Jiang Man: I was too strong [Thanks to ?Dark Night Morning Star? for becoming a league leader]

Jiang Man's mindset had not changed in the slightest.

It was not that he was aloof.

Rather, he was not someone Luo Xuan was nurturing, nor was he incapable of defeating Song Qing.

So there was nothing to say.

Their skills would speak for themselves.

Song Qing came from a mountain village, just like Jiang Man.

He did not want to return to his village after finishing his cultivation here.

But to avoid returning, he needed to find a way to stay in Falling Cloud City.

Yet with his strength and ranking, how could he compete with the others?

Staying would be far too difficult.

Barring any surprises, his ultimate fate would still be to return to the village.

After that, getting out again would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

So this was a rare opportunity, and he wanted to seize it.

Those people might consider serving as a personal guard disgraceful, but that was because they hated that the person chosen was not them.

"Pardon me." As soon as Song Qing spoke, he prepared to attack.

He wanted to shock Jiang Man, but he would not defeat him instantly.

Having only just risen in the rankings, and being in his final year, Jiang Man surely had not had time to practice the Six Harmonies Palm.

He should be able to win.

Immediately, he stepped forward, spiritual qi circulating in his palm.

His palm shot straight for Jiang Man's face.

Then hidden force surged. What looked like one palm strike was actually three consecutive strikes.

He had merely guided the latter two to the sides, waiting for an opening.

At that moment, he saw Jiang Man strike with his palm as well.

I've won. Not a shred of technique. He really has only just started practicing the Six Harmonies Palm.

Bang!

Just as Song Qing was about to follow up, he suddenly felt a palm strike his abdomen, and his entire body flew backward.

Caught off guard, he nearly fell, only steadying himself by using the Spirit Travel Step.

For an instant, he stared at Jiang Man in astonishment.

What just happened?

Why did I lose after a single palm strike?

His strength seems pretty decent.

I was careless.

After that, he did not dare let his guard down in the slightest.

Then he attacked with his palms again.

This time, he clearly felt all his spiritual qi palm imprints being neutralized.

The fourth layer of the Six Harmonies Palm?

So soon?

Without further hesitation, Song Qing rushed forward. He had to close the distance to increase his advantage.

Sure enough, under his palm attacks, Jiang Man retreated step by step. This was someone who knew only brute force, without the slightest technique.

His palm strikes were fierce, like a roaming dragon. He attacked relentlessly, leaving Jiang Man struggling to fend him off. Finally, he spotted an opening. This was the moment.

He struck with all his strength, and three palm imprints appeared.

At the same time, he saw Jiang Man strike with his palm as well.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three tremendous crashes rang out, and his spiritual qi palm imprints shattered.

Yet his opponent still had one palm imprint left, which came howling toward him.

The palm imprint filled Song Qing's entire field of vision.

With a bang, Song Qing fell to the ground and rolled several times.

The commotion made everyone around them look over.

Especially when they saw that Jiang Man was the one fighting.

They were somewhat surprised.

Even puzzled. His cultivation had only just been confirmed, so how could he suddenly defeat Song Qing with the Six Harmonies Palm?

Fang Yong frowned and looked toward Luo Xuan.

He, too, suspected it was because of Luo Xuan.

She offered no explanation.

Sometimes, misunderstandings benefited her as well.

"If nothing's wrong, carry on. Everyone, focus." Teacher Fu spoke up then.

She was also rather surprised as she looked at Jiang Man.

She knew when Jiang Man had collected the Six Harmonies Palm.

Only a day, and he's already at the fifth layer?

Or had he secretly practiced it before?

Technically, that was not allowed, but if no one had discovered it, then he had not practiced it.

So there was no need to dwell on it.

"Thank you for the match," Jiang Man said with a smile.

"Was I careless?" Song Qing asked.

Jiang Man shook his head. "I was too strong."

Song Qing fell silent for a moment before saying, "No wonder Luo Xuan chose you."

Jiang Man: "..."

My winning had nothing to do with her.

Jiang Man felt helpless, but he still offered an explanation.

His victory was entirely thanks to his talent and effort. It had nothing whatsoever to do with Luo Xuan.

Unfortunately, Song Qing simply refused to believe him.

After that came new sparring matches. Once their relative strength had been established, they sparred with others on the same level.

They made up for their shortcomings and improved their use of the Six Harmonies Palm.

