Within the cavern’s walls, an eerie white light pulsed, as if one had entered the very maw of some colossal skeletal beast.

Passing through a lengthy tunnel, one found a hidden world within.

In the central chamber, a scarlet carpet unfurled. The Masked Bone Envoy and the charming, scarlet-clad Miao Yu stood on either side.

Behind each of them clustered several figures in black robes, subtly divided into two factions.

The scarlet carpet stretched to the far end.

At the end, a staircase of white bone led to a platform of flesh and blood. Upon this high platform was a chair of bone, its spines gnarled and menacing.

Seated upon this chair was a skeleton. Frail and withered, it seemed as if the slightest breeze would scatter its bones.

Yet, a voice emerged from the hollow of the skull’s mouth: “Who can tell this Seat, where has that Netherflame Candle gone?”

A black-robed elder fell to his knees with a thud: “This subordinate is incompetent!”

The voice remained hollow, devoid of emotion: “Then who can tell me, who was responsible for this operation, which suffered such heavy losses?”

The black-robed elder glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Bone Envoy, but saw that he remained perfectly still, with no intention of speaking on his behalf. He could only fiercely kowtow: “This subordinate… deserves to die.”

Before his words had faded, he abruptly looked up, utterly horrified: “Grand Elder! Ple…”

A chilling wind seemed to sweep through.

A black robe fell limply to the ground. Beneath the robe, only a pool of bone dust remained.

He was dead.

“Indeed, you deserved to die,” the skeleton continued. “The Bone Path has been transmitted with difficulty to this day, its cultivation techniques largely incomplete. The Netherflame Candle is a treasure of our Sect, a secret inheritance, capable of aiding this Seat in completing the lost techniques. Yet, you were so incompetent, squandering this opportunity for nothing!”

At this moment, the Bone Envoy spoke: “I recall that the Holy Maiden had made preparations.”

Miao Yu smiled enchantingly: “It was the Envoy’s preparations that allowed for this one’s follow-up. However, several days have passed. My people have also vanished without a trace. I know not whether they were killed by Wei Quji, or devoured by some wild cat or dog.”

The Bone Envoy chuckled: “What preparations? I was unaware.”

“Enough,” the skeleton on the bone chair said. “Since Wei Quji used the Netherflame Candle as bait, it indicates he knows it was our Bone Path that affronted him. But he does not know what the Netherflame Candle means to us. Once he has killed his fill, he will not be so concerned with the Netherflame Candle. I order you to dig three feet into the earth and find out into whose hands the Netherflame Candle has fallen.”

“Yes,” everyone bowed their heads.

“Furthermore, I will be taking significant action in the Cloud-top Kingdom recently. You are all to act with discretion.” After the Grand Elder finished speaking, the skeleton instantly disintegrated, its bones scattering and lying upon the bone seat.

Miao Yu waved her hand, and the people in the cavern dispersed, leaving only the Bone Envoy and herself.

The Bone Envoy first snorted: “The Third Elder sacrificed his body to manifest the illusory image of the Ghost Gate Pass. Was it merely for him to show off his might in the Cloud Kingdom?”

“Who’s to say?” Miao Yu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “The Grand Elder seems rather unconcerned with finding the Dao Child now.”

“Hahahaha,” the Bone Envoy strode away with his hands behind his back. “Without the Dao Child, he acts as the Holy Lord. When the Dao Child appears, he will truly be just the Grand Elder. What choice do you think he will make?”

…

Every time he came to the Art Academy, Jiang Wang felt somewhat absent-minded.

Nothing else, he had yet to establish his foundation. No matter how eloquently the instructors lectured, he could only practice in his mind, unable to quench his thirst or truly gain a deep understanding.

Compared to the other students, Jiang Wang was more willing to attend the classic studies classes, listening to the old masters explain the principles of the Great Dao and the scriptures of the sages, which he found enjoyable.

But he dared not skip these Art Academy classes either, especially this one, which was taught by Xiao Tie Mian.

No one remembered Xiao Tie Mian’s real name. Although he was only a seventh-grade Tongtian realm cultivator, his mastery of various basic Daoist arts was truly profound, seasoned, and practiced.

Before the class even began, Jiang Wang, sitting on a futon, felt somewhat lost in thought.

He was still recalling the Blessed Land challenge from last night, but he couldn’t analyze any more details.

Because the moment the battle started, he didn’t even have time to draw his sword before an arrow ended his movements.

He had fallen from the Azure Jade Altar to the Guangtian Altar ranked twenty-five, his monthly功 production decreasing by another hundred, leaving him with only 1650 points. Adding the remaining 190 points from his previous deductions for the Four Spirits Body Refining Technique, he had a total of 1840功 points.

Outside the Taixu Illusion Realm, he still had four hundred Dao勛 points on the Dao Merit Ranking. These were all of Jiang Wang’s resources related to cultivation.

Although Zhao Rucheng would not use the Daoist Academy’s Meridian Opening Pill to open his meridians, he still exchanged for one, perhaps to conceal something. He was unwilling to elaborate, so Jiang Wang didn’t ask.

