43: Chapter 39: Control Yuan Decision_1 43: Chapter 39: Control Yuan Decision_1 Another first-year participant in the Three-City Debate was actually a student from the previous Inner Academy cohort, just barely falling within the one-year mark.

The two representatives from the third-year students were acquaintances of Jiang Wang, Li Jianqiu and Wang Changxiang.

Aside from the fifth-year Zhang Linchuan, the other person was a senior brother Jiang Wang did not recognize.

Since Dao Honors were consumables, the rankings on the Dao Honor list didn’t completely reflect one’s strength, at least Dong Ah had his own set of assessment standards.

Of course, this time the debate was led by Zhang Linchuan; he also held hopes that Wei Quchibi and Dong Ah would win the championship.

If Zhu Weiwo were here, they might not have needed to do so, but now that Zhu Weiwo was nowhere to be found, Dong Ah could only keep a close watch on Zhang Linchuan.

Regarding this, Zhang Linchuan expressed that he felt immense pressure.

The start date for the Three-City Debate was the tenth day of October.

Before that, everyone, including Zhang Linchuan and Jiang Wang, had to undergo “special training.”

It wasn’t about using any method to squeeze out the disciples’ combat power to the limit in the short term, as that was not the right path.

Even if they won the current contest, what they lost was the disciples’ future.

Instead, Dong Ah himself personally guided each of the competitors, which was a tremendous benefit and showed how seriously Dong Ah took the event.

Dong Ah would personally give a lecture every ten days, which was inevitably fully attended, with many senior brothers who usually performed tasks outside returning to the academy especially for that day.

Jiang Wang had never once missed it.

However, Dong Ah’s lectures were aimed at the entire academy, so of course, they couldn’t cater specifically to Jiang Wang’s progress, so he found them challenging and didn’t gain much from them.

Jiang Wang had already met Dong Ah many times and still did not dare to act recklessly in his presence.

He wasn’t exactly walking on eggshells but was always very respectful.

After all, this powerful figure was known for his straightforward and upright disposition, and even high officials in Xin’an City would confront him directly.

Even Wei Quchibi wasn’t very comfortable in Dong Ah’s presence, let alone Jiang Wang, a mere student.

“You’ve been opening your meridians for some time now; why haven’t you laid the foundation yet?” Dong Ah asked directly as soon as they sat down.

Jiang Wang replied stiffly, “Perhaps the disciple’s aptitude is dull…”

Before he could finish, Dong Ah had already reached out his hand, “Never mind, I’ll see for myself.”

Jiang Wang dared not resist, only hoping that Dong Ah wouldn’t discover his secret.

Of course, if he did discover it, it wouldn’t be a big problem.

The disciples of the academy shared a mentor-disciple relationship with the dean, and in the official circles of Zhuang Country, they were seen as one entity.

In essence, their honors and disgraces were shared.

As long as there were no issues of principle, Dong Ah wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

Moreover, the Heaven and Earth Gate was both a barrier and a concealment; until the Heaven and Earth Gate was opened, the secrets hidden within the depths of the Tongtian Palace weren’t so easily probed.

Unless Dong Ah took action himself, from the outside to the inside, to force open Jiang Wang’s Heaven and Earth Gate, it would ruin Jiang Wang.

Dong Ah wouldn’t do such a thing.

No sooner had Dong Ah’s hand touched Jiang Wang’s spine than he frowned, “You’re advancing too slowly in laying the foundation, why are you also practicing Body Refining Techniques?”

For a distinguished orthodox school like the Dao, Confucian, and Scholar factions, there was no taboo against disciples learning other schools’ cultivation techniques.

What concerned Dong Ah was whether Jiang Wang might get distracted and thus neglect his cultivation, the true essence of progress.

Jiang Wang answered, “The disciple engages in Meridian Rush Practice morning and evening without slacking.

However, limited by vitality and blood, I can only practice twice a day, hence I took up Body Refining Techniques.

By doing so, I aim to increase my vitality and blood, undertake more Meridian Rush Practice, accumulate more Dao Honors, and hope to lay the foundation sooner.”

“Twice a day for Meridian Rush is already sufficient, Dao Honors are not better in excess, control is the right path.” Ultimately, these were just minor matters, so Dong Ah merely pointed it out from a standpoint of responsibility and used a Secret Technique to sense the situation inside Jiang Wang’s Tongtian Palace from the outside of his spine.

“The formation diagram you’re using for foundation laying isn’t the Returning Origin Formation?” Dong Ah suddenly asked.

It was discovered!

Jiang Wang felt an inexplicable sense of relief in his heart.

