Chapter 139: Chapter 114: Qing Dai: Miss, Who Do You Think Will Sneak Across the Magpie Bridge?

The seven-day teaching session was about to end.

Jiang Man looked down at the Student Cultivators below, feeling rather emotional.

During this time, he had spent most of his days in the small courtyard on his Cultivation.

It was truly a wonderful place.

If possible, he wanted to continue teaching.

To contribute to the futures of these Student Cultivators.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t allowed.

If he could still take first place after six months, then he could teach again.

But the annual assessment was in six months.

Jiang Man couldn’t participate in that.

So...

’What a huge loss...’

Jiang Man sighed inwardly.

"Sir, you’re so powerful in the Foundation Establishment Courtyard. Have you learned many Magic Skills?" Zhang Zhizhi suddenly asked.

Jiang Man looked at her and shook his head. "Not many. I haven’t learned any."

"Doesn’t the Foundation Establishment Courtyard assess actual combat?" Yan Huimin asked.

Without combat assessments, there was no way to truly show Jiang Man’s strength.

For those in the same Realm, only by seeing Jiang Man in action could one understand how vast the gap between them could be.

"The annual assessment probably does," Jiang Man said, though he wasn’t certain.

"In that case, Sir, if you don’t cultivate Magic Skills, won’t you be at a disadvantage in the annual assessment?" Zhang Zhizhi asked.

Jiang Man just said casually, "Perhaps I should start cultivating them."

’I do need to cultivate Magic Skills, because the selection for the Secret Realm will definitely involve combat.’

’To win the selection, I’ll need outstanding combat abilities.’

’Of course, I don’t need to master them completely.’

’But I need to understand them.’

’At least enough to start cultivating them at any time.’

Foundation Establishment Introduction and Early Stage cultivators could claim corresponding Magic Skills.

’I can pick them up when I have time and take a look.’

After that, the Student Cultivators asked a few more questions.

Finally, someone asked a question that already had a well-known answer: "Sir, does staying up all night to cultivate really damage one’s Heart Spirit?"

Hearing this, Jiang Man paused and looked at the person.

It was a woman dressed in simple, unadorned clothes.

She was sitting in the middle section.

This indicated her ranking was intermediate.

Being intermediate sometimes meant having few opportunities for Foundation Establishment.

The assessments were held once every three months, and only the top twenty were chosen to enter the Secret Realm.

It seemed like a lot, but far too many people were competing.

The front and back courtyards of the Rehabilitation Courtyard, plus the entire Qi Refining Courtyard.

There were just too many people vying for a spot.

Many people could strive for half their lives and still not secure a single spot.

Geniuses would always leave the Rehabilitation Courtyard for the Foundation Establishment Courtyard, but new geniuses would always arrive.

But as long as one remained, there was still hope.

Because there was, after all, a limit to Qi Refining.

Meeting her gaze, Jiang Man said calmly, "If I said it doesn’t, would you believe me?"

Hearing this, the woman was taken aback for a moment before saying, "I believe you."

Jiang Man said, "Then it doesn’t cause any damage."

At this point, Zhang Zhizhi asked, "Then, Sir, do you sleep at night?"

The others gasped. Wasn’t this contradicting the instructor from the Foundation Establishment Courtyard?

However, Jiang Man replied frankly, "I don’t sleep. Everyone is cultivating, everyone is improving. How could I possibly sleep?"

Everyone was stunned.

Zhang Zhizhi felt that Jiang Man was lying.

’Wouldn’t his Heart Spirit be damaged?’

Jiang Man didn’t bother to explain.

Instead, he remained diligent in his duties.

He would see his last shift through to the end.

「That afternoon.」

The seven-day teaching session came to an end.

Jiang Man left the Rehabilitation Courtyard.

Fang Yong was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhang Zhizhi.

Jiang Man didn’t know Zhang Zhizhi well, so he wouldn’t find her questions suspicious.

But he knew her.

’Someone is using her to probe Jiang Man.’

He was silent for a moment, his thoughts unreadable.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhizhi had already arrived at the appointed place.

"He left?" Zhang Bai asked.

"Yes, and I asked him," Zhang Zhizhi reported Jiang Man’s situation truthfully.

Hearing this, Zhang Bai seemed slightly regretful. "He hasn’t learned any at all? I didn’t expect that. I thought he would have at least learned one or two."

"It seems he’s spent all his time chasing a high score."

"Then again, who wouldn’t do the same under normal circumstances?"

"Still, he’s exceptional and worth recruiting."

"You don’t need to worry about the rest. Just focus on your rehabilitation."

Doubt lingered in Zhang Bai’s mind. ’Has he really not cultivated any skills at all?’

’Perhaps he’s hiding his abilities.’

’Information you get just by asking isn’t always the truth.’

’So, should I find someone to challenge him?’

’An outer courtyard challenge isn’t suitable.’

’A challenge is best made by someone from the same courtyard.’

"It seems I’ll have to see who the latest batch to join the Ninth Courtyard are. Perhaps I can use them to find the answer."

"But I can’t push it too far, especially with those who aren’t well-off. They require more patience and respect."

"If the approach is wrong, it will backfire."

"And it’s easy to attract unnecessary trouble."

If it weren’t for the Seven Peaks ranking...

He wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

————

Spiritual Source +5,000.

Remaining: 29,000.

Jiang Man arrived at the Dharma Transmission Courtyard in a good mood, feeling quite wealthy.

That Student Cultivator had reminded him today. He really should start cultivating Magic Skills.

’She sure asked a lot of questions, though. I wonder who she was asking for.’

Jiang Man didn’t dwell on it.

Improving his strength was the most important thing.

Magic Skills were also awarded based on score. Thirty points could get you the first book, and ninety could get you the second.

Jiang Man checked and saw that the third book could be claimed for one hundred and fifty points.

Thirty points corresponded to the "Wandering Dragon".

Ninety points corresponded to the "Shadowless Palm".

One hundred and fifty points corresponded to the "True Martial Skill".

Jiang Man was actually quite interested in the "True Martial Skill".

He had briefly looked over the first two.

"Wandering Dragon" was similar to a Body Skill and had long-lasting effects.

It was meant to replace the Divine Step.

For "Shadowless Palm," the first six layers focused on power, while the last three focused on subtlety.

At the Ninth Layer, it became completely traceless and silent.

A Magic Skill for ambushes.

After claiming the two Magic Skill books, Jiang Man returned to his residence.

As soon as he got back, he ate something and then began his Cultivation.

The Magic Skills were, of course, given to the Old Yellow Ox.

During this time, the "Gourd" from his Visualization Skill had already accumulated two layers.

He still had twenty-three Elixirs left.

’If every seven Elixirs can raise it by two layers, doesn’t that mean thirty-five will fill it completely?’

’But breaking through would require another ten or twenty...’

Jiang Man pondered this internally.