The white-faced demon’s entire body was split in two, but since his right arm had been severed earlier, the two halves weren’t symmetrical.

Jiang Wang landed before the corpse, relaxing his grip. The long sword in his hand instantly shattered into countless fragments, raining down upon the ground.

Its mission was complete.

This sword, made of ordinary material, couldn’t withstand such prolonged infusion of Dao Yuan.

And once again, Jiang Wang felt the emptiness within his Tongtian Palace. Those lively and lovely little things were all gone.

Before the masterless grey mist spread, Jiang Wang returned to the main road. He noticed some of the grey mist seeping towards the side of the road but was blocked by an invisible force and slowly dissipated.

Jiang Wang knew this was the power of the formation patterns carved into the road.

After waiting a little longer, the rumbling of thunder approached from afar. Zhang Linchuan leaped a few times and landed beside Jiang Wang.

“Junior Brother Jiang hasn’t left here, has he?” he asked.

Despite the battle, his clothes remained neat, and even his hair bun was meticulously in place. His every movement exuded an air of elegance.

“I encountered… that demon from Tang She Town.”

“He would certainly come to retrieve his severed blood, otherwise, he’d have to flee Zhuang.

“I killed him.”

Zhang Linchuan’s eyebrow twitched. “What?”

Jiang Wang pointed in the direction where the white-faced demon was slain. “I just don’t know if the corpse is useful, whether any clues can be found.”

Zhang Linchuan recovered from his surprise and shook his head. “These people have incomplete souls. Even searching their souls when alive is useless, let alone after death. I just killed a few, and they were all like this.”

“I see.” Jiang Wang wasn’t disappointed. For him, killing that white-faced demon was enough.

He didn’t blame Zhang Linchuan for prioritizing the pursuit of the enemy instead of staying put to protect him. He wasn’t someone who needed protection, and Zhang Linchuan wasn’t his nanny.

Moreover, if it weren’t for Zhang Linchuan’s pressure, this white-faced demon would never have been without the will to fight, choosing to flee immediately. And his companions would never have given Jiang Wang a chance for a one-on-one battle.

Zhang Linchuan glanced at the spot where the grey mist had dissipated, sighing with emotion. “The formation patterns on this section of the road have been corroded. It must be reported to the authorities so they can dispatch someone to repair it quickly.”

The two horses hadn’t been frightened away. Jiang Wang flicked the reins, and the horses briskly trotted.

At this moment, he felt that within the Tongtian Palace, in some unfathomable place, a Dao Yuan suddenly rolled down, one after another, a total of five. Moreover, they were fuller and more refined.

Although it didn’t completely replenish his previous consumption, it was already a pleasant surprise.

It was then that he more deeply understood the lessons taught by the experienced Daoists.

So-called Dao Yuan, the beginning of the Great Dao. The birth of Dao Yuan is not a simple sublimation of vital energy and blood, but a perfect fusion of intent and power, the most true feedback of the spirits of all things to the origin of heaven and earth.

…

When they returned to the Dao Academy, it was still early. The two went directly to Elder Dong A’s courtyard to report.

The gate was open, but the courtyard was empty, with only Fang Heling pacing around, looking bored.

Seeing the two enter empty-handed, his eyes lit up.

Fang Heling first respectfully greeted Zhang Linchuan, then seemingly comforted him. “It seems Senior Brother Zhang didn’t gain much from this trip… Even for a genius like Senior Brother Zhang, taking along a newcomer who knows nothing is really too difficult.”

He certainly didn’t consider himself a newcomer. The Fang family had been a noble family for a hundred years and had produced many cultivators. He had been influenced by what he saw and heard and was not unfamiliar with battles between cultivators. And this person named Jiang was from a small town, what insights could he have?

Jiang Wang couldn’t be bothered with him.

Zhang Linchuan, however, had the leisure to tease. “Oh? It seems Heling had quite a harvest this time.”

“It went smoothly,” Fang Heling humbly replied, then eagerly began to boast.

It turned out that when they went to the Fulai Inn to investigate clues, someone was also observing them in secret. However, Li Jianqiu boldly attacked and captured that person alive. What was originally a seemingly fruitless investigation suddenly had a direction thanks to this captive!

Of course, how much of a role Fang Heling played in this was truly difficult to say.

“Then where did Junior Brother Li go?” Zhang Linchuan asked.

Fang Heling was a little embarrassed and paused before saying, “He’s in the room. Elder Dong is using a secret technique to search his soul.”

Elder Dong A was searching the soul, Li Jianqiu was attending, and Fang Heling didn’t even have the qualification to observe… His contribution to this trip was evident.

Zhang Linchuan and Jiang Wang found it inconvenient to disturb them, so they could only wait in the courtyard with Fang Heling.

Jiang Wang remained silent, closing his eyes and sending the Dao Yuan in his Tongtian Palace to where they should be suspended, while Zhang Linchuan and Fang Heling chatted idly.

Fang Heling was naturally pleased. After all, Elder Dong A had said before that the mission Dao功 would be divided 1:9. Jiang Wang clearly hadn’t gained anything, while they had returned with a captive. This was the first step in widening the gap.

Before long, Elder Dong A, in a black Daoist robe, walked out with Li Jianqiu.

Facing Fang Heling’s expectant gaze, Li Jianqiu shook his head.

Elder Dong A said, “This person has an incomplete soul. This master only managed to search some scattered fragments, which are not important.”

Fang Heling eagerly spoke up. “Such thorough precautions, these people must have a strict organization behind them! This matter is absolutely not simple!”

Elder Dong A did not comment, merely looking at Zhang Linchuan.