To hide something from an experienced powerhouse like Dong Ah was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

“Yes.” Jiang Wang honestly admitted, “The foundation laying formation diagram the disciple is using is much more complex than the Returning Origin Formation, which is also the reason why I have been unable to lay the foundation.”

“Nonsense.” Dong Ah scolded, “There are many foundation laying formation diagrams in this world that are superior to the Returning Origin Formation.

Do you know why our Jade Capital Mountain lineage still generally uses it to lay the foundation?

Because it is stable, safe, efficient and can be securely used in any scale of Tongtian Palace.

It is the most broadly applicable foundation laying formation diagram!

How could you undertake such an important task without consulting your mentors and instead act on your own volition?”

Jiang Wang’s face flushed with heat, and he felt ashamed.

Wasn’t it because he had become jumpy after the betrayal by Fang Pengju?

Although he wasn’t constantly paranoid with delusions of persecution, he no longer dared to openly share his extraordinary encounters.

In the end, he had not yet fully established complete trust in Dong Ah as a disciple would with a mentor.

The day Dong Ah saw his injuries, he immediately sealed off the Taoist temple; that time indeed moved him.

But, had he experienced any less moving moments during the time he had spent with Fang Pengju?

Just as he was about to tell Dong Ah about the foundation formation he was using, Dong Ah waved his hand, “Enough, time has already been wasted, and further talk is pointless.”

After a moment of thought, he unfastened a green jade ornament from his waist and handed it to Jiang Wang, “This jade contains a secret technique that can help you improve your control over Path Origin and enable you to complete your foundation earlier.

When worn over the years, it also serves to clear the mind and enlighten the nature.

Take it.”

“Disciple is fearful,” Jiang Wang, seeing it was such a personal item, repeatedly declined, “This is a beloved object of Master Dong, how could your disciple take it away?”

Dong Ah caressed the jade ornament, a rare hint of nostalgia appeared on his normally solemn face, “Gifted by an old friend, who has now returned to dust.”

He quickly reverted to his usual demeanor and placed the jade in Jiang Wang’s hand without room for doubt, “This object is of no use to me anymore, take it.

The future of Zhuang Country is yours.”

Holding the jade ornament, the moment his mind delved slightly into it, a secret technique flowed through his thoughts— “Controlling Origin Decree.”

Jiang Wang gripped the jade firmly and bowed deeply to the ground, “Disciple thanks Master for this grace!”

Dong Ah was not one for showy displays of master-disciple affection, so he quite briskly helped Jiang Wang up, mentioned a few things to be mindful of during cultivation, and then waved his hand for him to leave.

…

Today, because he was to cultivate with Dong Ah, Jiang Wang had asked Ling He to pick up Jiang Anan.

Therefore, he did not need to make a special trip to the private school but directly turned to head back to his dormitory instead.

The newly acquired secret technique was of great significance to Jiang Wang.

His body refinement was successful, his vitality was abundant, and he could perform Meridian Rush Practice four times a day, ingesting four Path Origin orbs.

It was only the Zhou Tian Xing Dou formation that became more complex later on, and with his current ability to control Path Origin, setting up each formation point almost completely exhausted his mind.

In fact, this was the restrictive issue that later hindered his rapid foundation laying.

The “Controlling Origin Decree” would help Jiang Wang control Path Origin with minimal mental effort, making him adept at setting up formation points without wasting unnecessary toil.

Dong Ah saw the problem at a glance and provided the solution.

A word from the master was worth a decade of hard work.

Carefully tying the Controlling Origin jade ornament around his waist, Jiang Wang planned never to take it off for the rest of his life.

Dong Ah saw him as a future favorite disciple, generous enough to give him a personal treasured item.

At this moment, how could he not have come to rely on Dong Ah as well?

“You have an invitation.”

When he went to meet Ling He to pick up Jiang Anan, Ling He suddenly said.

With one hand holding Jiang Anan and the other taking the invitation to look it over, Jiang Wang understood why Ling He had such a solemn expression.

The owner of the invitation was Fang Zehou.

The most powerful contender for the next head of the Fang Family, Fang Pengju’s uncle, Fang Helling’s father.

And the place of the banquet was the Moon Gazing Tower.

A few months ago, it was the place where Fang Pengju orchestrated a scheme to poison him.

…

(Thanks to book friend Wu Lie123 for the sect leader reward, and thanks to book friends wearing Jinyi Forty-Nine, Shura Tang San, 20180727093006600, Life Loser Ah Zhan, Huang Azhan, and Yan Er Gou for their rewards!!!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep