Chapter 172 - You Are Weak for a Reason

"Only three people are allowed. Any more than that won’t work."A Lower Grade allows for five people, and a Middle Grade allows for four."

Number Ninety-Nine paused, then asked curiously, "What are you planning to contend for?"

Jiang Man just said casually, "A Top-grade."

They understood. He would go for whichever Top-grade item was easiest to obtain.

And even after learning the situation, they still hadn’t changed their minds.

They didn’t even show a hint of hesitation.

This just went to show that the two of them possessed extraordinary luck.

"I just put out the word that we’re looking for Number Sixty-Six. It probably won’t be long before some kind soul helps us out," Number Ninety-Nine said.

Jiang Man was taken aback. ’Kind souls in the Sect?’

’They must have offered Spiritual Source as a reward.’

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Man decided there were some kind people after all. At least, these two were quite kind-hearted.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a man walked over and said, "Are you looking for Number Sixty-Six?"

Jiang Man felt like he had seen him somewhere before.

Xiao Ming glanced at Jiang Man, then quickly averted his gaze.

He had come to deliver the message precisely because he recognized Number 210.

It wasn’t for the five hundred Spiritual Source.

He had personally witnessed Number 210 defeat the others back then. His demeanor was nothing like the cheap theatrics rumored outside.

Seeing someone approach, Number Ninety-Nine immediately said, "Yes, do you know where he is?"

Xiao Ming nodded and said calmly, "I can take you there, but don’t blame me if anything happens. They’re fighting a Demon Beast right now, trying to get a Top-grade item.

"If you want to take advantage of their predicament, now is the perfect time.

"But you might also invite terrifying retaliation."

Jiang Man didn’t speak, simply letting the man lead the way.

’I recognize him now,’ he thought. ’He really is a kind person.’

’He warned me before.’

They headed toward the edge of the area, passing through a few forests, spotting some Arrays, and crossing a lake.

"We’re almost there. By the way, those Arrays you see mean there’s something inside. Most of the ones around here have already been explored, and they usually just contain some Mid Grade Techniques," the man explained as he led the way. "Additionally, there are special Arrays that hold two things: a Magic Skill and an eligibility token.

"For example, the right to enter the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

"Some people specifically seek out these things.

"But they’re useless to us. It’s more important to get a good Magic Skill or Cultivation Skill. Top-grade Techniques and Top-grade Yuan Condensation Techniques are the easiest to snag if you get lucky."

Jiang Man understood this. It wasn’t the first time this competition had been held. The people who entered were all very strong, and having participated in several annual assessments, many already possessed a Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique.

Then there were those who were highly valued by their families and had obtained a Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique long ago.

What these people needed most were Top-grade Observation Methods or Top-grade Body Refining Techniques.

For instance, back at the Yunqian Bureau, Li Yuan had insisted on getting a Mid-grade Observation Method, not a Mid Grade Qi Refining Method.

As for being able to find eligibility for the Qi Refining Secret Realm here, that was something he hadn’t expected.

’I wonder how Xiaopang is doing,’ he mused. ’I still need to make him suffer the hardships of Cultivation.’

’A beautiful and virtuous wife, returning home to inherit the family business... what’s that all about?’

’I can’t stand to see it.’

’How can he live with himself, being so young and not pulling all-nighters to cultivate, not suffering the bitterness of training?’

"We’re here." Xiao Ming stood before a forest of stone pillars. "They’re inside. There should be three of them.

"Number Sixty-Six, Number Eighty-Two, and Number One-Hundred-and-Six.

"They’re all at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. Not only that, but their Five Elements Techniques are at the Sixth Layer at least.

"They’re fighting over a Top-grade Observation Method."

Just as Jiang Man and his group arrived, they heard a loud BOOM.

Three figures were knocked back out of the area.

Number Sixty-Six barely managed to steady himself and said, "This Secret Realm is a real pain. The influence of the Five Elements Power is too strong, and our Cultivation levels don’t count for much. Otherwise, we would’ve broken through long ago."

"Someone’s here," the woman beside him said. She was Number Eighty-Two.

The three of them immediately turned to look at Jiang Man’s group.

At first, they were slightly wary, but when they saw Jiang Man, Number Sixty-Six started laughing. "I didn’t expect you to make it out of there.

"Here to fight for this Top-grade Observation Method too?"

"Actually, I came looking for you," Jiang Man stated truthfully. "I just got out and don’t know the rules very well. I’m afraid my ranking might not keep up, but as long as I can defeat you, my rank should become higher than yours."

"The requirement for the Five Elements Technique is very high here. There’s no need to bring humiliation upon yourself," Number Eighty-Two said.

"Actually, you have a chance. Number Sixty-Six isn’t in top condition right now. If you beat him now, won’t you win?" Number One-Hundred-and-Six said with a grin.

He looked quite tall.

His body was brimming with Qi and Blood.

He must be a Body Cultivator.

