The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 205 - 146: People from Meng Quewei’s Family, Part 2

The others didn’t ask any more questions.

Yan Yiqiu said, "Starting from the Seventh Courtyard, the requirements for practical combat are higher. Not only that, but you will occasionally be sent into certain Secret Realms to participate in real battles.

"Additionally, you’ll be taken into the mountains to learn more about Demon Beasts.

"The difficulty won’t be high, though. As long as you are careful and cultivate diligently, you usually won’t have any problems.

"But if you slack off, accidents can happen."

There were no points for practical combat.

Everyone understood this.

The annual assessment was preparation for the Third Courtyard and Seven Peaks assessments. Those didn’t use a point system; practical combat ability was the most important factor.

First, they would filter candidates using points, and then finalize the rankings based on practical combat.

"Your new Magic Master will meet you tomorrow. Remember not to offend him. I heard he’s a prodigy from the Inner Sect who’s out for three years of training," Yan Yiqiu said.

Everyone was a little surprised.

They had already had one Magic Master; they didn’t expect another.

And one who was out from the Inner Sect for training, no less.

Then, Yan Yiqiu added another reminder, "Also, your rankings aren’t bad, but you achieved them by cultivating through the night. Now that others have learned this trick, you don’t have much of an advantage anymore.

"You have to work even harder.

"In the coming days, people will definitely approach you, each with their own agendas.

"You must be extremely careful.

"If you’re ever unsure what to do, you can come and ask me."

Once she had explained just about everything, Jiang Man finally asked, "When can I cultivate the Cloud Mist Peak’s Secret Technique?"

Yan Yiqiu casually handed Jiang Man a book and said, "This is it. Take it back and read it. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask at the Dharma Transmission Department."

Jiang Man noticed the book had no title. After putting it away, he asked a second question, "Mr. Yan, I feel that participating in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards’ assessments would be a waste of time.

"I want to directly participate in the annual assessment for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards.

"Is there a way?"

Hearing this, Yan Yiqiu stared blankly at Jiang Man, feeling a bit of a shame.

’Doesn’t that mean the students from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards won’t get beaten by you?’

’They’d probably be too happy to sleep.’

’And he’d miss Wei Ran and the others, too.’

’It would be giving them an opportunity.’

After a moment of thought, she decided it might be for the best.

’I won’t have to suffer next year either.’

"I’ll find a way for you. For now, just focus on raising your Cultivation," Yan Yiqiu said.

Jiang Man breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that she didn’t refuse meant it was possible.

The others, however, were astonished.

’Going straight to the First, Second, and Third Courtyards?’

’That was a huge leap. The First, Second, and Third Courtyards were where the most talented disciples gathered.’

’It was actually very dangerous to go there.’

After that was a simple teaching session where they could ask any questions they had, and Mr. Yan would answer.

Additionally, there was the topic of Minors.

A Minor could earn you a lot of points and help you get more Spiritual Source.

It wasn’t common in the Seventh Courtyard yet, but it was extremely common in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards.

Yan Yiqiu told them to pay close attention to it as well.

But in reality, the other students rarely looked into Minors.

The pressure of staying up all night for Immortal Cultivation was part of the reason.

They felt that if they rested for even a moment, they might be overtaken.

The same was true if they focused on a Minor.

Of course, those who didn’t have enough Spiritual Source had no choice but to study a Minor properly.

This allowed them to earn more Spiritual Source and improve their Cultivation.

The noon teaching session ended.

Jiang Man returned to his residence.

He made himself a meal, then read about the Cloud Mist Peak’s Secret Skill while he ate.

"Old Huang, do you think this Cloud Mist Peak Secret Skill is mainly for combat?"

Jiang Man said, taking a bite of a steamed bun.

He opened the book as he spoke.

"Aren’t you rich now? Why are you still eating steamed buns?" the Old Yellow Ox asked while chewing on grass.

"We’re in a Sect now, so why are you still eating grass?" Jiang Man retorted.

"I don’t like meat. You don’t like it either?" the Old Yellow Ox asked in return.

Jiang Man glanced at the steamed bun in his hand and said, "I’m scarred by poverty."

Even with money, he didn’t dare spend it recklessly.

He was afraid he wouldn’t have enough Spiritual Source for his Cultivation later on, especially if he reached a point where there was nowhere to borrow from.

It was a real headache.

"Purple Mist Divine Light?" Jiang Man frowned as he read the name of the Secret Skill. "It doesn’t sound like an Art of Attack and Destruction."

This was a Top-grade Skill, and cultivating it would not be easy.

Just figuring out how to cultivate it would take a significant amount of time.

However, Jiang Man was only looking at its effects, which wasn’t difficult at all.

Soon, he came to a conclusion.

Purple Mist Divine Light, Rising Sun Chapter.

At sunrise, the mist glows with boundless light.

