The End of the Immortal Path-Chapter 42 - 41: Now He Is the Real Number 1

Steward Miao vividly remembered the phrase "crippled but determined."

’Isn’t a Student Cultivator from the back courtyard with a zero score basically half a cripple?’

Back then, she had used him as a cautionary tale to motivate the others.

When he was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, it could be considered motivational.

After all, he had indeed made some progress.

It was no problem to attribute it to the Spirit Gathering Hall’s efforts.

A score in the twenties was nothing to fuss over.

As for how fast he did it, that didn’t matter much.

Especially in the Early Stage of Qi Refining, whether it took a month or a year didn’t make a huge difference.

Sometimes it depended on luck, other times on financial resources.

Anything was possible.

But...

But Qi Refining Sixth Layer, number one in the courtyard.

This could no longer be used as a motivational story.

Someone like him would qualify for the Sect’s assessment.

There was a good chance he could enter the Wuyun Sect.

Once he entered the Sect and had time to reflect...

’My fate would be sealed.’

"Steward Miao, do you still need to motivate the people of the Spirit Gathering Hall?" Jiang Man suddenly asked.

’How much Spiritual Source would I get if it’s doubled this time?’

’A base of seventy or eighty Spiritual Source? Ten Spiritual Source for each extra one?’

’It wouldn’t be impossible to earn a hundred Spiritual Source in a single night.’

’Doubled, that would be two hundred.’

’One day would be worth the previous three.’

’Even more than what I made in the first seven days.’

Meanwhile, a cold sweat had already broken out on Steward Miao’s back.

’He’s calling me out.’

Taking a deep breath, Steward Miao said with a placid expression, "Taking first place is a point of pride for our Spirit Gathering Hall. I think we can forget about the motivational speech today. We should do something more meaningful instead. On behalf of the Spirit Gathering Hall, I will grant you a cultivation fund of five hundred Spiritual Source. This represents our hall’s affirmation and support for a successful Student Cultivator."

"Since you work for the Spirit Gathering Hall, you are naturally one of our own."

"Your success is the greatest recognition for the Spirit Gathering Hall."

"Furthermore, I will personally contribute another five hundred Spiritual Source to support the pride of our Spirit Gathering Hall."

As she spoke, she took out a thousand Spiritual Source and handed it to Jiang Man. "Here, take it. Use this Spiritual Source well and continue to work hard."

"I’ve said it all along: if anyone was going to succeed, it would be you."

"This just proves my judgment was correct."

Accepting the one thousand Spiritual Source, Jiang Man was quite impressed.

’Is the effect of being number one really this dramatic?’

He felt it was a bit of a shame. If he had known, he would have met with more people back when he had a zero score, just to experience their prejudiced looks and words.

Visiting them now would surely yield some interesting results.

Unfortunately, he had met too few people.

He still lacked connections.

Meanwhile, the female guide who had entered after him watched this scene with a strange expression.

She hadn’t heard everything, but she saw Steward Miao giving Spiritual Source to Jiang Man.

She was shocked but didn’t dare to ask what was happening.

Afterward, Steward Miao arranged the guard duty.

The official shift would start in the twelfth month.

It would last for a total of four days.

Once these matters were settled, Jiang Man asked about renting himself out.

For example, if anyone needed a sparring partner.

Steward Miao said that such opportunities existed, but it depended on the demand.

She would notify him if a suitable opportunity arose.

After thanking her, Jiang Man asked about his current price.

He wanted to continue "lighting the lamps" at the Spirit Gathering Hall.

Although she didn’t understand why Jiang Man wanted to continue, she still told him the truth.

The base rate was now eighty Spiritual Source for lighting seven lamps, and each additional lamp was worth another ten Spiritual Source.

Jiang Man calculated that lighting eight lamps a day would earn him ninety.

That was twenty more than before.

All told, that would be a monthly income of two thousand seven hundred.

He was already in the high-income bracket.

But a normal Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator wouldn’t come here, because it not only affected their Cultivation but also harmed their body.

The higher one’s Cultivation, the more demanding the requirements to remain unharmed.

One needed a high Realm in both their Qi Blood Technique and Visualization Skill.

