Chapter 190 - I Want to Challenge the 7 Peaks Alone (2)

"Cultivating at night damages the Heart Spirit," Zhang Bai said.Lin Qingshan seemed to have been waiting for him to bring this up. His eyes lit up, and his tone was filled with pride. "That used to be the case. Everyone said cultivating at night was wrong, everyone scorned it. Some tried, but under that pressure, their efforts yielded poor results.

"But things are different now.

"When Jiang Man came, there was light in the darkness.

"He showed everyone that cultivating at night doesn’t damage the Heart Spirit at all.

"The issue was that no one had ever succeeded. No one dared to be the first, to defy the path our predecessors walked.

"There was no light in the darkness, no legend to be seen.

"That is why it was damaging.

"But now, our light has appeared. When we cultivate at night, our hearts are filled only with the desire to grow stronger, to get one step ahead and be promoted.

"With a mindset like that, how could your Heart Spirit be damaged?"

Lin Qingshan looked at the two of them and said, "I know you feel ashamed for your defeat, but who do you think you lost to?

"You lost to a legend who is about to illuminate the world.

"An Unparalleled Celestial Pride!"

Lin Qingshan didn’t stop there. He continued, "Perhaps you don’t realize it now, but a few years from now, you might proudly tell others about this battle. You’ll say that you fought against a legend, and that it was an honor, even in defeat."

Jiang Man was stunned to hear this.

’How long has it been?’

’Not since Li Yuan had he heard anyone talk like this.’

’Though it felt like the guy was stealing his lines.’

’He could never bring himself to say things like that.’

’Geniuses truly were a different breed.’

’Li Yuan, on the other hand, was a lost cause. All this time and he still hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment.’

In the end, Jiang Man claimed the Mid-grade Body Refining Technique. The three of them said goodbye to Zhang Bai’s group and quickly headed to its location.

If they were late, it would be gone.

In the past, he would have been perfectly happy with a Mid-grade Body Refining Technique.

But Old Huang had told him to cultivate the complete Seven Stars Skill.

The Seven Star Condensing Yuan Technique, the Seven Stars Observation Method, and the Seven-Star Body Refining Technique.

Now, all he was missing was the Seven-Star Body Refining Technique.

The Mid-grade Body Refining Technique was called the Three Talents Body Refining Technique.

As Jiang Man collected it, he told Lin Qingshan and Fang Yong, "When you reach Foundation Establishment Perfection, many factors come into play. The best-case scenario is to cultivate a complete series of Top-grade skills.

"Like a Magic Cultivator mastering the full Seven Stars Skill."

Lin Qingshan and Fang Yong fell silent for a moment.

’Was it that they didn’t want to cultivate Top-grade skills?’

’Did they think Top-grade skills were no good?’

Jiang Man put away the Magic Skill scroll and said, "It seems we’ve passed the qualification. Next up is the Seven Peaks competition.

"This three-courtyard assessment didn’t feel very intense.

"The Seven Peaks competition won’t be like this too, will it?"

Jiang Man looked toward Lin Qingshan.

He was the only one among them who had participated before.

They hadn’t encountered anyone else along the way; there weren’t many people from the three courtyards to begin with.

There was hardly any opportunity for a fight.

"No. The Seven Peaks assessment takes place in a Secret Realm, and it involves encounter battles," Lin Qingshan said seriously. "It’s a true test of strength."

Jiang Man was relieved to hear that.

Then, Jiang Man asked about the geniuses from the Seventh Courtyard.

"The top geniuses at the beginning all went to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards. Of those remaining, the two most famous are from Red Water Peak and South Pan Peak," Lin Qingshan said.

Jiang Man paused in thought, then asked, "Are there any special situations?"

Lin Qingshan didn’t understand.

Jiang Man looked at him and said, "Since it’s a series of encounter battles, is there any special situation that would allow me to face everyone at once?"

Lin Qingshan was stunned, and Fang Yong was equally astonished.

’In other words, he wanted to single-handedly challenge all the geniuses currently left in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards?’

The two of them swallowed hard.

’The idea seemed too fantastical.’

’But...’

’It was actually possible.’

"Yes, there is! There’s an opportunity like that when you enter the Secret Realm, but you need to qualify for it. I don’t know the specifics, though. In recent years, no one has ever chosen that path," Lin Qingshan said, his voice filled with excitement.

Jiang Man nodded. "The day after tomorrow," he said, "I’ll take you with me to challenge them all."

After that, they left the back mountains.

Bai Fan and his group had just finished their annual assessment.

They gathered together, looking toward the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards of Cloud Mist Peak.

