Chapter 176 - Meng Qiewei: Unlike (Part 2)

A thousand Spiritual Source, gone.’If someone overtook me, there’s only one reason: I didn’t work as hard as they did.’

’This...’

’I need to reflect on this.’

’I can’t let this happen again.’

Still, he had to go find Number Sixty-six to get his Spiritual Source.

They should be nearby.

Sure enough.

Number Ninety-eight had found the person.

In the end, Jiang Man received seven thousand Spiritual Source. Adding the twenty-six thousand from his ranking, he had a total of thirty-three thousand.

It was a good haul.

Just then, the time in the Secret Realm ran out.

Jiang Man was about to leave when the kind person from before suddenly walked over. He was with two others, and they each gave Jiang Man five hundred Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man was puzzled.

"Many thanks," Xiao Ming said gratefully.

Although he didn’t know what they were thanking him for, Jiang Man replied, "You’re welcome."

Soon, a woman ran over and gave Jiang Man three thousand Spiritual Source.

She was the very same woman Jiang Man had soundly defeated before.

Her reputation would have been in tatters upon leaving, and it was all his fault.

But...

During the contest for Magic Skills this time, she had encountered one that was extremely important to her.

It was a combination Magic Skill. Although it was only Middle Grade, its difficulty reached the level of a Top-grade one.

She couldn’t obtain it no matter how hard she tried.

Not until Number 210 appeared.

He cleared out all the Demon Beast Puppets. At first, she thought he was trying to apologize for what happened last time.

But the truth was, he didn’t even glance at her.

The only reason he helped was because he was trying to climb the rankings.

Countless people had benefited from his actions.

In the end, she bowed her head and thanked him sincerely.

He was as calm as ever. "You’re welcome."

The woman felt that this person probably had no idea what she was thanking him for.

Even as he was completely leaving the realm, Jiang Man truly couldn’t figure out what they were all thanking him for.

But it didn’t matter.

’They’re good people, just like at the Yunqian Bureau.’

This just made him even wealthier.

One trip inside had earned him 37,500 Spiritual Source.

When he reappeared, Jiang Man found himself back in his small courtyard.

He had entered at midnight and came out at midnight.

Jiang Man mused, "Everyone says staying up late is wrong, but we enter and leave the Secret Realm at midnight. That proves it’s the perfect time for Cultivation."

Jiang Man looked at Old Huang, who was chewing on grass to the side. "Old Huang, why do you think they haven’t figured this out?"

"Because midnight is when day and night officially transition. The fluctuations in Spiritual Qi are greatest then, which best reduces the energy consumed to open the Secret Realm," the Old Yellow Ox said, glancing at Jiang Man. "You should start your systematic studies."

Jiang Man ignored the first part of the Old Yellow Ox’s statement and took out the two Top-grade books. "No need. Studying systematically now is a waste of time. Once I’ve learned enough Top-grade Techniques and Cultivation Skills, I’ll naturally establish my own learning method."

"Then I can just supplement it with other things."

"There’s no need to waste time now."

"I can study systematically anytime, but once I miss the window for Cultivation progress, I can never make it up. I’ll always be one step behind everyone else."

"Aren’t you a peerless talent, an Unparalleled Celestial Pride?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox and smiled. "Even the greatest Talent can’t be wasted."

’With such Talent buoying me up, shouldn’t I be working harder than anyone else?’

Hearing this, the Old Yellow Ox fell silent.

Jiang Man said calmly, "Old Huang, do you think this path of a prodigy I’m on is a solid one?"

The ox, munching on grass, looked at Jiang Man, then paused and said, "Poor."

Jiang Man retracted his gaze and looked at the Spirit Grass filling the courtyard. He decided to go to Xiaopang’s tomorrow and buy some Spirit Medicine.

Since Old Huang loved planting so much, he might as well give him something to do.

Afterward, Jiang Man asked about Meng Qiewei’s methods.

"I didn’t detect any of your wife’s methods. Perhaps you just didn’t encounter them," the Old Yellow Ox replied.

"Is it possible that she used some methods, but you just didn’t notice them?" Jiang Man asked.

"It’s possible, but she definitely wouldn’t know who you are," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man pondered for a moment. ’Would someone like Meng Qiewei use her methods to find me directly?’

Logically, she would.

As long as there was a trace, she could apply even more powerful methods.

’Am I really just that blessed with good fortune?’

Unable to find an answer, he decided to focus on his Cultivation.

It was now the third of March.

Chang Qiweng and the others should be here. He would go over at daybreak.

After that was the annual assessment.

’It’s time for the people of the Seven Peaks and Eight Courtyards to feel the radiance of my light.’

’Not only that, my light will shine upon the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards.’

’This year is the first time I’ll participate in the annual assessment for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards, and it will also be the last.’

’Next year, I’ll go to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards.’

