Jiang Man's attitude hadn't changed at all.
It wasn't that he felt superior. He simply wasn't being trained by Luo Xuan, and he knew he could take on Song Qing.
So, there was nothing more to say.
They would let their fists do the talking.
Song Qing came from a mountain village, the same background as Jiang Man.
He didn't want to return to his village after his Cultivation ended.
But if he didn't go back, he had to find a way to stay in Luoyun City.
With his strength and rank, how could he compete with the others?
It was too difficult to stay.
If nothing unexpected happened, his ultimate fate would be to return to his village.
To try and leave again after that would be nigh impossible.
So, this was a rare opportunity, and he wanted to seize it.
Although those people found the position of a close bodyguard disgraceful, it was only because they hated that they weren't the one chosen.
"My apologies." As soon as Song Qing finished speaking, he prepared to attack.
He wanted to give Jiang Man a shock, but not defeat him instantly.
'He just got promoted in rank, and it's his last year. He definitely didn't have time to cultivate the Six Harmonies Palm.'
'I should be able to win.'
He immediately took a step forward, Spiritual Qi circulating in his palm.
He sent a palm strike straight for Jiang Man's face.
Then, a Hidden Force surged. What looked like a single palm strike was actually three consecutive ones.
But he had guided the latter two strikes to the sides, waiting for an opening.
Just then, he saw Jiang Man also thrust out a palm.
'I've won! He has no technique at all. Just as I thought, he's only just started cultivating the Six Harmonies Palm.'
BAM!
Just as Song Qing was about to launch another move, he suddenly felt a palm strike his abdomen, and he was sent flying backward.
Caught off guard, he nearly fell. He only managed to stabilize himself by activating Divine Step.
For a moment, he stared at Jiang Man in astonishment.
'What just happened?'
'How was I defeated in a single palm strike?'
'His strength... it's not bad at all.'
'I was careless.'
After that, he didn't dare to be the least bit careless.
He then continued his assault with more palm strikes.
This time, he clearly felt all of his Spiritual Energy Palm Seals being completely neutralized.
'The Fourth Layer of the Six Harmonies Palm?'
'How can he be so fast?'
Without further hesitation, Song Qing rushed forward, needing to close the distance to press his advantage.
Sure enough, under the assault of his Palm Skill, Jiang Man retreated step by step. 'This is just a guy who only knows how to use brute force, with no technique whatsoever.'
His Palm Skill was fierce, like a Wandering Dragon, striking relentlessly until Jiang Man could barely parry. Finally, he saw an opening. 'Now's my chance!'
He struck out with his full power, manifesting three Palm Seals.
At the same time, he saw Jiang Man strike out with his own palm.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three loud bangs echoed as his Spiritual Energy Palm Seals shattered on impact.
However, his opponent still had one Palm Seal left, which came whistling toward him.
The Palm Seal completely blotted out Song Qing's vision.
With a THUD, Song Qing fell to the ground and rolled several times.
The commotion drew the gazes of everyone nearby.
Especially when they saw it was Jiang Man who had made the move.
They were somewhat surprised.
They were even baffled. His Cultivation had just been confirmed, so how could he defeat Song Qing with the Six Harmonies Palm so easily?
Fang Yong's brow furrowed as he looked toward Luo Xuan.
He also suspected Luo Xuan was the reason.
She, however, offered no explanation.
Sometimes, misunderstandings could be to her advantage.
"If there's nothing wrong, then continue. Everyone, focus." At this moment, Mr. Fu spoke up.
She also looked at Jiang Man with considerable surprise.
She knew when Jiang Man had received the Six Harmonies Palm.
'It's only been a day, and he's already at the Fifth Layer?'
'Or did he secretly cultivate it beforehand?'
'That's against the rules, but if nobody discovered it, then it's as if it never happened.'
'So there's no need to worry too much about it.'
"You went easy on me," Jiang Man said with a smile.
"Was I just careless?" Song Qing asked.
Jiang Man shook his head. "No, I'm just too strong."
Song Qing was silent for a moment before saying, "No wonder Luo Xuan chose you."
Jiang Man: "..."
'My victory has nothing to do with her.'
Jiang Man felt helpless but still offered an explanation.
He said his victory was entirely due to his own Talent and hard work, and had nothing to do with Luo Xuan.
But unfortunately, the other party simply didn't believe him.
After that, the sparring sessions changed. It was no longer about determining who was stronger, but about practicing as equals.
They were to shore up their own weaknesses and improve their application of the Six Harmonies Palm.
At noon, it was time for scheduled Cultivation.
Xiaopang was still cultivating nonstop alongside Jiang Man.