"It’s a shame. We have to wait until the Seven Peaks competition is over for the rankings to be announced together. Otherwise, I’d love to see if he’s really Number 210. The people we sold the information to are not to be trifled with. If it’s discovered that it was fake, we’ll be in trouble," Bai Fan lamented. "I really hope he is 210. If I lost to him, then who could mock me?

"Isn’t it normal for someone like me to be no match for a celestial pride of his caliber?

"However, even if he takes first place this time, it won’t be that shocking to those who are unaware of the circumstances.

"After all, everyone understands that the rankings from the Ninth Courtyard hold the most weight.

"After that, the prestige gradually decreases. Once you get to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, it starts to rise again. But the most prestigious rankings of all come from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards—that’s where all the true geniuses are gathered.

"It will take far too long for his success to wash away the shame of my defeat."

Duan Wu said seriously, "His foundation is too shallow. You actually still have a chance to beat him. Your foundation is solid, and your True Martial Skill is at a high enough level.

"Worst case scenario, you could always learn the Celestial Heart Seal.

"If you can’t beat him, you can at least manage a draw.

"You have plenty of options."

"Exactly. Barring any surprises, you’ll face him next year," Jiang Yingcai added with a sigh. "We’re heading to the Third Courtyard, so we won’t have a golden opportunity like you do."

Bai Fan fell silent. For some reason, he felt like he was the only one suffering.

"It’s too early to talk about this. Let’s wait until the Seven Peaks rankings come out," Bai Fan said.

’If he turned out to be a fake, they’d be in serious trouble.’

「Inner Sect」

Yu Wanyi knelt before the bamboo house and said earnestly, "Master, the rankings are about to be released. Once the Seven Peaks rankings are out, he won’t be able to participate in the Training Secret Realm."

"Nonsense. If he’s the genius you claim he is, then the Training Secret Realm is no place for him," the woman in the cyan Immortal Skirt said, frowning at Yu Wanyi.

"I’ll get him the opportunity, and then he can just discuss it with his cultivation partner. With her around, there won’t be any issues." Yu Wanyi mused for a moment. "He has a strong tendency to rely on his partner, so it won’t be a problem.

"But if we delay any longer, as the first-place winner of the Seven Peaks, it will be very difficult for him to get into the Training Secret Realm.

"But he’s been cultivating for such a short time. Without the Training Secret Realm, I’m afraid it will take him much longer to cultivate the Third Rank Promotion Method."

Fairy Huai Jing stared at Yu Wanyi without saying a word.

"Master, I’m about to become famous in the world of ’investment’! Please, just grant me this," Yu Wanyi pleaded.

"Are you so certain he’ll be first this time?" Fairy Huai Jing asked.

"Yes." Yu Wanyi nodded emphatically.

Fairy Huai Jing nodded, then said, "Very well. I will secure him a qualification to lead a team. If his reputation is insufficient after this assessment is over, then we’ll drop the matter."

Yu Wanyi was taken aback. ’Lead a team?’

’That won’t work. He’s too young.’

’Something bad is bound to happen.’

’Besides, his reputation isn’t high enough. Even if he wins first place, he won’t be able to get in.’

’Master is dead set on not letting him participate.’

Just as Yu Wanyi was about to say more, she realized her master had already left.

In the end, she shook her head. ’Forget it. I’ve done my best. If he can’t go, there’s nothing I can do. Let his cultivation partner figure something out.’

’What a pity. I won’t get to feel the shocked and envious gazes of the other ’investors’.’

Still, after this was over, she would be able to go out again.

It had been a year.

’These people have no idea what she’s been through this past year.’

’She was just a few days away from finally being able to hold her head high.’

’In any case, getting first place in the Seven Peaks competition was a sure thing.’

’She was confident about that.’

「Two days later.」

The Seven Peaks competition began.

It would last for three days at most.

Typically, it was over in two.

In a tavern on Red Water Peak.

A middle-aged man was still tasting wine, looking slightly regretful. "Still missing something. I’ll have to brew it again."

Just then, a voice came from a corner, "Shopkeeper, the Seven Peaks competition has started."

"It’s only just started, so don’t worry about it. The results won’t be out until tomorrow or the day after, at the earliest. Just pay attention and see who takes first in the Eighth Courtyard.

"If it’s really someone from Cloud Mist Peak, then Young Master Zhuo’s resources are safe, but adding more is out of the question," the Shopkeeper said quietly.

"And if it’s not someone from Cloud Mist Peak?" the voice from the corner asked.

"Then we’ll have to cut back, of course. Having tricks and schemes isn’t enough. A failed scheme is worthless. You can only say that some progress was made," the Shopkeeper said, putting down his wine ladle.

He then went back to modifying the wine’s recipe.

If there’s no update at noon, it will be updated before midnight.

I’ll post a notice if I’m taking a day off.