Chapter 35: First, do you need to prove it?

Challenging the top rank wasn't anything unusual.Having the highest score didn't necessarily mean being the strongest in actual combat.

To encourage competition for the top position,

the number one rank in each courtyard could be challenged.

However, very few people actually issued challenges.

Luo Xuan had held the top spot for so long, yet even second-ranked Fang Yong had never challenged her.

If Fang Yong didn't make a move, others certainly wouldn't take the initiative either.

They couldn't bear the potential humiliation.

But now, just as Jiang Man had risen to the top and was still being admired by others, the former third rank dared to jump out and challenge him.

This was truly an insult to the first rank position.

After all, even the second rank hadn't spoken up.

Everyone was currently watching this situation unfold.

In the past, few people would have paid much attention to whether Jiang Man was challenged.

But times had changed.

He was now the strongest person in the Sixth Courtyard.

A genius who would draw everyone's attention just by standing there.

Now that someone wanted to challenge such a genius, who wouldn't be watching and curious?

Even Luo Xuan and Fang Yong, who were usually focused on cultivation, turned to look.

What they once dismissed with contempt, they now listened to attentively.

This was the absolute change that came with being first.

However, facing Chang Qiwen's challenge, and a private one at that,

Jiang Man felt puzzled.

"Private challenges leave face for the other party, but they can also result in serious injuries," Little Fatty explained.

"Can I refuse?" Jiang Man asked.

Why should he fight this person?

Just because the other person questioned him, he had to get caught in this vortex of proving himself?

First place was first place—did it need their approval?

If they didn't agree, they could go find Teacher Zhao and have him explain what first place actually meant.

Have him explain whether this first place had any substance.

A challenge?

That would just create trouble for himself. Why did first place need to prove anything?

If it needed proving, then what was the point of having scores?

"You can, but most people accept," Little Fatty explained from the side. "Besides proving the true value of being first by accepting challenges,

"the challenger also has to pay a challenge fee.

"Public challenges cost five hundred Spirit Source.

"Private challenges cost one thousand Spirit Source."

Hearing this, before Little Fatty could continue, Jiang Man immediately stepped forward, politely saluted Chang Qiwen, and said, "I accept your challenge."

The first rank should have the magnanimity of the first rank.

They should be able to tolerate others and give them opportunities.

Without the broad-mindedness to embrace all rivers, how could one stand at the pinnacle of the courtyard?

How could they hold this first position?

Chang Qiwen was quite surprised, not expecting Jiang Man to agree so readily. He then produced a bag and said, "This is one thousand Spirit Source. When are you available?"

"Tonight," Jiang Man replied.

The two didn't set a specific location.

Instead, Jiang Man told Chang Qiwen to come find him.

Since it was private, he naturally didn't want spectators.

After Chang Qiwen left, Jiang Man looked toward Luo Xuan and the others.

Luo Xuan gave a slight nod and continued her cultivation, while Fang Yong snorted coldly and also began cultivating.

Cheng Yu showed a faint smile before busying herself with her own matters.

These were all at the sixth level of Qi Refinement.

Only they had the qualification to challenge.

Unfortunately, only Chang Qiwen had issued a challenge.

"I thought you were going to refuse," Little Fatty said after some consideration. "Do you have a chance of winning?"

He knew that Jiang Man basically didn't practice spells.

Despite his high cultivation level, his actual combat skills were somewhat average.

He could handle Song Qing without problem, but facing the former top four would be much more difficult.

Jiang Man smiled without speaking.

The meaning was clear—he was full of confidence.

Still, Little Fatty reminded Jiang Man to be careful. If he suffered serious injuries and couldn't participate in the next assessment, he would completely miss the opportunity for the quota competition.

Without a doubt, Jiang Man was aiming for that quota.

Little Fatty found it hard to believe that someone who had been at the bottom with him just a few months ago had inexplicably climbed to the top.

The outcome wasn't determined yet, and there were countless dark horses.

Unfortunately, he wasn't one of them.

"Has the first rank arrived today?" Fu Yidan asked as she entered.

Jiang Man immediately responded.

Fu Yidan looked at Jiang Man, her eyes showing considerable surprise.

Jiang Man...

For years he had worn coarse linen clothes, always carrying either the smell of sweat or the sour odor of the stable.

She had considered that others might strive to advance.

