Song Qing immediately waved his hand and said, "There’s no story. She’s Chang Qiweng’s younger sister. He just asked me to look after her a bit."

Jiang Man frowned. He had a feeling the man before him was doing quite well for himself at the Yunqian Bureau.

’Especially after I left. Wouldn’t everyone else have to suck up to him and show him respect?’

’He must be like a fish in water.’

’No, I have to find a way to get him into the Sect, make him suffer as a bottom-rung disciple.’

Jiang Man then asked about the Chang family’s younger sister’s ranking.

"Her Talent is very high, she’s probably ranked around one hundredth. Can a ranking like that get her into the Sect?" Song Qing asked.

Jiang Man considered for a moment. "If she can break into the top one hundred by mid-August, she can enter the Sect."

His authority extended to the one hundred and fifth rank.

If she managed to make it into the top one hundred and five, he could use his authority to get her in through an enrollment expansion.

Any lower than that, and there was nothing he could do.

After spending half the day strolling and reminiscing, Jiang Man went to find the dean.

Song Qing also went to attend to his own business.

——

The dean was quite surprised when he saw Jiang Man.

He had no idea what Jiang Man intended to do.

He knew nothing about the young man’s personality.

But he seemed different from the previous envoys.

He was young, yet possessed immense power.

Especially after his overwhelming display of power on the back mountain.

This made one tread all the more carefully. Causing even the slightest displeasure for someone like him would mean immense trouble.

A person like that must hold uncommon authority in the assessment.

He sighed.

’Things are getting complicated,’ he thought, ’and much more troublesome.’

Moreover, his own people were moving too slowly.

The matter with the Demon Beasts was still under investigation. If Jiang Man were to ask, he wouldn’t be able to report the situation.

As the dean fretted, Jiang Man suddenly asked, "Is there a good place to practice my Cultivation around here?"

He had plenty of time, so he naturally needed to find a quiet place for his Cultivation.

The dean was taken aback for a moment, then immediately offered Jiang Man the best cultivation spot in the entire Yunqian Bureau.

In truth, even their best spot was merely ordinary compared to the Sect.

It wasn’t of much use to Jiang Man.

But since the dean had offered, there was no reason to refuse.

However, before he left, it seemed the dean had something else he wanted to say.

Jiang Man paid it no mind. If the man wasn’t going to speak up, he certainly wasn’t going to ask.

As long as it didn’t affect him, it was fine.

During his Cultivation, Jiang Man touched the statue and received the feedback: [What is this trash].

’Looks like it really is a useless item,’ he thought.

Next, he activated the technique from Ting Fengyin and indeed sensed a specific direction.

Checking it against a map, he saw it was a nearby city.

’To dare and plot against me, they must be from the Sect.’

’No need to rush.’

’I’ll just hand the statue to Ren Qian when I get back.’

’No need for me to take the risk myself.’

He then inspected the Token that Ting Fengyin had given him.

The Token was made of jade and contained numerous Arrays.

There were also some instructions within it.

But at present, his Token wasn’t yet connected to the Sect. To put it simply, his official appointment hadn’t come through yet.

He had to wait for Ting Fengyin to make the arrangements.

Moreover, this item seemed to allow direct communication with people from the Zhenyue Bureau.

However, it only worked within the confines of the Yunqian Bureau or the Sect.

The full details would have to wait until his appointment was finalized.

「Several days later.」

「The fifteenth day of the eighth month.」

Today was a special day for the Yunqian Bureau, and many people—even entire families—were paying close attention to the day’s events.

Jiang Man was invited onto a high platform. As he looked down at the nearly three hundred Student Cultivators below, he was filled with a sense of emotion.

He, too, had once stood down there. Now, he was the one seated on the high platform.

In the seat of honor, no less.

Over the past few days, the dean had mentioned that people wanted to see him, but he had brushed them all off with the excuse of being in Cultivation.

He also sensed the dean had more to say, but the man never managed to get it out.

In the meantime, Jiang Man had taken a moment to use Sword Control to fly to the back mountain. He confirmed that the Demon Beasts had indeed withdrawn, and the mist from the ancient well had also vanished.

Still, it needed to be reported upon his return.

Who knew where those Demon Beasts might be hiding.

He also inspected the surrounding area.

It was all part of the routine inspection required by the Sect.

Before the inspection, the dean had given him a "greeting gift."

Twenty thousand Spiritual Source.

He had asked Jiang Man to be as lenient as possible during the assessment and give the young people more opportunities.

Every time Jiang Man thought back on it, he was filled with emotion.

’So a single trip here is this profitable.’

But Jiang Man still felt the dean hadn’t said what was truly on his mind.

.

"Immortal Master, this is the file on this year’s Student Cultivators." The dean handed the documents over on the high platform.

Taking the file, Jiang Man said, "Let’s begin the assessment. Will this also be wrapped up in a single day?"

"Yes, we should be finished before dark. You’ll have plenty of time to depart tomorrow, Immortal Master." The dean hesitated, then asked, "Roughly how many people will you be recruiting this year?"

"Let’s take a look first," Jiang Man replied, not in a hurry to answer.

He then began to flip through the files, reviewing the strength of this year’s Student Cultivators.

’Let’s see how they compare to my year.’

August 1st.

Yunqian Bureau.

Jianyue Tower, Rear Courtyard, First Courtyard.

Name: Zhao Tiankuo.

Ranking: 6 (of 266).

