Does First Place Need to Prove Himself to You?

Challenging the person in first place was nothing unusual.

Having the highest score did not mean someone was the best in actual combat.

So, to spur the top-ranked students onward,

the person ranked first in each courtyard could be challenged.

It was just that very few people actually faced challenges.

Luo Xuan had held first place for so long, yet even Fang Yong in second place had never challenged her.

If Fang Yong did not make a move, the others were even less likely to challenge her.

They could not afford that humiliation.

Yet Jiang Man had only just risen to the top, and while others were still looking up at him, the former third-place student had dared to jump out and challenge him.

It truly was an affront to the person in first place.

After all, even the runner-up had said nothing.

Everyone else was watching what happened now.

In the past, few people would have paid much attention to whether Jiang Man was being challenged.

But things were different now.

He was the strongest person in the Sixth Courtyard.

A genius who drew everyone's attention simply by standing there.

Now that someone wanted to challenge such a genius, who could fail to take notice and feel curious?

Even Luo Xuan and Fang Yong, who had been cultivating all this time, turned to look.

Where once they would have dismissed him without a glance, now they pricked up their ears.

This was the absolute change that first place brought.

But faced with Chang Qiwen's challenge-a private challenge at that-

Jiang Man was puzzled.

"A private match saves the other person some face, but it can also lead to serious injuries," Little Fatty explained.

"Can I refuse?" Jiang Man asked.

Why should he fight him?

Did a single expression of doubt from the other party mean he had to get sucked into the whirlpool of proving himself?

First place was first place. Did he need their approval?

If they disagreed, they could go to Mr. Zhao and have him explain just what first place meant.

Have him explain whether there was anything inflated about that ranking.

A challenge?

That was just making trouble for himself. Why should the person in first place have to prove himself?

If proof was needed, what was the point of scores?

"Yes, but most people agree," Little Fatty explained beside him. "Besides proving the worth of your first-place ranking by accepting,

"the challenger also has to pay a challenge fee.

"Five hundred Spirit Sources for a public challenge.

"One thousand Spirit Sources for a private challenge."

Before Little Fatty could continue, Jiang Man stepped forward, bowed politely to Chang Qiwen, and said, "I accept your challenge."

The person in first place ought to have the magnanimity befitting first place.

He had to make room for others and give them opportunities.

Without the spirit of an ocean embracing a hundred rivers, how could he stand at the pinnacle of the courtyard?

How could he hold first place?

Chang Qiwen was rather surprised. He had not expected Jiang Man to agree so readily. He promptly handed over a pouch and said, "Here are one thousand Spirit Sources. When are you free?"

"Tonight," Jiang Man said.

The two did not agree on a location.

Instead, Chang Qiwen would come find him.

Since it was private, naturally, they did not want spectators.

Once Chang Qiwen left, Jiang Man looked toward Luo Xuan and the others.

Luo Xuan nodded slightly and resumed cultivating, while Fang Yong gave a cold snort and likewise began cultivating.

Cheng Yu smiled and went back to her own business as well.

They were all at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Only they were qualified to challenge him.

Unfortunately, only Chang Qiwen had issued a challenge.

"I thought you were going to refuse." Little Fatty considered his words before asking, "Do you have a chance of winning?"

He knew that Jiang Man basically never practiced spell arts.

His cultivation might be high, but his actual combat ability was rather average.

Beating Song Qing was no problem, but fighting anyone in the top four would be a major issue.

Jiang Man smiled without answering.

His meaning was clear: he was brimming with confidence.

Still, Little Fatty reminded Jiang Man to be careful. If he was seriously injured and could not participate in the next assessment, he would miss out on the contest for a spot entirely.

Without a doubt, Jiang Man was aiming for a spot.

Little Fatty found it hard to believe. Someone who had been sharing the bottom ranks with him just a few months ago had somehow climbed all the way to first place.

Before heaven and earth were settled, countless dark horses could emerge.

Unfortunately, he was not one of them.

"Is our first-place student here today?" Fu Yidan asked as she entered.

Jiang Man immediately answered.

Fu Yidan looked at Jiang Man, some surprise in her eyes.

Jiang Man...

For years, he had worn coarse hemp clothes, and he had always smelled either of sweat or the sour stench of the Stable.

She had imagined that the others might strive their way upward.

