The End of the Immortal Path

Jiang Man was quite curious. "Old Huang, if you were to fight him, could you win?"

"He’s too weak. A fight would be pointless," Old Huang said.

Jiang Man was a little surprised. What a condescending tone.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Man said, "Since I’m being monitored, just tell him the truth: I’m cultivating the Hundred Rivers Body Refining Technique.

"Tell him my progress, too, but slow it down a bit.

"I’d hate to frighten him. It wouldn’t do to crush his confidence.

"Besides, I still need to draw out the person behind him."

After that, Old Huang passed the message along.

「Meanwhile.」

Zhao Tiankuo, who was cultivating in his courtyard, snapped his eyes open.

’Cultivating the Hundred Rivers Body Refining Technique?’ He quickly identified it as a Golden Core Body Refining Method.

’Let me see his progress.’ Zhao Tiankuo then carefully examined the message from the Old Yellow Ox.

"Entry Level in half a day, the second layer of the Hundred Rivers Body Refining Technique in one day, the third layer in two days, and the fourth in three?" Zhao Tiankuo was stunned. "Has this ox gone mad? What is all this nonsense?"

Even he hadn’t cultivated a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Technique this quickly.

To say nothing of a Golden Core Skill, which was who knows how many times more difficult.

’Such low intelligence,’ Zhao Tiankuo thought. ’I guess I can only have it watch for obvious signs, like when he reaches the Great Success stage.’

「Yunqian Bureau.」

Since his return, Song Qing had been the target of constant, hushed criticism.

They had all heard the news about Jiang Man.

As they were all guards, they had received the news about the captured Evil Cultivator while traveling to the Sect.

And Jiang Man was one of the key figures involved.

Therefore, most of the guards at the Yunqian Bureau now felt that Jiang Man, who had once been in a league of his own, had simply been relying on an Evil God and was now knocked back down to where he belonged.

Everyone was saying, why would a Golden Core Ancestor ask a mere Qi Refining cultivator for Spiritual Source, let alone befriend him?

It was all just for the Spiritual Source.

Besides, he wasn’t ’clean’ himself, which is why he had to rely on a country bumpkin.

Otherwise, he would have allied himself with the great Noble Families long ago.

That was the difference between an Evil Cultivator and a true, orthodox genius.

Song Qing, having lent Spiritual Source to Jiang Man and befriended him, had become the center of it all.

Especially from those who had previously been jealous of him.

However, these people didn’t say it to his face. It was all said behind his back.

It was just that he occasionally overheard them.

Of course, even if they said it to his face, there was nothing he could do.

He couldn’t refute it.

But regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, he had no regrets.

Without Jiang Man, his life would definitely be worse than it was now.

Even if Jiang Man truly didn’t repay the Spiritual Source, and even if he really was an Evil Cultivator, he wouldn’t say a thing.

Because Jiang Man’s care for him had been real.

’It’s just some Spiritual Source. How can that compare to the concern a Golden Core Ancestor has shown for me?’

He wasn’t a clever man, but ever since Jiang Man got him the guard job, he had been helping him along, whether intentionally or not.

’The most important thing in life is to know who treats you well.’

’Others might not know if Jiang Man was a good person, or if helping him was worth it, but how could he not know?’

CREAK!

Uncle Tong and the young guard from before walked in.

Song Qing immediately greeted, "Uncle Tong."

"You’re in for it now. Everyone outside is making fun of you. You gave Spiritual Source to that woman, and she turned around and pretended not to know you. You lent Spiritual Source to a Golden Core Ancestor, and it’s a total loss. You’re the biggest sucker I’ve ever seen," the young guard said.

He paused, then quickly added, "I know my words are harsh, but I’m not trying to mock you, especially about the Golden Core business. But giving that woman your Spiritual Source... you really were a sucker for that one."

Uncle Tong immediately cut him off. "Alright, that’s enough of that."

He looked at Song Qing and said, "Come on, we’ll take you to get something to eat. After something this big, you must not be able to get anything done.

"All we can do is wait and see if the fallout will affect you.

"If it does, I’m afraid your life at the Yunqian Bureau will get difficult.

"You’re still employed by the Gao Family, right? I wonder if they’ll dismiss you."

Song Qing paused, then said with a bitter smile, "It’s fine. My Cultivation is decent now, so things are much easier than before."

"Do you have any savings?" the young guard asked.

The question really stumped Song Qing.

He indeed had no savings, as he had entrusted all his money to Jiang Man.

"I’m telling you, you’re just too gullible. You lose out on everything, you can’t read people, your judgment is terrible." The young guard took out five hundred Spiritual Source. "Here, a loan. It’s all I can spare. I’m not trying to just throw away my Spiritual Source, you hear?"

Song Qing was somewhat surprised.

Uncle Tong gave him a thousand and said, "I have a family to support, so I don’t have much to spare."

This "loan" was tantamount to a gift. If the situation really got that bad, it was unlikely Song Qing would ever be able to pay it back.