Three Cities Dao Discussion

Four Spirits Body Refining Technique, Azure Dragon in the east, belongs to Wood.

Jiang Wang savored the vitality, feeling the growth of his blood and qi. Whether it was an illusion or not, the newly born Dao Essence within the Heaven-Connecting Palace seemed a bit more spirited, which somewhat reduced the difficulty of arranging the array points.

Being able to directly invigorate the physical body with Wood Element Qi before opening the Heaven and Earth Gate was undoubtedly one of the advantages of the Military School's cultivation method.

The Four Spirits Body Refining Technique, using Metal Element Qi to refine the bones, Fire Element Qi to temper the body, Water Element Qi to nourish the flesh and blood, plus Wood Element Qi to enhance blood and qi, was indeed extremely comprehensive and did not stray from the great path.

For Jiang Wang, he had no intention of switching to Military School cultivation, nor did he plan to attempt using blood and qi to open his meridians. But the strengthened blood and qi power could also nourish his Dao Essence in return, accelerating his speed in condensing a Dao Vortex.

Originally, he could only perform two or three Pulse-Opening cultivations per day, spending the rest of his time honing his sword techniques and studying Daoist scriptures. But now, the Purple Qi Coming from the East Sword Art had also reached a bottleneck—at least for him at present, diverting some focus to body refinement would not hinder his cultivation progress.

The Circulation Starry Foundation Array Diagram seemed to promise a bright future, but it was indeed too difficult and slow.

However, Jiang Wang was not anxious. When he was very young, his father had told him that a ninety-nine-year-old ginseng could sell for one hundred taels of silver, but if one was willing to wait another year, a century-old ginseng was priced in gold.

Waiting was not futile; some futures were worth waiting for.

So even though the academy was rife with gossip—how Fang Heling was about to condense his second Dao Vortex, how so-and-so had already opened their meridians and would soon surpass him—

Jiang Wang still followed his own pace, unhurried and unflustered. Morning bells and evening drums, day and night without cease.

The tenth month was also called Dew Month, as autumn gave way to winter and dew grew abundant, hence the name.

For the residents of Maple Forest City, the most important event of this tenth month was undoubtedly the Three Cities Dao Discussion.

The so-called Three Cities Dao Discussion, as the name implied, was a joint Dao performance and competition among the Daoist academies of three neighboring cities, aimed at mutual exchange and mutual sharpening. In reality, it also served as preparation for the Prefecture Daoist Academy examination held every November. Various city Daoist academies across the Zhuang Kingdom had similar activities, just under different names.

For example, the "North Wind Snow Performance" organized by Qinglan City and White Deer City in Daishan Prefecture—named after the line "In the tenth month of winter, the north wind lingers"—was far more elegant and interesting, even becoming a renowned event in Daishan Prefecture, attracting many tourists each year. But in essence, it was merely a joint Dao performance competition among five surrounding cities.

In comparison, the "Three Cities Dao Discussion" was much simpler and more straightforward. There was no helping it—the three neighboring cities were Wangjiang City, Maple Forest City, and Three Mountains City.

Maple Forest City went without saying; simplicity was its style. The red maples on the outskirts of Maple Forest City were like fire, not lacking in scenery, but the only poem of some renown was written by a passing cultivator from Qinglan City.

Wangjiang City was profit-driven at its core and couldn't care less about elegance. Three Mountains City was even simpler—its people were still disparagingly called Mountain Barbarians.

That was the foundation of the three cities, nothing more to say. But as the years passed, it gradually evolved beyond mere student competition. To some extent, it reflected the strength of the three cities, affecting the Zhuang court's resource allocation, and thus took on a more intense edge.

This year, it was Maple Forest City's turn to host. From the city lord down to the common folk, everyone was highly attentive. Major taverns were already decorated with lanterns and banners, the government had strengthened public security, and thieves had temporarily vanished.

Naturally, there was also a selection process within the Maple Forest City Daoist Academy.

"That's how it is." Wei Quji rarely appeared together with Dong A, but neither was willing to sit, so they both stood on the platform.

"According to convention, our city academy will select two students each from the first-year, third-year, and fifth-year cohorts to participate in this performance," Wei Quji said. His skin was dark, his gaze stern, and when he didn't smile, he was truly intimidating. "I'll be blunt: victory is mandatory, defeat is not an option. Those who lose, don't blame me, Wei, for making things difficult for you."

So-called first-year students were those who had been at the academy for about a year. In practice, the main participants were chosen from the previous batch of disciples, who had already been cultivating for over a year. The same logic applied to third-year and fifth-year students. The reason there were no students with more than five years of cultivation in the discussion was that those who hadn't advanced to the Prefecture Daoist Academy after five years generally gave up on cultivation and turned to worldly pleasures and wealth.

