The End of the Immortal Path-Chapter 58 - 57: You’re Not First in the Yunqian Bureau
The man’s words were steady, devoid of much emotion.
It was as if he were simply stating a fact.
To put it simply, the Li Family’s offer was the worst, yet it held the most promise—no one else could compare.
Jiang Man didn’t know how the man had reached this conclusion.
But he was surprised that someone from the Li Family had come in person.
’They clearly think the least of me, so why come themselves?’
The other two families hadn’t shown up.
As for agreeing, Jiang Man had never even considered it.
It came back to the same question: what made the Li Family worthy of him?
"The Sect is a massive whirlpool. You need to consider whether you can gain a firm foothold if you enter," the middle-aged man said, looking at Jiang Man. "Perhaps no one has ever told you this, but you need to understand that entering the Sect isn’t the end. It’s the beginning—and the most difficult beginning at that."
"The other families have extremely shallow foundations in the Sect."
"Only the Li Family can help you establish yourself the fastest, allowing you to be cultivated a step ahead of everyone else."
"Only then will you have a chance to fight your way to the top."
Jiang Man thought for a moment before asking, "And what if I don’t get into the Sect?"
"We don’t make plans for failures," the middle-aged man stated.
He paused, then continued, "Our offer isn’t bad. You’d best consider it."
"Once the results of the second competition are out, an offer like this might not be on the table anymore."
"You should know that everyone is improving rapidly, constantly pushing forward."
"Although you work hard and don’t even sleep, that pace isn’t enough."
"Five thousand a month is enough for you to keep up with them."
"Of course, the other families can also afford this price, but their support will plummet after you enter the Sect."
"Five thousand is enough for a genius to barely scrape their way into the Sect."
"That’s why our offer is sufficient."
"Can’t you add another five thousand?" Jiang Man ventured.
The man stared at Jiang Man in silence.
In the end, Jiang Man said he needed more time to think it over.
The man didn’t linger and took his leave.
Watching the man depart, Jiang Man shook his head.
’He didn’t even say his name. These great families have no manners.’
After that, Jiang Man returned to his own quarters.
He didn’t give the matter another thought.
As for life in the Sect being difficult...
’Isn’t the solution simple?’
’All I have to do is enter the Sect as first place from the Yunqian Bureau, right?’
He had never intended to enter at the bottom of the ranks. If he didn’t enter with the highest score, how could he ever get his hands on any treasures?
How could he obtain more resources?
Although his Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart was always one step behind him, the Fate Chart didn’t care about martial virtue or Talent. It tested one’s background and financial power.
Returning to the stables, Jiang Man resumed his Cultivation.
One hundred and fifty times a day.
He had to cultivate.
Right now, he was mainly focused on his Qi and Blood and his Cultivation.
He had only filled twenty percent of his seventh Qi Refining "Gourd," while his fourth Qi and Blood "Gourd" was already almost half full.
He wasn’t far from the Physical Body Fifth Layer.
However, after returning today, Jiang Man asked for advice on how to guide Xiaopang.
He himself wasn’t capable, but the Old Yellow Ox was a former Evil God who had seen and heard much.
’It should have some ideas.’
"After the Four Major Immortal Sects unified and revised the Immortal Cultivation Skills, they stopped putting so much emphasis on Talent. Although geniuses still exist, with the right methods, others can cultivate very quickly too." The Old Yellow Ox chewed on a mouthful of weeds for a good while before continuing, "That’s why no matter how fast someone’s Qi Refining Cultivation is, it’s still within a reasonable range. It’s also why you don’t see any world-shaking geniuses in Qi Refining."
After a pause, the Old Yellow Ox raised an eyebrow at Jiang Man and said, "But you really are a bit different."
"How am I different?" Jiang Man asked curiously.
"You’re poor," the Old Yellow Ox stated flatly.
Jiang Man: "..."
The Old Yellow Ox continued, "I even helped you get a wife, but she was gone before you could even consummate the marriage."
Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox, feeling that the creature was mocking him.
After that, the Old Yellow Ox gave him a cultivation method.
Jiang Man recorded it with a pen, writing for the better part of the night.
It included things like daily Cultivation times, the number of repetitions, the amount of resources to be supplied, and so on.
Everything was planned out.
The schedule was quite intensive, however.
