Song Qing had an epiphany and went back.

Jiang Man didn’t know what epiphany he’d had, but hearing that he was going back to his Cultivation was a good thing.

There was nothing more real than one’s Cultivation.

Anything else might betray him, but his Cultivation certainly wouldn’t.

His Cultivation would be his most solid backing, something to rely on for his entire life.

Improving oneself was the only correct path.

Earning or borrowing Spiritual Source were merely means to improve one’s Cultivation.

That was why Jiang Man hadn’t wasted much time earning Spiritual Source.

For now, his progress hadn’t stalled due to a lack of Spiritual Source.

Otherwise, he would have started learning Alchemy, Arrays, and Talismans long ago.

Why would he waste his years?

Afterward, Luo Hu and the others arrived one by one.

Among the five, only Li Mo was a woman.

Zhao Tiankuo came alone. He bowed respectfully in greeting and then stood to the side with his head lowered.

He didn’t dare to look directly at Jiang Man.

It was rather surprising.

Judging from his guard, the first impression was that he, too, was unruly and arrogant.

’Looks like my preconceptions were too strong.’

If the other party had been like that inferior Golden Core, he wouldn’t have planned to take him back.

Now, it seemed he could just stick to the normal procedure.

"Is everyone here? Then let’s set off."

With a casual wave, Jiang Man swept the five of them onto his Flying Sword.

Then, he departed via Sword Control.

High in the sky, Jiang Man looked down below, feeling a surge of emotion.

Back then, Senior Sister Yu had brought him to the Sect in the very same way.

However, it seemed he knew far less on this trip than Senior Sister Yu had.

For example, the flight altitude.

He was simply mimicking Senior Sister Yu.

Also, he didn’t have an investment slot this time.

’I should have asked for one earlier.’

"Senior," Luo Hu began respectfully, "what is it generally like inside the Sect?"

Jiang Man looked at him and said, "You’re not asking the right way."

The young man fell silent for a moment before realization dawned on him, and he handed over one hundred Spiritual Source.

Only then did Jiang Man answer his question.

The others followed suit.

Li Mo hesitated before asking, "Senior, is Foundation Establishment difficult?"

"Not difficult. As long as you finish your Reincarnation and rank in the top fifty in the assessment, you’ll be fine," Jiang Man said.

’It really isn’t hard.’

He had achieved Foundation Establishment without any difficulty, and Fang Yong had also done it in a year.

Although he hadn’t seen the others from his hometown, they should all be reaching that stage this year.

Luo Hu asked with some curiosity, "I heard you were also first in the Yunqian Bureau, Senior. How long will it take for me to catch up to you?"

Jiang Man thought for a moment and said, "There’s not much to catch up to. It probably won’t be long before you give up on that idea."

’These people are too young. They can’t even see my shadow.’

’Once they realize that, they’ll give up.’

The journey was uneventful, and Zhao Tiankuo didn’t say a word.

Two days later, Jiang Man arrived at the Sect.

As they drew near, radiant light filled the air, like a paradise on earth.

The nourishing Spiritual Qi also left the newcomers in shock.

Besides them, many other people were arriving via Sword Flight.

It was an exceptionally spectacular sight at this time every year.

"We’re here." Jiang Man stopped before the Sect and pointed them in the right direction.

Watching them enter, Jiang Man was a little surprised.

’Is this Zhao Tiankuo really so well-behaved?’

After Jiang Man left, Zhao Tiankuo, who had kept his head down the entire time, slowly looked up in the direction of Jiang Man’s departure.

A glint of green light flashed in his eyes. ’Locked on.’

Then he turned to go and register.

’Some people, in the end, must pay the price for their actions.’

’Especially those who nearly stopped me from entering early.’

’If he has an ’accident’ later, someone will definitely investigate.’

’But I’m just an honest, timid person.’

’Whatever trouble arises will have nothing to do with me.’

’Let the Zhao Family test his depth. If he’s deep, he can be of further use.’

’If he’s too shallow, then he’s not worth mentioning.’

’What will be, will be.’

Then, under the guidance of the Zhao Family members, he headed for the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

Everything had been arranged for him.

He had already been exposed to the Promotion Skill as well.

’It’s time for me to make a name for myself.’

————

When Jiang Man returned to Cloud Mist Peak, he felt a strange sensation all over his body.

He felt as if he had picked something up on his trip out.

But he couldn’t find anything.

’How strange. Could it be Ting Fengyin?’ Jiang Man wondered.

’But are Ting Fengyin’s methods something I can even detect?’

’It couldn’t be someone from the Zhao Family, could it?’

As soon as he got back, Jiang Man took everything out and placed it before Old Huang. "Old Huang, take a look. Has someone used a trick on me?"

The Old Yellow Ox looked surprised. "What makes you think someone has used a trick on you?"

"I’ve felt off ever since I got back, like there’s something extra on me, but I can’t find it." Jiang Man thought for a moment. "To put it simply, it’s the intuition of an Unparalleled Celestial Pride."

The Old Yellow Ox stared at Jiang Man in silence for a moment. "There is indeed a mark. Logically, someone with your Cultivation shouldn’t be able to sense it. This is a technique of the Demon Race, but it’s been disguised to look like a Human Race technique."

"Unless someone from the Immortal Sect investigates, it could easily pass unnoticed."

"A Demon Race technique?" Jiang Man immediately thought of the Jiao Dragon.

’Its strength was indeed impressive.’

After he told Old Huang, the ox just gave him the white of its eyes.

"A demon that could trade blows with you—how could it possibly deceive the eyes of the Sect?" the Old Yellow Ox said calmly. "That Jiao Dragon isn’t capable of this. There must be someone else behind the scenes. Think about who you’ve come into contact with."

Jiang Man went over everyone he had met.

Although the Zhao Family was suspicious, there was no proof.

And he couldn’t pin it on any of them.

"The biggest possibility is still one of the five who were on your Flying Sword," the Old Yellow Ox reminded him.

Jiang Man nodded. He thought so, too.

’Unless Song Qing is the one with the problem.’

But he felt that was unlikely.

’Song Qing is still agonizing over women.’

’So hopeless. It definitely wasn’t him.’

"Should I remove it?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

"You can act now?" Jiang Man was astonished.