Chapter 189 - I Will Challenge the 7 Peaks Alone

Mid-August.The height of a lush summer.

On a path in the back mountains, overgrown plants and trees shielded the trail from the scorching sun.

Jiang Man stood on the path, looking at the man and woman before him, both of whom carried an extraordinary air.

He spoke calmly, "Are you mocking me?"

Hearing this, Zhang Bai was taken aback. "This is the first time anyone has asked that. Do you think asking that makes it seem like you don’t care, or that we’re wrong?

"Well, you’re mistaken. I was simply stating a fact, nothing more."

"People like him have such fragile egos. They demand our respect, but they never take a good look at themselves," the woman added.

Jiang Man calmly took out a notebook and began to write. "Zhang Bai looks down on me, mocks me for being inferior to others."

Then he looked at the woman, unsure for a moment what to write.

"Bai Qing," Fang Yong said.

Jiang Man nodded and continued writing, "Bai Qing feels I am not worthy of her respect."

Watching Jiang Man’s actions, both of them frowned.

They hadn’t expected him to actually write these things down.

’Petty people are such a hassle.’

"Forget it, forget it." As he spoke, Zhang Bai tossed out a hundred Spiritual Source stones. "Consider it our mistake. To think you were so pathetic."

He then looked at Fang Yong. "So, Junior Brother Fang associates with people like this. I must have misjudged you."

With that, he and Bai Qing prepared to leave.

Jiang Man stopped them as they turned. "I have a question."

Zhang Bai looked at Jiang Man. "Why should I answer you? I don’t converse with petty people."

Jiang Man smiled. "It’s not your fault. My light was a year late, which led to your... misconception. But now that I am here, it’s time to correct it."

The moment his words fell, Jiang Man took a single step, appearing beside Zhang Bai before the other could even react.

But he didn’t strike immediately. Instead, he just glanced at him.

Sensing Zhang Bai’s shock, he then slowly extended a hand and pressed down.

The motion looked slow, and in Zhang Bai’s eyes, it was indeed very slow.

But...

He couldn’t move. He couldn’t react.

It felt as if no matter what he did, he could never be faster than that descending hand.

’This is...’

’A difference in Realm.’

In that instant, all he could do was watch helplessly as the palm fell.

He accepted his fate.

In a daze, he felt the palm land on his shoulder.

It was very light.

Then, he felt the Spiritual Qi within him erupt violently, followed by... PFFT!

His Qi and Blood raged, bursting from various points on his body.

CRACK!

Zhang Bai felt a crushing weight press down on him. His knees couldn’t take it, and he fell to the ground.

A searing, tearing pain shot through his body.

’This man’s Spiritual Qi... it’s too heavy!’

’My body can’t withstand it at all.’

He recalled what his Instructor had told him: a true expert could crush a person to death with Spiritual Qi alone.

"Stop!" Bai Qing finally reacted, lunging forward with a palm Attack.

Jiang Man looked at her, a note of admiration in his voice. "I most admire courageous people like you."

Then, he unleashed his Shadowless Palm.

Shadowless One-Handed Thousand Palms.

BOOM!

The moment her Great Buddha Palm Attack arrived, a thousand formless palms rushed forward to meet it.

Palm after palm struck.

Bai Qing’s Attack disintegrated in an instant. Her Great Buddha Palm collapsed and vanished.

Then, the thousand palms landed on her.

BANG!

BANG!

CRACK!

CRACK!

Each blow left a deep indentation.

Finally, Bai Qing was sent flying backward, slamming hard against a large tree.

She fell to the ground and rolled several times.

Only after spitting out three mouthfuls of fresh blood could she finally breathe properly.

Lying on the ground, grievously wounded, she realized how reckless she had been.

’What Realm am I in, to dare to charge at him?’

’I just felt he was poor and worthless, not someone to be feared.’

She had committed a great taboo among Cultivators.

Underestimating others.

Jiang Man glanced at her, then took out his notebook again to write: "Bai Qing just insulted Fang Yong, who is my dear friend."

Only then did he close the book and look at Zhang Bai. "Young Master Zhang, can you still hear me?"

At that moment, Zhang Bai looked up at Jiang Man, all his pride and confidence shattered.

"You’re... at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment?" He voiced the words he could not bring himself to believe.

’Late Stage of Foundation Establishment in the Eighth Courtyard?’

’Why would someone like that need to avoid anyone’s spotlight?’

’Then why didn’t he compete back in the Ninth Courtyard?’

He remembered the rumor he’d heard before—that Jiang Man had given the others a one-year head start.

Back then, he had sneered at it. Now...

He finally understood it was the truth.

"So, is Young Master Zhang able to converse with me now?" Jiang Man asked.

Zhang Bai lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "I was careless."

"The weak always find excuses for themselves," Jiang Man said unhurriedly.

"You..." Zhang Bai looked up at Jiang Man, stubbornly retorting, "You’re only strong now."

"Yes. To you, I am only strong *now*. Because in the future, you will only hear of my power through legends," Jiang Man said softly.

For a moment, Zhang Bai was speechless.

"Now then, can you tell me where the Mid-grade Body Refining Technique is?" Jiang Man asked.

Once he got it, they could leave.

As for the rankings, the Third Courtyard rankings were an internal affair that few people paid attention to.

The annual rankings everyone fought for were the Seven Peaks rankings, which were only a day away.

Therefore, only the Seven Peaks rankings were worth watching.

"I know where it is," Zhao Yaoyao immediately said.

Jiang Man looked over, only then remembering there was a third person in their group.

Lin Qingshan said, "Zhao Yaoyao, why didn’t you make a move? Your teammates were getting beaten."

The sword in Zhao Yaoyao’s hand had never left its sheath.

’How could I dare?’

"Why didn’t *you* make a move?" Zhao Yaoyao stared at Lin Qingshan and retorted coldly.

"I’m here to explain to them why our number one is so powerful." Lin Qingshan looked at Zhang Bai and the others. "Are you curious?"

At this, Zhang Bai was stunned. Even Bai Qing struggled to lift her head.

Then, Lin Qingshan told them the truth.

Someone who wastes the precious hours of the night will naturally be slower to grow strong.