Beside the Green Willow River lay the burial ground of Fang Pengju.

Following the Green Willow River downstream, it merges into the Clear River, leading directly to Wangjiang City.

Jiang Wang did not perform any earth-shattering feats. He deliberately took a long detour, mingled with the crowds, and entered the city through the south gate of Wangjiang City.

One zhuang of knife-coins for entry wasn’t expensive. It was even less than before. When Jiang Wang had previously visited Wangjiang City, the entry fee had been two zhuang of knife-coins.

Occasionally, one could see people from the Three Mountains Region entering the city, carrying mountain goods and the like. The people of the Three Mountains Region possessed a bold and rugged temperament, quite different from those of other regions, easily recognizable. This was one reason they were scornfully called “mountain barbarians.”

After the Maple Forest Region’s sinking into the Netherworld, the people of the Three Mountains Region could only take a much longer road to Wangjiang City to trade goods.

Wangjiang City’s commerce was developed, with much of the power being held by local families. Logically, under such circumstances, the entry fee should have increased. After all, the people of the Three Mountains Region had no other choice.

However, the entry fee for Wangjiang City was reduced.

If the upper echelons of Wangjiang City possessed such magnanimity, they wouldn’t have been at loggerheads with the Three Mountains Region in the past. Thus, it must be an order from above.

The Zhuang court was actually concerned about such trivial matters as a city’s entry fee. From this alone, one could see that the Zhuang court’s control over the nation was growing day by day, and its governance was commendable. This was as it should be. Aside from the Maple Forest City incident, Zhuang Gaoxian could be considered a capable ruler, and Du Ruhui was a virtuous minister recognized by the court and the public.

Wangjiang City was originally much more prosperous than Maple Forest City. Its economy was more developed, and the living conditions of its people were better. However, this time, it was evident that it wasn’t as good as before. The destruction of the Maple Forest Region undoubtedly had an impact on the neighboring Wangjiang Region.

Jiang Wang didn’t dwell on sentimentality. He went straight to the Wangjiang City Dao Academy.

The Wangjiang City Dao Academy had the same layout as the Maple Forest City Dao Academy, both in the typical style of Yujing Mountain, extremely opulent. The Dao Academies of various places were directly funded by the imperial court, and they had little to do with the local economic conditions. Even in a barren place like the Three Mountains City, its Dao Academy was still very luxurious.

Jiang Wang casually found an inn, closed his door to cultivate until nightfall, and then snuck out, stealing into the city’s Dao Academy.

The strongest head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy was only at the peak of the Tenglong Realm. To Jiang Wang now, he was utterly vulnerable.

The only thing to consider was how to make the head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy offer the Decayed Wood Art.

After that, there was the appointment with Ye Qingyu at the Delayed Cloud Mountain, so there wasn’t much time to waste here.

He had already set his plan.

Jiang Wang took out a Mountain Ghost Mask and put it on. The mask was something he had casually bought at a stall when he entered the city. The craftsmanship was ordinary, and the design wasn’t particularly good. But these weren’t important.

He freely roamed in the Wangjiang City Dao Academy, as if he were in an uninhabited place. None of the instructors or students in the city’s Dao Academy could discover him.

Soon, he found the head’s residence.

A lamp was lit in the quiet room, and the head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy was sitting in meditation and cultivating.

He was diligent, far better than that Song Qifang of the Maple Forest City Dao Academy. No wonder the Wangjiang City Dao Academy had always been superior to the Maple Forest City Dao Academy.

He was about fifty years old, with a ruddy complexion and profound cultivation.

Of course, no matter how profound, he was still only in the Tenglong Realm.

And the person who was once considered invincible in the Tenglong Realm was hiding under a Mountain Ghost Mask.

“Who’s there?”

The head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy opened his eyes, looking vigilant.

Daoyuan surged out, but it dissipated even faster.

From beginning to end, the man wearing the Mountain Ghost Mask only gently patted his shoulder.

Terrifying strength!

“Who exactly are you, sir?”

The head asked again, but this time, he completely abandoned the intention of struggling.

The difference in strength was so great that there wasn’t even a tiny chance.

The reason he was able to discover Jiang Wang was only because Jiang Wang had deliberately revealed his aura to him.

“You can call me Zhang Linchuan,” Jiang Wang said, distorting his voice.

