The End of the Immortal Path-Chapter 59 - 58: Someone as Scheming as Me

As for the book in Xiaopang’s hands...

Gao Cunfeng’s plan was to find a suitable opportunity to throw it away.

And then replace it with a new one.

He needed to find someone to write a good one for his son.

After all, the kid had been working so hard lately, so it was worth a little extra effort.

Although there was no hope for him in the Sect, they were still counting on him to have many children.

This was also a major affair.

A higher cultivation would make childbirth easier.

He could have a few more.

"Have you made up your mind?" Gao Cunfeng asked softly, sitting on a nearby chair. "Will it be cultivation or marriage?

"You don’t seem able to endure the hardships of cultivation.

"Our family is counting on you to carry on the family line. After all, your older brothers are all focused on cultivation and have no plans to marry."

"I want to cultivate," Xiaopang said seriously.

"Didn’t you want to avoid cultivation?" Gao Cunfeng said, sounding rather helpless. "The hardships of cultivation are tough to bear. Although we’re happy you’re cultivating now, it’s a bit late.

"You should still focus on getting married. The person we found for you is absolutely the most suitable.

"Good talent, a decent cultivation, and fertile."

Xiaopang: "..."

He said with a straight face, "I think I’m more suited to the path of cultivation."

Gao Cunfeng looked at his youngest son and said with a smile, "Fine. But if you haven’t reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer by August, you will obediently come back and accept our arrangements.

"Also, don’t sneak any more papers out next time, especially not to show others.

"It caused a lot of trouble.

"For now, just keep following that Jiang Man. At least he can guide you in your cultivation."

After a pause, Gao Cunfeng spoke again. "Did he say he’s lacking resources? Or is he cooperating with other families?

"Or perhaps he’s actually being groomed by the Luo Family?"

"I don’t know," Xiaopang said, shaking his head.

He really didn’t know. Brother Jiang was always going on about marrying a fairy, which was obviously a lie.

’He just has good talent on his own.’

「February 1st.」

Jiang Man received his ranking sheet.

February 1st.

Yunqian Bureau, Cyan Cloud Pavilion.

Backyard, Sixth Courtyard.

Name: Jiang Man.

Rank: 1 (of 26).

Cultivation: Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Cultivation Level: Simple Qi Cultivation Method Ninth Layer, Eighth Level of Simple Qi Blood Method, Sixth Level of Simple Observation Method.

Resources Acquired: *Simple Qi Refining Skill*, *Morning Sun Qi Refining Method*, *Simple Qi Blood Method*, *Simple Observation Method*, *Divine Step*, *Six Harmonies Chapter*, *Three Talents Force*, *Dragon Suppression Skill*...

Plan: Cultivate one hundred times daily.

Score: 79.

Comment: Genius.

During the assessment, Jiang Man had only used Simple Skills, so that’s what was listed.

’A high score of seventy-nine. I wonder where that places me in the Cyan Cloud Pavilion.’

’Logically, I should be close to Li Yuan now.’

’If I run into him in the next competition, I hope he’ll be reasonable.’

"Some people have made great progress this time. Everyone should learn from them," Zhao Leming said.

Everyone was a little puzzled. ’Who?’

The top ranks were usually fixed and rarely saw such a huge jump.

So who else was there worth learning from?

They couldn’t possibly be expected to learn from someone at the bottom, could they?

However, Fang Yong, Luo Xuan, Cheng Yu, and Chang Qiweng all looked at Jiang Man curiously.

They wanted to know his score.

But no one went over to ask.

Unless their friendship reached a certain point, one wouldn’t show their sheet to others.

The information on it was practically a personal secret.

At that moment, Jiang Man frowned.

He knew Mr. Zhao was talking about him.

But...

If he wasn’t pointed out by name, even if the others were curious about his score, they wouldn’t come over and ask.

This made him quite uncomfortable.

’Just come and ask! At least then I can let them see the comment.’