But she had never imagined that Jiang Man could reach the top in a single bound.

He still wore coarse hemp clothes, but the old stench was gone.

Not only that, he shone simply by standing there.

This was the effect of first place.

Finally, she said calmly, "Stand in the first row."

Only after Jiang Man had taken his place did she continue, "You've collected few spell arts and studied few as well. Spend more effort on that this month."

Jiang Man nodded to show that he understood.

He truly had not had time before.

Now, he just needed to fill the sixth "Gourd."

He would reach the optimal state of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Then he would study spell arts.

With spell-art innate qi, learning them should not be too difficult.

He just needed to see what he should learn.

This time, Fu Yidan explained the Three Talents Force.

She had probably originally prepared to teach the Dragon-Suppressing Method, but since Jiang Man only knew the Six Harmonies Palm and the Three Talents Force, she chose the Three Talents Force.

This was preferential treatment for first place.

And this was only first place in the courtyard. If he ranked first in the Azure Cloud Pavilion,

then the entire Azure Cloud Pavilion's progress would have to be aligned with his.

After the explanation came sparring.

This time, Jiang Man's sparring partner was Luo Xuan, who ranked second.

Even if he used the remaining time to improve his Three Talents Force, he could reach the fifth layer at most.

Meanwhile, her Three Talents Force was most likely at the ninth layer.

He truly was no match for her.

Unless he used his full strength, together with the Spirit Travel Step and the Six Harmonies Palm.

Otherwise, he had no chance of winning.

The Three Talents Force centered on force: one force every three layers, three forces at the ninth layer. Before the sixth layer, it was ming jin; after the sixth layer, it was an jin.

So pitting his fifth layer against her ninth layer

was like striking a stone with an egg.

An jin could not only easily break through the ming jin attached to the hands, but also severely damage the internal organs.

So even sparring with just this technique carried considerable risk.

"Don't worry." Luo Xuan looked at Jiang Man and said calmly, "I'll spar with you at the same level as yours."

Luo Xuan had no intention of bullying him.

To her, there was no need for that.

Jiang Man was somewhat surprised.

Was this young lady really so accommodating?

Did she not feel upset?

After all, she had hired him as a sparring partner not long ago, and now he had surpassed her.

The disparity in their cultivation could throw a person's state of mind off balance.

It would be perfectly understandable for her to strike underhandedly.

But since she had said as much, he stopped hesitating.

After cultivating for two hours, Jiang Man successfully reached the fifth layer.

Then came the sparring.

Exchanges using the Three Talents Force were not fierce, but powerful forces collided with every move.

This helped Jiang Man gain insights faster.

His improvement was more rapid as well.

Compared with sparring with Song Qing, he really did improve better against someone strong.

Still, Jiang Man remained on guard against her striking underhandedly.

Fortunately, she did not deliberately resort to any underhanded attacks throughout the sparring session.

She merely bowed courteously, then went off to cultivate on her own.

She truly was a young lady of a wealthy household.

Jiang Man could not help marveling at how well brought up she was.

Over on Fang Yong and Cheng Yu's side, the fighting was much fiercer.

Both were at the ninth layer of the Three Talents Force, and they were truly gaining practical combat experience.

In the afternoon, it was time to cultivate.

As always, Jiang Man devoted his full attention to cultivating, focusing on the Three Talents Force.

He stood at the very front, where everyone would be watching him.

If he did not leave, the others could only keep practicing along with him.

It was one thing to act like this when he ranked dead last, but he was still working this hard now that he ranked first.

He was leaving the others no room to live.

Little Fatty suffered miserably, because Luo Xuan had been pushed out of first place.

She could not possibly take the lead in leaving. If the person in first place stayed, how could she leave?

For a time, everyone cultivated even later.

When Jiang Man finished, Luo Xuan asked curiously, "What time do you usually cultivate until?"

Jiang Man looked puzzled.

Luo Xuan added, "What time do you cultivate until at night?"

"Until dawn," Jiang Man answered.

Luo Xuan looked stunned. "Dawn? You don't rest?"

"Do we need to rest?" Jiang Man asked in return.

Luo Xuan frowned. "Shouldn't we rest?"

"You're all so young. How can you sleep?" Jiang Man replied before leaving the courtyard.

He left everyone staring in astonishment.