Chapter 48: Avoiding Decades of Detours

Facing Jiang Man's inquiry, Luo Xuan also felt quite bitter.If it were a normal match, she might not necessarily lose.

Although Jiang Man's fighting style was somewhat excessive.

But there were ways to counter it.

Fang Yong had simply suffered from lack of experience.

However...

She had been schemed against by Cheng Yu and severely injured, making it impossible for her to fight Jiang Man who had higher points than her.

Now she could only try to see if she could defeat Fang Yong.

Both of them were severely injured.

And as long as she didn't give him time to recover.

There might still be a chance.

So...

She chose to concede.

Everyone could understand this outcome.

So the final competition became between Fang Yong and Luo Xuan.

After announcing Jiang Man's advancement, Zhao Leming asked Luo Xuan, "Do you want to challenge?"

"I want to challenge Fang Yong," Luo Xuan said.

Hearing this, Zhao Leming nodded.

Then he told the next match participants to prepare.

Fang Yong, who had just rested for a short while, was forced to come to the center of the courtyard again.

The other party didn't give him any chance to catch his breath at all.

Of course, this was normal.

If it were him, he would do the same.

As long as he could qualify, why care too much about other things?

Naturally, he would take advantage of the opponent's weakness to finish them off.

Jiang Man retreated to the side.

Little Fatty watched the field and asked curiously, "Brother Jiang, who do you think will win?"

Jiang Man felt both of them were quite strong.

"I think Luo Xuan will win," Little Fatty continued.

"Why?" Jiang Man asked.

"Although both are severely injured, Luo Xuan has rested for a long time, and she still has many pills that can temporarily boost her combat power," Little Fatty said.

"If Luo Xuan loses, do I have a chance to become her guard?" Song Qing asked.

Jiang Man thought it would be quite difficult.

"Aren't you stealing Brother Jiang's job?" Little Fatty said.

"At that time, I would follow Brother Jiang's lead," Song Qing said seriously.

Then he sighed and said, "What's unfortunate is that Brother Jiang gave me a chance, but I couldn't seize it."

"I'm not a personal guard," Jiang Man explained again.

But he didn't explain in detail because Luo Xuan and the others had started fighting.

"What about Cheng Yu?" Little Fatty asked curiously.

"Do you want to be her personal guard?" Song Qing asked curiously.

"I'm not worthy," Little Fatty was quite self-aware about this.

"Sometimes it's not about being worthy, but about whether you try. What if they have thin skin and agree out of face-saving concerns? At least you could stay in the city properly," Song Qing kindly advised.

Boom!

The battle in the field interrupted their conversation.

At this moment, they saw Fang Yong and Luo Xuan fighting extremely aggressively.

Both of them were already injured.

They were completely using an injury-for-injury fighting style.

It all depended on who would fall first.

Neither wanted to lose, so as the fight continued, their movements became slower and slower.

The bloodstains on their bodies increased.

Some were their own, others were from their opponent.

Later, it all came down to willpower, forcibly suppressing their bodily injuries, refusing to fall.

Until finally.

Luo Xuan fell first.

Her body had reached its limit—Chang Qiwen's kick had been too heavy.

That was a life-or-death kick.

Otherwise...

She had hope of winning.

Fu Yidan sighed and took Luo Xuan away for treatment.

In the end, Fang Yong won.

He soon collapsed as well.

Out of five participants, only Jiang Man was standing perfectly fine.

"Brother Jiang, is this just good luck?" Little Fatty found it hard to believe.

Everyone was severely injured, but Jiang Man was completely unscathed.

"It's skill," Jiang Man said calmly.

Little Fatty didn't understand—was there really a secret to getting stronger?

However, Jiang Man had already told him, but he didn't believe it.

Marrying a fairy might not necessarily help you avoid decades of detours.

If successful, progress would be incredibly fast.

If you fail, you'll be buried in three days.

