After formally entering the Eighth-Rank Zhou Tian realm, Jiang Wang adjusted his daily meridian-冲脉 cultivation sessions back to twice, morning and evening.

His subsequent cultivation no longer focused on the speed of condensing Dao vortexes. On the contrary, he deliberately slowed down to solidify his foundation.

Building the Minor Three Talents and completing the Minor Zhou Tian was a natural progression for him, but his accumulation for the Greater Zhou Tian was not yet sufficient.

Even so, with the Star-Entangling Spirit Serpent and three Star River Dao vortexes, Jiang Wang’s Tongtian Palace generated thirty-three Dao Essence every day. This meant he could construct a new Dao vortex in almost ten days.

Jiang Wang could utilize this abundant Dao Essence to practice Dao techniques, honing his foundation in the Zhou Tian realm.

Among the brothers, Jiang Wang and Du Yehui were now both Eighth-Rank Zhou Tian cultivators.

Du Yehui’s rapid progress in the army, aside from following the ancient military path of Qi and Blood meridian冲脉 cultivation, undoubtedly owed much to the perfected Four Spirits Body Refining Technique. In this aspect, he had surpassed Jiang Wang.

Zhao Rucheng, meanwhile, had quietly completed his foundation building, catching up with Linghe’s cultivation level.

Two Ninth-Rank Youmai cultivators and one Eighth-Rank Zhou Tian cultivator could now independently form a small team to undertake more challenging tasks.

The desire of the Dao Academy cultivators for Dao merits was endless.

For instance, Linghe and Zhao Rucheng each needed at least one magical artifact. Even the lowest-grade artifacts required a thousand Dao merits each. Furthermore, powerful Dao techniques beyond the standard fare, which could significantly boost combat ability, also required Dao merits to exchange for. And Jiang Wang needed to acquire better Opening Meridian Pills for Jiang An’an, but he didn’t even know the price yet, so he could only accumulate Dao merits as much as possible.

Therefore, actively doing missions and actively taking on challenges were essential.

It could both hone worldly experience, verify what had been learned, and contribute to the nation’s construction. It had to be said that the person who first established the Dao merit system was truly a great talent who understood the ways of the world.

Although Huang Azhan often hung out with them, as a senior disciple, he also had a fixed team.

Generally, teams that worked together year-round had a maximum of five members.

Jiang Wang’s team, though only three strong, could not be considered weak.

When Jiang Wang had struggled to build his foundation, no one would have imagined that his speed in entering the Zhou Tian realm would be so rapid.

The others were even more unaware of how strong Jiang Wang had become through his frenzied battles in the Illusionary Realm, using “merit” to pave his path and hone himself.

Although he had only entered the Zhou Tian realm recently, if the Three Cities Dao Debate were to reopen now, he was confident in contending for the top spot among the third-year disciples.

In terms of cultivation and combat strength, Jiang Wang was already ahead. But the team leader was still Linghe.

This had been the case since their time in the outer sect. Linghe considered matters comprehensively and acted steadily. Although he didn’t seem particularly prominent, he was the least likely to make mistakes. Moreover, he had the best interpersonal relationships in the Dao Academy.

Jiang Wang and the others decided to fill the remaining two slots in the team with disciples from the following year. If there were no suitable candidates, they would rather leave the positions vacant.

A team faced too many trials, and like-mindedness was crucial. Simply adding more members did not necessarily equate to more combat power. Sometimes, an unsuitable person could doom the entire team.

The first mission the newly formed team received was an Eighth-Rank mission.

Moreover, it was a designated mission directly issued by the Dao Academy, which they could not refuse. Of course, the Dao merit reward was also increased by 30% as usual.

The mission’s backstory was not complex:

A full team of Dao Academy disciples was wiped out while pursuing two heretical demonic cultivators, with only one Youmai cultivator surviving.

According to intelligence, both heretical cultivators were only at the Ninth-Rank. The Dao Academy team consisted of two Eighth-Rank Zhou Tian cultivators and three Ninth-Rank Youmai cultivators. Logically, it should have been a sure thing.

Linghe’s team was tasked with investigating the truth behind this mission.

The sole survivor of this mission was Fang Heling.

…

Returning to the Fang family’s territory with a heavy heart, Jiang Wang’s mood was undoubtedly complex.

He had drunk merrily here and narrowly escaped death here.

However, to his surprise, the Fang family members were hurrying about, and very few of them paid attention to them. There was certainly no hostility or animosity as he had expected.

