Chapter 227 - Is Anyone Looking for a Husband to Marry Into Their Family?

Zhuo Qingcheng said calmly, "Then we’ll use Zhuo Ling as the cornerstone. Go with Bufan’s plan and use Spiritual Source as the main incentive to recruit others."Also, for this year’s assessment, Bufan, you’ll be in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards. I’ll have our clan members there cooperate with you.

"You know the consequences if you fail."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Ling shot Zhuo Bufan a look before turning to leave, a triumphant expression on her face.

Zhuo Bufan took the fifty thousand Spiritual Source and went to invite Jiang Man to join Zhuo Ling’s team.

But he failed that very day.

Zhuo Bufan wasn’t surprised.

Jiang Man, however, was.

He watched Zhuo Bufan leave and sighed heavily. "I was set up by Young Master Fang. Down ten thousand Spiritual Source."

He truly hadn’t expected Zhuo Bufan to offer thirty thousand for him to join the Zhuo Family’s team.

But only one person could join.

He had no choice but to refuse.

After all, he was supposed to team up with Gao Rong this time.

Zhuo Bufan had actually tried to raise his offer, but Jiang Man stopped him.

At an offer of thirty thousand, he’d be taking a loss of ten thousand. If the offer went up to fifty thousand, his loss would be thirty thousand.

’Better to just show him the door.’

He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to accept.

"Old Huang, I’m out ten thousand Spiritual Source. I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight," Jiang Man said to Old Huang, who was beside him.

The ox didn’t even lift its head, continuing to graze quietly.

Jiang Man didn’t dwell on it. Counting the twenty thousand Spiritual Source from Gao Rong, he now had ninety thousand. He wasn’t hurting for that small amount he’d missed out on.

First, he would buy some Elixirs, then focus on raising his Cultivation.

His Gourd for the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment was now full; all that remained was to break through.

The Gourd for the Seventh Layer of his Physical Body had just been opened, and he hadn’t started filling it.

The stars of the Eighth Layer of his Visualization Skill had just begun to connect. To put it simply, his eighth Gourd had just opened.

Upon checking, Jiang Man found that his Cultivation bottleneck had vanished.

He could break through.

He happened to have some Fire Element Pills left.

But to be on the safe side, Jiang Man bought five more.

Then, he began to cultivate day and night, journeying alongside the sun and stars.

Five days later, he had consumed all the Elixirs.

Seven days later, Jiang Man felt the power within his body begin to surge uncontrollably.

Eight days later.

His power stabilized, and the fifth Gourd was opened.

Only then did Jiang Man open his eyes, confirming the weighty Spiritual Qi coursing through his body.

His every movement was now heavy enough to leave impressions on the ground.

Foundation Establishment Perfection.

The sheer density of the Spiritual Qi didn’t put any strain on Jiang Man.

Both his Spirit and his Physical Body could handle it with ease.

Such were the benefits of having higher-level ancillary Realms.

Next, Jiang Man began planning his continued advancement.

He had sixty-seven thousand Spiritual Source remaining.

His Physical Body couldn’t be trained with Hundred Refinement Stones, so he would need more Elixirs.

Jiang Man decided to buy fifty pills first. That should be enough to reach the Eighth Layer. Then, he’d buy fifty God Strengthening Pills for his Spirit, which might allow him to break through to the Ninth Layer.

One hundred pills would cost sixty thousand. With a ten percent discount, that came to fifty-four thousand.

He’d have thirteen thousand left over.

Then, it was time to cultivate.

Ten days later, he had used ten Nourishing Essence Pills, and his seventh Physical Body Gourd was thirty percent full.

Twenty days later.

By mid-February.

He had used twenty Nourishing Essence Pills, but his seventh Physical Body Gourd was only sixty percent full.

Progress wasn’t fast, as he also had to spend a portion of his time honing his Visualization Skill.

Late February.

His seventh Physical Body Gourd was ninety percent full, as was his eighth Spirit Gourd.

In early March, his Physical Body began to break through.

On March fifth, after his Elixirs were completely consumed, his Physical Body reached the Eighth Layer.

On March tenth, after purchasing five more God Strengthening Pills, his Spirit successfully broke through to the Ninth Layer.

Jiang Man let out a long sigh of relief.

The further he progressed, the more troublesome breakthroughs became. They required far too much Spiritual Source.

After briefly acclimating to his new strength, Jiang Man headed for Xiaopang’s little shop.

It was time to pay the interest on his loans.

If he went now, he could get twenty thousand Spiritual Source. Adding the ten thousand he had on him, that would be thirty thousand.

He wasn’t worried about making the interest payment in the slightest.

The real question was whether he could borrow even more Spiritual Source.

He didn’t have enough Spiritual Source.

Even with all that Fang Yong had earned for him, it still wasn’t enough.

He needed to bring all his Cultivation Skills to the Perfection Realm.

His ninth Spirit Gourd was merely open, not yet full.

Without reaching Perfection in everything, getting into the top fifty was little more than a pipe dream.

When he arrived at Red Water Peak, Jiang Man saw Song Qing and Chang Qiweng chatting.

Song Qing looked much more gaunt than before.

’I wonder why he’s so skinny.’

Jiang Man went over to ask.

Song Qing paused for a moment, then smiled. "That’s the life of a guard. When are we not tired?"

Jiang Man looked at him but didn’t press the issue, simply telling him to focus on improving his Cultivation.