Condense the rising sun and let its light shine down. It strikes like a clap of thunder, powerful enough to shake mountains and shatter stone.

After that, Jiang Man understood.

This was an Art of Attack and Destruction.

This Upper Chapter was all about condensing a rising sun.

Once successfully condensed, it could cast down its light to shine upon a person.

And to condense it successfully, one had to reach the Fourth Layer.

Only at the Fifth Layer could the misty light descend.

At the Sixth Layer, the light could be refracted, striking a second person.

And so on.

At the Thirteenth Layer, the light could strike nine people.

After that, the rising sun would draw upon the user’s physical power.

Allowing them to rapidly close in and launch an attack.

’It’s a bit like a fist technique, but it tells the enemy in advance who you’re going to hit.’

’The good thing is that it can’t be dodged. The only options are Defense or a head-on clash.’

’I wonder how powerful it is.’

Judging from the book’s description, it should be incredibly strong.

With that, Jiang Man handed the book to the Old Yellow Ox.

Once it finished its analysis, he would be able to learn and cultivate it.

As for learning it systematically, it was still too early.

He’d consider that when his Cultivation was high enough.

—

「Inner Sect.」

In a Law Enforcement Hall prison cell.

Huo Bingzhi was locked in a sunless cell.

Due to insufficient evidence, she had to remain here for the time being.

But she wasn’t worried.

’As long as she waited for Jiang Man to fall asleep, he would find a way to save her.’

’He would do it even if it meant taking the blame himself.’

’The Evil God would not allow her to fail like this.’

’Soon, he would definitely fall asleep.’

She was certain.

Outside, Ren Qian leaned against a stone wall, watching the cell.

A woman by her side asked respectfully, "Shouldn’t we continue the interrogation?"

Ren Qian shook her head slightly. "No need. We’ve already confirmed she’s connected to the Evil God. Plus, she has a special lock in her body, which clearly makes her an important figure.

"The reason she’s so calm is because she’s certain she hasn’t been discovered, and that someone will come to rescue her.

"That Evil God knows far too little about us.

"The person it chose is also quite mediocre.

"We just need to wait and see what happens."

"Does the Evil God have a backup plan? Who could it be?" the woman asked.

Ren Qian smiled faintly. "I’m afraid it’s the person who reported her. That person is very strange, but he truly doesn’t have the aura of the Evil God on him, so he’s outside our jurisdiction.

"I just don’t know if he’ll come looking for us again in the future."

—

「The next day.」

Jiang Man and the others arrived at the Seventh Courtyard.

Today was the day the new Magic Master was scheduled to arrive.

Everyone was curious about what kind of person the new Magic Master would be.

After all, Yan Yiqiu’s description of him was "prodigy."

It naturally sparked their curiosity.

Even Jiang Man wanted to see what a prodigy looked like.

Soon, they saw two people enter.

The person walking in front was, naturally, Yan Yiqiu.

Yan Yiqiu looked to be in her early thirties, and her outstanding features and remarkable bearing made her very eye-catching.

But...

Behind her stood a man in his early twenties.

His white robes were whiter than snow, and as their hems fluttered, they seemed to be chased by flowing clouds.

His brows were like ink paintings, his eyes like cold stars. When the wind blew, his black hair stirred gently, a jade pin holding it in a slanted knot. Every move he made was a work of art, a living poem.

The entire courtyard was stunned.

Especially Zhao Yaoyao and An Rong, who were utterly shocked.

"You’re drooling," Cao Cheng said, wiping his own mouth as he reminded An Rong beside him.

An Rong subconsciously wiped her mouth. "If he were a woman, I guess he’d only be a little less attractive than me."

"You really know how to insult people," Lin Qingshan said.

Jiang Man was also surprised. This person was truly extraordinary.

’Of course, if he were a woman, he’d be nothing special,’ he thought.

’Not as good as Meng Qiewei.’

’I really knew how to pick back then.’

’Even when I was still a fool...’

Jiang Man recalled his earliest memories, then shook his head and decided to drop the thought. Back then, he had only seen one person.

’It must have been Meng Qiewei who knew how to pick, choosing an Unparalleled Celestial Pride right off the bat.’

"Ji Hao, your new Magic Master," Yan Yiqiu introduced.

Ji Hao looked at the crowd and then said, "Although I am a Magic Master, I basically only teach practical combat.

"To better understand your strength, I need to test the power and weight of your Spiritual Qi."

As he spoke, he walked up to Jiang Man and held out his hand. "Take my hand, then attack me with your Spiritual Qi."

Jiang Man was puzzled.

’Is this how you test Spiritual Qi?’

But he didn’t overthink it and took the man’s hand.

The next moment, before Jiang Man could even Attack, he felt something unexpectedly surging into his body.

It was an aura similar to the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart.

’This is bad.’

’Someone from Meng Qiewei’s family.’

’He’s here to test me.’