Chapter 55: Marrying into the Family and Giving Spiritual Source

Entering the main gate, Cheng Yu walked straight toward the side courtyard.She finally arrived in front of a fairly decent compound and stepped into her room under the moonlight.

She gently pushed the door open and entered, seemingly afraid of waking someone.

But the moment she closed the door and turned around, she saw a woman standing before her with a dark expression.

The instant Cheng Yu recognized who it was, her pupils contracted sharply.

Before she could speak, the other woman's gaze turned fierce as she raised her hand and struck.

Slap!

A crisp, sharp sound echoed through the room.

Cheng Yu staggered sideways, nearly losing her balance.

Before she could straighten up, that same hand grabbed her hair, forcibly yanking her head upward as a shrill voice demanded: "Worthless! Why did you fail to secure the qualification?

"What have you been doing all these years?

"I invested so many Spirit Sources to cultivate you, what have you accomplished?

"Why can't you even obtain a single qualification?"

Her voice was vicious, furious, as if she wanted to devour someone.

Cheng Yu was forced to look up in panic at the woman before her, unable to speak.

Slap!

Another sharp slap landed, clear and resonant.

Then she was thrown to the ground.

Cheng Yu sat on the floor with her head lowered, not attempting to get up.

"I worked so hard to please them, securing so many Spirit Sources for you—what have you been doing? With so many Spirit Sources poured into you, you can't even beat a Poor Person?" The woman glared at Cheng Yu and scolded angrily:

"Speak! I'm telling you to speak!"

Slap!

Yet another slap landed.

This time, blood appeared at the corner of Cheng Yu's mouth.

But she kept her head down and remained silent.

"I taught you cunning since childhood, taught you how to exploit others' weaknesses, taught you how to disguise yourself, taught you how to seize opportunities.

"Not only did I teach you, I also gave you Spirit Sources, searched for more techniques for you—is this how you repay me?

"Even raising a pig wouldn't have led to such an outcome." The woman's eyes burned with fire as she stared fixedly at Cheng Yu. "What, do you not like being a young lady, don't like being a genius, don't like being respected?

"Do you prefer being like me, becoming someone's concubine, serving others to earn some dignity?

"If you don't get the qualification, if you don't enter the sect, what are you even worth?

"You're just a maid—those Young Masters and young ladies would feel it beneath them to even speak with you.

"Do you understand?

"Do you know what you've missed?

"You've missed the opportunity to change your origins.

"How could I have given birth to something like you?

"I placed all my hopes on you—is this how you repay me?

"I never should have raised you, never should have softened when I heard you wanted to cultivate, never should have exhausted myself providing for you."

As she spoke, the woman sat on the floor and began to cry.

"Don't you understand what kind of life we'll have once I fall out of favor? Only by you joining the sect can we truly establish ourselves here.

"Only then can we truly be considered people." The woman spoke in despair, "I'm getting old soon—once I'm aged and faded, I won't be able to protect you anymore.

"Do you even understand?

"To compete for favor, I've already offended many people.

"You understand nothing."

The sound of weeping filled the room, heavy with pressure.

It felt like boundless despair.

For Jiang Man, the half-month break was simply about cultivation and earning Spirit Sources.

Currently, he could earn ninety Spirit Sources per day.

Apart from the time spent earning Spirit Sources, all his remaining time was devoted to cultivation.

The new Qi Refinement Method was called the Dawn Qi Refinement Method, and it was indeed more difficult to comprehend than the Simple Qi Refining Method.

Fortunately, it wasn't as obscure and incomprehensible as the premium version. After pondering it for a day or two, he began cultivating.

In one day, he advanced from the First Layer of the Qi Refinement Method to the Sixth Layer.

In three days, he successfully reached the Ninth Layer of the Qi Refinement Method.

Progress began to slow down starting from the Tenth Layer.

On the fifth day, he reached the Tenth Layer of the Qi Refinement Method.

On the seventh day, he reached the Eleventh Layer of the Qi Refinement Method.

At this point, Jiang Man breathed a sigh of relief.

