Attitude!

All of this, from Jiang Wang's rush into the inner courtyard to Dong A's sudden strike, happened in an extremely short span of time.

Just before the Vine Snake completely encircled the area from above, a pale figure spotted a gap and shot into the air with incredible speed, seemingly about to escape.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless wooden spikes burst forth, piercing through him in an instant!

His body jerked in midair, pausing with each impact, until the violent barrage of spikes ceased, then he fell limply from the sky. From his skull to his calves, he was riddled with dense, bloody holes—dead beyond any doubt.

The entire Dao Academy fell silent. Both outer and inner disciples were deeply shaken by the scene.

Jiang Wang's eyelids twitched. "That bizarre heretic died just like that?"

Dong A didn't even glance at it, saying flatly, "The other one, still hiding?"

"Ridiculous!" He strolled leisurely, stepping upward into the air. "Everything within the Jade Cage is under my control, all of it brimming with life—only your stench is nauseating!"

He reached out his right hand and gave a light squeeze!

A door grew a massive hand, grabbing a disciple dressed as an outer disciple nearby. The wooden fingers spread apart, then instantly swept across his entire body, locking him in place.

At the same time, the wooden arm stretched rapidly, lifting the man up to Dong A in the air.

"Speak. Who sent you? How dare you commit murder in the academy?" Dong A stood with his back to the starry sky, looking down from on high at this audacious assassin.

Even the wind seemed to still, quietly awaiting the man's answer.

The assassin, with his ordinary face, suddenly grinned—and his entire head exploded!

Dong A clenched his fist, and a layer of water membrane instantly wrapped around the red and white debris, forming a swollen water sphere.

He glanced at the first corpse. A seed broke through the ground, grew at breakneck speed, a flower bud opened into a massive mouth, swallowed the corpse whole, and Dong A casually tossed the water sphere in as well. The flower's mouth closed and retracted back into the earth.

The two bodies were thus disposed of cleanly, but the anger on Dong A's face only grew more pronounced.

"A seed of cultivation from my Zhuang Kingdom was murdered right here in the academy! The audacity of these heretics! This matter must be thoroughly investigated! The City Lord's office must give this academy an explanation—no matter who is behind this, they will be executed!"

The full power of a fifth-rank cultivator was unleashed, his voice like rolling thunder, shaking the entire city.

Many in Maple Forest City changed expression upon hearing it.

Then a booming voice echoed across the city in response—it was Maple Forest City's lord, Wei Quji. "Rest assured, Academy Head Dong, this office will provide an explanation! No matter who is involved, no matter what the matter, once uncovered, they will be killed without mercy!"

Jiang Wang watched this unfold, vaguely sensing that he had touched upon a fierce vortex beneath the surface.

The Dao Academy was where the state nurtured talent, the very foundation of national fortune. Committing murder here had crossed Dong A's bottom line.

The powerful Qin state's use of their territory to ambush enemies had already torn away a thick layer of Zhuang Kingdom's face. Now heretics struck within the academy—though their purpose was unknown, it was hard not to see it as a probe into the official response.

And before today, it was well known that Dong A and Wei Quji were not on good terms. The former belonged to Prime Minister Du Ruhui's faction, the latter to General Huangfu Duanming's old guard.

Given Dong A's strength, he didn't need to make such a show to root out the heretic. His use of Dao techniques to cover the entire academy, followed by his distant exchange with Wei Quji, seemed more like a display of power and a clear stance—to intimidate those lurking in the shadows.

Zhuang Kingdom was not at peace.

"Everyone, disperse." Dong A's face was expressionless as he turned and walked down from the sky.

The door panel jumped back into place, the Vine Snake slithered back into the wall... the entire Dao Academy instantly returned to its original state.

The night seemed as quiet as ever.

Everything felt like a dream.

But the wounds that had not yet healed told Jiang Wang: this was real.

This was the strength of a fifth-rank cultivator.

And this was the scenery he would one day climb!

By the time Zhao Rucheng heard the news and rushed to the Dao Academy, everything had already settled. Only the outer disciples still gathered in small groups, excitedly discussing the academy head's might.

He found Jiang Wang in their dormitory, where the guy was carefully wiping his sword with a handkerchief embroidered with gold thread.

The handkerchief was naturally Zhao Rucheng's—no one else in the entire dorm would use such a thing.

Zhao Rucheng first noticed his freshly bandaged foot and sneered, "Oh, wounded again? Is this 'outer sect sword arts number one' title of yours a bit inflated?"

"Not bad." Jiang Wang continued wiping his blade. "Squeeze out the water, and I can still teach you a lesson."

With that, he looked up at Zhao Rucheng with a grin. "Little brother."

"I'm only one year younger than you, and you've only practiced swordsmanship one year longer." Zhao Rucheng curled his lip.

"One day older is still older. Little brother."

Zhao Rucheng clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Can you stop wiping? Do you know how many of your crappy swords this handkerchief of mine could buy?"

Jiang Wang laughed arrogantly. "Do you know how many of your handkerchiefs the sword I, Jiang Wang, have used will be worth in the future?"

But as soon as he said it, both he and Zhao Rucheng fell silent.

Because that kind of talk was always Fang Pengju's style. Using Zhao Rucheng's gold-embroidered handkerchief to wipe swords was also a "bad habit" he had started. In his words, 'Our brothers' swords will be passed down through the ages—how can we not take good care of them? Such a fine handkerchief—what a waste to wipe your face! Rucheng might be good-looking, but can that face of his be passed down through the ages?'

Some people had already disappeared, but the traces they left behind would linger for a long time...

Zhao Rucheng spoke first, changing the subject. "Third brother. What do you think those heretics were after, attacking the academy? Was it an accident that it involved you... or not?"

"The Fang Family probably doesn't have the guts for that." Jiang Wang shook his head. "But it's hard to say. By the way, have you seen the eldest?"

Ling He had gone to the Fang Family at noon to return the corpse, but still hadn't returned by now—this could not help but worry him.

Zhao Rucheng's sword-like brows lifted slightly. "I heard he was thrown out of the Fang Mansion. Where he went after that, I wouldn't know."

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment. "Let's go. We'll look for him."

"If you want to look, you look. I'm not going to play the goody-goody and do good deeds with a soft-hearted fool." Zhao Rucheng curled his lips.

"Hey, it wasn't me who got him shut out. What are you staring at me like that for?"

Jiang Wang just stared at him without speaking.

He had no choice but to surrender. "Fine, fine. But it's this late—where are we supposed to look?"

"First," Jiang Wang analyzed, "he definitely wouldn't dump him in a mass grave."

"But he doesn't have any money either," Zhao Rucheng followed up.

"Then, he's a sentimental man..." Jiang Wang rose and walked out. "I know where he went."

"I know what he's doing too!" Zhao Rucheng followed behind, wrinkling his handsome nose. "He's definitely crying."