Disabled in body but unbroken in spirit-Steward Miao still remembered those words vividly.
Wasn't a student cultivator in the rear courtyard with a score of zero practically half disabled?
Back then, she had used him as an example to inspire the others.
When he reached the Qi Refining Third Layer, it could count as encouragement.
After all, he had indeed made progress.
There was nothing wrong with counting that as a credit to the Spirit-Gathering Hall.
He was only someone with a score in the twenties. Nothing much.
As for how quickly he progressed, that did not mean much.
Especially in early Qi Refining, a month or a year amounted to much the same thing.
Sometimes it came down to luck, sometimes to money.
Either was possible.
But...
But the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, first in his courtyard.
That could no longer be used as encouragement.
Someone like that would earn the right to take the Sect Examination.
There was a certain chance he would enter the Wuyun Sect.
Once he entered the sect and looked back on things...
Her own fate, as Steward Miao, was foreseeable.
"Do you still need to inspire the people at the Spirit-Gathering Hall, Steward Miao?" Jiang Man suddenly asked.
How many Spirit Sources would he get if his pay doubled this time?
A guaranteed seventy or eighty Spirit Sources? Ten Spirit Sources for each extra lamp?
Earning a hundred Spirit Sources in a night was not out of the question.
Double that would be two hundred.
One day would match three days before.
And it would be more than seven days at the very beginning.
Meanwhile, cold sweat had already broken out on Steward Miao's back.
He was putting her on notice.
Taking a deep breath, Steward Miao said without any change in expression, "Taking first place makes you the pride of our Spirit-Gathering Hall. I think we can forgo the encouragement today and do something meaningful instead. On behalf of the Spirit-Gathering Hall, I am awarding you a Cultivation Fund of five hundred Spirit Sources, as a sign of our recognition and support for student cultivators who achieve something.
"Since you work at our Spirit-Gathering Hall, you are naturally one of our own.
"Your achievements are the greatest acknowledgment of the Spirit-Gathering Hall.
"In addition, I will personally contribute another five hundred Spirit Sources to support the pride of the Spirit-Gathering Hall."
As she spoke, she took out a thousand Spirit Sources and handed them to Jiang Man. "Here, take them. Put these Spirit Sources to good use and keep working hard.
"I said long ago that if anyone would succeed, it would be you.
"This proves I judged you correctly."
As Jiang Man accepted the thousand Spirit Sources, he felt rather moved.
Did first place have such a powerful effect?
He felt it was a pity. Had he known, he should have met more people when his score was zero and experienced their prejudiced looks and remarks.
If he visited them now, he would surely gain something.
Unfortunately, he had met too few people.
He still lacked connections.
The woman who had guided him in and followed him inside looked at the scene rather strangely.
She had not heard everything, but she saw Steward Miao give Jiang Man Spirit Sources.
She was shocked, but did not dare ask.
Afterward, Steward Miao arranged his guard duties.
He would formally cover the shifts in December.
Four days in total.
Once those details were clear, Jiang Man asked about hiring himself out.
For example, whether anyone needed a sparring partner.
Steward Miao said such opportunities existed, but it depended on demand.
She would notify him if anything suitable came up.
After thanking her, Jiang Man asked what his current rate was.
He wanted to continue "lighting lamps" at the Spirit-Gathering Hall.
Although she did not understand why Jiang Man wanted to continue, she still told him truthfully.
A guaranteed eighty Spirit Sources required seven lamps, with ten Spirit Sources for each additional lamp.
Jiang Man calculated that lighting eight a day would earn him ninety.
Twenty more than before.
All told, that would be an income of twenty-seven hundred a month.
He was already among the high earners.
But ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer would not come here, because it not only affected their cultivation, but also harmed their bodies.
As one's cultivation rose, the requirements for remaining unharmed grew even more demanding.
Both the Qi and Blood Method and the Visualization Method had to reach high levels.
Even Jiang Man still did not dare light the ninth lamp.