"That’s true. You do have a chance to win against me as I am now," Number Sixty-Six said with a careless laugh.

But his eyes were full of confidence.

To this, Jiang Man simply said calmly, "I’ll give you time to rest."

Number Sixty-Six shook his head. "A pity for you, then. You won’t have another chance to beat me."

Jiang Man didn’t say anything else. Seeing them rest, he said to Number Ninety-Nine and the others, "Let’s go."

With that, he strode inside.

Seeing this, everyone was stunned.

Number Sixty-Six asked, "What are you doing?"

"You all rest first. I’m going in to get the Visualization Skill," Jiang Man said without looking back.

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded.

He spoke so casually, as if he were talking about something utterly trivial.

But soon, they paid it no mind.

They knew better than anyone how difficult it was inside.

It wasn’t something you could get just because you wanted to.

「A short while later.」

They saw Jiang Man and his group come back out.

With that, everyone understood the result.

There was nothing to be concerned about.

Number Eighty-Two shook her head and sighed. ’Just grandstanding.’

’Why go to such lengths?’

’Before, when he gave Number Sixty-Six time to rest, it actually made me think a little more highly of him.’

’But now...’

’It’s just shameless.’

After waiting a bit longer, Number Sixty-Six stood up, a powerful aura now radiating from him.

The other party also practiced a Top-grade Skill.

"I’m ready," Number Sixty-Six said, looking at Jiang Man. "We can fight now."

Afterward, they moved to an open area.

Once they began, Number Sixty-Six took a step forward, a cracking sound erupting from under his foot.

With a BOOM, he appeared in front of Jiang Man.

A palm strike descended.

’Strange, it’s too slow,’ Jiang Man thought, then sidestepped to dodge.

CLANG!

Suddenly, a Spirit Sword appeared, slashing toward Jiang Man.

Seeing this, Jiang Man understood. ’So that’s what he was waiting for.’

"It’s over." The moment he drew the sword, Number Sixty-Six was certain he had won.

However...

CLANG!

The instant the sword neared Jiang Man, he caught it between two fingers.

Then, with a gentle twist, he forced Number Sixty-Six to spin along with it.

After that, Jiang Man pulled back his hand and flicked the body of the sword.

CLANG!

The sword rang out.

It flew directly out of his grasp.

Number Sixty-Six was shocked, but he formed a hand seal, and sword phantoms appeared around him.

Magic Skill, Ten Thousand Swords Technique.

Watching the Attack, Jiang Man stepped forward, disappearing and reappearing like a wisp of green smoke, occasionally flicking away a sword phantom with a casual hand.

His final step landed on the ground with a RUMBLE.

The ground shook, and countless spikes shot out, attacking Number Sixty-Six.

The instant his opponent fled, Jiang Man had already appeared behind him.

Shadowless Thousand Palms.

Number Sixty-Six’s pupils shrank. A Golden Dragon coiled around his body.

Sword phantoms followed the Golden Dragon.

Dragon-Attracting Sword Technique.

BOOM!

The Shadowless Thousand Palms were shattered.

However, Jiang Man abruptly appeared in front of Number Sixty-Six and threw a palm strike.

It landed on his chest.

BANG!

PTHOO!

The palm strike caved his chest in, followed by the sound of breaking ribs.

Immediately, Number Sixty-Six spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.

Jiang Man landed gracefully in front of him.

He clenched his palm into a fist, ready to strike again. ’His opponent still hasn’t used his Five Elements Technique. If he gets the chance, it could be troublesome.’

’This might take a while longer.’

However, the moment he moved to strike, a figure rushed over, shouting, "Stop!"

Because the person came too quickly, Jiang Man subconsciously activated his Five Elements Technique. In an instant, the light of the Five Elements appeared behind him.

The power of the surrounding Five Elements gathered in his fist.

He unleashed it with the momentum.

BANG!

Jiang Man hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the person before they were sent flying backward, crashing heavily against a massive boulder.

They spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unable to get up.

Jiang Man said apologetically, "Friendly fire."

With that, Jiang Man turned to the struggling Number Sixty-Six, who was trying to sit up, and said, "I told you, catching up to you is easy.

"After all, you people only know how to waste time.

"You’re no match for me."

"What do you mean?" Number Sixty-Six spat out another mouthful of blood.

"I don’t understand you people. How could you sit there and waste so much time so peacefully?" Jiang Man turned to leave. "There’s a reason you’re weak."

Afterward, they could only watch helplessly as Jiang Man walked away.

Just then, the sound of a collapse came from the stone forest behind them.

The Array had shattered, and some of the stones tumbled down, returning to their original positions.

The three of them were in shock.

This meant the item inside had been taken.

’He’s that strong?’ Number Eighty-Two was shaken to her core.

In that moment, she felt so ashamed she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

’Defeated in a single exchange.’

’This was something she had never imagined.’

Thinking back on everything that had happened, she could barely lift her head.