Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Chapter 4: Please decide to die

As soon as Jiang Wang finished speaking, he drew his sword without hesitation and slashed.

"What... what!?"

A cold light flashed, and Fang Pengju scrambled to avoid the sword, both shocked and angry.

Apart from him, no one present had reacted. Almost everyone thought that the next scene would be the reconciliation of brothers, with deep brotherhood, even becoming a popular story for a while.

No one expected that, with everyone's attention and brotherly emotions, Jiang Wang would actually draw his sword!

"Pengju." Jiang Wang looked at him with a smile on his lips, but the smile was particularly cold, "What happened to the agreed upon neck waiting to be cut? Why did you dodge?"

Fang Pengju's handsome face turned pale and green, and he stood up from the ground, gritting his teeth as he faced him, "Third brother, are you really disregarding our brotherly bond?"

"You shameless bastard!" At this point, Du Yehu was already furious, "I was blind to become your brother!"

As he spoke, he was about to rush over, but was stopped by Jiang Wang.

"Fang Pengju, what does this have to do with you!?" Fang Pengju glared at him.

"Fang Pengju, you have disappointed me too much!" Linghe, who had always been generous, could not contain his anger. He stepped forward, drew his sword from his waist, cut off a corner of his robe, and threw it heavily on the ground, "From now on, we are no longer brothers!"

"Big brother!" Fang Pengju smiled bitterly, "Second brother is impulsive, but can't you understand me? To prove my innocence, I'm willing to die, but I'm my parents' only son. I'm their only hope and can't abandon them! My life is not my own. How can I die here? Jiang Wang blindly trusted a traitor and didn't listen to my explanation. Does he have any brotherly love in his heart?"

"Fourth brother, this is the last time I call you fourth brother." Zhao Rucheng, the youngest of the Maple Forest Five Heroes, finally spoke. He had a slightly childish face, but was extremely handsome. At this moment, his words were like gold and jade, resounding on the ground, "You are from the Fang family! Serving your family for generations! What kind of conditions can a group of bandits offer to buy him? Are you insulting the wealth of the Fang family or the intelligence of all of us? How did a bunch of losers from Xishan sneak into Maple Forest City and set traps in the Wangyue Tower? Finally, since you didn't have the determination to die for your beliefs, who were you pretending for with all this hypocrisy just now? I, Zhao Rucheng, am ashamed to be associated with you!"

Among the five, Linghe and Jiang Wang were poor, Du Yehu's family was neither good nor bad, while Fang Pengju and Zhao Rucheng were both rich young masters. The Fang family is needless to say, although the Zhao family only moved to Maple Forest City in the past ten years, their family background is unfathomable.

"Little Five, you have always been close to Third Brother, and it's okay to lean towards him on weekdays, but am I not your fourth brother? You have no evidence and only rely on speculation to say these heartless words. Can your conscience really be at ease?"

Fang Pengju was in great pain, looking agonized and injured.

"Pengju, you still have a way with words." Jiang Wang stopped Zhao Rucheng and others, "But have you ever thought about why, even though I was seriously injured and fled, I didn't contact Big Brother, Second Brother, or Little Five in secret, but only came to find you today?"His eyelids drooped slightly: "Because I never want them to make any choices, I don't want them to suspect, I don't want them to be in a difficult situation! The matter between you and me, we will solve it ourselves. If I die, then I die. Since I'm still alive, then what you owe me, you have to give it back to me."

Fang Pengju looked at him coldly: "Do you have some kind of delusion of being persecuted? I don't owe you anything, so how can I give it back to you? Why are you so stubborn?"

But Jiang Wang no longer spoke to him, instead he turned around and bowed to the tall statue of the dao ancestor in the courtyard from afar: "Disciple Jiang Wang, was harmed by the traitor Fang Pengju, and nearly died. This hatred cannot be resolved, this resentment cannot be dispelled. Please fight to the death with me!"

The crowd below was in an uproar.

A dao proof death battle!!!

