In the past, the paper sheets were always updated.
They had carried precise information and cultivation requirements.
Today, the sheets were not updated.
Instead, what had been updated were the rankings and scores.
Because the cultivation plan was no longer of any use.
At least, it was useless today.
Once the scores appeared, a new round of assessment was set to begin.
Practical combat.
Currently, only five people in the Sixth Courtyard qualified.
No one knew if anyone else would break into the sixty-point threshold this time.
Before long, Jiang Man saw the rankings on the roster.
First place: Jiang Man, sixty-seven points.
Second place: Luo Xuan, sixty-four points.
Third place: Fang Yong, sixty-four points.
Fourth place: Chang Qiwen, sixty-one points.
Fifth place: Cheng Yu, sixty points.
Jiang Man was somewhat surprised.
Second and third place were tied in points.
"I'm near the bottom again," the little fatty said dejectedly.
He had climbed from second-to-last all the way up to fifth-from-the-bottom, only to drop back down to second-to-last.
It wasn't that he hadn't worked hard; rather, he had worked so hard that he drove everyone else to fight with their lives on the line.
As a result, those on the verge of advancement had broken straight through to the Qi-Linking third layer.
In truth, he had been close as well, but...
Time waited for no one.
Lately, everyone had pushed themselves too hard.
"At least you're not dead last," Jiang Man consoled him. "Your score is still something the last-place person has to look up to."
The little fatty glanced at the last-place entry.
Last place: Xue You, twenty-one points.
Second to last: Gao Yao, twenty-two points.
"Does one single point count as looking up to someone?" The little fatty looked at Jiang Man, and then said with newfound admiration, "Brother Jiang, how on earth did you hit such a high score like sixty-seven?"
"Qi-Linking sixth layer, Qi-Linking Method eighth layer, Qi-Blood Method eighth layer, and Visualization Method third layer. That's all it takes," Jiang Man said casually.
The little fatty: "..."
Jiang Man felt some regret that he hadn't broken through to the Qi-Linking seventh layer.
It was slightly harder than anticipated.
A bottleneck had actually emerged, though fortunately he could break through it by enhancing his physical body and spirit.
With the support of the Qi and Blood Method's ninth layer and the Visualization Method's thirteenth layer, the bottleneck merely delayed the time of his advancement.
It could not block his path.
Pity he hadn't managed to advance on this very day.
Now he would have to endure a bitter battle.
Having asked the old yellow ox last night, he could more or less be certain of his advantages.
"Only the top five have the qualification to compete, and then lots will be drawn..." Teacher Zhao spoke, introducing the rules.
Four of the five would advance, and then those four would contend for the top two.
In the first round of drawing lots, one person would receive a bye.
Two matches would be held, and the two winners would advance.
The two losers would fight again; the winner advanced, while the loser fought the one who had drawn the bye, with the victor advancing.
After that, the four would draw lots again.
Two would lose across the two bouts. If the two losers were unsatisfied, they could fight each other, and the victor would earn the right to challenge an opponent they hadn't fought yet.
If they won, they could replace them and secure the qualification.
The loser could continue challenging the other winner.
In this manner, practical combat would conclude completely.
And all matches had to be completed within a single day.
It was fair, yet unfair.
Especially the first elimination.
Someone who had lost twice still had to compete against the one who had drawn the bye.
In terms of stamina consumption, it was certainly unfair.
Yet in terms of opportunity, it was fair enough, because a single loss meant nothing.
One could always try again.
At the same time, while the one who drew the bye had good luck, they were granted only a single chance; once they lost, they were eliminated on the spot.
"It sounds a bit complicated," the little fatty said.
"It's not complicated. If you lose, you can still fight someone else who lost. For the first advancement, winning once is enough.
"And in the finals, as long as you win two matches, you're guaranteed to advance," Song Qing spoke up.
Jiang Man also found it somewhat convoluted, but gave it no further thought.
Draw the lots first.
Promptly, the others stepped back.
Only the five of them, including Jiang Man, remained in the center of the courtyard.
Teacher Zhao produced a lot-drawing cylinder and said, "Five lots in total. Draw in order of ranking."
Jiang Man went up first, and Luo Xuan followed right behind him.
Soon, everyone had their lots.
"Report your numbers," Teacher Zhao said, looking at Jiang Man and the others.
He too felt shock at Jiang Man's progress.
The youth's foundation was vastly stronger than before.
He had truly lacked the eye for talent.
"Number one," Jiang Man said.
"Number two," Luo Xuan said.
"Number one," Fang Yong said.
