Zhao Leming's intent was plain to see.
Slots were limited and opportunities rare; in previous years, one couldn't obtain one even if one wished to.
Now the chance existed, but not just anyone could fight for it.
He could do it—it merely depended on how much he could gain from it.
Jiang Man stood where he was, sighing inwardly.
The other man wanted benefits, but what benefits could he possibly offer?
It could only be the lower half of the Tread-Flame colt's feeding method.
The upper half merely spared the beast from a single bout of weakness.
The lower half was the true core.
The teacher had likely sensed something, which was why he chose this moment to probe with his price.
Jiang Man wanted this slot, and he would certainly have to pay an adequate price.
And this feeding method was indeed the only thing he could produce.
Looking at Jiang Man, Zhao Leming continued, "Opportunity waits for no one. Perhaps you don't realize just how rare this chance to test a cultivation technique truly is.
"In past years, such a good thing would never fall to Luoyun City's Yunqian Division.
"It is only because of certain circumstances this year that people from the sect are passing through here, which brought about this chance.
"And precisely because it is so rare, competition will be exceptionally fierce.
"Ordinary spirit source and pills will hardly suffice to exchange for this opportunity.
"Only things others lack and need can grant a chance at securing a slot."
Now that the man had spoken so plainly, Jiang Man naturally could not pretend not to understand.
After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Are you confident, Teacher Zhao?"
"Ninety percent," Zhao replied. "If it fails, I can offer another price in return." Pausing briefly, Teacher Zhao continued, "However, successfully registering also requires certain conditions.
"Among them, the mortal-rank superior grade Qi-Linking Method has the lowest requirement: no prior cultivation is necessary.
"The Qi-Blood Method requires the Qi-Linking third layer, a score of thirty, and no prior cultivation of any Qi-Blood Method.
"The Visualization Method requires the Qi-Linking sixth layer, a score of sixty-two, and no prior cultivation of any Visualization Method."
"Roughly when will that be?" Jiang Man inquired.
Zhao Leming pondered for a moment before answering, "At the latest, around two months from now."
Two months. Jiang Man asked, "Is that based on the scores from the mid-November assessment?"
"No, you only need to meet the standard before the trial. If you fall short during the courtyard assessment, you will be tested again when the technique is imparted. However, the candidates will be chosen earlier, so you don't have much time left either," Zhao Leming explained.
Jiang Man fell silent for a few moments.
Assuming mid-November fell around the ninetieth day...
Then he would still have ten days after that.
If so, he should be able to make it in time.
"The timeline is indeed a bit rushed for you, but if you want a superior-grade Visualization Method, this is your only path," Zhao Leming said after weighing his words. "If not for this unexpected turn of events, there would only be a single superior-grade Visualization Method in all of Luoyun City. The other prominent clans may seem extraordinary, but they will never match the orthodox lineage."
The orthodox lineage was naturally the Yunqian Division.
Other clans could be formidable, but it was absolutely impossible for them to surpass the Yunqian Division.
The man had made it abundantly clear: there was only this single opportunity.
Or rather, this was the only chance before December.
There would not be another.
Therefore, without a doubt, if he wanted it, he had to agree.
He had to hand over the lower half of the feeding method.
Yet the criteria were extremely demanding.
Reaching the Qi-Linking sixth layer while simultaneously attaining sixty-two points, without having practiced any Visualization Method.
The Qi-Linking sixth layer accounted for forty-eight points, meaning the remaining points had to be split between the Qi-Linking Method and the Qi-Blood Method.
The two cultivation techniques combined had to yield fourteen points.
Split evenly, that meant reaching the seventh layer in each.
At present, fearfully no one in the Sixth Courtyard could accomplish such a feat.
"Do you want to register?" Zhao Leming asked.
Jiang Man felt that the man was entirely certain he possessed the lower half.
After a brief silence, he spoke. "I will trouble you then, Teacher Zhao. I will return to see you tomorrow."
Hearing this, Zhao Leming felt a surge of joy.
He truly did have the lower half.
With this, his own immortal path would become all the smoother.
Securing the slot would not be easy, however.
