Jiang Man spent the entire night cultivating.
Only in the early hours did he rest for a while.
Starting today, he would focus on roughly two things.
First, filling the sixth "Gourd"; second, improving his spell arts.
At the very least, he had to finish learning all the spell arts available at thirty, forty, fifty, and sixty points.
That way, even if Luo Xuan and the others had other powerful spell arts to bolster them, he would still have a fighting chance.
He had only just arrived at the courtyard.
Teacher Fu arrived right after him.
"It's already late November." Fu Yidan looked at Jiang Man. "You have very little time left. I've collected the spell arts for you. Whichever one you want to learn, I can still teach you now."
As she spoke, she handed Jiang Man the four spell art manuals she was holding.
They were precisely the spell arts available from thirty to sixty points.
They were, respectively, the "Dragon-Suppressing Method" for thirty points.
Nurture dragons with qi, with nine layers producing nine dragons-a purely offensive technique.
The "Collapsing Flow Technique" for forty points.
Condense qi in both feet and bring out the weight of spiritual qi, making a single kick weigh a thousand jin, with downward strikes delivering the greatest power.
The "Azure Smoke Prelude" for fifty points.
Turn the body into smoke-a spell art for dodging at close range, with a powerful burst that could not be sustained. Apparently, there was a second half, and its use was not limited to the Qi Refining stage.
The "Basic Swordsmanship" for sixty points.
True basic swordsmanship, without any power, but a prerequisite for the Sword-Controlling Technique.
The most useful, and also the most useless.
Looking at these spell arts, Jiang Man thought for a moment and decided to learn them step by step.
He would start with the Dragon-Suppressing Method.
So this morning, he learned the Dragon-Suppressing Method from Teacher Fu.
The others had no objections either.
Those at the qi refining fourth layer could generally learn it, and those who could not could still simulate it.
Once they could learn it in the future, this would save them considerable time.
Learning a little more theory would also give them some means of responding if they encountered it.
After Teacher Fu's instruction, Jiang Man began improving it.
He could still only raise it to the fifth layer.
After that came sparring with Luo Xuan.
Because of last night's letter, he was curious about what expression she would have.
Unfortunately, he could not discern any expression.
She was as poised and natural as before.
She seemed completely unaware of that letter's existence.
This made him look toward Cheng Yu, only to find that, like Luo Xuan, she had not changed at all and was not even paying him any attention.
It made last night feel like a dream.
After that, Jiang Man stopped dwelling on it.
Sparring opportunities were rare, so naturally, he needed to gain some experience.
Luo Xuan was also doing her utmost to figure out Jiang Man's habits when attacking.
Sparring with Jiang Man could not improve her experience or technique.
But she could get a clear sense of his methods.
Such sparring offered enormous benefits.
Because her greatest enemy now was Jiang Man.
Golden dragons appeared one after another and collided. Jiang Man staggered back several steps before regaining his footing.
"Thank you for the match," Luo Xuan said softly.
Jiang Man nodded slightly. He found that he fell far short of Luo Xuan.
At the same cultivation level, without mobilizing enough spiritual qi, he was no match for her at all.
It was a gap in technical proficiency...
Qi Refining still calls for close combat, so I should learn Basic Fist Technique and Basic Palm Technique, and dabble in Basic Movement Method too.
After sparring came cultivation.
This was Jiang Man's home ground.
Everyone had to cultivate along with him. Until he left, no one could even think about leaving.
The person in first place led by example.
Everyone else could only follow closely in his footsteps.
Previously, some people had complained, even voicing their dissatisfaction quietly.
Now...
They had to wait until the person in first place left before complaining again.
Each day was worse than the last.
Luo Xuan, Fang Yong, and the others all cultivated alongside Jiang Man without a word.
Previously, they had been qualified to break this atmosphere.
Now, they had lost even that right.
Especially after seeing Chang Qiwen's bruised and swollen face today.
The authority of first place stood unshaken.
Only after the sky darkened did Jiang Man leave.
