Chapter 4: Decisive Battle

Jiang Wang's words echoed, and without a moment's hesitation, his sword was already drawn.

"What, what?!"

A flash of cold steel appeared, and Fang Pengju, scrambling and rolling, narrowly evaded the strike. His face contorted with shock and fury, a picture of utter humiliation.

Beside him, no one had yet fully grasped the situation. Almost every soul present had anticipated a scene of brothers reconciled, their bonds renewed, perhaps even a tale to be recounted for generations.

None could have predicted that with the weight of all eyes upon them, and the sacred bond of brotherhood invoked, Jiang Wang would instead draw his sword!

"Pengju," Jiang Wang's gaze met his, a smile playing on his lips, but it was a smile colder than winter frost. "You said you would stand here and await judgment. Why, then, do you flee?"

Fang Pengju's handsome features shifted from ashen to pale green. He slowly rose from the ground, his teeth clenched, his eyes locked on Jiang Wang. "Third Brother, do you truly cast aside all ties of brotherhood?"

"Shameless wretch!" At this moment, Du Yehu was consumed by righteous fury. "I was blind to call you brother!"

With these words, he stepped forward, ready to charge, but Jiang Wang's outstretched hand halted him.

"Second Brother, let me handle this myself."

Fang Pengju glared back, "Du Yehu! What concern is this of yours!?"

"Fang Pengju, you have disappointed me profoundly!" Even the ever-gentle Ling He could not contain his anger. He stepped forward, drew the sword from his waist, severed a corner of his robe, and cast it heavily upon the ground. "From this moment forth, we sever the robe and break the bond of brotherhood!"

"Big Brother!" Fang Pengju offered a pained smile. "Second Brother is impulsive, but even you fail to comprehend my plight? I am willing to die to prove my innocence, but my parents have but one son, I am their sole hope. I cannot abandon them! My life is not my own to cast away here! Jiang Wang trusts the betrayer, refuses to hear reason, and is determined to bring me to my end! Is there any brotherhood left in his heart?"

"Fourth Brother, this is the last time I shall address you as such," Zhao Rucheng, the youngest of the Maple Forest Five Heroes, finally spoke. His face, still bearing a trace of youthfulness, was nonetheless exceptionally handsome. At this moment, his words resonated like pearls and jade. "The Fang family bears the surname Fang! They serve your Fang lineage for generations untold! What price could a mere band of bandits possibly offer to purchase such a betrayal? Do you insult the wealth and might of your Fang family, or the intellect of every soul here? How did a pack of curs from the West Mountain infiltrate Maple Forest City and openly lay a trap within Wangyue Tower? Finally, since you lack the resolve to die and prove your loyalty, for whom is this hollow performance? I, Zhao Rucheng, am ashamed to have ever stood beside you!"

Among the five, Ling He and Jiang Wang hailed from humble origins, Du Yehu's family was neither particularly wealthy nor impoverished, while Fang Pengju and Zhao Rucheng were both scions of affluent households. The Fang family's prominence was undeniable. Though the Zhao family had only settled in Maple Forest City within the last decade, their background remained unfathomable.

"Little Fifth, you have always favored Third Brother. While I accept your usual bias, am I not also your Fourth Brother? You possess no evidence, relying solely on conjecture to utter these words that pierce the heart. Can your conscience rest easy?"

Fang Pengju appeared heartbroken, displaying an air of profound torment and wounded pride.

"Pengju, your tongue is as sharp as ever." Jiang Wang interjected, stopping Zhao Rucheng and the others. "But have you considered why, even when grievously wounded and in flight, I did not secretly seek out Big Brother, Second Brother, and Little Fifth, but instead chose to come to you only today?"

He lowered his eyelids slightly. "Because I never wished for them to be forced into a choice, did not desire them to harbor doubts, did not want them to face this embarrassment! This matter between you and I, let it be resolved by you and I alone. If I perished, then so be it. But since I yet draw breath, that which is owed must be repaid."

Fang Pengju eyed him with a cold gaze. "Are you afflicted with paranoia? I owe you nothing, how can you demand repayment? Why are you so fixated?"

But Jiang Wang no longer addressed him. Instead, he turned towards the towering statue of the Dao Sovereign within the Dao Institute and bowed from afar. "Disciple Jiang Wang, was grievously wounded by the traitor Fang Pengju, and nearly met his end. This grievance is insurmountable, this hatred unyielding. I beseech you, permit us a death duel!"

