The answer he got was that the strong don’t complain about their environment; an Unparalleled Celestial Pride could cultivate anything with the same result.

Jiang Man felt as if the Old Yellow Ox had stolen his line.

As for his Minors, Jiang Man thought it over and decided to choose subjects that were easy to get into and wouldn’t consume too much of his time.

For example, Arrays and Talisman Making.

After their brief conversation, Jiang Man didn’t stay idle; instead, he began cleansing his body with Spiritual Qi.

This would help him better acclimate to such dense Spiritual Qi.

And prevent problems from arising in his future Cultivation.

「The next day.」

Foundation Establishment Front Courtyard, the Ninth Courtyard.

Zhao Yaoyao arrived early in the morning.

She had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, entering the Foundation Establishment Courtyard within her first year at the Rehabilitation Courtyard.

Such speed was likely unmatched in the Ninth Courtyard.

But after she came out, she made inquiries at the Qi Refining Courtyard and couldn’t find any trace of the person she had met in the Secret Realm.

He had lied, claiming to be the top disciple of the Rehabilitation Courtyard.

’He really didn’t take me seriously at all.’

’If he was going to impersonate someone, he should have at least known who he was pretending to be.’

But since she couldn’t find him, she didn’t dwell on it.

They might never cross paths again.

Given his state, it was questionable whether he could even reach Foundation Establishment.

After that, she began waiting for the others to arrive.

From the last two rounds of Foundation Establishment on Cloud Mist Peak, there were about twenty-three people.

There were two more rounds to come, and they would also be merged into the Ninth Courtyard.

The total should be around fifty.

Soon, the other disciples began to arrive.

Most of them were familiar to Zhao Yaoyao.

Although most of them had been re-cultivating for three years, they had often faced each other in combat spars, so she naturally recognized them.

That was precisely why she was certain Jiang Man was not a disciple of Cloud Mist Peak.

But soon, she froze.

Because she saw Jiang Man walk in from outside.

’How did he get here?’

Zhao Yaoyao was stunned.

But by now, almost everyone had arrived, and the Instructor had come as well.

It wasn’t a good time for her to go over and ask.

However, she asked a friend next to her.

"An Rong, do you know him?" Zhao Yaoyao gestured back toward Jiang Man’s position.

An Rong, who had reached Foundation Establishment in her third year of re-cultivating, looked to be in her early twenties and was well-endowed. She glanced back in Jiang Man’s direction, frowned, and said, "So shabby-looking? I’ve never seen him."

Normally, someone so shabby-looking would be easy to remember.

After all, while there were many poor people, not many actually looked the part.

Everyone liked to maintain a respectable appearance.

The poor included.

"Is there someone like that on Cloud Mist Peak?" Zhao Yaoyao asked.

"Definitely not in the Rehabilitation Courtyard," An Rong said with certainty.

Then she asked another person next to her.

And got the answer: there was no one like that in the Qi Refining Courtyard either.

’That leaves only one possibility: he transferred from another peak.’

’Why would he transfer?’

’He was probably bullied so badly he couldn’t take it anymore and applied for a transfer.’

’Looking so destitute, that was a real possibility.’

An Rong didn’t care either way. It had nothing to do with her.

Zhao Yaoyao recalled the Secret Realm. He had so confidently claimed to be number one in the Rehabilitation Courtyard. He didn’t seem like someone who would transfer because of bullying.

But before she could think any further, a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties stood at the front and said, "Twenty-four people in total. It seems everyone is here."

Instantly, all chatter ceased.

They waited quietly for the Instructor to speak.

"My name is Yan Yiqiu. I am in charge of the Ninth Courtyard, and for the next nine years, you will all be under my supervision." Yan Yiqiu looked at the crowd below and continued, "Have you all considered what your Main Cultivation Method will be? I will call out your names, and you will receive the Simple Skill for your chosen main."

"Zhuo Bufan," Yan Yiqiu called out.

Immediately, a young man dressed in magnificent, embroidered robes stood up.

"What will you cultivate?" Yan Yiqiu asked.

"Sword Cultivator," Zhuo Bufan replied.

Immediately, the Main Cultivation Method for a Sword Cultivator floated down before him.

"Zhao Yaoyao," Yan Yiqiu called out again.

Zhao Yaoyao stood up and also replied, "Sword Cultivator."

"An Rong."

"Magic Cultivator."

As name after name was called,

it was finally Jiang Man’s turn.

"Jiang Man," Yan Yiqiu said.

Jiang Man stood up. "Magic Cultivator."

A book promptly floated down before him.

It was the Foundation Establishment Skill known as the Nascent Condensation Skill.

This version was focused on magic.

"Since you’re already standing, why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone." Yan Yiqiu said, looking at Jiang Man. "I imagine they’re unfamiliar with you. Tell us how long you’ve been with the Sect."

"I joined the Sect half a month ago and officially reported yesterday," Jiang Man answered truthfully.

As his words fell, the crowd was somewhat surprised.

’Joined half a month ago?’

Zhao Yaoyao was even more astonished. She did a quick mental calculation. ’Does that mean he entered the Secret Realm on the very first day he reported to the Sect?’

’He didn’t need to re-cultivate?’

’And what about the Promotion Skill?’

