The End of the Immortal Path

The Old Yellow Ox’s reply surprised Jiang Man a little.

’Wasn’t Zhao Tiankuo supposed to be collecting information on me?’

’Why has he suddenly stopped?’

’What on earth did Old Huang tell him that would make him stop asking for more?’

However, Jiang Man didn’t think much of it.

’They were the ones who underestimated the speed of my progress.’

’They failed to comprehend the pace of an Unparalleled Celestial Pride.’

’That’s their loss.’

However, July was just around the corner. Ting Fengyin would be arriving soon, and the final Outer Sect Grand Competition was about to begin.

Soon, it would be time to enter the Inner Sect.

Although he hadn’t been paying close attention, he had a feeling the Inner Sect was far from peaceful.

Before, he was only being targeted by a Peak Master. Now, it involved the Dao companion of the Ji Family’s Old Ancestor.

Many people would show up just for the spectacle.

But none of that was urgent. His first priority was still to earn Spiritual Source as quickly as possible, raise his Cultivation, and leave the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart in the dust.

Otherwise, everything else was just empty talk.

Right now, the Divine Technique he’d never used was slowly absorbing Spirit from his Primordial Spirit to accumulate power.

’It’s a classic case of one growing at the other’s expense.’

’It’s even slowing down my progress.’

Fortunately, he could replenish the loss by practicing the Visualization Skill a few times.

’Otherwise, it would be a real headache.’

The flatbread shop had recently reopened, but its Spiritual Source income was minimal. Fortunately, he had taken in 70,000 Spiritual Source before being arrested, and the Law Enforcement Hall hadn’t confiscated it.

Sixty thousand of that had been successfully delivered to Jiang Man.

But the shop’s under-the-table business had plummeted. Their contact had been arrested, and the new one didn’t dare to act recklessly.

They truly hadn’t expected such an outcome. One moment things were going well, and the next, everything had fallen apart.

Counting the sixty thousand Spiritual Source, Jiang Man sighed. "This isn’t nearly enough."

’I’ll just have to borrow more.’

Just then, the Tengu, balancing food on its head, came and set it down in front of Jiang Man. Its misty eyes gazed at him. "Master, when can we go outside?"

Nibbling on a piece of jerky, it said with disdain, "This stuff tastes awful. Senior Old Meng said the real world isn’t like this. He said it’s a world of vast seas and boundless skies, of mountains and rivers, of bright stars.

"He said outside, there’s freedom, delicious food, a bustling world, and a wonderful life.

"When do we get to go outside and have that wonderful life?"

"Is life here so bad?" Jiang Man asked.

The Tengu had already gained sentience. Although it wasn’t as smart as Old Huang, it could already pass for a normal person.

A rather dim-witted one, perhaps.

"We eat the same things every day here. I’m sick of it! And this place... you can see it all in a single glance. You can’t see the sky, or mountains, or rivers. I want to see a much wider world," the Tengu answered earnestly.

Jiang Man nodded. "It’s good to have aspirations. And it will be soon.

"In a few more months, we’ll be leaving."

Hearing this, the Tengu was overjoyed. "We’re really going to see the vast world and eat the best-tasting food on earth?"

Jiang Man smiled but said nothing.

Old Huang lowered its head to eat grass.

The Tengu remained excited, looking forward to the future and dreaming of the vast, wonderful world outside.

Afterward, Jiang Man entered the ruined temple.

The Ling Hua Immortal Spirit, hiding inside the statue, jumped in fright. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Jiang Man.

Ever since she had obtained the Immortal Dao Coordinate, she hadn’t had a single night of peaceful sleep.

"Don’t worry," Jiang Man said reassuringly.

He had already reported the existence of the Immortal Dao Coordinate to the Zhenyue Bureau, and he had used Ji Hao’s name.

In other words, no matter how the information spread, all suspicion would ultimately fall on Ji Hao.

No one would suspect that the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit had it.

Especially since he was in control of the flow of information.

Besides, the Zhenyue Bureau was due to send a sum of Spiritual Source. It should be arriving soon.

"Easy for you to say you’re not worried. I’m the one who’s going to die," the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit said. She felt like the days had never dragged on for so long.

She couldn’t feel at ease for a single day as long as this thing was in her possession.

She was terrified that the moment other Immortal Spirits sensed it, they would instantly lock onto her location.

After that, she could be completely annihilated.

With no chance of ever reawakening.

The Immortal Dao Coordinate could bring about her permanent destruction. How could she not be terrified?

"Don’t get too smug. Once the Great Evil God finds out, a mere Primordial Spirit like you will die too," the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit sneered. "You’ll be in a worse state than me then. Don’t be so proud of your fast promotions now. In the future, you’ll find out just how difficult it is to make any progress."

Jiang Man smiled. "Many people have spoken to me like that. Every one of them now lives in my shadow."

The Ling Hua Immortal Spirit said dismissively, "You’re only at the Primordial Spirit realm, so of course you’re confident. Wait until you reach the Returning Void realm, or when you’re about to become an Immortal. Then you’ll understand how childish your words sound right now."

Jiang Man didn’t argue. Instead, he asked, "Where is the man in the black robe?"

The Ling Hua Immortal Spirit then summoned Chen Shi.

Chen Shi stood his ground, looking at the Messenger and the Immortal Spirit, and felt immense pressure.

Especially since their operation had been reported again recently.

They were all extremely worried.

He even suspected that Lord Envoy, short on Spiritual Source, had been the one to report the flatbread shop.

"Has that mysterious subordinate of the Evil God been pressing you?" Jiang Man asked.

"Not yet." Chen Shi hesitated for a moment before saying, "It seems Lord Envoy has worn down her patience."

She was furious before, but now she’s gone quiet.

It seems she realizes there’s nothing she can do about our situation.

"How much Spiritual Source is she offering for the location of the Immortal Dao Coordinate?" Jiang Man asked.

"One million. But so far, she’s only given Lord Envoy a little over one hundred thousand." This was also a headache for Chen Shi.

There was no way to transfer the money directly; they had to rely on the flatbread shop.

But now, they couldn’t just make purchases from the shop at will.

It was extremely troublesome.

’Should I urge Lord Envoy to open another branch?’

"Since she’s being so sincere, we shouldn’t be too stingy. Go and give her a name," Jiang Man said, looking at the black-robed man before him.

Just as Jiang Man was about to continue, Chen Shi interjected, "Lord Envoy, could we use the power of the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit to condense a wisp of energy to give to the other party?"