Urgent Mobilization

Little An'an thus began her life in Maple Forest City. Aunt Song sent a letter afterward, saying she had married into Wangjiang City. As a city renowned for its commercial prosperity, Wangjiang City was second only to the prefecture capital Qinghe City within the entire Qinghe Prefecture. Moreover, her husband's family name was Lin, considered a local prominent clan. So it seemed she had found a good home.

No wonder she couldn't bring her daughter along.

As for the remaining assets of the Jiang Family in Phoenix Creek Town, Jiang Wang did not inquire further. Regardless, Aunt Song had been married to his father, and had taken good care of him after his illness. Sending her off with some dowry was only reasonable.

But their dealings were probably at an end here. There was no need for further contact.

At four or five years old, it was the age for enlightenment. Jiang Wang arranged for his sister to attend a private school. It was the best private school aside from the three great clans' clan schools, and they didn't accept just anyone. Having dominated the outer sect of the City Daoist Academy for so long, Jiang Wang had that much face. Especially now that he had advanced to the inner sect, with his Dao Vein manifesting externally, he was a sure future pillar of the Zhuang Kingdom. No one would lightly offend him.

Every day, after attending scripture lectures at the Daoist Academy and practicing cultivation, he would time it to pick up An'an from school. When taking missions, he tried to choose ones that took no more than a day, going and returning the same day so as not to neglect An'an. If a mission's timing truly couldn't be arranged, he would have Ling He, Zhao Rucheng, and the others take turns watching over her for a while.

Life flowed on, full and fulfilling. In the Heaven-Connecting Palace, the Foundation Array Diagram grew increasingly complex, already taking initial shape. But the further along it went, the more difficult the array's layout became. Especially before foundation establishment, when moving Dao Essence, even a single mistake would cause the Dao Essence to dissipate, wasting all the effort of meridian rushing. Because he had chosen the Starry Array, his foundation establishment was already slower than others. So during every array point movement in the foundation process, Jiang Wang could not allow himself to fail.

In terms of combat power, since his foundation was not yet established, he could not cultivate Dao techniques. Jiang Wang could only put more effort into the Purple Qi Coming from the East Sword Art. This sword art had nine practice forms and five killing forms. As the names implied, the practice forms were for cultivation, the killing forms for combat. The practice forms tempered the body and allowed one to comprehend the sword path, while the killing forms were for attacking in battle, breaking through enemies.

Fortunately, after mastering the nine practice forms, their effect on nourishing the body's blood and qi was astonishing. Jiang Wang could even clearly sense his physical body giving more feedback to the Dao Vein's true spirit, accelerating the condensation of Dao Essence.

After some time, he actually gained an additional opportunity for meridian rushing cultivation, able to condense three Dao Essence pellets per day. This greatly shortened the time needed for successful foundation establishment.

Life was full and satisfying. In such a life, Jiang Wang welcomed his first large-scale mission since entering Maple Forest City Daoist Academy.

"Emergency conscription mission! No one is allowed to leave!"

In the Scripture Hall, just as the morning lesson ended, a black-robed general burst through the door.

"Who's that?" "What's he doing?"

The disciples whispered among themselves, but someone quickly pointed out the truth. "Keep your voice down, that's Wei Yan!"

The entire Scripture Hall fell silent instantly.

Second on the Dao Merit Ranking, a real-power general in the City Guard—either identity was enough to intimidate the crowd. Especially since this military officer was known for his tough and cold style.

Wei Yan seemed unconcerned with their reactions. Or rather, he only needed to state his position.

"Starting from last week, Small Forest Town has had no word for five full days."

Jiang Wang exchanged a glance with Ling He. As a major town under Maple Forest City's jurisdiction, Small Forest Town couldn't avoid reporting every few days, even if not in exhaustive detail.

Five full days without any word was almost equivalent to Maple Forest City losing control over it. A town of several thousand people suddenly cut off from the inside and outside—this was no small matter.

Wei Yan continued, "I hold the City Lord's seal and decree. I am conscripting at least thirty inner sect disciples from the City Daoist Academy to depart for Small Forest Town to investigate this matter."

"Isn't this the Criminal Investigation Bureau's responsibility?" a dissatisfied disciple asked.

A mission this large, conscripting thirty inner sect disciples from the City Daoist Academy at once—its danger level would certainly not be low. Many were unwilling.

"The Heart-Devouring Demon Xiong Wen has appeared in Three Mountains City. Right now, most of the Criminal Investigation Bureau's forces across the entire Qinghe Prefecture have been transferred there."

Wei Yan did not respond. His adjutant, Zhao Lang, explained from the side.

The Zhuang Kingdom's official system followed that of the Yong Kingdom. Ordinary cases were handled by the yamen, while those involving the supernatural were taken over by the Criminal Investigation Bureau. The Bureau was responsible for supernatural incidents nationwide. In theory, it was under the local government's authority, but due to its special status as directly subordinate to the national capital, local governments often could not command it as they wished.

