Since fleeing Wangyue Tower covered in blood, Jiang Wang had not enjoyed a full night’s sleep, and so this slumber was exceptionally long.

He dreamt many dreams. He dreamt he was a whirlwind of destruction on the dueling platform, dreamt his cultivation progressed a thousand miles in a day, soaring through the clouds. He dreamt of a vast sky, where five streams of light were breathtakingly swift, five streams…

He awoke.

He sat up in silence, leaning against the headboard, unable to distinguish between a sudden pang of fear and a wash of sorrow.

He shook his head, gathering his thoughts.

It was already night outside, but he was still alone in the dormitory.

Jiang Wang frowned.

It was perfectly normal for Du Yewu to drink for days on end, but Ling He had always been disciplined, never staying out overnight.

The outer disciples’ dormitories at Maple Leaf Daoist Academy were rows of attached bungalows. He threw on his robe and stepped outside. The door to the opposite dormitory was tightly shut, and all was quiet on both sides. An inexplicable chill permeated the passageway.

Jiang Wang stopped a passing figure at random. “Junior Brother, have you seen Senior Brother Ling He?”

“Ling He? I haven’t seen him,” the figure replied in a strangely mechanical voice.

While speaking, he shook his head.

*Bang!*

His head snapped off and fell to the ground, rolling a few times.

He shook his head *off*!

Seeing the headless body that had just been speaking, Jiang Wang felt a chill crawl up his spine, reaching his scalp.

But he had been through many battles. Instinctively, he took a step back, preparing to retreat to his dormitory and retrieve his weapon.

However, the dormitory door slammed shut, and wouldn’t budge! It felt as if someone was braced against it from the inside, preventing him from entering.

At that moment, the headless body turned around and began to stride toward him, arms outstretched! The severed head, after rolling a few times, suddenly leaped into the air, hurtling towards Jiang Wang even faster than the body! Matted hair streamed from the head; its face was twisted in a grotesque grimace, nose caved in, and eyes bulging unnaturally.

The ghoul of midnight, the soul of death.

“Pretending to be ghosts!” Jiang Wang roared, hoping to alert the other outer disciples in the surrounding dormitories, as he simultaneously retreated.

This was Maple Leaf Daoist Academy, under the protection of Dong A, a Fifth Rank cultivator. Any disturbance would surely be noticed and suppressed! No matter the strange evil, it would never dare to make too much noise. To escape directly would be the best course.

But the severed head’s speed was far too great; Jiang Wang couldn’t evade it in time.

So, after taking a few steps back, he leaped into the air, channeling one of the only two Dao Yuan remaining in his Dao Meridian into his right leg. Then, he twisted his body and lashed out with a kick in mid-air!

Fueled by the eruption of Dao Yuan, the force of his kick far exceeded anything he had managed before.

The forms of gods, ghosts, demons, and monsters were more than just legends. Though Jiang Wang had not yet fully transcended, he had already witnessed the extraordinary world. He had killed men, seen blood, and steeled his courage.

He told himself, *That is a ball. It is not a head. It is just a ball!*

*Bang!*

His boot collided with the head, sending it rocketing backward even faster than before, slamming into the headless torso and staggering it.

A *cuju* shot!

At the same time, Jiang Wang felt a sharp pain on the back of his foot. When he kicked, the head had opened its bloody maw and torn through his shoe, ripping away a piece of flesh!

The wound was tinged with a faint blue.

Jiang Wang knew something was wrong. It was likely some kind of corpse poison.

But he had accomplished his goal of using attack to create space. Without hesitation, he turned and ran.

He sprinted toward the end of the passageway, only to be blocked by a transparent Yuan Qi barrier.

The force was not powerful, but it was extremely resilient, firmly blocking his path. This was an ambush!

Jiang Wang’s mind raced. He detonated the last Dao Yuan in his Dao Meridian, focusing it on his right shoulder.

He put every ounce of strength he could muster, and rammed shoulder-first into the barrier!

“Open for me!!!”

Jiang Wang felt a sudden lightness and found himself outside the corridor between the dormitories.

Then, he heard the wind, the chirping of insects, the voices of returning outer disciples… the sounds of the night.

The silent environment was broken.

“Senior Brother Jiang Wang, what are you doing?”

“Senior Brother, are you injured?”

Some outer disciples who had seen Jiang Wang came over to greet him.

Hearing the familiar voices of his fellow disciples, Jiang Wang knew he was safe. He turned and rushed back into the passageway, only to find it empty.

The headless body and the severed head had vanished without a trace.

From behind opened doors, puzzled disciples were saying, “What happened? The door was stuck just now.”

Then, a panicked voice shouted, “There’s… there’s a dead body!”

Jiang Wang was the first to rush into the dormitory from which the cry had come. There, he found the missing corpse. He and his head were lying quietly on the ground, faces still contorted in a gruesome expression.

