The End of the Immortal Path

"Miss Luo is third and can guide you, Miss Cheng is fourth and can guide you, and Old Chang is fifth and he can too.

"You’re on the same level as me. What gives you the right to be a guide?"

While chewing on some dried meat, Song Qing said, "Young Master, it’s true that I can’t, but Young Master Jiang taught me. I just have to remember what he said and repeat it to you word-for-word. That’ll be enough.

"Young Master, I’ve been too busy to keep an eye on you lately. Your father said you should be learning how to manage the family, so you can go home and inherit the title of Patriarch."

Xiaopang said calmly, "You’re not my family’s guard anymore."

Song Qing explained, "But I have a deal with your father."

Jiang Man interrupted them. "First, let’s talk about that woman from just now. You didn’t give her any Spiritual Source, did you?"

Xiaopang chimed in, "If you did, did you make her write an IOU?"

"I didn’t. A person like that must have ulterior motives for approaching me. I’m self-aware enough to know what I’m about. I think they’re after the three Spirit Eggs," Song Qing answered honestly.

"’They’?" Xiaopang was shocked.

Jiang Man was stunned as well.

’So much for suffering together. Song Qing clearly didn’t get the memo.’

Then, Jiang Man adopted a serious tone. "You must never lend out Spiritual Source. That girl from the Chang Family is a perfect example. Don’t be a fool; you need to think long-term.

"Once you reach Foundation Establishment, then Golden Core, your options won’t be limited to people like this.

"Don’t ruin your own prospects."

"Brother Jiang, why does all of this sound so familiar?" Xiaopang remarked from the side.

’You just had to open your mouth,’ Jiang Man thought, shooting Xiaopang a sidelong glance.

After chatting a while longer, Jiang Man gave them their interest payments.

Song Qing lent the nine thousand right back to him.

That brought the total to forty-two thousand.

The interest on that alone would be six thousand a year.

Jiang Man mused that Song Qing was quite good at saving money. He now owed Song Qing the most.

At that moment, Jiang Man had 46,000 Spiritual Source, four Mind Stabilizing Pills, and three Taiyang Pills.

After settling his affairs, Jiang Man explained to them how to approach their Cultivation and how to pull all-nighters circulating the Promotion Skill.

This time, Xiaopang was exceptionally serious, even starting to take notes.

Before, he was content to just get the gist of it; now, he was studying every single word.

Song Qing’s "they" had clearly gotten to him.

For a moment, Jiang Man wasn’t even sure if he should continue his lecture.

He then gave Xiaopang some pointers on arranging the Spirit Medicines before finally taking his leave.

Returning to his quarters, Jiang Man bid farewell to Old Huang and moved into the Law Enforcement Hall’s prison ahead of schedule.

His meals were delivered on time. Looking at the lavish dinner, Jiang Man broke his silence to ask, "Is this an extra helping?"

"It’s the standard meal," replied the disciple who brought the food.

Jiang Man fell silent.

’It’s definitely worse than Senior Sister Yu’s cooking, but...’

’...it’s countless times better than what I usually eat.’ At that moment, he understood Old Huang’s joy.

He was released three days later.

Jiang Man grabbed the hand of the disciple opening the door and declared righteously, "Brother, I feel my background is still suspicious. How about you lock me up for a while longer?"

The disciple just smiled faintly.

Then Jiang Man was unceremoniously tossed out of the Law Enforcement Hall.

He heard the disciple mutter, "The investor freeloads, and the one being invested in also freeloads. The dignity of the Law Enforcement Hall is being eroded by parasites like you."

Jiang Man left, feeling rather disgruntled.

While in his cell, he had only focused on further understanding the Evil God’s Technique.

He hadn’t rushed into his Cultivation of it.

He had a feeling the Array within the technique was anything but simple.

It was best to be cautious.

Jiang Man took a deep breath. "Old Huang, I’m about to start my Cultivation of the Evil God’s Technique. How long do you think it will take me?"

The Old Yellow Ox looked at Jiang Man, then lowered its head to eat grass.

Then, it casually sent a message to Zhao Tiankuo: Jiang Man had achieved the Great Success of All Rivers Flow into the Sea and was now starting his Cultivation of a Top-grade Technique.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he reached the Entry Level.

Two hours later, he was at the Second Layer.

Twelve hours later, the Third Layer.

A day later, the Fourth Layer.

Three days later, the Fifth Layer.

Nine days later, the Sixth Layer.

Twenty-one days later, the Seventh Layer.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tiankuo’s brow furrowed nonstop as he read the Old Yellow Ox’s report.

’Great Success of All Rivers Flow into the Sea? In just a year or two?’

’And this unknown Top-grade Skill... Fourth Layer in one day, Seventh Layer in twenty-one? Are you telling me he’s practicing the Qi Simplified Method?’

Zhao Tiankuo shook his head. "This ox is useless. It’s gone completely mad, spouting nothing but nonsense. Does it even know what All Rivers Flow into the Sea is? Does it have any idea how long it takes to achieve Great Success?"

He hadn’t known at first, either. Only after asking around did he learn that one might not achieve Great Success in All Rivers Flow into the Sea even when ascending to the Primordial Spirit Realm.

