However, Jiang Man still accepted the Spiritual Source. It was what he needed most right now.

Then, he spoke seriously, "It’s fine. We wouldn’t have gotten to know each other if we hadn’t fought. I don’t usually hold a grudge."

’Usually not,’ Li Yuan thought. ’If I hadn’t come today, would that still be considered "usual"?’

’Probably not.’

But the other party really did seem to be short on Spiritual Source.

’To think he lives in a place like this.’

’Such a poor guy...’

’I really should have just given him Spiritual Source from the start.’

But before he could say anything else, he suddenly saw someone else approaching.

The newcomer was actually the second-ranked member of Cyan Cloud Pavilion.

Fang Tianyi.

’Today’s a good day,’ Jiang Man thought.

’Another distinguished guest.’

’He’s probably not here to give me trouble, right?’

"Young Master Jiang, let’s not waste words. Take a look at this." Fang Tianyi cut to the chase and handed him a bag.

Jiang Man took it.

He counted it out right in front of Li Yuan.

’Six thousand Spiritual Source?’

Jiang Man was stunned. This was honestly putting him on the spot. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

It was so much that he felt awkward being too polite.

"Young Master Fang and I also wouldn’t have gotten to know each other if we hadn’t fought. I’ve long since forgotten about everything else," Jiang Man said with a straight face.

Li Yuan: "..."

’That’s not what you said to me just now.’

Before leaving, Fang Tianyi asked curiously if Jiang Man really didn’t sleep at night.

Jiang Man said the Old Yellow Ox could prove it.

The two of them: "..."

After the two had left, Jiang Man shrugged. "Why does no one ever believe me when I tell the truth?"

The Old Yellow Ox lowered its head to eat grass, completely still the entire time.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan and Fang Tianyi walked together after leaving.

"What did you mean by that just now?" Li Yuan asked.

"What do you mean, what did I mean?" Fang Tianyi asked.

"I gave him two thousand, and you gave him six thousand? Doesn’t that make me look stingy?" Li Yuan asked.

Hearing this, Fang Tianyi paused, looked at the person beside him in astonishment, and said, "You’re only just realizing that?"

With that, Fang Tianyi quickened his pace and left. "Instead of staring at me, you should worry about yourself. Your trouble might be coming soon."

Li Yuan froze, fell silent for a moment, then headed for his own small courtyard.

---

Having gained eight thousand Spiritual Source, Jiang Man felt quite pleased.

Eight thousand, plus the sixteen hundred he had left over from the past few days.

That was ninety-six hundred in total.

If he hadn’t spent so much on cultivation these past few days, he’d have a solid ten thousand Spiritual Source.

It was so much.

His future cultivation would be much more comfortable.

However, at his current rate of progress, it was still far from enough to advance to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

The eighth "Gourd" was like a bottomless pit.

He had only managed to accumulate about five percent so far.

It would only get more difficult from here.

Meanwhile, the others were surely making constant progress too.

’If my progress slows, it’s the same as falling behind.’

For the next two or three days, he just studied and cultivated as usual.

On this day, after returning from cultivation, Jiang Man made himself something to eat.

He planned to continue taking Spirit Gathering Pills to raise his cultivation.

But before he could begin, Chang Qiweng arrived.

"I’m here to deliver a letter," he said.

Hearing this, Jiang Man was quite surprised. He remembered when Cheng Yu had delivered a letter and subconsciously asked, "Is it a love letter?"

Chang Qiweng looked completely stunned.

Finally, he took out a letter from the Dharma Transmission Department and said, "This is a special notice from the Dharma Transmission Department. Only three people in Cyan Cloud Pavilion received it."

"The top three in Cyan Cloud Pavilion."

Jiang Man, who had been feeling a bit awkward, looked at the envelope in confusion.

’It’s only the second week of April. Why is there a letter like this?’

’The Dharma Transmission Department should only send letters when it’s time to compete for Cultivation Skills.’

Filled with curiosity, Jiang Man opened the envelope.

He found that it was about a dharma transmission.

Moreover, someone from the Sect was coming to transmit the teachings.

It said they would be here for one day and could teach the top three from each pavilion a Mid-grade Technique.

A Mid Grade Qi Cultivation Method, a Mid-grade Qi Blood Technique, and a Mid-grade Observation Method.

This was an almost unattainable opportunity in the Yunqian Bureau.

Naturally, Jiang Man wanted it.

