The End of the Immortal Path

"Normal people begin refining it after reaching Golden Core Perfection."

"But you’re an Unparalleled Celestial Pride, so it’s only normal for you to start earlier."

Jiang Man asked if there was any way to alleviate it.

He was starting to feel a stinging pain in his Spirit.

"The daily impact is limited. Just practice the Visualization Skill. For an Unparalleled Celestial Pride like you, Cultivation is as easy as drinking water. It won’t be a problem," the Old Yellow Ox replied nonchalantly.

Jiang Man fell silent.

He then took a deep breath to ease the stinging pain in his Spirit.

It was now March 5th.

The grand competition in May was still nearly two months away.

He needed to secure a rank in the competition.

Logically, advancing to Golden Core Perfection would be the safest bet.

But as things stood, there wasn’t enough time.

Improving his Physical Body or Spirit wouldn’t solve the problem either.

So the only solution was to improve a Magic Skill.

Immovable as a Mountain, or Purple Mist Divine Light.

If he achieved Great Success with Purple Mist Divine Light, it would also be a Golden Core Top Grade Skill.

But he still needed to cultivate the middle and lower parts, which might not be as fast as mastering Immovable as a Mountain.

Especially since this Golden Stone was taking up some of his time.

After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Man chose Immovable as a Mountain.

It was the one most likely to be mastered in the time he had.

The only shame was that it was a Body Technique, and he was a Magic Cultivator.

’But it’s not a big deal. My Spiritual Qi control is decent, so I can bring out the full combat potential of a Body Technique.’

After that, he prepared to begin his Cultivation.

But the Evil God’s Technique soon activated in his mind. He focused his senses and realized the black-robed person in the ruined temple was calling him.

’The Evil God’s Technique really is useful.’

He quickly learned that the other party had agreed to cooperate.

Jiang Man had no time right now, so he told them to wait.

Soon, the other party raised their offer—twenty thousand.

They would still have to wait.

’I’m too busy. But with the Spiritual Source secured, I can start preparing the awakening plan.’

He would just have the black-robed person coordinate with them.

After that, Jiang Man began to listen to the Old Yellow Ox’s explanation.

"Senior, I’m counting on you," Jiang Man said earnestly.

The Old Yellow Ox was silent for a long time, perhaps pondering just how many oxen were in the yard.

After taking a mouthful of grass, it finally began to explain Immovable as a Mountain.

Immovable as a Mountain was extremely complex. The Old Yellow Ox lectured for five days.

Jiang Man spent another day organizing what he had learned.

Only then did he begin his Cultivation.

The first run-through was somewhat difficult, but it went smoothly enough.

After one cycle.

Entry Level.

After another cycle.

Immovable as a Mountain, Second Layer.

Feeling his control over the Magic Skill, Jiang Man felt he could achieve Great Success before May.

After two more cycles.

Immovable as a Mountain, Third Layer.

After four more cycles.

Fourth Layer.

After eight more cycles.

Fifth Layer.

After sixteen more cycles.

Sixth Layer.

...

One day later.

Eighth Layer.

Two days later.

Ninth Layer.

Four days later.

Tenth Layer.

Seven days later.

Eleventh Layer.

「April 25th.」

Jiang Man cultivated relentlessly, cycle after cycle. He could feel the Qi and Blood churning within him.

His entire body was like a mountain; it seemed to be in motion, yet it also felt as if it hadn’t moved at all.

「April 28th.」

Jiang Man stood perfectly still, no longer moving.

He stood firm and imposing, like a great mountain.

At that moment, his Qi and Blood surged like a tidal wave before vanishing without a trace.

There was nothing special about Jiang Man anymore. He just stood there quietly.

Immovable as a Mountain.

Thirteenth Layer.

Great Success.

Cracking his knuckles, Jiang Man turned to the Old Yellow Ox. "Old Huang, I feel like I could take on ten oxen right now."

Old Huang felt Zhao Tiankuo’s fury and lowered its head to graze, completely satisfied.

The other was still cursing it for being out of its mind.

"You need real combat experience now," the Old Yellow Ox reminded him.

Jiang Man nodded, then said, "But I used all my Spiritual Source to buy Elixirs. How am I supposed to get combat experience?"

As he spoke, Jiang Man felt a stinging pain in his head and had no choice but to start cultivating again.

He had taken a lot of God Strengthening Pills earlier to advance as quickly as possible.

It made him want to curse out his Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart.

’How much Spiritual Source has this thing cost me?’

"Go find your wife. Isn’t your mission to kill her? You can get some practice and figure out her true capabilities at the same time," the Old Yellow Ox said while chewing grass.

Jiang Man was taken aback. "If I actually kill my wife, Old Huang, do you think she’ll get so angry she kills you first?"