But he had not gone far before Little Fatty caught up.
"Brother Jiang, could you finish a little earlier next time?" Little Fatty was drenched in sweat, exhausted from cultivating.
"So you can go back early and cultivate in secret?" Jiang Man asked.
Little Fatty: "..."
After a pause, he asked curiously, "Chang Qiwen lost? But didn't everyone say you'd barely practiced any spell arts?"
Jiang Man thought for a moment. "It's down to talent."
Little Fatty fell silent for a moment. "Where did that talent come from?"
Jiang Man pondered briefly. "How about trying to get yourself a wife?"
Hearing that, Little Fatty sighed and said quietly, "If it gave me that kind of talent and let me take first place, I'd be willing to marry early-even marry Luo Xuan."
Taken aback by those words, Jiang Man asked, "Would marrying her really be such a hardship for you?"
"Of course." Little Fatty looked utterly serious. "Her talent is extraordinary, and her aspirations are high. She's destined to marry a favored son of heaven.
"If I married a woman like that, wouldn't that be an insult to her?
"Before long, she'd have to kill me.
"Marrying her would be no different from going to my death.
"I still prefer someone like Cheng Yu-gentle and considerate, never fighting or competing for anything, with a smile like bathing in a spring breeze.
"She really makes you feel relaxed and at ease.
"Especially since she speaks so pleasantly and doesn't discriminate against low scorers like us.
"Of course, I'm not worthy of her either, and I wouldn't dare dream of it.
"If someone like that suddenly approached me, there would definitely be a plot.
"I'd keep a respectful distance, anyway.
"Besides, if I married someone else, I could marry several, all beautiful and gentle."
Jiang Man stared at Little Fatty in silence for a long time.
Especially after hearing the part about marrying several.
Ah, these damn sons of wealthy families.
Also, in Little Fatty's eyes, Luo Xuan was the equivalent of being struck by heavenly lightning.
But Cheng Yu was a very good person in his eyes.
Was that really the truth, though?
Jiang Man did not know.
But he had to be on guard.
Unfortunately, last night's letter had mentioned a cow. Otherwise, he could have given it to Little Fatty.
And left him in constant dread.
After parting with Little Fatty, Jiang Man went to the Guard Office again. This time, he first sought out the two guards.
They were the ones who had suggested covering shifts.
The middle-aged guard looked at Jiang Man. "You have time now?"
"Yes." Jiang Man nodded. "I'll have time for a while from now on."
He had already taken the Spirit Sources for covering their shifts, so he had to do it.
Although he would be guarding the main gate, fortunately, it was not difficult, and he could cultivate on the spot.
It was not a bad thing.
He would just occasionally be seen by people passing by.
The only drawback was that he would get considerably fewer Spirit Sources than at the Spirit-Gathering Hall.
Just then, the other guard beside them asked curiously, "Has your ranking in the courtyard changed?"
"No." Jiang Man smiled. "Still first."
Last time, he had been first from the bottom; today, he was first from the top.
Both were first.
The two guards: "..."
They knew Jiang Man had been made an example of on his first day.
That had been a zero.
A score of zero was so distinctive that they could not have avoided hearing about it.
The news had spread even faster than news of a genius appearing.
At least, that was the case at the Guard Office.
But the fact that someone with zero points dared call himself first was enough to earn both guards' admiration.
They dared not provoke him. What if he really succeeded?
There was no harm in showing a little respect to someone so extreme.
Afterward, Jiang Man headed inside to find Steward Miao.
The specifics would still depend on Steward Miao's arrangements.
"This is you?" Steward Miao looked from the sheet of paper in her hand to Jiang Man.
"That's me." Jiang Man nodded.
"This really is you?" Steward Miao asked again.
"This really is me," Jiang Man answered once more.
Steward Miao fell silent.
Looking at the large words "first place" on the paper, she found herself somewhat at a loss for words.
He really pulled it off. This isn't good.
Was my attitude toward him not friendly enough before?
Before you continue