The End of the Immortal Path

"So, aside from those three paths, external force is another path she chose.

"Especially since an Evil God’s array is difficult to break from the inside, but exceptionally simple to shatter from the outside."

"You’re quite clever," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man looked at the Old Yellow Ox, his eyes brimming with unspoken words, as if to say, ’Old Huang, you need to understand who’s standing before you. I’m the future Great Success Body, a world-ordering, Unparalleled Celestial Pride.’

The Old Yellow Ox looked away, took a mouthful of grass, and calmly asked, "So, what are you going to do?"

Jiang Man smiled faintly. "The other side doesn’t know I’m an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, nor that I have an Evil God, and they certainly don’t know I have Ting Fengyin. Under these circumstances, how can I possibly lose?"

"For the other side to be able to do so much, it means their subordinates aren’t just at the Primordial Spirit realm," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man was taken aback.

’That is troublesome.’

’Still, they don’t know the location of the ruined temple, and they can’t enter the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit’s resting place.’

’I still have a chance.’

"How do you plan to respond now? Continue sealing it? If they truly want to replace you, they won’t let you restrain the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit. They’ll have a backup plan," the Old Yellow Ox asked.

Jiang Man said thoughtfully, "Guiding is better than blocking. I’ll seal the three paths first and leave the others for now."

"And then?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

"And then, I’m planning to go shopping with my wife tomorrow," Jiang Man said with a smile.

The Old Yellow Ox was silent for a long time, then lowered its head to eat some grass.

That night, Jiang Man sat before the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit, setting up an array.

During that time, he also started reading books about arrays.

He had requested the seventy-two adept-level volumes from the Law Enforcement Hall.

Other items were also being delivered.

Like the Spirit Pet Eggs, for example. He was very curious what kind of Spirit Pet Egg True Master Tai Hua would send him.

He already had three of his own, which were currently with Song Qing. He didn’t know if they had been sold or hatched.

By dawn, Jiang Man had made no clear progress with the array. He felt his skills were still lacking and that he needed to study more.

In addition, he planned to study the Mountain and Sea Array Pattern.

Once his skill with arrays reached the adept level, he’d have a much better grasp of their practical application.

It was broad daylight when Jiang Man finished his studies and preparations and left the Law Enforcement Hall’s prison.

The guards watched Jiang Man leave, looking as if they wanted to say something but held back.

At this, Jiang Man quickened his pace and left.

’If they stop me from staying here, my life is going to get so much harder.’

’The food isn’t as good back at my place, and it’s definitely not this quiet.’

Afterward, he rode his sword to the Second Courtyard on Cloud Mist Peak.

’I wonder how my fellow cultivators here are doing. They’re probably working themselves to the bone, fighting for the top spot.’

’It’s great to be young and energetic.’

But when he entered the courtyard, Jiang Man found none of that energy.

On the contrary, the air was heavy and lifeless. Many of them had deep, dark circles under their eyes.

This took Jiang Man by surprise.

’They’ve had dark circles before, but never this pronounced. With their abundant resources, they should have been able to mitigate it.’

’And why are their clothes so plain?’

Jiang Man began to wonder if he’d come to the wrong place.

A quick check confirmed he was in the right place.

"What are you looking at?" a voice sounded from behind him.

It was Yan Yiqiu.

Jiang Man asked curiously, "What happened to them?"

"Some were kicked out of their families, some left on their own, and others were abandoned by their sponsors. Naturally, they became poor." Yan Yiqiu looked at Jiang Man and sighed. "Thanks to you, their strength is sufficient. Otherwise, their futures would have been ruined."

"Sounds like they’re living the good life," Jiang Man remarked dryly.

Yan Yiqiu looked at Jiang Man curiously. "What brings you here all of a sudden?"

"I came to listen to Mr. Yan’s lecture," Jiang Man said.

’I can’t very well say I came to collect Spiritual Source, can I?’

’The situation is a bit complicated now; I won’t be able to collect any Spiritual Source.’

Everyone was a little surprised to see Jiang Man.

"Didn’t they say the Immortal Sect Grand Competition would last one or two years? It hasn’t even been a year," Zhuo Bufan said in astonishment, sporting dark circles under his eyes.

"Don’t tell me you got eliminated early?" An Rong said.

"You’re one to talk. Do you have any Spiritual Source?" Cao Cheng said scornfully.

Listening to their bickering, Jiang Man decided to take out his notebook.

’Sure enough, being a jerk has nothing to do with being poor.’

And so, both of their names went into it.

"You’re poor, you’re nasty, and you’re dragging me down with you! You should go get a lobotomy, maybe that would fix you!" Cao Cheng said furiously.

"Just wait until I marry rich and make a fortune. Don’t you come begging me for a better interest rate then," An Rong said with disgust.

"Who would dare marry you now?" Cao Cheng sneered.