Cowering in the corner was the man’s roommate, stricken with terror.

The methods displayed by their assailant indicated at least some rudimentary corpse manipulation, and orthodox Water Dao techniques. Or perhaps, there was more than one assailant.

Jiang Wang’s mind churned. He spoke decisively, “A fiendish cultivator has broken into the outer sect and is committing murder, wielding Dao techniques and exhibiting transcedent abilities! Their strength is likely in the Ninth Rank range. Junior Brothers, be sure to watch out for yourselves, move in groups of five, and support each other! From this moment on, seal off the dormitory area, and allow no one to enter or leave. I will immediately seek guidance from Senior Brothers in the inner court!”

The anxious outer disciples immediately found a pillar of support and acted accordingly.

Jiang Wang turned and raced toward the inner court.

The entire east city belonged to Maple Leaf Daoist Academy and its affiliated businesses, but in truth, only the walled compound in the center of the East District was the true Maple Leaf Daoist Academy. Outer disciples like Jiang Wang resided in the surrounding areas.

Compared to the towering archway and the opulent jade lions at the entrance to the outer court, the inner court gate was much smaller, barely wide enough for four people to walk abreast. But the exquisite craftsmanship, evident in the dragon and phoenix carvings on the plaque that glowed faintly in the night, hinted at the treasures within.

Before the inner court gate was a small pavilion. Two cloud-patterned lanterns hung before the pavilion, and inside was only a single cushion woven from ice grass. A handsome Daoist in hemp robes sat cross-legged on the cushion, meditating with closed eyes. This was Li Jianqiu, the inner disciple on duty today.

Jiang Wang ran up and hastily bowed. “Senior Brother Li, a heretical demon is wreaking havoc in the outer court, and one Junior Brother has already been killed! Please take command of the situation!”

To the outer disciples, every inner disciple who had embarked on the path of cultivation was a star. Having been at the Daoist Academy for so long, Jiang Wang was familiar with them all. And to Li Jianqiu, Jiang Wang, who had initiated the Dao Pledge Duel, leading to the院长’s personal arbitration, was no nobody. Furthermore, as the on-duty disciple, Li Jianqiu had a responsibility to act.

So, after hearing just one sentence, he reached for his sword and rose to his feet.

“That won’t be necessary,” a stern voice boomed, causing Li Jianqiu to immediately sheathe his sword and bow in deference.

院长 Dong A appeared at the entrance to the inner court, his expression cold, almost severe. “I will handle this personally.”

“Corpse Qi.” He glanced at the wound on Jiang Wang’s foot where the severed head had bitten him, and extended his index finger. Without any other discernible action, a cyan spike materialized.

Only then did Jiang Wang notice that the wound on his foot had festered, and black blood was seeping out. A wave of fear washed over him.

“Third Rank, Middle Grade Dao Technique, Poison Absorption Thorn. This is a very practical technique and can be used all the way up to the intermediate level.”

While casually explaining, Dong A tapped his finger lightly.

Outside of Transcendent Dao Techniques, ordinary Dao Techniques were divided into four ranks and twelve grades. The boundless ocean of Dao Techniques was impossible to explore fully in a lifetime. Every cultivator who embarked on the path of transcendence needed to understand what kind of Dao Techniques suited them best, and through constant combat and exploration, develop their own fighting style.

The spike plunged into the wound on Jiang Wang’s foot, turning black at a visible rate. Within a few breaths, the cyan spike had become completely black, and the green-black discoloration had disappeared from the wound, replaced by fresh, red blood.

Jiang Wang quickly tore off a piece of his robe and bandaged the wound.

Li Jianqiu watched the scene silently, deep in thought.

Then, Dong A asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Wang recounted the events in the most concise terms, then fell silent. He believed, and could only believe, that the 院长 of Maple Leaf Daoist Academy would deliver justice for his assassination attempt within the academy.

The corners of Dong A’s mouth twitched slightly upward, but his stern expression made the smile seem all the more chilling.

“Those of the heterodoxical path, daring to cause trouble at Maple Leaf Daoist Academy, they are disregarding the Academy and disregarding me, Dong A!”

He flung out his robes, spread his fingers, and pressed them against the ground!

“Jade Cage!”

Centered on his five fingers, the formless power of the Wood Dao spread out in all directions.

All the gates of the entire Daoist Academy slammed shut! Branches sprouted and grew wildly.

The ivy on the walls shot forth like serpents, intertwining in mid-air.

All wooden objects within the Daoist Academy underwent a transformation.

Wooden chairs sprouted branches, wooden windows grew claws, giant trees burst from the earth, and thorns danced in the air!

In an instant, the entire Maple Leaf Daoist Academy transformed into a jade prison under the cover of darkness!