"Number two," Chang Qiwen said.
Cheng Yu held up the slip in her hand and said, "Blank."
Everyone was slightly surprised that Cheng Yu had drawn the bye.
Cheng Yu herself was exceedingly astonished.
She hadn't expected such good luck.
According to her calculations, she had effectively entered the finals already.
Jiang Man looked toward Fang Yong.
The other boy looked over as well.
Their eyes met, both eager to defeat the other.
Was there bad blood between them?
A little, but not much.
Yet Jiang Man felt the fellow was rather foolish, even as seeing those spells made him think Fang Yong was quite capable.
He actually knew techniques from each of the major clans.
Rows upon rows of ninth and sixth layers were never something an ordinary person could achieve.
Afterward, the other three stepped out of the ring.
Only Jiang Man and Fang Yong remained.
Zhao Leming activated the array and said, "No pills may be consumed during practical combat; if you wish to take any, you may do so now. Furthermore, no dharma treasures may be used.
"Talismans must not exceed the Qi-Linking sixth layer standard.
"Once there are no objections, you may begin at any time."
"No objections from me," Jiang Man said.
He didn't possess such items anyway.
Still, with these things restricted, the poor were given a chance.
Without restrictions, the poor basically had none.
"No objections here either," Fang Yong spoke up.
"Then let us begin," Zhao Leming announced.
Booms were already echoing from other areas, indicating that fights had commenced elsewhere.
Jiang Man looked at Fang Yong and said, "Pardon me."
Fang Yong returned the courtesy. "I hope your practical combat is just as formidable."
The moment his words fell, Jiang Man took a step forward.
Immediately following came the roar of dragons.
Golden dragons manifested one after another around Jiang Man's body.
Nine golden dragons roared forth. In an instant, Jiang Man flashed before Fang Yong and struck out with a palm, the remaining golden dragons howling in behind him.
Rumble!
Fang Yong's pupils contracted. Raising his arm, he blocked Jiang Man's strike, his entire body flying backward, yet he did not lose his balance.
Midway through, the Hundred Battles Method circulated, cloaking him in midair armor.
In the next instant, he thrust out six palms.
Six Harmonies Palm.
Boom!
Boom!
The golden dragons dwindled one by one.
Jiang Man paid it no heed, stomping a foot down onto the ground.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Collapsing Torrent Technique.
Crack, bang!
A fissure raced straight to Fang Yong's feet, and spikes abruptly erupted from the ground, surging to attack.
Azure smoke drifted off Fang Yong's body as he evaded the assault entirely.
By this point, Jiang Man had already arrived before him.
Six palms blasted out.
Six Harmonies Palm.
Fang Yong reached out, and as his hand met the Six Harmonies Palm, currents of water manifested.
They diverted the direction of the Six Harmonies Palm.
A portion of the force was even rebounded.
Jiang Man wasn't surprised in the least; channeling the Three Powers Force once more, he struck out with the Six Harmonies Palm.
He didn't dodge, meeting force with force.
Fang Yong was quite taken aback, having assumed Jiang Man would evade before attacking again.
Still, he gave it no mind, thrusting a palm forward: Empty Force Palm.
It punched straight through the Six Harmonies Palm, blasting toward Jiang Man.
At that instant, Jiang Man dissolved into azure smoke, evading the strike.
Immediately after, all nine dragons surged forth once more, attacking anew.
The two traded blows back and forth, neither yielding an inch.
Attacking in unison, they evaded counterattacks just as swiftly.
Fang Yong relied on combat experience to dodge, while Jiang Man relied entirely on Azure Smoke Prelude.
The spells of both combatants flared incessantly, an unbroken cascade.
Their figures vanished and reappeared in turns.
"Jiang Man's opening moves are six palms, nine dragons, azure smoke, earth collapse, and three forces—every single one is his strongest art," Teacher Fu remarked as he walked in from outside. "He wants to rely on this kind of pressure to defeat Fang Yong."
"A pity it won't work. Against Chang Qiwen or the others, it might do, but this method will only exhaust him rapidly; he'll lose before long. At most, he'll last one incense stick of time," Teacher Zhao said.
One incense stick of time passed.
Nine dragons surged in unison, six palms flew in tandem.
Zhao Leming was somewhat surprised. "It seems he can still manage, but he'll hold out for half an incense stick at most."
Another incense stick of time passed.
Torrential surges rolled, azure smoke dispersed, nine dragons surged forth, nine dragons surged forth once more.
Zhao Leming: "..."
What in the world was going on?
Chapter 45