Chapter 14: The Emperor Among Swords

Within Zhao Rucheng’s luxurious estate, which covered nearly ten acres, two figures flickered in and out amidst flashes of sword light.

Clang!!

Zhao Rucheng’s hand trembled, and his sword flew from his grasp.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang’s blade had already stopped beside Zhao Rucheng’s throat, its owner looking at him with an amused smile.

“So powerful!” Zhao Rucheng exclaimed in admiration. “What sword art is this?”

There was indeed some gap between their swordsmanship, but it had never been especially large. In their previous sparring matches, Zhao Rucheng could usually win three to five bouts out of ten.

But today, after twenty straight matches, he had not won even once!

Jiang Wang smiled as he sheathed his sword.

This sword art truly deserved to be called a profound method that entered the Dao through martial skill. It contained nine training forms and five killing forms. Right now, he had only mastered four training forms and one killing form, yet his understanding of swordsmanship already far surpassed what it had once been.

He estimated that his combat strength had now reached the level of an actual cultivator. If he encountered the demonic cultist who attacked him that night again, he would definitely have the power to fight.

“This sword art came from a fortunate encounter,” Jiang Wang said. “It doesn’t really have a name. Rucheng, you’re skilled in both literature and martial arts. What do you think it should be called?”

Zhao Rucheng pondered briefly.

“This is the emperor among swords,” he said slowly. “It should be named… Purple Qi Comes from the East.”

“Purple Qi Comes from the East…”

A strange brilliance flashed through Jiang Wang’s eyes.

“What a good name!”

At that instant, he seemed to glimpse some vast and majestic aura within Zhao Rucheng that he had never noticed before.

But it was probably an illusion, because in the next moment Zhao Rucheng had already picked up his fallen sword and leapt in front of Jiang Wang, once more wearing his usual shameless grin.

“Third Brother, teach me!”

“Alright.”

Jiang Wang laughed brightly.

Both of them were masters of swordsmanship among ordinary people. Neither failed to understand how precious the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual truly was.

It was completely different from the common combat techniques circulated in the mortal world. This was a transcendent sword canon capable of entering the Dao through martial skill.

Those powerful sword cultivators were not inferior to masters of dao arts in the slightest.

A sword canon like this would be enough to stir bloody storms across the martial world.

Yet one of them casually asked to learn it, while the other casually agreed to teach it.

As though this sword canon were nothing important at all.

…

By the time Jiang Wang returned to the Dao Academy, the sky had already darkened.

Aside from attending classes, Zhao Rucheng generally never stayed at the academy. He possessed the temperament of a complete young master.

Jiang Wang had been contemplating the profound mysteries of the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual the entire way back, so much so that only upon reaching the entrance to the inner academy dormitories did he notice Li Jianqiu standing there with a sword in his arms.

“What are you thinking about so intently?” Li Jianqiu asked with a half-smile.

“Some questions about swordsmanship.”

Jiang Wang answered honestly, then asked, “What brings Senior Brother Li here?”

“No wonder Junior Brother Jiang’s swordsmanship is so astonishing.”

Li Jianqiu casually praised him before continuing, “Teacher Dong asked that you visit him tomorrow after morning class. I didn’t find you in your room, so I waited for a while.”

“Ah, I spent the whole afternoon at Rucheng’s estate.”

Jiang Wang felt somewhat embarrassed.

“How could I trouble Senior Brother Li to wait? You could’ve simply left a message with the attendants.”

Inner academy disciples had personal attendants who handled food, clothing, and daily needs so the disciples could focus entirely on cultivation.

“Teacher Dong instructed me to notify you personally, so I could not entrust the matter to someone else. Besides, I’m not some noble young master so exalted that I can’t wait for someone.”

Jiang Wang lowered his head slightly.

“This little brother feels ashamed.”

He truly was uneasy.

Li Jianqiu was two generations senior to him and had been one of the most outstanding disciples of his cohort. It was practically guaranteed that he would one day enter Qinghe Prefecture Academy for further study. He was one of the most renowned talents in the entire city academy.

And yet such a figure had calmly stood waiting outside the dormitory without the slightest impatience.

Li Jianqiu patted Jiang Wang’s shoulder.

“I think Junior Brother Jiang’s future is limitless. There’s no need to be so distant.”

After saying this, he turned and departed.

…

Nothing noteworthy happened that night.

The next morning, immediately after morning class ended, Jiang Wang headed toward Dong A’s residence.

Aside from Li Jianqiu, there were two others already in the small courtyard.

One of them was another senior disciple named Zhang Linchuan.

He came from the Zhang Clan, one of the three great families of Maple Forest City. He was secretly acknowledged as one of the strongest disciples in the city academy and possessed considerable fame.

Though not extraordinarily handsome, he was tall and elegant, carrying himself with natural grace. Every detail of his clothing and accessories was exquisite and perfectly arranged.

At the moment, he stood in the courtyard listening to the person beside him speak.

And the remaining person in the courtyard was unexpectedly Fang Heling.

The moment Fang Heling noticed Jiang Wang entering, he deliberately raised his voice.

“Brother Zhang! Yesterday the hunters from my estate delivered a pair of excellent bear paws. Tomorrow I’ll invite the head chef of Moonwatch Tower to prepare them properly. We should all enjoy them together.”

Zhang Linchuan smiled and nodded.

Fang Heling then turned toward Li Jianqiu.

“Senior Brother Li should come too!”

Li Jianqiu did not reject him outright and merely smiled faintly.

“If I have time, I’ll come.”

Before Fang Heling could continue flattering him, Li Jianqiu had already taken several steps toward the courtyard entrance.