But she had never imagined that Jiang Man could reach the top in one step.

Even now he still wore coarse linen clothes, but he no longer carried the previous odors.

Not only that, but just standing there, he already seemed to radiate brilliance.

This was the effect of being first.

Finally, she said calmly, "Stand in the first row."

After Jiang Man took his position, she continued, "You've claimed few spells and learned even fewer. This month you need to spend more effort on this aspect."

Jiang Man nodded to show he understood.

Previously, he truly hadn't had the time.

Now his goal was to fill the sixth "gourd,"

reaching the optimal state for the sixth level of Qi Refinement.

Then he would learn spells.

With his Spell Innate Qi, learning shouldn't be too difficult.

He just needed to decide what to learn.

This time, Fu Yidan was explaining "Three Talents Force."

Originally, she had prepared to teach "Dragon Subduing Method," but since Jiang Man only knew "Six Harmonies Palm" and "Three Talents Force," she chose Three Talents Force.

This was the privilege of being first.

And this was just for being first in the courtyard. If he were first in the entire Azure Cloud Pavilion,

then the entire institution's progress would be aligned with him.

After the explanation came sparring practice.

This time, Jiang Man's sparring partner was second-ranked Luo Xuan.

Even if he spent all his remaining time improving Three Talents Force, he could only reach the fifth level at most.

While his opponent's Three Talents Force was almost certainly at the ninth level.

He truly wasn't a match.

Unless he used his full power, combined with Divine Movement Steps and Six Harmonies Palm.

Otherwise, he had no chance of winning.

Three Talents Force emphasized force application—three levels formed one force, nine levels formed three forces. Before the sixth level it was visible force, after the sixth level it became hidden force.

So fifth level facing ninth level

was like an egg striking a rock.

Hidden force could not only easily break through the visible force attached to hands but also severely damage internal organs.

So even just sparring with this technique carried significant risks.

"Don't worry," Luo Xuan said calmly as she looked at Jiang Man. "I'll spar with you using the same cultivation level."

Luo Xuan had no intention of bullying others.

For her, there was no need for such behavior.

Jiang Man was somewhat surprised.

Was this young lady really this reasonable?

Wouldn't she feel uncomfortable inside?

After all, just recently he had been hired by her as a sparring partner, and now he had surpassed her.

Such a gap in cultivation could easily upset one's mental balance.

Secretly making moves would be perfectly understandable.

But since she had said this, he wouldn't hesitate anymore.

After Jiang Man cultivated for one hour, he successfully reached the fifth level.

What followed was sparring practice.

Three Talents Force didn't involve intense movements, but each exchange involved powerful force collisions.

This helped Jiang Man comprehend faster.

His improvement accelerated more rapidly.

Compared to sparring with Song Qing, it was clear that training with stronger opponents led to better improvement.

However, Jiang Man remained vigilant against any underhanded tactics from his opponent.

Fortunately, by the end of the sparring session, she hadn't deliberately used hidden force.

She merely politely saluted him before focusing on her own cultivation.

Truly a young lady from a wealthy family.

Jiang Man couldn't help but admire her excellent upbringing.

Over with Fang Yong and Cheng Yu, however, the sparring was quite intense.

Both were at the ninth level of Three Talents Force and were genuinely gaining practical combat experience.

In the afternoon, it was cultivation time.

Jiang Man remained as focused as ever, completely absorbed in his cultivation, primarily focusing on Three Talents Force.

He stood in the foremost position, and everyone would be watching him.

If he didn't leave, others could only continue practicing alongside him.

It was one thing when he was last rank, but now that he was first, he was still working this hard.

He simply left no breathing room for others.

Little Fatty was suffering greatly because Luo Xuan had been displaced from first place.

She couldn't be the first to leave—how could she leave before the first rank did?

For a while, everyone ended up cultivating even later.

As Jiang Man finished, Luo Xuan curiously asked, "How late do you usually cultivate?"

Jiang Man looked puzzled.

Luo Xuan added, "How late do you cultivate at night?"

"Until dawn," Jiang Man replied.

Luo Xuan looked astonished. "Dawn? Don't you rest?"

"Should I rest?" Jiang Man countered.

Luo Xuan frowned. "Shouldn't you rest?"

"You're all so young—how can you even sleep?" Jiang Man retorted before leaving the courtyard.

Leaving behind a group of stunned people.