In the city of Sanshan, Sun Xiaoman rushed into her mother’s chambers.

Since the battle on Mount Yuheng concluded, Dou Yuehmei had secluded herself within her room, leaving all city affairs to Sun Xiaoman. Even the appointment of a new headmaster to the Sanshan City Daoist Academy failed to draw her out. This was the first time in many days she was willing to receive visitors.

“…Mother.” Seeing Dou Yuehmei for the first time, Sun Xiaoman’s heart trembled. Was this haggard and weary woman truly her mother?

“Xiaoman.” Dou Yuehmei gazed at her daughter, a hint of color finally returning to her pale face. “How are things in the city?”

“They’re alright, mostly,” Sun Xiaoman replied, not daring to mention that since the failed return from Mount Yuheng, several gifted disciples from the academy had transferred to other regions, citing a lack of hope here. While not numerous, for the talent-depleted city of Sanshan, it was akin to adding frost to snow.

“That’s good.” Dou Yuehmei seemed not entirely concerned by the answer. She changed the subject, asking, “How is Xiaoyan?”

“Still shut in her room, saying she never wants to speak to you again.”

Dou Yuehmei sighed, a touch of melancholy in her voice. “It seems she’s truly angry this time.”

“It’s alright, she’ll forget in a while.”

Sun Xiaoman’s eyes held a weariness she tried to conceal from her mother. Handling city affairs was not her forte, but Sun Xiaoyan was incapable of presiding, and her mother was so despondent, consumed by gloom. She could only reluctantly bear the burden. For her, she’d rather swing a great hammer and clash with hundreds of masters than bury herself in official documents.

“These past few days, I’ve come to understand,” Dou Yuehmei rallied slightly, sighing. “Sanshan City must endure. Your brother’s cultivation cannot be neglected. Most importantly, I cannot hold you back any longer.”

Sun Xiaoman looked up at her. “Mother…”

“Go find your master!” Dou Yuehmei exclaimed with emotion. “This world is not as your father believed. Everything he did was meaningless. This world is not a world of reason, but a world of the strong.”

It was truly difficult to imagine. For a woman who had treated her husband as her spiritual pillar, placing absolute faith in him, how much despair must she have endured to utter such words? To deny her husband’s efforts?

Sun Xiaoman felt her mother was mistaken but didn’t know how to refute her.

“Your master is very strong, but back then, I insisted on keeping you by my side because I was arrogant enough to believe I would one day not be inferior to him. Living with me would not affect your cultivation.”

Dou Yuehmei’s voice was low. “Now… I can never surpass him.”

Dou Yuehmei was seated before her usual dressing mirror, though with her back to it. Sunlight filtered through the windowpanes, falling upon her weary face, making it appear even paler.

Sun Xiaoman simply sat cross-legged on the floor, her silver hammer swaying on her wrist. Using her hand as a pillow, she rested her head on her mother’s lap.

Dou Yuehmei stroked her temple and continued, “Pure martial cultivation has yet to pave a complete path. Thus, the path of a martial artist is difficult. Your master is merely one of the explorers. Often, you must rely on yourself and think deeply.”

“Yes,” Sun Xiaoman murmured softly.

“You are gifted. The path to the twelfth heaven is smooth for you, so I won’t speak of cultivation before the Inner Mansion realm.”

Dou Yuehmei took out a small booklet, thin, perhaps only a few pages. “These are some insights I’ve gained from exploring神通seeds. Take them. The Great Dao leads to the same destination through different paths. Understanding one leads to understanding a hundred. Perhaps they will be of some help to you.”

Seeing Sun Xiaoman accept it, she continued to sigh. “For martial artists to ascend to the Thirty-Third Heaven remains a mere imagination. No one has ever achieved completion. I truly don’t know how far my daughter will go?”

Sun Xiaoman raised one hand high, her small silver hammer swaying. “To the very top!”

Dou Yuehmei smiled. She reached out and playfully flicked her daughter’s nose. “Go, go.”

Sun Xiaoman stood up, her bare feet on the ground. “Mother, then I’m off?”

Dou Yuehmei’s smile was tinged with tears. “Go.”

Suddenly, Sun Xiaoman’s smile turned sly. “Before I go, I’ll help you educate Sun Xiaoyan!”

Seeing Dou Yuehmei open her mouth to object, she quickly said, “Mother, listen to me. Occasionally hitting a child is good for body and mind. Don’t be reluctant. Father is gone, the past is in the past. But the future is still long!”

