The man's tone was calm and devoid of emotion, as if merely stating an objective fact.
Simply put, the Li family offered the worst terms, but they claimed to offer the greatest prospects—something no other clan could match.
Jiang Man had no idea how the man had reached that conclusion.
Still, it surprised him that someone from the Li family had gone out of their way to come in person. They were the ones who valued him the least, so why had they bothered to show up? Neither of the other two families had sent anyone.
As for accepting, the thought had never crossed Jiang Man's mind.
It came back to the same question: What right did the Li family have?
"The sect is a massive vortex. What you need to consider is whether you can gain a firm foothold once you enter it," the middle-aged man said, watching Jiang Man. "Perhaps no one has ever mentioned this to you, but you must understand that entering the sect is not the end. It is only the beginning—and the most grueling beginning at that.
"The foundations of the other families within the sect are exceedingly shallow.
"Only the Li family can help you establish yourself in the shortest time, allowing you to receive nurturing a step ahead of everyone else.
"Only then will you have a chance to strive for the top."
Jiang Man pondered for a moment and asked, "And what if I don't make it into the sect?"
"We do not concern ourselves with failures," the middle-aged man replied bluntly.
Pausing briefly, he continued, "The terms we offer are not bad. You had best think it over.
"Once the results of the second contention are out, an offer like this may no longer be on the table.
"You should realize that everyone is making rapid progress, surging forward without pause.
"Diligent as you are, forgoing sleep and all, that speed simply is not enough.
"Five thousand a month is plenty for you to keep up with them.
"Granted, other families can match this price, but once you enter the sect, their support will plummet.
"Five thousand is sufficient for a genius to barely squeeze into the sect.
"That is why what we offer is enough."
"Can't you add another five thousand?" Jiang Man ventured to ask.
The man stared at Jiang Man in silence.
In the end, Jiang Man said he needed more time to think it over.
The man did not linger, bidding his farewell and taking his leave.
Watching him depart, Jiang Man shook his head.
*He didn't even mention his name. Prominent families really have no manners.*
Afterward, Jiang Man headed back, not taking the matter to heart in the slightest.
As for having a hard time after entering the sect...
Wasn't the solution simple?
Wouldn't entering the sect as first place in the Yunqian Division settle everything?
He had never once intended to enter at the bottom of the rankings. If he didn't enter with the highest marks, how could he touch the treasures? How could he obtain more resources?
Even though his peerless prodigy fate was always a step behind him, fate didn't play fair; it didn't test innate talent, but rather background and wealth.
Returning to the stable, Jiang Man resumed cultivating.
One hundred and fifty cycles every day.
He had no choice but to cultivate.
Right now, his focus was primarily on cultivating qi and blood alongside his cultivation base.
His seventh Qi-Linking "gourd" was only twenty percent full, while the fourth "gourd" of qi and blood was already nearly halfway there.
He wasn't far from reaching the Physical fifth layer.
Still, upon returning today, Jiang Man asked for advice on how to guide the little fatty.
He certainly lacked the expertise, but the old yellow ox was an evil god with vast experience and worldly knowledge. Surely it would have a few tricks up its sleeve.
"Ever since the Four Great Immortal Gates standardized and revised the cultivation methods, innate talent hasn't carried as much weight. While geniuses still exist, anyone can cultivate quickly if their methods are sound." The old yellow ox chewed on the weeds in its mouth, waiting quite a while before continuing. "That is why, no matter how fast one cultivates in Qi-Linking, it remains within a reasonable range. That is also why no world-shaking geniuses truly emerge at the Qi-Linking stage."
Pausing, the old yellow ox raised its brow to look at Jiang Man. "Though you are indeed somewhat different."
"Different how?" Jiang Man asked curiously.
"Poor," the old yellow ox replied flatly.
Jiang Man was speechless.
The old yellow ox went on, "I even had to help you take a wife, but before you could enter the bridal chamber, the wife was gone."
Jiang Man stared at the ox, convinced it was mocking him.
Afterward, the old yellow ox laid out a training routine. Jiang Man took up a brush and spent most of the night writing it all down—daily cultivation hours, repetitions, resource allocations, and more. Everything was accounted for.
Yet the schedule was packed remarkably tight.
It went back to the same question: At such a young age, how could one sleep?
