Thanking Me for Finding You a Wife?

Half a shichen later. The man reappeared, looking at everyone as he spoke. "I will now explain the Water-Wood Visualization Method to you." Jiang Man did not dare hesitate and listened quietly. As long as he understood the general circulation, he could learn it quickly. The cultivation-method purple qi would serve as his foundation. A Visualization Method differed from the Qi-Linking Method or Qi-Blood Method from before. It lacked auxiliary physical movements. Instead, it relied on the circulation of spiritual qi to condense a visualized pattern and further temper the spirit. Jiang Man listened intently, not daring to miss a single detail. Yet the man spoke at no slow pace, making it far too difficult to grasp everything completely. Jiang Man could only strive to memorize it all, then test each part one by one. A shichen later. "That is the gist of it. The rest is for you to cultivate on your own. We will observe your cultivation to see the desired circulation effects," the man said, looking across the crowd. Someone wanted to ask a question, but the man shook his head. "Whatever questions you have, seek the answers in your cultivation. "Only practice yields truth." At that, no one dared speak again. Jiang Man found that this mortal-rank superior grade Visualization Method was truly difficult to learn. Even after the explanation, the contents remained hard to digest. His foundational knowledge was simply too sparse. Yet even the young masters and young ladies from wealthy families were dripping with sweat, their eyes filled with confusion, as many of the terms were things they were hearing for the first time. Unable to ask, they could only brace themselves and attempt to cultivate. Jiang Man felt more and more that this was hardly a test of the cultivation technique, but rather a test of its difficulty. Still, this was his only chance to learn a superior-grade Visualization Method, so he could only begin attempting to circulate it. As he circulated the technique, the purple qi moved along with it. Yet halfway through the cycle, the purple qi receded. His body jolted as well. A clash of spiritual qi forced him to halt his cultivation. Pondering for a moment, Jiang Man drew upon the purple qi and tried to find the correct method of cultivation. Regrettably, no matter how many times he tried, the purple qi would always recede whenever he attempted to condense the visualized object. This left him thoroughly baffled. Seeing time running short, Jiang Man committed all the content to memory. As long as he memorized it, he would find a way once he returned. At this moment, the woman standing at the edge turned to the man and asked, "Senior Brother Lu, did you read the background files on these six people?" Senior Brother Lu nodded. "I did. The most interesting one is that Jiang Man. Reaching Qi-Linking sixth layer in three months looks decent enough, but he surely has backing in the shadows. "Besides, his talent isn't as high as anticipated; he couldn't even spot the concrete issue with this Visualization Method. "Do you have any thoughts, Junior Sister Xia?" Junior Sister Xia shook her head slightly. "What thoughts could I have? I'm only here to accompany you this time. Still, aren't you going to try placing a bet, Senior Brother? "This Jiang Man isn't bad. Missing out on him would be a bit of a pity." "What do I have to pity?" Senior Brother Lu said with a laugh. "The one who should feel pity is him; he's still lacking. "Perhaps in their wildest dreams they'd never imagine that the Qi and Blood Method and the Visualization Method are merely accompanying decoys. "What we truly intend to impart is the Qi-Linking Method. "Naturally, bets are placed on that side; placing one here would only be a waste. "His mediocre performance is what caused him to miss out on a great opportunity like me." Junior Sister Xia sighed with emotion as well. "That genius has already caught the sect's eye. He will likely receive ample resources and, in all probability, take part in next year's assessment alongside those from the back courtyard. By the second half of next year, we should see him in the sect. "I wonder whether he will stir up a storm there." After that, they spoke no further, simply observing the cultivation of the group. Until midnight arrived. The pitch-black sky brought not the slightest chill. Jiang Man and the others were all dripping with sweat. They kept trying relentlessly, yet in the end, every single one of them failed. Two of them even collapsed from exhaustion and lost consciousness on the spot. "Alright, time is up," Senior Brother Lu said, addressing the crowd. "Report