"If you weren't born with such a thing, you basically won't have it in this lifetime."
After returning, Jiang Man brought up the issue regarding the Visualization Method.
And those words were the old yellow ox's answer.
"It's only mortal-rank superior grade—is it really that unattainable?" Jiang Man asked.
"As you said yourself, in all of Luoyun City, practically only the Yunqian Division possesses a mortal-rank superior grade Visualization Method. Among so many people, how could it ever be your turn? You claim you have good talent, but why would anyone give it to you for that? Are you selling your talent, or are you selling your life?" the old yellow ox asked.
Neither could be sold. Jiang Man pondered briefly and said, "The fairy didn't say other places don't have it."
The old yellow ox looked at Jiang Man impassively, saying nothing.
Finally, Jiang Man sighed. "Senior, don't you have a Visualization Method?"
Shifted back from Ox Bro to Senior again?
The old yellow ox wasn't sensitive to forms of address.
It pondered for a moment and said, "I do. Although our systems differ, visualization methods are fairly similar. In theory, you could cultivate it, and you could reach the thirteenth layer as well.
"However, this is the Yunqian Division, directly subordinate to the Wuyun Sect, and even more so under the Immortal Gate's rule.
"The moment a visualization method appears that wasn't uniformly revised and promulgated by them, it won't be long before it's discovered.
"Unless you don't stay here, stay far away from Luoyun City, and don't enter the Wuyun Sect.
"Otherwise, there is no hiding it."
Jiang Man fell silent for a moment. That would still be seeking his own doom.
Because the next fate requirement would certainly be even harsher.
Without a sect to back him,
he feared he wouldn't be able to fulfill it.
Entering the Wuyun Sect was an absolute necessity.
In that case, the old yellow ox's Visualization Method couldn't be learned.
Or rather, until the final moment, he could not learn it.
"Does Ox Bro have any ideas?" Jiang Man asked curiously. "How can I obtain the Yunqian Division's Visualization Method?"
When a plan didn't work, he went right back to calling it Ox Bro.
The old yellow ox merely told Jiang Man to seek out people with actual ability and influence.
Jiang Man cast his mind back; tomorrow, he would have to look for Teacher Zhao.
Among the people he currently knew, Zhao was the only one likely to know.
With that in mind, Jiang Man dwelled on it no further and instead began cultivating the Qi and Blood Method.
Over the past month, the Qi and Blood Method had already been explained many times.
Therefore, Jiang Man could begin practicing it right away.
Following the technique, Jiang Man began circulating the Qi and Blood Method.
What he mobilized this time was actually spiritual qi as well, and the cultivation-method purple qi moved along with it.
Assisted by dynamic movements, he resonated the spiritual qi with his flesh and blood.
After a long while,
Jiang Man finished a complete set.
Instantly, he felt that the Qi and Blood Method could channel spiritual qi to nourish his flesh and blood.
Qi and Blood Method: initiated.
After that, Jiang Man continued cultivating, allowing more spiritual qi to resonate with his flesh and blood. The Qi and Blood Method was about establishing nourishing channels.
This was the internal cultivation of the Qi and Blood Method; external cultivation was nourishing the body and strengthening the physical form.
The extent of nourishment was like collecting into a gourd.
The more collected, the stronger the body.
Only when the body grew stronger could it bear more spiritual qi and elevate cultivation.
After two more repetitions,
Qi and Blood Method, second layer.
After four more repetitions,
Qi and Blood Method, third layer.
After eight more repetitions,
Qi and Blood Method, fourth layer.
After sixteen repetitions,
Qi and Blood Method, fifth layer.
All at once, he felt his qi and blood surge, shaking his bones and sinews.
The old yellow ox watched, utterly baffled.
To it, Jiang Man breaking through the Qi and Blood Method looked like child's play.
In less than half a day, the Qi and Blood Method had reached the fifth layer.
"Is he really a peerless prodigy or not?"
The old yellow ox couldn't quite tell.
Yet...
Did even a peerless prodigy have such progression speed?
Could it really be because of taking a wife?
If marrying a wife could accomplish this, it wasn't out of the question for it to consider it as well.
"What is Ox Bro thinking about?" Jiang Man walked over and asked.
However, he didn't stop his stride, heading inside to prepare food.
Hungry.
He was starving.
He found that cultivating the Qi and Blood Method made his body far hungrier than before.
Soon, Jiang Man discovered that his grain for the month was completely gone.
