The white-faced demon's entire body was split into two halves, but due to the right arm having been severed earlier, the two halves were not symmetrical.
Jiang Wang landed in front of the corpse, loosened his grip, and the long sword shattered into countless fragments, falling to the ground.
Its mission was complete.
This sword, made of ordinary material, could not withstand such prolonged infusion of Daoist energy.
Jiang Wang once again distinctly felt the emptiness within the Tongtian Palace. Those lively and adorable little entities were all gone, not a single one remained.
Before the unclaimed gray fog could spread, Jiang Wang returned to the main road. He noticed that some of the fog had escaped to the side of the road but was blocked by an invisible force, slowly dissipating.
Jiang Wang knew that this must be the power of some kind of array pattern inscribed on the main road.
After waiting for a while, the rumbling thunder grew louder as it approached. Zhang Linchuan leaped several times and landed beside Jiang Wang.
"Junior Jiang, you haven't left this place, have you?" he asked.
Despite the battle, his attire remained neat, and even his hair was meticulously arranged. Every movement exuded an air of elegance.
"I encountered... the demon from Tangshe Town earlier."
"He would definitely come for his blood once it was spilled; otherwise, he would have to flee from Zhuang Country."
"I killed him."
Zhang Linchuan's eyebrows twitched. "What?"
Jiang Wang pointed towards the direction where the white-faced demon had been struck down. "I just don't know if the body will be of any use, if we can find any clues."
Zhang Linchuan recovered from his surprise and shook his head. "These people have incomplete souls; even soul-searching them while alive is futile, let alone after death. I just killed a few, and it was the same with them."
"I see." Jiang Wang felt no sense of loss. For him, killing the white-faced demon was enough.
He did not blame Zhang Linchuan for choosing to pursue the enemy immediately instead of staying to protect him. He was not someone who needed protection, and Zhang Linchuan was not his nanny.
Moreover, if it weren't for Zhang Linchuan's pressure, the white-faced demon would not have been so eager to flee without a fight. And his accomplices would not have given Jiang Wang the chance to face him alone.
Zhang Linchuan glanced at the place where the gray fog had dissipated and sighed, "The array pattern on this section of the main road has been corroded. We must report it to the authorities and have them send someone to repair it quickly."
The two horses had not been frightened away. Jiang Wang flicked the reins, and the horse sprang to life and ran cheerfully.
At this moment, he sensed that within the Tongtian Palace, from some unfathomable place, a Daoist element suddenly rolled down, one after another, a total of five. And they were fuller and rounder.
Though they did not fully replenish the previous consumption, it was still an unexpected joy.
It was only then that he more profoundly understood the lessons given by the senior Daoist practitioners.
The so-called Daoist element, the beginning of the Great Dao. The birth of the Daoist element is not merely the sublimation of blood and energy, but the perfect fusion of will and power, the most genuine feedback of the spirit of all things to the origin of the universe.
...
When they returned to the Daoist academy, it was still early. The two of them went directly to Dong A's courtyard to report back.
The door was open, but the courtyard was empty, with only Fang Hailing pacing back and forth, looking extremely bored.
Catching sight of the two entering empty-handed, his eyes lit up.
Fang Hailing first greeted Zhang Linchuan politely, then seemingly offered comfort, "It seems that Senior Zhang didn't gain much from this trip... Even for a genius like Senior Zhang, it's really difficult to bring along a newcomer who doesn't understand anything."
He certainly did not consider himself a newcomer. The Fang family, a century-old clan, had produced many cultivators. Having grown up around them, he was no stranger to the battles among cultivators. What insights could this Jiang fellow, from a small town, possibly have?
Jiang Wang ignored him.
Zhang Linchuan, however, had the leisure to tease, "Oh? It seems that Hailing has had quite a successful trip."
"It went smoothly, I suppose," Fang Hailing modestly replied, before eagerly boasting.
It turned out that when they went to the Fuli Inn to investigate clues, someone was also spying in the shadows. However, Li Jianqiu took decisive action and captured the person. What was originally a fruitless investigation suddenly had a direction because of this captive!
Of course, how much of a role Fang Hailing played in this was really hard to say.
"Where is Junior Li?" Zhang Linchuan asked.
Fang Hailing awkwardly paused for a moment, then said, "He's in the room. Teacher Dong is using a secret method to search his soul."
Dong A was searching the soul, Li Jianqiu was attending, and Fang Hailing didn't even have the qualifications to watch... His contribution to this trip was evident.
Zhang Linchuan and Jiang Wang couldn't go in and disturb, so they had to wait in the courtyard with Fang Hailing.
Jiang Wang was silent, closing his eyes and sending the Daoist elements in the Tongtian Palace to their proper positions. Zhang Linchuan and Fang Hailing chatted intermittently.
Naturally, Fang Hailing was proud. After all, Dong A had said before that the mission rewards would be split ninety-one. Jiang Wang clearly had no gains, while they returned with a captive. This was the first step in creating a gap.
After a short wait, Dong A, dressed in a black Daoist robe, strode out with Li Jianqiu.
Meeting Fang Hailing's expectant gaze, Li Jianqiu shook his head.
Dong A said, "This person's soul is incomplete. I could only find some scattered fragments, nothing important."
Fang Hailing quickly tried to impress, "With such tight precautions, there must be a well-organized group behind these people! This matter is far from simple!"
Dong A neither confirmed nor denied, but just looked at Zhang Linchuan.
