Chapter 38: Can I Hurt People?

"Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother." Ling He sighed, the sentiment of looking up to one of great stature echoing in his tone.

"Then, what is Senior Brother Zhu's current cultivation?" Jiang Wang inquired further.

"I haven't seen him in a while either." Zhang Linchuan let out an inexplicable sigh. "He must have already broken through the Heavenly Gate..."

"You're not far off from Senior Brother, you're both on par! I still favor Senior Brother Zhang for first place in the City Taoist Academy!" Huang Azhan stubbornly insisted with his flattery.

Everyone knew that Zhang Linchuan had long glimpsed the Heavenly Gate, standing but a single step away from the sixth-grade Tenglong realm. To say they were not much different wasn't entirely impossible, but...

Zhang Linchuan cast a peculiar look at Huang Azhan, even taking two steps back.

Though Zhu Weiwo had only just stepped into the sixth grade, he was currently pursuing and slaying the Heart-Devouring Devil across the vast lands! How could he be considered an ordinary cultivator who had merely entered the sixth grade?

Zhao Rucheng and Jiang Wang exchanged glances, then moved to a different spot with unspoken accord.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's the meaning of this?" Huang Azhan called out.

Zhao Rucheng sighed and said, "I finally understand why Old Man Du is growing more and more foolish."

Jiang Wang also looked up at the sky. "Perhaps foolishness is contagious..."

At this juncture, Dong Ah had already announced the final spot for the first-year disciples. "According to convention, in the first-year disciples' Taoist discussion, each Taoist academy must have a spot for the latest batch of disciples to demonstrate that talented individuals emerge in every generation..."

Below the stage, Fang Heling's fists clenched!

Among the Taoist academy disciples of his same intake, only he and Jiang Wang had been the first to open their meridians. Now, several months had passed, and other disciples had also completed the opening of their meridians, but he, Fang Heling, was the only one who had completed his foundation.

He could be said to be at the forefront!

If he were to represent the caliber of the new disciples of Maple City Taoist Academy, who else but him could be chosen?

This was an honor! It was enough to dispel the whispers of doubt regarding his father's insistence on procuring him a Meridian Opening Pill.

He, Fang Heling, must...

"Jiang Wang." Dong Ah's voice rang out.

A stir went through the crowd below the stage. As the first outer disciple to enter the inner sect, and having secured a decisive victory in the public eye during the life-and-death duel for the Taoist proof, Jiang Wang's name was not unfamiliar to the entire City Taoist Academy. The fact that he had lingered for a considerable time before laying his foundation was also widely circulated with the help of certain individuals.

Whispers of talent running dry and lack of sustained potential were all aimed at this matter.

And in the eyes of Dean Dong Ah, he actually represented the strongest level among the new disciples?

"Dean!" Fang Heling stood up, his anger flaring. Facing Dong Ah's cold and stern gaze, he felt as though he had been doused with icy water, a wave of extreme unease washing over him. But soon, he straightened his neck. "I... I do not accept this!"

"Ha." Wei Quji chuckled. He was rather pleased to see Dong Ah being challenged, though he believed that Dong Ah's discernment would not be mistaken.

"It's quite simple," Wei Quji said. "Step onto the stage, fight, and the victor takes the spot."

As the words left his lips, he realized his foolishness. In any case, he could not, should not, question Dong Ah, a significant figure who could easily dictate his future, especially on such an occasion.

Fang Heling felt his heels trembling, but he still held on, his gaze fixed on Dong Ah. He was already in a precarious position.

Fortunately, Dong Ah didn't seem inclined to make things difficult for him, nor did he wish to disregard Wei Quji's standing.

"Very well," he stated.

Fang Heling exhaled a sigh of relief. He straightened his back as much as possible and walked towards the stage under the scrutiny of the assembled crowd.

He would use his proficient Taoist techniques to crush his opponent. He would prove that this was not for himself, but for the reputation of the entire Maple City Taoist Academy. In the Three City Martial Arts, how could they send a fellow who hadn't even laid his foundation to compete?

He felt the gazes of the crowd, containing surprise and envy, jealousy and solemnity.

