’I’ll have to get another advance from Senior Sister Yu.’

However, before he could leave that day, Jiang Man saw a light appear on the Old Yellow Ox.

"Your wife sent another message," the Old Yellow Ox said casually.

Jiang Man retrieved the ball of light with practiced ease.

He was curious what Meng Qiewei would say. This was her first message since she had left.

The ball of light dispersed, and a voice echoed in Jiang Man’s mind.

"Husband, they’re bullying me. They even used my mother’s belongings to humiliate me and mocked me for being alone even though I’m married.

"They’re too powerful. I’m just a helpless woman; there’s nothing I can do.

"They’re going to investigate the person who went missing from the Magpie Bridge.

"You must be careful, Husband. They might trace their investigation back to you before long.

"When you become powerful, Husband, will you stand up for me?"

Her delicate voice was tinged with a hint of grievance and hope.

Jiang Man thought her voice was very pleasant to listen to.

But...

For some reason, he felt a chilling sensation envelop him.

As if he could be torn to pieces at any moment.

This time, the Old Yellow Ox didn’t ask what Meng Qiewei had said.

But Jiang Man told him anyway.

"Old Huang, she said she was being bullied. Do you believe her?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

"Do you think your wife is the type to be bullied?" Old Huang retorted.

"I don’t think so." Jiang Man sighed. "But her voice is so captivating. No wonder I fell for it so easily back when I was a fool."

The Old Yellow Ox went back to eating its grass and said no more.

"Old Huang, what will happen if they really find us?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

"Nothing much. I can collect your corpse for you if need be." The Old Yellow Ox raised an eyebrow at Jiang Man as it chewed its grass.

Jiang Man shook his head and sighed. "You’re so philosophical, Old Huang. I wonder if my wife eats beef."

「That evening.」

Fang Yong delivered three thousand Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man was a bit stunned.

Fang Yong explained, "Zhang Bai from the Seventh Courtyard was asking about you. I mentioned that you’d married a mysterious woman. He guessed that you were living off her, and since your ranking disappeared recently, you must not have been pleasing your dao companion and got your resources cut off."

Jiang Man was taken aback. This was pure slander.

"I’ve achieved my Cultivation entirely through my own hard work," he said righteously as he accepted the Spiritual Source.

Fang Yong left after that.

Jiang Man lamented to himself that his reputation as a prodigy had been somewhat tarnished.

Still, an extra three thousand Spiritual Source was no small sum.

Half of December was already gone, and he only had two months left. He had to raise the money as soon as possible.

Afterward, he went to the place where he could collect his investment resources.

He was told to contact Senior Sister Yu.

"Another advance?" Yu Wanyi sounded surprised. "Have you been fighting with your dao companion lately?"

Jiang Man felt she had misunderstood something. "I’ve always used my own Spiritual Source for my Cultivation."

"You earn the Spiritual Source yourself, and your dao companion provides the rest?" Yu Wanyi breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, it’s good you’re not fighting. But shouldn’t you be learning Magic Skills? You did very well on the second assessment, and there’s no longer a bounty on your head."

Hearing this, Jiang Man froze.

’She knew about the bounty on me?’

He asked, and it turned out to be true.

Jiang Man lamented to himself that Senior Sister Yu had caused him a lot of trouble.

’Thirty thousand Spiritual Source...’

In the end, he still managed to secure the advance.

It was an advance on his Spiritual Source for the next three months.

A total of eighteen thousand.

He now had twenty-nine thousand left in total.

’It still doesn’t feel like enough, but it would have to do for now.’

"How do you plan to compete in the Secret Realm?" Yu Wanyi asked.

Jiang Man shook his head. "What’s in there?"

"Top-grade Cultivation Methods and Magic Skills, as well as Spirit Swords. Of course, since it’s a Secret Realm, there’s no telling what else you might find. There’s a lot more freedom than in the Sect’s other competitions, but the quality of the rewards you can get varies wildly," said Yu Wanyi.

Jiang Man wanted to compete for a Top-grade Technique.

His Cultivation had increased, but his combat power had not.

Among cultivators of the Same Tier, not having a Top-grade Technique put one at a great disadvantage.

He could only rely on the Celestial Heart Seal to barely get by.

If his opponent had extensive combat experience, the Celestial Heart Seal could be easily countered.

After all, he didn’t have enough combat experience himself.

"I heard you made a bet with someone?" Yu Wanyi asked suddenly.

Jiang Man nodded. "Yes."

"Are you confident?" Yu Wanyi asked.

Jiang Man recalled his opponent’s attitude toward cultivation and said, "It should be quite easy."

In terms of Talent, his opponent was inferior. In terms of wealth, he himself was a little behind, but not by much, since he had been consistently taking Elixirs. The biggest difference was in various support items, but his Talent could make up for that.

