Zhao Leming's meaning was plain.
Spots were limited, and the opportunity was rare. In previous years, it had been unavailable no matter how much one wanted it.
Now there was an opportunity, but not everyone could secure it.
He could; it was just a question of how much he could get.
Jiang Man stood where he was, sighing inwardly.
The man wanted something in return, but what did Jiang Man have to offer?
It had to be the second half of the Flame-Treading Spirit Steed method.
The first half could only spare someone one bout of weakness.
The second half was the true core.
Perhaps the man had sensed something, which was why he had chosen this moment to sound him out and name his price.
If Jiang Man wanted this spot, he would have to pay enough for it.
And this Rearing Method really was the only thing he could offer.
Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man and continued, "Opportunity waits for no one. Perhaps you don't know just how rare this chance to test Cultivation Methods is.
"In previous years, a good thing like this would never have fallen to Falling Cloud City's Cloudfront Office.
"It's only because, for certain reasons, people from the sect are passing through this year that we have this opportunity.
"And precisely because the opportunity is rare, the competition is exceptionally fierce.
"Ordinary Spirit Sources and pills would hardly secure this opportunity.
"Only something others don't have but need could give you a chance of getting a spot."
With the man having gone this far, Jiang Man naturally could not pretend not to notice.
After hesitating, he said, "Are you confident, Mr. Zhao?"
"Ninety percent confident. If I fail, I can compensate you with something else." After a pause, Mr. Zhao continued, "But there are requirements for successfully registering, too.
"The superior Mortal Grade Qi Refining Method has the lowest requirements. No cultivation is needed.
"The Qi and Blood Method requires Qi Refining Third Layer, a score as high as thirty, and no prior practice of a Qi and Blood Method.
"The Visualization Method requires Qi Refining Sixth Layer, a score as high as sixty-two, and no prior practice of a Visualization Method."
"Roughly when would that be?" Jiang Man asked.
Mr. Zhao thought for a moment and said, "In about two months at the latest."
Two months. Jiang Man asked, "Then will it be based on the scores from the mid-November assessment?"
"No. You only need to reach the requirements before the trial. If you fall short in the courtyard assessment, you'll be tested again when the methods are imparted. But the candidates will be chosen somewhat earlier, so you don't have much time left," Zhao Leming explained.
Jiang Man fell silent for a moment.
Supposing mid-November was around the ninetieth day.
There would still be ten days then.
If so, he should have enough time.
"The timing is indeed a little tight for you, but if you want a Superior Visualization Method, this is your only path." Zhao Leming weighed his words, then continued, "If not for this unexpected opportunity, there would only be one Superior Visualization Method in all of Falling Cloud City. The other Aristocratic Clans may seem extraordinary, but they can never match the Orthodox Tradition."
The Orthodox Tradition was naturally the Cloudfront Office.
Other Lineages could be very powerful, but they could never surpass the Cloudfront Office.
The man had made himself very clear. There was only this one opportunity.
Or rather, this was the only opportunity before December.
There would be no others.
So there was no doubt: if Jiang Man wanted it, he had to agree.
He had to produce the second half of the Rearing Method.
But the requirements were also extremely demanding.
He had to reach Qi Refining Sixth Layer and score sixty-two points, without having practiced a Visualization Method.
Qi Refining Sixth Layer was worth forty-eight points, so the remainder had to come from the Qi Refining Method and the Qi and Blood Method.
The two cultivation methods had to add up to fourteen points.
Divided evenly, that meant reaching the seventh layer in each.
At present, probably no one in the Sixth Courtyard could manage it.
"Do you want to register?" Zhao Leming asked.
Jiang Man felt that the man was certain he had the second half.
After a brief silence, he said, "Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Zhao. I'll come see you again tomorrow."
Hearing this, Zhao Leming felt a surge of joy.
There really was a second half.
With this, his Immortal Path would become all the smoother.
Still, securing a spot would not be easy.
Fortunately, he had the Rearing Method. Otherwise, he really would not have been able to secure one.
