Chapter 174 - Say Something

One was a Top-grade Technique, Cyan Smoke Melody, which was the latter half of Cyan Smoke Prelude.Cyan Smoke and Thin Mist—stealthy and swift. Those at the Foundation Establishment stage would find it nearly impossible to trace.

The other was a qualification—a Secret Technique qualification.

Number 99 immediately spoke up. "The Secret Technique qualification is something you get in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards. You have to place in the top three of the Seven Peaks’ annual competition to get it."

"Then you have to place in the top three one more time to learn the Upper Chapter."

"After that, you have to participate in the annual assessment for the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, and you have to do it while you’re still in the Seventh, Eighth, or Ninth Courtyard."

"Only by achieving the required rank can you learn the Middle Chapter."

"By then, you’ll be close to entering the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Courtyards. Within those three years, you must go to the First, Second, and Third Courtyards and fight for a rank in their annual competition."

"Only then can you learn the Lower Chapter."

"Simply put, this Secret Technique qualification lets you skip one of the annual ranking competitions."

Jiang Man pondered for a moment. "Doesn’t that mean if you want this Secret Technique, you have to place in the top three consecutively while in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards?"

Number 99 shook his head. "Not necessarily. As long as you get the qualification, if you’re short on time later, you can go from the Seventh Courtyard to the middle three courtyards for their assessment. If you pass, you can apply to receive both the Upper and Middle Chapters at the same time."

"The conditions are actually very strict. While in the Seventh Courtyard, your Cultivation progress must catch up to that of most geniuses in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards."

"It gets even stricter later. The geniuses in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards are almost all at Foundation Establishment Perfection, and they’re the kind with profound accumulations."

"Trying to compete for a rank is exceptionally difficult."

"So, very few people ever truly master this type of technique."

Jiang Man let out a breath of relief. ’It seems I still have enough time.’

But getting the Secret Technique qualification would also let him learn this Secret Technique sooner.

This was exactly what he was lacking.

But before he could move, he suddenly sensed a Five Elements Technique approaching.

A powerful Five Elements Power surged toward them.

It was like a tsunami, raising a colossal wave that threatened to swallow them whole.

"You two go get the items," Jiang Man said, turning to face the monstrous wave.

The next moment, he stomped his foot.

The ground quaked as an invisible mountain rose from the earth.

With a final BOOM, the two Five Elements Powers collided.

The next instant, someone struck out with a palm.

The immense force put pressure on Jiang Man.

It was just like back when he was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, being suppressed and chased by Chang Qiweng, who was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Celestial Heart Seal.

Jiang Man struck without hesitation.

BOOM!

The two palms slammed into each other, and Jiang Man was forced back six steps.

His opponent seemed rather surprised.

At this moment, the Five Elements Power vanished, and three figures landed across from him.

The leader was a woman. She stared at Jiang Man and asked, "Are you from the Second Courtyard or the Third Courtyard? The Celestial Heart Seal Ninth Layer is quite rare."

"As I recall, there are only three people at most in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards who have reached the Ninth Layer of the Celestial Heart Seal."

"Which one of them are you?"

Jiang Man shook his head calmly. "None of them."

’This person is at Foundation Establishment Perfection. If it weren’t for the unique nature of this Secret Realm, which allows me to rely on the Five Elements Power, I would be no match for her.’

’Without the Celestial Heart Seal, the gap would be even wider.’

He took back his previous thought; the Celestial Heart Seal was truly a powerful Magic Skill, not useless in the slightest.

Number 99 and Number 98 also felt immense pressure at this point.

But they still moved slowly toward their goal.

They were afraid that if they made any sudden moves, the other party would attack, and they would end up with nothing.

"We have no intention of fighting you. It’s just that, by chance, we have an Eighth Courtyard Student Cultivator in our group who needs this qualification," the woman said with a smile.

Just then, another woman beside her bowed respectfully to Jiang Man. "I hope Senior Brother will grant us this."

"Eighth Courtyard?" Jiang Man looked at them and chuckled. "What a coincidence. I’m also from the Eighth Courtyard, so I need it too."

The group looked at Jiang Man and fell silent for a moment.

They had clearly met the three people who entered from the Eighth Courtyard.

And the man before them was not one of them.

Jiang Man didn’t care whether they believed him or not.

He was telling the truth; these people just didn’t know anything about a prodigy like him.

It wasn’t their fault.

"You’re no match for me," the female leader said.

Jiang Man was unconcerned. "What do you think will happen faster? You defeating me, or my people getting the items?"

"What layer is your Five Elements Power at?" the woman asked.