Killing fellow disciples is a crime, but if there is truly a great hatred, a blood feud that cannot be resolved, the dao sect does not hesitate to resort to this kind of fight.

And among the many types of fights, the fight witnessed by the dao ancestor is the most irreversible.

The dao sect generally believes that the dao ancestor is high above the nine heavens, with insight into the universe. To recite its name is to know it. To worship its form is to feel it. Once any oath involves the dao ancestor, it is irreversible.

In a dao proof death battle, there is no retreat until death.

As soon as Jiang Wang finished speaking, a middle-aged daoist in a black robe appeared in front of the statue of the dao ancestor.

He had a resolute face and a short beard. A small green dragon was embroidered on the right chest of his black dao robe, which looked lifelike. This was a tenglong dao robe that only a mid-third rank expert could wear.

For secular cultivators, there are nine ranks of cultivation. Although the various schools or names may be different, there are different expressions of transcendence, but the general ranks can correspond to the nine ranks. The ninth to seventh ranks are the initial stage, the sixth to fourth ranks are the middle stage, and the third to first ranks are the high stage. Interestingly, this also corresponds to the official ranks of various countries.

Of course, in small countries like Zhuang Guo, even if someone is a first rank prime minister, they may not really have the strength of a first rank.

As soon as the black-robed daoist with a short beard appeared, all the disciples present bowed and saluted, "Dean!"

There are not many daoists in Fenglin City who can wear a tenglong black robe, and this includes the dean of Fenglin Dao Academy, Dong A. It is said that he once practiced in the capital of Zhuang Guo, Xinan City, but because of his upright character, he offended the powerful and was sent to Fenglin City in Qinghe County.

Ling He looked sad, but did not say a word. He knew Jiang Wang's swordsmanship very well. It can be said that before he formally began to cultivate dao arts, no one in the outer courtyard was his opponent, and Fang Pengju was no exception.

But since Jiang Wang proposed a dao proof death battle, it means that the injustice cannot be resolved. At this time, the dean himself has arrived, and Fang Pengju can either fight to the death, or can only wait for Fenglin Dao Academy to intervene and investigate the matter of Jiang Wang being assassinated.

However, can Fang Pengju withstand the investigation of the dao academy?

In countless eyes filled with suspicion, ridicule, or anger, Fang Pengju remained calm, "Third brother, do we really have to draw our swords and face each other?"

Jiang Wang calmly looked at him, "It was you who brought us to this point, not me."

"How can you believe me?"

"I have already sacrificed my life once for this trust. Now, it's useless to say more. The Fang Pengju in my memory is not a coward who dares not fight."

Fang Pengju remained unmoved, "Are you so confident that you can kill me?"

Jiang Wang looked at him calmly, "Let's give it a try."Fang Pengju looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed out loud. "Unfortunately, you can't kill me. Our fight cannot be established. Because just the day before yesterday, my meridians have appeared, and I can already be considered an inner disciple! Our levels are different, how can we fight?"

As he spoke, he stood up straight and fully stimulated his meridians. Everyone present could feel a surge of momentum rising from his spine, making him full of energy. This showed that he had manifested his meridians, and his body could feedback the birth of the Dao Yuan, officially possessing extraordinary power.

The Taoist Academy has long had corresponding rules for duels, one of which is very important. Anyone can unconditionally refuse a duel invitation between different levels. This is to protect low-level cultivators from being bullied by high-level cultivators. But at this time, Fang Pengju's reason for avoiding the duel had become apparent.

Although he had manifested his meridians, it had not been long since then, and he had not yet begun to practice Taoist arts. Therefore, his strength had not been essentially improved, and he still did not have the confidence to fight Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang was silent.

He looked at Fang Pengju silently, with complex emotions.

Then he slowly said, "For this Opening Meridian Pill, I single-handedly broke into the West Mountain, fought bloody battles, and only then did I break the bandits' nest. In this battle, I suffered thirteen injuries, two of which were fatal."