At noon, it was time for his planned cultivation.

Little Fatty still followed Jiang Man, cultivating nonstop.

He said that although he was currently second from the bottom, the person in last place was evenly matched with him.

They could swap places at any moment.

He wanted to work hard alongside Jiang Man.

He absolutely could not end up in last place. It would be hard to explain when he went home.

That evening.

Jiang Man successfully reached the sixth layer of the Qi and Blood Method. Tonight, he could reach the seventh.

Over the next two days, he could reach the ninth layer.

Then he could begin improving the strength of his body.

After finishing his practice, he took a deep breath and left the Sixth Courtyard.

The back courtyard.

Outside Mr. Zhao's room.

Jiang Man knocked lightly on the door.

Seeing his visitor, Zhao Leming was rather surprised. He could not think why Jiang Man had come to see him.

Food?

Or looking for new work?

If he's here for the Rearing Method, that would be rather troublesome.

"Jiang Man, do you have any questions about cultivation?" Zhao Leming invited him in to sit.

Hearing this, Jiang Man shook his head. "Your guidance has benefited me greatly, Mr. Zhao, so I don't have many questions about that. There's just one thing I wanted to ask."

"What is it?" Zhao Leming was rather curious as well.

After a brief hesitation, Jiang Man said, "I heard the Cloudfront Office has a Superior Visualization Method."

Zhao Leming looked at the person before him with some surprise. "You want it?"

"If there's something good, naturally I want to learn it," Jiang Man answered truthfully.

"That's simple enough," Zhao Leming said calmly. "Secure a place this time, then rank among the Cloudfront Office's top three, and you can obtain that Visualization Method."

Jiang Man fell silent. There was not enough time.

From mid-August to mid-December, there were a hundred and twenty days.

But he only had a hundred days.

In other words, by the end of November, he had to have successfully cultivated the Superior Visualization Method.

"You can't do it?" Zhao Leming asked.

He had not really thought Jiang Man could manage it anyway.

The leap was too great.

Advancing to the qi refining third layer might have been quick.

But further advancement would be much harder than before.

He would have to cultivate the Qi and Blood Method alongside it.

Once he started practicing it, it would consume considerable energy and money.

Otherwise, he would not be able to endure the hunger.

Jiang Man nodded slightly. "Is there a faster way?"

"How fast?" Zhao Leming asked.

Although Jiang Man was progressing quickly, he felt that the boy was beginning to lose his grounding.

At this rate, he probably would not go far.

Even if someone was secretly supporting him.

But would whoever was behind him really support someone who lost his grounding just from reaching the qi refining third layer?

He rather doubted it.

So his tone did not change at all.

Perhaps there was some other reason.

"Within two months," Jiang Man said.

Hearing this, Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man with some suspicion.

Whether he could obtain the Simple Visualization Method within two months was questionable, let alone the Superior Visualization Method.

"So you don't intend to follow the normal requirements?" Zhao Leming asked.

Jiang Man nodded.

That was indeed the case.

Anything after the contest for places held no meaning for him.

Because he would not live until then.

His fate configuration would strip him of all his cultivation, and then he would fail to secure a place.

After that, he would have no future.

Moreover, there was no way to know what would happen after he lost all his cultivation.

But it certainly would not be good.

Otherwise, those bearing fate configurations would not have short lives, with not one meeting a good end.

"In the past, there would basically have been no other way, but this year is different." Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man. "In about a month, people from the sect will come to select some people to test cultivation methods.

"There are roughly three.

"A Mortal Grade Superior Qi Refining Method, a Mortal Grade Superior Qi and Blood Method, and a mortal grade Superior Visualization Method.

"Testers can choose one.

"Do you want to try signing up?"

"Can I sign up?" Jiang Man did not dare agree immediately. Would something this good fall to him?

"Yes. These cultivation method trials usually have no issues. To put it plainly, the sect is giving away a cultivation method." Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man seriously. "So a group of people will compete for places. I can help, but it will come at a steep price."

With that, he looked at Jiang Man and said nothing more.

Jiang Man could sense that he was implying something.

Thanks to reader [?Dark Night Morning Star?] for becoming the first league leader. I'm ashamed; I don't dare promise extra chapters.

I'll see how things go once the novel goes premium. If I can manage it, I'll definitely add more.

Thank you!