"Ninth Layer," Jiang Man answered truthfully.

"And your True Martial Skill?" she asked again.

"Also Ninth Layer," Jiang Man replied casually.

’It’ll be the Ninth Layer eventually, so that counts.’

His opponent was silent for a long time before she said, "If we weren’t in this Secret Realm, I would be faster. Unfortunately for me, we are."

"It seems you have no intention of yielding."

Jiang Man remained silent.

’This person has no sincerity. She’s not even willing to make an offer.’

’Although I most likely wouldn’t have accepted anyway.’

’But...’

’A high enough price isn’t entirely out of the question.’

’After all, I’m very poor. I have to pay back money when I get out, so the pressure is on.’

"Let’s go." In the end, the woman led her group away.

She didn’t stay and waste time.

There was probably more than one of these qualifications. They might find another if they went deeper.

As they were leaving, the other woman asked, "Why didn’t we try? Maybe I could have broken through."

"It would’ve been useless. His Five Elements Combined is at a very high level—a true Ninth Layer," the leader lamented. "That means his other Magic Skills are likely at the Great Success stage, especially the True Martial Skill combined with the Celestial Heart Seal. That combination is perfect for stalling. Plus, you can tell he’s someone with money."

"There’s no need to waste our time on him."

"A Top-grade item and a qualification. That really would have been the best," the young girl from the Eighth Courtyard said, sounding a bit regretful.

The leader looked at the young girl beside her and said, "Don’t worry, there should be more. If we get the qualification, you can participate directly in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards’ assessment this year. Get a feel for it first, then go for a high rank once you’re in the Seventh Courtyard."

"For someone like you, you only need to participate in one normal annual assessment."

"That person may be strong, but you’ll surpass him sooner or later. This is the furthest you’ll ever be from his level."

"Shouldn’t we investigate that person?" the woman beside her asked.

"Number 210. It must be him," the leader said calmly. "He’s the one most famous for the Celestial Heart Seal."

"Besides, he originally became famous during the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. The two people behind him just now were probably ordinary Student Cultivators from the same region."

"He’s the only one who currently fits the description."

"Don’t worry about him. We’re bound to run into him in future annual assessments."

"We’ll recognize him as soon as we fight."

"His Celestial Heart Seal feels a little different."

Meanwhile, Number 98 and Number 99 were feeling quite emotional.

They had gotten the items.

It felt like a dream.

They had come in and obtained a Top-grade Visualization Skill and a Top-grade Technique.

After that, they just accompanied Jiang Man as he mercilessly reaped Demon Beasts and Puppets.

Raising their ranks.

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any more teams that were quite so formidable.

「On the fifteenth day.」

Number 66 and his group stood before the ranking list in the outer region, staring at the names on it.

They were especially focused on the twenty-sixth position.

That was Number 210’s rank.

"Why is his rank climbing so slowly?" Number 66 lamented.

"It seems he only came out of the central region after more than half the time had passed. Others had an eight or nine-day head start, so of course his rank is rising slowly," the female Number 82 explained.

For a moment, Number 66 felt miserable.

This made him look incompetent.

He could explain it, but who would care that Number 210 was absent for eight or nine days?

Everyone only looked at the final rankings.

"Why couldn’t he be a little more outstanding? Or why didn’t he start competing on the first day? I think he could have made the top ten," Number 66 sighed. "That way, things would be a little easier for me when I get out."

The others paid him no mind.

They hadn’t made a bet against him. Although they had lost, no one knew.

And they hadn’t revealed their identities.

Just as they were talking,

a beam of light swept past.

Looking up, they saw that the stone monument, which towered into the clouds, was glowing.

The light began to scan downward from the very top.

This time, they noticed that a Palm Seal had appeared in the previously clean space at the top.

Not only that, but more Palm Seals seemed to have appeared in the middle and lower sections as well.

But they hadn’t observed closely enough to know exactly how many.

「Outside the ancient courtyard.」

Qing Dai was chatting with some Elders, her eyes twinkling as if she had heard something very interesting.

「That afternoon.」

Qing Dai returned to the courtyard.

Seeing her lady was still drinking plain water, she brewed her a cup of tea.

"Any news?" Meng Qiewei asked, her eyes fixed on the teacup that was being filled.

"Three new Palm Seals have appeared on the stone monument in the Five Elements Secret Realm. The most surprising thing is that someone left a Palm Seal at the very top."

"Not only that, he also left a message." Qing Dai looked at her lady and continued, "He said that this position is the monument’s limit, not his."

"This person is truly extraordinary."