It came back to the same saying: how could someone so young possibly sleep?
The Old Yellow Ox’s justification was also simple: you don’t sleep, so how can they?
Afterward, Jiang Man divided what he had written down into three parts.
This was basically a plan tailored for Xiaopang’s Qi Refining Stage.
’It probably wouldn’t be very effective for anyone else,’ he thought.
But it would definitely make one stronger.
Because...
...there was no time for sleep.
The time that followed was dedicated to Cultivation.
The Sixth Courtyard also taught other things, like identifying Spirit Medicine, analyzing Demon Beast bones, cultivation methods for plants, and so on.
If one had some talent in these areas, they could choose to find a new path.
If they had nothing...
...then they had to see if they could find a way to stay in Luoyun City.
Becoming a guard was the choice for most people.
If they couldn’t even manage that, their only option was to return to their village.
And go back to farming.
They would basically never have another chance to leave.
In January, for the entire month, Jiang Man focused on cultivating and earning Spiritual Source.
Besides the Li Family, no one else had come looking for him.
’They’re probably all waiting for the second competition.’
Jiang Man didn’t mind. In fact, it was better this way.
And in that month, his Physical Body reached the Fifth Layer.
With the help of the Flawless Qi Blood Pills, he had now filled thirty percent of his fifth Qi and Blood "Gourd."
He wouldn’t be too far from the sixth "Gourd."
However, he was running low on Flawless Qi Blood Pills.
They should be just enough to open the sixth "Gourd," which meant reaching the Physical Body Sixth Layer.
’That’s enough.’
’When the time comes, I wonder if it’ll be enough to break the bottleneck between the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.’
After all, the Physical Body Sixth Layer was a requirement for advancing to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
「At the end of January.」
Jiang Man assessed his current status.
Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Physical Body Fifth Layer, Spiritual Third Layer.
His corresponding Cultivation Skills were: Qi Refining Skill Eleventh Layer, Qi Blood Skill Ninth Layer, and Visualization Skill Thirteenth Layer.
As for his Magic Skills, he had made basically no progress.
’This progress isn’t fast.’
’It’s still because I don’t have enough Spiritual Source and I haven’t taken enough Spirit Gathering Pills.’
’My Qi Refining Skill at the Eleventh Layer can’t make up for the deficit.’
’I must advance to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer before the break in March.’
’Otherwise, I won’t be able to get any good Magic Skills.’
As for the upcoming courtyard assessment...
After a slight hesitation, Jiang Man decided to openly display his Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
That way, he would secure first place in the courtyard.
Not only that, but it would also make things more convenient the next time he met Li Yuan and the others.
Otherwise, they would just act all high and mighty again.
’It’s exhausting just talking to them.’
The assessment still lasted for two days.
Everything went smoothly, and the scores would be released on the first of February.
—
「Gao Mansion.」
As soon as Xiaopang returned from the assessment, he began to cultivate.
He couldn’t sit still whenever he thought about how Jiang Man would secretly cultivate the moment he got back.
’How can someone be so dedicated to Cultivation?’
Even the cultivation method he had been given had no arrangements for sleep.
He was getting thin from staying up all night.
Helpless, his only choice was to sneak in some sleep. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
But it was still early. He had to cultivate properly. Even though he had passed the qualification assessment, the Cultivation in the Sixth Courtyard never stopped.
If he stopped, last place would be his for the taking.
However, as he was cultivating, he noticed someone enter.
It was a somewhat portly middle-aged man.
It was his father.
"Cultivating even after the assessment ended today?" the man asked.
Xiaopang said seriously, "Everyone in the courtyard is secretly cultivating. If I don’t, I’ll fall behind."
The man was quite surprised. ’Isn’t this courtyard a bit abnormal?’
But when he saw the book Xiaopang was looking at, he asked, puzzled, "What’s this?"
"This?" Xiaopang held up the book in his hand. "It’s the cultivation guide Brother Jiang gave me."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man’s brow furrowed.
’I have to find a way to replace this thing.’
’A guy at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer... although his own progress isn’t bad, he’s in no position to teach anyone.’
’Who knows how much of his progress is due to Talent and resources? Letting him be a guide will only lead my son astray.’
’He’s only first in the courtyard, not first in the Yunqian Bureau.’