Just like this time—mobilizing personnel to pursue Xiong Wen was an order from above the Bureau. Even Maple Forest City Lord Wei Quji could not interfere and call them back.

"What about the City Guard?" the same disciple asked again.

The City Guard was the City Lord's direct armed force, tasked with suppressing all evil and rebellion. An incident as major as an entire town losing contact was enough to warrant the City Guard's intervention.

"The City Guard has other important duties." Wei Yan impatiently cut off the discussion. "This mission's Dao Merit rewards are increased by thirty percent. In principle, participation is voluntary. But if the number of inner sect disciples who sign up does not reach thirty, I hold the City Lord's decree and will enforce a compulsory conscription!"

"I need to remind everyone that before this mission, two ninth-grade Wandering Vein cultivators sent by the City Lord's Mansion to investigate have already been lost in Small Forest Town. I hope each of you will assess the risks and act within your means."

The Daoist Academy system was the most important supernatural advancement system in the Zhuang Kingdom. Local City Daoist Academies absorbed local cultivation seeds. After several years of training, they passed assessments to advance to Prefecture Daoist Academies, then from there to State Daoist Academies, layer by layer selecting the best.

In the end, all the geniuses of the Zhuang Kingdom gathered in the national capital. Advancing, they could compete with heroes from other kingdoms; stepping back, they could be assigned to local areas to govern.

Although Maple Forest City Daoist Academy only recruited ten inner sect disciples per session, due to the difficulty of advancing to the Prefecture Daoist Academy, many cultivators lingered in the City Daoist Academy for years or even over a decade. Accumulated over many years, excluding those on distant travels or in seclusion, the inner sect disciples numbered about three hundred.

From Wei Yan's perspective, he might have wished for too few volunteers. In his original intention, directly invoking the compulsory conscription decree to mobilize the thirty strongest from the entire Maple Forest City Daoist Academy would give this mission a greater chance of success. But the Daoist Academy and the City Lord's Mansion were not subordinate to each other, and a conflict would be hard to smooth over.

"Boss, are you going?" Jiang Wang quietly asked Ling He. He was actually a bit worried, because this mission would inevitably involve supernatural forces, and neither Ling He nor Du Yehu had yet opened their Dao Veins. The danger was extremely high.

"Of course I'm going." Ling He did not hesitate. He had already fallen behind on the cultivation path. He couldn't miss an opportunity like a thirty percent increase in Dao Merit rewards. As for danger? If he was afraid of danger, he should have stayed farming in the village.

"I'm signing up!" Du Yehu was already shouting. "All four of us are signing up!"

Zhao Rucheng bumped into him discontentedly. "Hey, I was planning to go back and catch a nap."

Among them, he had the least drive. Every day was just coasting along, waiting for death. His life was nothing but relaxation on top of relaxation.

Wei Yan swept a cold glance over them. Seeing that none had yet established their foundation, he paid them little attention, merely casually instructing his adjutant, "Record them."

The adjutant announced loudly, "Sign-up time is limited to the time it takes one incense stick to burn. Twenty-six spots remain."

"We cultivators, supported by the nation, should contribute to our country. I am signing up for this operation." Li Jianqiu's voice arrived with his person as he drifted in from outside the hall.

Disciples of his caliber already had considerable freedom. Not only did they not need to report to the Scripture Hall daily, they could even refuse this level of compulsory conscription. Unless the nation was in crisis, they only climbed toward the heights of cultivation. His appearance drew a wave of murmurs.

"How could I let Jianqiu take all the glory? Count me in, Wang Changxiang." Unlike Li Jianqiu, who walked with his hand on his sword, Wang Changxiang's temperament was much more gentle. He still wore the same hemp Daoist robe Jiang Wang had seen him in at the Dao Merit Hall, his steps slow and unhurried.

"With Brother Wang and Brother Li joining, this mission has a much better chance!" Even Wei Yan's hard face managed to squeeze out a rare smile.

Facing Wang Changxiang, seventh on the Dao Merit Ranking, even he could not afford to be arrogant.

With Wang Changxiang and Li Jianqiu joining, the crowd's enthusiasm for signing up surged sharply, and soon the quota was filled.

Of the thirty inner disciples, aside from Jiang Wang and his four brothers, nearly everyone had a foundation of ninth-rank cultivation, each one extraordinary. Such an extraordinary force could almost sweep through the entire territory of Maple Forest City.

Wei Yan casually took the list, glanced over it, and nodded, saying, "You lot still have some blood and courage. You haven't read the scriptures until your humanity was worn away."

Perhaps to him this was praise, but the condescension in his tone was still rather unpleasant.

The Ministry of War and the Dao Academy were two different promotion systems, with both cooperation and competition between them. It was common for them to look down on each other.

At once, a disciple spoke up discontentedly, "If Senior Brother Zhu were here, I wonder if certain people would still dare to point fingers!?"

The person referred to was naturally Zhu Weiwu, the top of Maple Forest City's Dao Merit list.

Wei Yan showed no anger. He simply flicked his robe and strode out of the Dao Academy on his own. "Move out!"