The scores would be announced at noon, but the main thing was the comment.

Fortunately, Xiaopang arrived.

"Brother, what’s your score?" Xiaopang asked.

Jiang Man beamed. "Want to see?"

Xiaopang nodded.

So Jiang Man handed the sheet to him.

The moment he saw the score and the comment, Xiaopang’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Brother, is this you going all out?" Xiaopang asked.

Jiang Man shook his head and said softly, "I was just trying a little."

’I’m still a long way from my full strength.’

’At least another nine points’ worth.’

Xiaopang didn’t believe him, but he was still full of admiration.

Not long ago, they were all at the bottom together. Now one of them was first, while he was still third from last.

He had improved, but...

It was as good as not improving at all.

Because only the three of them were still at the Qi Refining Second Layer.

They all had to break through to the Third Layer. Whoever was slowest would be last.

After Xiaopang was done reading, Song Qing secretly asked him for Jiang Man’s score.

Xiaopang gave him one word: "Genius."

The people nearby overheard but were a little confused.

This lasted until noon, when the courtyard rankings were announced.

First place: Jiang Man, seventy-nine points.

The moment they saw the score, everyone gasped.

How could he have improved so quickly?

He’d jumped by more than ten points in one go?

Luo Xuan sighed, while Fang Yong gritted his teeth and frowned.

Cheng Yu seemed to be pondering something.

Chang Qiweng, however, was wondering whether he should go and offer a formal apology.

It seemed they’d had some minor conflicts before.

Jiang Man paid them no mind, focusing only on his cultivation.

He was waiting for the Cyan Cloud Pavilion to announce its rankings.

However, that afternoon, Xiaopang told him that the Cyan Cloud Pavilion wasn’t going to announce the rankings anymore. They would wait until April 1st, after the holiday, and would only announce them once every three months.

Jiang Man was silent for a moment, then thought that the Cyan Cloud Pavilion lacked vision.

’If they don’t announce it every month, how will anyone be motivated to improve?’

’It’s hindering the student cultivators’ progress.’

’Without public rankings, why would anyone actively cultivate day and night?’

Not giving it much more thought, Jiang Man began to cultivate in the Sixth Courtyard.

Jiang Man was improving too quickly, making the others even more afraid to rest.

They all followed his lead and cultivated.

All of February passed this way, right up until the next assessment.

Everyone’s scores took a leap forward.

Especially the few at the bottom, who successfully broke through to the Qi Refining Third Layer.

This time, Jiang Man only reached eighty points and didn’t go any higher.

Fang Yong was still in the sixties.

There was a bottleneck at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer; it wasn’t that easy to break through.

"It’s March 1st. The holiday is in half a month. In the past two months, you’ve learned other things. If you feel you have a talent for any of them, you can go to the appraisal office to get tested.

"You can choose to continue studying or look for related work," Mr. Zhao reminded them, then turned to Jiang Man and Fang Yong. "The second competition is about to begin. You need to determine what you lack and then compete for it.

"However, teammates are also extremely important. You must strike a good balance.

"Be well-prepared.

"August is not far off.

"The rest of you also need to find a way forward."

「March 15th.」

It was the holiday.

For Jiang Man, this meant he would soon be participating in the second competition.

The list of cultivation skills and magic skills would be delivered in the next two days.

Today, Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu left the Sixth Courtyard together.

"Are you heading back?" Cheng Yu asked.

Luo Xuan shook her head. "I’ll go back in a few days."

"I’ll also go back in a few days," Cheng Yu said with a smile. "I never expected Jiang Man’s score to be so high. Eighty points.

"I remember Young Master Cheng and Young Master Yang wanted to mess with him back then. If they knew his score now, I wonder if they’d still have the nerve."

Luo Xuan didn’t answer, simply asking curiously, "You were also eliminated. What are your plans now?"

"Me?" Cheng Yu pointed to herself and laughed. "Someone as calculating as me will definitely have a better future than you."