Chapter 12: Use it, yet never full

The old Taoist's voice was extremely soft as he lectured, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone listening in the scripture hall. As he finished the last word, his eyebrows drooped, as if he would fall asleep at any moment, resembling a flickering candle in his twilight years.

Jiang Wang didn't dare to be negligent. He respectfully bowed with his fellow disciples before rising from his seat.

Despite the old man's unassuming appearance, he was none other than Song Qifang, the vice-院长 (Deputy Director) of the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy. More precisely, before Dong A'lai, he was the actual 院长 (Director) of the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy, having been rooted there for decades. However, having surpassed eighty years of age, his cultivation had remained stagnant at the seventh-品 (rank), unable to break through the Heaven-Earth Gate. Therefore, he had long lost the will to advance and instead buried himself in scriptures, dedicating himself to teaching and imparting knowledge. Consequently, he was deeply respected.

After Dong A'lai arrived, he didn't compete or contend but fully cooperated, allowing Dong A'lai to smoothly take control of the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy. In return, Dong A'lai showed him the utmost respect.

In all of Maple Forest City, no one could surpass Song Qifang in terms of virtue and prestige.

...

Even after walking out of the scripture hall, Jiang Wang's heart couldn't calm down, immersed in a sense of profound emotion.

What is the Tao? Invisible and intangible, yet it is omnipresent, boundless, and endless. How to recognize it, understand it, pursue it? The more one pursues, understands, and recognizes it, the more one feels ignorant and insignificant.

One could only sigh, "Abyssal!" How profound!

Ling He walked and recited, wishing he could repeatedly savor the words. Zhao Rucheng, although he never placed much emphasis on his studies, seemed thoughtful. Only Du Yehu yawned incessantly, as if he had just woken up from a nap.

Of the ten selected students in each class of the Inner Academy, Du Yehu's progress in the basic breathing technique was second only to Jiang Wang, who had already manifested his Taoist Meridian in advance. It had to be said that he was extraordinarily gifted. However, he couldn't comprehend those so-called Great Tao classics. Conversely, he would immediately come to life whenever it was a magic-related class.

The Inner Academy was indeed a true Taoist Academy. In the Outer Academy, there were only some simple martial arts taught, and occasionally, senior brothers from the Inner Academy would come to give unified guidance. But after joining the Inner Academy, there was a scripture class every five days and a technique class every ten days. The former was for studying scriptures, and the latter was for learning techniques, both taught by senior Taoists. Furthermore, if there were any difficulties in cultivation, one could always ask the teachers for guidance. Those martial skills that had to be exchanged for contributions in the Outer Academy were also open to Inner Academy disciples without restriction.

However, this wasn't very attractive to the Inner Academy disciples. It wasn't that martial arts weren't strong, but the entire Zhuang Country cultivation world was dominated by Taoist cultivation methods. Even if the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy had collected some martial skills, they were only used as a transitional supplement during the Outer Academy disciple period and were naturally not very strong, far inferior to the power of Taoist techniques. Therefore, no one would take the roundabout route.

...

"Senior Brother Jiang, please stop!" A voice called from behind.

Jiang Wang turned around and recognized Fang Heling, who had been selected for the Inner Academy in the same batch—he came from one of Maple Forest City's three major surnames, and Fang Pengju was his cousin.

In reality, he wasn't qualified to be selected for the City Taoist Academy's Inner Academy, but each class of Inner Academy selection required one of the three major surnames to occupy a spot. This was almost a tacit rule. Fang Pengju's selection was justified, but as for Fang Heling, it was unknown what price the Fang family had secretly paid.

This was the reality. Although cultivation was a path to transcendence, as long as it was a path walked by humans, it would always be full of intricate relationships and never be pure. Even the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy was no exception.

"What is it?" Jiang Wang asked indifferently.

"Oh, it's nothing much." Fang Heling wore a moon-white robe and cupped his hands, appearing quite refined. "I just wanted to apologize to you for Fang Pengju's wild ambitions. He has been expelled from the family tree. My Fang family doesn't have such unrighteous people."

"He is him, you are you. You don't need to apologize for him. What he did has nothing to do with you."

Jiang Wang finished speaking and left. He really wasn't in the mood to put up with this公子哥(young master)'s performance.

But Fang Heling apparently felt insulted. Coming from the prestigious Maple Forest City's three major surnames, he personally apologized to Jiang Wang, who came from a humble background. Jiang Wang should at least be grateful and sympathetic, right? How could he be so indifferent?

"Senior Brother Jiang, why are you in such a hurry?" Fang Heling quickly took a few steps, went in front of Jiang Wang and his group, and said with a smile, "I forgot to tell Senior Brother Jiang that I just took the Meridian Opening Pill yesterday and have already manifested my Taoist Meridian."

He tried to restrain himself, but the sense of triumph was evident. "Of the Inner Academy selections this term, we are the only two who have manifested our Taoist Meridians in advance. We should be closer."

He was still young. Although the teachings he had received since childhood made him maintain etiquette, his words were already full of arrogance. He was implying that the heroes of the world were only him and Jiang Wang.

He didn't really resent Jiang Wang for Fang Pengju's death. If Fang Pengju hadn't died, he wouldn't have the opportunity he had now! If it wasn't for maintaining the reputation of the three major surnames and securing the spot for the Maple Forest City Taoist Academy's Inner Academy selection, even if his father was already the next patriarch of the Fang family, it would have been difficult to convince the family to spend a great price to buy the Meridian Opening Pill.

Otherwise, he would have to wait until next year to enter the Inner Academy, or perhaps not even next year. After all, there were only ten spots a year, and how many eyes in the entire Maple Forest City were staring at them? If the family had other descendants who were more excellent than him, his father couldn't be too obvious. The fact that Fang Pengju had reserved that position in advance was proof of that.

"Oh."

Jiang Wang said "oh" and walked around Fang Heling, continuing on his way.

Of course, he knew that Fang Heling was the嫡子(the son of the first wife) of the next patriarch of the Fang family, a direct descendant of the three major surnames. He also knew that Fang Heling had no intention of creating any conflict with him, at least for the time being. In fact, in order to maintain the Fang family's reputation, he would probably be friendly with him.

But why? Why was it that someone as excellent as Fang Pengju couldn't obtain a Meridian Opening Pill, leading him to become increasingly extreme and impatient? And just a few days after his death, Fang Heling had it? Did others not know what Fang Heling was like, but could his brothers not know?

If he had been even slightly promising, how could Fang Pengju have had the chance to rise in the Fang family!

Even if Fang Pengju had betrayed his benefactor and died suddenly, did this so-called young master have the right to trample on him?

Jiang Wang had already shown considerable restraint by not lashing out on the spot.

Ling He, Du Yehu, and others didn't even look at him from beginning to end.

The group walked away, leaving Fang Heling standing there, the smile on his face slowly freezing.

He didn't expect to be ignored.

After swallowing the Meridian Opening Pill, manifesting his Taoist Meridian, and entering the Inner Academy, he was still ignored!

He remembered when he had just entered the Outer Academy and encountered these leading figures of the Outer Academy outside the Taoist Academy. He had enthusiastically gone up to greet his cousin's friends and get to know them.

But his cousin didn't even see him, and walked away with his arm around these people's shoulders.

He had never forgotten that moment of disappointment, so at the first moment after consolidating his Meridian Opening, he came to Jiang Wang and the others.

He didn't know if he wanted to prove something, but at least, you people must look at me.

But there was nothing.

Everything had changed, but it was as if nothing had changed.

"Jiang Wang!"

Fang Heling shouted in his heart.

He tried his best to control his expression, but his face was already extremely ugly.