Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Ever since he narrowly escaped death at the Wangyue Tower, Jiang Wang hadn't had a full night's sleep, so this time he slept especially deeply.

He had many dreams—he dreamt of a fierce battle at the Discussion Platform, of progressing by leaps and bounds in his cultivation, riding the winds and cleaving the clouds, of the vast sky and five streaks of lightning speed and brilliance…

He woke up.

Sitting up quietly, he leaned against the headrest of the bed, unable to discern whether the sudden feeling was one of palpitations or of sorrow.

He shook his head, gathering his thoughts.

It was already night outside the window, yet he was still alone in the dormitory.

Jiang Wang furrowed his brows.

It was normal for Du Yehu to drink for days and nights on end, but Ling He was always strict and disciplined; he would never not return at night.

The outer sect dormitories of Maple Forest Taoist Academy were rows of bungalows. He got dressed and went outside; the room across was tightly shut, and the neighbors on either side were quiet. There was a strange and uneasy chill in the corridor.

Jiang Wang called out to a passing figure, "Fellow Disciple, have you seen Brother Ling He?"

"Ling He? Haven't seen him," the person replied in an extremely dull tone.

While speaking, he shook his head.

Bang!

Out of nowhere, his head just broke off and fell to the ground, rolling several times.

His head had snapped off!

Watching the headless body that had just been speaking, Jiang Wang felt a chill rise from the base of his spine all the way to his Heavenly Spirit.

But he was a veteran of many battles, and his instinct was to take a step back, ready to retreat to the dorm first to at least grab a weapon.

However, the dormitory door suddenly shut tight, refusing to budge! It was as though someone inside was pushing against the door, preventing him from entering.

At that moment, the headless body turned around, extended its arms, and charged towards him with large strides! The head that fell to the ground had rolled a few times before suddenly shooting up, onto Jiang Wang even faster than the body! Its hair was unkempt, its features twisted ferociously, its nose collapsed, with both eyeballs bulging out.

Evil spirits of midnight, malevolent souls seeking lives.

"Playing ghost tricks!" Jiang Wang shouted in a rage, hoping to alert the disciples in the other dormitories, while leaping backward.

This was Maple Forest Taoist Academy, Dong Ah of the Grade-5 was stationed here. Any strangeness would surely be suppressed! No matter what bizarre or evil creature, it would never dare to make too much noise. Fleeing directly would, of course, be the best strategy.

But the head's shooting speed was too fast, and Jiang Wang couldn't escape in time.

So, after retreating a few steps, he suddenly soared into the air, channeling one of the two remaining Path Origins in his meridian into his right leg, then twisted his body and executed a mid-air reverse kick!

With the explosive force of the Path Origin, the power of his kick was far greater than ever before.

The figures of gods, ghosts, demons, and monsters were not just legends. Although Jiang Wang had not yet reached the Transcendent, he had already encountered the transcendent world. He had killed men and seen blood, and had long since forged his courage.

He told himself in his heart that it was just a ball, not a head, merely a ball!

Bang!

His boot collided decisively with the head, which then shot back faster than before, hitting the charging headless body and making it stagger.

It was like a cuju ball being kicked!

At the same time, Jiang Wang felt acute pain on the top of his foot. The head had bitten through his boot and torn off a piece of flesh as it was kicked!

The wound was faintly tinged with green.

Jiang Wang realized the situation was grim, likely due to some corpse poison.

But his goal of repelling the enemy with his attack had been achieved. Without hesitation, he turned and ran.

After sprinting to the end of the corridor, he was stopped by a transparent membrane of Vitality.

Although the force wasn't strong, it was incredibly resilient, firmly obstructing his path. This was a trap!

Jiang Wang's thoughts raced. He decisively detonated the last Path Origin in his meridian, concentrating it on his right shoulder.

He exerted himself frantically, ramming forward with his shoulder!

"Open for me!!!"

Jiang Wang felt a lightness in his body as he burst through the corridor separating the two rows of dormitories.

Then he heard the sounds of the wind, the chirping of insects, and the conversations of returning outer sect disciples... the sounds of the night.

The quiet atmosphere was shattered.

"Brother Jiang Wang, what are you doing?"

"How did you get hurt, brother?"

An Outer Sect Disciple who saw Jiang Wang came over to greet him.

Upon hearing the familiar greeting of his fellow disciple, Jiang Wang knew he was out of danger. He turned around and dashed back down the corridor, which was now indeed empty.

The headless body and the head had both vanished without a trace.

From the dormitory on both sides, some were pushing open their doors, puzzled, "What's going on, why couldn't the door be opened just now?"

An even more terrified voice exclaimed, "Someone's dead... There's been a death!"

Jiang Wang was the first to rush into the dormitory from where the cry came, only to discover the missing decapitated corpse. He and his head now lay silently on the ground, faces still hideous.

In the corner, trembling uncontrollably, was presumably his panicked roommate.

