Another Expert?

Once everyone had arrived, Zhao Leming came in carrying the books.

This assessment was no different from the previous ones.

But it was also the last normal assessment.

Next month, they would compete for eligibility to take the sect assessment.

Starting next month, actual combat would be added.

Only actual combat could truly determine who would qualify.

Those left would have to think carefully about where to go next.

In August next year, they would officially leave the Cloudfront Office and go their separate ways.

Everyone was quietly waiting for the assessment.

Jiang Man observed Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu and found that neither of them looked his way.

Luo Xuan glanced at Fang Yong, while Cheng Yu gave him a couple more looks.

Both were normal reactions. Jiang Man was somewhat uncertain which of the two was more of a problem.

He put it out of his mind after that. He would take first place before anything else.

Up front, Zhao Leming was not surprised by Jiang Man and the others' return.

But he was also curious how many points Jiang Man could score this time.

If he could not make the top three, there would be a serious problem.

The people from the sect really would eliminate candidates.

The token could be used, but anyone who used it had to demonstrate their strength.

Otherwise, they would not accept it.

Putting those thoughts aside, he handed out the books.

The day's two assessments concluded smoothly.

Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu walked back together.

On the way, Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, did you really pay a price to get Jiang Man out?"

"No." Luo Xuan shook her head. "I was surprised to hear that too, but I didn't dwell on it. Since he has no such intention, there's no need for me to do more."

"That was a perfect opportunity to win his loyalty, and you just let it slip?" Cheng Yu asked with a smile.

Luo Xuan shook her head. "I'm not close to him. I used him to slow Fang Yong down, but getting myself dragged in would mean losing more than I gained.

"He has some potential, but judging by his performance so far, he doesn't seem like someone who would become a bodyguard.

"There's no need for me to waste my energy on him. There's only one thing I need to do now: hold my ranking and secure a spot."

After parting with Luo Xuan, Cheng Yu frowned. "Everything was going smoothly, but it's a pity both of them got out.

"I thought Luo Xuan had finally come to her senses and gotten Jiang Man out early.

"From the looks of it, Luo Xuan really is giving up on Jiang Man.

"She still lacks vision. He's such a promising bodyguard candidate.

"Who wouldn't become a bodyguard?

"It's merely a matter of not having used sufficient means."

Then Cheng Yu headed for the Law Enforcement Office.

After making the necessary arrangements, she met Chang Qiwen, who was locked up inside.

"Miss Cheng, did I complete my task?" he immediately asked.

Cheng Yu played with the long hair over her shoulder and smiled. "You failed."

At that, Chang Qiwen immediately said, "How could that be?"

"It wasn't your fault. You did well enough. But your actions were too obvious, so you've been disqualified and won't be getting out anytime soon." Having said that, Cheng Yu changed tack. "But I can take care of all that for you.

"There's a new task now."

"Please tell me, young miss," Chang Qiwen said respectfully.

"On the fifteenth of next month, pay whatever price is necessary to injure Luo Xuan or Fang Yong." Cheng Yu smiled. "I still want a spot in the sect assessment."

Chang Qiwen nodded respectfully. "I'll make sure it's done."

After that, Cheng Yu left.

She was merely hesitating over whether to see Jiang Man.

But his circumstances had not yet reached that point.

And since she did not know how he had gotten out, she decided not to go.

She decided to wait for the rankings this time.

It would be even better if he ranked near the top. As long as he agreed, one of those two spots might well be his.

Later, he could become a sharp blade in her hands.

Luo Xuan was still too proud, refusing to nurture such a fine bodyguard.

Chang Qiwen had returned too.

Everyone was somewhat astonished.

How exactly had he gotten out?

Even Jiang Man was a little surprised.

Did Young Master Yang pull strings?

He did not quite believe it.

But Chang Qiwen had gotten out all the same.

One thing was certain, though: his ranking would not be high this time.

He had not participated in yesterday's assessments.

But it made no difference to Jiang Man. Whether someone in third place participated was all the same to him.

Soon, today's assessments ended.

Tomorrow, the seventeenth, was when the rankings would be released.

"What time are you coming tomorrow?" Little Fatty came over to Jiang Man and asked.

Jiang Man shook his head. "I probably won't be able to come tomorrow. The rankings will be posted at noon. You'll know my ranking then."

"Will tenth place be difficult?" Little Fatty asked expectantly.

Jiang Man pondered briefly, then said, "Difficult."

Little Fatty sighed. "That's fine too. Getting close to the top ten is pretty good."

Jiang Man did not explain. Instead, he went back to cultivate.

Right now, he needed to accumulate enough cultivation to deal with next month's actual combat.

He also needed to step up his spell practice, followed by actual combat training.

That was somewhat troublesome.

He needed someone to spar with.

He would either have to train with someone of comparable strength or pay someone.

After some thought, Jiang Man decided to try his luck at the Guard Office.

After all, other people needed actual combat experience too. He could rent himself out.

"You're going to learn the Visualization Method tomorrow?" Old Yellow Ox asked.

Jiang Man nodded. "Yes."

"If you fail to learn it, remember to memorize the contents. You'll still have chances later," Old Yellow Ox reminded him.

Jiang Man understood.

There was one extremely important aspect to learning cultivation methods: explanation.

Cultivation methods were not something one could learn at a glance. They were actually extremely complex.

Someone had to explain them, and then one had to comprehend them independently.

Only then could one understand the circulation routes.

If he relied solely on his own comprehension, he would not be able to get started.

Geniuses like that were too rare, and it required an extensive foundation in cultivation methods.

Jiang Man did not have such a foundation, but as long as he could memorize it, he could still consult Old Yellow Ox.

Daybreak soon came.

A night of cultivation had left Jiang Man quite hungry.

He ate everything he could.

If he failed today, there would more or less be no tomorrow.

He needed to get himself into the best possible condition.

Soon, he arrived at the Dharma Transmission Office.

Upon entering, he took out the token.

The guard was a little surprised, but still returned the token and said, "Follow me."

Elsewhere.

The Sixth Courtyard of the Azure Cloud Pavilion.

The ranking sheets were handed out one by one.

Luo Xuan immediately checked the contents of her sheet.

November 17.

Cloudfront Office, Azure Cloud Pavilion.

Rear grounds, Sixth Courtyard.

Name: Luo Xuan.

Ranking: 2 (out of 26).

Cultivation: Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Cultivation method levels: Purifying Dust Qi Refining Method, eighth layer; Spring Bright Qi and Blood Method, fifth layer; Simple Visualization Method, second layer.

Resources obtained: "Simple Qi Refining Method," "Simple Qi and Blood Method," "Simple Visualization Method," "Spirit Travel Step," "Six Harmonies Palm," "Three Talents Force."

Plan: practice eighty times daily.

Score: 63.

Comment: must work harder and reclaim first place.

The instant she saw the contents, Luo Xuan's pupils contracted.

Second?

She found it somewhat hard to believe. Fang Yong surpassed me?

She had thought he would surpass her in December, never expecting it to happen in November.

It baffled her.

At that moment, Fang Yong also saw his ranking.

Third.

It sent a tremendous shock through him.

Cheng Yu surpassed me?

Sure enough, she's the biggest problem.

Seeing that she was still ranked fourth, Cheng Yu was surprised. There's another expert?

For a moment, those at the top of the rankings were filled with a jumble of emotions, but none of them made a sound.