"The Dao is empty, yet its use is inexhaustible. Deep, it is like the ancestor of all things. Blunt its sharpness, untie its tangles, harmonize its light, and blend with the dust. Hidden, it seems to exist. I do not know whose child it is, but it existed before the emperor."
The old Taoist priest's voice was extremely soft, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the scripture hall. As he finished the last word, his eyebrows and eyes suddenly drooped, as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment, looking like a man at the end of his life.
Jiang Wang did not dare to be negligent. He followed his senior brothers and respectfully bowed before rising from his seat.
Do not be deceived by this old man's unremarkable appearance; he is the vice dean of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, Song Qifang. More precisely, before Dong A arrived, he was the dean of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, having been rooted in Fenglin City for decades. However, having surpassed eighty years of age, his cultivation has remained stagnant at the seventh rank, unable to open the heavenly gate. Thus, he long ago lost the ambition to advance and instead immersed himself in scriptures, devoting himself entirely to teaching and spreading the Dao. As a result, he is well-loved.
After Dong A arrived, he did not compete or struggle but fully cooperated, allowing Dong A to smoothly take control of the Fenglin City Dao Academy. In return, Dong A has shown him the utmost respect.
In the entire Fenglin City, in terms of virtue and prestige, no one can surpass Song Qifang.
...
It was not until he walked out of the scripture hall that Jiang Wang's heart could not calm down, but was immersed in a great deal of emotion.
What is the Dao? It is invisible and intangible, yet omnipresent and infinite. How can one understand it, know it, and pursue it? The more one pursues, understands, and recognizes it, the more one feels ignorant and insignificant.
One can only sigh, "Deep, it is so profound!"
Ling He walked and recited, as if savoring every word. Zhao Rucheng, who never took his studies seriously, also seemed to be lost in thought. Only Du Yehu yawned incessantly, as if he had just taken a nap.
In each selection period, ten students are chosen for the inner court. In terms of basic breathing techniques alone, Du Yehu's progress is only behind Jiang Wang, who has already manifested his Dao pulse in advance. It must be said that he has exceptional talent. However, when it comes to the so-called great Daoist classics, he simply cannot focus. On the contrary, as soon as the class turns to techniques and spells, he becomes lively and energetic.
The inner court truly is the real Dao Academy. In the outer court, there were only some basic martial skills taught, with inner court senior brothers occasionally coming over for unified guidance. After joining the inner court, there is a scripture class every five days and a spell class every ten days. The former studies scriptures, while the latter practices techniques. Both are taught by experienced Daoists. Moreover, if there are any cultivation difficulties in daily life, one can always consult the elders. The martial skills that had to be exchanged for contributions in the outer court are now unrestrictedly available to inner court disciples.
However, for the inner court disciples of the Dao Academy, these martial skills hold little appeal. It's not that they are not strong, but in the entire Zhuangguo cultivation world, Daoist cultivation methods are the main focus. Although the Fenglin City Dao Academy has collected some martial skills, they are merely a transitional supplement for outer court disciples and are far from being as powerful as Daoist techniques. Therefore, few people would choose something distant over something close at hand.
...
"Senior Brother Jiang, wait!" a voice called out from behind.
Jiang Wang turned his head and recognized Fang He Ling, who had entered the inner court with him in the same period—his family was one of the three major surnames in Fenglin City, and Fang Pengju was his cousin.
Speaking of which, he originally had no qualifications to enter the inner court of the city's Dao Academy. However, in each selection period for the inner court, the three major surnames must occupy one quota. This has almost become an unwritten rule. Fang Pengju's selection was naturally legitimate, but it is unknown what price the Fang family paid behind the scenes for Fang He Ling's entry.
This is very realistic. Cultivation, although a path to the extraordinary, is still a path walked by humans, and as long as it is a path walked by humans, it will never be free from complex relationships and will never be that pure. Even the Fenglin City Dao Academy is no exception.
"Is there something?" Jiang Wang asked indifferently.
"Well, it's nothing much," Fang He Ling, dressed in a moon-white robe,拱ed his hands and seemed to have a bit of elegance, "I just wanted to apologize to you for Fang Pengju's ambitions. He has already been expelled from the family register. My Fang family does not have such an unrighteous person."
"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."
After saying this, Jiang Wang walked away. He really had no mood to accompany this young master in his show.
But Fang He Ling apparently felt insulted. Considering his background from one of the three major surnames in Fenglin City, he personally apologized to Jiang Wang, who came from a poor family. Jiang Wang should at least be grateful, if not overwhelmed with emotion. How could he be so indifferent?
"Senior Brother Jiang, what's the hurry?" Fang He Ling quickly took a few steps, moved in front of Jiang Wang and his group, and said with a smile, "I forgot to tell Senior Brother Jiang that I just took the Pulse-Opening Pill yesterday and have already manifested my Dao pulse."
He tried to restrain himself, but that sense of pride was still hard to hide.
"And then?" Jiang Wang asked.
Fang He Ling was taken aback for a moment before saying, "In this selection period for the inner court, only the two of us have manifested our Dao pulses in advance. We should really get closer."
He was still young. Although he had been taught to maintain etiquette since childhood, his words and actions already showed a sense of superiority. As if he and Jiang Wang were the only heroes in the world.
He did not actually hold a grudge against Jiang Wang for Fang Pengju's death. If Fang Pengju had not died, he would not have had the opportunity he has now! If it were not for preserving the prestige of the three major surnames and securing the quota for the inner court selection, even if his father was already the next head of the Fang family, it would have been difficult to persuade the family to spend such a high price to buy the Pulse-Opening Pill.
Otherwise, he would have to wait until next year to enter the inner court, or perhaps not even then. After all, there were only ten spots each year, and how many eyes in Fenglin City were watching? If there were other more capable members in his family, his father could not have been too obvious. The fact that Fang Pengju had reserved that position before was proof.
"Oh."
Jiang Wang simply said "oh," then walked around Fang He Ling and continued on his way.
He, of course, knew that Fang He Ling was the legitimate son of the next head of the Fang family, the main line of the three major surnames. He also knew that Fang He Ling currently had no intention of creating any conflicts with him and would probably still be friendly and amicable to maintain the family's reputation.
But on what basis? Why did someone as outstanding as Fang Pengju, who could not obtain a Pulse-Opening Pill and became increasingly radical and impatient, have to suffer? And just a few days after his death, Fang He Ling had it? What kind of person Fang He Ling was, others might not know, but they, the brothers, could not be clearer.
If he had any real talent, the Fang family would not have let Fang Pengju take the lead in the first place!
Even if Fang Pengju died in betrayal, could this current, nonsensical 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 glance at him from beginning to end.
The group walked away, leaving Fang He Ling standing there, his smile slowly freezing on his face.
He did not expect to be ignored.
After he swallowed the Pulse-Opening Pill and manifested his Dao pulse, entering the inner court in one day, he was still ignored!
He remembered when he first entered the outer court and met these prominent figures of the outer court outside the Dao Academy. He eagerly went up to greet his cousin's friends and get to know them.
His cousin did not even look at him and walked away with these people, arm in arm.
He had never forgotten the disappointment of that moment, so he came to Jiang Wang and the others as soon as he consolidated his pulse.
He did not know what he wanted to prove, but at least, you people must look at me.
However, nothing happened.
Everything had changed, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed at all.
"Jiang Wang!"
Fang He Ling shouted in his heart.
He tried hard to control his expression, but his face had already turned very ugly.