Cheng Ning had thought that if she surrendered immediately, her opponent would see she was a young lady of high status and would surely not press the attack.

She was a woman, and a beautiful one at that. More than that, she was the Cheng Family’s most talented daughter.

A woman like her had a natural advantage.

One that made others go easy on her.

Especially after she had already conceded, which should have been even more convincing.

Then, she just had to slip into the forest when he wasn’t looking.

And she would be the final winner.

Despicable?

Shameless?

’How ridiculous. To secure a spot, wasn’t being despicable and shameless a given?’

’Those who cursed her would just be one step behind.’

But...

She never imagined that he would be completely unmoved.

He launched a frenzied attack on her without a moment’s hesitation.

It was the ultimate Nine Clouds Dragon-Suppressing Seal again.

"Besides the Nine Seals Combined version of the Nine Clouds Dragon-Suppressing Seal, don’t you know any other techniques?"

"My apologies. This is my way of showing you respect."

BOOM!

Jiang Man slammed a palm directly into her face.

Blood bloomed across Cheng Ning’s face as her features twisted in pain.

The instant she hit the ground, Jiang Man was upon her, his foot stomping down.

Bengliu Technique.

CRACK!

A bone snapped.

She spat out a mouthful of blood.

Only then did Jiang Man feel reassured.

He then walked over to Fang Tiancheng again. Looking at the man’s sturdy build, he felt the previous injury wasn’t severe enough.

He unleashed the Bengliu Technique with another kick.

CRACK!

His leg bone broke.

"You..."

Fang Tiancheng was about to explode with rage.

After all that, Jiang Man turned to the motionless members of the Fang Family. "Do you want to fight?"

Everyone fell silent.

Especially after seeing the pile of bodies on the ground.

Besides, with the Fang Family’s leader defeated, what could they possibly do?

Seeing their lack of fighting spirit, Jiang Man let out a heavy, internal sigh of relief.

Blood was already seeping from his arms and thighs beneath his clothes.

It wasn’t from being injured by an Attack.

But rather...

His Physical Body was starting to give out.

Of course, while he was busy chasing down Cheng Ning, her companions had managed to land a few blows on him.

His back was searing with pain.

A battle of this intensity was truly taking its toll.

Fortunately, with the three at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer defeated, the others lost their will to fight.

Otherwise...

The outcome would have been uncertain.

’I, an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, might have actually fallen here.’

Of course...

’It was only a possibility.’

And as an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, his specialty was seizing upon those slim chances of success.

In the distance, Fang Yuanyuan gulped. "Brother, did we lose?"

Fang Tianyi whispered, "Let’s go. Head down the mountain and look for other things. There are plenty of other treasures. Don’t linger here."

"Cut our losses."

Then, they silently withdrew.

Seeing this, Li Yuan heaved an inward sigh of relief. If no one else were here, he would have loved to shout, "Well done!"

’But I need to start preparing.’

’Where’s Li Yuan?’

’I have to find him.’

’If I take the initiative to find him, I can still earn some goodwill.’

But he soon discovered that Li Yuan had already snuck into the forest.

’Damn it, he outplayed me.’

Immediately, he sent someone back to claim credit first.

’I’ll say I specifically sent Li Yuan up the mountain, suggesting there might be other opportunities for him.’

’I never thought it would actually turn out like this.’

’Even though I lost, the Li Family still secured a spot.’

’Now, I naturally have to congratulate Li Yuan, take the initiative to offer him a portion of my resources, and do everything I can to help him advance to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer so he can enter the Secret Realm.’

’By showing goodwill, things won’t get too awkward, and I’ll gain approval within the family. Li Yuan isn’t stupid enough to oppose me.’

’All that’s left is the Jiang Man situation. This is trouble. We’ve practically made an enemy of him.’

’Number one in the Yunqian Bureau...’

’Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.’

From this moment on, no one in all of Luoyun City could touch him.

Jiang Man scanned his surroundings warily. When the entrance to the woods opened, he strode inside.

If anyone else dared to make a move, they would be met with the Nine Seals Combined.

Fang Tiancheng and the others frowned. Jiang Man was all alone. How could he possibly retrieve the prize?

Soon, they saw Li Yuan and Yan Huimin appear, following Jiang Man inside.

