Chapter 8: Shaking the Head Off

Having barely rested since escaping the Bloodbath and the treacherous Moonview Building, Jiang Wang fell into a deep, restorative sleep.

His dreams were a whirlwind. He dreamt of standing triumphant on the sword-fighting platform, of cultivating with astonishing speed, soaring among the clouds, of a boundless sky, and five swift, incomparable streaks of light… five…

He awoke.

Silently, he sat up, leaning against the headboard, a strange feeling in his chest he couldn't identify – was it unease or sorrow?

He shook his head, clearing his mind.

Outside the window, night had fallen, and the dormitory remained empty save for himself.

Jiang Wang furrowed his brow.

While Du Yehu's penchant for multi-day drinking sprees was not uncommon, Ling He was a man of routine and would never stay out all night.

The outer courtyard dormitories of Maple Forest Academy were a series of connected single-story buildings. Donning his clothes, he stepped outside. The doors of the dormitories across from him were shut, the rooms on either side eerily silent. An inexplicable chill permeated the corridor.

Jiang Wang casually stopped a figure passing by. "Junior Brother, have you seen Senior Brother Ling He?"

"Ling He? Haven't seen him." The voice was unnaturally stiff.

As the figure spoke, it shook its head.

Thump!

Just like that, its head detached and fell to the ground, rolling a few times.

It shook its head!

Gazing at the headless body that had just been conversing with him, a cold dread crept up Jiang Wang's spine, seizing his very being.

But years of experience in battle had honed his instincts. Subconsciously, he took a step back, preparing to retreat to the dormitory, to at least retrieve his weapon.

But the dormitory door suddenly slammed shut, refusing to budge! It felt as if someone inside was holding it closed, preventing his entry.

And at that moment, the headless body turned, spread its arms wide, and took a large stride, charging towards him! The head, which had fallen to the ground and rolled, bounced up and hurtled towards Jiang Wang before the body could reach him! Its hair was disheveled, its face twisted in a grotesque grimace, its nose crushed, and its eyes bulged from their sockets.

Nocturnal evil spirit, a deadly fierce soul.

"Playing tricks!" Jiang Wang roared, hoping to alert the other outer courtyard disciples in the dormitories, while simultaneously leaping backward.

This was Maple Forest Academy, home to a fifth-grade cultivator like Dong Ah. Any disturbance would surely be met with swift and decisive action! No matter the strange evil, it would surely avoid attracting excessive attention. If he could escape directly, that was naturally the wisest course.

But the speed of the head's trajectory was too great, and Jiang Wang couldn't evade it.

So he retreated a few steps, then suddenly rose into the air, channeling one of the two Dao Yuan in his Dao Meridians into his right leg. Then, twisting his body, he unleashed a kick in mid-air!

Propelled by the Dao Yuan, his leg possessed a force far beyond its usual capacity.

The images of gods, ghosts, demons, and monsters were never mere legends. Though Jiang Wang had not yet fully transcended, he had already glimpsed the transcendent world. He had killed, witnessed blood, and cultivated a steely resolve.

He told himself inwardly that it was a ball, not a head, just a ball!

Bang!

His shoe collided resolutely with the head, and the head was sent hurtling back at an even greater speed than before, striking the charging headless body and causing it to stumble.

A kick and a shot!

At the same time, Jiang Wang felt a sharp pain in the back of his foot. He realized the head's bloody maw had clamped onto his foot while he was kicking, tearing off a piece of flesh!

The wound was tinged with an ominous blue.

Jiang Wang knew something was terribly wrong and feared the effects of corpse poison.

But his objective of attacking the enemy had been achieved. Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

After running a few steps to the end of the corridor, he was blocked by a layer of transparent vitality membrane.

The force wasn't strong, but it was incredibly tenacious, firmly barring his way forward. This was an encirclement!

Jiang Wang's mind raced, and the last Dao Yuan in his Dao Meridians decisively exploded and condensed on his right shoulder.

He exerted a desperate force, slamming his shoulder forward!

"Open up for me!!!"

Jiang Wang felt his body lighten, and he had already escaped the corridor between the two rows of dormitories.

Then he heard the wind, the chirping of insects, the voices of returning outer courtyard disciples… the sounds of the night.

That unnatural silence was broken.

"Senior Brother Jiang Wang, what are you doing?"

"Senior Brother, why are you injured?"

Some outer courtyard disciples who saw Jiang Wang approached to greet him.

Hearing the familiar greetings of his fellow disciples, Jiang Wang knew he was safe. He turned and rushed back to the corridor, which was now predictably empty.

The headless body and the head had also vanished.

And someone in the dormitories on either side opened their doors and asked, puzzled, "What's going on? Why couldn't the door open just now?"

And a terrified voice shrieked, "Dead… dead people!"