The ox's answer was just as simple: *If you don't sleep, how can they dare to sleep?*
Jiang Man then divided the recorded contents into three parts. This was fundamentally tailored for the little fatty's Qi-Linking stage; on anyone else, it likely wouldn't do much good. But it would definitely make him stronger.
Because...
Sleep was entirely out of the question.
After that, Jiang Man spent his time cultivating.
The Sixth Courtyard also taught other subjects: identifying spirit herbs, analyzing demon beast bones, methods of cultivation and planting, and the like. Those with some aptitude could seek an alternative path forward. But if one had no talent whatsoever, they would have to see if they could find a way to stay in Luoyun City.
Becoming a guard was the choice most people made. If even that proved beyond reach, the only option was returning to the village to resume farming, leaving virtually no chance of ever coming back out into the world.
Throughout the entire month of January, Jiang Man spent his days cultivating and earning spirit sources.
Aside from the Li family, no other clans reached out to him. They were likely all waiting for the results of the second contention. Jiang Man didn't care in the least; it was better without the distractions.
Over the course of that month, his physical body reached the fifth layer.
With the aid of the Flawless Qi and Blood Pills, his fifth "gourd" of qi and blood was already thirty percent full. He wasn't too far from opening the sixth "gourd."
However, his Flawless Qi and Blood Pills were running low. At most, they would probably carry him to opening the sixth "gourd"—the Physical sixth layer.
That was enough.
He wondered if that would be sufficient to break through the bottleneck between Qi-Linking seventh layer and Qi-Linking eighth layer when the time came. After all, the Physical sixth layer was the requirement for advancing to the Qi-Linking ninth layer.
By late January, Jiang Man took stock of his current status:
Qi-Linking seventh layer, Physical fifth layer, Mental Third Layer.
As for the corresponding techniques: Qi-Linking Method layer eleven, Qi-Blood Method layer nine, and Visualization Method layer thirteen.
Meanwhile, he had made virtually no progress in spells.
This pace wasn't fast enough. He still lacked spirit sources and hadn't taken enough Spirit Gathering Pills. Even his Qi-Linking Method layer eleven couldn't pull him along fast enough.
He had to advance to Qi-Linking eighth layer before the March break. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to secure the better spells.
As for the upcoming courtyard assessment...
After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Man decided to openly reveal his Qi-Linking seventh layer cultivation. That would firmly secure him first place in the courtyard.
Not only that, but it would also make future conversations with Li Yuan and the others much easier. Otherwise, someone at Qi-Linking seventh layer looking down on Qi-Linking sixth layer would inevitably adopt an arrogant, condescending posture, making even a simple exchange exhausting.
The assessment lasted two days as usual.
Everything went smoothly, and the scores were slated to be released on the first of February.
***
Gao Manor.
The moment the little fatty returned from the assessment, he threw himself into cultivation.
The thought of Jiang Man secretly cultivating the moment he got back made him completely restless. How could someone be so obsessed with cultivating? Even the guidance routine Jiang Man had given him had zero time allotted for sleep. Burning the midnight oil had driven him to the point of losing weight. Left with no choice, he could only sneak in naps in secret.
Still, it was early yet, so he had to cultivate diligently. Even though they had passed the qualification assessment, cultivation in the Sixth Courtyard hadn't let up in the slightest. If he stopped, the position of dead last would be his once again.
As he was cultivating, he noticed someone walk into the room.
It was a slightly portly, middle-aged man—his father.
"Cultivating even after finishing today's assessment?" his father asked.
The little fatty said earnestly, "Everyone in the courtyard is secretly cultivating. If I don't cultivate, I'll fall behind."
The man looked rather astonished. Was something wrong with that courtyard?
Noticing the little fatty looking at a booklet, he asked with some confusion, "What is that?"
"This?" The little fatty held up the booklet in his hands. "It's the cultivation guide Brother Jiang gave me."
Hearing that, the middle-aged man furrowed his brows.
He thought to himself that he had to find a way to replace this thing. A Qi-Linking sixth layer cultivator might have made decent personal progress, but he certainly wouldn't know how to teach. After all, how much of his success came down to talent and resources? Letting him guide others would only lead pupils astray.
He was merely first place in a small courtyard, not first in the Yunqian Division.
Chapter 57