Chapter 43: Who Will Get the Assessment Qualification

While waiting, the middle-aged man seemed rather anxious.He stood at the door, craning his neck to peer inside, then glanced at Jiang Man.

Seeing this, Jiang Man naturally stepped back, moving to the pavilion where he half-concealed himself in the shadows.

He wasn't easily spotted, yet could still see the main gate clearly.

As a guard, he needed to monitor whether anyone entered.

Exiting wasn't particularly important, but entry required stricter oversight.

From the shadows, Jiang Man saw Fang Yong emerge.

Looking at the middle-aged man now, he noticed the man stood perfectly straight, showing no signs of foot injury whatsoever.

Approaching the middle-aged man, Fang Yong's expression was unpleasant.

His lips moved several times, his face carrying a hint of reproach, as if he'd cursed a couple of times.

Jiang Man didn't specifically channel spiritual energy to hear the exact words.

Since the middle-aged man had wanted him to keep his distance earlier, it was only natural to respect the person's dignity.

As for whose dignity exactly remained unclear.

The middle-aged man simply kept his head bowed with an apologetic smile, waiting until Fang Yong finished speaking before pulling out a small bag.

He handed it over with a smile.

It was likely Spirit Source.

After accepting the Spirit Source, Fang Yong said something else—this time speaking a bit more.

Jiang Man merely watched.

Then Fang Yong turned to go inside, seeming to issue another warning as he turned.

The middle-aged man just nodded repeatedly with his apologetic smile.

Immediately after, he stood on tiptoe watching Fang Yong depart, only then relaxing his foot.

A pained expression surfaced on his face.

Jiang Man emerged from the shadows, sitting in the pavilion and beckoning to the middle-aged man.

The man came over and sat down, asking curiously, "Has something happened at Azure Cloud Pavilion?"

Jiang Man looked puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

"I feel... our young master seems like he hasn't rested well. He's speaking less and seems rushed." The middle-aged man paused, then looked at Jiang Man respectfully. "I share the family name with our young master, so I'm also surnamed Fang. Everyone calls me Steward Fang. Might I ask the guard's honorable name..."

"I'm surnamed Jiang," Jiang Man replied.

As for what the other man mentioned—naturally it was because Fang Yong was running out of time too.

If Jiang Man wasn't resting, and Luo Xuan wasn't resting, how could Fang Yong dare to rest?

Did he even have the nerve to rest?

But Jiang Man simply shook his head, not revealing the truth to the man before him.

"Are you planning to head back?" Jiang Man asked, glancing at the sky.

"I plan to rest here for a bit. I'll leave at daybreak." As he spoke, Steward Fang took the finest-looking steamed bun from his bag and offered it to Jiang Man ingratiatingly. "Would Guard Jiang care for something to eat?"

Jiang Man looked at the coarse grain bun, reached out to accept it, and asked, "Leaving at daybreak?"

"Leaving at daybreak," Steward Fang nodded with a smile.

This area belonged to the guards—not just anyone could rest here.

"Then you can sit in the pavilion for a while. Leave when it's light." Saying this, Jiang Man ate the bun as he left the pavilion.

He prepared to cultivate.

Grateful sounds followed from behind.

But not long after, when Jiang Man glanced back at the pavilion, he found the man had already curled up on the ground, leaning against the side and fallen asleep.

His hand still clutched the food bag tightly, as if afraid the provisions might fall.

The spot where Jiang Man had been sitting actually had a soft cushion.

The other man hadn't dared to sit on it.

Jiang Man moved further away and began cultivating.

This time he circulated his Qi Refinement method to enhance his cultivation base.

He deliberately consumed a Qi Condensing Pill to accelerate his progress.

Otherwise, he'd just be wasting time.

He continued until the horizon showed the first light of dawn.

Steward Fang woke immediately, using his clothes to wipe the spot where he'd sat.

Then he prepared to leave.

Jiang Man had already woken earlier and, eating the remaining half of his bun, asked, "Leaving now?"

"Guard Jiang." Steward Fang bowed respectfully. "I've troubled you, honored guard. It's daylight now, and I'm in a hurry."

Jiang Man waved the bun in his hand. "The bun's not bad."

As he spoke, he fumbled around his clothes and tossed out a medicinal plaster. "A thank-you gift for you."

