The Four Spirits Body Refining Art held that the Azure Dragon guarded the East, its essence rooted in the Wood element.

Jiang Wang meticulously savored the burgeoning vitality, feeling the vigorous growth of his blood and Qi. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was merely a trick of his senses, but the newly-formed Dao Yuan within his Tongtian Palace seemed more nimble than before, making the arrangement of array nodes somewhat easier.

To be able to invigorate the physical body directly with Wood-elemental Qi, even before opening the Gate of Heaven and Earth, was undoubtedly one of the advantages of the Military School’s cultivation methods.

The “Four Spirits Body Refining Art,” with its use of Metal-elemental Qi to cleanse the bones, Fire-elemental Qi to temper the body, Water-elemental Qi to nourish the blood and flesh, coupled with the Wood-elemental Qi that augmented the blood and Qi, was truly comprehensive and adhered to the essence of the Great Dao.

For Jiang Wang, he had no intention of switching to the Military School, nor did he plan to attempt to use his blood and Qi to force open his meridians. However, the strengthened power of blood and Qi could likewise nourish his Dao Yuan, accelerating the formation of his Dao Vortex.

Originally, he could only perform meridian-冲破 cultivation two or three times a day, spending the rest of his time honing his swordsmanship and studying Daoist scriptures. But now that the “Purple Qi Comes From the East Sword Art” had reached a bottleneck, at least for his current level, devoting some time to body refinement would not hinder his cultivation efforts.

The prospect of the Zhou Tian Star Array Formation looked incredibly promising, 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 be sold for a hundred taels of silver, but if he was willing to wait just one more year, the price of a hundred-year-old ginseng would be reckoned in gold.

Waiting was not in vain; some futures were worth waiting for.

So, even though many rumors had spread in the Dao Academy, such as, “Fang He Ling is about to condense his second Dao Vortex!”, “So-and-so has already opened his meridians and will soon surpass everyone!”, Jiang Wang continued to follow his own pace, unhurried and undisturbed. The sounds of the morning bell and evening drum marked his diligent practice, day and night without fail.

…

October was also known as the Dew Month, as autumn transitioned into winter, and dew formed abundantly, thus earning the name.

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

The so-called Three Cities Dao Debate, as the name suggested, was a joint demonstration and competition between the Dao Academies of three neighboring cities, intended to foster mutual exchange and sharpen each other’s skills. In reality, it also served as preparation for the annual County Dao Academy examination in November. Dao Academies in cities throughout the Zhuang Kingdom held similar activities, albeit with different names.

For example, the “Northern Wind Playing with Snow,” organized by Qing Lan City and White Deer City in the Dai Shan County region, taken from the line “In the tenth month of the Meng Winter, the northern wind lingers,” was much more elegant and interesting, even becoming a renowned event attracting many tourists from afar in Dai Shan County. But in truth, it was simply a Dao Debate competition jointly held by five surrounding cities.

In comparison, the “Three Cities Dao Debate” was much simpler and more straightforward. It couldn’t be helped, as the three neighboring cities were Wangjiang City, Maple Forest City, and Three Mountain City.

Maple Forest City, needless to say, its style was practicality. The red maples blazing like fire in the suburbs of Maple Forest City were not without their beauty, but the only somewhat famous poem about it was written by a Qing Lan City cultivator passing through.

Wangjiang City was inherently driven by profit, and didn’t care about elegance or refinement. Three Mountain City was even simpler; its people were still scornfully called “mountain barbarians” to this day.

The foundations of the three cities were such, and there was nothing to be said about it. However, with the development over the years, it had gradually become more than just a competition between students. To some extent, it even reflected the strengths of the three cities and influenced the distribution of resources from the Zhuang court, thus creating a sense of fierce competition.

This year, it was Maple Forest City’s turn to host, and the entire city, from the city lord to the common people, was paying close attention. The major restaurants had already been decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, the government had tightened security, and petty thieves were temporarily nowhere to be seen.

Naturally, there was also a selection process in the Maple Forest City Dao Academy.

…

“That’s how it is.” Wei Quji rarely appeared alongside Dong A, but both of them refused to sit down, standing on the stage.

“According to custom, our city Dao Academy will select two students each from the first-year, third-year, and fifth-year classes to participate in this Debate,” Wei Quji’s skin was dark, his eyes stern. He was truly intimidating when he didn’t smile. “I’ll be blunt, we can only win, we can’t lose. If you lose, don’t blame Wei for making things difficult for you.”

The so-called first-year students were those who had been cultivating in the Dao Academy for about a year, but in reality, the main force was selected from the previous year’s disciples, who had been cultivating for more than a year. The same went for third-year and fifth-year students. The reason why students older than five years were not included in the debate was that those who had not advanced to the County Dao Academy after more than five years had basically given up hope of continuing their cultivation and had turned to worldly pursuits to enjoy wealth and fortune.

