Chapter 42 - 42 38 Can I hurt someone

42: Chapter 38 Can I hurt someone?

(Angry for recommendation tickets) 42: Chapter 38 Can I hurt someone?

(Angry for recommendation tickets) “Senior Brother really is Senior Brother,” Ling He sighed, feeling as though he was looking up at a towering mountain.

“So what is Brother Zhu’s cultivation level now?” Jiang Wang asked next.

“I haven’t seen him for a while,” Zhang Linchuan said with an unexplained sigh, “but he must have already opened the Heaven and Earth Gate by now…”

“That wouldn’t be much less than what you’ve achieved, Brother Zhang.

The difference is marginal!

As the top student of the city’s Dao Institute, I still favor you, Brother Zhang!” Huang Azhan praised flatteringly with great persistence.

Everyone knew that Zhang Linchuan had been close to the Heaven and Earth Gate for a long time and that stepping into the Sixth Grade Ascending Dragon Realm was merely a matter of lifting his foot.

So it wasn’t impossible to say that the difference was slight, but…

Zhang Linchuan gave Huang Azhan a very strange look and took two steps back.

Although Zhu Weiwo had only just entered the Sixth Grade, he was, after all, chasing the Heart-Eating Demon around the whole world!

Could that be the same as an ordinary beginner in the Sixth Grade?

Zhao Rucheng and Jiang Wang exchanged a glance and, as if they were in perfect harmony, also shifted away.

“Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by that?” Huang Azhan cried out.

Zhao Rucheng sighed, “Now I finally understand why Old Tiger Du is getting stupider and stupider.”

Jiang Wang also looked up at the sky: “Perhaps stupidity is contagious…”

By now, Dong Ah had already reached the final spot for the first-years: “As per tradition, each Dao Institute should reserve one spot in the discourse to the latest batch of disciples, to show that there are talented individuals in every generation…”

In the stands, Fang Helling suddenly clenched his fists!

Among his contemporaries in the Dao Institute, only he and Jiang Wang had opened their meridians first.

A few months had passed, and others had completed their meridians too, but the only one who had finished laying the foundation was he, Fang Helling.

He was certainly the only one reveling in glory!

If one were to represent the new generation’s standard of Fenglin City’s Dao Institute, who else but him?

This was an honor!

Enough to wash away all the doubts people had when his father faced opposition to secure a Channel-opening Pill for him.

He, Fang Helling, must…

“Jiang Wang,” Dong Ah announced.

A stir went through the crowd below.

As the top outer disciple to advance to the inner sect, having also won decisively in a public combat of Dao verification, Jiang Wang’s name was not unknown in the entire institute.

The fact that he had hovered before laying his foundation for a long time was also widely spread by some, with a little help from others.

Things like ‘running out of talents’ or ‘having no successor’ were frequently discussed.

And in the eyes of the institute head Dong Ah, he was actually representing the strongest level of the new students?

“Institute Head!” Fang Helling stood up indignantly, and facing Dong Ah’s stern gaze, he felt as though he was drenched in cold water, extremely nervous, but he quickly stiffened his neck, “I…

I don’t accept this!”

“Ha.” Wei Qu Ji laughed, pleased to see Dong Ah being questioned, though he believed that Dong Ah’s judgment would never be wrong.

“It’s simple,” Wei Qu Ji said: “Come up to the stage, fight one round, whoever wins goes.”

As he spoke, he realized how foolish he had been; regardless, he shouldn’t, and couldn’t, question Dong Ah in such a setting, questioning an important person who could easily decide his future.

Fang Helling felt tremors in his heels but still braced himself, looking at Dong Ah.

He had reached a point of no return.

Luckily, it seemed Dong Ah had no intentions of making things difficult for him, nor did he want to offend Wei Qu Ji.

“Okay,” he said.

Fang Helling breathed a sigh of relief, standing as straight as he could, and walked towards the high platform under the crowd’s watchful eyes.

He wanted to defeat his opponent with polished Dao Technique, to demolish with ease.

He wanted to prove that it wasn’t for himself, but for the reputation of the entire Fenglin City Dao Institute.

In the grand tournament of the three cities, how could they send someone who hadn’t even laid the foundation?

Feeling the crowd’s gaze on him, among them shock, envy, resentment, and solemnity.

