Chapter 140: Chapter 114: Qing Dai: Miss, Who Do You Think Would Smuggle Across the Magpie Bridge?

Assuming it takes fifty God Strengthening Pills to reach a breakthrough from the start, then advancing to the Mid-stage would require at least two hundred.

’I don’t have enough Spiritual Source.’

’And that’s in an ideal scenario. I’m worried I might get stuck somewhere.’

But Jiang Man put these thoughts aside for now and focused entirely on his Cultivation.

A week later, he had used eight Elixirs, and his Spirit "Gourd" was forty percent full.

Today, the rest period was over.

The courtyard was about to receive another batch of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

By the time Jiang Man arrived, most of the others were already there.

This time, no one could ignore his presence.

Even Wei Beichuan silently lowered his head after their eyes met for a moment.

Before him stood an insurmountable peak.

His score of one hundred and thirty-three was so high it felt suffocating to everyone else.

Faced with such a score, all their reluctance had to be suppressed.

As Cao Cheng passed Wei Beichuan, he asked curiously, "Still fighting for first place?"

Wei Beichuan’s face flushed red.

An Rong added, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. A score of eighteen is still very strong."

Instantly, Wei Beichuan’s face darkened.

He remained silent.

He bottled up his anger.

’These people who stay up all night cultivating will surely suffer a backlash.’

’The next assessment is my chance to enter the top ten.’

’In the annual assessment, if not first place, then second isn’t out of the question.’

’It’s been this way since ancient times. These people are deluding themselves if they think they can defy it.’

’If it actually worked, wouldn’t people in the past have just stayed up all night too?’

’It’s obvious when you think about it.’

Jiang Man had just sat down when Zhao Yaoyao kindly reminded him, "I heard a lot of people are preparing for the annual assessment. They want to compete for rankings in the Third Courtyard and the Seven Peaks."

"Since you’re number one, you’ll probably be watched and tested."

"Also, you should figure out who all your rivals will be."

Zhuo Bufan said, "I actually have some information on that."

Jiang Man shook his head. "No need."

’It’s nothing to worry about. I’m not going to compete.’

"Is it because you’re unrivaled among your peers?" Cao Cheng asked as he walked over.

An Rong chimed in, "Unrivaled in the Third Courtyard!"

Jiang Man felt that these two had become particularly lively ever since they were taken off the "list."

They seemed to be testing the limits.

Before he could say anything, Yan Yiqiu walked in with fourteen people.

"Is there anyone special this time?" Jiang Man asked.

Zhuo Bufan shook his head. "Haven’t heard of anyone."

Zhao Yaoyao also shook her head. "The last batch usually doesn’t have any powerhouses. They all wait for June and September."

"That’s the start of a new year."

"It’s better for competing in the rankings."

"So, March is the chance for those who are struggling just to qualify."

Yan Yiqiu came in, glanced around, and said, "Fourteen new Student Cultivators have arrived. You are all now members of the Ninth Courtyard."

"Your seats have names on them. If you want to get to know each other, you can do it on your own."

"Now, everyone rearrange your seats according to the new rankings."

An Rong’s face paled. She had to move to the second row.

Cao Cheng shook his head. "I told you. You should reduce where you need to reduce. Being uncoordinated affects your Cultivation. Operating your Cultivation Skill requires more energy."

"Shut up," An Rong snorted coldly. "This is an advantage you’ll never experience in your life."

"Disgusting. Who on the path of cultivation cares about something like that?" Cao Cheng shook his head in contempt.

Listening to them, Jiang Man inexplicably thought of Meng Qiewei. ’I never really paid attention to that with her.’

’I wonder when I’ll get a chance to touch Meng Qiewei and see how the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books reacts.’

Then again, he hadn’t tried touching anyone else yet.

With that, Jiang Man placed his hand on Zhuo Bufan’s shoulder.

Zhuo Bufan jumped in surprise.

Jiang Man, however, activated the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books.

The book’s pages flipped, stopping at the final page.

Words materialized.

[Unworthy ant.]

Zhuo Bufan was stunned. Jiang Man ignored him and touched his own hand.

[Ants are not recorded.]

Then he touched Cao Cheng.

[What is this trash?]

He touched himself again.

[Ants are not recorded.]

Jiang Man sat back down, silent.

’Before, I thought the book just looked down on me.’

’Now it seems it was being polite. Others are either "trash" or "unworthy."’

Yan Yiqiu’s voice sounded again. "Cultivate on your own. If you have any questions, you can ask me."

After that, she went to guide the dozen or so newcomers.

Jiang Man wasted no time and immediately began his Cultivation.

Time was running short.

「Half a month passed.」

Jiang Man had run out of Elixirs.

His second Visualization "Gourd" was ninety percent full.

「April 1st.」

Jiang Man bought Elixirs again.

He still wasn’t able to get his hands on the expensive ones.

So this time, he bought thirty Nourishing Essence Pills.

’I’ll break through after both my Physical Body and Visualization Skill are maxed out.’

He had 18,000 Spiritual Source left.

April felt very long for Jiang Man.

There was one major problem with cultivating the Physical Body: it made him feel hungry.

