“As expected of Senior Brother,” Linghe sighed, feeling an overwhelming sense of reverence.

“What is Senior Brother Zhu’s cultivation level now?” Jiang Wang inquired.

“I haven’t seen him in a while,” Zhang Linchuan replied, sighing inexplicably. “He should have opened the Heavenly Gate by now…”

“Then his cultivation is not far from yours, Senior Brother, still neck and neck! I still believe in you as the best in the City Dao Academy, Senior Brother Zhang!” Huang Azhan shamelessly brown-nosed.

Everyone knew that Zhang Linchuan had been perceiving the Heavenly Gate for a long time and was only a step away from the sixth-grade Ascending Dragon Realm. So, saying they weren’t far apart wasn’t entirely wrong, but…

Zhang Linchuan gave Huang Azhan a strange look, then took two steps back.

Although Zhu Weiwo had just entered the sixth grade, he was chasing the Heart-Eating Demon all over the world! Could he be an ordinary sixth-grade cultivator?

Zhao Rucheng and Jiang Wang exchanged a look and tacitly moved away as well.

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

Zhao Rucheng sighed, “Now I finally understand why Du Laohu is getting stupider.”

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

At that moment, Dong A read out the name for the last spot for the first-year students: “According to custom, each Dao Academy should have a spot for the newest disciples in the yearly Dao discussion, to show that talents emerge from every generation…”

Below the stage, Fang Heling suddenly clenched his fists!

Among the Dao Academy disciples of his batch, only he and Jiang Wang had opened their meridians first. Now, a few months had passed, and other students had also completed the opening of their meridians, but only Fang Heling had completed the foundation establishment.

He was truly leading the way!

If someone had to represent the level of the new students of Maple Forest City Dao Academy, who else could it be but him?

This was an honor! Enough to wash away the doubts about his father having bought him a Meridian Opening Pill against the opinions of others.

He, Fang Heling, must…

“Jiang Wang,” Dong A announced.

There was a commotion below the stage. Having entered the inner sect as the first from the outer sect, and winning decisively in the Dao Duel under the public eye, Jiang Wang’s name was no stranger to the City Dao Academy. The fact that he had hesitated for a long time before establishing his foundation had also been widely spread, thanks to some people’s efforts.

Talk of being all potential with no results and lacking momentum was all centered on this.

Yet, in the eyes of Dean Dong A, he represented the strongest of the new students?

“Dean!” Fang Heling stood up indignantly. Facing Dong A’s cold and stern gaze, he felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, extremely apprehensive. However, he quickly straightened his neck: “I…I don’t accept it!”

“Ha,” Wei Quji laughed. He was happy to see Dong A being questioned, although he believed Dong A’s judgment would not be wrong.

“It’s simple,” Wei Quji said. “Come up on stage and fight. Whoever wins goes.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how foolish he had been. No matter what, he should not, and could not, question Dong A in this situation, a big shot who could easily decide his future.

Fang Heling felt his heels trembling, but he still stood his ground, looking at Dong A. He was in a difficult situation.

Fortunately, Dong A didn’t seem to want to make things difficult for him, nor did he want to disrespect Wei Quji.

“Alright,” he said.

Fang Heling breathed a sigh of relief. He tried to straighten his back, walking towards the stage under the gazes of the crowd.

He would use his proficient Dao techniques to crush his opponent. He would prove that he was not doing this for himself, but for the reputation of the entire Maple Forest City Dao Academy. How could they send someone who hadn’t established a foundation to participate in the Three Cities Martial Arts Competition?

He felt the gazes of the crowd on him, filled with surprise, envy, jealousy, and seriousness.

Walking on the path cleared by the crowd, he suddenly wondered if his cousin Fang Pengju felt the same when he was glorious back then.

Fang Pengju had died before entering the inner sect, but he was already a proper inner sect disciple!

Then he heard Jiang Wang’s voice.

Throughout the entire process, Jiang Wang had been very calm, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Only after Dong A agreed to decide the spot through combat did he raise his eyes and casually ask: “Can I injure people?”

“Can I injure people?” He was asking if the rules allowed it, not if he was capable of it.

Fang Heling’s lungs were about to explode with anger!

Dong A was expressionless, simply saying: “No crippling, no killing.”

Meaning, anything else was allowed.

On the high platform stood Wei Quji, Dong A, and several Maple Forest City officials and Dao Academy instructors behind them. At this moment, they all stepped back, standing on the edge of the platform to make room for the fight.

Jiang Wang nodded, holding his sword hilt with one hand, calmly walking towards the platform.

Already standing on the high platform, Fang Heling’s gaze was like a nail fixed on him.

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

People waited to see what harsh words Jiang Wang would reply with, but Jiang Wang remained silent.

The two stood on the platform, facing each other.

This scene reminded many people of the Dao Duel a few months ago. One of them was still Jiang Wang, and the other one was also surnamed Fang.

Wei Quji was originally full of excitement, but after noticing Fang Heling’s agitation and eagerness, and then looking at Jiang Wang’s calmness from beginning to end, he suddenly lost interest.

One was a tender chick who had never experienced a life-and-death battle, and the other was a cultivator who had experienced countless battles. Even if there was some difference in cultivation, where was the suspense?

“Begin,” he waved his hand, uninterested.

*Clang*!

It was the cry of a long sword being drawn!

Before the battle began, Fang Heling had imagined many fighting styles and considered which Dao technique would be most advantageous to start with. He wasn’t stupid; he knew that his greatest advantage over Jiang Wang lay in Dao techniques. He could use Dao techniques, while Jiang Wang couldn’t. That was his chance of victory.

However, the sword was too fast.

The Dao technique Fang Heling had finally chosen was the Flame Blade, the most violent among the five basic elemental Dao techniques, and the one he had mastered the most skillfully.

To maintain his leading position and wash away the doubts from his clan, he had not slacked off. He had been working hard.

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

But, the sword was too fast.

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

It was over?

What kind of swordsmanship was this!

Jiang Wang turned the blade sideways and gently patted Fang Heling’s cheek with the flat of the sword, bringing him back from his stupor.

“You lost,” Jiang Wang said.

Fang Heling felt confused and at a loss. How could it be? He hadn’t even had time to use a Dao technique!

If, if, if he had more time, and after he completed the Small Heavenly Circulation, imprinting the Flame Blade Dao technique in his Heavenly Palace, he could have completed instantaneous casting. He would never have been unable to make a move!

If…

He suddenly raised his head, gritting his teeth, and said, “You must have used Dao Yuan to activate your swordsmanship. You haven’t even established your foundation, and your Dao Yuan is reduced with every use. To delay the foundation establishment for such a competition, you are really willing to sacrifice!”

Jiang Wang sheathed his sword and turned to walk down the stage. As before, whenever he encountered Fang Heling’s provocation, he didn’t bother to respond, disdaining him.

An ant blocking the way in the middle of the road, and humans cannot even hear its voice.

“You will never establish your foundation!” Fang Heling shouted at his back.

“Get down! Shameless thing!” Dong A waved his sleeve, and Fang Heling actually rolled off the stage.

He got up and looked around, seeing only eyes of pity or contempt.

He paused for a moment, suddenly roared, and staggered away from the place.