After hesitating, he offered a well-meant warning. "If you insist on the Visualization Method, you need to prepare yourself. Your score might not catch up in time, and there can be no exceptions on the score."
Jiang Man nodded to show he understood.
The man also made it clear that if Jiang Man's score or cultivation fell short in the end, he would not be responsible.
Jiang Man indicated that he understood this too.
Then he left.
In truth, he did not particularly care about the second half of the Rearing Method.
Exchanging it for a chance to register was already well worth it.
Besides, there was no other way.
He was only worried about whether the man would do anything else after obtaining the complete method.
He could not be sure, but he could not refuse either.
He had no other choice.
He was too weak, and this place was too small. There was only one path.
No matter how great his talent, he would still be trapped.
Jiang Man went back to Old Yellow Ox, first writing out the Rearing Method, then practicing the Qi and Blood Method.
He would strive to reach the ninth layer within these two days.
The next day.
Zhao Leming's wait ended with Jiang Man's arrival.
This time, he was even a little impatient. Had he not needed to maintain the upper hand in the exchange, he would have gone to wait for Jiang Man himself long ago.
The sooner he obtained the Rearing Method, the sooner he could tap into his potential on his Immortal Journey.
When he received the book, he did not rush to read it. Instead, he told Jiang Man to wait for news; there would be definite news by November at the latest.
People from the sect would probably arrive in October.
He told Jiang Man to keep an eye out.
Only after Jiang Man left did he eagerly open the book.
It was indeed the second half of the Rearing Method.
It was a little more profound than the previous part, but deciphering it was only a matter of time.
This made him all the more certain that someone was backing Jiang Man.
Who it was, he could not determine, and he knew nothing of the circumstances either.
But the exchange had gone smoothly.
He sought wealth and a future, and the other party appeared to be doing the same.
Then naturally, all he needed to do was complete the exchange.
There would certainly be no harm in it.
Being too greedy was not necessarily a good thing. If he blocked the other party's path, his own way out might be blocked as well.
It was still that same saying.
Let the other party off, and let yourself off too.
Patting the book in his hand, he planned to make a trip out.
He had accepted the payment; he still had to do what needed doing.
Jiang Man returned to the courtyard. All he could do was wait for news and raise his cultivation as quickly as possible.
In two months, he needed to raise his cultivation to Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
It really was somewhat difficult.
Previously, it had taken a month and pills just to reach the third layer.
Not only would the difficulty multiply from here on, but he also had no Flawless Qi-Gathering Pills.
The Peerless Heaven's Chosen Destiny was still too stingy.
Today's lesson covered the Qi and Blood Method. After listening, Jiang Man began practicing.
For two days straight.
On the afternoon of the second day, Jiang Man stopped practicing.
His Simple Qi and Blood Method had reached the ninth layer.
He could strengthen his body now.
Before cultivating, though, he planned to go back and eat some meat.
Over the past few days, he had spent some Spirit Sources on food precisely so that he could strengthen his body more effectively.
In the courtyard, Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu also left together.
They had not gone far when Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, why haven't you kept asking Jiang Man to spar with you these past two days?"
"Everyone says I'm grooming him to be my Personal Guard. What do you think he makes of that?" Luo Xuan asked.
"He's happy about it? But he has been improving rather quickly lately. I don't know whether he was hiding his ability before or suddenly broke through." Cheng Yu thought for a moment, then said, "Or perhaps it's a kind of sudden enlightenment. It's just a little too late."
"Yes, it's too late. But with enough resources, he might still have a chance," Luo Xuan said with a smile. "So he must weigh the gains and losses too.
"Everyone is saying he's a guard. Perhaps he'll begin leaning that way himself.
"At least this is a path out in the open.
"After two days, he's probably more or less thought it through. Especially after strengthening his body, he'll understand even better that, as he is now, he simply can't afford his own upkeep.
"Now all that's missing is an opening.
"If he really is interested, give him a step down, and he'll come to me."
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