“Junior Brother Jiang has arrived?”

He had deliberately come forward to greet him.

Jiang Wang hurried a few steps closer.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

He walked to Li Jianqiu’s side and cupped his hands toward Zhang Linchuan.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang.”

But he treated Fang Heling as though he did not exist.

“You as well.”

Zhang Linchuan smiled lightly and nodded, seemingly completely unaware of the undercurrents between Jiang Wang and Fang Heling.

But some people simply had to assert their presence.

“Hmph.”

Fang Heling suddenly snorted before speaking in a strange tone.

“Teacher Dong gave instructions, yet even Senior Brothers Zhang and Li came early. I rushed over before I could even attend morning class. Yet somehow certain people possess such virtue and ability that they dare make Teacher Dong and the two senior brothers wait for them?”

Jiang Wang still ignored him completely and instead cupped his fists toward Li Jianqiu and Zhang Linchuan.

“This little brother came immediately after morning class ended. I absolutely did not dare neglect Teacher Dong’s orders. But morning and evening classes involve scripture recitation and breathing exercises. Morning bells and evening drums—one cannot slacken for even a moment.”

Li Jianqiu once more patted Jiang Wang’s shoulder warmly.

“It’s fine. We arrived early, not that you arrived late. The cultivation path truly permits no laziness. Although Senior Brother Zhang and I no longer attend scripture recitation classes with the younger brothers, we still complete our morning lessons in our own rooms.”

Fang Heling grew even more furious inside, but with Li Jianqiu having spoken, he no longer dared stir up trouble.

At this moment, the door creaked open as Dong A stepped outside.

“Everyone’s here?”

He swept his gaze across the courtyard, naturally imposing despite his calm demeanor.

All four bowed in salute.

“Teacher Dong!”

Dong A waved a hand dismissively.

He was a decisive and straightforward man who disliked wasting words, so he immediately got to the point.

“I summoned you today because I have a mission for you. You should all know about the demonic cultists attacking the outer academy and killing an outer disciple. The Criminal Investigation Office has been investigating for so long without results. Matters concerning our city academy don’t necessarily need outsiders to handle them, so I’m assigning you to investigate this case. It will be rewarded according to the standards of an eighth-rank mission.”

Unlike outer academy missions, inner academy missions were ranked by grade, usually according to the highest combat level involved in the task. Furthermore, the reward currency was no longer contribution points, but dao merit.

The difference in difficulty was heaven and earth, and naturally the rewards were equally incomparable.

Take the Meridian Opening Pill for example.

An astronomical number of outer contribution points would be required to exchange for one, but only one hundred dao merit was needed.

Of course, obtaining one hundred dao merit was by no means easy either.

Just considering this incident with the demonic cultists attacking the outer academy—their displayed strength was only around ninth rank. Dong A classifying it as eighth rank clearly contained an element of encouragement.

“Jiang Wang and Fang Heling are currently the only disciples of this class whose dao meridians have already manifested. They must be tempered properly. Linchuan and Jianqiu, you’ve cultivated longer. You may each take one junior brother and split up to investigate. Mission rewards will be divided one-to-nine. Whichever group solves it first gets ninety percent.”

Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu both bowed.

“We obey Teacher’s orders.”

Dong A flicked his sleeve and returned directly indoors, clearly having no intention of interfering further.

Zhang Linchuan was evidently prepared already. After a brief moment of thought, he said:

“I have friends in the Criminal Investigation Office. Regarding this attack by the demonic cultists, two clues are currently most useful. First, the cultists stayed at Fortune Arrival Inn for three days before the attack, so they likely left behind some traces. Second, an entire family in Tangshe Town was slaughtered, and corpse qi remained at the scene similar to that used by the cultists who attacked our outer academy. Junior Brother Li, which route would you prefer?”

Li Jianqiu replied, “This information comes from Senior Brother Zhang, so naturally the assignment is yours to decide.”

Zhang Linchuan nodded without surprise.

If Li Jianqiu had any sense, he would not compete with him at this moment. Asking the question had merely been a formality.

“In that case, I’ll go to Tangshe Town. Junior Brother Li will investigate Fortune Arrival Inn.”

Standing beside Zhang Linchuan, Fang Heling’s eyes lit up.

“With Senior Brother Zhang taking action, how could mere demonic cultists possibly escape?”

After speaking, he glanced smugly toward Jiang Wang.

Anyone with eyes could see that Tangshe Town better fit the conditions for the cultists’ hideout and contained clearer clues. In Fang Heling’s view, he would undoubtedly secure the larger share of rewards on this first eighth-rank mission.

Then Zhang Linchuan turned to Li Jianqiu again.

“Junior Brother Li, may I take Jiang Wang?”

Li Jianqiu replied calmly, “That works as well.”

In truth, everyone’s positions earlier had already implied the division.

Jiang Wang was more familiar with Li Jianqiu, while Zhang Linchuan and Fang Heling both came from the three great families.

Although Jiang Wang did not understand why Zhang Linchuan had not chosen Fang Heling, whose background was closer to his own and with whom he was more familiar, Jiang Wang had no right to choose.

Thus he bowed politely.

“Then I’ll trouble Senior Brother Zhang.”

Both Zhang Linchuan and Li Jianqiu were experienced. Very quickly, they finalized task assignments and prepared various supplies that might prove useful during the mission. Jiang Wang also consciously busied himself helping with preparations.

Only Fang Heling remained standing there stiffly, his face alternating between green and white.

He clearly had many opinions he wished to voice.

But not a single word could leave his mouth.

[End of Chapter]