"I can understand meeting the requirements to bypass rehabilitation upon joining, but when did you learn the Promotion Skill?" Zhuo Bufan asked.

"I’m also very curious," Yan Yiqiu said with a smile, looking at Jiang Man.

She truly couldn’t figure it out.

"I started cultivating the Promotion Skill after entering the Secret Realm," Jiang Man said, looking at them.

Hearing this, everyone stared at Jiang Man in astonishment.

Zhao Yaoyao, in particular, felt as if he were telling her, ’Before I joined the Sect, you were number one. Now that I’ve joined, *I* am number one.’

"Quite impressive," Yan Yiqiu said after a moment of thought. "I heard that during Qi Refining, you always stayed up all night to cultivate?"

"Yes," Jiang Man nodded.

"It’s one thing to do so during Qi Refining, but there’s no need for it now that you’re at Foundation Establishment," Yan Yiqiu advised. "Cultivation involves one’s state of mind. Staying up all night like this is detrimental to your body and harms your mental state. It might be fine at first, but over time, fatigue will become an illness, and it will be difficult to advance further."

Then she looked at everyone and said, "The scenery of Cloud Mist Peak has been criticized for a long time, and now you all can’t cultivate too late, either.

"The Spiritual Energy Mist can no longer even form."

Hearing this, Jiang Man was a little surprised.

’So the lack of clouds and mist on Cloud Mist Peak isn’t a natural phenomenon? It’s because all the Spiritual Qi has been absorbed?’

’I thought the Spiritual Qi here was just sparse.’

’As for not pulling all-nighters... that’s impossible.’

"Alright, I will now begin to explain the Cultivation Skill. Cultivate well for these next three months. After three months, the courtyard will begin its rankings." Yan Yiqiu paused, then added, "You can choose your own Minors and go study them.

"Each person may choose two.

"However, the rankings in three months will not include scores from your Minors."

’It sounds like she’s implying we can wait until after these three months to start our Minors,’ Jiang Man thought.

’Focus on the Main Cultivation Method for now to get a higher ranking.’

However, Jiang Man wasn’t worried.

’Everyone else just reached Foundation Establishment. This is the closest they’ll ever get to me.’

’Especially since I’ll be pulling all-nighters to cultivate.’

’They’re fated to never catch up to me.’

Even with his Talent, he didn’t dare to be lazy.

When others cultivated, he would cultivate. When others rested, he would still cultivate.

’Time waits for no one, and a person’s own power is limited.’

At such a young age, he had no idea how these people could bring themselves to sleep.

Who was right and who was wrong would be clear in three months.

But for now, he had to learn the Nascent Condensation Skill first.

There were only twenty days left. He wondered if it would be easy to cultivate.

Instructor Yan’s explanation was very good, but she said that just the lecture portion would take seven days.

She told everyone to spend these seven days mulling it over, and that it wouldn’t be too late to start cultivating after they had fully understood it.

How could Jiang Man possibly wait?

He went back and found the Old Yellow Ox.

to begin a new explanation.

He was going to start cultivating tonight.

————

In a quaint, ancient courtyard, Meng Qiewei gazed up at the starry sky, lost in thought.

A new ball of light hovered before her, seemingly waiting for her to speak.

so it could be sent to an unknown location through some means.

She still hadn’t thought of what to say by the time dawn broke.

Just then, Qing Dai walked in.

"Miss," Qing Dai said, bowing respectfully.

"Is there any news?" Meng Qiewei asked, casually putting away the ball of light.

"They say that prodigy from the younger generation has sensed the aura of a Fate Chart." Qing Dai paused before continuing, "It seems to be in one of the Sects under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Sects, a place called the Wuyun Sect.

"Also..."

Qing Dai trailed off, hesitant to continue.

"Also what?" Meng Qiewei asked.

As for him being able to sense a Fate Chart, she remained skeptical.

’If even I can’t sense the aura of a Fate Chart, how could he?’

"That prodigy said the Fate Chart he sensed is ownerless, so..." Qing Dai said cautiously, "...so, Miss, did you bury the Young Master in the Wuyun Sect?"

Meng Qiewei looked at Qing Dai for a long moment before saying, "How are you so sure I buried him personally? It seems I am unable to go there."

Qing Dai lowered her gaze.

The Miss had indeed disappeared for a period of time, and when she returned, she was already a married woman.

And then there was no news of the Young Master at all.

The inference that he had been buried was perfectly logical.

’But does what the Miss said mean the Young Master really was buried?’

Meng Qiewei had been skeptical before, but now it seemed that junior was lying.

"Keep a close eye on him. See what he’s really up to," Meng Qiewei said.

Hearing this, Qing Dai immediately nodded.

She then withdrew from the room.

’To this day, I still can’t figure out if the Miss actually killed the Young Master.’

’Judging by her attitude, it seems like she did... but then again, it doesn’t.’

Only after the person had left did the ball of light reappear before Meng Qiewei.

Her calm voice slowly rang out, growing gentle, "My husband, you’re still unwilling to show yourself. Now they’re starting to say you’re long gone. Not only that, they’re even saying I buried you. Buried you in the Wuyun Sect.

"Someone has gone there now. My husband, would you like to go and help me clear things up?"