Red Water Peak.

In a corner of the street, Xiaopang was watering some Spirit Medicine with fresh water.

It was water drawn from the Chishui River, which contained some Spiritual Qi from Spirit Fruits.

It was perfect for irrigating Spirit Medicine.

Their shop specialized in selling these kinds of Spirit Medicine.

They weren’t anything expensive.

Most were used to calm one’s Heart Spirit and increase the speed of one’s Cultivation Skill practice.

They were cheap, had a wide audience, and were easy to grow.

This also meant the barrier to entry was low, and many people sold them.

So, you couldn’t say business was good, but they weren’t losing money either.

Luo Xuan, dressed in a simple blue-green dress, stood behind the counter tallying the account books.

The profits over the past few months were absurdly low, even worse than their shop in Luoyun City.

But coming here was a dream come true for many.

After three months, she more or less understood why.

First, there was the Spiritual Qi.

Without even taking any Elixirs, her Cultivation had already broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Second, this was a major hub where one could meet many people who could change your life.

However, none of this had much to do with her.

She closed the ledger and looked at Xiaopang as he watered the plants, sighing inwardly.

She naturally understood the implications of the Gao Family and the Luo Family working together.

The Luo Family was now completely dependent on the Gao Family.

Besides, a place like the Sect wasn’t somewhere an ordinary person could just come.

Even for the Gao Family, adding one more person required paying a considerable price.

’Why would the Gao Family pay such a price to send me here?’

’Is it because the Gao Family is kind-hearted?’

’Of course not.’

But the Gao Family had never mentioned it, granting her sufficient dignity.

The problem, however, was Xiaopang.

He was very independent and refused to listen to his family’s arrangements.

That was why she could enjoy her current freedom and the Sect’s resources.

"I heard the Outer Sect assessment has started. I wonder what Brother Jiang’s ranking will be. I hope he ranks high, just to show my second brother what it means to be shortsighted," Xiaopang said while watering the flowers.

"His ranking probably won’t be low," Luo Xuan said as she tidied the countertop. "What is Jiang Man’s Cultivation now?"

"Last time I heard from Fang Yong, Brother Jiang reached Foundation Establishment. He’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator," Xiaopang said, pausing his watering to think.

Hearing this, Luo Xuan was stunned. "Jiang Man reached Foundation Establishment? Does your second brother know?"

"He doesn’t?" Xiaopang asked, looking back at Luo Xuan.

Luo Xuan thought for a moment. "He probably doesn’t know. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had that kind of attitude."

"Well, he’s screwed then. But I can’t inform him anyway. He told me not to look for him whether it’s important or not," Xiaopang shrugged, unconcerned.

’People who underestimate Brother Jiang usually meet the same fate.’

’It’s too late to tell him now anyway.’

Besides, he couldn’t get away. He had to keep selling Spirit Medicine and then stay up all night to practice his Cultivation.

He had even started getting dark circles under his eyes recently.

But his progress was rapid.

Reaching the Qi Refining Fifth Layer by next year wouldn’t be a problem.

He might even have a shot at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

"Can we see the rankings?" Luo Xuan asked.

Xiaopang shook his head slightly. "We probably can’t go up there. Although there are no explicit rules, my second brother said it’s best not to."

Luo Xuan nodded, not particularly bothered.

"You guys are still open?" Cheng Yu walked in from outside, greeting Xiaopang. "Young Master Gao, is Luo Xuan pretty?"

"She’s pretty and dignified. A true young lady, through and through," Xiaopang answered honestly.

"Oh, you’re doomed. That answer was way too smooth." Cheng Yu shook her head and walked further in. After a pause, she asked, "I sold out of my things, so I came over to chat with Luo Xuan. Do you mind?"

"You should ask her," Xiaopang said, confused.

Cheng Yu came to Luo Xuan’s side. "Why the frown? I’m doing this for you. You can’t be like this. Want me to teach you how to be a little cunning?"

"This is the Sect. You’d better tone it down a bit," Luo Xuan advised.

Cheng Yu paid her no mind, instead looking at the busy Xiaopang and whispering, "Is it really him?"

"No one has ever mentioned it, but there’s no need to," Luo Xuan said.

"What are your thoughts?" Cheng Yu asked.

"I don’t have any particular thoughts. I’ll listen to my father. Since he has made a choice, I will abide by it," Luo Xuan said.

After a pause, she asked, "What about you?"

"I have more opportunities than you in the Sect," Cheng Yu said with a smile.

Luo Xuan stared at Cheng Yu for a long time, as if trying to see through her thoughts, before finally asking, "When exactly will that letter be cleared up?"

"It should be cleared up by now, right?" Cheng Yu wasn’t sure either.

As long as Jiang Man opened that message book from the Sixth Courtyard, he would see that Luo Xuan’s handwriting was different from the one on the previous envelope.

And since it wasn’t her handwriting either, they could both get out of it.

—

The first day of the assessment posed no difficulty for Jiang Man.

But...

His performance was not good.

The first day’s test involved writing two books, one on the Physical Body and one on the Spirit, not much different from the Yunqian Bureau’s.

But he only wrote a tiny bit.

After all, he had only just entered the First Layer in both.

’I’ll probably only get ten-odd points for these two sections combined.’

Especially since the assessment didn’t test Cultivation Level, only Realm power.

He could only pin his hopes on the second day.

The morning of the second day was the Hidden Spirit assessment.

Jiang Man found his brush moving extremely fast.

This was because he felt his aptitude in this area was quite good.

’At least sixty points.’

’No wonder they say Hidden Spirit is the easiest to score points in.’

The afternoon was the final section: Cultivation.

As expected, Jiang Man couldn’t write much for this either.

’It feels like...’

’Just ten-odd points.’

Finally, Yan Yiqiu announced the end of the assessment, and everyone exited the small courtyard.

As soon as he came out, Cao Cheng asked Jiang Man how he did.

Jiang Man sighed. "Not ideal."

’I suspect my scores for all four sections combined won’t even reach one hundred.’

’This...’

’This is even worse than my first assessment at the Yunqian Bureau.’

Cao Cheng smiled. "That’s a relief. I’m leaving."

Watching the tall, thin Cao Cheng walk away, Jiang Man felt like the man was provoking him.

But he didn’t pay it any mind and went back to continue his Cultivation.

He would find out the results tomorrow.