With the city lord speaking so bluntly, the academy students standing below couldn't help but grow nervous. Some who had planned to shine at this Three Cities Dao Discussion began to hesitate.

"First-year students who win a match will be rewarded with ten Dao Merits. Third-year students, twenty per match. Fifth-year students, fifty per match." Dong A added some warm-up words, but his expression remained cold and stern.

One had a dark face, the other a cold face—they complemented each other well. But both of Maple Forest City's top figures had coincidentally shown great importance to this performance.

It wasn't just about resource allocation; it was also a reflection of their governance, a matter of face.

Especially after the entire Small Forest Town had been reduced to wasteland, Maple Forest City urgently needed to make a strong statement.

"Below, I will directly call out names. If anyone feels their strength is insufficient and wants to withdraw, speak now." Since this discussion was so important, Dong A didn't bother with voluntary sign-ups and directly named participants: "This discussion will be led by Zhang Linchuan..."

Below the platform, Zhang Linchuan helplessly pressed his forehead and muttered, "I'm under a lot of pressure."

"You're under a lot of pressure?" Dong A's gaze had already fallen on him from the platform. With his fifth-grade cultivation, even a fart, let alone a mutter, could be traced back to its owner instantly.

"But I'm full of confidence!" Zhang Linchuan immediately said.

Dong A let him off and continued calling out other names.

"Senior Brother Zhang truly lives up to his reputation—even the dean acknowledges you as the academy's number one!" Huang Azhan flattered him obsequiously in a low voice nearby.

Zhang Linchuan had arrived at the academy quite late today and, instead of going to the front row, chose to stand with Jiang Wang and the others. Perhaps he had hoped to be overlooked by the dean, but he was still singled out immediately.

"If Zhu Weiwu and Wei Yan could both participate, would I have to work so hard?" Zhang Linchuan glared at Huang Azhan sharply, not wanting to be hunted down by Wei Yan with a blade tomorrow.

But then he covered his nose with a handkerchief: "How long has it been since you bathed?"

"A true man, how could he waste time on bathing?" Huang Azhan declared with righteous indignation, then lowered his head to sniff a few times. "There's no smell..."

Zhang Linchuan, looking disgusted, moved two steps forward.

Wei Yan was from the Ministry of War, so it was normal that he couldn't participate in an academy discussion. But why wasn't Zhu Weiwu there? Shouldn't a figure of his caliber appear at a time like this?

Jiang Wang thought about it and asked, "Why can't Senior Brother Zhu participate?"

"Oh, I think he went to hunt down the Heart-Devouring Demon," Zhang Linchuan said casually.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Huang Azhan were all stunned in unison.

Hunt down?

What a fearsome reputation the Nine Great Demon Lords had! Ravaging nations, committing countless evils—they were nothing less than the world's most heinous criminals. Even if Xiong Wen had only earned his place among them through cruel methods and was the weakest of the Nine Great Demon Lords, he was still a sixth-grade powerhouse who had opened the Heaven and Earth Gate, a cultivator qualified to be called a Soaring Dragon expert!

A ninth-rank cultivator arranges array points with Dao Essence, establishing a Dao Vortex to complete the foundation. The true spirit of the Dao Vein leaps within the Dao Vortex—this is the Wandering Vein Realm.

An eighth-rank cultivator establishes three Dao Vortices and constructs a minor Circulation cycle within the Heaven-Connecting Palace. This is the Circulation Realm.

A seventh-rank cultivator establishes three minor Circulation cycles—Heaven, Earth, and Man—completing a major Circulation cycle. Then, by penetrating the physical body and purifying the Heaven-Connecting Palace, the great dragon of the Dao Vein awakens, allowing one to finally behold the Heaven and Earth Gate! This is the Heaven-Connecting Realm.

The Heaven and Earth Gate, which seals off the Heaven-Connecting Palace, is also called the first barrier of cultivation. Only by breaking through the Heaven and Earth Gate can one illuminate the mind and see the true nature, allowing the Dao Vein to soar like a dragon.

Before the sixth rank, the standard Dao robe of any Dao Academy disciple can only be hempen cloth. This signifies a heart unafraid of hardship, cutting through thorns and brambles.

But from the sixth rank onward, the strong among the middle three ranks may don the Soaring Dragon Dao Robe. The three realms—Soaring Dragon, Inner Palace, and Outer Tower—are distinguished only by minor details in the robe.

This is a symbol of status, a tangible mark of honor.

Any cultivator qualified to wear the Soaring Dragon Dao Robe can be called a strong one.

Let alone Xiong Wen, a figure of such fearsome renown, who is a master among Soaring Dragon Realm cultivators.

And now, Zhu Weiwu—merely a student of the City Daoist Academy—is actually hunting him down?