Especially since he was currently only lacking a Mid-grade Qi Blood Technique.

If he obtained it, he could advance even faster.

However...

When he read to the end, he froze completely.

It required ten thousand Spiritual Source as a fee for the teaching and cultivation.

And it had to be paid in full within two days.

Unlike the previous experimental dharma transmission, this one was a bit inferior, but you were guaranteed to learn it. The problem was, it charged a fee.

However, not just anyone could pay the fee and learn.

You had to be in the top three of your pavilion.

Chang Qiweng asked curiously, "Can I see?"

Jiang Man handed it directly to him.

Chang Qiweng looked astonished. But after a moment of thought, he tentatively asked, "You don’t have the Spiritual Source?"

Jiang Man looked at him and said, "Are you going to lend it to me?"

Chang Qiweng was indeed thinking of lending it to him.

He felt that Jiang Man’s talent was truly extraordinary, making it a safe bet to lend him some and earn interest.

But he had been mulling it over for the past few days.

After all, Spiritual Source was extremely important to him.

"How much do you want to borrow?" Chang Qiweng asked cautiously.

Jiang Man was surprised. ’Chang Qiweng actually has Spiritual Source?’

’A truly wealthy poor person.’

’Completely different from a poor poor person like me.’

"Ten thousand," Jiang Man said without hesitation.

"Don’t have it," Chang Qiweng said, shaking his head.

"Eight thousand?"

He still shook his head.

"Then how much can you offer?"

"Three thousand. Same terms as before: pay me back thirty-five hundred in September. Added to your previous loan, that’s a total repayment of seven thousand."

"Deal."

As Jiang Man took the Spiritual Source, he said seriously, "You will be glad you made this choice today."

Chang Qiweng asked curiously, "So you have enough Spiritual Source to go to the Dharma Transmission Department now?"

Jiang Man just gave a mysterious smile and didn’t answer.

Seeing this, Chang Qiweng didn’t press further. After reminding Jiang Man to remember to repay the Spiritual Source, he left.

He had to get back to work to earn more Spiritual Source.

"Are you going to learn the Mid-grade Qi Blood Technique?" the Old Yellow Ox asked casually.

Jiang Man lowered his gaze, put away the envelope, and said softly, "Old Huang, what do you think of my talent?"

"Very high," the Old Yellow Ox said honestly.

Although it sometimes felt he was getting too arrogant, his talent was truly undeniable.

He was so strong that it was starting to doubt the usefulness of finding a wife.

"Yes, it is. So, do you think there’s a big difference between the Qi Blood Technique Ninth Layer and the Eleventh Layer?" Jiang Man asked, looking at the Old Yellow Ox.

"Huge," the Old Yellow Ox replied calmly. "In the Qi Refining Realm, the difference between the Ninth Layer and the Eleventh Layer is like heaven and earth."

Jiang Man smiled, shook his head, and said disdainfully, "Old Huang, you’re not as good as me. You can’t do math."

Jiang Man didn’t wait for the ox to ask, continuing on his own, "A Mid-grade Qi Blood Technique is certainly good, and I do happen to have enough Spiritual Source to afford it.

"But it took me seven days to master the Mid Grade Qi Cultivation Method. By the same logic, the Mid-grade Qi Blood Technique would also take me about seven days."

"Is seven days that long?" The Old Yellow Ox almost couldn’t be bothered with the question.

"Seven days is too long," Jiang Man said, his tone serious and certain. "The third competition could start any time in mid-June. There are only about sixty-something days left.

"Seven days is a significant portion of that time.

"Besides, ten thousand Spiritual Source is not easy to earn.

"This opportunity to get it was a stroke of luck. There won’t be a next time."

Jiang Man looked at the expressionless Old Yellow Ox and said, "As an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, what I’m after has never been some Mid-grade Technique.

"What I’ve always wanted is very simple.

"To be the Yunqian Bureau’s...

"Number one!"

The last large-scale announcement of the rankings will be after the competition in June.

The Old Yellow Ox looked at Jiang Man and was silent for a moment.

Then it went back to eating grass.

It paused, then suddenly spoke, "Very ambitious. It’s just less impactful when you say it about yourself."

---

「The next day at noon.」

The Li Family’s Old Jin made some inquiries with the relevant people.

He confirmed one thing: Jiang Man had not submitted the training fee to learn the Mid-grade Techniques.

’It’s time to go have a talk.’