Chapter 182: Chapter 135: Taiyang Is Right Beside Us (Part 2)

But even after consuming some Elixirs, he still had 55,000 Spiritual Source.

He would still have some left over even after paying back all his debts.

Eighth Courtyard.

Jiang Man sat in the first seat, and Zhuo Bufan, beside him, kept staring at him. The sheer fighting spirit in his gaze made Jiang Man feel a bit odd.

"If he loses to you, his family might take back his resources," Zhao Yaoyao said.

Jiang Man asked curiously, "Does his family require him to be first?"

"Yes," Zhao Yaoyao nodded.

Jiang Man looked at Zhao Yaoyao and asked again, "First in all of the Seven Peaks and Eight Courtyards?"

Zhao Yaoyao was taken aback. "It’s not that extreme, but he has to be first in our little courtyard at the very least."

"And what if being first in our little courtyard means being first in the Seven Peaks and Eight Courtyards?" Jiang Man asked in return.

Zhao Yaoyao froze.

For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

"Don’t worry," Jiang Man said calmly. "His resources will return soon. Sometimes, it just takes a while for the light to shine down."

"Especially depending on where the light is shining."

"And as it happens, the light will shine on every single one of you."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yaoyao asked, confused.

Cao Cheng spoke up, "The meaning is obvious. You missed the Taiyang."

An Rong shook her head. "Always being second has made you lose your sense of reverence. It’s better to be sixth... no, wait, seventh is good."

Cao Cheng said, "Sixth is better. I’ll be sixth soon."

"If I had the backing of a great family and my rank dropped this time, I’d only do one thing when I go back," Lin Qingshan said.

Hearing this, Zhuo Bufan, Zhao Yaoyao, and Wei Beichuan all looked his way.

"What would that be?" Zhao Yaoyao asked.

Lin Qingshan just smiled, saying nothing.

Zhao Yaoyao gave him one hundred Spiritual Source.

Zhuo Bufan and Wei Beichuan also gave him a hundred each.

"Why didn’t you ask us?" An Rong demanded.

"Just shut up. I’ve never seen anyone so brainless. Think of how much you could raise your Cultivation with one hundred Spiritual Source," Cao Cheng said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Lin Qingshan looked at the group and said seriously, "I’d go back and boast about our number one. I’d claim he’s even stronger than Wei Ran from Peach Blossom Peak."

"Why wasn’t he number one in his first year?"

"That was because he didn’t participate before, giving others a chance. If he had, he would’ve been number one all along."

"Even if they don’t believe it, they’ll definitely pay some attention."

"As long as Jiang Man takes the top spot."

"Your resources will be secure, and you might even get more."

"Our Taiyang will rise higher and higher, and his light will shine upon the entire Outer Sect."

"In that moment, we will share in his glory."

"And you are the ones closest to the Taiyang. Do you think your families won’t go all-out to support you?"

"The Taiyang will never fall, and we will all be bathed in his magnificent light."

As soon as he finished, Cao Cheng and An Rong burst into applause.

Lin Qingshan stared at the two in astonishment. ’What are you two doing?’

An Rong said with a grin, "So, uh... can you cross my name off?"

Lin Qingshan was merciless. "No. That’s a thousand Spiritual Source."

Jiang Man looked at Lin Qingshan, deeply impressed. ’A true genius.’

Zhuo Bufan, Zhao Yaoyao, and the others fell silent.

They were actually considering his words.

Of course, all of this was predicated on Jiang Man actually taking first place.

But what if he didn’t get first?

After all, even if he became number one for the year, it wasn’t the same as being number one from the start.

It would always feel like his prestige was somewhat lacking.

This was especially true when the previous number one hadn’t been competing.

But as long as he took first place, they could at least hold on to some of their resources.

If he didn’t, they really would lose everything.

Their current resources might even be reduced.

Later, Yan Yiqiu informed everyone that the June assessment would be held tomorrow.

This was a good chance to see what kind of score they could get.

Jiang Man was also quite curious to see what his score would be.

He was certain it wouldn’t be low. It was time to let his fellow cultivators get a taste.

Just how bright the light could be.

——

Inner Sect.

Yu Wanyi tossed the torch to the ground and shook her head with a sigh. "It didn’t light. Master Uncle’s gotten smarter. Oh well, time to run."

She ran all the way back to her residence, and only after making sure no one was chasing her did she let out a heavy sigh of relief.

She’d done this sort of thing many times.

Most of the time, she would get chased by something.

Sometimes by people, other times by Spirit Pets.

She’d gotten the short end of the stick before, too.

But her success rate was very high.

"What were you up to again?" Xia Jin’s voice suddenly rang out.

Yu Wanyi was so startled she leaped into the air.

Seeing who it was, she patted her chest in relief. "Senior Sister Xia, you scared me."

"I’ve been sitting here the whole time. You’re the one who didn’t notice," Xia Jin said, shaking her head with a sigh.