Walking on the path that the crowd had cleared, he suddenly wondered if his cousin, Fang Pengju, had felt this way during his prime.

And Fang Pengju had perished before entering the inner sect, yet he was already an inner sect disciple!

Then, he heard Jiang Wang's voice.

Throughout the entire progression of the event, from its inception to its unfolding, Jiang Wang had remained remarkably calm, so calm that it seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Only after Dong Ah agreed to determine the spot through combat did he lift his eyes and ask lightly, "May I inflict harm?"

May I inflict harm? He was inquiring about the rules, not his capability.

Fang Heling felt his lungs about to burst with rage!

Dong Ah's expression remained impassive, but he said, "Cannot cripple, cannot kill."

This implied that anything short of that was permissible.

On the stage stood Wei Quji, Dong Ah, and several officials from Maple City along with Taoist academy instructors behind them. At this moment, they all took a few steps back, positioning themselves on the edge of the stage, leaving space for the imminent battle.

Jiang Wang nodded, his hand resting on the scabbard, and walked calmly towards the stage.

And Fang Heling, who was already upon the stage, stared at him with the intensity of a driven nail.

"Don't worry, we are from the same school, I won't cripple you," Fang Heling said through gritted teeth.

People anticipated what kind of biting retort Jiang Wang would offer, but Jiang Wang remained silent.

The two stood on the stage, facing each other.

This scene reminded many of the life-and-death duel for the Taoist proof several months prior, one of the participants still being Jiang Wang, and the other, still bearing the surname Fang.

Wei Quji was initially full of enthusiasm, but after noticing Fang Heling's excitement and eagerness, and then observing Jiang Wang's consistent composure and calmness, he suddenly lost interest.

A tender chick who had clearly never experienced life-or-death combat, and a cultivator who had weathered countless battles. Even if there was a slight disparity in cultivation, what suspense could there possibly be?

"Begin," he waved his hand dismissively.

Clang~!

It was the roar of a long sword erupting from its sheath!

Before the combat commenced, Fang Heling had envisioned numerous ways to fight, and contemplated which Taoist technique would be most advantageous to open with. He was not foolish; he knew that his greatest advantage over Jiang Wang lay in his Taoist techniques. He could wield them, while Jiang Wang could not, and this was his path to victory.

However, the sword was too fast.

The Taoist technique Fang Heling finally chose was the Flame Blade. Among the five elements' basic Taoist techniques, this technique was the most violent, and he also wielded it with the greatest skill.

In order to maintain his leading position, in order to wash away the doubts from his family, he had not been idle; he had been diligently cultivating.

Now, he only required three breaths to complete the incantation!

But, the sword was too fast.

Was it two breaths, or one? In short, his incantation had just begun, and the sword was already across his neck. The sharpness of the blade faintly pricked his neck's skin and blood vessels.

It's over?

What kind of swordsmanship is this!

Jiang Wang turned the sword sideways and gently tapped Fang Heling's cheek with the blade, jolting him back to his senses from his daze.

"You've lost," Jiang Wang stated.

Fang Heling felt lost and helpless. How could this be? How could this be? He hadn't even had time to employ a Taoist technique!

If, if, if he had just a little more time, if he had completed the minor celestial cycle, and imprinted the Flame Blade Taoist technique within his Heavenly Palace, he could complete it instantly. He would never have been unable to even make a move again!

If...

He suddenly raised his head, gritted his teeth, and declared, "You must have used Tao Yuan to augment your swordsmanship! You haven't even laid your foundation, yet you're expending Tao Yuan one after another! You're truly willing to delay your foundation laying for this kind of trivial competition!"

Jiang Wang sheathed his sword and turned to descend from the stage. Just as he had always done before when faced with Fang Heling's provocation, he was too indolent to respond, utterly disdainful.

An ant blocking the road might shriek in protest, but a human could not hear its voice at all.

"You'll never be able to lay your foundation in this lifetime!" Fang Heling shouted at his retreating back.

"Begone! You are a disgrace!" Dong Ah waved his sleeve, and Fang Heling was literally sent rolling off the stage.

He scrambled to his feet and looked around, met by eyes of sympathy or contempt.

He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly roared and staggered away from the scene.