If he wanted more food, he would have to spend spirit source to purchase it.
His original thirteen hundred spirit source now had only twelve hundred and ninety remaining.
Given his current appetite, it would likely cost around three hundred spirit source.
In addition, he had to purchase Spirit Gathering Pills to boost his cultivation.
His spirit source would soon hit rock bottom; it seemed he had to continue taking shifts at the Spirit Gathering Hall.
"Did you really cultivate so quickly because you married a wife?" the old yellow ox suddenly asked.
Jiang Man froze, then asked, "Ox Bro, do you want to marry a wife too?"
The old yellow ox shook its head. "Helping you marry a wife already drained all my power."
"Then Ox Bro, you can save up your strength again, and the next peerless prodigy will be you," Jiang Man said with a chuckle.
In truth, he wasn't sure what was going on either.
He had no clue where this Heavenly Mirror Hundred Books had come from.
However, this thing wasn't of much use in Luoyun City anyway.
He would need to go somewhere with deep foundations for it to unleash its full potential.
The peerless prodigy fate was ranked ninth—what could the top eight be?
What kind of benefits would they bring?
Unfortunately, there were no answers.
No need to overthink it.
First raise the Qi and Blood Method, then strengthen the body, and subsequently raise his cultivation.
The next morning.
Jiang Man left the stable and arrived at the Sixth Courtyard.
This morning, the Six Harmonies Palm would be taught, and sparring sessions would begin.
It was the perfect time for him to learn.
Unlike the Divine Travel Step, the Six Harmonies Palm could be cultivated up to the ninth layer.
It counted as a spell of considerable power.
Upon arriving at the Sixth Courtyard, Jiang Man felt some people looking at him strangely.
It seemed...
tinged with mockery, yet also mixed with envy.
Jiang Man was bewildered.
Shouldn't it be pure envy or jealousy?
He had reached the Qi-Linking third layer in just one month.
He was about to enter the top ten.
Envy, jealousy, and resentment would all be natural.
What was the mockery about?
Just then, the little fatty came over and said, "Brother Jiang, I heard you're going to become Eldest Miss Luo's personal bodyguard?"
"A personal bodyguard?" Jiang Man was taken aback.
A so-called personal bodyguard was merely a polite term.
To put it bluntly, it was a household slave.
One had to risk their life and pledge undying loyalty.
What right did Luo Xuan have to demand that of him?
"Yeah, otherwise why would your cultivation advance so fast?" the little fatty explained. "Everyone says you were groomed by Eldest Miss Luo, nurtured specifically to become her personal bodyguard."
"All my achievements rely entirely on my own talent and effort. What does that have to do with Eldest Miss Luo?" Jiang Man said indignantly.
"Nobody believes it! Everyone thinks you've been chosen to be trained as her bodyguard, and some aren't happy about it, thinking they could do better," the little fatty said earnestly, looking at Jiang Man. "Aren't they teaching the Six Harmonies Palm today? Sparring is about to begin too. Some people are definitely going to make you suffer during sparring to show off their skills, hoping Miss Luo will change her mind and make them her bodyguards instead."
Jiang Man sighed with feeling. Rushing to become a household slave...
Then again, Miss Luo came from an extraordinary background. Becoming her bodyguard was practically skipping decades of detours.
It was certainly better than going home to farm the fields.
Although returning home after leaving the Yunqian Division offered a better status,
one's cultivation might not even surpass the villagers'.
Who didn't cultivate these days?
While Jiang Man was still lost in thought, someone suddenly bumped his shoulder.
The person turned back to look at Jiang Man and said calmly, "You're Jiang Man?"
Jiang Man patted his shoulder and looked at the newcomer. He appeared seventeen or eighteen, dressed quite well.
His skin was somewhat dark, but far better off than Jiang Man's.
"I am," Jiang Man nodded.
"My name is Song Qing, ranked seventeenth. Our Six Harmonies Palm sparring will likely be against each other. Since my grasp of it isn't very proficient, please bear with me if I end up hurting you," Song Qing said with a smile, looking as though victory were already assured.
Jiang Man lowered his eyes.
He had not yet begun cultivating the Six Harmonies Palm.
Although the spell innate qi provided a boost, time was pressed, and he didn't know if it would be enough.
Nor did he know how skilled his opponent was.
Could he hold his ground?
This was the aftermath of not making a large enough breakthrough.
If he were ranked first, would anyone dare challenge him?
Chapter 20