Chapter 78: Chapter 77: Other Families Offer 30,000, But the Li Family Only Offers 10,000

"We meet again," a flat voice spoke.

It put Jiang Man on alert.

Not long after nightfall, he saw a familiar face on the road.

Someone from the Li Family had come.

The other party was standing on the only path back, leaving him no way to avoid them.

But just like last time, they were impolite.

They hadn’t even given their name.

"The Li Family is looking for me?" Jiang Man asked.

Old Jin’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He spoke calmly, "I hear you haven’t submitted the training fee. Do you plan to miss out on the Mid-grade Technique just like that?"

"Is the Li Family offering to lend me Spiritual Source?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

"Sign a contract with the Li Family, and the Li Family can provide the ten thousand Spiritual Source for you," Old Jin said.

Jiang Man shook his head and explained, "Your terms are too poor. Ten thousand Spiritual Source a month? The Fang Family offered thirty thousand a month, and I still refused. Not only that, but the Gao Family even said that if I fail to enter the Sect, I don’t have to return the resources, and the contract will be voided."

"The Li Family truly lacks conviction. It’s not that I don’t know what’s good for me."

’In any case, they don’t know the terms the other families offered, so there’s nothing wrong with me saying this.’

Hearing this, Old Jin’s brow furrowed.

It seemed he hadn’t expected the Fang Family to offer such a high price.

Then, he regained his composure and said, "For you, ten thousand Spiritual Source is enough to enter the Sect. Geniuses have their own set of rules. If you join the Li Family, this bit of Spiritual Source is not the main point."

"Is a few months’ worth of Spiritual Source comparable to the long years after you enter the Sect?"

"And as for whether you can distinguish yourself after entering the Sect, only the Li Family dares to make that guarantee."

"They don’t have that kind of power."

"You need to broaden your horizons and look to the future."

"The Spiritual Source is just a distraction. Your future achievements are what you should be focused on."

Jiang Man spoke helplessly, "The Cheng Family also said they could help me secure better training opportunities. The Luo Family has an important person within the Sect who can lend me a hand, and they would put me first in all matters."

"The Li Family’s terms are indeed rather ordinary."

Old Jin fell silent for a moment.

It seemed he hadn’t considered this situation.

"Then how do you plan to submit the ten thousand for the training fee? Without this Mid-grade Technique, in the Sect’s assessment in August, you’ll probably only be able to join the lowest-ranked group."

"If you obtain it, then you might enter with an intermediate qualification," Old Jin said.

Hearing this, Jiang Man was taken aback. ’Mid-August... intermediate?’

’How could a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan?’

’This person knows nothing about me.’

"Even if you don’t sleep, you can’t change anything," Old Jin said, looking at Jiang Man. "Besides, you might not know what the Li Family is capable of. Go take a look at the Spirit Gathering Hall today, and you’ll find out."

Jiang Man frowned. ’Are they trying to get me fired?’

’It’s certainly a viable tactic.’

’However, the Spirit Gathering Hall is within the Yunqian Bureau’s jurisdiction.’

’I wonder if Mr. Zhao can fend them off.’

’But it’s no big deal. I happen to have a sum of Spiritual Source right now, so losing my job isn’t that scary.’

’That’s the confidence that comes with having savings.’

’Without this money, if I lost my job, even putting food on the table would be a problem.’

’That would be a truly desperate situation.’

Seeing that Jiang Man wasn’t speaking, Old Jin continued, "Losing your income should be a troublesome matter for you. Besides, if you can tolerate missing out on the Mid-grade Technique this time, what will you do if you get nothing in the next competition?"

"Can you improve at all without any resources?"

"Stagnation is the most terrifying form of regression."

"You’d better think it over carefully."

"It takes three people to compete for a Magic Skill or a Cultivation Skill."

"What if one of them chooses to give up on the day?"

"I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I’ll be waiting for your decision."

"When the time comes, just find your designated supervisor and sign the contract."

After speaking, Old Jin left without another word.

Jiang Man watched him leave and said nothing more.

Mr. Zhao had already informed him about these things.

A team of three was required to enter the forest together to compete for the Magic Skill.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to obtain the Magic Skill.

Back then, because of this rule, Li Yuan didn’t do anything to him beforehand. Instead, he chose to surround him when the time came.

The original intention was still to control him and prevent his escape.

But now, the tables had turned.