Zhang Linchuan then recounted what had happened after going to Tangshe Town, without any exaggeration. As for the details of Jiang Wang's two battles with the white-faced demon, Dong A wouldn't ask, and Jiang Wang didn't need to say.
He was a legitimate disciple of the Daoist academy, not a prisoner, and didn't need to be interrogated.
Upon hearing this, Dong A simply nodded and said, "Jiang Wang is not bad."
This might sound indifferent, but to those who knew Dong A's personality well, it was a rare compliment.
This mission, both sides led by Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu submitted new clues, but neither had follow-ups, so the mission couldn't be considered a success. However, Dong A allocated five Daoist merits to each of them as an encouragement.
For Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu, they were originally just guiding their juniors who were new to the tasks of this level. It was better if they had gains, but it didn't matter if they didn't. Their seniors had done the same for them.
For Jiang Wang and Fang Hailing, five Daoist merits were not a small amount. It was equivalent to half-completing a task of the lowest ninth rank.
Ninth-rank tasks awarded merits between ten and a hundred points, while eighth-rank tasks awarded between a hundred and five hundred points, depending on the difficulty of the task.
Dong A was decisive in his actions. After determining that the mission had temporarily ended, he dismissed the disciples.
After the matter was settled, Fang Hailing tried to persuade Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu to have a few drinks. Jiang Wang thought for a moment and decided to go to the Daoist Merit Hall.
...
The location of the Daoist Merit Hall was directly opposite the Sacrificial Hall, highlighting its importance.
The entire hall was empty except for a Daoist Merit Board, which emitted a faint, clear light, hanging on the altar table.
There was no guard here because the Daoist Merit Board had its own protective power. It was itself a spiritual treasure, or more accurately, this board in the Fenglin City Daoist Academy's Daoist Merit Hall was a sub-board of the main board in the National Daoist Academy, which received the national incense offerings.
Jiang Wang had come specially just to broaden his horizons.
In front of the Daoist Merit Board stood a medium-sized, plain-clothed Taoist, with his hands folded in front of him, gazing intently at the board.
From behind, one couldn't see his face, but in the inner courtyard, anyone Jiang Wang didn't recognize would have a cultivation level higher than his.
Because they were all his senior brothers.
Jiang Wang didn't disturb him and walked towards the Daoist Merit Board on his own. He focused his spirit and looked at the board. The clear light rippled slightly, and a lot of information flowed through his mind.
This was just a sub-board, and it could only display information related to the Fenglin City Daoist Academy. It was said that the main Daoist Merit Board encompassed everything, but that was still quite distant for Jiang Wang.
The exchange options on this Fenglin City Daoist Academy sub-board were not few, enough to make Jiang Wang's eyes dazzle. However, the prices of the exchange items made him want to turn around and leave.
The cheapest Meridian-Opening Pill cost a hundred Daoist merits per pill, and its value was of course not just that. It was just that as Daoist academy disciples, the Daoist gate had certain support for them. To exchange a second Meridian-Opening Pill, it would require fifteen hundred Daoist merits. That should be the true price of the Meridian-Opening Pill.
In addition to that, the cheapest standard magical sword started at five hundred Daoist merits!
Jiang Wang looked at his five Daoist merits... well, he had come here just to broaden his horizons.
The so-called Daoist Merit Board, since it was a board, naturally had a ranking. It was only then that Jiang Wang realized that Zhang Linchuan, whom he considered unfathomable, was only ranked third on this Fenglin City Daoist Merit sub-board.
The second-ranked person was named Wei Yan, who was not a Daoist academy disciple but a military officer in the city guard. Judging from his name, he might have some connection with Wei Quji.
And Zhu Weiwu, who ranked first with thirteen hundred Daoist merits, was also the recognized senior brother in the entire Fenglin City Daoist Academy. He was always elusive. Jiang Wang had only heard his name but never seen him in person.
It should be noted that the second-ranked Wei Yan had only seven hundred Daoist merits, similar to Zhang Linchuan, but both were far behind Zhu Weiwu.
Jiang Wang flipped through a bit more and saw Li Jianqiu at the seventeenth place, then disconnected from the Daoist Merit Board.
"A junior brother who has just joined the gate?"
The senior brother from before seemed to be waiting for him on purpose.
Hearing this, Jiang Wang turned his head and saw a warm and amiable face.
"Greetings, senior brother. I am Jiang Wang, newly admitted to the inner gate."
"And to you, I am Wang Changxiang," Wang Changxiang's appearance was not outstanding, but his smile made him very approachable. "See you next time."
"Farewell." Jiang Wang's heart stirred. In the Daoist Merit Board he had just checked, this person ranked seventh, far above Li Jianqiu.
Of course, the Daoist Merit Board only counted Daoist merits, not personal strength. But in a certain sense, it could indeed reflect something.
In the outer gate before, their sworn brothers were unparalleled and invincible. After entering the inner gate, they realized how vast the world was.
Among those he had encountered so far, Li Jianqiu, Zhang Linchuan, and Wang Changxiang, each with different temperaments, were all outstanding individuals. Jiang Wang knew he was far from their match.
Just one Fenglin City Daoist Academy produced so many talents. What about the entire Qinghe Prefecture, or even the whole Zhuang Country?
And those renowned prodigies, who made heroes from various countries look up in admiration, must be of extraordinary caliber!
Thinking of these things did not discourage Jiang Wang; instead, he felt an endless burning fighting spirit.
At least now, he had already stepped on the path to transcendence and was on the same stage as those dazzling individuals. What was there to fear?