Jiang Man asked in shock, "How much?"

"I’ll tell him it’s fifteen thousand, and I’ll take a three-thousand cut," Fang Yong said to Jiang Man.

’Friends. Good friends.’

Jiang Man was deeply moved. Based on what Xiaopang’s second brother had said, he’d thought a thousand Spiritual Source would be about right.

’It actually went up to fifteen thousand? How did that happen?’

Fang Yong told him the truth.

Jiang Man had to admire him. Fang Yong really wasn’t a good person.

’He only paid around four thousand, but claimed it was twelve thousand.’

’When you’re out in the world, you set your own price.’

"Deal," Jiang Man said seriously.

Gao Rong then received the news.

After Fang Yong’s "persuasion," the price was reduced from eighteen thousand to fifteen thousand.

Gao Rong felt like he’d saved three thousand.

He met with Jiang Man afterward and apologized very politely this time.

Jiang Man was all smiles, saying they were all friends and that he had long since forgotten everything that had happened before.

In truth, it wouldn’t be long before he really did forget.

As someone who only ever looked forward, he had no time to dwell on the past.

Focusing all his energy on cultivation to raise his Cultivation was what mattered most.

Gao Rong left, letting out a heavy sigh of relief on his way.

On his way back, he ran into Luo Lu, who had come to tell him about Jiang Man’s ranking.

"It’s already been handled," Gao Rong replied.

Hearing this, Luo Lu was confused.

Gao Rong told her what had happened.

"Is... isn’t there a problem with this?" Luo Lu asked.

Gao Rong chuckled. "What’s the problem? I saved three thousand, the other guy earned a finder’s fee, and the person involved is perfectly happy.

"It’s a great outcome.

"Sometimes taking a loss is a blessing. By taking this ’loss,’ I’ve made them several times happier than they would have been otherwise.

"Besides, Xiaogao’s two friends are quite something."

Luo Lu was rather surprised.

But she didn’t say anything more.

After bidding Luo Lu farewell, Gao Rong returned alone.

Back at his residence, he slowly sat down. After thinking for a long time, he slapped his thigh hard.

His face was a mask of pain. "That was a huge loss!"

Not long after seeing Gao Rong and the others off, Jiang Man saw Senior Sister Yu.

His eyes immediately lit up.

’Here she is. Time for an upgrade to my benefits.’

"Senior Sister Yu," Jiang Man said, walking up to greet her.

Yu Wanyi looked at Jiang Man, still feeling a sense of unreality. "Did you really reach Foundation Establishment? And you’re first in the new courtyard?"

Jiang Man nodded earnestly. "The test didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but I barely managed to take first."

"Not as well as you’d hoped?" Yu Wanyi asked curiously. "About what score did you get?"

Jiang Man said softly, "It was a little off. Only a ninety-eight."

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi froze. "How much?"

Jiang Man patiently repeated himself.

Yu Wanyi fell silent, and remained so for a long time.

The Old Yellow Ox glanced over before continuing to graze.

After a long while, Yu Wanyi finally spoke. "Your growth has surprised me, so my investment in you will naturally increase.

"Currently, you receive two thousand Spiritual Source a month. That will now be tripled to six thousand a month.

"Second, your housing discount will be increased from twenty percent off to thirty percent off.

"Your discount on Elixirs will improve from two percent off to five percent off.

"Your progress is truly great, and I’ve profited from it as well. So, I will personally sponsor you with another five thousand Spiritual Source, plus the Sword Control Technique."

As she spoke, she took out a book and five thousand Spiritual Source. "You need to take this book to the Dharma Transmission Courtyard to register it. Otherwise, you could be accused of practicing the Sword Control Technique without authorization."

Jiang Man felt like he’d been knocked dizzy by all the Spiritual Source today.

There was so much.

’Good thing I haven’t paid this month’s rent yet.’

Also, in three months, when Chang Qiweng came to collect his debt, I’ll be able to pay him back.

The future looked bright.

After a moment’s hesitation, he looked at Senior Sister Yu and said, "Since you’re already giving me the Sword Control Technique, how about throwing in a Spirit Sword?"

"No," Yu Wanyi refused.

Jiang Man wasn’t disappointed. After all, he had gotten more than enough this time.

’Next time, then.’

"By the way, how did you advance so quickly?" Yu Wanyi asked, curious.

"Because my Talent is good, and I work harder than them," Jiang Man said casually.

"Everyone cultivates every day. How much harder can you possibly work?"

"I haven’t slept a single night since I joined the Sect."

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi was astonished. "That will damage your Heart Spirit! It will make it difficult to advance your Cultivation by even an inch..."

Halfway through her sentence, Yu Wanyi trailed off.

A high score of ninety-eight had nothing to do with "difficult to advance."

Her warning carried absolutely no weight.

Usually, the first assessment tests one’s progress with the Nascent Condensation Skill, so the scores are never that high. After another month or two, when one’s Physical Body and Spirit have improved, they can begin to practice Hidden Spirit.