Cultivation: Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Cultivation Level: Ninth Level of Simple Qi Refining Skill, Ninth Level of Simple Qi Blood Method, Ninth Level of the Simple Observation Method.

Resources Obtained: *Simple Qi Refining Skill*, *Simple Qi Blood Method*, *Simple Observation Method*, *Celestial Heart Seal*, *Divine Step*, *Six Harmonies Palm*, *Three Talents Force*, *Dragon Suppression Skill*...

Score: 91.

Evaluation: Boundless potential.

Seeing the file at the very top of the stack, Jiang Man turned to the dean. "Sixth?"

Sweat began to bead on the dean’s forehead.

"He was placed here by the Zhao Family." The dean took a deep breath. "They hope he can be in the first batch to head to the Sect."

It seemed he had finally said what he’d been wanting to for a long time.

Understanding dawned on Jiang Man. He immediately asked, "Is there a Zhao Family in Luoyun City?"

He remembered that Luoyun City had six prominent families.

The Fang Family, the Li Family, the Cheng Family, the Yang Family, the Luo Family, and the Gao Family.

But he’d never heard of any Zhao Family.

"They’re from another city," the dean explained.

"Another city?" Jiang Man remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "They certainly have a long reach. So, by their logic, they want me to take six people?"

The dean fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Man chuckled. "Or do they want me to replace the fifth-ranked student with him?"

The dean lowered his eyes in shame. "Otherwise, the Zhao Family will cut off a portion of Luoyun City’s resources. In the future, even fewer people will be able to enter the Sect."

"And if I refuse?" Jiang Man asked.

At that, the dean lowered his head. "The Zhao Family will target Luoyun City. And they’ll also find a way to target you, Immortal Master."

Jiang Man smiled faintly. "Meaning I should compromise for the sake of Luoyun City?"

The dean didn’t respond.

Jiang Man casually crumpled the file in his hand into a ball and tossed it aside.

He was an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, his arrogance innate.

He might not be able to defeat Meng Qiewei or out-posture Ting Fengyin, but was he supposed to compromise for a mere Zhao Family?

While he was in the Outer Sect, no one from the Inner Sect dared to make a move on him. Would the Zhao Family dare?

After the dean’s failure, a middle-aged man quietly appeared behind Jiang Man, leaned in, and spoke in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, the Zhao Family has a member who serves as an Elder in the Inner Sect."

"I hope Fellow Daoist Jiang will reconsider."

"This is a small greeting gift from us."

As he spoke, the man offered fifty thousand Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man stared at the fifty thousand Spiritual Source and remained silent for a long while.

’Because fifty thousand is more than enough to get the fifth-ranked student to step aside personally.’

’It would be a much more straightforward approach, really.’

’And I wouldn’t be in this difficult position. But unfortunately, these people don’t seem to have any intention of giving the Spiritual Source to the student in fifth place.’

’Or perhaps they don’t see that student as worth anything and offered a price that was too low.’

’Otherwise, who would say no to fifty thousand Spiritual Source?’

’Back in my day, if someone had offered me fifty thousand, I might have even given up my number one spot.’

’After all, entering the Sect a bit later doesn’t really change anything.’

’As long as your Talent is high, Reincarnation doesn’t take much time.’

’And you wouldn’t need to care which courtyard you ended up in, either.’

Jiang Man leaned back, looked at the slightly bearded middle-aged man, and smiled. "Can you tell me this Elder’s name?"

"Does Fellow Daoist Jiang wish to make his acquaintance?" the middle-aged man asked, turning to look at Jiang Man, his voice low.

Jiang Man maintained his smile. "I’ll wait until I enter the Inner Sect, then I’ll have him stripped of his Elder status."

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you’re being a bit arrogant."

"We shall see, won’t we?"

At these words, the middle-aged man’s gaze turned cold. He reached out, patting Jiang Man’s shoulder. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you will regret the choice you’ve made today."

Having said his piece, the man prepared to rise and leave.

But Jiang Man’s hand was already gripping his wrist.

With a gentle twist...

CRACK!

He snapped the man’s wrist.

The man’s head bowed as a muffled groan escaped him, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

"Stand here quietly on the platform," came Jiang Man’s flat voice.

It was not a request.

The middle-aged man was somewhat surprised by Jiang Man’s strength.

But he didn’t try anything else.

Withdrawing his hand, Jiang Man felt a flicker of curiosity. ’The Zhao Family.’

’Zhao Yaoyao’s family?’

’I wonder if they’re the same branch.’

’I can ask about it when I get back.’

’As for this Elder, I wonder if he’ll come looking for trouble.’

’I’ll need to figure out his strength.’

’And then...’

’I’ll make him understand that an Unparalleled Celestial Pride is not to be trifled with.’

’Threatening me? Do they think they’re Meng Qiewei or Ting Fengyin?’

’Even an Evil God couldn’t handle me.’

’Am I going to let these people push me around?’

’This loss of face was worth fifty thousand. I’ll definitely get that back.’

————

「Wuyun Sect.」

Ji Hao received the news.

He was rather surprised.

"They’ve already set out? The clan is moving so quickly this time."

"But I haven’t spoken with Jiang Man yet. This is a bit of a problem. I’ll have to find a chance to talk with him."

Of course, he didn’t expect to fail.

’At most, it’ll cost three thousand Spiritual Source.’

But the Immortal Mansion was about to open, and he wasn’t sure if his clan’s people would arrive before it did.