Chapter 142: Chapter 115: Does the Young Lady Prefer Older or Younger? (Part 2)

He had no qualms about asking for guidance.

Rank was a matter of prestige.

And the man before him had earned that prestige.

Fang Yong looked at him and said seriously, "I’m well aware. Back at the Yunqian Bureau, there were countless people who wanted to challenge Jiang Man."

"I particularly remember one poor Student Cultivator who spent five thousand Spiritual Source just for a chance to challenge Jiang Man.

"An opportunity like that doesn’t just fall from the sky.

"As number one, why should he have to accept challenges from those ranked below him?

"To challenge his authority?

"In that case, you might as well challenge the Sect itself.

"Since it’s not about challenging authority, then it must be a request for guidance."

"Yes, that’s right. A request for guidance," Xie Wen said at once.

’Challenge the Sect’s authority?’

That was a label he couldn’t afford to wear.

Then, he asked, "So, five thousand?"

"Five thousand is the price at the Yunqian Bureau. That Student Cultivator back then came from a poor family, and even he paid that much. Surely you’re not going to be outdone by him, Senior Brother? Or are you a little short on funds?" Fang Yong asked, looking at him.

"Of course not," Xie Wen immediately shook his head. "I was just curious what the price should be."

Fang Yong considered it for a moment, then said, "The Yunqian Bureau has its own rules, but the Sect doesn’t have many regulations in this area.

"I don’t think you need to pay an exorbitant amount.

"Just add two thousand to the original amount.

"Of course, since this is a ’request for guidance,’ you can’t do it openly. You have to opt for a private challenge.

"Through this ’guidance,’ you’ll also learn the true depth of the number one cultivator. If you were to sell that information, it would be worth a fortune.

"He is number one, after all. A prominent figure.

"A key Student Cultivator in the annual rankings."

Hearing this, Xie Wen’s eyes lit up, but he asked in a low voice, "Is that really okay?"

"What’s the problem? You’re spending Spiritual Source and challenging him through the proper channels," Fang Yong said with certainty. "Even if he finds out, there’s nothing he can say."

Instantly, Xie Wen nodded. "Alright, seven thousand it is."

——

Jiang Man’s Residence.

Jiang Man looked at Xie Wen, inwardly surprised.

’How much?’

’Seven thousand?’

’Has Fang Yong’s heart really grown that black?’

Nevertheless, he said earnestly, "In that case, I accept your challenge."

"I want to challenge you privately," Xie Wen said.

Jiang Man nodded. "Fine."

When the man asked when they could start, Jiang Man said tonight.

Xie Wen agreed.

He would come back tonight.

Jiang Man held the seven thousand Spiritual Source, feeling a wave of emotion.

It was timely assistance.

He immediately wrote out an IOU for two thousand Spiritual Source.

Out of the seven thousand Spiritual Source, he would take five thousand and Fang Yong would get two thousand.

Perfectly fair and reasonable.

「That evening.」

The IOU appeared in Fang Yong’s hands.

His brows furrowed.

’He actually just borrowed it.’

’Two thousand three hundred to be repaid in half a year.’

Afterward, Fang Yong put the IOU away.

By now, Jiang Man had already begun studying the Wandering Dragon and Shadowless Palm.

Xie Wen wasn’t a fool. Though he didn’t know how Fang Yong had persuaded him, it certainly wasn’t for a simple challenge.

One or two thousand Spiritual Source was the normal price for a simple challenge.

Seven thousand... it was impossible there wasn’t some ulterior motive.

Although he didn’t know who was behind it, since the man had paid so much Spiritual Source...

...he had to make sure the man got something out of it.

He would learn the Wandering Dragon to demonstrate a bit of Body Skill, and then the Shadowless Palm.

But he didn’t need to master them to a high level. Around the Third Layer would be enough.

Any higher, and he really wouldn’t have enough time.

After that, Jiang Man briefly listened to the Old Yellow Ox’s explanation.

Only after receiving the Magic Purple Qi did he begin his Cultivation.

Originally, cultivating a Foundation Establishment Skill with his Magic Skill Innate Qi had been a bit slow.

But now, he could reach the Entry Level after just two repetitions.

The Wandering Dragon was primarily based on footwork.

The First Layer allowed for nine steps, the Second Layer eighteen, and the Ninth Layer eighty-one.

After eighty-one steps, the sequence could be started anew.

But before the eighty-first step, they could not be executed without a gap.

However, Wandering Dragon wasn’t aggressive enough, making it somewhat useless in a real fight.

But against a Student Cultivator who had just reached Foundation Establishment, it was more than enough.

After four repetitions.

Wandering Dragon, Second Layer.

After eight repetitions.

Wandering Dragon, Third Layer.

With that done, Jiang Man began learning the Shadowless Palm.

The Shadowless Palm was a normal palm strike. The higher the level, the clearer the palm became, with the Sixth Layer being the peak.

This time, Jiang Man only managed to learn it up to the Second Layer.

He had run out of time.

Under the moonlight, Xie Wen arrived at Jiang Man’s residence. "Can we begin?" he asked.

"Any time," Jiang Man said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, golden light erupted from Xie Wen, as if covering his body in Battle Armor.