"I went to light a fire to keep Master Uncle warm," Yu Wanyi replied.

"Why are you so obsessed with this?"

"I don’t know. My master rewards me for it."

"Does Master Uncle Xiang have a grudge with your master?"

"Yes. I don’t know the specifics, but anyway, my master can’t stand Master Uncle Xiang."

After a pause, she looked at Xia Jin. "What brings you here, Senior Sister Xia?"

"It’s June now. In a little over two months, it’ll be the annual assessment. How’s that ’investment’ of yours been doing lately?" Xia Jin asked.

At her words, Yu Wanyi shook her head. "I don’t know. I’ve given him everything I can. The rest is up to him. It’s not like I can help him directly."

"He should be doing well, I hope."

"You haven’t even been following the Secret Realm rankings?" Xia Jin sounded shocked.

"I have. He’s ranked twenty-fifth. That’s pretty high," Yu Wanyi answered.

"And then?"

"Is there an ’and then’?"

"Number 210 is getting a lot of attention again. But unlike before, it seems no one’s really lost out to him this time. Still, some people are definitely going to target him."

"It’s fine. They won’t run into him, so targeting him is useless. Besides, they don’t even know who Number 210 is. And even if they did, it’s not like they can go to the Eighth Courtyard."

Xia Jin shook her head. "They can’t go to the Eighth Courtyard, true. But do you think your ’investment’ won’t go to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards?"

"Doesn’t he want the Secret Skill of Cloud Mist Peak?"

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi finally remembered something. "He didn’t participate in the Ninth Courtyard’s competition, so he has to get first in the Eighth Courtyard. And for the Seventh Courtyard’s, he’ll have to compete with the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards."

"If that’s the case, he really will be targeted."

"I should probably warn him, tell him to steer clear of them for now."

After a moment, Yu Wanyi shook her head. "No, I can’t tell him to avoid a direct confrontation."

Xia Jin was confused.

Yu Wanyi explained, "Jiang Man’s immediate response would be, ’Me, avoid *them*?’ Just like that."

Xia Jin was stunned for a moment. "This ’investment’ of yours... does he have any idea how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is?"

"He does. He thinks he’s invincible. I don’t know what his dao companion is thinking, but I really hope she doesn’t give up on him," Yu Wanyi said.

She had been helping collect some books recently and was just waiting for a good opportunity to send them over.

She could just secretly leave them at his door.

That way, he wouldn’t know who sent them, and Jiang Man wouldn’t have to worry about feeling embarrassed.

’Boys are like that, always so concerned with their pride.’

’How can you win a girl’s heart if you’re so worried about your pride?’

’They’re already dao companions. He shouldn’t be worrying about his pride at a time like this.’

’Every action is bound to have a reaction.’

"I’ll wait until after his annual assessment to visit. I shouldn’t go out for now; those people are watching me too closely." Yu Wanyi thought for a moment before continuing, "I need to find my master again, see if there are any other resource-filled Secret Realms I can get him into." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"It’ll help build up his foundation."

"The competition for promotion later on is just too intense."

"There are three Promotion Skills. It’s hard enough to get the second one, and the third requires a perfect combination of resources, Talent, and method."

"We have to prepare early."

"With the help of Jiang Man’s dao companion, I’m sure I’ll become the most brilliant of all the ’investors’ on that little mountain peak."

——

「June 1st.」

The assessment began.

This time, Jiang Man found the assessment to be a breeze.

It was nothing like before, when he had struggled to even put his pen to paper.

The two-day assessment passed by in a flash.

This time, Cao Cheng asked Zhuo Bufan how he did.

Zhuo Bufan replied calmly, "It was alright."

"That means you did great, then," Cao Cheng pressed. "Confident you’ll get first?"

An Rong also leaned in, but said nothing.

Zhuo Bufan looked at them, then took out his notebook and began to write.

He noted that Cao Cheng and An Rong were mocking him.

An Rong was flabbergasted. "I didn’t say anything!"

But Zhuo Bufan simply walked away.

’First place is indisputable, even against the previous number one.’

「June 3rd.」

Yan Yiqiu arrived in the courtyard and smiled at the crowd. "The final results are out. You can now see your rankings and scores."

Zhuo Bufan was near the front, so he quickly got his results sheet.

A little nervous, he immediately began to read.

June 3rd.

Wuyun Sect.

Outer Sect Cloud Mist Peak.

Foundation Establishment Courtyard, Front Yard, Eighth Courtyard.

Name: Zhuo Bufan.

Rank: 2 (of 50)

Cultivation: Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Physical Body: Third Layer.

Spirit: Third Layer.

Minor: Array.

Hidden Spirit: intermediate.

Resources Obtained: Simple Yuan Condensation Method, Simple Body Refining Technique, Simple Observation Method, Wandering Dragon, Shadowless Palm.

Score: 159.

Evaluation: Though ranked second, equivalent to first.