The assembled crowd erupted in a clamor.

A Dao Witnessed Death Duel!!!

To slay a fellow disciple was a grievous offense. Yet, should a true, life-and-death enmity exist, and blood feuds prove irreconcilable, the Dao Gate did not forbid such duels.

And among the myriad forms of duels, a duel witnessed by the Dao Sovereign was the most irrevocable.

The Dao Gate generally held that the Dao Sovereign resided high above the nine heavens, his gaze piercing the very fabric of the cosmos. To utter his name was to be known. To bow before his form was to be perceived. All oaths involving the Dao Sovereign were unbreakable.

A Dao Witnessed Death Duel: die without end.

No sooner had Jiang Wang's voice faded than a black-robed, middle-aged Taoist appeared before the Dao Sovereign statue.

His face was stern, his beard short. Upon the right breast of his black Taoist robe, a small, emerald dragon was embroidered, appearing remarkably lifelike. This was a Tenglong Taoist robe, worn only by those of the middle three ranks of strength.

Secular cultivators, the cultivation realm was broadly divided into nine grades. While various schools and appellations differed, and the manifestations of transcendence varied, the approximate grades could be mapped to the nine-grade system. Grades nine through seven comprised the initial stage, grades six through four the middle stage, and grades three through one the high stage. Interestingly, this mirrored the official ranks of various nations.

Of course, in a small country like Zhuang, even a first-grade prime minister might not possess the actual strength of the first grade.

As this black-robed, short-bearded Taoist materialized, all the disciples present bowed and saluted. "Headmaster!"

Few individuals in Maple Forest City were entitled to wear the Tenglong black robe, and this included the headmaster of the Maple Forest Dao Institute, Dong A. It was said he had cultivated in the capital city of Zhuang, Xinan City. Due to his upright character, he had offended those in power and was thus exiled to Qinghe County, Maple Forest City.

Ling He's expression was sorrowful, but he remained silent. He knew Jiang Wang's swordsmanship intimately. It could be said that before he formally embarked on the path of cultivating Dao techniques, no one in the outer court was his match, and Fang Pengju was no exception.

But for Jiang Wang to propose a Dao Witnessed Duel indicated an irreconcilable grievance. With the headmaster himself present, Fang Pengju was left with only two options: fight to the death, or restrain himself and await the Maple Forest Dao Institute's investigation into Jiang Wang's attempted assassination.

However, how could Fang Pengju possibly withstand the Dao Institute's scrutiny?

Thus, in truth, he had no choice.

Amidst countless gazes of doubt, mockery, and anger, Fang Pengju's face still showed no trace of panic. "Third Brother, must we truly face each other with drawn swords?"

Jiang Wang replied calmly, "It is you who brought us to this pass, not I."

"What will it take for you to believe me?"

"I have already paid with a life for that trust. Now, further words are meaningless. The Fang Pengju I knew was not a coward who dared not fight."

Fang Pengju remained unmoved. "Are you so confident you can end my life?"

Jiang Wang looked at him calmly. "Why not put it to the test."

Fang Pengju stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly laughed. "It is a pity that you cannot slay me, our duel cannot be established. For just the other day, I have already manifested my Dao Meridian, and can thus be considered an inner court disciple! We are of different levels, how can we duel?"

As he spoke, he straightened his posture and fully stimulated his Dao Meridian. All present could feel a surge of momentum rise from his spinal column, invigorating him. This demonstrated that he had manifested his Dao Meridian, and his body could now draw upon it to generate Dao Yuan, thus officially possessing transcendent power.

The Dao Institute had long-established regulations regarding duels, a crucial one being that any individual could unconditionally refuse a challenge between differing levels. This was intended to protect lower-grade cultivators from being bullied by those of higher grades. But at this moment, it became Fang Pengju's pretext to avoid the duel.

Although he had manifested his Dao Meridian, it had been but a short time, and he had not yet begun to study Dao techniques. Thus, his power had not undergone a fundamental improvement, leaving him without the confidence to face Jiang Wang in combat.

Jiang Wang fell silent.

He gazed at Fang Pengju silently, his emotions a tangled web.

Then, he slowly spoke. "For this Open Meridian Pill, I ventured alone into the West Mountain, engaged in a bloody battle, and ultimately breached the bandits' lair. In that fight, I suffered thirteen wounds, two of them fatal."