Even Jiang Man didn’t dare to light a ninth lamp yet.

His body would definitely suffer damage.

The gain would not be worth the loss.

After that, Jiang Man headed to the Spirit Gathering Hall.

He didn’t want to miss the opportunity to earn Spiritual Source.

Ninety a day.

’When would he ever get such a good opportunity again?’

If he missed it, he’d be kicking himself in his sleep.

After Jiang Man left, Steward Miao finally turned to the confused female guide beside her.

The guide asked curiously, "What happened?"

"Do you remember that man from just now?" Steward Miao asked.

The guide nodded.

"He’s ranked first in his courtyard," Steward Miao said.

Hearing this, the female guide wasn’t surprised. "Last place. We all know that."

Steward Miao walked over, patted her shoulder gently, and said in a grave tone, "That was three months ago. Now, he’s first from the top."

After saying her piece, Steward Miao walked outside.

She left the female guide standing there, completely stunned.

「At night.」

Jiang Man returned to his residence and looked at the Old Yellow Ox chewing on grass. "Old Huang, did any letters come today?"

The Old Yellow Ox was silent for a moment before saying, "I will do my best to recover so you can reply."

Hearing this, Jiang Man gave a sheepish smile. "You should probably save your strength. That way, you can find yourself a wife."

The Old Yellow Ox went back to eating grass, but then it suddenly spoke. "How many Magic Skills did you pick up?"

Jiang Man told it the truth.

A moment later, the Old Yellow Ox raised its brow slightly and said, "You forgot something."

Jiang Man was confused.

"You’ve reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Hearing this, Jiang Man was still puzzled.

The Old Yellow Ox lowered its head to eat grass and said casually, "The Top-grade Observation Method is the wrong one."

Jiang Man froze.

’I forgot.’

He hadn’t picked up the Simple Observation Method.

Anyone paying close attention could check and realize he had likely succeeded in his Cultivation.

Although he had been permitted to cultivate, it would be a major issue if they found out he had actually succeeded. He didn’t know if the people from the Sect would investigate.

It would be bad if they traced it back to the Evil God Old Yellow Ox.

Once the people from the Sect left, it wouldn’t be as big of a problem.

"Old Huang, you could have just said so next time," Jiang Man said.

The Old Yellow Ox glanced at Jiang Man and lowered its head to graze.

Jiang Man sighed. ’Speaking in riddles will get you karmic retribution.’

Afterward, Jiang Man began to take stock of his wealth.

He had gotten fifteen hundred from Chang Qiweng, one thousand from the Spirit Gathering Hall, and earned ninety himself. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He had twenty left over from before.

After deducting the cost of his recent meals, he had two thousand five hundred and eighty remaining.

’He was truly rich, but he still owed Xiaopang six Spirit Gathering Pills.’

’If he deducted the eighteen hundred for them, he would only have seven hundred and eighty left.’

’That would be gone after buying just two more Spirit Gathering Pills.’

’Looks like there’s no hurry to pay him back.’

Elsewhere, moonlight from the window shone on a desktop.

Beside it, Cheng Yu slowly opened her eyes, looking slightly weary.

’Can Qi Refining Cultivators really go without sleep and just cultivate constantly?’

Because of that one sentence from Jiang Man, it wasn’t just her.

Even Luo Xuan and Fang Yong were trying to accomplish it.

That is, to cultivate through the night.

Cultivating even without sleep.

But she had never been able to overcome it.

She still needed some time to rest, otherwise her body would become too exhausted.

Which in turn would affect the next day’s Cultivation.

She believed that balancing work and rest was the correct path.

But...

...since everyone was trying it, she felt pressured to go along.

’I wonder how effective that letter was. In a few more days, I’ll go say hello and get him to write back.’

’I wonder what he’ll write in his reply.’

Thinking of this, Cheng Yu felt a sense of anticipation.

She wanted to see what kind of chivalrous heart and tender feelings lay within this newly promoted number one.

The more she understood him, the easier it would be to win him over.

Some exceptionally talented people were inexperienced and naive about the ways of the world.

They seemed untouchable, someone you could only look up to, but in reality, they would let down their guard as soon as you got close.

It was only when they gained more life experience that they became more troublesome.