Chapter 37: Three Cities Discourse

The Four Spirits Body Refining technique places the Azure Dragon in the East, associated with Wood.

Jiang Wang savors the vitality, feeling the growth of his Qi and blood. Perhaps it's his imagination, but the newly born Dao Yuan within his Tongtian Palace seems more agile, slightly reducing the difficulty of arranging the array points.

Before opening the Gate of Heaven and Earth, directly invigorating the physical body with wood-type essence is undoubtedly one of the advantages of the Military School's cultivation methods.

The Four Spirits Body Refining technique utilizes metal-type essence to refine bones, fire-type essence to temper the body, and water-type essence to nourish flesh and blood, supplemented by wood-type essence to increase Qi and blood. It is incredibly comprehensive, embodying the Great Dao.

For Jiang Wang, he has no intention of switching to the Military School, nor does he plan to try to break through meridians with Qi and blood. However, the strengthened Qi and blood can still nourish the Dao Yuan, accelerating the formation of his Dao Vortex.

Originally, he could only perform meridian冲破 (chongpo - breaking through) cultivation two or three times a day, dedicating the remaining time to honing his swordsmanship and studying Daoist texts. But now that the Purple Qi East Comes Sword Art has reached a bottleneck, at least for him, diverting attention to body refining will not hinder his cultivation.

The prospect of the Zhou Tian Star Foundation Array seems promising, but it is indeed too difficult and slow.

However, Jiang Wang is not anxious. When he was young, his father told him that a ninety-nine-year-old ginseng could be sold for one hundred taels of silver, but if he was willing to wait another year, the price of a century-old ginseng would be calculated in gold.

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

So even though there were many rumors in the Daoist academy, such as "Fang Heling is about to condense his second Dao Vortex" or "Someone has already opened their meridians and will soon surpass him," Jiang Wang continued his routine, unhurried. Morning bells and evening drums, day and night, without ceasing.

…

October is also known as Dew Month, as autumn transitions to winter, and dew becomes abundant, hence the name.

For the residents of Maplewood City, the most important event in this October is undoubtedly the Three Cities Dao Debate.

The Three Cities Dao Debate, as the name suggests, is a joint Dao demonstration and competition between the Daoist academies of the three neighboring cities. It aims to promote mutual learning and refinement, and in practice, it prepares for the annual county Daoist academy examinations in November. Daoist academies in cities across Zhuang Country have similar activities, but with different names.

For example, the "Northern Wind and Snow Demonstration" organized by Azure Creek City and White Deer City in the Dai Mountain region, taken from "The tenth month of early winter, the northern wind lingers," is much more elegant and interesting. It has even become a well-known event in the Dai Mountain region, attracting many tourists every year. In reality, it is just a joint demonstration and competition of the surrounding five cities.

In comparison, the "Three Cities Dao Debate" is much simpler and more straightforward. There is no way around it, as the three neighboring cities are Wangjiang City, Maplewood City, and Three Mountains City.

Maplewood City, of course, is all about practicality. The red maples on the outskirts of Maplewood City are like fire, which is not without beauty, but the only slightly famous poem was written by an Azure Creek City cultivator passing by.

Wangjiang City is profit-driven at its core and doesn't care about elegance. Three Mountains City is even simpler, as its people are still derisively called mountain barbarians.

Such are the foundations of the three cities, and there is nothing more to say. However, with development over the years, it has gradually become more than just a competition between students. To some extent, it even reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the three cities, affecting the allocation of resources by the Zhuang court, and thus becoming more intense.

This year, it happens to be Maplewood City's turn to host, and the entire city, from the city lord to the common people, is very concerned. All the major restaurants have been decorated with lanterns and banners, the government has strengthened security, and thieves have temporarily disappeared.

Naturally, there is also a selection process within the Maplewood City Daoist academy.

…

"That's the situation." Wei Quji and Dong A rarely appeared together, but neither was willing to sit down, so they both stood on the stage.

"According to the tradition, our city Daoist academy selects two students each from the first, third, and fifth-year cohorts to participate in this demonstration." Wei Quji's skin was dark, his eyes were stern, and he looked quite intimidating when he wasn't smiling. "I'll be blunt: only victory is allowed, no defeats. If you lose, don't blame me, Wei, for making things difficult for you."

The so-called first-year students are those who have been cultivating in the Daoist academy for about a year, and in fact, the main force is selected from the previous year's disciples, who have been cultivating for more than a year. The same goes for the third and fifth-year students. The reason why there are no students older than five years participating in the debate is that those who have not entered the county Daoist academy after more than five years have basically given up hope of cultivation and turned to the secular world to enjoy wealth and luxury.

