Previously, they had always updated the sheets of paper.
They contained precise information and cultivation requirements.
This time, the sheets had not been updated.
Instead, the rankings and scores were updated.
Because the cultivation plans were no longer of any use.
At least, they were of no use today.
Once the scores appeared, a new round of assessment would begin.
Actual combat.
Currently, only five people in the Sixth Courtyard qualified.
He wondered whether anyone else would reach sixty points this time.
Soon, Jiang Man saw the rankings on the list.
First place: Jiang Man, sixty-seven points.
Second place: Luo Xuan, sixty-four points.
Third place: Fang Yong, sixty-four points.
Fourth place: Chang Qiwen, sixty-one points.
Fifth place: Cheng Yu, sixty points.
Jiang Man was somewhat surprised.
Second and third place were tied.
"I'm near the bottom again," Little Fatty said dejectedly.
He had gone from second from last all the way to fifth from last, and now he was back to second from last.
It was not that he had not worked hard, but that he had worked too hard.
That had driven everyone else to work desperately.
So those who had been close to advancing had all advanced straight to the qi refining third layer.
He was actually close too, but...
Time would not wait for him.
Everyone had been working far too desperately lately.
"At least you're not dead last," Jiang Man consoled him. "Your score is still one that last place has to look up to."
Little Fatty glanced at last place.
Last place: Xue You, twenty-one points.
Second from last: Gao Yao, twenty-two points.
"Does one point really take looking up?" Little Fatty looked at Jiang Man, then said admiringly, "Brother Jiang, how did you get such a high score as sixty-seven?"
"Just reach the qi refining sixth layer, the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Method, the eighth layer of the Qi and Blood Method, and the third layer of the Visualization Method," Jiang Man said.
Little Fatty: "..."
Jiang Man felt some regret that he had failed to break through to the qi refining seventh layer.
It was a little harder than he had expected.
There was actually a bottleneck, but fortunately, he could break through it by strengthening his physical body and mind.
With the support of the ninth layer of the Qi and Blood Method and the thirteenth layer of the Visualization Method, the bottleneck merely delayed his advancement.
It could not block his path.
Unfortunately, he had failed to advance by this day.
He could only fight a hard battle.
He had asked Old Yellow Ox last night and had more or less established his advantages.
"Only the top five qualify to compete. Then you'll draw lots..." Mr. Zhao began explaining the rules.
Four of the five would advance, and those four would then compete for the top two places.
They would draw lots for the first round, with one person receiving a bye.
The winners of the two matches would advance.
The two losers would fight again, with the winner advancing, while the loser would fight the person with the bye, and the winner would advance.
Afterward, the four would draw lots again.
Two people would lose the two matches. If those two were dissatisfied, they could fight each other, and the winner would qualify to challenge the opponent they had not yet fought.
If they won, they could replace that person and obtain a qualifying spot.
The loser could continue by challenging the other winner.
That would bring the combat assessment to a complete close.
And every match had to be completed within a single day.
It was fair, but also unfair.
Especially the first elimination.
Someone who had lost twice would still have to compete with the person who had received a bye.
In terms of expenditure, it was indeed unfair.
But in terms of opportunity, it was fair, since losing one match did not mean much.
There was always another chance to try.
And while the person receiving the bye was lucky, they also had only one chance; a single loss meant immediate elimination.
"That's a little complicated," Little Fatty said.
"It's not complicated. If you lose, you can still fight someone else who lost. In the first round, you only need to win once to advance.
"And in the finals, as long as you win two matches, you're guaranteed to advance," Song Qing said.
Jiang Man also found it complicated, but had no particular thoughts about it.
First came drawing lots.
The others immediately moved away.
Only Jiang Man and the other four remained in the middle of the courtyard.
Mr. Zhao took out a lot-drawing tube and said, "There are five lots in total. Draw in ranking order."
Jiang Man went up first, with Luo Xuan right behind him.
Soon, everyone had drawn a lot.
"Announce yours," Mr. Zhao said, looking at Jiang Man and the others.
He, too, was shocked by Jiang Man's progress.
His foundation was far stronger than before.
He had failed to recognize it.
"Number one," Jiang Man said.
"Number two," Luo Xuan said.
"Number one," Fang Yong said.
"Number two," Chang Qiwen said.
