’I definitely need to store up some Spiritual Source.’

’Otherwise, a sudden shortage of Spiritual Source would leave me in a vulnerable position.’

’Looks like Xiaopang’s remaining Elixirs will have to wait.’

’Chang Qiweng goes to the Sect twice a year, so I’ll still have a chance to pay Xiaopang back through him.’

Jiang Man stopped dwelling on it and decided to focus on reaching the Physical Body Ninth Layer and the Spiritual Ninth Layer as quickly as possible.

There was certainly no harm in maxing out both before advancing to Foundation Establishment.

「Meanwhile.」

In a corner courtyard of the Yunqian Bureau’s residences, Fang Yong was cultivating diligently.

His progress had been slow recently.

He hadn’t been well-off to begin with, and after giving Jiang Man a batch of Spiritual Source, he was even more destitute.

’If I’d known, I should have asked for a discount.’

’Lesson learned.’

Now, he was desperately short on Spiritual Source.

Especially with the assessment drawing near. Everyone else was constantly improving, and if he fell behind, he could easily be eliminated from the running for the Sect. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As he was pondering whether to borrow Spiritual Source from Chang Qiweng, he suddenly noticed someone approaching.

After seeing who it was, his brow furrowed, and he grew vigilant.

The newcomer was Cheng Yu.

Fang Yong did not have a good impression of this person.

After all, she had been his opponent before. Although he had won, it hadn’t been easy.

It was very easy to fall for her tricks.

"Young Master Fang, why are you looking at me like that?" Cheng Yu said softly as she approached. "It’s as if I’m some unforgivable villain. It would be normal for Luo Xuan to look at me that way."

"There’s no need for you to be like this, is there, Young Master Fang?"

"Although I investigated you, I never told anyone. Aside from using it in our practical combat match, I haven’t caused you any trouble, Young Master Fang."

"Besides, when I ran into them, I happened to help them out."

"If they saw me, they’d even have to thank me."

Fang Yong stared at her and said, "What do you want from me?"

Cheng Yu smiled, raising a hand to show off the Spiritual Source within it. "I’m here to lend you some Spiritual Source. I’ve been watching you lately. You’re running low."

"Jiang Man is short too. Why not lend it to him?" Fang Yong asked.

’He’s number one in the Yunqian Bureau. Lending to him would be a much better investment than lending to me.’

"Because he can’t help me. Besides, he has a wife. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to get close to him. If I’m not careful, I might not earn a favor and end up being resented instead. What good would that do?" Cheng Yu said with a serious expression. "You’re different, Young Master Fang. There aren’t so many concerns with you. Also, Jiang Man is number one in the Yunqian Bureau. He’s not short on Spiritual Source."

"If he wanted to borrow, plenty of people would be willing to lend to him. He just doesn’t like to owe favors."

"He’s a good person."

"But you, Young Master Fang, are a man of honor and loyalty."

"My situation is not good. Only you can help me, Young Master Fang."

Fang Yong frowned, staring at the person before him.

He didn’t know what she was really up to.

"Here is fifteen thousand Spiritual Source, plus twenty Spirit Gathering Pills. It’s everything I’ve saved up recently." Cheng Yu looked at Fang Yong and said, "Do you want it, Young Master Fang?"

Fang Yong pondered for a moment, then said, "What do you want in return?"

’He had already endured being targeted by those families; he certainly wasn’t going to accept some outrageous demand now.’

’But earning this much Spiritual Source on his own was practically impossible.’

’Not with only half a month left.’

’He couldn’t even borrow that much.’

He was different from Jiang Man.

’Jiang Man was too dazzling; it would be easy for him to borrow.’

’He was too ordinary. People would feel like it was a bad investment, a total loss.’

Cheng Yu thought for a moment, then said, "Do you know about my background, Young Master Fang?"

Fang Yong didn’t speak.

Seeing this, Cheng Yu continued, "My mother is a concubine. A concubine’s daughter actually has a very low status, about this high compared to an ordinary young lady."

She squatted down and gestured at her knee. "About this high. If I had managed to qualify, my status would have been this high."

She stood up and gestured at her waist.

Finally, she stood on her tiptoes and said, "And if I could have entered the Sect, I would have been a proper young mistress in her own right. But unfortunately, I failed. Now, my status isn’t even knee-high."

"So I need to find a way out, and I don’t see one with anyone else."

"I could only come to you, Young Master Fang."

"Since your background is poor, logically you shouldn’t have so much Spiritual Source. But the fact is, you do," Fang Yong said, staring at her. "This shows that your mother treats you well and can get resources for you from the clan. In that case, you shouldn’t need my help."

Cheng Yu nodded as she thought. "My mother is indeed good to me, but she’s a bit extreme. She isn’t satisfied with my actions."

"So I want to rely on my own choices, leave this place, and go somewhere near the Sect."

"Maybe I can make something of myself."

"But a person like me can’t get a foothold there on my own."

"You want me to get you there and help you get established?" Fang Yong asked.

"Yes. Do you have a way, Young Master Fang?" Cheng Yu asked.

Fang Yong fell silent.

’Is there really a way?’

’Theoretically, yes. Wang Yan had mentioned it before.’

’But it would take a certain amount of luck.’

’If he relied solely on his own power, it would be impossible to get someone settled over there.’

’But now that he had joined that genius’s faction, it opened up some possibilities.’

’That person had indeed mentioned something of the sort.’

’It was just that there was no guarantee they would listen to him.’

"I can’t be certain about something like that," Fang Yong said truthfully. "You should understand, it’s already hard to get a foothold where the Sect is located. Even for those who join the Sect, establishing themselves is extremely difficult. Helping someone else is even harder."

"Just a possibility is enough," Cheng Yu pressed.

"The possibility might be greater with Jiang Man. He’s number one, after all," Fang Yong reminded her.

Cheng Yu smiled and looked at Fang Yong. "I choose to trust you, Young Master Fang."

Fang Yong frowned, not understanding what this person was thinking.

After a pause, Cheng Yu finally whispered, "I’ll tell you a secret. Just like your secret, I haven’t even told Luo Xuan."

Fang Yong’s brows knitted slightly, wondering what new trick she was about to pull.

Cheng Yu whispered, "My mother is quite strict with me. She thinks that if she doesn’t make me feel pain, I won’t remember things, and I won’t be motivated to improve."