After leaving Red Water Peak, Gao Rong and his companion walked along the Chishui River on Seven Peaks Avenue.

Most of the people around them were newly arrived disciples.

Watching them, Gao Rong mused, "So many people come every year, but very few actually reach Foundation Establishment. How many of them are just languishing in the Qi Refining Courtyard, waiting for their chance?"

Everyone has to compete for a spot in the rankings. Even though people at the top advance to Foundation Establishment, more and more newcomers join the competition from behind.

That’s why without a certain level of talent and ample resources, it’s incredibly difficult to fight for a top spot.

No matter how well you performed at the Yunqian Bureau, you could still fade into obscurity after entering the Sect.

He had seen it happen far too many times over the years.

"It seems Young Master Gao doesn’t think very highly of that Jiang fellow," Luo Lu, Luo Xuan’s cousin, inquired.

"It’s not a matter of whether I think highly of him or not. You can never tell how someone will do after entering the Sect." Gao Rong shook his head with a smile as he walked.

"I just think his friendship with Xiaogao isn’t entirely pure. Xiaogao may not have a ton of cultivation resources, but he has more than he can use. How much of that do you think has ended up in that guy’s pocket?

"Are any of the poor ever really that simple? We all know the score. It’s just that Xiaogao doesn’t have many friends. One wants benefits, the other wants a friend. So we’ll just let him enjoy the perks of maintaining this friendship.

"As long as he can actually reach the top ranks, what’s the harm in giving him a little help?

"And if he can’t, as long as he maintains a good relationship with Xiaogao, he’ll naturally get his perks."

"I heard he placed first at the Yunqian Bureau," Luo Lu said.

Hearing this, Gao Rong said calmly, "So what if he was first at the Yunqian Bureau? There are plenty of ’firsts’ every year. Xiaogao isn’t very promising, and he understands even less about how the Sect works."

"I didn’t want him to come here in the first place.

"But I couldn’t go against the old man’s wishes. He’s fond of him, and so is my eldest uncle.

"Fortunately, he’s the only trouble I have to deal with."

After a pause, Gao Rong looked at Luo Lu. "And you?"

"I have nothing to add. If Young Master Gao thinks he’s too scheming, then he must be that kind of person," Luo Lu replied.

Gao Rong shook his head slightly and said nothing more.

It was a trivial matter, only worth a passing mention.

There was no need to dwell on it.

In all likelihood, their paths would never cross again.

Still, he might take a look when the rankings for the Cloud Mist Peak’s Rehabilitation Courtyard were released.

"What are you looking at me for?" Chang Qiweng took a step back.

Jiang Man had been staring at him while the others were talking, which made him nervous.

Jiang Man took a few steps forward, sidled up to Chang Qiweng, and said, "Old Chang, I’m a little tight on cash lately."

"So am I," Chang Qiweng replied.

He was puzzled, though. ’Since when am I Old Chang?’

He was nineteen years old.

They were the same age.

"Want to hear me out?" Jiang Man said with a grin. "As an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, would I ever scam you?"

"I really don’t have any money. Fang Yong already borrowed two thousand from me," Chang Qiweng said.

Jiang Man: "..."

’Fang Yong really is my greatest rival,’ he thought. ’He even beat me to it.’

Jiang Man didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he asked, "Do you trust me?"

Chang Qiweng didn’t answer.

’I don’t have any money anyway,’ he thought.

"Since you trust me, you can try borrowing from other people. For example, you tried to borrow from Cheng Yu before, right? This time, you can ask the colleagues we’re on escort duty with," Jiang Man said with a smile. "Just tell them you’re borrowing it for me. Then tell them I’ve already reached Foundation Establishment. If they don’t believe you, just say I’m on the verge of it and only need a few thousand more Spiritual Source.

"I’m sure they’ll agree to lend it.

"Besides, as their creditor, your own escort missions will become much safer.

"Who would want their biggest creditor to die?

"And it’s not like they can easily find me to collect."

Chang Qiweng, who had been dead set on refusing, found that the more he listened, the more sense it made.

"Lending to others might mean losing your shirt, but you won’t lose anything by lending to me," Jiang Man said confidently.

Chang Qiweng was silent for a long time before saying, "Wait here for a minute."

He paused, then looked at Jiang Man. "Are you really about to reach Foundation Establishment?"

Jiang Man shook his head slightly. "I’ve already reached it."

Chang Qiweng didn’t believe him, but he left anyway.

’He must have gone to borrow the Spiritual Source,’ Jiang Man thought.

Jiang Man sighed contentedly. Just like that, he had more Spiritual Source.

’I wonder how much I can improve in three months.’

Afterward, Jiang Man went up to the Old Yellow Ox and said with a smile, "Old Huang, see any resemblance to my former self?"

The Old Yellow Ox didn’t even raise its head, continuing to munch quietly on the grass.

Jiang Man shook his head. ’Old Huang is getting less and less talkative.’

After chatting with Xiaopang and the others for a while, Chang Qiweng returned.

He had borrowed 12,000 Spiritual Source.

He said he would be back in half a year and expected to be paid back then.

Jiang Man agreed, promising to pay back 14,000 in half a year.

After that, Jiang Man also borrowed twenty Spirit Gathering Pills from Xiaopang.

’If I sell these, that’s another 6,000 Spiritual Source,’ he calculated.

Song Qing was too poor; he just promised he’d save up some money for next time.

Jiang Man didn’t try to borrow from Luo Xuan.

After that, Jiang Man headed back with the Old Yellow Ox.

Chang Qiweng and Song Qing were also leaving the next day.

Song Qing had only come to escort Xiaopang’s group and couldn’t stay long.

But he could come along again on the next escort mission from the Yunqian Bureau.

It would mainly be to bring some things for Xiaopang.

Upon returning to his residence on Cloud Mist Peak, Jiang Man pointed to the weeds in the courtyard and said to the Old Yellow Ox, "Old Huang, this is all gourmet food I’ve carefully prepared for you."

The Old Yellow Ox gave Jiang Man a silent look, then dropped two items.

One was a Wooden Sword, and the other was a slip of paper with Meng Qiewei’s name on it.

Jiang Man picked them up and gave the Wooden Sword a few practice swings.

"Old Huang, do you think I can use this Wooden Sword for Sword Control?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, he could learn the Sword Control Technique.

Old Huang, munching on the weeds, said, "The Sword Control Technique is very expensive."

Jiang Man froze for a moment. ’I never considered that I’d have to buy the Sword Control Technique.’

’Still, I’m relatively well-off right now,’ he thought. ’I have 17,400 Spiritual Source, plus another 6,000 worth of Elixirs. That’s 23,400 in total.’

That evening, Jiang Man asked some questions about Cultivation.

For example, what he should major in, and what he should choose for his Minor.