Another first-year participating in the Three Cities Dao Debate was, in truth, a disciple from the previous term of the Inner Courtyard, barely clinging to the tail end of his one-year limit. The two representatives from the third-year students were acquaintances of Jiang Wang: Li Jianqiu and Wang Changxiang.

The other individual besides the fifth-year, Zhang Linchuan, was a senior brother whom Jiang Wang did not recognize.

Because Dao merits were expendable, the rankings on the Dao Merit Board did not completely reflect true strength. At least, Dong A had his own criteria for judgment.

Of course, Zhang Linchuan still took the lead in this Dao Debate. He placed his hopes on Wei Quji and Dong A to seize victory. If Zhu Weiwu were present, perhaps they wouldn’t need to exert themselves so much, but since Zhu Weiwu was nowhere to be found, Dong A could only keep a close eye on Zhang Linchuan.

Zhang Linchuan, for his part, expressed that he felt immense pressure.

The Three Cities Dao Debate was scheduled to begin on the tenth day of the tenth month. Before that, everyone, including Zhang Linchuan and Jiang Wang, had to undergo “special training.”

This training was not about using some method to squeeze the disciples’ combat power in the short term, as that was not the proper path. Even if they won the immediate competition, they would lose the disciples’ future. Instead, Dong A himself personally offered guidance tailored to each participant, which was an immense benefit and showed the importance Dong A placed on the event.

Dong A would personally lecture once every ten days. Those lectures were invariably packed, with many senior brothers who were usually out on missions specifically returning to the Dao Academy on those days. Jiang Wang never missed a single one.

However, Dong A’s lectures were aimed at the entire Dao Academy, so it was impossible for him to specifically cater to Jiang Wang’s progress. As a result, Jiang Wang found it very difficult to follow, and his gains were limited.

Having met with Dong A on numerous occasions, Jiang Wang still dared not be impudent in his presence. He wasn’t exactly tiptoeing around, but he was certainly respectful. After all, this powerful figure was known for his upright character, and he would readily confront even high-ranking officials in Xin’an City. Even Wei Quji was somewhat uneasy in Dong A’s presence, let alone a mere junior disciple like Jiang Wang.

“You’ve opened your meridians for some time now, why haven’t you established your foundation?” Dong A asked directly as soon as Jiang Wang sat down.

Jiang Wang braced himself and replied, “Perhaps this disciple’s aptitude is dull…”

But Dong A had already reached out a hand, “Forget it, I’ll see for myself.”

Jiang Wang dared not resist. He could only hope that Dong A would not discover his secrets. Of course, even if he did, it wouldn’t be a major issue. The Dao Academy disciples and the Dean had a teacher-student bond, and in the future political arena of Zhuang, they would be seen as a single entity. In essence, their fortunes were intertwined. As long as there were no matters of principle involved, Dong A would not punish him.

Moreover, the Gate of Heaven was both a barrier and a veil. Before the Gate of Heaven was opened, the situation deep within the Palace of Heaven was not so easy to detect. Unless Dong A personally took action, forcibly breaking open Jiang Wang’s Gate of Heaven from the outside, Jiang Wang would be ruined. Dong A would not do that.

As Dong A’s hand touched Jiang Wang’s spine, he frowned, “Your foundation establishment is already extremely slow, why have you also taken up body refinement techniques?”

The major sects like Daoism and Confucianism possessed a grand tolerance and did not forbid their disciples from practicing other schools’ techniques. What concerned Dong A was whether Jiang Wang would be distracted by this, neglecting the cultivation of his Dao as the foundation.

Jiang Wang replied, “This disciple attends to meridian opening both morning and evening, never slacking. However, limited by my qi and blood, I can only open my meridians twice a day. Therefore, I have also cultivated body refinement techniques, hoping to strengthen my qi and blood, allowing me to practice meridian opening more often, gather more Dao Yuan, and strive to establish my foundation as soon as possible.”

“Two meridian openings each time is sufficient. More Dao Yuan is not necessarily better; control is the correct path.” In the end, these were just minor details, so Dong A only pointed it out responsibly. He used a secret technique to sense the situation within Jiang Wang’s Palace of Heaven from the outside, along his spine.

“The foundation establishment array you are using is not the Returning Origin Array?” Dong A suddenly asked.

So, he was discovered! A strange sense of relief washed over Jiang Wang. In front of an experienced expert like Dong A, trying to hide anything was truly as difficult as ascending to heaven.