An Rong puffed out her chest confidently and said, "While you’re still single, you look at me like a frog in a well gazing at the moon. Once you’re married, you’ll look at me like a mayfly gazing at the heavens."

’What are they even talking about? I get the feeling they aren’t taking my little notebook seriously.’

’Do they not know I’m already a Primordial Spirit Great Power?’

Jiang Man sat back in his seat and looked at the people around him, realizing they had all become poor.

’Why?’

"Because of the courtyard," Lin Qingshan began to explain. "Remember how we applied for an Inner Sect courtyard? The top eight of us from our courtyard all registered, and we couldn’t back out. So, we were all abandoned by our families and sponsors."

"Otherwise, it would have implicated them."

"So we ended up like this."

"Anyone else who wanted to join would probably get the same treatment as us."

’So that courtyard application is still going through,’ Jiang Man thought.

"Fortunately, we’ve been pulling all-nighters to cultivate, so our strength has nearly peaked. It shouldn’t affect the follow-up assessments," Zhao Yaoyao said with a hint of regret. "But we’ve missed out on two years of resources. Once we enter the Inner Sect, we’ll have to find a way to make a living."

"The Peak Master is in seclusion, so the impact isn’t actually that great," Jiang Man said.

Everyone was surprised. ’The Peak Master suddenly went into seclusion?’

But people like them wouldn’t know about such things.

’How could Outer Disciples like us possibly understand such things?’

"So, why are you out so early?" Yan Yiqiu asked.

’My decades-long teaching career has never been as eventful as these past few years. Thankfully, I’ll be free of it all soon.’

’No more having to deal with this bunch.’

"I came out to hand in an important mission item," Jiang Man said truthfully.

’The Immeasurable Calamity Stone is certainly part of an important mission.’

’But in another day or two, I have to get the Immeasurable Calamity Stone back and establish contact with True Master Tai Hua.’

’Then I have to find the Bai Family Ancestor.’

’But I can’t be too hasty. I have to at least reach Primordial Spirit Perfection, otherwise I won’t stand a chance.’

"Can we start the lecture now?" Wei Beichuan asked.

At his words, everyone looked at Jiang Man.

Yan Yiqiu also sat to the side.

Jiang Man sighed. ’I clearly came here for Spiritual Source, but now I’m being roped into doing manual labor.’

He then began his lecture, explaining Foundation Establishment from the perspective of his own realm.

He went on to discuss the Promotion Skill and how to best comprehend the Third Skill.

Even Yan Yiqiu was listening with rapt attention.

Finally, she asked, "What’s your current cultivation level?"

Hearing this, Jiang Man gave a mysterious smile. "You’ll find out eventually, Mr. Yan."

At that moment, Jiang Man realized that some things were more interesting when left unsaid.

He then left the Second Courtyard, riding his sword toward Ji Meng’s residence.

He had just knocked on the door,

when the sound of a silver bell came from within, as if its wearer was running to the door.

Just as the sound reached the other side, the door swung open.

CREAK.

The first thing he saw was a smiling young woman with delicate features. Her eyes, crinkled with mirth, seemed to radiate light.

"You seem a little different today, Miss Ji Meng," Jiang Man said.

Ji Meng touched her earring and asked curiously, "Besides the earrings, the hair ornament, the hairstyle, the hairpin, and the Immortal Skirt, what else is different?"

Jiang Man was momentarily stunned. "Then I guess that just leaves ’even more beautiful.’"

Ji Meng looked at Jiang Man, shaking her head with a smile. "How plain."

Jiang Man wasn’t fazed. "Care to get something to eat, Miss Ji Meng?"

Ji Meng nodded. "As long as we’re not having tea."

"Is the tea that bad?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

"It’s awful. Xiaoqing sometimes makes it for me on purpose," Ji Meng said with a sigh.

When they reached a treacherous mountain path, Jiang Man said, "Let me take you on my sword, Miss Ji Meng."

"Sword Control?" Ji Meng asked curiously. "Aren’t you already at the Early Stage of Primordial Spirit? You can fly on your own."

Jiang Man took out his Spirit Sword and shook his head. "I don’t know how yet."

"You don’t?" Ji Meng was surprised. "Why not?"

"Because I advanced too quickly," Jiang Man said.

Ji Meng stepped onto Jiang Man’s Flying Sword and said with a grin, "Are you sure it isn’t because you’re poor?"

"In that case, can I get a bigger discount next time I buy something from you, Miss Ji Meng?" Jiang Man rose into the air on his sword.

Ji Meng refused. "No way. Then I’d be a huge sucker."

——

「Meanwhile, in Zhenyue Hall.」

True Master Tai Hua was still watching the box. No one had come to retrieve it.

He even opened it to check the contents. They were safe and sound.

He was quite curious as to when the other party would come for the item. Moreover, he really wanted to know who would be the one to retrieve it.

————