It was an ointment for treating external injuries.

Steward Fang caught the plaster and immediately tried to refuse.

But Jiang Man had already waved him farewell.

He didn't dare contradict the other man.

Finally offering profound thanks, Steward Fang then activated his Divine Movement Steps and departed.

Thus, Jiang Man ate his bun as he headed toward Azure Cloud Pavilion's Sixth Courtyard.

As the top ranker, he needed to continue leading the courtyard in cultivation.

He'd also borrow some Qi Condensing Pills from Little Fatty along the way.

This time Little Fatty lent him five pills.

For the final ten days, Jiang Man planned to continuously consume Qi Condensing Pills to boost his cultivation.

He'd also exchanged all his Spirit Source for Qi Condensing Pills.

Ten pills total.

That gave him fifteen pills altogether.

Combined with his ninth-layer Qi Refinement method, he wasn't without a chance at breaking through.

Days passed one after another.

Jiang Man's cultivation base continuously improved.

With so many Qi Condensing Pills, the water in his sixth "gourd" rose visibly.

After one day.

Twenty percent full.

After two days.

Thirty percent.

After four days.

Fifty percent.

After seven days.

Seventy percent.

December fourteenth.

Ninety-nine percent.

The Qi Condensing Pills were completely used up.

Simultaneously, his physical body smoothly entered the fourth layer.

Once the "gourd" was completely full, he would meet all conditions for advancing to the seventh level of Qi Refinement.

Sixth level of Qi Refinement, fourth-layer physical body, first-layer spiritual strength.

However, during this period Jiang Man hadn't dared neglect his techniques either.

Master Fu had been teaching continuously, emphasizing technique mastery.

Teacher Zhao's lessons had decreased.

Currently, Jiang Man had reached the ninth layer in all the techniques he'd received.

But his application skills were somewhat lacking.

He needed actual combat training.

He'd sought out Manager Miao several times.

However, the sparring partners also needed rich combat experience.

Therefore, Jiang Man could only use Luo Xuan and the others as practice partners.

Unfortunately, these people merely fed him moves during practice.

None showed any intention of revealing their true strength.

Although Jiang Man still felt somewhat confident in actual fights.

After all, his ninth-layer Qi Refinement method absorbed spiritual energy.

The weight of his spiritual energy definitely wasn't on the same scale as theirs.

But sometimes raw power alone wasn't enough—unless your power vastly exceeded your opponent's.

"Brother Jiang, aren't you nervous?" In the courtyard, Little Fatty approached Jiang Man and asked.

He took deep breaths, trying hard to calm his inner turmoil.

Jiang Man looked at him with surprise. "You're nervous?"

"How could I not be nervous? Tomorrow is the brand new assessment—the qualification competition." Little Fatty said.

"You made it into the top five?" Jiang Man asked with some uncertainty.

He'd been too focused on cultivation recently to observe Little Fatty much.

"No, but tomorrow is the assessment where I'll lose my spot." Little Fatty sighed. "After this, I'll have no further connection with Mist Cloud Sect.

"I'll never have such an opportunity again in this lifetime.

"Effectively starting tomorrow, my life takes a new path.

"Although I can continue studying at Azure Cloud Pavilion for another half year, the sect path will no longer have anything to do with people like us."

Jiang Man nodded. That was true.

Starting tomorrow, they would face turning points in their destinies.

Nervousness was appropriate.

He felt the same way. Although he'd been first before, no one had stopped progressing this month.

Perhaps some had already advanced further.

The outcome remained uncertain—they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

"Brother Jiang, who do you think will get the second spot besides you?" Little Fatty suddenly asked.

Jiang Man thought for a moment. "Chang Qiwen has the lowest probability."

Jiang Man had fought him before. Although his technique learning was acceptable, it was just that—acceptable.

He fell far short compared to Luo Xuan.

He wasn't impressive next to Fang Yong either.

Luo Xuan had been the previous top ranker, so logically she had the highest probability.

But...

Chang Qiwen had backing, and this person was most likely Cheng Yu.

Under deliberate off-field targeting, the outcome within the arena could still be influenced.

So Cheng Yu also had high winning chances.

Conversely, Fang Yong seemed rather ordinary, with the lowest probability of winning.

Additionally, Jiang Man also worried about himself—whether he too might be caught in someone's calculations.