Zhao Rucheng and Jiang Wang exchanged glances, then Zhao Rucheng casually stopped a passing woman.

“Hello, miss, may I ask where Fang Heling is?”

The woman was initially impatient, but upon seeing Zhao Rucheng’s handsome face, she softened somewhat and tossed her hair. “You’re asking about the young clan leader…”

Young clan leader?

Zhao Rucheng became somewhat interested and smiled. “We are all Dao Academy disciples, here to see Junior Brother Fang. Would it be convenient for you to tell us?”

Hearing Zhao Rucheng admit that they were Dao Academy disciples and even Fang Heling’s senior brothers, the woman completely dispelled her resentment at being stopped and smiled brightly. “The young clan leader is at home! The roads here are complicated, let me guide you there.”

As she spoke, she led Zhao Rucheng forward, completely ignoring Linghe and Jiang Wang who were beside him from beginning to end.

“In that case, we’ll trouble you, miss,” Zhao Rucheng smiled gently, like a warm spring breeze.

The two chatted happily along the way, while Linghe and Jiang Wang silently followed behind. By the time they reached Fang Heling’s doorstep, the two were almost exchanging birthdates.

After volunteering to explain their purpose to the gatekeeper, the woman reluctantly departed.

Zhao Rucheng smiled and bid her farewell, then turned back and smiled. “Interesting.”

What was interesting was not the woman.

During their conversation, they had learned about the changes in the Fang family.

The Fang family’s old patriarch, who had been bedridden for many years, had recently passed away, and Fang Zehou, the de facto head of the Fang family, had naturally transitioned from a position of influence to one of true authority.

But the person who was actually in charge of the Fang family now was the “young clan leader,” Fang Heling.

Because after Fang Zehou took over as clan leader, he had handed over all the power to his son.

Admittedly, this was bound to happen sooner or later, and paving the way for his son was only natural. But it felt a bit too rushed. And Fang Zehou was still in his prime, so he shouldn’t be retiring so early.

While they were pondering this, the gatekeeper had returned with a reply.

Fang Heling did not put on airs. He followed the gatekeeper out of the gate, his face not very pleasant, but not impolite either.

This was progress. Based on his past personality, Jiang Wang had expected some kind of fuss.

“What is it?” he asked Linghe.

“It’s like this, Junior Brother Fang,” Linghe explained. “Regarding the mission you experienced before…”

“I’ve already explained that mission very clearly. The Dao Academy and the Judicial Prison have records,” Fang Heling interrupted him. “You can look them up instead of coming to ask me again. You have no such right, and I have no such obligation.”

“We do have the right,” Linghe said steadily. “We have accepted the Dao Academy’s investigation mission, and anyone or any institution involved is required to cooperate with us. Not just you, but the Judicial Prison as well.”

“Investigation mission?” Fang Heling seemed somewhat astonished, but he quickly suppressed it, not revealing any more emotion.

He simply said, “Alright, then I’ll say it again. That day, we were pursuing two heretical demonic cultivators. We arrived at a mountain outside Dujia Town. Because it was connected to the Qichang Mountains, and my leg was injured, I suggested that we ambush them outside the mountain and wait for the demons to come down.

But Senior Brother Zhang Xizhi, who was leading the team, insisted on not doing so. He told me to stay and heal, and he led the others into the mountain.

I waited until the next day, but they didn’t come down. I knew something was wrong, so I contacted the local government. People from the Judicial Prison and the Dao Academy arrived and found their bones in a cave. That’s the whole story.”

His right leg was indeed wrapped in layers of gauze, with faint bloodstains.

“Only bones?” Jiang Wang asked. He couldn’t help but recall the events that had occurred in Tangshe Town.

Fang Heling glanced at him, his eyes no longer showing hatred or similar emotions. “Yes.”

He turned to Linghe again and said, “That’s all I know, I don’t know anything else. My grandfather died, and my father is too grief-stricken to take charge. I’m the only one holding up the Fang family right now. I’m very busy, don’t bother me unless it’s important. Okay?”

After speaking, he looked at Linghe, who had not moved, and asked, “Is there anything else?”

“I want to go in and offer incense.”

“What?” Fang Heling thought he had misheard.

But Linghe simply said seriously, “I want to offer incense to Fang Pengju’s grandfather. He loved Pengju very much when he was alive.”

He really just wanted to pay his respects, purely and simply.

Fang Heling was silent for a long time, then he stepped aside, allowing them to enter.