Because his body would definitely suffer damage.
Then the losses would outweigh the gains.
Afterward, Jiang Man went to the Spirit-Gathering Hall.
He did not want to miss a chance to earn Spirit Sources.
Ninety a day.
When else would he find such a good opportunity?
If he missed it, he would be slapping his thigh in regret even in his sleep.
Only after Jiang Man left did Steward Miao look at the puzzled woman beside her.
The woman asked curiously, "What happened?"
"Do you remember that man just now?" Steward Miao asked.
The woman nodded.
"He ranks first in his courtyard," Steward Miao said.
The woman was not surprised to hear this. "First from the bottom. We all know."
Steward Miao walked over, gently patted her shoulder, and said earnestly, "That was three months ago. Now he's truly first."
With that, Steward Miao walked outside.
Leaving the woman standing there, stunned.
That night.
Jiang Man returned to his lodgings and looked at Old Yellow Ox, who was eating grass. "Old Huang, did any letters come today?"
Old Yellow Ox fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'll try to recover so you can reply."
Jiang Man gave a sheepish smile. "You should still save your strength, so you can get yourself a wife."
Old Yellow Ox continued eating grass, but suddenly asked, "How many Spell Arts did you collect?"
Jiang Man told him truthfully.
A moment later, Old Yellow Ox raised his brows slightly. "You forgot something."
Jiang Man did not understand.
"You're at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer," Old Yellow Ox said.
Jiang Man still looked puzzled.
Old Yellow Ox lowered his head to eat grass and remarked casually, "The Superior Visualization Method is wrong."
Jiang Man froze.
I forgot.
He had not collected the Simple Visualization Method.
Anyone with an interest only had to check to discover that he might have successfully cultivated it.
Although he had been permitted to cultivate it, having his success discovered would be no small matter. He did not know whether the people from the sect would investigate.
It would be bad if their investigation led to the Evil God, Old Yellow Ox.
Once the people from the sect went back, it would not be much of a problem.
"Old Huang, you can just say it outright next time," Jiang Man said.
Old Yellow Ox glanced at Jiang Man, then lowered his head to eat grass.
Jiang Man sighed inwardly. People who spoke in riddles would get their just deserts.
Afterward, Jiang Man began tallying his wealth.
He had received fifteen hundred from Chang Qiwen, a thousand from the Spirit-Gathering Hall, and earned ninety himself.
He had twenty left before that.
After deducting his recent food expenses...
He still had twenty-five hundred and eighty.
He was truly rich, but he still owed Little Fatty six Spirit-Gathering Pills.
Deduct eighteen hundred, and only seven hundred and eighty remained.
Two Spirit-Gathering Pills would wipe that out.
It seemed there was no hurry to repay him.
Elsewhere, moonlight from the window fell across a tabletop.
Beside it, Cheng Yu opened her eyes slightly, looking a little tired.
"Can Qi Refining cultivators really keep cultivating without sleeping?"
That one remark from Jiang Man had affected more than just her.
Even Luo Xuan and Fang Yong were trying to accomplish it.
Cultivating through the entire night.
Cultivating even at the cost of sleep.
But she had never managed to overcome that hurdle.
She still needed some time to rest, or her body became far too exhausted.
That would instead affect her cultivation the next day.
Balancing work and rest-she felt that was the right approach.
But...
Everyone was trying it, so she, too, had to be pushed along.
"I wonder how effective that letter was. In a few days, I'll go say hello and ask him to write back."
"I wonder what he'll write in his reply."
Thinking of this, Cheng Yu felt a little anticipation.
She wanted to see what chivalrous spirit and tender feelings lay in the heart of this newly crowned number one.
The more she understood him, the easier it would be to win him over.
Some exceptionally gifted people had little experience of the world and knew nothing of its ways.
They seemed like people one could only look up to, but in reality, as long as one drew close, they would lower their guard.
It would only become more troublesome once they gained more experience.
Before you continue