Many people were now having the same thought: ’Why weren’t we the ones who teamed up with Jiang Man?’

’One at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, one at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, with who-knows-what ranking, and they actually get to claim the prize.’

’All because their team has the number one from the Yunqian Bureau?’

Soon, the Puppet was defeated.

And Jiang Man’s group of three successfully obtained the prize.

No one made a move.

’Who wants to get a few ribs broken?’

’It would definitely affect their chances of entering a Sect.’

’The loss would outweigh the gain.’

As they were leaving, Fang Tiancheng stared at Jiang Man. "Why don’t you show any signs of weakness?"

Jiang Man looked back at him and said calmly, "Because I’m strong."

Fang Tiancheng: "..."

He was usually the one saying things like that to other people. Now...

He felt a strange sense of powerlessness.

’Because what Jiang Man said was the truth.’

’He *is* strong.’

’Stronger than anyone else.’

But what he really wanted to know was *why* Jiang Man was so strong.

And so he asked.

Jiang Man looked at him, his tone unchanging. "Because I don’t sleep at night. I spend it all on Cultivation. You don’t cultivate at night?"

Fang Tiancheng: "..."

Cheng Ning: "..."

Li Yuan: "..."

Just then, Li Yuan chimed in, "Don’t tell me you guys actually sleep? You’re so young, how can you stand to sleep?"

Everyone: "..."

"No wonder you all lost," Li Yuan continued. "Your Talent isn’t as good as Young Master Jiang’s, and you’re not as diligent. How can you have the nerve to sleep? If you don’t lose, who will?"

Everyone: "..."

Yan Huimin didn’t dare to speak. She was still in a daze.

’What did I ever do to deserve a spot in the Secret Realm?’

’My ancestors must have done something incredible.’

’I won’t sleep anymore either. I’m going to cultivate properly.’

---

「That afternoon.」

Gao Mansion.

In Xiaopang’s courtyard.

Gao Cunfeng watched Xiaopang practicing his Outer Cultivation forms. "Son, the rankings are being posted today. Aren’t you going to go see them?"

At his words, Xiaopang snapped out of it. "Is it that late already? I’ll get ready and head over."

Today was the day the rankings were posted. Of course, he had to go see them.

Especially Jiang Man’s.

He was his good friend.

The genius of the Sixth Courtyard.

He naturally had to go and see.

The higher his friend’s rank, the happier he would be.

"And while you’re there, see how the Gao Family ranked," Gao Cunfeng added.

Xiaopang gave a casual reply and went inside to get ready.

He was drenched in sweat and needed to wash up.

Gao Cunfeng added, "Don’t take too much with you. If you’re in a good mood, you can buy some extra snacks. Dad has prepared plenty of Spiritual Source for you."

After Xiaopang agreed, Gao Cunfeng had someone keep an eye on things while he himself returned to the main hall to await news.

’Staying in Xiaopang’s courtyard all the time could arouse suspicion.’

’Once he takes the books with him, there’ll be no way to destroy them.’

So as he waited, he couldn’t help but feel a little worried.

He began to pace back and forth.

Soon, a servant boy came in to report, "The young master has gone out." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"What about the books?" Gao Cunfeng asked immediately.

"He didn’t take them," the servant boy replied instantly.

"Good, good, good," Gao Cunfeng said at once. "Have someone go in and find them. Bring them to me, and then go fetch Elder Chen."

Soon, the books were delivered to his desk.

Elder Chen also arrived with his books.

"My apologies for the trouble, Elder Chen," Gao Cunfang said consolingly.

"It is my duty," Elder Chen said, shaking his head slightly.

Then, Gao Cunfang tossed Xiaopang’s two books to the butler. "Have someone find a good place to burn these."

Then he handed the butler Elder Chen’s books. "Put these in the young master’s quarters. He will practice this from now on."

Elder Chen nodded slightly. After a pause, he asked, "Regarding the competition for the Secret Realm spots, does the Patriarch have a plan?"

"There are some Gao Family members in those three teams. Whether they can secure a spot will depend on their fate," Gao Cunfeng said with a smile. "I’ve already arranged for someone to watch the rankings. I’ll be notified the moment the results are out.

"Elder Chen, you can wait with me.

"We can analyze the current situation together."