The following day.
Jiang Man collected the Simplified Visualization Method at the first opportunity.
He flipped through it; the difference between it and a mortal-rank superior grade Visualization Method was as vast as heaven and earth.
Compared to the Water-Wood Visualization Method, the Simplified Visualization Method was written entirely in plain vernacular—simple, easy to grasp, and quick to pick up.
Having collected the Visualization Method, Jiang Man gave it no further thought.
Whatever the case, he was already several days late.
It could be explained away, yet suspicion could just as easily arise.
There was nothing worth worrying over.
The probability of someone from the sect seeking him out was not high; they paid little heed to people like them to begin with.
After all, to those aloof, high-and-mighty great cultivators of the sect, the people participating in this trial were like impoverished youths from a rural village.
Why would they ever warrant excessive attention?
Tending to his own business and leaving when the time came would be quite enough.
In the days that followed, Jiang Man met with no obstacles whatsoever in the Sixth Courtyard.
Yet Luo Xuan and the others were extraordinarily diligent.
Some painstakingly cultivated spells, while others strove to raise their realm.
Jiang Man practiced spells by day and channeled the Qi-Linking Method by night to increase his cultivation.
In just a few short days, Jiang Man's Dragon Suppressing Method had already reached the ninth layer.
The Collapsing Torrent Technique had reached the fifth layer as well.
Azure Smoke Prelude was only at the third layer.
He had not yet studied the Basic Sword Technique.
As for his cultivation, progress was modest.
The sixth gourd was only ten percent full.
He needed to purchase enough Spirit Gathering Pills so that the sixth gourd could be filled with water.
Reaching the seventh layer required tempering the physical body, for which there was likely no opportunity.
Still, he could not simply give up.
December first.
Today, Jiang Man had to stand guard at the main gate.
However, it was a night shift, so it did not interfere with his daytime study and cultivation.
That night.
Jiang Man was led to a gate faintly illuminated by lamplight.
The one leading him was none other than the guide woman from the Spirit Gathering Hall.
"This is the place. It is a side gate. Outside is an alley leading into the city, while the main road connects to several mountain villages," the guide woman said earnestly. "Usually, villagers will also enter through this gate.
"Young Master Jiang only needs to stand guard here and keep unauthorized people out.
"Every student cultivator has their own identity token, so Young Master Jiang will need to inspect them as well.
"Of course, some previous guards didn't bother checking.
"They merely relied on experience to scrutinize suspicious persons.
"However, if something goes wrong, you might be held accountable."
Hearing this, Jiang Man thanked her for the reminder.
"It is only natural. In that case, I will not disturb Young Master Jiang any further." Saying so, she left him a booklet. "These are some matters to take note of; Young Master Jiang may read through it when you have time.
"If you wish to cultivate, that is fine as well. Just cultivate beside the entrance and ensure someone is stationed here."
She spoke with polite deference.
This was her attitude after learning that Jiang Man had taken first place.
When even Manager Miao had to bow her head, she naturally dared not give offense.
Fortunately, he seemed easy to talk to.
Otherwise...
she might have lost quite a bit of spirit source.
Jiang Man watched her leave, then looked over his surroundings.
Though it was a side gate, it was by no means cramped.
Beside the gate stood a pavilion, which served as his resting area.
A dim lamp hung here.
Beneath the moonlight, Jiang Man could make out several mountain ranges in the distance.
Closer by, faint lantern light truly did spill out from the alleys.
This gate lay at the edge of Luoyun City.
Finding a spot to sit, Jiang Man opened a spell manual and began reading.
He decided to cultivate the Collapsing Torrent Technique.
Reviewing Teacher Fu's instructions in his mind, he began channeling the spell to cultivate.
The spell innate qi moved in tandem.
Once, twice.
Bathed in starlight, Jiang Man's silhouette never paused.
Those coming and going felt surprised at the sight.
Since when had a gate guard been so diligent?
Yet no one paid it much mind.
Past midnight.
Jiang Man had practiced sixty-four times.
Collapsing Torrent Technique, sixth layer.
