The scenery on the mountain peak was beautiful.

In a courtyard fragrant with the scent of Spirit Medicine, two beautiful women faced each other.

Both were silent.

A gentle breeze rustled their Immortal Skirts and swayed the tips of their hair.

"Junior Sister Yu, why aren’t you refuting it?" Xia Jin asked.

Yu Wanyi lowered her head and sighed. "I never expected he could stir up this much trouble either."

Xia Jin was incredulous. "It was really him?"

Yu Wanyi nodded.

Xia Jin had known Jiang Man was worth cultivating back when she was at the Yunqian Bureau. That was why she had told Yu Wanyi, who had an investment slot, to go check him out.

However, his performance had far exceeded her expectations.

The Ninth Courtyard had thrashed everyone above the Sixth Courtyard, leaving them all complaining bitterly.

Although he’d played dirty, it was still a display of strength that couldn’t be ignored.

"Didn’t he think about hiding his identity? Did he really just tell people he was from the Ninth Courtyard, or was he doing it on purpose to mislead everyone?" Xia Jin asked.

Yu Wanyi thought back for a moment.

Every time she spoke with Jiang Man, he was full of vigor, acting like he was second to none.

Even geniuses would have to call him a genius.

’Keep a low profile?’

"I think he probably just told them the truth," Yu Wanyi said.

Xia Jin was a bit surprised. "So reckless?"

"I think his ego has just gotten too big," Yu Wanyi sighed. "So big that I have to be careful whenever I go out, afraid I’ll get hurt because of him."

Xia Jin looked at the woman before her and couldn’t help but say, "If people really find out, it would indeed be quite dangerous for you to go out.

"In that case, why did you come out?"

"I’ve figured something out," Yu Wanyi said seriously. "I can hide from that crowd outside, but I can’t hide from the people involved in the Secret Realm.

"It would make me look guilty.

"So I have to keep doing what I usually do.

"That way, my conscience will be clear, and no one would suspect me."

Xia Jin shook her head.

’She’s starting to fight with shadows.’

’The pressure is driving her mad.’

"What do you plan to do now?" Xia Jin added, "Sooner or later, Jiang Man is going to be found out, right?"

"That’s his own business. All I have to do now is buy him some opportunities, like the second assessment," Yu Wanyi said seriously. "According to my master, there’s a second assessment for the Secret Realm. This one is probably to grant a related Secret Technique.

"It’s around mid-November. I’m still trying to secure a spot. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"If I can get it, I can let him go and try.

"It doesn’t matter if he can’t learn it."

Just as Yu Wanyi finished speaking, a figure appeared in her courtyard.

The two were quite surprised.

They immediately bowed respectfully.

"Master, what brings you here?" Yu Wanyi asked at once.

The woman looked at Yu Wanyi and tossed a Token to her. "I’ve secured the opportunity for you, but I have to remind you of something.

"It won’t be easy to learn. And if he enters the Secret Realm without mastering it, his situation will be more difficult than others’.

"You need to tell him to think it over carefully.

"Also, if he’s at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, I still don’t recommend he learn it.

"If he enters normally, his circumstances will be similar to everyone else’s.

"He’ll be able to vie for some decent things.

"Additionally, the second selection is in late-November, and the Secret Realm opens in late-February.

"Each one should last about half a month."

After speaking, the woman left.

Yu Wanyi looked at the Token, feeling emotional. "He’ll definitely go in."

"Why?" Xia Jin asked.

"He has a cultivation partner, Senior Sister. Have you forgotten?" Yu Wanyi said.

Hearing this, Xia Jin had a sudden realization. "You mean he’s mooching off her? So his cultivation partner’s contribution is a big reason why he’s so dazzling?"

Yu Wanyi sighed. "That’s why I’m wondering if I should give him some books—dual cultivation books, or perhaps books on how to please one’s cultivation partner.

"Unfortunately, I’m not a man, so giving him things like that could be misinterpreted."

Xia Jin shook her head, feeling that the situation was more complicated than she had anticipated.

—

「Evening.」

Jiang Man watched Senior Sister Yu leave.

He looked at the Token, feeling emotional.

’I have another month. It seems this Magic Skill won’t be easy to learn. But I can memorize it and come back to ask Old Huang for help.’

’After that, I’ll advance to the Late Stage and then study it.’

Jiang Man considered this. There were only four months until the Secret Realm opened.

’Can I advance to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment within four months?’

Jiang Man asked the Old Yellow Ox.

"You got money?" the Old Yellow Ox asked, chewing on a mouthful of grass.

Jiang Man froze for a moment. He didn’t say anything, but reached out and petted the Old Yellow Ox.

Then, he activated the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books.

The pages flipped rapidly before stopping on the final one.

Words materialized upon it.

[A BEAST IS UNWORTHY!]

Only then did Jiang Man withdraw his hand, completely satisfied.

The Old Yellow Ox watched Jiang Man while eating its grass. Although it didn’t understand, it didn’t ask.

After that, Jiang Man began his Cultivation. However, he did some calculations.

’It seems I won’t be able to participate in this assessment.’

’Not just this one, but the one in March, too.’

Jiang Man felt it was a pity, but it didn’t matter.

’I’ll just let Zhuo Bufan take first place twice more.’

A few days later, however, Jiang Man overheard Zhuo Bufan and the others mentioning the geniuses of the Eighth Courtyard.

"I heard some Secret Realm has appeared, and three people from the Seven Peaks and Eight Courtyards were selected. Their scores were unconventional, putting them in a league of their own.

"Now they have the qualifications to enter the Secret Realm.

"It seems the Secret Realm opens in late February. Do you guys know what kind of Secret Realm it is?"

Zhuo Bufan’s words surprised the people around him.

Wei Beichuan thought for a moment and said, "I heard some big shot came to the Sect and opened a Secret Realm.

"The Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards weren’t originally qualified.

"But for some unknown reason, they were given slots, and only to those unconventional geniuses. Coincidentally, three such geniuses appeared in the Eighth Courtyard this year, and all of them were chosen.

"It seems none of the Seventh Courtyards of the Seven Peaks have such geniuses right now, and neither does the Ninth Courtyard."

Everyone was a little surprised, but not because of the Secret Realm itself.