The Old Yellow Ox said calmly, "Don’t worry, I run faster than you. Where do you want your body buried?"

"Bei Village?" Jiang Man pondered for a moment. "The people in Bei Village are actually quite nice. If it weren’t for that genius, Wei Ran, I wouldn’t have had to pay for my third year of Golden Stone Cultivation myself."

"Then why don’t you go back and visit?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

"I’m not going back. They all thought I was an idiot," Jiang Man replied.

The Old Yellow Ox was silent for a moment, recalling Jiang Man’s childhood.

Finally, it offered a kind reminder, "It wasn’t their fault."

Jiang Man didn’t mind. The main reason was that there was no one to see there anyway. The old man who used to bring him food had died long ago.

He didn’t know a single person there anymore.

Once the pain in his Spirit subsided, Jiang Man cleaned himself up and prepared to leave.

He was going to find his wife for some sparring practice.

————

「Inner Sect.」

The team from the Celestial Water Sect that would participate in the competition for the slots had arrived.

A young man was at their head.

Ye Xiaoshuang from the Outer Sect team stood before him, puffing her cheeks angrily. "Brother, that Jiang Man is a real bully. He thoroughly embarrassed my students."

"And his Instructor, Yan Yiqiu."

"She made me lose face completely, lecturing me from on high."

Ye Jingtian was looking through some Array Books. He said seriously, "Yan Yiqiu is an Instructor. You can’t just target her and teach her a lesson. Making a move on her would be stirring up trouble."

"As for Jiang Man, I’ve already invited him. He’ll participate in the competition for the slots in May, in the position meant to be sacrificed."

"I will make him understand the importance of these slots, and then I’ll make him watch as we secure them while he’s cast aside, becoming a stepping stone for our success."

"It’s not about attacking him physically, but about letting him be tormented and consumed by his own desires."

Ye Xiaoshuang asked, "That’s it?"

"When the time comes for the sacrifice, he’ll have to face numerous enemies. He’ll suffer plenty," said Ye Jingtian.

Ye Xiaoshuang hesitated. "Can’t I just threaten him a little? Make him understand that there’s a price to pay for embarrassing me?"

"Would that be okay?"

"Just let me vent a little."

Ye Jingtian looked up from his book at his younger sister. "You’re being rather childish. You’re an Instructor, for goodness’ sake. Why are you stooping to the level of a Student Cultivator?"

"He’s a genius. Aren’t you afraid that when he gets stronger, he’ll do the same to you?"

"It’s unnecessary."

"With all this time you’re wasting on this, you’d be better off focusing on your own Cultivation and improving yourself."

"Do you plan on being an Outer Sect Instructor for the rest of your life?"

"If you advance to the Primordial Spirit realm soon, you could at least become a regular Instructor in the Inner Sect."

"Then you help me teach Instructor Yan a lesson," said Ye Xiaoshuang.

"Teach her what?" Ye Jingtian asked.

"Just tell her, ’This is my little sister. Do you have an older brother at the Primordial Spirit realm? If not, you’d better watch your tone,’" Ye Xiaoshuang said.

Ye Jingtian was silent for a long time. "In a few days, you can go and threaten Jiang Man."

Ye Xiaoshuang turned her head, but then a thought occurred to her. "What if Jiang Man isn’t tormented and consumed by his own desires?"

"Then you’ll be the one in pain," Ye Jingtian said.

After a pause, Ye Jingtian spoke again. "Logically, that shouldn’t happen. The more of a genius someone is, the more competitive they are, and the stronger their desires."

"Giving him a chance at something, only to have it snatched away, is actually the most painful thing for him."

"People like that are the most pitiful. You don’t need to pick a fight with him."

"Especially since he’s poor."

"If he loses his mind and attacks you, you’ll be the one at a loss."

At this moment, a woman beside them smiled and said, "Xiaoshuang could go and encourage him. First, the more you encourage and praise him, the greater the pressure he’ll feel."

"Second, he’s the student of that Instructor Yan you mentioned. By encouraging him, aren’t you just embarrassing Instructor Yan?"

"It kills two birds with one stone."

"Then you can just watch him struggle. When he comes out a failure, you encourage him again, and while you’re at it, tell Instructor Yan it was just a momentary slip-up, nothing to worry about."

"Wouldn’t it be much more satisfying to watch them suffer?"

Hearing this, Ye Xiaoshuang was astonished. "Senior Sister Mo, you’re a genius!"

Ye Jingtian added, "And prepare three thousand Spiritual Source to comfort him. He’s so poor; seeing you do that, won’t he be eternally grateful to you?"

"It’s much more satisfying than simply making threats."

Ye Xiaoshuang felt thrilled just thinking about it.

It was decided.

————