Chapter 192 - It’s Over Just as It Started?

Lin Qingshan also shook his head.After that, none of them gave it much thought.

Jiang Man wasn’t worried about his ranking.

Fang Yong and the others weren’t worried either, because it was impossible for them to place in the top three.

They wouldn’t be able to learn the hidden Secret Technique.

So there was nothing to lose.

To learn the Secret Technique, one needed to challenge higher-ranked courtyards. This required not only great Talent but also sufficient resources.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to defeat cultivators from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, let alone the First, Second, and Third.

After leaving the Secret Realm, Jiang Man returned to his residence.

This time, even before entering the Secret Realm, he had gone straight to the guide.

After passing the inspection, he obtained the qualification to challenge everyone.

Then, with his team as the focal point,

the Secret Realm was activated, teleporting everyone to them.

After the announcement, he attacked directly.

It was effortless.

Among the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards, there wasn’t a single person in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

But to show respect, he still activated his True Martial Skill.

They had said that activating the True Martial Skill would consume a lot of his energy, and that all they needed to do was stall.

But...

They couldn’t stall him.

Sweeping through them was quick.

One pass with the Wandering Dragon technique was pretty much all it took.

"It’s over?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

"Yes, it’s over. They were all older than me. I feel like I was bullying the old and weak," Jiang Man said.

"Meng Qiewei is older than you, too," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox and said, "Old Huang, who’s older, you or her?"

The Old Yellow Ox shot Jiang Man a glance and said nothing.

Jiang Man resumed his Cultivation. However, in a few days, it would be the ninth month, and it was time to pay the interest again.

Then, he handed the Giant Swordsmanship manual to the Old Yellow Ox.

Once it learned it, it could use Sword Control and even transform into a large sword to carry people.

He himself had already mastered the Sword Control Technique long ago.

Although he hadn’t reached Great Success, flying was definitely not a problem.

He just lacked a Spirit Sword.

Even the cheapest one cost ten thousand Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man checked his savings and found he only had six thousand Spiritual Source left.

He couldn’t afford it. Besides, he needed to try and break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

That would require even more Spiritual Source.

Once he reached Perfection, he felt that no one in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards would be his match.

But he still hadn’t gotten access to the Glazed Skill.

’It feels too slow.’

After some thought, he wondered, ’If someone from the Eighth Courtyard can challenge the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, then when I’m in the Seventh Courtyard, can I challenge the First, Second, and Third?’

’I’ll ask Mr. Yan when his lectures start in the middle of the ninth month.’

’Right now, I urgently need to raise the level of my Spirit and Physical Body.’

’Raising them by another level or two should be enough to break the bottleneck before Foundation Establishment Perfection.’

Alchemy Courtyard.

He Huai’an was taking a Pill Child with him to teach a class.

Although it was the day of the annual assessment, not everyone was qualified to participate.

Thus, many Student Cultivators would use this time to focus on their Minors.

After all, they didn’t just teach students from the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards; they also taught those from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards.

It could be said that anyone from the Outer Sect’s Six Peaks who wanted to learn Alchemy had to take a master in the Alchemy Courtyard.

But just as he was heading to class, He Huai’an ran into the person he least wanted to see.

Mo Zainian.

He Huai’an’s first instinct was to turn and leave, but Mo Zainian called out to him.

"Pill Master He, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Mo Zainian asked with a smile.

He Huai’an said calmly, "Pill Master Mo, are you not aware that I have a class to teach?"

"I hear you’ve taken on a new disciple recently? One of the top three from the Ninth Courtyard, I recall. Very impressive. But I also hear he hasn’t achieved anything in a year, has he?" Mo Zainian asked with a grin.

He Huai’an forced a smile. "Yes, his aptitude is a bit lacking."

’Just like that Jiang Man, he’s also poor.’

’I’ve been tricked again.’

’This time, I even made special inquiries. Everyone called him Young Master Fang, and from his clothes, he looked like he was rich.’

’I recruited him for free and even gave him extra discounts.’

’After he joined...’

’All he knows is how to buy Elixirs at a discount. If it weren’t for my other disciple, Jiang Man, I would have felt like one bad apple had spoiled the whole bunch.’

’Now there are two bad apples.’

’He regretted it deeply. Now he couldn’t even tell who was rich and who was poor anymore.’

’Their deception skills are too good.’

’These young people... an old man like me can’t guard against them.’

"I heard that your former disciple, Jiang Man, is participating in the annual assessment this year. He should place somewhat decently, right?" Mo Zainian said. "After all, he’s made no accomplishments in Alchemy. He can’t possibly have made no progress in the annual assessment as well."

He Huai’an just smiled and didn’t answer.

’It’s been two years, and you’re still bringing up Jiang Man. Don’t you have any other examples to use?’