With the city lord speaking so directly, the Daoist academy students standing below could not help but become nervous. Some students who had planned to make a name for themselves at this Three Cities Dao Debate began to hesitate.

"A victory for a first-year student is rewarded with ten Dao Merits. Twenty points for a third-year student, and fifty points for a fifth-year student." Dong A supplemented with warming-up words, but his expression remained very cold and stern.

One was a black face, and the other was a cold face, which complemented each other well. However, the two most important figures in Maplewood City had both shown that they attached great importance to this demonstration.

This not only involved the allocation of resources but also reflected their governance and was a matter of face.

Especially after the entire Small Forest Town was reduced to wasteland, Maplewood City urgently needed to make a strong statement.

"Now I will directly announce the names. If you feel that you lack the strength and want to withdraw, say so now." Since this debate was so important, Dong A did not bother with self-registration but instead directly called out names: "This debate will be led by Zhang Linchuan…"

Below the stage, Zhang Linchuan pressed his forehead helplessly, muttering, "I'm under a lot of pressure."

"You're under a lot of pressure?" Dong A's gaze had already fallen on him. With the cultivation of a fifth-grade expert, not to mention a mutter, even if he just farted, he would be able to find the owner of the fart in the first place.

"But I'm very confident!" Zhang Linchuan immediately said.

Only then did Dong A let him go and continue to read other people's names.

"Senior Brother Zhang is indeed Senior Brother Zhang. Even the dean recognizes you as the number one in our Daoist academy!" Huang Azhan flattered softly from the side.

Zhang Linchuan was late to the academy today, so he did not go to the front row, but stood with Jiang Wang and others. Perhaps it was to be ignored by the dean, but he was still singled out immediately.

"If Zhu Weiwo and Wei Yan could both participate, would it be my turn to work so hard?" Zhang Linchuan glared at Huang Azhan very consciously. He did not want Wei Yan to come to his door with a knife tomorrow to chop him.

But he immediately covered his nose with a handkerchief: "How long have you not bathed?"

"A real man should not waste time on bathing!" Huang Azhan said righteously, then lowered his head and sniffed a few times, "No smell…"

Zhang Linchuan moved forward two steps in disgust.

It was normal for Wei Yan, who was from the Ministry of War, not to be able to participate in the Dao debates between academies. But why was Zhu Weiwo also absent? Shouldn't such a leading figure be present at such a time?

Jiang Wang asked when he thought of it: "Why can't Senior Brother Zhu participate?"

"Oh, he seems to have gone to hunt down the Heart-Swallowing Devil." Zhang Linchuan said casually.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Jiang Wang and Huang Azhan were stunned in unison.

Hunt down?

What was the fierce reputation of the Nine Great Demons! They ravaged the nations, committed countless evils, and could be described as the world's villains. Even if Xiong Wen ranked among them with cruel methods and was the weakest of the Nine Great Demons, he was still a sixth-grade expert who had opened the Gate of Heaven and Earth, qualified to be called a Soaring Dragon cultivator!

Ninth-grade cultivators arrange array points with Dao Yuan and establish the Dao Vortex to complete the foundation. The true spirit of the Dao Meridian swims in the Dao Vortex, which is the Meridian Swimming Realm.

Eighth-grade cultivators establish three Dao Vortexes and construct a small Zhou Tian cycle within the Tongtian Palace. This is the Zhou Tian Realm.

Seventh-grade cultivators establish three small Zhou Tian cycles of Heaven, Earth, and Man, complete the great Zhou Tian cycle, and then penetrate the physical body and cleanse the Tongtian Palace. The great dragon of the Dao Meridian awakens at this point, and only then can one see the Gate of Heaven and Earth! This is the Tongtian Realm.

The Gate of Heaven and Earth, which closes off the Tongtian Palace, is also known as the first hurdle of cultivation. Only by opening the Gate of Heaven and Earth can one clarify the mind and see the nature, and the Dao Meridian will soar.

Before the sixth grade, the standard Daoist robes of any Daoist academy disciple can only be hemp robes. This is to show the spirit of not fearing hardship and forging ahead.

And after reaching the sixth grade, the experts of the Middle Three Grades can wear the Soaring Dragon Daoist robe. The Soaring Dragon, Internal Mansion, and External Tower Realms are only slightly differentiated in the details.

This is a symbol of status, an embodiment of honor.

Any cultivator who is qualified to wear the Soaring Dragon Daoist robe can be called an expert.

Moreover, Xiong Wen, with his notorious reputation, is a master among Soaring Dragon cultivators.

And now, Zhu Weiwo, a mere student of a city Daoist academy, is actually hunting him down?