Walking on the path the crowd made for him, he suddenly wondered if his cousin Fang Pengju felt the same glorification when he was alive?

Yet Fang Pengju had died before even entering the inner sect, while he was already a proud Inner Sect Disciple!

Then he heard Jiang Wang’s voice.

Throughout the entire happening and its evolution, Jiang Wang remained very calm, so calm it was as if it had nothing to do with him.

Only after Dong Ah had agreed to a battle to decide the slot did he look up and ask nonchalantly— “May I inflict injury?”

“May I cause injury?” he asked, referring to whether the rules permitted it, not whether he was capable.

Fang Helling was about to explode with rage!

Dong Ah, with an expressionless face, simply stated, “No crippling, no killing.”

It meant that beyond those limitations, anything was permitted.

Standing on the high platform were Wei Quchibi, Dong Ah, and several Fenglin City officials and academy instructors behind them.

At this moment, they all took a few steps back to the edge of the platform, making room for the battle to take place.

Jiang Wang nodded, one hand on his scabbard, and walked towards the high platform composedly.

Already standing on the high platform, Fang Helling’s gaze was fixed on him like nails.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a spar between fellow disciples; I won’t cripple you,” Fang Helling said through clenched teeth.

People were anticipating what kind of harsh retort Jiang Wang would give, but he remained silent.

The two stood facing each other on the high platform.

This scene reminded many of the Dao Certification deathmatch several months ago, where one of the participants was Jiang Wang and the other also had the surname Fang.

Wei Quchibi was initially very excited, but upon noticing Fang Helling’s agitation and impatience, and then seeing Jiang Wang’s continuous composure and calmness, he suddenly lost interest.

One was obviously a greenhorn who had never fought a life or death battle, while the other was a cultivator who had experienced countless fights.

Even with some gap in cultivation, where was the suspense?

“Begin,” he said, boredly waving his hand.

Clang~!

A longsword’s cry as it left its sheath!

Before the battle began, Fang Helling had envisioned many ways to fight, assessing which Dao Technique to use in the opening for an advantage.

He was not foolish; he knew his greatest advantage over Jiang Wang was in Dao Techniques.

He could use Dao Techniques, while Jiang Wang could not.

That was the key to victory.

However, that sword was too fast.

The Dao Technique Fang Helling had ultimately chosen was the Flame Blade, among the most volatile of the basic Five Elements Dao Techniques, and the one he had mastered most proficiently.

In an effort to maintain his leading position and to wash away the doubts within his clan, he had never slacked off; he had always been working hard.

Now, he could complete the hand seals in just three breaths!

But, that sword was too fast.

Was it two breaths, or maybe just one?

Regardless, he had barely started his hand seals when the sword’s edge was already pressed against his throat.

The blade’s sharpness prickled the skin and veins of his neck.

Was it over?

What kind of swordsmanship was this!

Jiang Wang tilted the sword’s edge and lightly tapped Fang Helling’s cheek with the flat of the blade, jolting him back to reality.

“You’ve lost,” Jiang Wang said.

Fang Helling felt bewildered, at a loss.

How could this be, how could it be?

He hadn’t even had the chance to use a Dao Technique!

If, if, if only he’d had more time…

Once he completed the Small Heavenly Cycle and had the Flame Blade Dao Technique imprinted in the Tongtian Palace, he could have cast it instantaneously.

He would never be unable to act!

If only…

He suddenly raised his head and said through clenched teeth, “You must have used Path Origin to power your swordsmanship, you haven’t even laid your foundation yet, and Path Origins are used up one by one.

You really are willing to delay your foundation establishment for such a contest.

You really are extravagant!”

Jiang Wang sheathed his sword and descended from the high platform.

As always, when confronted by Fang Helling’s provocations, he couldn’t be bothered to respond, utterly disdainful.

An ant stands defiant in the middle of the road, but humans can’t even hear its voice.

“You’ll never lay your foundation in your lifetime!” Fang Helling yelled at his retreating back.

“Get lost!

You’re just making a fool of yourself!” Dong Ah waved his sleeve, and Fang Helling actually rolled off the high platform.

He got up, looked around, and all he saw were eyes filled with sympathy or contempt.

He stood there stunned for a moment, then let out a roar and stumbled away from there.