Cheng Yu held out her lot. "Blank."
Everyone was somewhat surprised that Cheng Yu had received the bye.
She, too, was extremely surprised.
She had not expected such good luck.
By her reckoning, she had already reached the finals.
Jiang Man looked at Fang Yong.
Fang Yong looked over as well.
Their eyes met, and both wanted to defeat the other.
Was there bad blood between them?
A little, but not much.
But Jiang Man thought Fang Yong was rather foolish, yet when he saw those Spell Arts, he also thought Fang Yong was quite impressive.
He actually knew some from each of the major Lineages.
Those rows of ninth and sixth layers were absolutely beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.
The other three then withdrew.
Jiang Man and Fang Yong remained.
Zhao Leming activated the formation and said, "You cannot take pills during combat. If you want to take any, you may do so now. In addition, you cannot use Law Treasures.
"Talismans above the qi refining sixth layer are prohibited.
"Once you're ready, you can begin at any time."
"I'm ready," Jiang Man said.
He did not have any of those things.
But with those things restricted, poor people had a chance.
Without restrictions, poor people would essentially have no chance.
"I'm ready too," Fang Yong said.
"Then begin," Zhao Leming said.
Booms were already coming from elsewhere, indicating that fighting had begun.
Jiang Man looked at Fang Yong. "Pardon me."
Fang Yong returned the courtesy. "I hope you're strong in actual combat too."
The instant his words fell, Jiang Man stepped forward.
Dragon roars immediately followed.
Golden dragons appeared around Jiang Man, one after another.
Nine golden dragons roared forth. In an instant, Jiang Man swiftly appeared before Fang Yong and struck with a palm, the remaining golden dragons roaring in after him.
Boom!
Fang Yong's pupils contracted. He immediately raised his arm to block Jiang Man's strike and was sent flying backward, but did not lose his balance.
In the process, he circulated the Hundred Battles Method and clad himself in Airborne Armor.
Then he struck with six palms.
Six Harmonies Palm.
Boom!
Boom!
The golden dragons dwindled one by one.
Jiang Man paid no heed and instead stamped a foot on the ground.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Collapsing Flow Technique.
Crack, bang!
Cracks extended beneath Fang Yong's feet, and spikes suddenly sprang from the ground to attack him.
Azure smoke appeared around Fang Yong, and he directly evaded the attack.
By then, Jiang Man had already arrived before him.
He struck with six palms.
Six Harmonies Palm.
Fang Yong extended a hand, and water currents appeared as he touched the Six Harmonies Palm.
They guided the Six Harmonies Palm in another direction.
Some of its force was even turned back against him.
Jiang Man was not surprised either. He circulated Three Talents Force again and struck with the Six Harmonies Palm.
He did not dodge, meeting it head-on instead.
Fang Yong was rather surprised. He had thought Jiang Man would dodge before attacking again.
But he did not mind either, striking with a palm-the Void Force Palm.
It pierced straight through the Six Harmonies Palm toward Jiang Man.
At that moment, Jiang Man turned into azure smoke and evaded the strike.
Immediately afterward, Nine Dragons Emerge Together attacked again.
The two exchanged blows, neither giving the slightest ground.
Even as they attacked together, they also had to evade attacks.
Fang Yong relied on experience to dodge, while Jiang Man relied entirely on Azure Smoke Prelude.
Their Spell Arts flashed ceaselessly, one after another.
Their figures vanished and reappeared.
"Whenever Jiang Man attacks, it's six palms, nine dragons, azure smoke, earth-shattering, and three forces-all his strongest Spell Arts," Teacher Fu said as she walked in from outside. "He wants to defeat Fang Yong with this kind of pressure."
"Unfortunately, it won't work. It might against Chang Qiwen and the others, but this approach will only exhaust him rapidly. He'll lose before long. An incense stick's worth of time at most," Mr. Zhao said.
An incense stick's worth of time passed.
Nine Dragons Emerge Together, six palms flying in unison.
Zhao Leming was somewhat surprised. "It seems he's doing all right, but he can only hold out for another half an incense stick at most."
Another incense stick's worth of time passed.
Collapsing flows surged, azure smoke spread, Nine Dragons Emerge Together, Nine Dragons Emerge Together.
Zhao Leming: "..."
What was going on?
Before you continue