Chapter 41 - Three Cities Debate on the Path

41: 37 Chapter Three Cities Debate on the Path 41: 37 Chapter Three Cities Debate on the Path Four Spirits Body Refinement, the Azure Dragon is in the east, and it is of the wood element.

Jiang Wang savored the vitality and felt the growth of his blood and qi.

He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the Path Origin freshly born within the Heaven and Earth Gate seemed to have become more agile, significantly reducing the difficulty of arranging the array points.

Being able to directly invigorate the flesh with wood element vitality before opening the Heaven and Earth Gate was undoubtedly one of the advantages of the Soldier Home’s cultivation method.

The Four Spirits Body Refinement Art uses metal element vitality to temper the bones, fire element vitality to quench the body, water element vitality to nourish the flesh and blood, and wood element vitality to increase the blood and qi.

It truly is complete and in no way deviates from the great Dao.

For Jiang Wang, he had no intentions of switching to the cultivation method of the Soldier Home, nor did he plan to attempt Energizing Blood and Stamina Pulse.

However, the strengthened power of blood and qi could also nourish the Path Origin, speeding up his consolidation of the Dao Spiral.

Originally, he could only practice Meridian Rush two to three times a day, and the rest of his time had to be spent on honing his swordsmanship and studying the Daoist canon.

But now that he had reached a bottleneck with the sword technique Purple Qi Eastward, at least for the current him, diversifying his focus on Body Refinement would not delay his cultivation.

The outlook for the Zhou Tian Star Array Base seemed quite promising, but it was indeed very difficult and slow.

But 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 a hundred taels of silver, but if one were willing to wait another year, the price of a hundred-year ginseng would be measured in gold.

Waiting is not futile, some futures are worth waiting for.

So even though there were many rumors spreading around the Daoist academy, such as Fang Helling almost condensing his second Dao Spiral, or someone having opened their meridian and soon set to surpass others, Jiang Wang continued methodically, steadily, unaffected.

He adhered to the routine of morning bell and evening drum, without pause day and night.

…

October is also known as the Dew Month, as autumn transitions to winter and dew becomes more abundant, thus earning its name.

For the residents of Fenglin City, the most important event in October is undoubtedly the Tri-City Dao Debate.

The so-called Tri-City Dao Debate, as the name suggests, is a joint Dao performance and competition among the nearing three city Daoist academies.

Its purpose is for mutual exchange and honing, but it’s also in preparation for the annual November County Daoist Academy Examination.

Daoist academies in various places across Zhuang Country have similar activities, just named differently.

For example, the “North Wind Shows Snow” organized by Qing Lan City and Bai Lu City in Mount Dai County is derived from “In deep winter during the tenth month, the north wind lingers.” It is much more elegant and interesting, and even has become a famous event known near and far in Mount Dai County, attracting many tourists each year.

In essence, it’s just a Dao performance competition jointly held by the surrounding five cities.

In contrast, the “Tri-City Dao Debate” is a lot simpler and plain.

It’s inevitable, given that the three neighboring cities are Wangjiang City, Fenglin City, and San Shan City.

Fenglin City needs no explanation; simplicity is its style.

Although the suburbs of Fenglin City boast fiery red maples that make for beautiful scenery, the only somewhat famous poem about it was written by a cultivator passing through from Qing Lan City.

People in Wangjiang City are inherently profit-driven, not caring about elegance.

San Shan City is even more straightforward, as its people are still disdainfully called mountain savages to this day.

With such a foundation, there’s not much to be said about the three cities.

However, with development over the years, the event has gradually become more than just an exchange among students.

To some extent, it even reflects the strength and weaknesses of the three cities, affecting the resource allocation within Zhuang Ting, thus bringing about a fierce competitive spirit.

This year, it was Fenglin City’s turn to host, and everyone from the city lord to the common folk paid great attention.

The major restaurants were already decorated with lights and streamers, the government strengthened security measures, and thieves temporarily vanished.

Within Fenglin City’s Daoist academy, there were also selections being made.

…

“That’s how things stand,” Wei Quchibi rarely appeared at the same time as Dong Ah, but neither was willing to sit, so they both stood on the platform.

“Following tradition, our City Daoist Academy will select two disciples each from the first, third, and fifth years to participate in this Dao performance,” said Wei Quchibi, his skin dark and his gaze stern.

When he was not smiling, he truly was intimidating, “I’ll just say it outright, victory is a must, defeat is not an option.

Whoever loses, don’t blame me, Wei, for making things difficult for you.”

The so-called first-year students are those who have been practicing at the Daoist academy for about a year, with the main force usually being chosen from the previous batch of disciples, who have all practiced for more than a year.

The same reasoning applies to the third and fifth-year students.

The reason why there are no debates for students who have studied for more than five years is that those who have not managed to advance to the County Daoist Academy after five years have generally given up on the hope of cultivation and turned to enjoying wealth and honor in the secular world.