“Zhang Linchuan?” The head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy obviously didn’t remember the outstanding fifth-year disciple of the Maple Forest City Dao Academy. Even those Zhuang state experts on the front lines chasing the White Bone Daoists probably only remembered the White Bone Envoy more.

“Names are just codenames, and don’t have much meaning.” Jiang Wang smiled: “I came here this time because I have something I want you to help me with.”

The head’s eyes were wary, but he only said bitterly on his face: “You are so powerful, I am old and weak, what help can I offer you?”

“It’s a very simple thing for you, just a matter of lifting a finger.” Jiang Wang didn’t beat around the bush with him: “You created a unique secret technique, called the Decayed Wood Art, is that right?”

The other party had specifically come to his door and pointed out the name of the Decayed Wood Art directly. There was obviously no point in hiding it.

The head said bitterly: “I didn’t expect such a shallow little art to be noticed by a powerful figure like you. It’s just…”

Jiang Wang interrupted him: “Don’t rush to make excuses, I’m not going to take it for nothing. Why not listen to my conditions first, how about it?”

The head looked embarrassed: “Actually, old man…”

“Two superior-grade Level B Dao Arts. One of them is a range Dao Art for constructing battlefields, and the other is a significantly effective amplification Dao Art.” Jiang Wang said directly: “Two arts in exchange for one, and they are all top-notch. You definitely won’t be at a loss, how about it?”

“Sir, it’s not that this old man is unwilling.” The head looked very sincere: “It’s just that this Decayed Wood Art has defects…”

“Whether it has defects or what those defects are, I’ll judge it myself.” Jiang Wang interrupted him again: “Won’t you take a look at my Dao Arts before deciding?”

“Actually, I have already offered this Dao Art to the State Dao Academy. The Grand Chancellor has placed a confidentiality restriction on me, so I cannot pass it on…” The head made a last-ditch effort.

“Is that so?” Jiang Wang raised a finger, his tone already cold: “How about I try to help you unlock it?”

The head then knew that there was no more room for struggle.

He simply closed his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Jiang Wang asked.

“As you can see.” The head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy said: “The Decayed Wood Art is the result of my life’s work. I have not even passed it on to my disciples, let alone give it to someone whose face I don’t even know. Kill me!”

In fact, he had at least taught this Dao Art to Fu Baosong. When he decided to accept death, he still deliberately concealed it to protect his disciple.

Jiang Wang looked at the old man closing his eyes waiting for death, and for a moment felt like he had no way to start.

Enticement had failed, and coercion was even more useless. What could one do if a man didn’t fear death?

In fact, he could directly use the Soul-Hidden Serpent to destroy the other party’s will, trying to control him to reveal the Decayed Wood Art.

But first, the probability of success was not high, and second, he had no grievances or hatred with the head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy, and the other party was not some great evildoer. He didn’t want to stain his hands with blood for no reason.

Even this person’s insistence and protection of his disciples moved Jiang Wang somewhat.

But in any case, Jiang Wang was determined to get the Decayed Wood Art.

This was a choice of Dao Arts he had sorted out for a long time.

Time was tight, and he had to improve his strength as quickly as possible to determine the inscribed Dao Art for his First Inner Palace.

Thinking of this person’s protection of his disciples, Jiang Wang had a new idea in mind. Perhaps scaring him could yield results… Although it might be a bit despicable, it was the only way.

Thinking about it, Jiang Wang quickly completed the hand seals with his right hand and pressed down on the ground.

Then, a sea of flowers spread out.

Endless flame flowers instantly filled the room and extended outward infinitely.

Of course, the flame flowers that rushed out of the room were just illusory flowers and did not show their traces. Ordinary Dao Academy disciples with insufficient cultivation could not detect them at all.

It was just to scare the head in front of him.

As expected, the head of the Wangjiang City Dao Academy opened his eyes again, looking at the sea of flame flowers filling his vision and violently hidden, and was furious: “What do you want to do!?”

“I, Zhang Linchuan, do things very simply. I must get what I want.” Jiang Wang deliberately made his voice cold: “Since you don’t accept a toast, then now I will force you to drink a cup.”

“From now on, every thirty breaths, I will kill a Dao Academy disciple. I will keep killing until there is not a living soul left in the entire city’s Dao Academy, or until you hand over the Decayed Wood Art.”