"In order to achieve the optimal effect for opening my meridian, I intended to consume this pill after my body had recovered to its peak state. I understood the principle that wealth invites peril, thus I revealed no information to anyone. Everyone believed I would swallow the pill that day, except for you, except for us, the five brothers who had faced life and death together. For I had nothing to hide from you."

"Since the age of five, when I first touched upon the world of cultivation, I have pursued this Open Meridian Pill. I was not born with a naturally manifested Dao Meridian, and could only rely on pills if I wished to transcend. It is my path of cultivation, my hope, my sole light. You know my family's circumstances, you know how diligently I strive. I rise to practice swords before dawn each day and do not rest until the moon hangs high in the sky. I never frequent the brothels, and I never indulge myself in any way. Throughout the entire Maple Forest Dao Institute, I dare say no outer disciple works harder than I. For this Open Meridian Pill, I have labored for eleven whole years!"

Jiang Wang continued, his gaze still fixed on Fang Pengju. "With my sweat, my blood, my tears, this Open Meridian Pill of mine, has it served its purpose?"

A momentary silence descended upon the scene.

Ling He's lips were pressed tightly together, Zhao Rucheng bit his teeth without a word, and even a man like Du Yehu found his eyes reddening.

Yes, who among them did not know Jiang Wang's unwavering dedication, his exhaustion, his suffering?

And Fang Pengju, he could be so utterly heartless!

"I know not what you speak of!" A flicker of unnaturalness crossed Fang Pengju's face, but he quickly suppressed it. "My uncle led a merchant caravan to Yun Country last month and happened to purchase an Open Meridian Pill from a cultivator in need of funds. Thus, I was able to manifest my Dao Meridian. What concern is this of yours? Do not assume everyone is as lowly and impoverished as you, stopping at nothing for the sake of advancement! My Fang family is wealthy and prosperous, are we incapable of purchasing an Open Meridian Pill?"

Zhao Rucheng's resentment had reached its peak, and he no longer restrained his words. "Yes, the Fang family is indeed wealthy and prosperous. Alas, your parents passed away early, and you are not the sole descendant of the Fang family's main lineage, and the family resources allocated to you are even more limited. Otherwise, how is it that you have been unable to acquire an Open Meridian Pill for so long, yet one appeared precisely after my Third Brother was attacked?"

"That is indeed quite the coincidence. I can only say, it is far too coincidental!" A cold glint flickered in Fang Pengju's eyes. "Do not speak without evidence, and for the sake of our brotherhood, I shall not argue with you. Next time, as an inner court disciple, I shall show you what it means to be of a higher rank!"

"You!" Zhao Rucheng was consumed by fury.

Du Yehu's steel teeth ground together. Were it not for the headmaster's presence, he yearned to shatter Fang Pengju's handsome face with a single punch.

Only Jiang Wang, in contrast, appeared composed. "Fang Pengju, I told you. You are too arrogant, too self-righteous, and as a result, you often disregard the truth. I taught you this, why can you not learn?"

"Why do you not consider, if the Dao Witnessed Duel cannot be established, then why would Headmaster Dong appear here?"

He stepped forward, also stimulating his Dao Meridian. The 'earthworm' within his spinal column began to writhe violently, his entire being as sharp as a sword, as upright as a sword!

"That is because, I have also manifested my Dao Meridian, and now officially possess the possibility of transcendence!"

"We are of the same level, and you dare not allow the headmaster to investigate. Therefore, the duel is established!"

While Fang Pengju reeled in shock, Headmaster Dong A had already waved his sleeves.

Right at the entrance of the Dao Institute, directly beneath the feet of Jiang Wang and Fang Pengju, a sapling suddenly burst forth from the earth. In but a few breaths, it grew wildly, transforming into a massive wooden stake, elevating the two of them and separating them from the other outer court disciples.

The top of the wooden stake was as smooth as if cleaved by a sharp blade, a ten-step square. From a distance, it appeared as a wooden circular platform. Only around the "platform" did branches sway gently.

Fang Pengju had no doubt that should he turn and flee, these seemingly harmless branches would transform into ravenous beasts.

And Jiang Wang's hand was already resting upon the hilt of his sword, poised to strike.

Dong A casually beckoned, and a branch twisted, picking up the sword Fang Pengju had previously cast aside, and tossed it onto the platform.

Fang Pengju reached out and caught it.

Before the Dao Sovereign statue, whose countenance could never be clearly discerned, the fifth-grade Inner Mansion Realm expert, Dong A, announced in a cold voice: "Dao Witnessed Death Duel, commence!"