After that, lighting lamps in the Spirit Gathering Hall became much easier.

It no longer placed a burden on his body.

During these days, he had been waiting to see if anyone would come looking for him.

According to what Fang Yong said, someone should come to talk with him.

After all, he was ranked first in the courtyard.

Unfortunately, right up until the end of December, no one came to find him.

Until January 1st.

The start of the new year.

The Cloud Front Division became lively again.

During the previous half-month break, many people had returned home.

Only those living in the villages remained at the Cloud Front Division.

Going back not only wasted time and energy, delaying cultivation, but also hindered earning Spirit Sources.

Therefore, staying at the Cloud Front Division was the most suitable option.

However, Jiang Man could barely remember where his village was located.

They had probably forgotten about him too.

Setting aside these thoughts, Jiang Man cleaned the Stable and headed to the Sixth Courtyard.

Along the way, Jiang Man noticed that many people didn't look well, but most weren't affected by the qualification issue.

After all, many people knew from the start that they had no chance of obtaining a spot.

They were all focused on improving their cultivation and seeking other paths.

As soon as Jiang Man arrived at the Sixth Courtyard, Zhao Leming called him away.

This surprised him somewhat.

"You're ranked first in your courtyard, fourteenth in Azure Cloud Pavilion, obtained the Sect Assessment qualification, and moreover, you come from a village." Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man and said, "So some families will consider you promising talent and offer you some resources, but they also have requirements."

As he spoke, he took out three sheets of paper and handed them to Jiang Man: "Take a look at these. They are the conditions offered by the Li Family, Cheng Family, and Luo Family respectively.

"If you agree, you can sign a contract with them.

"Additionally, any formal contracts for Students from the Cloud Front Division who obtain qualifications must be signed through the Cloud Front Division.

"Whether there will be more offers later is hard to say.

"Some people rise straight to the top, while others fade into obscurity—you need to think carefully.

"Furthermore, among these three families, the Li Family has the deepest foundations.

"So your future would be better with them, but their offer isn't high."

Jiang Man was quite surprised—he hadn't expected anyone to actually approach him.

But everything was here with Zhao Leming.

He picked up the papers and read the contents.

Jiang Man found that the Li Family's demands were simple: if he could enter the sect, he would need to work for the Li Family for ten years and unconditionally assist Li Family members three times, specifically within the sect.

In return, starting now, they would provide him with five thousand Spirit Sources per month as support.

If he failed to enter the sect, he would have to return all the Spirit Sources received.

If unable to repay, he would become a Guard for the Li Family for thirty years to settle the debt.

After reading the Li Family's offer, Jiang Man looked at the Cheng Family's.

The Cheng Family's condition was that if he could enter the sect, they would arrange for a Cheng Family woman to marry him, but the first son would have to enter the Cheng Family and become a Cheng Family member.

Additionally, he would need to protect and guide Cheng Family disciples within the sect for fifteen years, obeying their commands.

The resources provided were: five Qi Condensing Pills, three Blood Energy Pills, one Mind Concentrating Pill per month, plus three thousand Spirit Sources.

If he failed to enter the sect, he would have to enter the Cheng Family and work for them for thirty years.

The Cheng Family offered good conditions—providing a wife, pills, and Spirit Sources.

It was quite valuable.

But Jiang Man had no intention of considering it either, since protecting and guiding for fifteen years while obeying their commands seemed quite dangerous no matter how he looked at it.

Then, Jiang Man looked at the final sheet.

The Luo Family's conditions.

The Sect Assessment would need to be undertaken in the Luo Family's name. If he passed the assessment, he would need to marry into the Luo Family and would still receive their support.

If he failed the assessment, he could still marry into the family, but would need to remain with the Luo Family for life, working for them.

The terms offered were: five Qi Condensing Pills, five Blood Energy Pills, five Mind Concentrating Pills per month, Luo Family techniques, Luo Family Qi Refinement Method, Luo Family Blood Energy Method, guidance from Luo Family experts, and one thousand Spirit Sources.