She then quickly departed.

Soon, she arrived at the designated meeting spot.

A man was waiting there.

He was Zhang Bai, the top student from the Foundation Establishment Eighth Courtyard, who had come down to teach.

Seeing her arrive, he asked in confusion, "Why are you so late?"

"That Jiang Man was leading everyone in Cultivation, which delayed things until now," Zhang Zhizhi said.

"How is the top student from the Ninth Courtyard?" Zhang Bai asked.

Zhang Zhizhi thought for a moment before replying, "His understanding of the Promotion Skill is quite impressive."

She then gave him a rough summary.

"He’s got some substance," Zhang Bai mused. "The fact that he’s number one in his small courtyard further proves he’s capable."

"We might be able to use him in this year’s annual rankings."

"Find a chance to test his practical combat ability."

"If he’s decent, and as long as he breaks into the rankings of the Third Courtyard this year, it’ll be worth my time to try and recruit him." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Zhang Zhizhi considered this and said, "I’ll find a way to get him to teach me a Magic Skill, but I can’t arrange for someone to fight him."

"He’s at Foundation Establishment, and we’re at Qi Refining. Sparring with him isn’t suitable."

"Ask him what Magic Skills he learned during Foundation Establishment," Zhang Bai said after some thought. "As the top student, he should have started learning Magic Skills and his Minor after half a year."

"That way, we can add his half-year progress to our calculations and make an educated guess."

Zhang Zhizhi replied, "I’ll try. He seems easy to talk to."

"Easy to talk to with everyone?" Zhang Bai asked.

Zhang Zhizhi nodded.

Zhang Bai’s brow furrowed slightly. "Being easygoing with everyone just means he’s easy to bully. Not wealthy, and too approachable... he doesn’t have the potential to be a formidable figure."

"I’m afraid his personality will significantly lower his potential achievements."

"If people take advantage of his good nature and put him on a pedestal, then even if he’s capable, his achievements will be very limited."

After that, Zhang Bai said no more.

First, they would test his combat prowess.

In the end, it would all come down to the rankings at the end of August.

If he was worth recruiting then, he would offer him a bit of guidance.

***

Jiang Man returned to his residence and handed the books to the Old Yellow Ox.

Then, he began to ask questions and take notes.

At first, the Old Yellow Ox spoke, and he wrote.

Then, slowly, he started to be able to add a few words of his own.

He could even directly point out the root of the problems.

The Old Yellow Ox watched Jiang Man speak in silence, a little surprised.

"This is a resonance issue. He doesn’t have good control over it himself, so while it looks like his Promotion Skill Cultivation has improved, there’s actually a hidden danger. He could easily fail during his promotion."

"This is why some people can successfully use the Promotion Skill to reach the Seventh Layer so smoothly, while others fail."

"It’s a difference brought about by one’s Cultivation habits and level."

After speaking, Jiang Man looked up at Old Huang and said, "Old Huang, how did I do?"

The Old Yellow Ox lowered its head to eat grass, not saying a word.

Jiang Man continued to read on, occasionally asking again when he didn’t understand something.

However, these were all issues related to Qi Refining. Having gone through it himself, he understood some of it.

Especially since the more difficult the subject he studied, the more it encompassed.

And the more thoroughly he understood.

Of course, some things he didn’t understand at all.

Qi Refining had its own profundities, and for those, he had to ask the Old Yellow Ox.

Then there was Mr. Miao’s problem, which involved the Nascent Condensation Skill for Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Man didn’t have a deep understanding of the Nascent Condensation Skill.

Mainly because he had only ever practiced the Simple Skill.

He could only ask the Old Yellow Ox.

"This Nascent Condensation Skill is passed down to men, not women. But there’s definitely a corresponding method. I can modify it, but would you dare use it?" the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man shook his head. "Just tell me what the problem is."

After all, this was the first time he’d heard of a skill being gender-specific.

Cultivation Skills were fundamentally formed based on one’s body, so as long as revisions were made according to these differences, two versions could be created.

Jiang Man wrote down a rough explanation, but didn’t go into full detail.

The summary was that it was unsuitable for Mr. Miao to practice.

After a long time, Jiang Man finally let out a breath of relief.

"You’ve certainly spent a lot of time wasting it here," the Old Yellow Ox said slowly.

Jiang Man closed the book and smiled. "Accepting someone’s Spiritual Source to solve their problems is not a waste of time."

The Old Yellow Ox said calmly, "Aren’t you afraid this will prevent you from promoting to the Mid-stage?"

"Others might be afraid, but do I need to be?" Jiang Man retorted.

"But you’re no good in a real fight," said the Old Yellow Ox.

Jiang Man thought for a moment and said, "That’s true. However, the selection period isn’t short. Why can’t I just practice Magic Skills after I get in?"

"I can hide away for a while, and when I emerge, I’ll make a stunning debut."

The Old Yellow Ox stared at Jiang Man. "Are you never worried about failure?"