Only then would their scores explode upward.

A score of a few dozen points was normal.

Yu Wanyi sighed. "Just do what you think is best. I’ve never encountered a situation like yours. If you continue to improve, I’ll fight for more resources for you.

"However, it’s best you don’t sign any contracts with other people.

"They’re usually just looking for stepping stones. Don’t waste your Talent for nothing.

"Also, be careful about taking a master. They might also make you sign certain contracts.

"They’ll exploit your potential to pave their own way.

"But don’t worry, there’s no contract between us. This is a pure investment from the Sect.

"When you improve, I receive my own rewards from the Sect, which is why the resources you get aren’t as much as what other families might offer."

"If I join a family and sign a contract with them, can I still receive resources from you, Senior Sister?" Jiang Man asked.

Yu Wanyi nodded. "You can. There’s no conflict. But I don’t recommend it, because they will limit your potential. If that happens, I’ll earn less, and wouldn’t that be a loss for me?"

Jiang Man nodded in understanding.

Yu Wanyi thought for a moment, then said, "Also, I recently heard that a major figure is coming to the Sect, bringing the gate to a certain Secret Realm. They will select some people from among the Foundation Establishment disciples to participate.

"It’s a form of training, and the spots are limited.

"Work hard, and I’ll help you fight for a spot.

"However, the requirements should be quite high. At least the Middle and Late Stages of Foundation Establishment.

"If your Cultivation isn’t up to standard, then forget it."

’A Secret Realm?’

Jiang Man immediately thought of the Profound Yellow Cauldron from before.

’If there are other things in the Secret Realm, won’t that activate more of my hidden Talents?’

"When is it, roughly?" Jiang Man asked.

"I don’t know. Probably in a year or two. Your chances aren’t high, but I’m giving you a goal to aim for," Yu Wanyi said.

Jiang Man calculated in his head. ’Two years should be enough, right?’

"By the way, besides staying up all night, is there any other reason you cultivate so fast?" Yu Wanyi was still puzzled.

Jiang Man thought for a long moment. "There might actually be one."

"What is it?" Yu Wanyi asked immediately.

Jiang Man answered truthfully, "It’s probably because I married a Fairy."

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi started, saying in astonishment, "A Fairy?"

Jiang Man said with certainty, "Yes, a Fairy."

In an instant, Yu Wanyi looked relieved. "I thought you were a poor kid who managed to rise up against the odds. Turns out you’re just living off a rich woman.

"That puts my mind at ease.

"I take back what I said before about a cultivation partner affecting your Cultivation.

"I really had no idea your cultivation partner was so wealthy.

"In that case, you should keep your distance from other women to prevent her from getting the wrong idea about you.

"It would slow down your rapid progress."

Saying this, Yu Wanyi took two steps back and said seriously, "This distance is about right. You just focus on working hard. Leave the matter of the spot to me."

After giving a few more instructions, Yu Wanyi left.

Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox beside him in a daze. "Old Huang, did she believe me?"

"Aren’t you happy? You told the truth and someone believed you," Old Huang replied casually.

Jiang Man was silent for a long time.

’Doesn’t that devalue my own Talent?’

Then Jiang Man stopped dwelling on it. ’Being able to marry a Fairy is a kind of Talent in itself.’

’Other people can’t handle an Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart.’

’But for me, my Fate Chart can only struggle to keep up.’

No longer overthinking it, he decided to take stock of his gains for the day.

Twelve thousand from Gao Rong, five thousand from Senior Sister Yu, plus the Sword Control Technique.

Adding his own twenty-six thousand...

That’s forty-three thousand in total.

Subtracting the rent of six thousand three hundred, that leaves thirty-six thousand seven hundred.

If he then subtracted the thirty-four thousand he owed Chang Qiweng...

...it was barely enough.

And that wasn’t even counting the several thousand he owed Xiaopang.

’Looks like I still need to keep improving. And I should also see what this business about taking a master is all about.’

「The next day.」

Zhao Yaoyao arrived at the Ninth Courtyard, looking exhausted.

She had wanted to rest last night, but every time she lay down, Jiang Man’s words echoed in her mind.

"While you are still sleeping, I am still moving forward."

"How can you sleep?"

Then she thought about how Zhuo Bufan might be pulling an all-nighter to cultivate, how An Rong might be pulling an all-nighter to cultivate, how everyone was getting ahead of her. She couldn’t fall asleep.

She even felt anxious if she wasn’t cultivating.

She was very curious if the others had been cultivating all night.

Just as she entered, she saw Jiang Man had also arrived. He was sitting in his seat, looking at something.

Curious, she went over and asked him about it.

"I’m looking at who mocked me before." Jiang Man closed his notebook and looked at Zhao Yaoyao calmly. "My memory is bad, so I have to take it out and review it often."

Zhao Yaoyao: "..."

Then she turned her head to look at An Rong, who had just walked in.

An Rong’s chest was heaving, her face a picture of disbelief.

Thinking back to the day she took notes on him, she was filled with immense regret.