’Slowly but surely, my light will soon illuminate the entire Foundation Establishment Courtyard.’

Afterward, Jiang Man asked the Old Yellow Ox if it wasn’t curious about his performance in the Secret Realm, seeing as it hadn’t asked.

The Old Yellow Ox didn’t spare Jiang Man a single glance and continued to eat its grass.

With that, Jiang Man began to test the Five Elements Technique.

Soon, he withdrew the Magic Skill.

Ordinary.

Its power was no different from a Simple Skill from the Qi Refining realm.

It seemed it would only show its powerful effects in special areas.

Jiang Man then reviewed his current status.

Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, Physical Body Fourth Layer, Spiritual Fifth Layer.

Thirteenth Layer of the Seven Star Condensing Yuan Technique, Ninth Layer of the Simple Body Refining Technique, Ninth Layer of the Simple Observation Method.

Wandering Dragon Ninth Layer, Nine-Layered Shadowless Palm, Celestial Heart Seal Ninth Layer, Five Elements Unification Ninth Layer.

Additionally, the True Martial Skill was waiting to be claimed, the Top-grade Seven-Star Observation Method was waiting to be cultivated, and the Top-grade Cyan Smoke Melody was waiting to be cultivated.

He had 37,500 Spiritual Source.

’If I didn’t have any debts,’ Jiang Man thought, ’I’d feel pretty wealthy right now.’

Next was to cultivate his Cultivation Skills and accumulate more Gourds.

And he would continue to work on his Hidden Spirit on the side.

To this day, he had never seen anyone release their Hidden Spirit.

Perhaps because of this, everyone was holding back.

For example, that woman at Foundation Establishment Perfection he had met. If she had forced a confrontation, would he have used his Hidden Spirit?

And if so, would she have needed to use her own Hidden Spirit to counter it?

Jiang Man didn’t know.

Regardless, as long as no one else was using their Hidden Spirit, he couldn’t just use his recklessly.

Perhaps a special contest would come up later that specifically required the power of one’s Hidden Spirit.

As soon as the sky brightened, Jiang Man bid farewell to the Old Yellow Ox and headed for Zhichi Water Peak.

「Early morning.」

Fang Yong finished his Cultivation and prepared to head to the Ninth Courtyard.

Of course, he didn’t take the most direct route, instead making a special detour past Zhang Bai’s residence.

"Senior Brother Zhang, what a coincidence," Fang Yong said with a smile.

Zhang Bai squinted at the person before him and replied with a slight smile, "Junior Brother Fang, we meet again."

He could tell with a single glance that the person before him was not wealthy.

However, out of consideration for the other’s pride, he didn’t say anything more. Besides, he could be of some use.

’This guy wants to use me to show off his status in our courtyard,’ he thought.

He could understand that.

’Besides, he has a backer, and this backer isn’t simple. I’d like to get to know them, too.’

’So there’s no harm in playing along with him for a bit.’

The two of them headed toward the Foundation Establishment Courtyard together.

"By the way, for this year’s annual assessment, is Junior Brother Fang confident in competing for a spot in the three courtyards’ rankings?" Zhang Bai asked.

Fang Yong nodded. "I have some confidence, but whether I can make it in the end is hard to say. How does Senior Brother Zhang usually cultivate?"

Zhang Bai said with a smile, "I use a Concentration Talisman to stabilize my Heart Spirit and a Spirit Gathering Array to assist. What about you?"

"Me too," Fang Yong replied with a smiling nod.

"I always use a Nine-Star Array. How many stars is yours, Junior Brother Fang?" Zhang Bai asked.

"About the same," Fang Yong followed up.

Zhang Bai let out a laugh and then said, "Aside from Cultivation, you’ll need to find a good team for the annual assessment, Junior Brother. Unfortunately, my team is already full, or I would have definitely brought you along."

"But since Junior Brother has an extraordinary background, I’m sure you’ve already made preparations," Zhang Bai said.

"I’ve made some preparations, but of course it would be better if I could join Senior Brother Zhang’s team," Fang Yong said with a smile.

"That is truly a shame," Zhang Bai said regretfully.

They chatted idly as they walked, encountering many people along the way.

Suddenly, a voice drifted over. "Who the hell is Number 210? Did you guys even look into it? What am I supposed to do when I go to my courtyard today?"

The voice came quickly and faded just as fast.

Fang Yong’s expression didn’t change, not until he and Zhang Bai parted ways.

Only then did he chase after the source of the voice.

His luck wasn’t very good; he couldn’t find them.

But judging by the time, the Secret Realm had indeed ended.

’Looks like public opinion on Number 210 has shifted again,’ Fang Yong sighed to himself. He could only turn to leave.

But just as he turned around, he saw three people appear behind him, so silently that it shocked him.

One of the men looked coldly at Fang Yong and said, "Were you looking for us?"