She took two steps, then suddenly turned back, blinking. “I think my master, he’s quite interested in you, you know!”

“Go, go, go! What do you know!”

Her daughter left, off to beat her son. Dou Yuehmei felt a strange sense of relief. She cast the peculiar thought from her mind.

She turned back to the dressing mirror. In the mirror was a face without makeup, though weary, still revealing a beautiful outline. She reached out, gently stroking her face, and sighed faintly. “Dear departed, you died so early, do you feel it wasn’t worth it? It’s truly a pity, this beautiful face of mine…”

…

Jiang Wang was certainly no stranger to the Vice Headmaster Song Qifang, and he held deep respect for him. Dong A’s demotion to Fenglin City was only in the past few years. Before that, the Fenglin City Daoist Academy had always been under Song Qifang’s leadership.

Of course, limited by his own strength and vision, under his leadership, the Fenglin City Daoist Academy had always been weak.

Now, with Dong A presiding over the main academy, Song Qifang, as vice headmaster, focused on alchemy and deduction techniques outside of teaching. It was a clear division of labor, each serving his purpose. Due to his unassuming and amiable nature, he had always been highly respected by the disciples.

However, Jiang Wang truly couldn’t figure out why Song Qifang would suddenly seek him out.

“Headmaster Song.” Jiang Wang entered the alchemy room and bowed respectfully. “Did you need something from me?”

The white-haired Song Qifang turned from the alchemy furnace, looking at Jiang Wang with a kind smile. “Jiang Wang, how has your cultivation been recently? Do you have any problems?”

“Thank you for your concern, Headmaster Song.” Jiang Wang was overwhelmed. “The instructors are very responsible, and my cultivation is still quite shallow. The problems are all very basic. Sometimes, my senior brothers help resolve them. I don’t have any particular difficulties at the moment.”

Song Qifang nodded with satisfaction. “You are one of the most outstanding disciples in the city academy. I am at ease with you.”

“The academy is full of masters. I am ashamed to accept such praise.”

“I’ve heard about your affairs in Wangjiang City,” Song Qifang turned to check the heat of the alchemy furnace before continuing. “You performed very well. However, some things still require attention to method. We are close neighbors with Wangjiang City; there’s really no need to make things so rigid.”

Regardless of the events, without mentioning right or wrong, the act of labeling him as soon as he spoke truly displeased Jiang Wang. But he kept his expression calm, simply saying, “Headmaster Song’s teachings are correct.”

“Of course, involving family matters, it’s understandable for young people to be a bit impulsive.” Song Qifang smiled, fanning the fire, and seemingly inadvertently said, “I heard you possess a transcendent sword technique that has shone brightly in Sanshan City and Wangjiang City?”

“This disciple did obtain a sword technique through a fortunate encounter.” Jiang Wang frowned. “However, this sword technique is not as miraculous as others claim.”

“Achieving success without arrogance is good.” Song Qifang paused, then turned to look into Jiang Wang’s eyes. “I wonder if you would be willing to contribute this dao technique to the academy? So that other disciples of our academy can also make progress. Don’t worry, the academy merits will certainly be counted generously. I will vouch for you.”

The Zhuang State Daoist Academy did indeed have a tradition of exchanging resources for academy merits. This allowed disciples with abundant wealth to contribute material resources, benefiting both the academy and the cultivators themselves. Cultivation methods were naturally included in this.

But that was purely voluntary. In other words, if Jiang Wang were willing, he would have exchanged it long ago. Why wait for you, Song Qifang, to ask?

Sharing with Zhao Rucheng, Ling He, and Du Yehu was out of willingness. But this did not mean Jiang Wang was so universally benevolent and concerned with all living beings. That wasn’t benevolence; it was foolishness.

Therefore, Jiang Wang directly asked, “Is this the intention of Headmaster Dong?”

Song Qifang’s expression darkened slightly. “I believe in the Fenglin City Daoist Academy, the words I speak still carry some weight. Even Headmaster Dong would not disrespect my opinion.”

No wonder the Fenglin City Daoist Academy was so mediocre in his hands in the past. This overflowing scent of decay! Jiang Wang thought to himself, bowed, and said, “In that case, I regret that Jiang Wang is unwilling.”

After the bow, he turned and left. His sword was hanging by his waist. At this moment, he possessed a sharpness akin to a sword.