With the master of the city speaking so bluntly, the Dao Academy students standing below the stage inevitably became nervous. Some students who had planned to make a name for themselves in this Three Cities Dao Debate began to hesitate.

“Winning a match for the first-year class will earn ten Dao Merit points. Twenty points for the third-year class, and fifty points for the fifth-year class.” Dong A’s expression remained cold and solemn as he added some encouraging words.

One was a black face, the other a cold face, making them quite a complementary pair. But the two most important figures in Maple Forest City had both unequivocally shown how seriously they were taking this debate.

It not only involved the allocation of resources, but also embodied their governance and was a matter of face.

Especially after the entire Little Maple Town had been reduced to wasteland, Maple Forest City desperately needed to send out a strong message.

“Now I will announce the names directly. If anyone feels they lack the strength and want to withdraw, speak up now.” Since this debate was so important, Dong A didn’t bother with self-nomination, but directly announced the names: “Zhang Linchuan will lead this Debate…”

Below the stage, Zhang Linchuan pressed his forehead in resignation, muttering, “I’m under a lot of pressure.”

“You’re under a lot of pressure?” Dong A’s gaze had already landed on him on the stage. With the cultivation of a Fifth Grade expert, he could find the owner of any “fart” even if it’s just a mutter.

“But I’m full of confidence!” Zhang Linchuan immediately said.

Only then did Dong A let him go and continue to read out the other names.

“Senior Brother Zhang is worthy of being Senior Brother Zhang! Even the Dean recognizes you as the number one in our Dao Academy!” Huang Azhan fawned in a low voice next to him.

Zhang Linchuan was already late when he came to the academy today, so he hadn’t bothered to go to the front row, but stood with Jiang Wang and the others. Perhaps it was to avoid being noticed by the Dean, but he was still singled out immediately.

“If Zhu Weiwu and Wei Yan could both participate, would I have to work so hard?” Zhang Linchuan glared at Huang Azhan with clear understanding. He didn’t want to have Wei Yan coming to his door with a knife tomorrow.

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

“A true man should not waste his time bathing!” Huang Azhan declared righteously, then lowered his head to sniff himself a few times, “There’s no smell…”

Zhang Linchuan moved two steps forward in disgust.

It was normal that Wei Yan, who was from the Ministry of War, couldn’t participate in the debate between Dao Academies. But why wasn’t Zhu Weiwu here? Shouldn’t such a prominent figure be present at a time like this?

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang asked, “Why can’t Senior Brother Zhu participate?”

“Oh, he seems to have gone to hunt down the Heart-Devouring Demon.” Zhang Linchuan said casually.

“!!!”

“!!!”

Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Huang Azhan all stared in stunned silence.

Hunt down?

The Nine Great Demons were known for their ferocity! Ravaging nations, committing countless evils, they could be called the most notorious criminals under Heaven. Even if Xiong Wen ranked among them by cruel means, being the weakest of the Nine Great Demons, he was still a Sixth Grade expert who had opened the Gate of Heaven and Earth, qualified to be called a Soaring Dragon cultivator!

Ninth Grade cultivators laid the foundation by arranging array nodes with their Dao Yuan and establishing a Dao Vortex. The Dao Meridian’s True Spirit swam within the Dao Vortex, marking the Roaming Meridian Realm.

Eighth Grade cultivators established three Dao Vortices and constructed a Small Heavenly Cycle within the Tongtian Palace, marking the Heavenly Cycle Realm.

Seventh Grade cultivators established three Small Heavenly Cycles of Heaven, Earth, and Man, completing the Great Heavenly Cycle, and then penetrated the physical body, cleansing the Tongtian Palace, thus awakening the Dao Meridian’s Great Dragon, allowing them to see the Gate of Heaven and Earth! This marked the Tongtian Realm.

The Gate of Heaven and Earth, which sealed off the Tongtian Palace, was also known as the first hurdle of cultivation. Only by breaking through the Gate of Heaven and Earth could one clarify their mind and see their true nature, allowing the Dao Meridian to soar.

Before the Sixth Grade, the standard Daoist robes of any Dao Academy disciple were made of hemp. To show their determination to endure hardship and overcome obstacles.

But after reaching the Sixth Grade, the experts in the Middle Three Grades could wear Soaring Dragon Daoist robes. The Soaring Dragon, Inner Mansion, and Outer Tower realms differed only slightly in detail.

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

Any cultivator who qualified to wear the Soaring Dragon Daoist robe could be called a strong person.

Especially since Xiong Wen was a notoriously ferocious existence, a top expert among Soaring Dragon Realm cultivators.

And now, Zhu Weiwu, a mere Dao Academy student, was actually hunting him down?