The means displayed by the opponent were at least somewhat related to the left-handed corpse-driving technique and the orthodox Water Taoism Technique. Or rather, there may have been more than one adversary.

Jiang Wang's thoughts raced, and he decisively called out, "A demon has infiltrated the Outer Sect under cover of night and committed atrocities, adept in Dao Techniques, and has become transcendent! Their strength should be within the Ninth Grade range. All disciples must take care of themselves, moving in groups of five for mutual support! Starting now, seal off the dormitory area, and do not allow anyone to enter or leave. I am going to immediately ask for instructions from the Inner Sect brothers!"

The anxious Outer Sect disciples immediately found guidance and acted according to his words.

Jiang Wang immediately turned around and ran towards the Inner Sect.

All of East City was part of the Maple Forest Taoist Sect and its affiliated industries, but strictly speaking, only the courtyard enclosed by high walls in the very center of East City could be considered the true Maple Forest Taoist Sect. Disciples like Jiang Wang who belonged to the Outer Sect were scattered around the outskirts of the Sect.

Compared to the towering archway with its splendid jade lions in front of the Outer Sect, the entrance to the Inner Sect was much smaller, just wide enough to allow four people to walk side by side. However, the glow emanating from the dragon-and-phoenix-carved plaque in the night made it clear that a lot of intricate thought had gone into its design.

There was a small pavilion in front of the Inner Sect entrance with only two lyre-shaped lanterns hanging in front, and inside there was just a single cushion of ice grass. Sitting cross-legged on that cushion was a handsome Taoist in plain robes, deep in meditation. This was Li Jianqiu, the Inner Sect disciple on duty today.

Panting, Jiang Wang arrived and hastily bowed, "Brother Li, there's a sinister intruder in the Outer Sect who has killed a fellow disciple! Please, take charge!"

For Outer Sect disciples, every one of the Inner Sect disciples who had embarked on the path of cultivation was like a star, and having been in the Sect for so long, Jiang Wang naturally recognized them. And for Li Jianqiu, someone like Jiang Wang who boldly initiated a Daoist Proving duel that drew the Sect Leader's personal oversight was certainly not an unknown figure. Moreover, as the one on duty, it was his inevitable responsibility.

Therefore, he rose to his feet at once upon hearing the situation.

"No need." A commanding voice rang out, causing Li Jianqiu to immediately sheathe his sword and bow in greeting.

Sect Leader Dong Ah appeared at the entrance to the Inner Sect, his expression stern and, in fact, one could say grim: "I will handle this matter myself."

"Corpse energy." He looked at the wound on Jiang Wang's foot, which had been torn by the flying head, and extended his index finger. Without any other visible movement, a green spike had already formed.

Only then did Jiang Wang notice that the wound on his foot had already begun to fester, oozing black blood, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

"This is a Grade-C intermediate Dao Technique 'Swallowing Poison Spike.' It's very practical and can be used up to the Intermediate Stage."

As Dong Ah idly explained, he lightly touched with his finger.

Beyond Transcendent-grade Dao Techniques, ordinary Dao Techniques are divided into four classes and twelve grades. The vast, boundless sea of Dao Techniques cannot be fully explored even in a lifetime. Every Taoist practitioner embarking on the path of transcendence must be clear about what kind of Dao Technique suits them best and form their own combat system through constant battle and exploration.

The spike was thrust into the wound on Jiang Wang's foot and, visibly to the naked eye, it turned black. In just a few moments, the green spike had turned completely pitch-black, while the wound no longer showed any signs of dark discoloration but instead oozed fresh red blood.

Jiang Wang quickly tore off a piece of his clothing to bandage the wound.

Li Jianqiu watched this scene silently, deep in thought.

It was only then that Dong Ah asked, "What happened?"

Jiang Wang recounted the events in the briefest terms and then held back from making any further comment. He believed, and indeed could only believe, that the Sect Leader of Fenglin City's Taoist Sect would give him justice for the assassination attempt that had happened within the Sect.

A small smile appeared on Dong Ah's lips, but because of his stern expression, this smile seemed particularly chilling.

"How dare the heterodox practitioners come to the Maple Forest Taoist Sect in Fenglin City to wreak havoc. They do not regard the Sect, nor do they regard me, Dong Ah,!"

He swept out his Taoist robe and spread his five fingers wide as he pressed them towards the ground!

"Emerald Jade Cage!"

From the center of his five fingers, an invisible force belonging to the Wooden Tao radiated out in all directions.

All the doors of the Sect slammed shut with a bang! And vines sprouted forth, growing wildly.

The ivy on the Sect walls shot up like serpents, intertwining with each other in midair.

Every wooden object within the Sect underwent a transformation.

Wooden chairs sprouted branches, wooden windows grew claws, giant trees burst through the soil, and thorns thrashed about!

In an instant, the entire Maple Forest Taoist Sect under the cover of night had turned into an emerald prison!