Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Chapter 37: On the Dao of Three Cities

Four Spiritual Refining Bodies, the Azure Dragon in the east, belongs to wood.

Jiang Wang sensed vitality and felt the growth of Qi and blood. He didn't know if it was just an illusion, but the newly born Dao Yuan in the Tongtian Palace seemed more agile, which made arranging the formation points much easier.

Before opening the door of heaven and earth, being able to directly use the vigorous physical body with the power of wood element was undoubtedly one of the advantages of the military's cultivation method.

The Four Spiritual Refining Bodies technique used the metal element to refine the bones, the fire element to temper the body, the water element to nourish the flesh and blood, and the wood element to promote the growth of Qi and blood. It was a complete and perfect technique that did not deviate from the great Dao.

For Jiang Wang, he had no intention of switching to the military's cultivation method, nor did he plan to try to break through his meridians with his Qi and blood. However, the powerful force of Qi and blood could also nourish the Dao Yuan, accelerating his speed in condensing the Dao Rotation.

Originally, he could only practice breaking through his meridians two to three times a day, and the rest of his time was spent practicing swordsmanship and studying the Dao classics. But now, the Purple Qi Coming East Sword Technique had reached a bottleneck. At least for him now, focusing on refining his body would not delay his cultivation.

The prospect of the Foundation Formation Array of the Starry Sky of the Zhou Tian looked very promising, but it was indeed too difficult and slow.

However, Jiang Wang was not anxious. When he was very young, his father told him that a 99-year-old ginseng could be sold for 100 taels of silver, but if he was willing to wait another year, the price of a 100-year-old ginseng would be calculated in gold.

Waiting was not in vain, and some futures were worth waiting for.

So even though there were many rumors in the Dao Academy, such as Fang Heling had already condensed his second Dao Rotation, and someone else had opened their meridians and would soon catch up, Jiang Wang still followed his own pace, calm and unhurried. He diligently practiced day and night.

...

October, also known as the Dew Moon, marked the transition from autumn to winter, and the dew was abundant, hence the name.

For the residents of Maple Forest City, the most important thing in this October was undoubtedly the Three Cities' Dao Discussion.

The so-called Three Cities' Dao Discussion, as the name suggests, was a joint Dao competition held near the three cities' Dao Academy, aimed at mutual learning and honing one's skills, and was also a preparation for the County Dao Academy's examination in November. Similar events were held in the city Dao Academy throughout Zhuangguo, with different names.

For example, the "North Wind and Snow" organized by the Qinglan City and Bailu City in the Dai Mountain County, taken from the phrase "In the tenth month of winter, the north wind lingers," was much more elegant and interesting, and even became a famous event in the Dai Mountain County, attracting many tourists every year. In reality, it was just a joint Dao competition among the five surrounding cities.

In comparison, the "Three Cities' Dao Discussion" was much simpler and more straightforward. There was no other way. The three cities nearby were Jiangwang City, Maple Forest City, and Sanshan City.The city of Maple Forest is known for its simplicity. The outskirts of the city are filled with fiery red maples, but the only famous poem about it was written by a cultivator passing through Qinglan City. On the other hand, Wanjiang City is all about profit and doesn't care about aesthetics. Three Mountains City is even simpler, and its people are still referred to as barbarians.

That's just how the three cities are. However, as the years passed, the competition between them gradually expanded beyond just the students. It even reflected the strength and weakness of the cities, affecting the distribution of resources and becoming more intense.

This year, it was Maple Forest City's turn, and everyone from the city lord to the common people was paying attention. The major restaurants were already decorated, and the government was strengthening security, causing thieves to disappear.

In the Maple Forest City Taoist temple, there was also a selection going on.

...

"This is the situation." Wei Qujie and Dong A appeared together, but neither of them sat down and stood on the platform.

"As usual, our city Taoist temple will select two first-year students, two third-year students, and two fifth-year students to participate in this competition," said Wei Qujie, with a dark complexion and a stern gaze. "I'll be frank, you must win and not lose. If you lose, don't blame me for making things difficult for you."

The so-called first-year students were those who had been practicing in the Taoist temple for about a year, and the main force was selected from the disciples of the previous year, who had been practicing for more than a year. The same went for third-year and fifth-year students. The reason why there were no students with more than five years of experience in the competition was that those who had not been able to enter the county Taoist temple after more than five years had basically given up hope of practicing and turned to enjoy wealth and status.