That's several decades earlier than being buried after a hundred years.

Which also counts as avoiding decades of detours.

Then Zhao Leming confirmed the rankings.

First place: Jiang Man.

Second place: Fang Yong.

The others were eliminated.

Song Qing sighed with emotion, "Luo Xuan almost won."

Little Fatty also lamented, "I never thought Luo Xuan, who had been first for so long, would actually lose. In principle, she had hope."

"If not for Chang Qiwen's sudden burst of power."

"Speaking of which, wasn't that the Cheng family's technique and pills?"

"Where did he get them?"

Jiang Man thought for a moment and said, "Probably given by Cheng Yu."

Hearing this, Little Fatty found it hard to believe, "That can't be right? Was Chang Qiwen bribed by Cheng Yu?"

For a moment, Little Fatty couldn't accept it—Cheng Yu was gentle, kind, and treated people warmly.

How could...

Jiang Man patted Little Fatty's shoulder and said meaningfully, "Be careful when you meet beautiful women in the future. The more beautiful the girl, the better she is at deceiving people."

Little Fatty: "..."

"Jiang Man, come with me," Zhao Leming said at this moment.

Then he said to the others, "You can compete among yourselves too. Come tomorrow to receive your rankings, then you'll have a half-month break."

"Training will continue in January. Make good use of the last half year or so."

The others felt both emotional and helpless.

Their cultivation path was finally coming to an end.

But there didn't seem to be much prospect.

They could only work hard to find a way out.

The remaining half year was also for them to find their path.

Soon, Jiang Man came to Zhao Leming's office.

"Teacher Zhao," Jiang Man performed the greeting ritual.

Zhao Leming looked at the person before him, still feeling shocked in his heart.

In August, this person couldn't even pay the cultivation fee, yet in just four short months.

Not only had he obtained a spot, but he had also become first in the Sixth Courtyard.

Additionally, he seemed to have learned the Mortal-grade Superior Visualization Method.

His spiritual energy was abundant, and he could control it precisely.

His future prospects were limitless.

Indeed, the person in the shadows had chosen him—how could they let him damage his foundation?

It was his own vision that had been too narrow.

Everything Jiang Man did had reasons and confidence behind it.

"Do you know what rank you are among the seven courtyards of Azure Cloud Pavilion?" Zhao Leming asked.

Jiang Man shook his head.

"Under Cloud Front Division's three towers and six pavilions, Azure Cloud Pavilion has a total of nineteen spots. Currently, your ranking is fourteenth," Zhao Leming said. "According to previous years, those who can enter the sect are usually ranked in the top five, or even top three."

"Of course, there can be exceptions."

"So if you want to enter the sect, you need to improve quickly."

"But that would be the worst place in the sect."

"If you want to go to a good place and get better resources, the higher your ranking, the better."

"Additionally, while others have a half-month break, you and Fang Yong will participate in Cloud Front Division's technique competition during this half month."

"Qi Refinement Methods, Blood Energy Methods, Visualization Methods—all have a chance to obtain middle-grade versions."

"Additionally, there's a possibility of obtaining superior-grade techniques."

"The Technique Transmission Area will notify you in the next two days. Don't leave Cloud Front Division."

Jiang Man was quite surprised.

He didn't expect there would be technique rewards.

Middle-grade techniques—that meant up to the eleventh level.

Cultivation speed could improve by two levels.

It would be best if he could obtain them.

If he could get superior-grade, that would be even better.

After asking about some other matters, Jiang Man left.

He didn't get much useful information.

But the competition seemed quite fierce—he would need to be careful when the time came.

Two days later.

Luo Xuan, who had been resting in the treatment area, woke up.

She said something to the attending teacher, then left Cloud Front Division in silence.

Now that she had failed to obtain a qualification spot, she needed to return and inform her parents.

After that, she would wait for arrangements.

Although she was a young lady...

Without obtaining the qualification, she would no longer have any freedom.