An'an settled into her new life in Maple City. Aunt Song wrote once — she had remarried into the Lin family at Riverview City, a prosperous town second only to Clear River City in the county. A good match, by all accounts.
No wonder she could not bring her daughter.
As for the remaining Jiang family property in Phoenix Creek Town, Jiang Chen did not pursue it. Aunt Song had cared for his father in his illness. Some dowry was only fair.
They would likely not contact each other again.
At four or five, children began their schooling. Jiang Chen enrolled An'an at the best private school outside the three great clans' academies. Such schools normally refused common applicants. But Jiang Chen had dominated the Outer Academy for so long — and now held an Inner Academy spot with his Dao meridian manifested. He was a future pillar of the State of Zhuang. No one slighted him lightly.
Each day followed a pattern: lectures at the Academy, cultivation, then rushing to pick An'an up from school. He chose missions that lasted no more than a day, usually returning the same evening. When conflicts arose, Ling Chuan and Zhao Yan took turns watching her.
Life flowed full and steady. His Starfield Array foundation grew increasingly complex, its outline emerging. But the later stages grew harder. Moving Dao essence crystals during foundation-building allowed no error — one mistake scattered the crystal and wasted the session. Because he had chosen the Starfield Array, his foundation process was already slower than others. He accepted no failure in any single placement.
Without a completed foundation, he could not study Dao arts. Jiang Chen poured his effort into the Violet Dawn Sword Art instead — nine training forms and five killing forms. Training forms built the body and comprehended sword Dao. Killing forms destroyed enemies and broke formations.
Once the nine training forms matured, their benefits to body and blood astonished him. His physical form fed back more strongly to his Dao meridian's true spirit, accelerating crystal formation.
Over time, he gained an extra daily channeling session. Three crystals per day now. This significantly shortened his path to successful foundation.
Life was full and satisfying. In the midst of it, Jiang Chen faced his first major mission since entering Maple City Academy.
* * *
"Emergency conscription! No one leaves!"
The Lecture Hall had just finished morning instruction when an officer in black robes burst through the doors.
"Who is this guy?"
"What's going on?"
The disciples whispered among themselves. But someone quickly identified him: "Quiet! That's Wei Feng!"
The hall fell silent.
Merit Board second place. City Guard officer with real power. Either identity commanded respect. And this soldier was known for his hard, cold manner.
Wei Feng seemed indifferent to their reactions. Or rather, he only needed to state his own.
"Grove Town has sent no reports for five full days."
Jiang Chen and Ling Chuan exchanged glances. Grove Town was a major town under Maple City's governance. Not every detail was reported, but updates came regularly.
Five days of silence meant Maple City had effectively lost control. A town of several thousand people suddenly cut off from the world — serious business.
Wei Feng continued: "By city lord decree, I conscript at least thirty Inner Academy disciples to investigate Grove Town."
"Isn't this the Punishment Bureau's job?" someone protested.
A mission this large, conscripting thirty Inner Academy disciples at once, meant significant danger. Many were reluctant.
"The Heart-Devouring Demon Xiong Lie has appeared at Three Mountain City. The Punishment Bureau has diverted most of Clear River County's forces there." Wei Feng's deputy, Zhao Lang, explained.
Zhuang's government followed Yong's model. Common cases went to magistrates. Supernatural matters fell to the Punishment Bureau. The Bureau answered to local authorities in theory, but its direct line to the capital meant local governments could rarely command it fully.
This time, the Bureau's superiors had ordered the hunt for Xiong Lie. Even City Lord Wei Lin could not pull them back.
"What about the City Guard?" the same disciple pressed.
The City Guard was the city lord's direct military force, suppressing all heresy and rebellion. An entire town going silent should have triggered Guard mobilization.
"The City Guard has other duties." Wei Feng cut him off impatiently. "Merit rewards increase by thirty percent. Participation is technically voluntary. But if fewer than thirty Inner Academy disciples volunteer, I will enforce compulsory conscription by city lord decree!"
"Before this mission, two Nine-Rank traveling cultivators sent by the city lord's office have already fallen in Grove Town. Consider your own strength. Do not overreach."
The Academy system was Zhuang's most important path to transcendence. Local city Academies recruited cultivation seedlings, trained them for years, then tested them for promotion to county Academies, then to the national Academy. Layer by layer, the selection winnowed the wheat from the chaff.
Eventually Zhuang's finest gathered at the capital — to contend with heroes from rival states, or to return and govern regions.
Maple City Academy admitted only ten Inner Academy disciples per term. But the difficulty of advancing to county level meant many cultivators stayed at the city Academy for years, even decades. With travelers absent and seclusionists secluded, the current Inner Academy numbered roughly three hundred.
From Wei Feng's perspective, he probably hoped for insufficient volunteers. His preference would be conscripting the thirty strongest cultivators directly. But the Academy and city lord's office were not in the same chain of command. Forcing the issue would cause problems.
"Boss, you going?" Jiang Chen whispered to Ling Chuan. He worried — this mission would involve supernatural forces, and neither Ling Chuan nor Du Hu had opened their meridians yet. Extreme danger.
"Of course." Ling Chuan did not hesitate. He was already behind on the cultivation path. He could not miss a thirty percent merit bonus. As for danger? Those afraid of danger should have stayed home farming.
"I'm in!" Du Hu shouted. "All four of us are in!"
Zhao Yan nudged him irritably. "What are you doing? I was going back to sleep."
Of the four, he alone lacked fighting spirit. His daily life consisted of relaxation and more relaxation.
Wei Feng swept them with a glance. None had completed foundation yet. He dismissed them with a wave to his deputy. "Record them."
The deputy announced: "Registration closes in one incense stick's time. Twenty-six spots remain."
"We cultivators receive the state's support. We owe our service to country and home. I volunteer." Li Yun strode in from outside, sword at his hip.
Disciples of his caliber enjoyed considerable freedom. They need not attend daily lectures, and they could refuse this level of conscription. Unless national crisis struck, they pursued only higher cultivation. His appearance drew murmurs of admiration.
"How can I let Swordqi take all the glory? Count me in." Unlike Li Yun's sword-sharp bearing, Wang Hao's manner was gentle. He wore the same hemp Dao robes Jiang Chen had seen at the Merit Hall, walking with unhurried calm.
"With Brother Wang and Brother Li joining, our odds improve greatly!" Even Wei Feng's hard face managed a rare smile.
He could not afford arrogance before Wang Hao, Merit Board seventh place.
Their participation ignited enthusiasm. Spots filled quickly.
Thirty Inner Academy disciples — excluding Jiang Chen's group, nearly everyone was Nine-Rank or higher. Every one of them transcendent. Such a force could sweep across Maple City's territory.
Wei Feng scanned the list and nodded. "You lot still have some spine. Reading hasn't read the humanity out of you."
Perhaps he meant praise. But the condescension rankled.
The military and Academy were separate advancement systems — cooperative yet competitive. Mutual disdain was common.
A disciple muttered: "If Senior Brother Zhu were here, I wonder if certain people would still strut about!"
He meant Zhu Xing, Merit Board first place.
Wei Feng did not rise to the bait. He swept his robes and strode toward the Academy gates. "Move out!"