"This ox... its intelligence is lacking. It’s the worst one I have ever enlightened."

He had wanted to see Jiang Man’s progress so he could replicate it, hiding his own advancement by riding in the other’s brilliant wake.

Even if his own progress was fast, it would seem perfectly reasonable.

After all, someone else would be out in front, shining like a supernova.

Everything he did would then appear plausible.

But...

Achieving the Great Success of All Rivers Flow into the Sea in a year or two was just too absurd. Even he couldn’t keep up with that pace. Without a doubt, the Old Yellow Ox had gone mad.

Suddenly, however, Zhao Tiankuo’s brows knitted together. He began to listen intently to the direction from which the wind blew.

A moment later, his brow furrowed even deeper. "’Find a way to get something from the upcoming tournament?’ The Inner Sect Tournament isn’t something I can just meddle in. ’Start with the Zhao Family?’"

Elsewhere, the Old Yellow Ox sensed the emotional fluctuations from the other end and went back to eating grass.

Meanwhile, Jiang Man’s Cultivation of the Evil God’s Technique had already reached the Eighth Layer, and he was now pushing for the Ninth Layer.

The speed was simply inconceivable.

Even the Old Yellow Ox was a bit stunned.

It found the progress impossible.

Based on the Talent he’d shown before, it shouldn’t have been this fast.

But...

...the man was like a bottomless pit, constantly revealing new depths to his Talent.

This Evil God’s Technique was clearly more difficult than a Top-grade Cultivation Method, yet his Cultivation of it was as easy as if it were a no-difficulty Simple Skill.

However, it also breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it hadn’t fallen into the trap of guessing how long he would take to reach Great Success.

Otherwise, it would be stuck watching the man’s smug expression.

At this moment, Jiang Man wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings. He could feel that the first volume of the Evil God’s Technique was about to reach Great Success.

If he wished, he could even draw upon the power of the Evil God in the ruined temple to conceal his presence.

It was like putting on a cloak.

「March 3rd.」

Jiang Man felt a great chasm open in his Heart Spirit. Through it, he could clearly see the ruined temple in the mist, even the statue inside and the power that permeated the area.

The next moment, he closed his eyes and found himself within the ruined temple.

This time, he had entered without any external medium.

Inside the ruined temple, Jiang Man sat cross-legged and began to circulate the Evil God’s Technique, drawing on the power accumulated in the statue to weave himself a cloak.

At that moment, the power within the statue began to stir, drawn out bit by bit.

The statue vibrated, seemingly struggling to hold on to its power, but because the Immortal Spirit was slumbering, it was helpless to do more.

In the process of weaving, Jiang Man heard the cries of the Evil God.

To this, Jiang Man could only sigh. ’Even Evil Gods talk in their sleep,’ he thought.

「March 5th.」

Jiang Man completed the weaving.

He now seemed to be wearing a cloak that emitted a faint light.

Just as Jiang Man was pondering how to retract it...

...Chen Shi arrived.

Today was March 5th.

He was here to remind Jiang Man that it was the day to meet the mysterious Immortal Spirit’s subordinate.

The others had long suffered at this person’s hands, especially because of their constant reporting.

It kept them on edge.

They all hoped the Messenger could make a deal with this person, to give them some peace.

It would be a shame to solve their Heart Spirit issues only to be eliminated right after.

But the moment he stepped inside, Chen Shi suddenly felt a light shine upon him.

A mysterious sense of clarity washed over him, and he felt his Cultivation Realm begin to loosen.

Shocked, he immediately looked forward.

He saw a figure standing before the statue in the ruined temple. The man had a slender build and was clad in a feathered robe. With his every move, the surrounding mist seemed to freeze for an instant.

As the feathered robe swayed, streams of light flowed across it, and within them, myriad stars seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

The faint glow didn’t just sit on the surface but emanated from every thread of the weave, like a dark aurora.

It was captivating.

For a moment, he thought he was seeing a true Immortal Spirit and nearly fell to his knees.

It was only when the figure’s gaze fell upon him that he realized it was Jiang Man’s eyes looking at him.

The feeling was familiar, lacking the lofty indifference and detachment of a superior being.

"Is it time?" Jiang Man asked.

Hearing this, Chen Shi dropped to one knee. "It is. Messenger, it is time to depart."

He offered a stone as he spoke, explaining, "The other party said that if you follow the directions on this, you’ll find the meeting place.

"Also, the forty thousand Spiritual Source will be gradually funneled into the Messenger’s shop."

Jiang Man froze. ’Funneled into the shop?’

’Are you people laundering Spiritual Source through my store?’

’If I get caught, won’t Song Qing be finished?’

’Is it finally his turn to suffer?’

Jiang Man pushed the thoughts aside and took a step forward. Like a ray of light piercing the darkness, his movement sent the mist churning.

The stone floated up and into Jiang Man’s hand. "I’ll be right back."

With that, Jiang Man vanished into the mist.

————

The monthly ticket lottery ends at midnight tonight. If you have any extra monthly tickets, remember to cast them.