“It is not.” Jiang Wang admitted honestly, “The foundation establishment array that this disciple is using is far more complex than the Returning Origin Array. This is also the reason why this disciple has been unable to establish his foundation for so long.”

“Nonsense,” Dong A rebuked, “There are many foundation establishment arrays in this world that are superior to the Returning Origin Array. Do you know why our Jade Capital Mountain lineage still commonly uses this array for foundation establishment? Because it is stable, safe, and efficient. It can be safely used in any Palace of Heaven, regardless of its size, and it has the widest applicability! Foundation establishment is such a major event, how could you act on your own without consulting your teachers?”

Jiang Wang’s face flushed with shame. Wasn’t it because he had become easily startled after Fang Pengju’s betrayal? Although he wouldn’t go so far as to say that he had delusions of persecution at all times, he no longer dared to reveal his lucky encounters.

In the end, he had not yet fully established a student’s trust in his teacher with Dong A.

That day, when Dong A saw his injuries, he immediately sealed off the Dao Academy, which truly moved him. However, in the past, during his time with Fang Pengju, hadn’t he experienced countless such moments of being touched?

Just as he was about to tell Dong A what foundation establishment array he was using, Dong A waved his hand, “Forget it, now that things have come to this point, the time has already been wasted. There is no point in saying more.”

He thought for a moment, then untied a cyan jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Jiang Wang, “This jade pendant contains a secret technique that can help you improve your control over Dao Yuan, allowing you to complete your foundation establishment sooner. Wearing it constantly will also help to clear your mind and focus your spirit. Take it.”

“This disciple is apprehensive.” Seeing that it was such a personal item, Jiang Wang repeatedly refused, “This is something that Dong Shifu cherishes. How could this disciple dare to seize your treasure?”

Dong A stroked the jade pendant, and a hint of remembrance appeared on his usually stern face, “A gift from an old friend. That old friend is already dust in the earth.”

He quickly returned to his usual demeanor and placed the jade pendant in Jiang Wang’s hand without allowing any room for refusal, “This item is already useless to me. Take it. The future of Zhuang is yours.”

Clutching the jade pendant, as his mind sank slightly into it, a secret technique flowed through his mind, named—*Control Yuan Skill*.

Jiang Wang grasped the jade pendant tightly and prostrated himself on the ground in a deep bow, “This disciple thanks my Enshi!”

Dong A was not one to indulge in displays of teacher-student sentimentality. He straightforwardly pulled Jiang Wang up, said some things to pay attention to during cultivation, and waved his hand for him to leave.

…

Today, because he had to practice with Dong A, Jiang Wang had once again asked Ling He to pick up Jiang An’an. Therefore, he didn’t need to make a special trip to the private school. Instead, he could go directly to the dormitory.

The newly obtained secret technique was of great significance to Jiang Wang. He had achieved success in body refinement, and his qi and blood were abundant. He could now perform four meridian openings each day, absorbing four Dao Yuan stars. However, the Zhou Tian Star Array became increasingly complex towards the end. With his current ability to control Dao Yuan, each array node arrangement would almost exhaust his mind and spirit. In fact, this was the main issue that later restricted him from quickly establishing his foundation.

But the *Control Yuan Skill* could help Jiang Wang control Dao Yuan with the least amount of mental effort, allowing him to arrange the array nodes with ease, without wasting energy in vain.

Dong A had seen through the problem at a glance and provided a solution. A teacher’s word was better than ten years of hard work.

Carefully tying the Control Yuan jade pendant around his waist, Jiang Wang planned to never take it off for the rest of his life.

Dong A regarded him as a future prized disciple and was willing to give away a personal treasure. At this moment, hadn’t he already regarded Dong A as a pillar of support?

“There’s an invitation for you.”

When he went to Ling He to pick up Jiang An’an, Ling He suddenly said.

Jiang Wang held Jiang An’an in one arm and took the invitation with the other. Only then did he understand why Ling He’s expression was so solemn.

The host of the invitation was Fang Zehou.

The most powerful contender for the next head of the Fang family, Fang Pengju’s uncle, and Fang Heling’s father.

And the place where the banquet was set was the Moon Gazing Pavilion.

The place where Fang Pengju had plotted to poison him a few months ago.

…

(Thank you to book friend Wu Lie 123 for the Sect Master reward, thank you to book friend Jin Zhe Forty-Nine, book friend Shura Tang San, book friend, book friend The Failure of Life Ah Zhan, book friend Huang Ah Zhan, book friend Yan Er Gou for the rewards!!!)