Afterward, he continued cultivating.
All the way until dawn.
Still, he had not reached the seventh layer.
It would take some more time to cultivate.
There was no rush, however.
That evening, Jiang Man came to stand guard once more.
The moment he arrived, he began cultivating.
This left several student cultivators thoroughly baffled.
Yet they decided to avoid passing through here.
Watching a guard work so hard made them feel uncomfortable inside.
Before midnight, Jiang Man's Collapsing Torrent Technique reached the eighth layer.
With a bit more effort tomorrow, the ninth layer would also be within reach.
Midnight on the third day.
Jiang Man brought a foot down, and the ground around him seemed to fissure, crack after crack spreading outward.
Collapsing Torrent Technique, ninth layer.
Accomplished.
"Now only Azure Smoke Prelude remains. That is a fine spell for close combat, and mastering it to the ninth layer will be even harder.
"Still, there are about ten days left. Plenty of time."
With only this much, Jiang Man was not certain he was a match for Luo Xuan and the others.
Yet he had no other recourse.
He could not afford other spells, so he could only raise his cultivation as much as possible.
If he could advance to the Qi-Linking seventh layer, everything would fall into place.
With that, Jiang Man made up his mind.
It was just that his current spirit source was definitely insufficient.
He would have to borrow some from the little fatty.
The leap from the Qi-Linking sixth layer to the seventh layer was no small matter.
Just as Jiang Man prepared to cultivate Azure Smoke Prelude, however, he suddenly spotted a figure limping along the main road.
That direction...
It should be from the mountains over there.
Jiang Man watched the person approach.
It was a dark-skinned, middle-aged man.
He looked to be in his fifties.
Hunched over, he looked thoroughly exhausted.
He glanced around, his eyes landing on Jiang Man first.
Hurriedly, he hastened over.
Jiang Man cast his gaze down at the man's feet; smeared with mud, his trousers showed traces of blood, likely from injuries suffered along the way.
There were strong signs of Divine Travel Step.
"Esteemed guard, I have come seeking someone." The man bowed respectfully.
"Who are you looking for?" Jiang Man asked, curious.
He had an obligation to notify people within.
"Fang Yong of the Sixth Courtyard, Qingyun Pavilion," the man answered at once.
Hearing this, Jiang Man was somewhat surprised.
He had actually come looking for Fang Yong.
"What relation are you to him?" Jiang Man asked.
The man parted his lips, but quickly swallowed back what he had intended to say, altering his words instead: "I am the housekeeper of his household, here to deliver his cultivation fees."
"Weren't the cultivation fees supposed to be handed in back in September?" Jiang Man was puzzled.
Hearing this, the man said awkwardly, "The household was delayed for a time, so it was sent late. Er... it should still be in time, right?"
Jiang Man recalled back in August when Teacher Zhao had told the Sixth Courtyard to pay their cultivation fees.
Everyone had assumed it was him, Jiang Man.
Yet in truth, had it been Fang Yong?
He had wondered back then—everything had already been settled with Teacher Zhao.
Why would it have been brought up again?
The man asked whether it was still in time, a hint of trepidation in his voice.
Jiang Man thought over Fang Yong's current situation, then nodded. "It is in time."
At those words, the man let out a breath of relief.
Only then did he have the chance to wipe away the grime on himself.
"Forgive me for making a fool of myself before the esteemed guard," the man said awkwardly.
Jiang Man shook his head.
Afterward, he notified those within, having someone go fetch Fang Yong.
Late at night, there was no way he could be sleeping, could he?
"No rush, I can wait until tomorrow," the man said hastily.
Jiang Man shook his head. "Too late. Word has already been sent."
"This late at night, he should be sleeping, shouldn't he?"
"Probably not. He won't be able to sleep."
The middle-aged man was bewildered.
Jiang Man offered no explanation.
Ever since he stopped sleeping, could those second and third-ranked people sleep?
The fact that he stood guard through the night without sleep, cultivating the entire time, was something they had known for a while.
In the Sixth Courtyard, who would have the nerve to sleep?
Chapter 42