Chapter 12

"The Dao is vast, and its use is inexhaustible. Profound! It seems to be the origin of all things. It blunts the sharp, unties the tangled, harmonizes the light, and mixes with the dust. Profound! It seems to exist. I do not know whose child it is, but it seems to have existed before the Emperor."

The old Taoist priest’s voice was very soft, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the lecture hall. When he finished the last word, his brows and eyes suddenly drooped, as if he were about to fall asleep, looking like a man in his twilight years.

Jiang Wang did not dare to be negligent, and after bowing respectfully with his senior brothers, he got up and left his seat.

Do not underestimate this unassuming old man; he is Song Qifang, the vice president of the Fenglin City Dao Academy. More accurately, before Dong Ailai, he was the president of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, having been rooted in Fenglin City for several decades. However, at over eighty years old, his cultivation has remained at the Seventh Rank for a long time, unable to break through to the Heaven and Earth Gate. Thus, he has long lost the ambition to advance, instead immersing himself in scriptures and dedicating himself to teaching. Therefore, he is highly respected.

After Dong Ailai arrived, he neither competed nor resisted, fully cooperating to allow Dong Ailai to smoothly take control of the Fenglin City Dao Academy. In return, Dong Ailai gave him great respect.

In the entire Fenglin City, in terms of virtue and prestige, no one could surpass Song Qifang.

...

All the way out of the lecture hall, Jiang Wang’s heart remained unsettled, immersed in a profound sense of awe.

What is the Dao? Invisible and intangible, yet omnipresent and infinite. How to recognize it, understand it, and pursue it? The more one pursues, understands, and recognizes, the more one feels ignorant and insignificant.

One can only sigh, "Profound!" So profound!

Ling He recited and pondered, eager to savor it repeatedly. Although Zhao Rucheng usually did not take his studies very seriously, he was also lost in thought. Only Du Yehu yawned repeatedly, as if he had just taken a nap.

Each term, ten students are selected for the inner academy. In terms of basic breathing techniques alone, Du Yehu’s progress is second only to Jiang Wang, who has already manifested his Dao pulse. It must be said that he has extraordinary talent. However, he could not really listen to the so-called great Dao classics. On the contrary, when it came to classes on techniques, he immediately became lively.

The inner academy is truly the heart of the Dao Academy. In the outer academy, only some basic martial techniques were taught, and inner academy seniors would come to provide guidance at intervals. After joining the inner academy, there is a scripture class every five days and a technique class every ten days. The former teaches scriptures, and the latter teaches techniques, all taught by experienced Daoists. If there are any cultivation doubts, one can always consult the seniors. The martial techniques that required contributions in the outer academy are now freely available to inner academy disciples.

However, for the inner academy disciples of the Dao Academy, these martial techniques are not very attractive. It’s not that martial arts are not strong, but the entire Zhuang Kingdom’s cultivation world is primarily based on Daoist cultivation methods. Although the Fenglin City Dao Academy has collected some martial techniques, they are only a transitional supplement for outer academy disciples and are not particularly powerful, far inferior to Daoist techniques. Therefore, few people would go out of their way to learn them.

...

"Brother Jiang, wait!" A voice called out from behind.

Jiang Wang turned around and recognized Fang Heling, who had entered the inner academy with him in the same term. He was from one of the three major clans of Fenglin City, and Fang Pengju was his cousin.

To be honest, he did not have the qualifications to enter the inner academy of the city Dao Academy, but each term, one of the three major clans must occupy a spot. This has almost become an unwritten rule. Fang Pengju’s selection was justified, but it is unknown what price the Fang family paid in secret for Fang Heling’s selection.

This is very realistic. Although cultivation is an extraordinary path, as long as it is a path walked by humans, it will always be filled with complex relationships and will never be purely straightforward. Even the Fenglin City Dao Academy is no exception.

"Is there something?" Jiang Wang asked indifferently.

"Ah, nothing much," Fang Heling, dressed in a moon-white robe, bowed slightly, appearing somewhat graceful. "I just wanted to apologize for Fang Pengju’s ambitions. He has been removed from the family register, and our Fang family does not have such unrighteous people."

"He is him, and you are you. You don’t need to apologize for him, and what he did has nothing to do with you."

Jiang Wang said this and walked away. He had no mood to indulge in this young master’s performance.

But Fang Heling clearly felt insulted. Considering his prestigious background from one of the three major clans of Fenglin City, he personally apologized to Jiang Wang, a man from a poor family. Jiang Wang should at least show some gratitude, if not tears of gratitude, and hold his hand, feeling a deep connection. How could he be so cold?

"Brother Jiang, what’s the rush?" Fang Heling hurried a few steps, blocking Jiang Wang and his group, and said with a smile, "I forgot to mention, I just took the Pulse-Opening Pill yesterday and have already manifested my Dao pulse."

He tried to control himself, but his pride was evident.

"Then what?" Jiang Wang asked.

Fang Heling was taken aback for a moment before saying, "This term, only we two have manifested our Dao pulses early. We should get closer."

He was still young, and despite the etiquette he had been taught since childhood, his words already revealed his arrogance. He considered himself and Jiang Wang the only heroes in the world.

He did not really resent Jiang Wang for Fang Pengju’s death. If Fang Pengju had not died, he would not have had this opportunity! If it were not to maintain the prestige of the three major clans and secure a spot in the inner academy, even if his father was already the next clan leader, it would have been difficult to convince the family to spend so much to buy the Pulse-Opening Pill.

That way, he would have to wait until next year to enter the inner academy, or even next year might not be possible. After all, there are only ten spots each year, and how many eyes are watching in the entire Fenglin City? If the family had more outstanding members, his father could not be too obvious. The fact that Fang Pengju had reserved the spot in advance was proof.

"Oh."

Jiang Wang said "oh" and walked around Fang Heling, continuing on his way.

Of course, he knew that Fang Heling was the heir of the next clan leader of the Fang family, a direct descendant of one of the three major clans. He also knew that Fang Heling currently had no intention of causing any conflict and would likely maintain a friendly relationship to uphold the Fang family’s reputation.

But why? Why did someone as talented as Fang Pengju struggle to obtain a Pulse-Opening Pill and become increasingly radical, while this Fang Heling obtained it so easily after Fang Pengju’s death? Others might not know Fang Heling’s true nature, but they, the brothers, knew all too well.

If he had any talent, the Fang family would not have let Fang Pengju take the lead!

Even if Fang Pengju betrayed his benefactor and died, how could this arrogant young master have the right to trample on him?

Jiang Wang did not lose his temper on the spot, which was already quite restrained.

Ling He, Du Yehu, and the others did not even look at him from start to finish.

The group walked away, leaving Fang Heling standing there, his smile slowly freezing.

He did not expect to be ignored.

After taking the Pulse-Opening Pill and manifesting his Dao pulse, entering the inner academy, he was still ignored!

He remembered when he first entered the outer academy and encountered these outer academy leaders outside the Dao Academy. He enthusiastically approached to greet his cousin’s friends and get to know them.

But his cousin did not even see him, walking away with these people, arm in arm.

He had never forgotten that disappointment, so he came to Jiang Wang and the others as soon as his pulse was stabilized.

He did not know what he wanted to prove, but at least, you people must look at me.

But nothing happened.

Everything had changed, yet it seemed nothing had changed.

"Jiang Wang!"

Fang Heling shouted in his heart.

He tried to control his expression, but his face was already very ugly.