Seeing this, Fang Yong’s brow furrowed.

"Young Master Fang, you don’t know me very well. According to Luo Xuan, I’m quite the schemer," Cheng Yu said honestly. After a pause, she continued, "Right now, I’m completely dependent on Young Master Fang’s support, so naturally, I have to do things to get on your good side."

Fang Yong looked at the person before him and said, "You can report your travel expenses for reimbursement."

Then he added, "You need to spend time improving your Cultivation."

Cheng Yu was about to reach the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, but "about to" still meant she was only at the Seventh Layer.

Cheng Yu nodded in response, then told him about Jiang Man. "He might be looking to borrow Spiritual Source from you, Young Master Fang."

After a pause, she asked curiously, "Jiang Man said he didn’t participate in the annual assessment. Do you know why, Young Master Fang?"

"He probably has better ways to earn resources," Fang Yong replied casually.

Cheng Yu couldn’t be sure either, so she left to go make preparations.

But not long after Cheng Yu left, Jiang Man came looking for him.

Seeing that Fang Yong also lived in a small courtyard, he was a little surprised. "Young Master Fang, you’re this wealthy?"

Jiang Man knew exactly how expensive these small courtyards were.

He only got one to raise his ox; otherwise, he could have done without it.

"A little over a thousand a month," Fang Yong replied.

Jiang Man was stunned.

’A little over a thousand?’

His, even with a thirty percent discount, cost twenty-one hundred.

’What’s with this poor guy? How could he rent a courtyard so cheaply?’

’We’re all poor, so why are my living expenses so high?’

"I kowtowed and played the victim card to get it," Fang Yong said, cutting off whatever Jiang Man was about to say next.

After that, Jiang Man asked Fang Yong if he wanted to invest in an Unparalleled Celestial Pride.

Fang Yong was already prepared. He asked, "Do you plan to participate in the annual assessment next year?"

"In theory, yes," Jiang Man nodded.

"I can lend you the Spiritual Source, and I’ll even take a lower interest rate." Fang Yong looked at Jiang Man seriously. "If I can get into the annual rankings, you need to bring me onto your team for Cloud Mist Peak."

"No problem," Jiang Man agreed without hesitation.

’It’s all the same who I team up with.’

’What’s wrong with getting a lower interest rate in exchange?’

In the end, Fang Yong gave Jiang Man ten thousand.

He would have to pay back eleven thousand in a year.

The interest was the lowest of all his lenders.

Afterwards, Fang Yong asked Jiang Man what he was trying to obtain.

Jiang Man’s answer was simple: ideally, a Top-grade Observation Method or a Top-grade Body Refining Technique.

If not, he would have to settle for a Middle Grade one.

Fang Yong was shocked. This meant that Jiang Man had already obtained the Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique this time.

After that, Jiang Man bid farewell to Fang Yong and prepared to return to his Cultivation.

He had set out with fifty thousand Spiritual Source.

He returned with forty thousand remaining.

He hadn’t gained much.

However, as soon as he was back, the Old Yellow Ox told him he could now learn the Nascent Condensation Skill.

Hearing this, Jiang Man no longer hesitated.

Instead, he began to listen to Old Huang’s explanation.

Jiang Man’s brow was tightly furrowed as he listened.

’Complicated. It’s too complicated.’

Even with the Old Yellow Ox’s explanation, Jiang Man found it incredibly complex.

He occasionally had to consult ancient texts, or he wouldn’t be able to understand at all.

’So this is a top-grade skill for Foundation Establishment.’

Even if this were dropped in Luoyun City, it was likely no one there could cultivate it.

Not only were the concepts involved numerous, but the resonance required for Cultivation was even more intricate.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians... sometimes Three Meridians needed to vibrate, other times one had to guide Spiritual Qi to induce the Void Vein to achieve resonance.

He had to adjust the Nascent Condensation Skill’s resonance according to the changes in his body’s breathing.

The human body is inherently complex, and a Cultivation Method is about using that complex body to find the most suitable path.

Furthermore, the pace and duration could not have the slightest error.

The Cultivation process required a huge amount of Heart Spirit.

Even if some people understood the Cultivation, if their Spiritual Level was insufficient, they would soon suffer from cultivation deviation and descend into madness.

"This Cultivation Skill has a threshold. You must reach the Spiritual Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment to cultivate it. I simply bypassed the threshold when teaching you, but you need to face your current situation head-on," the Old Yellow Ox reminded him.

Jiang Man nodded.

Coincidentally, he was able to cultivate it.

"Also, you need to prepare to learn the Five Elements Technique, otherwise you won’t be able to leave an imprint on the Five Elements Stone," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man recalled the condition for the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart.

It was to leave a handprint on the Five Elements Stone.

"Where can I learn the Five Elements Technique?" Jiang Man asked.

