Earlier, he had commissioned Old Chen.
By now, it should be just about finished.
If it could be completed today, he would swap it out.
If there wasn't enough time, he would wait for the next opportunity.
Before long, that manual for cultivation was sitting on Gao Cunfeng's desk.
His own cultivation was not lacking, and as he looked over the method recorded on its pages, even he felt it was grueling.
How could an ordinary person cultivate like this?
Only the poor would endure such life-risking hardship, wouldn't they?
"The poor still have their limitations."
He shook his head, thinking no further on it.
He simply set the book aside.
He wondered whether to throw it away or put it into storage.
He worried that if the little fatty went looking for it, things would become quite troublesome.
There was no need to invite trouble upon himself.
Better to hide it away for now; if the boy truly insisted on it, he could return it to him then.
For now, he hadn't seen any terrible consequences, so it was not unbearable.
Of course, swapping it out directly would be for the best.
Before long, Old Chen arrived.
"How did it go?" Gao Cunfeng asked.
"Mission accomplished. However, this sort of thing requires a step-by-step approach. This is only the first part; more will follow," Old Chen said.
With that, he handed his own manual over to Gao Cunfeng.
Gao Cunfeng examined it for a long while before nodding firmly. "As expected, Old Chen has far more experience."
Saying so, he handed the manual to an attendant beside him, instructing them to place it where the little fatty kept his books.
Old Chen nodded in satisfaction, then remarked, "I hear the Yunqian Division's second competition has begun. Who knows how many will shoot to fame, and how many will burn out their potential.
"I heard that this time, an overall ranking will be issued for the Six Pavilions, and an overall ranking will also be issued for the Three Towers."
At this, Gao Cunfeng was somewhat surprised. "In that case, we truly need to pay close attention."
"The Family Head indeed should pay attention. If any impoverished youths stand out at a time like this, we must seize the chance," Old Chen reminded him.
Gao Cunfeng offered his thanks.
He was naturally well aware of such matters; in fact, he had already made several moves.
He had reaped a few gains, and this was just the right moment to see where they ranked.
This ranking focused primarily on practical combat, complemented by formations that detected their physical and mental cultivation.
Without a written test, it could not fully calculate potential, but it would see right through their current strength.
Not only him, but many families were watching closely.
First, to keep an eye on the rankings of their own people to determine resource allocation.
Second, to scout those desperately striving poor youths and win them over.
What these people lacked was resources.
In truth, he had wanted to extend an olive branch to Jiang Man several times, but the little fatty had ruined it every time.
Fortunately, he could see how Jiang Man ranked this time without resources.
If his rank dropped, Gao Cunfeng could formally extend an olive branch.
Many people would make progress this time.
For those without resources, progressing too slowly was equivalent to falling behind.
It would be glaringly obvious.
—
"Are we just going to let them off like that?" Yan Huimin asked as they searched for the other groves.
Li Yuan replied, "They can't affect us anymore, and they won't tip off anyone else either."
Yan Huimin was puzzled. "Why?"
"Because Fang Tianyi lost," Li Yuan said.
Yan Huimin was even more confused. Why wouldn't someone who lost warn others?
Li Yuan did not explain.
It was because losing was humiliating.
Only if the other people he knew also lost would his humiliation be lessened.
At a time like this, how could he possibly inform anyone else?
Furthermore, if someone else obtained the Nine Clouds Dragon Suppressing Seal, it would be a threat, but if Jiang Man obtained it, it wouldn't be.
After all, they were never a match for him to begin with.
Jiang Man walked at the very front, scanning their surroundings.
There were many small groves.
Yet there were only so many spells.
There were no markers whatsoever; they could only rely on their own analysis and observation.
Finding them was therefore quite troublesome.
At times, by the time one found a place, the prize there had already been claimed.
Consequently, clashes would break out ahead of time.
It tested one's strength, and also one's luck.