Jiang Man put the book away, looking at Old Huang with a smile, but said nothing.

Old Huang didn’t press further, just kept eating grass.

Jiang Man, on the other hand, began his Cultivation.

As always, he started by raising his Spiritual Level.

He had just reached the Spiritual Second Layer.

He needed to get to the Third Layer, or even the Fourth Layer, as soon as possible.

The bottleneck from the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment would definitely be thicker than before.

It would require greater improvement in both his Physical Body and Spirit.

The next day, Jiang Man continued to teach.

He gave the book directly to Fang Yong, telling him to either copy it or have everyone tear out a page.

This was to improve their Cultivation.

He also gave Mr. Miao hers.

When she saw Jiang Man’s explanations written on it, she was stunned.

’How can a Foundation Establishment cultivator understand this so thoroughly?’

She didn’t know, and she didn’t dwell on it.

Sometimes, it was better to be a little ignorant.

After another brief lecture, Jiang Man prepared to resume his Cultivation.

Mr. Miao asked curiously, "Cultivating again?"

"Aren’t you cultivating, Mr. Miao?" Jiang Man asked in return.

Mr. Miao nodded.

Jiang Man didn’t mind.

On the third day, when Jiang Man was about to cultivate, Mr. Miao told him he could take a break.

But Jiang Man looked surprised. "Mr. Miao, you haven’t cultivated in three days. Aren’t you afraid your strength will regress?"

Mr. Miao was taken aback.

Jiang Man seemed to realize something and said, "Does Mr. Miao go back to cultivate in secret?"

Mr. Miao fell silent.

On the fourth day, Jiang Man didn’t cultivate.

Mr. Miao was overjoyed. "Are you finally taking a rest?"

Jiang Man shook his head. "I’ve decided to go back and cultivate in secret."

Mr. Miao: "..."

Everyone below fell silent.

’The geniuses from the Foundation Establishment Courtyard are this diligent. If we aren’t diligent, do we even have the right to enter the Foundation Establishment Courtyard?’

Mr. Miao felt a headache coming on.

Just standing there, Jiang Man seemed to radiate a light that made her feel uncomfortable.

She was restless.

It was as if she had to get up and cultivate too, just to avoid being hurt by this light.

The seven-day period felt longer than any she had ever experienced.

On the fifth day, she finally couldn’t take it anymore.

She went to find Yan Yiqiu.

Looking at the visitor, Yan Yiqiu wasn’t concerned. Although she had told Jiang Man to restrain himself a bit, his light was too dazzling. It was bound to make this junior sister of hers uncomfortable.

"Senior Sister Yan, aren’t you going to do something about him?" Mr. Miao said helplessly. "I feel like the late-night Cultivation trend that we’d just suppressed is about to be inexplicably revived."

Yan Yiqiu sipped her tea and handed two pieces of paper to Mr. Miao.

"What’s this?" Mr. Miao asked curiously.

"Jiang Man’s two assessments in the Foundation Establishment Courtyard," Yan Yiqiu said calmly.

After reading the first page, Mr. Miao’s entire hand was trembling.

"Th-this is the March assessment? N-ninety-eight points?"

When she saw the second page, her pupils contracted. "One hundred and thirty-three? Early Stage of Foundation Establishment?"

Yan Yiqiu paid her reaction no mind and took out a stack of documents. "This is their first and second assessment."

"Jumping from twelve points to fifty-eight? Why is the leap so huge? How did you teach them, Senior Sister Yan?" Mr. Miao was shocked.

"It’s because they learned Jiang Man’s Cultivation Method," Yan Yiqiu said.

Mr. Miao immediately asked, "What kind of Cultivation Method can produce such a leap?"

Yan Yiqiu glanced at her and said softly, "Pulling all-nighters."

"Pulling all-nighters?" Mr. Miao frowned. "Cultivating all night will definitely damage one’s Heart Spirit. You get half the results for twice the effort."

"Who says?" Yan Yiqiu asked.

"It’s been that way since ancient times," Mr. Miao said.

Hearing this, Yan Yiqiu said meaningfully, "Just because it’s been that way since ancient times, does that make it right? Junior Sister, times have changed. You still haven’t understood the weight of the words, ’The Great Order of the Immortal Sect, where everyone can practice Immortal Cultivation’."

Mr. Miao was stunned, then quickly asked, "So Jiang Man got one hundred and thirty-three points by pulling all-nighters?"

Yan Yiqiu made a hushing gesture. "Don’t spread this around. We’ll wait another two years to give the entire Foundation Establishment Courtyard a surprise and watch him make a stunning debut."

"Why wait two years?" Mr. Miao asked, confused.

Yan Yiqiu said calmly, "Let them cultivate for another year. Then they won’t be able to say they’re still laying their foundation."

"He won’t be competing this year."

Mr. Miao was shaken.

Especially this time, Senior Sister Yan’s words were filled with mystery and confidence.