your status one by one. Furthermore, you may memorize the technique and cultivate it once you return. "However, it must not be leaked outside. Disseminating it constitutes the illicit transmission of a sect cultivation technique. "If that happens, someone will naturally come looking for you." As his words fell, those who had fainted came to. Although they could practice back home, none felt any joy in their hearts. Without explanations and guidance, mastering the technique was exceedingly difficult. Counting on senior family members for guidance was no easy matter either. Rashly showing the technique to family elders risked immense trouble if discovered. The first to step forward was the tall man from earlier. With considerable dejection, he reported his progress, having circulated only a quarter of the technique. The others were in a similar state. Once the others had departed, Jiang Man, being the last, finally reported his progress: Nearly half. Senior Brother Lu showed no surprise, merely dismissing him. Jiang Man stepped out of the room; outside, everyone was long gone. Under the moonlight, he made his way back alone. All along the road, he could not fathom why he had failed. Returning all the way to the stable, Jiang Man sat down before the old yellow ox. "Failed?" the old yellow ox asked. Jiang Man nodded. "Failed, but I don't understand where I went wrong." "Tell me about the technique," said the old yellow ox. "Will there be consequences?" Jiang Man asked. "As long as I don't cultivate it, there won't be any problem," the old yellow ox replied. And so, Jiang Man recounted the technique in detail. Soon, the old yellow ox arrived at a conclusion. "Your failure lies in being unable to see through the human heart. The technique is flawed—or rather, the person who imparted it did so intentionally." Jiang Man found it somewhat hard to believe. "Flawed? Why?" "Because it's an excuse. Of the Qi-Linking Method, the Qi-Blood Method, and the Visualization Method, likely only one is authentic. They want to impart a certain technique to a certain person, and to avoid drawing too much attention, they lumped all of you in as well. "Yet they didn't provide the authentic technique. "Whoever imparted the technique this time was rather petty, leaving behind such an obvious handle," the old yellow ox said casually. "I'll revise it for you, and then you can try again. "Besides..." The old yellow ox looked at Jiang Man. "You have only about a week left. Can you finish all thirteen layers of the Visualization Method?" Jiang Man lowered his gaze and said, "It is indeed somewhat difficult." *Somewhat?* Without any joking, the old yellow ox modified the technique. This time, when Jiang Man cultivated once more, he stumbled at first. Yet in his mind, he finally outlined a water cauldron. He then tempered his mind with the cauldron once. Thus, one visualization was complete, the cauldron remaining within his mind and spirit. Visualization forming an image—Water-Wood Visualization Method, first layer. He had achieved initiation. There really had been an issue with the Visualization Method. Brother Ox was truly a senior expert. Jiang Man then continued his visualization. Cultivating a Visualization Method was far faster than cultivating the Qi-Linking Method. After two cycles: Visualization Method, second layer. After four cycles: Visualization Method, third layer. After eight cycles: Visualization Method, fourth layer. Sixteen cycles... Thirty-two cycles... Sixty-four cycles... Visualization Method, seventh layer. At this moment, faint outlines of a water cauldron flickered around Jiang Man's body. Beside him, the old yellow ox froze where it stood. *The sky isn't even light yet, and he's already at the Visualization Method's seventh layer?* For a moment, Jiang Man's earlier words about it being "somewhat difficult" echoed in its mind, and it felt as though the boy were toying with it. At daybreak. Jiang Man finally opened his eyes. By now, he was at the Visualization Method's eighth layer. With genuine emotion, he said, "This progress isn't bad." Saying this, Jiang Man turned to the old yellow ox and added, "To be able to advance this quickly, I truly have Senior to thank." The old yellow ox: "..." *Thanking me for finding you a wife?* After tidying the stable, Jiang Man continued cultivating. He planned to ask for a few days off, until he had cultivated the Visualization Method to the thirteenth layer. He wasn't sure how many cycles would be required to advance through the later realms. If time ran out, the consequences would be unthinkable. The closer one was to the end, the less one could afford to be careless.