Throughout the night, Jiang Man cultivated, only resting briefly when dawn approached.
Starting today, he had roughly two tasks to focus on.
First was filling the sixth gourd, and second was advancing his spells.
At the very least, he needed to finish mastering all the spells available across the thirty, forty, fifty, and sixty-point tiers.
That way, even if Luo Xuan and the others were bolstered by other powerful spells, he would still stand a fighting chance.
No sooner had he arrived at the courtyard than Teacher Fu appeared.
"It is already late November," Fu Yidan said, looking at Jiang Man. "You have very little time left. I brought you the spell manuals. If there is one you want to learn, I can still teach you right now."
With that, she handed Jiang Man the four spell manuals in her hand.
These were precisely the spells eligible for retrieval from the thirty to sixty-point tiers.
They were the thirty-point Dragon Suppressing Method:
Nourishing dragons with qi, nine layers forming nine dragons—a purely offensive art.
The forty-point Collapsing Torrent Technique:
Condensing qi in the feet to accentuate the weight of spiritual qi, delivering kicks heavy as a thousand jin, at its most devastating when striking downward.
The fifty-point Azure Smoke Prelude:
Transforming the body into smoke, a close-quarters evasive spell with an explosive burst that could not be sustained for long. Rumor had it that there was a subsequent part, usable beyond the Qi-Linking stage.
And the sixty-point Basic Sword Technique:
A truly foundational sword technique with no inherent power, yet a prerequisite for the Sword Control Technique.
The most useful, yet also the most useless.
Looking at the spells, Jiang Man pondered a moment and decided to proceed step by step.
He would learn the Dragon Suppressing Method first.
Thus, this morning he learned the Dragon Suppressing Method taught by Teacher Fu.
The others had no objections either.
At the Qi-Linking fourth layer, one could basically begin learning it; those who couldn't study it yet could still simulate the motions.
Once they reached the level to learn it later, it would save them plenty of time.
Learning more theory also gave them some preparation should they encounter it in battle.
After Teacher Fu finished instructing, Jiang Man began advancing it.
He was still only able to raise it to the fifth layer.
Afterward came sparring with Luo Xuan.
Because of the letter from last night, he was curious what sort of expression she would have.
Unfortunately, he could not detect any expression at all.
She remained as poised and natural as ever.
She seemed entirely unaware of that letter's existence.
This prompted him to glance toward Cheng Yu, only to find that she, just like Luo Xuan, showed no change whatsoever, not even paying any attention to him.
It almost made last night feel like a dream.
After that, Jiang Man thought no more of it.
A rare sparring session was naturally an opportunity to gain experience.
Luo Xuan was likewise doing everything she could to figure out Jiang Man's combat habits.
Sparring with Jiang Man offered her no improvement in skill or technique, but it allowed her to read his moves.
Such sparring held immense value.
For her greatest adversary right now was Jiang Man.
Golden dragons materialized one after another, colliding into each other. Jiang Man was forced back several paces before steadying himself.
"A good match," Luo Xuan said softly.
Jiang Man gave a slight nod. He realized that compared to Luo Xuan, he still fell far short.
At the same cultivation level, unless he mobilized enough spiritual qi, he was no match for her at all.
It was a gap in technique and proficiency...
Qi-Linking still required close combat, meaning he ought to study basic boxing and basic palm techniques, and dabble in basic footwork as well.
Once sparring concluded, cultivation began.
This was Jiang Man's home turf.
Everyone had to cultivate alongside him; so long as he didn't leave, no one else dared think of leaving.
First place set the example.
The rest could only follow closely behind.
In the past, people had complained, even muttering their discontent under their breath.
Now...
They could only complain after first place had left.
Life grew worse by the day.
Luo Xuan, Fang Yong, and the others all cultivated alongside Jiang Man without a word.
Previously, they had the standing to break this atmosphere.
Now, they had lost that standing.
Especially after seeing Chang Qiwen's bruised and battered face today.
First place's authority stood unshakeable.
Only when the sky turned dark did Jiang Man depart.