’Still, Song Qing is working for the Gao Family. He should be better off than a typical guard.’

Just then, Xiaopang came over to talk about the matter with Gao Rong.

Jiang Man pondered for a moment before agreeing.

Xiaopang immediately gave Jiang Man twenty thousand Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man then paid the interest he owed to Song Qing and the others.

However, just as he handed over the interest, Song Qing gave him six thousand Spiritual Source right back.

"Isn’t it usually three thousand?" Jiang Man asked, a little surprised. Then he added, "I’m in urgent need, so for this loan, three thousand will get you three thousand five hundred back in half a year."

"Then I’m in for a good profit," Song Qing said with a laugh. "I’ll invest more now, so I get more back each time. Eventually, I’ll come, collect three thousand, and immediately reinvest it. With compound interest, I’ll never have to work again."

"You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you?" Jiang Man wasn’t bothered.

’I’m about to reach the Golden Core Realm,’ he thought. ’Will a Golden Core Ancestor like me still be short on Spiritual Source?’

’Absolutely not.’

Chang Qiweng also gave him six thousand. He had just arrived and hadn’t found any other side jobs yet.

He only had that much because he’d added the interest payment from Jiang Man to his savings.

Then, Xiaopang gave him twenty Qi Blood Pills, followed by another twelve thousand Spiritual Source.

"The Elixirs are from me. The Spiritual Source is from Luo Xuan."

Jiang Man was touched. ’What a good friend, he even went to the young miss to borrow money for me.’

Because he was short on time, Jiang Man only gave them some simple guidance on how to use their Magic Skills.

He didn’t have much experience himself, of course, so he simply took what Ji Hao had taught him, simplified it, and passed it along.

Yet even his few casual words were like a sudden enlightenment for them, and they immediately started pulling all-nighters to cultivate.

’That’s good enough.’

Then, Jiang Man left with the Spiritual Source he had gathered.

Adding it to his own savings, he now possessed nearly sixty thousand.

All at once, he was flush with confidence again.

He would go find his master and hope for some more ’spiritual’ support, then look for Senior Sister Yu and hope she could advance him a few more months’ worth of Spiritual Source.

It was time to let the light of an Unparalleled Celestial Pride shine across the entire Outer Sect.

Henceforth, his would be the only voice that mattered in the Outer Sect.

If he didn’t sleep, who would dare to rest?

Filled with soaring ambition, Jiang Man returned to his residence.

Then he saw the glowing Old Yellow Ox, and all his bravado instantly deflated.

"You have a message from your wife," the Old Yellow Ox said calmly.

It was already used to this routine.

Jiang Man sighed. "Senior, what do you think she wants this time?"

"You’re asking me, an ox, about matters between a husband and wife?" the Old Yellow Ox replied casually as it chewed on some Spirit Grass.

Jiang Man took out the orb of light and heard Meng Qiewei’s curious voice: "Husband, I’ve recently heard that people in the clan are looking for a Celestial Pride to marry into the family. Would an Unparalleled Celestial Pride such as yourself ever encounter something like that?

"And if the people trying to recruit you were to send over a peerless beauty, how would you respond, Husband?"

After listening, Jiang Man mulled it over. ’Yep, Meng Qiewei is just as gentle and elegant as ever.’

He then relayed the message’s contents to the Old Yellow Ox.

The Old Yellow Ox lowered its head and continued grazing, acting as if it hadn’t heard a thing.

Jiang Man thought for a moment. "Old Huang, do you think she’s already figured out who I am and is just toying with me?"

"Uncertain," the Old Yellow Ox said, raising its brow slightly to look at Jiang Man. "What is certain, however, is that her power can’t reach this place for the time being. We can’t rule out the possibility that she has discovered you, though.

"Ji Hao has tested you, though, so he might still harbor some doubts.

"Furthermore, she and that Ji Hao probably don’t have a direct relationship.

"She doesn’t want others to know about your specific existence.

"Otherwise, if she knew you were here, all it would take is an order to ’find the Evil God,’ and we would be easily exposed."

"Could it be that she’s been conquered by my Talent?" Jiang Man asked.

The Old Yellow Ox fell silent for a moment.

"Try to think more rationally," the Old Yellow Ox said. "It’s possible she wants to kill you with her own hands. Or maybe she feels you’ve disgraced her and thinks it’s better to get rid of you quietly."

Jiang Man pretended not to hear and began his Cultivation.

He was so busy he didn’t even have time to practice his Sword Control Technique.

「The next day.」

Jiang Man bought three hundred Spiritual Source worth of fine wine and went to find his master.

The moment He Huai’an took a sip, he knew this was bad.

"Master, your disciple wishes to compete for first place in the Outer Sect."

He Huai’an: "..."

’You say you want to be number one in the Outer Sect, and I’m supposed to support you for a second time?’

"Master, you’re just this one sum of Spiritual Source away from making a name for yourself in the Alchemy Courtyard."

’I already made a name for myself—and was thoroughly mocked—when I accepted you as my disciple.’

’I don’t need to make a name for myself again.’

In the end, He Huai’an supported him with twenty God Strengthening Pills.

A great deal of ’spiritual’ support, indeed.

Then, Jiang Man went to find Senior Sister Yu.

But she didn’t come. Senior Sister Xia came instead.

’What’s wrong with Senior Sister Yu?’

Xia Jin looked at the young man before her, her heart filled with a thousand emotions, and finally said, "She says she’s fine."