Jiang Wang rushed into the dormitory from which the shout came first, and then found the missing headless body. Both it and its head now lay quietly on the ground, still bearing a ferocious expression.

The one trembling in the corner of the wall was likely his terrified roommate.

The means displayed by the assailant involved at least corpse manipulation techniques, leaning towards the sinister path, and not orthodox water-element Daoism. Or rather, the assailant was more than one person.

Jiang Wang's mind raced, and he immediately said, "There are demons in the outer courtyard tonight, practicing Daoism, and they are already transcendent! Their strength should be in the Ninth Grade. All Junior Brothers must take care of yourselves and act in groups of five, echoing each other! From now on, lock down the dormitory area, and no one is allowed to enter or exit. I will immediately report to the Senior Brothers in the inner courtyard!"

The uneasy outer courtyard disciples immediately found a sense of direction and followed suit.

Jiang Wang immediately turned and ran towards the inner courtyard.

The entire East City was the Maple Forest Academy and its affiliated industries, but to be precise, only the central circle of the East City, surrounded by high walls, was the true Maple Forest Academy. Outer courtyard disciples like Jiang Wang were scattered around the academy's periphery.

Compared to the tall archway in front of the outer courtyard, adorned with rich and prosperous jade lions, the inner courtyard gate was much smaller, barely wide enough for four people to stand abreast. Only the plaque with carved dragons and phoenixes, gleaming in the night, hinted at its exquisite design.

There was a small pavilion in front of the inner courtyard gate, with only two flowing cloud lanterns before it, and a single ice grass futon within. A handsome, plainly dressed Taoist sat cross-legged on the futon, meditating with his eyes closed. This was Li Jianqiu, the inner courtyard disciple on duty today.

Jiang Wang arrived in a rush and hastily saluted. "Senior Brother Li, there are demons in the outer courtyard who have committed crimes, and one Junior Brother has been killed! Please go and take charge of the situation!"

For the outer courtyard disciples, every inner courtyard disciple who had embarked on the path of cultivation was a star-like figure. Having been in the academy for so long, Jiang Wang was naturally no stranger to them. And as for Li Jianqiu, Jiang Wang, who had initiated a Dao-proving duel and brought forth the Dean's personal notarization, was certainly not an unknown figure. And as the duty officer, he was obligated to act.

Therefore, upon hearing the single sentence, he drew his sword and stood up.

"No need." A solemn voice sounded, and Li Jianqiu immediately sheathed his sword and bowed.

Dean Dong Ah appeared at the gate of the inner courtyard, his expression cold and stern, even visibly displeased. "I will handle this personally."

"Corpse Qi." He glanced at the wound on Jiang Wang's instep, torn by the flying head, and extended his index finger. Without any other action, a green thorn materialized.

Jiang Wang noticed at this point that the wound on his foot had already begun to fester and bleed black blood, and he couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.

"C-grade, mid-grade Dao technique, Devour Poisonous Thorn. This Dao technique is quite practical and can be used in the middle ranks."

Dong Ah explained casually, and at the same time, he gently tapped his index finger.

Beyond the super-grade Dao techniques, general Dao techniques are divided into four grades and twelve ranks. The vast ocean of Dao techniques is something that cannot be fully explored even in a lifetime. Every Dao cultivator who embarks on the path of transcendence must be clear about which Dao techniques best suit them, and forge their own combat system through constant battle and exploration.

The thorn was inserted into Jiang Wang's foot wound and rapidly turned black. After a few breaths, the green thorn was completely black, and the wound no longer showed a greenish-black color, but was bleeding red blood.

Jiang Wang quickly tore off his sleeve and bandaged the wound.

Li Jianqiu watched this scene without a word, lost in thought.

At this time, Dong Ah asked, "What happened?"

Jiang Wang recounted the events in the most concise language possible, and then refrained from offering his opinions. He believed, and could only believe, that the Dean of Maple Forest Academy would deliver justice for the assassination within the academy grounds.

The corners of Dong Ah's mouth twitched slightly, and due to his serious expression, the smile was exceptionally cold.

"The evil path, daring to come to Maple Forest Academy to cause trouble? This is a blatant disregard for the academy, a blatant disregard for Dong Ah!"

He spread out his robe, opened his five fingers, and pressed them down towards the earth!

"Jade Cage!"

With his five fingers as the center, the invisible power of the wood element extended in all directions.

All the doors in the entire academy slammed shut! And branches emerged, growing wildly.

The climbing vines on the courtyard walls leaped up like long snakes, intertwining in the air.

All the wooden objects in the entire academy underwent a transformation.

Wooden chairs grew branches, wooden windows opened their claws, giant trees burst from the ground, and thorns danced wildly!

The entire Maple Forest Academy, in an instant, transformed into a green cage under the night sky!