The End of the Immortal Path

No one paid any mind to Jiang Man and Ji Meng’s outing.

Although Jiang Man was being targeted, not many people actually recognized him.

This was especially true in the Outer Sect, where even fewer people knew him.

After all, he had been gone from the Outer Sect for many years.

After representing the Seventh Courtyard in the grand competition and qualifying for the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm, he had stopped participating altogether.

He lived on in the rumors of many, but few had ever actually seen him.

The people who had competed alongside him were either still struggling in the Foundation Establishment Back Courtyard or had already entered the Inner Sect.

New disciples were constantly filling the ranks of the Outer Sect Seven Peaks.

Rumors of new prodigies were replacing those of the old.

For example, when they first entered the Ninth Courtyard, they had never even heard of the prodigies from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards.

People usually focused on the prodigies within their own courtyard, or the Qi Refining prodigies from the Rehabilitation Courtyard.

As a result, the two had a pleasant time on their outing.

At one point, Jiang Man passed by his own shop and saw Song Qing and another person bustling about, but there were no customers.

The Spiritual Source from the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit had already been delivered, so their efforts would likely be in vain.

’I hope those flatbreads don’t go to waste.’

Ji Meng asked curiously, "Is this flatbread any good?"

Jiang Man shook his head. "I don’t know. I’ve never had it."

He then told her that this was his shop.

"It’s your shop and you’ve never tried the food?" After a moment’s thought, Ji Meng said, "I’ll go buy one."

With that, she strode over to the stall.

In front of the flatbread stall, Ji Meng said softly, "One flatbread, please."

Song Qing looked at the newcomer, surprised to have a customer. He quickly wrapped one up and said, "That’ll be one Spiritual Source."

Ji Meng took the flatbread and said, "Your boss said to put it on his tab. You can get the payment from him next time."

With that, she took the flatbread and turned to leave.

Song Qing just watched her leave, not saying another word.

Soon, the cook came out from inside. "Brother Song, why didn’t you get paid?"

"She said she’s a friend of the boss and to put it on his tab," Song Qing replied.

The other man looked doubtful. "So if everyone comes here and says that, we just don’t charge them?"

Song Qing turned to the man beside him. "Then why don’t you go collect it?"

"Why should I go?"

"Because when she was talking, I felt so terrified I almost knelt. My legs are still shaking."

"..."

Meanwhile, Ji Meng returned with the flatbread, tore it in half, and offered a piece to Jiang Man. "Here, Young Master Jiang, try it."

Jiang Man took it, and the two of them walked away, eating as they went.

Jiang Man took a bite and said in surprise, "This is actually pretty good."

Ji Meng nodded. "It’s not bad. But then, you probably think anything you eat is delicious, don’t you, Young Master Jiang?"

Jiang Man gave a faint smile.

’She’s not wrong,’ he thought. ’I’m poor. There are many things I can’t afford to eat.’

Ji Meng suddenly asked, "Do you like griddle cakes?"

Jiang Man shook his head reflexively. "No."

’How embarrassing.’

’You always do stupid things when you’re being foolish.’

’Back when I was still a fool, I used to go on and on about them. I was even muttering about them when the Old Yellow Ox tricked me into getting a wife.’

’She must have remembered.’

’Back then, I thought getting a wife meant I’d get to eat griddle cakes, and I even told her so.’

’Now I can’t even look at griddle cakes.’

’I don’t want to eat one for the rest of my life.’

’Just have to slowly forget about it.’

After that, the two of them wandered to other places, simply strolling about and taking in the scenery.

They would occasionally buy some snacks along the way.

It was all quite pleasant.

When night fell, Jiang Man had no choice but to escort her back.

Qing Dai opened the door. As Jiang Man was leaving, he overheard her ask curiously, "Miss, where did you and the young master go? What did you do for fun?"

"Don’t you have Profound Wisdom?" Ji Meng replied with a smile.

Jiang Man, who was walking away, was puzzled.

’Qing Dai has Profound Wisdom, too?’

He didn’t dwell on it and returned smoothly to his cell.

To ensure his own safety and find the Bai Family Ancestor as soon as possible, Jiang Man decided to retrieve the Immeasurable Calamity Stone.

"Old Huang, you’re in for a treat. You’re about to witness the world-shaking Immeasurable Calamity," Jiang Man said, looking at the Old Yellow Ox.

The Old Yellow Ox, who had been grazing, suddenly stopped chewing, raised its brow, and looked at Jiang Man.

It had the look of wanting to talk him out of it.

Jiang Man smiled. "Ting Fengyin told me to get it."

The Old Yellow Ox was silent for a long while before lowering its head to continue grazing.

"Old Huang, you should show a little more backbone at a time like this," Jiang Man said, shaking his head.

"I’m a decent runner," the Old Yellow Ox said. "If the Immeasurable Calamity Stone erupts, I’ll do my best to escape. I’ll make sure to pay my respects at your grave during the holidays."

"No need. I’ll be sure to tell Ting Fengyin that you, an Evil God, were also involved. A family should stick together, after all," Jiang Man said magnanimously.

He then asked how to phrase the note so he wouldn’t seem weak in front of True Master Tai Hua.

"Few words," the Old Yellow Ox replied after a moment. "Make him come to you."

Hearing this, Jiang Man hesitated.

’Few words... that would mean just writing "Void Spirit Eyes."’

’But just mentioning them... he might not realize they can be cured.’

’I’ll add two more words: "can cure."’

’Five words is still concise, and it doesn’t sound weak.’

No longer hesitating, Jiang Man took out a pen and paper and began to write.

He deliberately made his handwriting neat and formal.

That way, no one would recognize it as his.

He checked the five words several times, then activated the technique Ting Fengyin had left him.

The Old Yellow Ox also grew vigilant, worried that True Master Tai Hua might have tampered with the Immeasurable Calamity Stone.

In a flash, Jiang Man completed the exchange.

The paper disappeared, replaced by a square stone.

It looked completely unremarkable.

Jiang Man held the stone, studying it for a moment before looking at Old Huang.

"There are no other tricks on it," the Old Yellow Ox replied.

Hearing this, Jiang Man also used the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books to appraise it.

There were no abnormalities.

Relieved, Jiang Man said, "Now I just have to wait for him to contact me."

He didn’t have high enough clearance to contact True Master Tai Hua directly.

True Master Tai Hua, on the other hand, was at the very top of the hierarchy. Although he couldn’t know who "Zui Fusheng" was, he could contact anyone he wished.