He hadn't walked far, however, before the little fatty caught up.
"Brother Jiang, could you wrap it up a bit earlier next time?" Sweating profusely, the little fatty was thoroughly drained from cultivation.
"So you can head back early to secretly cultivate?" Jiang Man asked.
The little fatty: "..."
Pausing for a moment, he asked curiously, "Chang Qiwen lost? But didn't everyone say you hadn't really practiced spells?"
Jiang Man thought about it and said, "It's all down to talent."
The little fatty fell silent for a few moments, then asked, "Where did that talent come from?"
Jiang Man pondered briefly. "Why not try marrying a wife?"
Hearing that, the little fatty sighed and murmured, "If it granted me talent like that and made me first place, I'd even be willing to marry early—I'd even take Luo Xuan as my wife."
Jiang Man paused in surprise. "Would marrying her be doing you an injustice?"
"Obviously!" the little fatty said in all seriousness. "Her talent is extraordinary, and she has such high pride; she's destined to marry one of heaven's favored sons.
"If I married a woman like that, wouldn't it be an insult to her?
"Before long, she'd have me killed.
"Marrying her is basically courting death.
"I still prefer someone like Cheng Yu—gentle and considerate, uncontentious, with a smile as warm as a spring breeze.
"She truly puts a person at ease.
"Especially how pleasantly she speaks, and she doesn't look down on low-scorers like us.
"Of course, I don't deserve her either, nor would I dare dream of it.
"If someone like that suddenly approached me, there would definitely be an ulterior motive.
"Either way, I'd keep my distance.
"Besides, if I marry someone else, I could marry several—all pretty and gentle."
Jiang Man stared at the little fatty in silence for a long time.
Especially upon hearing "marry several."
*Ah, these vile rich kids.*
Furthermore, in the little fatty's eyes, Luo Xuan was equivalent to a bolt from the blue.
Yet Cheng Yu was a wonderful person to him.
Was that truly the case, though?
Jiang Man did not know.
Still, he had to remain on guard.
A pity that last night's letter mentioned an ox; otherwise, he could have passed it to the little fatty to keep him trembling in fear day and night.
After parting with the little fatty, Jiang Man went to the Guard Post again, seeking out the two guards first.
Covering shifts was something they had brought up.
The middle-aged guard looked at Jiang Man. "You have time now?"
"Yes," Jiang Man nodded. "I'll be free for the coming period."
He had already taken the spirit source for covering shifts, so he had to fulfill it.
Though it meant guarding the main gate, it wasn't difficult, and he could cultivate right where he stood.
It wasn't a bad deal.
Only, he might occasionally be seen by passersby.
The sole downside was that it yielded considerably less spirit source compared to the Spirit Gathering Hall.
Just then, the other guard standing nearby asked curiously, "Has your ranking in the courtyard changed?"
"It hasn't," Jiang Man said with a smile. "Still first place."
Last time, he was last place—first from the bottom; today, he was first place from the top.
Both were first place.
The two guards: "..."
They knew Jiang Man had been held up as a prime example on his very first day.
That was zero points.
A zero score was simply too notorious; one couldn't avoid hearing about it even if one tried.
It spread faster than news of a genius appearing.
At least around the Guard Post, that was the case.
Yet for someone with zero points to dare say he was first place earned the two guards' admiration.
Better not cross him—what if he actually succeeded?
With a person of such extremes, showing a bit of respect couldn't hurt.
Afterward, Jiang Man headed inside to find Manager Miao.
The exact details depended on Manager Miao's arrangements.
"This is you?" Manager Miao looked at the record sheet in her hand, then looked up at Jiang Man.
"It's me," Jiang Man nodded.
"This is really you?" Manager Miao asked again.
"This is really me," Jiang Man answered once more.
Manager Miao fell silent.
Looking at the large characters for "First Place" on the record sheet, she was momentarily at a loss for words.
He really pulled it off. This wasn't looking good.
Had her attitude toward him before not been friendly enough?
Chapter 40