Then, he heard Jiang Wang's voice.

Throughout the entire process from the occurrence to its evolution, Jiang Wang had remained incredibly calm, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

It was only after Dong A agreed to let a fight decide the slot that he raised his eyes and asked nonchalantly—"Am I allowed to injure people?"

*Am I allowed to injure people?* He was asking if the rules permitted it, not whether he was capable of it.

Fang Heling felt like his lungs were about to explode with rage!

Dong A remained expressionless, merely stating: "No crippling, no killing."

In other words, anything else was fine.

Standing on the high platform were Wei Quji, Dong A, and several Fenglin City officials and academy instructors behind them. They all stepped back a few paces toward the edge of the platform to make room for the fight.

Jiang Wang nodded, one hand resting on his scabbard, and walked toward the platform with composure.

Fang Heling, already standing on the platform, fixed his gaze on him like a nail.

“Don't worry, we are fellow disciples. I won't cripple you,” Fang Heling said through gritted teeth.

People waited expectantly to hear what kind of harsh words Jiang Wang would fire back, but Jiang Wang remained silent.

The two men stood facing each other on the high platform.

This scene reminded many of the Dao-Proving Death Match from a few months ago, where one participant was Jiang Wang, and the other also bore the surname Fang.

Wei Quji had initially been full of interest, but after noticing Fang Heling's agitation and urgency, and then seeing Jiang Wang's unwavering composure, his interest suddenly waned.

One was a green fledgling who had clearly never fought a life-and-death struggle, and the other was a cultivator who had undergone countless battles. Even if there was a slight gap in cultivation, where was the suspense?

“Begin,” he waved his hand listlessly.

*Clang!*

It was the whistle of a longsword leaving its scabbard!

Before the fight began, Fang Heling had envisioned many combat styles and weighed which Daoist technique would be most advantageous for an opening. He was not stupid; he knew his greatest advantage over Jiang Wang lay in his Daoist techniques. He could use them, while Jiang Wang could not. That was his chance for victory.

However, that sword was too fast.

The technique Fang Heling had ultimately chosen was the Flame Blade. Among the basic Five Elements Daoist techniques, this was the most violent, and it was the one he had mastered most proficiently.

To maintain his lead and to wash away the doubts of his clan, he had never slackened; he had been working tirelessly.

Now, he could even complete the hand seals in just three breaths!

But, that sword was too fast.

Was it two breaths, or one? In any case, just as his hand seals had begun, the sword was already pressed against his throat. The sharpness of the blade faintly stung the skin and blood vessels of his neck.

It was over?

What kind of swordsmanship was this!

Jiang Wang tilted the blade to the side and used the flat of the sword to lightly tap Fang Heling's cheek, snapping him out of his stupor.

“You lost,” Jiang Wang said.

Fang Heling felt a sense of blankness and helplessness. How? How could this be? He hadn't even had time to execute a single technique!

If—if only he had just a little more time, once he completed the Small Heavenly Circulation and imprinted the Flame Blade technique into his Tongtian Palace, he would be able to execute it instantaneously. He would never fail to strike again!

If...

He suddenly looked up, teeth clenched. “You definitely used Dao Essence to drive your swordsmanship! You haven't even completed the Foundation Stage; every bit of Dao Essence you use is one less for later. To think you'd be willing to delay your Foundation Stage just for a competition like this. You really are reckless!”

Jiang Wang sheathed his sword and turned to descend the platform. Just as he had every time he encountered Fang Heling's provocations before, he was too lazy to respond, treating it with utter disdain.

An ant blocking the middle of the road with a provocation is something a human cannot even hear.

“You'll never complete your Foundation Stage in your entire life!” Fang Heling screamed at his retreating back.

“Get down! You embarrassing wretch!” With a wave of Dong A's sleeve, Fang Heling was indeed sent rolling off the high platform.

He stood up and looked around, only to see eyes filled with either sympathy or contempt.

He froze for a moment, then suddenly let out a roar and fled the scene in a staggered stumble.

(End of Chapter)