’Are you really going to use one person to insult me for a lifetime?’

’Sigh!’

’The pain of accepting the wrong disciple...’

At that moment, a Pill Child ran over.

Seeing the boy, Mo Zainian said with a laugh, "This is the Pill Child I had watching this year’s annual rankings. It seems there’s news."

As soon as the boy arrived, Mo Zainian asked, "Is there news on the annual rankings?"

"Yes." The Pill Child glanced at He Huai’an, hesitating to speak.

"It’s fine, go ahead and tell us what’s happened," Mo Zainian said, unconcerned.

"The Eighth Courtyard’s rankings are out," the Pill Child replied.

"So soon? It seems something unusual happened. Who’s first?" Mo Zainian asked.

The Pill Child hesitated for a moment before saying, "Jiang Man of Cloud Mist Peak."

Upon hearing this, He Huai’an was stunned.

He had initially thought the boy had come to humiliate him, but he hadn’t expected the news to actually make him look good.

"It seems he really isn’t suited for Alchemy," Mo Zainian said, looking at He Huai’an. "His Cultivation, which he learned without a master, earned him first place in the annual assessment. Yet his Alchemy, which he learned with a master, has no achievements.

"What a waste of a good seedling."

With that, Mo Zainian led his people away.

Once they were somewhere private, he frowned and asked, "Was there something strange about him getting first place?"

If it had been a simple first-place victory, the Pill Child wouldn’t have hesitated to speak.

Something must have happened.

Besides, how could the rankings be out so quickly?

Usually, it takes three days.

The Pill Child reported what had truly happened.

When he heard that Jiang Man had single-handedly challenged all the top experts of the Seven Peaks, Mo Zainian’s brow furrowed. "He has some ability, but by being so conspicuous, I wonder if his path ahead will be a smooth one."

After that, he paid it no more mind.

’First place across three Courtyards and Seven Peaks...’

’It’s a bit of a pity.’

’If I had accepted him back then, this disciple could have brought me some benefits.’

’But only a little.’

’What’s lost is lost.’

’It’s no big deal.’

Meanwhile, He Huai’an was both surprised and pleased. "Well, this brings me some honor, more or less. First in the annual assessment isn’t bad."

But soon after, he heard the Pill Child’s full report.

He asked in disbelief, "What did you say? First in the annual assessment across three Courtyards and Seven Peaks?"

’What a twist of fate.’

’Did I accidentally pick up a treasure?’

「Three days later.」

All the rankings were released.

However, the annual ranking for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards remained unchanged.

There was only one name on it.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that the rankings for the other participants began to appear one after another.

Zhuo Bufan came to the tavern again.

Unlike his previous apprehension, he was now brimming with confidence.

He was no longer number one, but he doubted the actual number one could possibly have this kind of confidence.

This time, the Shopkeeper who saw him arrive was no longer as casual as before.

Upon seeing Zhuo Bufan, he said, "Last time was my mistake. The clan is prepared to increase your resources this time, but they want to know... how far are you from that genius?"

Seeing the Shopkeeper’s attitude, Zhuo Bufan felt a surge of relief. ’It’s a good thing I listened to Lin Qingshan back then.’

’Otherwise...’

’I never would have gotten this resource increase today.’

’I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of it.’

"I sat right next to him," Zhuo Bufan said.

"I’m asking about the gap between you and him," the Shopkeeper said.

"I’m about to surpass him," Zhuo Bufan stated.

Hearing this, the Shopkeeper was taken aback. "Are you joking with me?"

"Are *you* joking with *me*?" Zhuo Bufan said with a frown. "The first time I laid eyes on Jiang Man was the closest I’ve ever been to him. After that, he just kept pulling further and further away.

"It’s impossible to get close to him. The only thing I can do is strive to raise my Cultivation so I can stay by his side a little longer.

"That’s what I have to do.

"For example, Lin Qingshan’s spot this time should have been mine, but I had to cooperate with the clan and team up with other people.

"Do you have any idea what I missed out on?"

"In that case, why doesn’t the clan just invest its resources in that genius?" the Shopkeeper asked.

"Would the clan be willing to invest in him unconditionally?" Zhuo Bufan retorted.

The Shopkeeper was silent for a long time before saying, "What kind of person is he? Can’t he sign a contract? A very lenient one. Without resources, the road ahead won’t be easy for him."

"Does he look like the kind of person who signs contracts?" Zhuo Bufan shot back.

The Shopkeeper fell silent.

’Young Master Zhuo really is different now, so full of confidence.’

’This is the confidence a true prodigy has given him.’

’When he was number one, he was timid. After becoming number two, his aura has completely opened up.’

’This is the first time I’ve ever seen a situation like this.’

After a pause, he said, "They say even heroes have a weakness for beautiful women. What if an absolute beauty were to throw herself at him? Could he resist?"