He said that although he was currently ranked second to last, the person in last place was evenly matched with him.
They could swap places at any moment.
He had to work hard together with Jiang Man.
He absolutely couldn't end up in last place; he wouldn't be able to face his family back home.
「By evening.」
Jiang Man's Qi Blood Technique successfully broke through to the Sixth Layer. He would be able to reach the Seventh Layer tonight.
In the next two days, he could reach the Ninth Layer.
Then he could start increasing the strength of his Physical Body.
After finishing his practice, he took a deep breath and left the Sixth Courtyard.
「In the back courtyard, before Mr. Zhao's house.」
Jiang Man knocked lightly on the door.
Seeing his visitor, Zhao Leming was quite surprised. He couldn't imagine what Jiang Man would want with him.
'Food?'
'Or perhaps he's looking for a new job?'
'If he's here for the beast-rearing technique, that would be quite troublesome.'
"Ah, Jiang Man. Do you have some questions about your Cultivation?" Zhao Leming invited him in and offered him a seat.
Hearing this, Jiang Man shook his head. "Mr. Zhao, your guidance has been incredibly helpful, so I don't have many problems. But there is one thing I'd like to ask."
"And what is that?" Zhao Leming was also quite curious.
Jiang Man hesitated slightly before saying, "I heard that the Yunqian Bureau has a Top-grade Visualization Method."
Zhao Leming looked at the young man before him with some surprise. "You want it?"
"If there's a better one, of course I want to learn it," Jiang Man said honestly.
"That's easy enough," Zhao Leming said calmly. "Get one of the spots this time, then rank in the top three of the Yunqian Bureau, and you can obtain this Visualization Method."
Jiang Man fell silent. 'There's not enough time.'
From mid-August to mid-December is one hundred and twenty days.
But he only has one hundred days.
In other words, he had to successfully cultivate the Top-grade Visualization Method by the end of November.
"You can't do it?" Zhao Leming asked.
Not that he thought Jiang Man could do it anyway.
The leap was too great.
Don't be fooled by his quick promotion to the Qi Refining Third Layer.
But advancing later on is much more difficult than before.
He would have to cultivate a Qi Blood Technique simultaneously.
Once he started, it would consume a great deal of mental energy and financial resources.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to endure the hunger that came with it.
Jiang Man nodded slightly. "Is there a faster way?"
"How fast?" Zhao Leming asked.
Although Jiang Man was improving quickly, he felt the young man was starting to lose his way.
'At this rate, I'm afraid he won't go far.'
'Even if he has someone secretly supporting him.'
'But would this secret backer really support someone who loses their composure just from reaching the Qi Refining Third Layer?'
He found it hard to believe.
Therefore, his tone didn't change at all.
'Perhaps there are other reasons at play.'
"Within two months," Jiang Man said.
Hearing this, Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man with suspicion.
It was questionable if he could even obtain the Simple Observation Method within two months, let alone a Top-grade Visualization Method.
"So you're saying you don't plan to follow the conventional path?" Zhao Leming asked.
Jiang Man nodded.
'That's right.'
'The competition for the spots is meaningless to me.'
'Because I won't live that long.'
'The Fate Chart will cause me to lose all my Cultivation, and then I'll fail the competition.'
'And after that, there will be no future for me.'
'Besides, there's no way to know what will happen after I lose all my Cultivation.'
'But it definitely won't be good.'
'Otherwise, those who bear a Fate Chart wouldn't all have short lives and meet bad ends.'
"In the past, there would have been no other way, but this year is different," Zhao Leming said, looking at Jiang Man. "In about a month, people from the Sect will come to select a group of individuals for a Cultivation Skill trial.
There will be roughly three skills available.
A Mortal Level Top-grade Qi Cultivation Technique, a Mortal Level Top-grade Qi Blood Method, and a Mortal Level Top-grade Visualization Method.
The test subjects can choose one of them.
Do you want to try and sign up?"
"Can I even sign up?" Jiang Man didn't dare to agree at once. 'Would such a great opportunity really fall to me?'
"You can. These Cultivation Skill trials usually don't have any issues. To put it bluntly, it's the Sect giving away a free Cultivation Skill." Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man seriously and said, "Therefore, a crowd of people will be fighting for the spots. I can help you, but it will come at a steep price."
After saying this, he looked at Jiang Man and said no more.
Jiang Man could sense that he was hinting at something.
————
Thank you to book friend Dark Night Morning Star for becoming the first Alliance Leader. I'm ashamed; I don't dare to promise an extra chapter.
I'll see how things are after the book goes on sale. If I'm able, I will definitely add more.
Thank you!