"In order to achieve the best effect of opening my meridians, I plan to wait until my body has fully recovered before using this pill. I understand the principle of carrying a burden of guilt, so I have not revealed anything to anyone. Everyone thought that I would swallow the pill that day, except for you, except for the five of us who have been through thick and thin. Because I have nothing to hide from you."

"Since I came into contact with the world of cultivation at the age of five, I have been chasing after this Opening Meridian Pill. I do not have innate meridians, so I can only rely on pills to become extraordinary. It is my way of cultivation, my hope, my light. You know my family situation, you know how hard I have worked. I get up before dawn every day to practice swordsmanship, and only rest when the moon is high. I never go to brothels or indulge myself in any way. I dare say that there is no outer disciple in the entire Maple Forest Taoist Academy who works harder than me. I have worked hard for this Opening Meridian Pill for eleven years!"

As Jiang Wang spoke, he also stared at Fang Pengju tightly. "With my sweat, blood, and tears, is my Opening Meridian Pill useful?"

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Ling He pursed his lips, Zhao Rucheng gritted his teeth and said nothing, and even tough guys like Du Yehu were shedding tears.

Yes, who didn't know about Jiang Wang's obsession, Jiang Wang's exhaustion, Jiang Wang's suffering?

And Fang Pengju, could he really be so heartless?

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Fang Pengju's face flashed with a hint of unease, but he quickly suppressed it. "My uncle led a caravan through the Yun Kingdom in the first ten days of this month, and happened to buy an Opening Meridian Pill from a cultivator who was short of money. That's how my meridians manifested. What does that have to do with you? Don't think that everyone is like you, born poor and willing to do anything to advance! My Fang family is wealthy, can't we afford an Opening Meridian Pill?"Zhao Rucheng was already filled with hatred, and no longer held back his words: "Yes, the Fang family is indeed wealthy. Unfortunately, your parents passed away early, and you are not the only heir of the Fang family. The resources allocated to your family are limited. Otherwise, how could it be that you have not been able to obtain the Open Meridian Pill for such a long time, but you suddenly got it after my third brother was attacked?"

"Well, that is quite a coincidence. I can only say, too coincidental!" Fang Pengju's eyes flashed with cold light. "Don't talk about things without evidence. In consideration of our brotherhood, I will not argue with you. But if there is a next time, as an inner disciple, I will let you know what it means to respect hierarchy!"

"You!" Zhao Rucheng was furious.

Du Yehu was grinding his teeth. If the dean wasn't present, he would have punched Fang Pengju's handsome face.

Only Jiang Wang remained calm. "Fang Pengju, I have told you before. You are too arrogant and self-righteous, and often overlook the truth. I have taught you, why can't you learn?"

"Why don't you think about it? If the Daoist battle cannot be established, why would Dean Dong appear here?"

He took a step forward, also stimulating his Dao meridian. The earthworm in his spine's dragon vein wriggled fiercely, and he became as sharp as a sword, as straight as a sword!

"That's because I have also manifested my Dao meridian and officially gained extraordinary potential!"

"We are of the same level, and you dare not let the dean investigate. Therefore, the battle is established!"

While Fang Pengju was in shock, Dean Dong had already waved his sleeve.

Just outside the Daoist Academy, just under the feet of Jiang Wang and Fang Pengju, a sapling suddenly broke through the soil and grew wildly in a few breaths, growing into a huge wooden stake that lifted the two of them up, while keeping other outer disciples outside.

The top of the wooden stake was as flat as if it had been cut by a sharp weapon, ten steps in diameter. From a distance, it looked like a wooden circular platform. However, around the "platform," branches were swaying.

Fang Pengju had no doubt that once he turned and ran, these seemingly harmless branches would turn into ferocious beasts.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike.

With a wave of Dean Dong's hand, a branch twisted and picked up the sword that Fang Pengju had previously thrown on the ground, and flung it onto the platform.

Fang Pengju caught it.

In front of the statue of the Daoist Master whose face could never be clearly seen, Dong A, a fifth-grade strongman and an inner disciple, announced in a low voice: "The Daoist battle begins!"