The Old Yellow Ox stared at Jiang Man without a word.

Jiang Man paused, then understood. He had to figure it out himself.

’This is going to be a pain.’

After a moment of thought, he asked again, "What grade is the Five Elements Technique as a Magic Skill?"

The Old Yellow Ox just smiled, saying nothing.

Jiang Man shook his head. "Old Huang, speaking in riddles can lead to trouble."

The Old Yellow Ox paid him no mind and just lowered its head to eat grass.

Jiang Man noticed there was more grass in the courtyard, and it was no longer just weeds.

’Where did Old Huang steal it from?’

Asking didn’t get him an answer.

But since he could now cultivate the Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique, he naturally gave up on the Celestial Heart Seal.

First, he would begin Reincarnation to improve the quality and density of his Spiritual Qi.

This would directly affect his Hidden Spirit score.

In the next assessment, he could let the Student Cultivators of the small courtyards experience what true dazzling brilliance was.

But the Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique was truly difficult to cultivate.

He had listened to the explanation for two days, and spent another whole day practicing, pondering, and attempting it, but still hadn’t reached the Entry Level.

「Early morning.」

Yu Wanyi sat in her courtyard, her mind heavy with worry.

Especially after hearing some rumors from outside.

Someone at the investment office was mocking her, saying her dark horse had gone lame.

A flash in the pan.

Others sneered that this was the price of burning through one’s potential.

Someone else said they’d heard Jiang Man seemed to be staying up all night cultivating.

’Ignorant and reckless. Of course he is.’

All sorts of criticisms spread, one after another. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Her dark horse was now as pathetic as he had once been glorious.

These people certainly wouldn’t go after Jiang Man; they were all attacking her, the investor.

After all, they were the ones in the same circle.

The Foundation Establishment Courtyard was its own world; they wouldn’t go over there just to stir up trouble.

Of course, she could have ignored all this and just waited until next year.

But...

...the circle involved with the Secret Realm selection was in an uproar, saying they wanted to find Number 210 and see exactly who he was and what his background was.

In short, Number 210 had offended too many people, and those people had investors behind them too.

’If he’s discovered, it’ll be dangerous for me, his investor, to even go outside.’

Fortunately, they would never dream that Number 210 was from the Ninth Courtyard.

But she was on edge every day, terrified that he would be discovered and they would come looking for trouble with her.

There was a hierarchy among investors, and unfortunately, she wasn’t on the stronger side.

"Why have you been sighing so much these past few days?" Xia Jin walked over and asked curiously.

Yu Wanyi forced a smile. "Just feeling melancholic and helpless."

"Did your investment get eliminated?" Xia Jin asked.

Yu Wanyi shook her head slightly. "He probably wasn’t eliminated, but he’s a bit... uncontrollable."

"Is he not good at being a kept man?" Xia Jin asked.

Yu Wanyi thought for a moment. "I’d say he’s quite good at it, actually. His cultivation partner is just a bit too forceful."

Xia Jin grew even more confused.

Yu Wanyi didn’t elaborate, instead asking about the situation outside.

"Of course, there are plenty of people mocking you, just waiting for you to go to the small mountain peak," Xia Jin said with a laugh. "Especially that Senior Brother Jin who likes to carry a sword. He lost face because of you last time, and now he hopes you’ll show up every day."

"In his dreams. I’m not going," Yu Wanyi said firmly.

"Then there’s the assessment. I heard that some people, both openly and secretly, are hoping that someone who saw Number 210 can analyze which courtyard’s Student Cultivator he is. They’ve even posted a high-priced bounty," Xia Jin said.

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi asked, "Are they going to make a move on him?"

"They’re all Student Cultivators from the same sect, so they can’t act recklessly. But if he has an investor, that investor is probably in more danger. After all, investors are usually from the Inner Sect, and there’s no problem with ambushing an Inner Sect member and giving them a beating." Xia Jin asked curiously, "Did the person you invested in run into Number 210?"

"No," Yu Wanyi shook her head.

’How could he have?’

’He *is* Number 210.’

She truly never imagined it would end up like this.

「A quaint courtyard.」

Meng Qiewei stared at the clear tea, silent.

A moment later, she casually poured it out and refilled her cup with plain water.

Only then did she begin to drink.

"A small part of the Secret Realm has opened, but there has been no reaction from any Magic Skill."

Meng Qiewei sighed. "Is he really not in the Wuyun Sect, or did he see through my methods from the very beginning?"

Setting down her cup, she wasn’t in a hurry. "Once the Secret Realm opens completely, I’ll be able to confirm it.

"As long as he goes in, I will definitely find him.

"If he really exists, then that junior from my clan probably knows something."

Just then, Qing Dai came in from outside. Seeing the Spiritual Qi overflowing on the ground, she said, "Miss, that tea was very expensive."