’I’ve become the one who needs them to participate.’

’So now I’m the one being squeezed.’

’Even an Unparalleled Celestial Pride can be held back.’

Jiang Man shrugged, no longer dwelling on it.

Instead, he headed for the Spirit Gathering Hall.

Things having come to this, the competition could only be left to fate.

Whether he could get the Magic Skill or not depended entirely on Li Yuan and the others.

There was only one thing he could do.

Improve his Cultivation and keep working hard.

’All these underhanded tricks only work because my Cultivation isn’t high enough.’

’With my kind of Talent, the way to overcome them is incredibly simple.’

’Steward Miao, Li Yuan, Fang Tianyi... they will all submit to my Talent.’

Arriving at the guard post, Jiang Man went straight to where Steward Miao was.

The two guards who saw Jiang Man enter were shocked and filled with emotion.

The older one couldn’t help but say, "What did I tell you? People like him are the most likely to succeed. If we had mocked him back then, we wouldn’t be sitting here so peacefully now."

The younger guard nodded emphatically. "I still have much to learn."

Both of them looked relieved.

Steward Miao, however, was in a difficult position.

Because, for the time being, he couldn’t let Jiang Man enter.

"This came from above. It seems some families are trying to move against you. You should find yourself a backer," Steward Miao advised.

Jiang Man nodded. "Alright."

Jiang Man didn’t linger. Now that this was confirmed, it was up to Mr. Zhao.

It remained to be seen if he could withstand the pressure.

Worried that Jiang Man might be upset, Steward Miao gave him a Spirit Gathering Pill.

He told him to use it for now and that he would send someone to notify him as soon as the matter here was resolved.

Jiang Man was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected this kind of bonus.

This time, however, he felt too embarrassed to just take it. Instead, he said he would owe him and pay him back when he was better off.

Right now, getting even one extra Elixir was a great boon.

「The next day.」

Jiang Man told Mr. Zhao about the matter at the Spirit Gathering Hall.

"A small matter. You just focus on your Cultivation. You’ll be able to go after noon if you want," Mr. Zhao said casually.

Sure enough, just after noon, a message arrived from the Spirit Gathering Hall. The problem from above had been resolved.

He could go over anytime.

’Too bad I can’t personally inform that guy from the Li Family right now.’

’But it doesn’t matter.’

’The third competition isn’t far off.’

’They’ll soon find out that these underhanded tricks might work against other geniuses.’

’But using them against an Unparalleled Celestial Pride is just making an enemy.’

「Sixth Courtyard.」

Xiaopang came over to Jiang Man and asked, "Brother Jiang, isn’t this second Cultivation Method a bit extreme?"

Jiang Man looked at Xiaopang beside him and noticed his dark circles were much heavier. He looked completely drained.

’What has he been doing?’

’Can Cultivation do this to a person?’

"You haven’t been practicing it wrong?" he asked directly.

Xiaopang shook his head.

Jiang Man thought for a moment. "What about your Cultivation?"

Xiaopang mulled it over. "It has indeed improved, but I’m still a long way from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

"Then keep going. As long as you continue, you’ll definitely reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer before August. If you stop, I can’t make any guarantees," Jiang Man said.

’That’s what the Old Yellow Ox said. It has nothing to do with me.’

’Since the Old Yellow Ox said so, it must be right.’

But Jiang Man was curious. Xiaopang had been staying up all night cultivating, so why hadn’t he lost any weight?

"Because I’ve been eating more. My family has a lot of meat," Xiaopang explained.

Jiang Man’s gaze turned cold as he cheered Xiaopang on.

’Keep cultivating. Strive for the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, then go out and suffer.’

’Don’t go back and inherit the family business.’

That night, Jiang Man returned home.

He received another envelope.

It was a notice for him to submit the training fee.

If he didn’t submit the training fee by dawn, it would be considered forfeiting this technique transmission.

Jiang Man paid it no mind, and Chang Qiweng didn’t ask many questions before hurrying away.

He was afraid the last of his Spiritual Source would be borrowed again.

Jiang Man shook his head, not understanding why Chang Qiweng had run off so fast.

’And here I was, hoping to spar for a bit.’

’But Li Yuan never showed up for the spar he promised.’

’So unreliable.’

’As for the Mid-grade Technique?’

’I can do without it.’

’Spiritual Source must be spent where it counts the most.’