"I’m scared every time I go back. To be honest, I hate going home more than anything."

Although Fang Yong was confused, he still asked, "What does this have to do with me?"

"It has nothing to do with you. I’ve just never told this secret to anyone, and I wanted to get it off my chest. Keeping it bottled up is agonizing." As she spoke, Cheng Yu put down the Spiritual Source in her hands. "I’ve given you all the Spiritual Source. My future is in your hands now, Young Master Fang."

After that, Cheng Yu left.

Fang Yong was puzzled.

’This tactic would have been more effective on Jiang Man.’

’Why come to me?’

’But should I accept this or not?’

’With so much Spiritual Source and so many Elixirs, there’s no way I could pay this back on my own.’

’What if I fail in the end?’

—

August was the final stretch for everyone.

After the fifteenth of August, the lessons would end.

The people in the Rear Courtyard were set to depart. Newcomers would advance to the Front Courtyard, those from the Front Courtyard would enter the Middle Courtyard, and those from the Middle Courtyard would move to the Rear Courtyard. Like Jiang Man and his peers, they would begin a new cycle of sprinting toward their goals and a place in the rankings.

Xiaopang spent his days in Cultivation at the Yunqian Bureau and his nights cultivating at home.

He worked without sleep or rest.

Although Gao Cunfeng told him to rest, he didn’t stop.

He was convinced that Brother Jiang wouldn’t lie to him.

On August fifth, he felt he had reached the threshold of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

On August tenth, during his nightly Cultivation, he broke through the barrier to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer in one fell swoop and stepped into the new realm.

Feeling the weight of the Spiritual Qi at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Xiaopang was overjoyed.

Gao Cunfeng rushed over the moment he heard.

He had asked Elder Chen and the others if this method of Cultivation could lead to a breakthrough.

The answers he received were not promising. Almost no one believed Xiaopang could reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer before August fifteenth.

’I never expected this.’

’It actually worked.’

’It’s a shame I burned part of it.’

He was filled with regret.

"Did he really have to go this far just to avoid getting married?" Gao Cunfeng sighed.

Now he had to make new arrangements.

But for the moment, he had no idea what those arrangements should be.

’Should I arrange for him to stay in Luoyun City?’

With a sigh, he decided to write a letter to his elder brother in the Sect to ask for his opinion.

His original intention was to find some random post for his son, let him make his own way for a couple of years, and then, once he got bored, have him marry and start a family.

’It would be best to keep him in Luoyun City after all.’

However, he had barely sent his letter off when he received one in return.

It was from his elder brother.

He was somewhat surprised after reading it.

’No wonder the Luo Family is in such a hurry to find a son-in-law. And to think they rejected all other candidates, insisting on the former second-in-command of the Six Pavilions, now the number one of the Yunqian Bureau. So something unexpected has happened to them.’

’This news can’t be kept secret for long. A pity for the Luo Family.’

He had no intention of kicking the Luo Family while they were down, but he casually wrote them a letter.

Hoping they would prepare early. After all, his Gao Family knew, which meant the Fang Family and Li Family probably knew as well.

The other families were likely in the same boat.

But this letter also mentioned a small shop—a reward for his brother’s meritorious service—located within the Sect’s territory.

Someone could be sent to manage it, but it was best if it was just one person.

If the Gao Family didn’t send anyone, the Sect would make its own arrangements.

Gao Cunfeng looked at the letter and let out a heavy sigh. "It’s all fate."

He wouldn’t be able to keep his most beloved youngest son with him any longer.

—

「August fifteenth.」

The day of the Sect’s assessment.

All those qualified to participate in the assessment gathered in the central plaza.

For a unified examination.

The person presiding over the assessment this time came from the Sect.

She was a woman named Yu Wanyi. At this moment, she sat on a high platform, looking through the documents in her hand.

The previous scores and comments for every participant were recorded here.

What they cultivated and which Magic Skills they had acquired were also listed.

And the very first page was about Jiang Man.

Yu Wanyi was quite surprised.

Before she came, Senior Sister Xia had sought her out and told her to pay close attention to a person named Jiang Man.

Senior Sister Xia had come to test a Cultivation Skill and had taken note of him at the time.

According to her, this person should have been of intermediate talent.

’But here he is, on the very first page.’

’I wonder what his overall strength is like.’

What mattered now was their capability after Foundation Establishment.

The differences in Qi Refining weren’t significant; being a step ahead or behind didn’t change much.

Not unless someone could master the Qi Refining Skill, the Qi Blood Technique, and the Visualization Skill all within a year.

Otherwise, it was all the same to the Sect.

Still, to become number one in the Yunqian Bureau was impressive enough to be considered outstanding.