According to the brat’s boasting, he would open his meridians with a “super invincible most perfect” Meridian Opening Pill, but unfortunately, he only had one and couldn’t share it with Jiang An’an.

Jiang Wang then asked him how many Dao勛 points such a “super invincible most perfect” Meridian Opening Pill would roughly require to exchange.

Zhao Rucheng didn’t give a specific amount, only patted his shoulder and told him to work hard.

In short, raising his sister lavishly was a long and arduous task.

In his dazed state, Xiao Tie Mian had already walked onto the platform.

Jiang Wang quickly collected his thoughts and put on a facade of diligently listening.

“Some people, ah, don’t think that just because you’ve achieved a little success, your tail is wagging in the sky. The path of cultivation is very long, young people, you must look far ahead.” Xiao Tie Mian coughed. “Alright, now let’s talk about the specific applications of the Stone Skin Technique in combat…”

Jiang Wang’s heart skipped a beat, unable to understand why he was being targeted again. But he dared not show it, instead becoming even more focused.

After class, as soon as Xiao Tie Mian left, Huang Azhan scurried over from the corner.

“Ah, ah, this dead face! He’s targeting you like this, can you bear it? Let’s go smash his window tonight, how about it? Are you in?”

Seeing Huang Azhan, Jiang Wang immediately understood why he was being targeted. It was likely a case of the city gate catching fire and the fish in the pond suffering.

He usually hung around with Huang Azhan, and Xiao Tie Mian had taken note of both of them.

“Go yourself if you want to.” Of course, Jiang Wang wouldn’t be foolish enough to accompany him.

“Let me tell you, this time I have a well-thought-out plan…”

“Stop!” Jiang Wang stopped his lengthy discourse and changed the subject. “We’ve arranged to eat with Senior Brother Li Jianqiu. Do you want to come?”

“Hmph, you just don’t believe me. I’m telling you, last time I was drunk, otherwise, with that Xiao…” Huang Azhan saw Jiang Wang turn and leave, and quickly chased after him: “I’ll go!”

Zhao Rucheng nonchalantly threw out a sentence: “The cost of the meal will be split evenly, alright?”

Huang Azhan pretended not to hear, draped an arm around Ling He’s shoulder, and began discussing his counterattack plan again.

Ling He was gentle and kind. Although he certainly wouldn’t collude with him, he wouldn’t deliberately despise him either.

Young Master Zhao truly had no recourse against this senior from the previous batch. His face was incredibly thick, impenetrable.

The organizer of this dinner was Li Jianqiu. He had invited Jiang Wang and said he could bring some friends.

The location was Suhuai Zhai. This restaurant’s ambiance was somewhat higher than Wangyue Tower, but it focused on vegetarian food. Jiang Wang and his friends, who were accustomed to eating meat and drinking wine, naturally hadn’t been there much.

Upon entering the private room, only Li Jianqiu sat alone.

Everyone was already acquainted, so there wasn’t much ceremony. They immediately began to partake of the fine dishes.

Du Yehu was the least fond of vegetarian food, especially scoffing at the so-called divine skills of making vegetarian dishes taste like roasted chicken or beef. His reasoning was, why bother with so much effort when you could just eat roasted chicken or beef directly? Zhao Rucheng summarized it with the word “ambiance,” but it was pointless to argue with him.

Fortunately, Du Yehu was not present today, so the others didn’t have his quirks.

During the meal, Huang Azhan shared an anecdote.

It was said that after Lin Zhengren returned to Wangjiang City, he was immensely proud. At a welcome banquet, he publicly boasted that he was invincible at the Three Cities Dao Discussion, that no one in Sanshan City or Fenglin City was his match. Zhu Weiwu, who had only recently returned to the Daoist Academy, heard about this and immediately took his spear, a lone boat sailing down the Green Willow River, and went directly to Wangjiang City along the Qing River.

They should have already engaged in combat by now.

Jiang Wang doubted: “Based on Lin Zhengren’s performance at the Three Cities Dao Discussion, he doesn’t seem like that kind of person. He shouldn’t have said those words, right?”

Li Jianqiu, however, laughed heartily: “Senior Brother Zhu just found an excuse to beat him up, whether he said those words or not doesn’t matter! Since it’s spread, then assume he said it!”

He had more contact with Zhu Weiwu and naturally understood him better.

Although Jiang Wang had only met him once, he also felt that what Li Jianqiu said was very consistent with Zhu Weiwu’s style.

“Domineering!”

“Amazing!”

“Senior Brother is mighty!”

“Alright, he’s not here, so no matter how much you fawn, he won’t hear it.” Li Jianqiu waved his hand and directly cut to the chase: “Sanshan City has been plagued by beast disasters recently. Yesterday, their city lord issued a bounty, inviting experts to help them clear out the fierce beasts. This is the largest operation in Sanshan City in recent years. I’m planning to form a team to go there. How about it, are you willing to come with me?”