This was a Qi Refining Combat Skill.

He then gathered lightning in his palm, crushing it before unleashing a powerful blast.

Magic Skill, Thousand Thunder.

RUMBLE!

Bolts of lightning rained down.

Jiang Man used the Wandering Dragon to retreat, dodging the surrounding lightning Attacks.

When the lightning subsided, he used the Wandering Dragon to approach his opponent.

He struck out with his palm.

Magic Skill, Shadowless Palm.

Seeing this, Xie Wen’s Combat Skill surged wildly as he condensed a giant palm in his hand.

Magic Skill, Great Buddha Palm.

BOOM!

The two palms collided.

Xie Wen was sent flying.

But he quickly regained his footing and continued the fight. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Jiang Man didn’t press his advantage.

If he had wanted to, he could have won in the first exchange.

But having accepted seven thousand Spiritual Source, he felt obligated to let his opponent fight a while longer.

Afterward, his opponent attacked with abandon, and Jiang Man did the same.

He occasionally used the Nine Clouds Dragon Suppressing Technique.

The Six Harmonies Palm.

He used both to simply knock his opponent back.

After twenty exchanges.

His opponent fell to the ground with a THUD.

He gasped for breath as he looked at Jiang Man, feeling that the gap between them was absurdly large.

Despite there being only a few months’ difference between them, the number one cultivator truly lived up to his title.

"Thank you for the match," Jiang Man said politely.

"Do I have a chance to defeat you?" Xie Wen asked.

Jiang Man thought for a moment. "No, you don’t."

"How could that be?" Xie Wen said in disbelief.

"I never stay in one place. I train day and night without rest. You don’t have enough time," Jiang Man said.

Xie Wen was silent for a moment. "A lead in the rankings is only temporary. Given time, I might still have a chance."

Jiang Man didn’t refute him.

’Give him time, and I’ll leave him so far behind he won’t even be able to see me.’

It wasn’t just him; it was the same for everyone else.

Even those with the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart would share the same fate.

An Unparalleled Celestial Pride.

’How could there be two of them?’

The Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart only applied to the pride of a certain time.

After Xie Wen left, Jiang Man finally looked at the Old Yellow Ox. "Old Huang," he said, "I just had a realization."

The Old Yellow Ox raised its brows and looked over.

Only then did Jiang Man speak. "When geniuses see me, they are no longer geniuses. The moment I was born, the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart was doomed to be reduced to a mere Celestial Pride Fate Chart."

The Old Yellow Ox looked at Jiang Man, chewing the grass in its mouth.

It remained silent.

「The next day, the rankings were announced.」

An Rong was excited. She wanted to know if she had broken into the top five.

Wei Beichuan was also waiting for the lists to be handed out.

This time, he wanted to get into the top ten.

Jiang Man paid them no mind and instead headed to the Alchemy Courtyard to pick up his Elixirs.

’Seven thousand Spiritual Source.’

’I can buy ten Elixirs with this for emergencies.’

’After that, I’ll have to find a way to earn more Spiritual Source.’

’I wonder if there are any lamp-lighting jobs here.’

’If I could earn six thousand a month...’

’...then that should be enough for the future.’

’I’ll ask Master first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask Senior Sister Yu.’

——

Alchemy Courtyard.

Today, the supervising Pill Masters were giving a lecture.

It just so happened to be He Huai’an and Mo Zainian.

Upon seeing him, Mo Zainian said with a smile, "Pill Master He, I hear you recently took on a disciple. Is his name Jiang Man?"

He Huai’an said calmly, "Does this have anything to do with you, Pill Master Mo?"

"It actually does, to a certain extent," Mo Zainian said with a laugh. "I originally wanted to take him as a disciple, but unfortunately, he wasn’t qualified and failed to enter my tutelage.

"I never thought Pill Master He would be the one to pick him up in the end.

"I wonder, has he made any achievements on the path of the Alchemy Dao?

"I’ve heard that his name has never appeared on any of the Alchemy Dao rankings.

"Not only that, but he hasn’t even started practicing Alchemy yet. He hasn’t even assisted.

"I suppose his Talent is..."

With that, Mo Zainian sighed. "Then again, Pill Master He, you’ve always had poor judgment. I can’t blame you."

He Huai’an snorted coldly but didn’t refute him.

Because he couldn’t.

’The boy has been my disciple for so long...’

’...and has never once studied Alchemy.’

’He only joined for the discount on Elixirs.’

’What’s the use of him being number one? Does that bring me any glory?’

’Which Pill Master doesn’t have a top-ranked Named Disciple under them?’

’They’re a dime a dozen.’

As he was about to leave, Mo Zainian asked again, "I wonder what his discipleship gift was? I heard he bought you wine?

"It must have been a rare vintage, I imagine?"

He Huai’an thought of that cheap wine and sighed inwardly.

’Sure enough, this is what I get for accepting Jiang Man.’

But when he returned, he saw Jiang Man again.

And he’d brought another jar of wine.

’That does it.’

’No Alchemy for me today.’

’I’m too angry to work.’

————

The monthly ticket lottery ends in two days.

For those who have them, don’t forget.