The city lord's words were so direct that the Taoist students standing below the platform couldn't help but feel nervous. Some of the students who planned to stand out in this competition began to hesitate.

"If a first-year student wins a round, they will be rewarded with ten points of Taoist merit. If a third-year student wins a round, they will be rewarded with twenty points, and if a fifth-year student wins a round, they will be rewarded with fifty points." While adding some warm-up words, Dong A's expression remained cold.

The two of them, one with a dark face and the other with a cold face, complemented each other. However, the two biggest figures in Maple Forest City coincidentally showed their importance to this competition.

This not only involved the distribution of resources but also reflected their governance, which was a matter of face.

Especially after the entire small forest town became a wasteland, Maple Forest City urgently needed to make a strong statement.

"I'll announce the names directly. If you feel that you don't have the strength and want to withdraw, say it now." Since this competition was so important, Dong A didn't bother with voluntary registration and directly named the participants. "This competition will be led by Zhang Linchuan..."In the audience, Zhang Linchuan pressed his forehead helplessly and muttered, "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, he could even find the owner of a fart, let alone a muttering voice.

"But I have confidence!" Zhang Linchuan immediately said.

Only then did Dong A let him go and continued to read out the names of others.

"Brother Zhang truly deserves to be Brother Zhang. Even the dean recognizes you as the number one in our Taoist Academy!" Huang Achan flattered quietly beside him.

When Zhang Linchuan came to the academy today, he was already late and didn't go to the front row. Instead, he stood with Jiang Wang and others. Perhaps it was to be ignored by the dean, but he was still singled out immediately.

"If both Zhu Weiwo and Wei Yan can participate, how can I have a chance?" Zhang Linchuan gave Huang Achan a sharp look. He didn't want to be attacked by Wei Yan with a knife tomorrow.

But he immediately covered his nose with a handkerchief, "How long has it been since you bathed?"

"As a man, how can you waste time on bathing?" Huang Achan said righteously, then sniffed, "No smell..."

Zhang Linchuan moved forward two steps with disgust.

It was normal for Wei Yan, who was from the military department, not to participate in the Taoist Academy's discussion. But why wasn't Zhu Weiwo here? Shouldn't such a high-profile figure appear at this time?

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

"Oh, it seems that he went to hunt down the Soul-Eating Demon." Zhang Linchuan said casually.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Huang Achan were all stunned.

Hunt down?

The Nine Great Demons had such a notorious reputation! They ravaged the countries and committed countless evils. Even if Xiong Wen was the weakest among the Nine Great Demons and only ranked there because of his cruel methods, he was still a sixth-grade expert who had opened the door of heaven and earth and was qualified to be called a Tenglong cultivator!

Ninth-grade cultivators lay the foundation by arranging points of Dao Yuan and completing the foundation by establishing the circulation of the true spirit of the meridians. This is the Meridian Realm.

Eighth-grade cultivators establish three Dao cycles and construct a small circulating universe in the Palace of Heaven and Earth. This is the Circulating Realm.

Seventh-grade cultivators establish three small circulating universes of heaven, earth, and man, complete the grand circulating universe, and then penetrate the flesh, purify the Palace of Heaven and Earth, and awaken the great dragon of the meridians, only then can they see the gate of heaven and earth! This is the Transcending Realm.

The gate of heaven and earth, which seals the Palace of Heaven and Earth, is also called the first hurdle of cultivation. Only by opening the gate of heaven and earth can one see the true nature of the mind and the dragon of the meridians.Before the sixth realm, any disciple of a Daoist institution could only wear a linen robe to show their willingness to endure hardship and face difficulties.

However, after reaching the sixth realm, strong practitioners of the middle third realm can wear the Soaring Dragon robe. The Soaring Dragon, Inner Court, and Outer Tower realms are only slightly different in detail.

This is a symbol of identity and a tangible honor.

Any cultivator qualified to wear the Soaring Dragon robe can be called a strong practitioner.

Moreover, Xiong Wen, a notorious figure, is also a master among the Soaring Dragon Realm cultivators.

And now, Zhu Wei, a mere student of the City Daoist Institution, is actually chasing after him?