Fortunately, with the feeding method in hand, it became viable; otherwise, he truly wouldn't have been able to pull it off.
After a moment's hesitation, he kindly warned, "If you insist on the Visualization Method, prepare yourself mentally. Your score may not catch up in time, and there is no room for leniency regarding the score."
Jiang Man nodded to show he understood.
The teacher also made it clear that if Jiang Man's final score or cultivation fell short of the standard, he would not be held responsible.
Jiang Man signaled his understanding of that as well.
Afterward, he took his leave.
In truth, he didn't care about the second half of the feeding method.
Trading it for a single registration was well worth it.
Besides, he had no other option.
His only worry was whether the man might do something else once he obtained the complete method.
There was no way to know for sure, yet there was no way to refuse either.
He had no choice.
He was too weak, the place was too small, and there was only one path forward.
No matter how high one's talent was, one would still be constrained.
Jiang Man returned to seek out the old yellow ox. He would write out the feeding method first, then cultivate the Qi and Blood Method.
He would strive to reach the ninth layer within the next two days.
The following day.
Zhao Leming waited until Jiang Man arrived.
This time he was almost impatient; if not for the need to maintain the upper hand in the transaction, he would have gone out to wait for Jiang Man himself.
The sooner he obtained the feeding method, the sooner he could begin tapping the potential of his immortal path.
When he received the booklet, he was in no hurry to read it. Instead, he told Jiang Man to wait for news, saying there would be definitive word by November at the latest.
People from the sect would likely arrive in October.
He told Jiang Man to keep an eye out for that.
Only after Jiang Man left did Zhao Leming impatiently flip the booklet open.
It truly was the lower half of the feeding method.
It was slightly more profound than what came before, but deciphering it would only be a matter of time.
With this, he became increasingly certain that Jiang Man had someone backing him.
Who that person was could not be determined, and he knew nothing of the circumstances.
Even so, the transaction had gone smoothly.
He sought wealth and a future, and the other party appeared to be doing the same.
Naturally, completing the transaction was all that mattered.
There was certainly no harm in it.
Being overly greedy wasn't necessarily a good thing; blocking someone else's path might very well result in one's own retreat being cut off.
It remained the same principle:
Spare others, and spare oneself.
Patting the book in his hand, he prepared to make a trip outside.
Now that he had taken the benefit, he had to take care of the matter at hand.
Jiang Man returned to his courtyard. All he could do was wait for news while raising his cultivation as quickly as possible.
Two months. He needed to advance his cultivation to the Qi-Linking sixth layer.
It was indeed somewhat difficult.
Previously, taking a month alongside pills had only brought him to the third layer.
Moving forward, not only would the difficulty multiply, but he also lacked Flawless Qi Gathering Pills.
The peerless prodigy fate was still far too stingy.
Today's lecture covered the Qi-Blood Method. Once Jiang Man finished listening, he began his cultivation.
Two days passed in succession.
On the afternoon of the second day, Jiang Man halted his practice.
The Simplified Qi-Blood Method had reached the ninth layer.
He could now temper his physical body.
Before cultivating that, however, he planned to return and eat some meat.
Over the past few days, he had spent a bit of spirit source to purchase food, all to ensure his physical body could improve more smoothly.
In the courtyard, Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu were leaving together.
Before they had walked very far, Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, why haven't you asked Jiang Man to spar with you these past two days?"
"Everyone is saying I plan to groom him as a personal guard. What do you think he feels about it?" Luo Xuan asked.
"Delighted? Still, his recent progress has been rather fast. I wonder if he was hiding his abilities before, or if it's a sudden surge," Cheng Yu said after some thought. "Or perhaps it's an epiphany, only it comes a bit too late."
"Yes, it is too late, but with sufficient resources, he might not be without a chance," Luo Xuan replied with a smile. "So he must be weighing the gains and losses.
"Everyone is calling him a guard, so his heart will likely lean that way too.
"At the very least, it's an open path.
"After two days, he should have figured most of it out—especially after tempering his physical body, he will understand all the better that he can't possibly afford to support himself as he is now.
"All that's missing now is an opportune moment.
"If he truly has that intention, once I give him a graceful way forward, he will come looking for me."
Chapter 23