There's Another Expert?

As soon as everyone was present, Zhao Leming walked in carrying the texts. This assessment was no different from previous ones. However, it was also the last regular assessment. Next month, the competition for sect assessment qualification spots would begin. Starting next month, actual combat would be introduced. Only practical combat could truly determine who would secure a spot. As for the rest, they would have to start planning their way forward. Come August of next year, everyone would officially leave the Yunqian Division and go their separate ways. At the moment, everyone waited quietly for the assessment to start. Jiang Man glanced toward Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu, noticing that neither of them looked over at him. Luo Xuan glanced once at Fang Yong, while Cheng Yu lingered with a second glance. Both were completely normal reactions, making it hard for Jiang Man to tell which of the two posed the greater threat. He put it out of his mind; securing first place was what mattered for now. At the front of the room, Zhao Leming was not particularly surprised to see Jiang Man and the others back. Still, he was curious to see what score Jiang Man could achieve this time. If the young man could not break into the top three, trouble would follow. The people in the sect were ruthless when weeding candidates out. A token could be used, but using it required demonstrating corresponding strength. Otherwise, they would not accept it. Dismissing further stray thoughts, he handed out the texts. Two subjects were tested each day, and the assessments concluded smoothly. Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu walked back together. Along the way, Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, did you really go to great lengths and pay the price to get Jiang Man out?" "No," Luo Xuan said, shaking her head. "I was surprised by the news as well, but I didn't pay it much mind. Since he has no such inclination, there's no need for me to do anything more." "That was such a prime opportunity to win someone's loyalty. You just let it pass by?" Cheng Yu asked with a smile. Luo Xuan shook her head. "He and I aren't close. I only used him to hinder Fang Yong's progress, but dragging myself into it would do more harm than good. "Though he has some potential, judging by his behavior so far, he doesn't seem like someone willing to serve as a guard. "There's no need for me to waste my energy on him. Right now, I have only one goal: maintain my ranking and secure my spot." After parting ways with Luo Xuan, Cheng Yu furrowed her brows. *Everything was going so smoothly, but having both of them walk free is rather unfortunate.* *I thought Luo Xuan had finally wised up and bailed Jiang Man out ahead of time.* *It seems she really does intend to abandon him.* *She still lacks foresight. He's such fine material for a guard.* *Who wouldn't agree to be a guard?* *It's simply a matter of applying the right leverage.* Cheng Yu then made her way toward the Law Enforcement Office. After making the appropriate arrangements, she was granted an audience with the detained Chang Qiwen. "Miss Cheng, was my task completed?" he asked immediately. Cheng Yu toyed with a lock of hair draping over her shoulder, smiling faintly. "It failed." Hearing this, Chang Qiwen blurted out, "How could that be?" "It has nothing to do with you; you did well enough. But your actions were far too blatant. Your qualification was revoked, and you won't be getting out anytime soon." Having said that, Cheng Yu shifted the tone. "Still, I can take care of all of that for you. "Now, there's a new task." "Please instruct me, Eldest Miss," Chang Qiwen said respectfully. "On the fifteenth of next month, pay whatever price is necessary to injure either Luo Xuan or Fang Yong," Cheng Yu said with a light smile. "I still fully intend to take a sect assessment spot." Chang Qiwen nodded deferentially. "Consider it done." Cheng Yu took her leave. She hesitated briefly over whether to pay Jiang Man a visit. However, his circumstances had not deteriorated to that desperate point yet. Besides, not knowing how he had managed to get out, she chose not to approach him for now. She decided to wait until the current rankings were released. If his rank was near the top, all the better. As long as he nodded in agreement, one of the two spots might very well go to him. Further down the line, he could become a sharp blade in her hands. To pass on grooming such a fine guard—Luo Xuan was simply too aloof. *** Chang Qiwen returned as well. Everyone was astonished. Just how had he managed to get out? Even Jiang Man was somewhat surprised. Had Young Master Yang bailed him out? He doubted it. Yet the man was out all the same. One thing was certain, however: Chang Qiwen's ranking this time would not be high. He had missed yesterday's assessment entirely. To Jiang Man, it made little difference. Whether the third-ranked competitor participated or not changed nothing for him. Soon, the day's assessments came to an end. Tomorrow, the seventeenth, would be the day the rankings were posted. "What time are you coming over tomorrow?" little fatty asked, walking up to Jiang Man. Jiang Man shook his head. "I probably won't be able to make it tomorrow. The rankings are posted at noon; you'll know my result by then." "Is tenth place going to be difficult?" little fatty asked with anticipation. Jiang Man pondered briefly, then replied, "Difficult." Little fatty sighed. "Well, that's fine too. Getting close to the top ten is already quite good." Jiang Man did not elaborate, heading back to cultivate. For now, he needed to accumulate enough cultivation to handle next month's combat trials. His spells required diligent practice as well, and after that came practical combat training. That part was somewhat troublesome. He needed a sparring partner to feed him moves. He either had to find someone of equal strength or pay someone to spar. After turning it over in his mind, Jiang Man decided to try his luck at the Guard Post. After all, others needed combat experience as well; he could simply rent himself out. "You're going to learn the Visualization Method tomorrow?" the old yellow ox asked. Jiang Man nodded. "Yes." "If you can't master it on the spot, remember to memorize the contents. There will be other opportunities later," the ox reminded him. Jiang Man understood. In learning cultivation techniques, one thing was paramount: the instruction. A technique was not something one could grasp at a glance; in truth, it was immensely complex. It required someone to explain it, followed by one's own comprehension. Only then could one discern the circulation paths. Relying on self-study alone would prevent one from even stepping through the threshold. Such geniuses were exceedingly rare, requiring a vast foundation in cultivation techniques. Jiang Man lacked such a foundation, but as long as he could commit it to memory, he could still consult the old yellow ox. Dawn broke before long. A full night of cultivation left Jiang Man thoroughly famished. He ate everything he could find. If he failed today, there would hardly be a tomorrow to speak of. He needed to be at his absolute peak. Soon, he arrived at the Technique Transmission Office. Upon entering, he presented his token. The guard looked surprised, but returned the token and said, "Follow me." *** Meanwhile. In the Sixth Courtyard of Qingyun Pavilion. The ranking record sheets were distributed one by one. Luo Xuan immediately looked down at hers. November 17. Yunqian Division, Qingyun Pavilion. Back Courtyard, Sixth Courtyard. Name: Luo Xuan. Ranking: 2 (out of 26). Cultivation: Qi-Linking sixth layer. Technique Levels: Dust-Purifying Qi-Linking Method eighth layer, Spring Brightness Qi-Blood Method fifth layer, Simplified Visualization Method second layer. Resources Received: Simplified Qi-Linking Method, Simplified Qi-Blood Method, Simplified Visualization Method, Divine Travel Step, Six Harmonies Palm, Three Powers Force. Plan: Practice eighty repetitions daily. Score: 63. Remarks: Needs to work harder to reclaim first place. The moment she read the contents, Luo Xuan's pupils contracted. Second place? She could hardly believe her eyes. Had Fang Yong surpassed her? She had expected him to overtake her in December, not November. It baffled her. At that moment, Fang Yong looked at his own sheet. Third place. A massive tremor shook his heart. Had Cheng Yu surpassed him? Sure enough, she was the greatest threat after all. Cheng Yu looked down and saw that she remained in fourth place, thoroughly caught off guard. *There's another expert?* For a moment, complex emotions swirled through the minds of those at the top, yet not a single one uttered a word.