As a result, he consumed his Elixirs faster than expected.

After twenty days, his Elixirs were gone.

By then, his Physical Body’s second "Gourd" was only seventy percent full.

He would need at least fifteen more Elixirs to max it out.

But he had used up his discount quota.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Man bought a jar of wine for one hundred Spiritual Source and requested a meeting with his master.

He Huai’an sipped the wine, his understanding dawning. "Are you wanting to buy Elixirs?"

"Master is wise," Jiang Man said respectfully. "This disciple requires Master’s help on his path of Cultivation, so I need more Elixirs."

"So you can bring me glory in two years, is that it?" He Huai’an asked casually.

"Master is wise," Jiang Man nodded.

"A discount on Elixirs is possible, but it will only be for God Strengthening Pills and Nourishing Essence Pills. The limit for pills that raise your Cultivation is still thirty," He Huai’an said, looking at Jiang Man. "Don’t get happy yet. If I’m giving you access to more discounts, it’s not going to be without conditions."

"If I find out later that you’re reselling the Elixirs."

"Then you will have to pay back the full price difference for however many you bought."

"Even if you want to help your friends, you can’t give them Elixirs. You can only give them Spiritual Source."

"How about it?"

"No problem," Jiang Man nodded without hesitation.

This surprised He Huai’an.

He paused, then asked curiously, "Want to stay for the lecture?"

Jiang Man shook his head. "This disciple must cultivate."

He Huai’an waved his hand, dismissing him.

’What kind of disciple did I end up recruiting?’

’Good thing he’s only a Named Disciple.’

’If he were my Direct Disciple, how much would people laugh at me?’

"Forget it. You play with fire, you get burned. I thought I’d found a diamond in the rough, but I guess I deserve this."

"I’d better avoid people for a while, otherwise..."

He was worried he’d be mocked so much he wouldn’t even be able to refine his elixirs.

---

「April 20th.」

Jiang Man bought another fifteen Nourishing Essence Pills.

He had 10,000 Spiritual Source remaining.

「End of April.」

His Elixirs were completely consumed, and his Physical Body’s second "Gourd" was now full.

He was only one step away from a breakthrough.

He had also been cultivating his Spirit’s second "Gourd" recently, and even though he only did it in his spare time, it was now full as well.

All that remained was to focus completely on breaking through to the Third Layer.

After that, he would raise his Visualization Skill to the Fourth Layer.

With that, he could try to raise his Cultivation. Reaching the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment was not impossible.

The only problem was that he was running out of time.

Tomorrow would be May 1st.

He had about three and a half months left.

"Three months is a long time," the Old Yellow Ox said, munching on grass. "You’re just out of Spiritual Source."

Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox and mulled it over for a long time before saying, "Old Huang, you can grow your own grass to eat. If I were to switch to a Spirit Plant Minor, could you help me grow Spirit Grass?"

The Old Yellow Ox looked up at Jiang Man, a mouthful of green grass dangling from its lips.

Its gaze was unreadable.

"Old Huang, have I found another one of your hidden talents?" Jiang Man said with a smile.

Old Huang looked at Jiang Man, chewing the grass in its mouth.

Only after swallowing did it speak. "Valuable Spirit Medicine is very expensive. Common Spirit Medicine is very cheap."

Jiang Man froze.

He didn’t dare spend his current Spiritual Source on anything else.

’Looks like this plan will have to wait, too.’

「May 1st.」

He gained six thousand Spiritual Source.

He bought thirty God Strengthening Pills.

Six hundred remained.

He was broke.

Completely and utterly broke.

None of the new Foundation Establishment cultivators dared to mock him for his all-nighters or his poverty.

His brilliance was simply too dazzling.

————

「In a quaint courtyard.」

Meng Qiewei silently sipped plain water.

"Miss, please try this tea," Qing Dai said, offering her a cup.

Meng Qiewei gazed calmly at the cup, but made no move to take it.

"This tea isn’t bitter. The aftertaste is even sweeter," Qing Dai explained.

After a moment of silence, Meng Qiewei asked, "When does the Secret Realm open?"

"It should be a while longer," Qing Dai said, uncertain. "Preparations will probably take a year or two. Do you think they’ll be able to find anything, Miss?"

"But they’re inexplicably heading to the Wuyun Sect. Do you think they’ll really find the young master’s body?"

Meng Qiewei sipped her water, not answering.

"Oh, right, something happened over at the Magpie Bridge recently," Qing Dai said with great interest. "They say that of the seven Fairies who originally descended from the Magpie Bridge, one was knocked unconscious and was only just discovered."

"Then they discovered that someone had taken that Fairy’s place and entered the Immortal Lake."

"More importantly, when the Magpie Bridge closed, seven people were supposed to return."

"But in the end, only six came back."

"No one knows what happened."

"A missing person naturally drew a lot of attention."

Meng Qiewei, now sipping the tea, spoke with a calm expression, "Hasn’t it been investigated?"

"They’re still investigating. No one knows when there will be results." Qing Dai poured Meng Qiewei another cup of tea and asked curiously, "Miss, who do you think would use this as an opportunity to escape from this place?"