When the city lord spoke so bluntly, the academy disciples standing below inevitably felt nervous.

Some students who had plans to make a name for themselves in this Tri-City Dao Debate began to hesitate.

“For the first-year students, winning a match awards ten points of Dao merit.

For the third-year students, it’s twenty points for a match, and for the fifth-year students, fifty points per match,” Dong Ah added some encouraging words, but his expression remained very serious.

With one person playing the role of the stern authority and the other appearing unfriendly, the two complemented each other well.

Yet, it was apparent that Fenglin City’s two biggest figures were both showing their significance on this Dao performance unambiguously.

This was not only about the allocation of resources but also a reflection of their governance, a matter of their reputation.

Especially after the entire Xiaolin Town had become wasteland, Fenglin City urgently needed to make a powerful statement.

“I’ll call out the names directly.

Those who feel their strength is insufficient and wish to withdraw, speak now.” Since this doctrinal debate was so important, Dong Ah didn’t bother with voluntary sign-ups; he went straight to calling names: “This time, the team will be led by Zhang Linchuan…”

Below the stage, Zhang Linchuan pressed his forehead in resignation and muttered, “I’m under a lot of pressure.”

“You’re under a lot of pressure?” Dong Ah’s gaze had already descended upon him; with the power of a Grade-5 cultivator, let alone a murmur, even if someone just farted, he could immediately pinpoint the culprit.

“But I am very confident!” Zhang Linchuan immediately exclaimed.

Dong Ah then let him off the hook and continued to call out other names.

“Brother Zhang truly deserves to be Brother Zhang; even the Dean recognizes you as the number one person in our Path Origin!” Huang Azhan buttered up on the side with a low voice.

Zhang Linchuan arrived at the academy very late today and didn’t bother going to the front row.

Instead, he stood together with Jiang Wang and others.

Perhaps it was to avoid the Dean’s attention, but he was still singled out immediately.

“If both Zhu Weiwo and Wei Yan could participate, would it even come to me having to put in the hard work?” Zhang Linchuan glared knowingly at Huang Azhan; he certainly didn’t want to be hunted down by Wei Yan wielding a knife the next day.

But he quickly covered his nose with a handkerchief, “How long has it been since you’ve bathed?”

“A true man should not waste time on bathing,” Huang Azhan proclaimed with self-righteousness, but then he sniffed himself a few times, “There’s no smell though…”

Zhang Linchuan disdainfully moved a couple of steps forward.

It was normal for Wei Yan, from the Military Division, not to participate in doctrinal debates between Path Origins.

But why wasn’t Zhu Weiwo there?

Such an important figure should be present at times like these, right?

Jiang Wang was curious and asked, “Why can’t Brother Zhu participate?”

“Oh, he seems to have gone to hunt down the Heart-Devouring Demon,” replied Zhang Linchuan casually.

“!!!”

“!!!”

Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Huang Azhan all stared, dumbstruck in unison.

Hunting?

The nine great demons were notoriously ferocious, ravaging countries and committing countless evils, and could be considered the world’s most villainous.

Even if Xiong Wen was ranked among them due to his cruel methods, as the weakest of the nine, he was still a Grade-6 powerhouse who had opened the Heaven and Earth Gate and was qualified to be called a Teng Long Monk!

Ninth Grade cultivators use Path Origin to array spots and establish Dao Wheels to lay the foundation.

With the True Spirit of the Dao Veins leaping through the Dao Wheels, this is known as the Circulation Realm (YóuMài Boundary).

Grade-8 cultivators establish three Dao Wheels and construct the Small Heavenly Cycle within the Tongtian Palace.

This is known as the Zhou Tian Jing.

Grade-7 cultivators complete the Grand Circulation by establishing the Small Heavenly Cycles of heaven, earth, and man and then purify the Tongtian Palace by penetrating the flesh body.

Only then does the great dragon of the Dao Veins awaken and the Heaven and Earth Gate becomes visible.

This is known as the Tongtian Environment.

The closing of the Heaven and Earth Gate in the Tongtian Palace, also known as the first barrier of cultivation.

Only by opening the Heaven and Earth Gate can one gain enlightenment and the Dao Veins ascend like a dragon.

Before Grade-6, any Path Origin disciple’s standard Dao robe can only be of hemp to show fortitude and determination to brave all difficulties.

But after reaching Grade-6, cultivators of the middle three grades can wear the Ascending Dragon Dao robe.

The Ascending Dragon, Inner Mansion, and Outer Building realms are distinguished only in minute details.

This is a symbol of identity and a tangible representation of honor.

Any cultivator who is qualified to wear the Ascending Dragon Dao robe can be called a strong one.

Not to mention someone with a notorious name like Xiong Wen, who is a master among Ascending Dragon Realm cultivators.

And now, Zhu Weiwo, just a student from a city’s Path Origin, is actually pursuing him?