Zhang Linchuan then described what happened after they went to Tang She Town, without any exaggeration. As for the details of Jiang Wang’s two battles with the white-faced demon, Elder Dong A wouldn’t ask, and Jiang Wang didn’t need to say.

He was a proper Dao Academy disciple, not a criminal, and did not need to be interrogated.

Elder Dong A nodded upon hearing this. “Jiang Wang is not bad.”

These words sounded indifferent, but in the ears of those familiar with Elder Dong A’s personality, it was a rare compliment.

In this mission, both teams led by Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu provided new clues, but neither had any follow-up, so the mission could not be considered successful. However, Elder Dong A allocated five Dao功 to each of them as encouragement.

For Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu, they were merely guiding their Junior Brothers who were new to ranked missions. It was better if they had gains, but it didn’t matter if they didn’t. Their Senior Brothers had also guided them in the same way back then.

As for Jiang Wang and Fang Heling, five Dao功 was not a small amount. This was equivalent to halfway completing a Grade Nine mission, the lowest level.

Grade Nine missions awarded between ten and one hundred Dao功, while Grade Eight missions awarded between one hundred and five hundred Dao功, depending on the difficulty of the mission.

Elder Dong A was decisive. After determining that the mission had temporarily concluded, he ordered the disciples to disperse.

With the matter concluded, Fang Heling urged Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu to go for drinks. Jiang Wang thought for a moment and decided to go to the Dao功 Hall.

…

The Dao功 Hall was directly opposite the Sacrifice Hall, indicating its importance.

The entire hall was empty with nothing else inside, only a Dao功 Stele glowing with a faint clear light suspended above the offering table.

There were no guards here because the Dao功 Stele had the power of self-protection. It was itself a Spirit Treasure, or more accurately, the Stele enshrined in the Dao功 Hall of the Fenglin City Dao Academy was a sub-stele of the Dao功 Stele in the National Dao Academy, which received the incense from across the country.

Jiang Wang had specifically come here just to broaden his horizons.

In front of the Dao功 Stele stood a medium-sized Daoist in a coarse linen robe, his hands clasped in front of him, staring intently at the Stele.

His face was not visible from behind, but anyone Jiang Wang was not familiar with in the Inner Court had higher cultivation than him.

Because they were all his Senior Brothers.

Jiang Wang didn’t bother to disturb him. He walked towards the Dao功 Stele, focused his mind, and gazed at the Stele. The clear light rippled slightly, and various pieces of information flowed through his mind.

This was just a sub-stele, and only information related to the Fenglin City Dao Academy could be seen. It was said that the main Dao功 Stele encompassed everything and contained everything. But that was still quite distant for Jiang Wang.

There were quite a few exchange options on this sub-stele of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, enough to make Jiang Wang dizzy. However, the prices of those exchangeable items made him want to turn around and leave.

The cheapest Meridian Opening Pill cost one hundred Dao功. Its value was certainly more than that, but as Dao Academy disciples, the Dao Sect provided some support. Exchanging for the second Meridian Opening Pill required one thousand five hundred Dao功. This should be the true price of a Meridian Opening Pill.

In addition, even the cheapest standard magic sword cost five hundred Dao功 or more!

Jiang Wang looked at his five Dao功… Well, his trip was just to broaden his horizons.

So-called Dao功 Stele, since it was a ranking list, naturally had rankings. Jiang Wang then realized that Zhang Linchuan, who seemed unfathomable to him, was only ranked third on this Fenglin City Dao功 sub-list.

The one ranked second was named Wei Yan, who was not a Dao Academy disciple but a military officer in the City Guard. From his name, he might have some connection to Wei Quji.

And Zhu Weiyi, who was ranked first with one thousand three hundred Dao功, was also the universally recognized Senior Brother of the entire Fenglin City Dao Academy, who had always been as elusive as a dragon’s head, rarely seen. Jiang Wang had always only heard his name but never seen him.

One should know that the second-ranked Wei Yan’s Dao功 was only seven hundred, similar to Zhang Linchuan, yet both were far surpassed by Zhu Weiyi.

Jiang Wang scrolled down a bit further and saw Li Jianqiu at the seventeenth position, then severed his connection with the Dao功 Stele.

“A newly admitted Junior Brother?”

The Senior Brother from before seemed to have been waiting for him specifically.

Jiang Wang turned his head upon hearing this and saw a face with a warm smile.

“Greetings, Senior Brother. My name is Jiang Wang, newly admitted to the Inner Court not long ago.”

“Hello, I’m Wang Changxiang.” Wang Changxiang’s appearance was not outstanding, but the smile on his face made him very approachable. “Well then, see you next time.”

“Farewell.” Jiang Wang’s heart stirred. In the Dao功 Stele he had just checked, this person was ranked seventh, far above Li Jianqiu.

Of course, the Dao功 Stele only recorded Dao功, not individual strength. But in a sense, it could indeed reflect some things.

Previously in the Outer Court, he and his sworn brothers could be said to be outstanding among the masses, invincible. Only after entering the Inner Court did he know the heights of heaven and earth.

Among those he had encountered so far, Li Jianqiu, Zhang Linchuan, and Wang Changxiang, each with different temperaments, were all exceptional individuals. Jiang Wang felt he was far from their match.

If a single Fenglin City Dao Academy was so rich in talent, what about the entire Qinghe Prefecture, or even the entire Zhuang Kingdom?

And those geniuses who were famous throughout the land, looked up to by heroes of all nations, what kind of demeanor must they possess!

Thinking of this did not discourage Jiang Wang. Instead, he had endless fighting spirit burning within him.

At least now, he was already on the path to the extraordinary, already on the same playing field as those dazzling people. What was there to fear then?