And when it came to effort, his opponent wasn’t even half as diligent as he was.

Yu Wanyi didn’t seem concerned. After all, Jiang Man had always been this confident.

He had been like this ever since she brought him to the Sect.

So she asked about something else. "What does your dao companion like?"

Hearing this, Jiang Man froze.

’How would he know what Meng Qiewei liked?’

"You don’t even know what your dao companion likes? You need to find out her preferences and give her a small gift once in a while." Yu Wanyi was exasperated with him.

Jiang Man was stunned.

But Yu Wanyi continued, "Just because you’re married doesn’t mean everything is set in stone. You have to learn to express yourself and let her feel your affection.

"And you have to share things that happen to you.

"If you don’t share, she won’t understand.

"If she’s willing to share, you have to learn to listen and ask questions.

"That way, she’ll feel like sharing with you gets a response.

"It will make her happy."

After talking for a while longer, Yu Wanyi left.

Jiang Man shook his head and sighed.

’This is too complicated. I’d better just keep cultivating.’

Another half a month passed, and Jiang Man had absorbed all the Nourishing Essence Pills.

He successfully began his breakthrough to the Physical Body Fourth Layer.

This breakthrough was once again aided by Elixirs and an Array.

But thanks to the Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique, the breakthrough was much smoother than before.

Three days later, he successfully entered the Physical Body Fourth Layer.

Jiang Man realized that if he had been practicing the Top-grade Yuan Condensation Technique from the very beginning...

...then advancing would have been much easier.

This was the advantage of being wealthy.

Families with deep foundations probably started their children on Top-grade Skills from the very beginning.

The free skills provided by the Sect were always Simple Skills.

You had to fight for everything else.

However, this month he received another notice to turn in his rent payment.

Another six thousand three hundred gone.

He was left with twenty thousand.

Afterward, Jiang Man began to cultivate the Visualization Skill.

He needed to advance from the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer.

Only then could he break through the bottleneck in his Cultivation.

And smoothly enter the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

「Half a month later.」

The fourth gourd of his Spirit was forty percent full.

「A month later.」

It was ninety percent full.

Three days later, he began his breakthrough.

「Four more days passed.」

A dull sound echoed from within Jiang Man’s body.

The fifth gourd of his Spirit shattered open.

He had successfully entered the Spiritual Fifth Layer.

At that moment, the wind of his Spirit rapidly expanded outward.

But he quickly brought it under control.

With that, Jiang Man breathed a sigh of relief.

’February seventh. There are only seven days left. I might have enough time to improve my Cultivation, but...’

’I’m out of Spiritual Source.’

To advance, he needed at least seven Water Element Pills.

They cost seven hundred each.

Even with a discount, that was still over four thousand.

A lack of money can stump even the greatest of heroes.

He had already been to Xiaopang’s place. He had taken what he could and borrowed what he could, leaving nothing behind.

Jiang Man checked his remaining Spiritual Source.

Three hundred and fifty.

Then, Jiang Man bought a jar of wine worth three hundred Spiritual Source.

He made his way to the Alchemy Courtyard.

Upon seeing his master, he respectfully handed over the wine.

He Huai’an took the wine and said casually:

"Saved up enough Spirit Medicine again?"

He had a deep impression of this disciple.

An unforgettable one, in fact.

People were constantly reminding him that he had such a disciple.

After taking him as a disciple, the boy had lost his first-place rank and had made no achievements in Alchemy whatsoever.

It was like a brand of shame, nailed to his name.

Those people seemed afraid that others wouldn’t know what kind of disciple he had taken.

In short, if he was being ridiculed, his disciple probably wasn’t faring much better.

They were both pitiful figures.

As he thought this, he subconsciously took a sip of the wine.

But with that one sip, he froze completely.

’Oh no, this wine...’

’It’s too expensive.’

He Huai’an sat up straight and looked at Jiang Man.

’This time, he’s come for me.’

’I was careless,’ he thought. He looked at Jiang Man and said, "Alright, out with it. Why have you come looking for your master? And let me be clear, I’m not an easy person to persuade. Just because you ask doesn’t mean I’ll agree."

"Master, I want to compete for the rankings," Jiang Man said frankly.

"Then go compete. What do you need your master for?" He Huai’an asked warily.

"Your disciple is about to advance..."

"Skip the prelude. Just tell me what you want. I’m not lending you any Spiritual Source."

Jiang Man said seriously, "I’m not here to borrow Spiritual Source."

Hearing this, He Huai’an breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back again, relaxing.

’As long as he isn’t borrowing Spiritual Source, it’s fine.’

But Jiang Man’s voice rang out just as quickly, "I would like to borrow ten Earth Element Pills."

In an instant, He Huai’an shot back up.

’Nine thousand Spiritual Source?’