What Jiang Man was currently pondering was whether, upon encountering competitors, he should suppress his cultivation to fight them, or use his cultivation to overwhelm them.
He posed this dilemma to Li Yuan and Yan Huimin.
The two of them were completely baffled.
"Why would you suppress your cultivation?"
"Because my practical combat skills are poor. If I find a location and hold it, fighting them at the same realm, wouldn't that improve my practical combat?"
Hearing this, Yan Huimin said in disbelief, "Your practical combat skills are poor?"
"Otherwise, why would I have spent so much effort advancing to the Qi-Linking eighth layer?" Jiang Man countered.
Wasn't the whole point to suppress people with a higher realm?
His spells were inferior to others', and his techniques were inferior to others'.
Although his spiritual qi was denser than those in the same realm, he could never end fights against them quickly.
That had been made clear back when he fought Fang Yong.
He had indeed held the upper hand, but the power of his spells wasn't enough, nor could he lock onto a target directly.
It wasn't as if opponents would stand still and let him hit them.
No matter how strong one was, one still had to land the blow.
So this was indeed a prime opportunity for practical combat.
However...
The risk was a bit too high.
He still wasn't strong enough, and mishaps could easily occur.
He lacked spirit sources.
Poverty always managed to catch up to him first.
Just as Jiang Man reached a decision and chose to secure the spell first, Li Yuan spoke up. "I can help with practical combat later. For now, we should still secure the spell first."
Jiang Man was somewhat surprised. Looking at him with a solemn expression, he said, "Then let's set off."
Their pace was swift.
They passed small grove after small grove.
Finally, they came to a halt before a certain grove.
Jiang Man could sense the sound of a dragon's roar from within.
There was also drifting cloud and mist.
"It should be right here: the Nine Clouds Dragon Suppressing Seal," Jiang Man said slowly.
He was rather surprised that they hadn't run into many experts along the way.
And here, there was no one else around either.
They were practically the first to discover it.
Li Yuan was also full of emotion that they had actually been the first to find it.
Of course, it could not be ruled out that some weaker teams had come here as well.
They had simply given up.
After all, many experts were coming specifically for this.
Yan Huimin examined the tracks on the ground and said, "Two teams should have been here, but once they left, they would sell the information. People will be arriving soon."
Jiang Man looked around and asked, "What rank was Fang Tianyi in Qingyun Pavilion?"
"Second," Li Yuan said.
Jiang Man glanced at him. "Who's first?"
"You are," Li Yuan answered.
Jiang Man: "..."
In other words, the previous first place had been Fang Tianyi.
From the look of it, there shouldn't be many people who could threaten him.
At most two teams.
Jiang Man touched the formation and found that it hadn't opened yet.
They could only wait outside.
Before long, Jiang Man sensed people approaching.
"Get ready, people are coming," he cautioned.
Sure enough, four teams were heading their way.
Li Yuan immediately said, "They're from Bishui Pavilion. The woman leading them is Bishui Pavilion's number one. According to earlier reports, she should also be at the Qi-Linking seventh layer.
"Bringing so many people this time is likely to target Yeming Pavilion's top disciple, who is rumored to be at the Qi-Linking eighth layer.
"They probably intend to win through sheer numbers."
"They look determined to take it," Jiang Man remarked.
"Yes, it's going to be a tough battle," Li Yuan said earnestly.
As the group drew closer, they were also quite surprised, not expecting other experts to be here already.
Over a dozen people approached, their presence imposing.
Jiang Man asked Li Yuan who Yeming Pavilion's top disciple was.
"Yang Ling," Li Yuan replied.
With that, Jiang Man took a step forward, looked past the crowd opposite them toward the rear, and called out, "Yang Ling?"
In an instant, all of them turned their heads to look back.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Man stepped forward.
With Azure Smoke Prelude, he closed the distance in a flash.
The Six Harmonies Palm was unleashed.
In a single breath, he finished them all off.
Mere ants of the Qi-Linking seventh layer.
Chapter 64