Mid-January.
Jiang Man arrived at the Seventh Courtyard and received a notice from Mr. Yan.
"The application for the annual grand competition has been approved."
She looked at Jiang Man and said, "The assessnt will be in late August this year. You can participate in the one for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards. However, their assessnt is different from the one for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards, so you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the details.
"Furthermore, if you fail this ti, it will likely affect your chances of obtaining the remaining Secret Skill."
"So you need to weigh your options. If you feel it’s too rushed, you have the option to back out. You have until August to change your mind."
Yan Yiqiu’s words surprised Jiang Man. ’I can back out anyti before then? That’s a long ti.’
After a mont of thought, he asked, "What ranking do I need to get the remaining Secret Skill?"
He was participating in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards’ annual assessnt for the Seven-Star Body Refining Technique and the rest of the Secret Skill.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards would be an easier path, but it would take too much ti. The higher difficulty was a worthy match for his unparalleled talent.
’If anyone could do it, what would be the difference between and other geniuses?’
He had a visibly high chance of success, coupled with his unparalleled talent, his unceasing effort, and Old Huang’s explanations.
’Failure is not an option.’
’If I fail, it will only an I didn’t work hard enough.’
"You just need to rank in the top fifty," Mr. Yan said.
Hearing this, Zhuo Bufan and the others were astonished.
’Top fifty?’
In the First, Second, and Third Courtyards, there were seven or eight hundred cultivators at Foundation Establishnt Perfection alone.
The total number of participants was over a thousand.
Placing in the top fifty in such an assessnt was incredibly difficult.
They were all at Foundation Establishnt Perfection, but there were huge differences between cultivators at that level.
Zhao Yaoyao kindly reminded him, "At Foundation Establishnt Perfection, factors like Cultivation Skill resonance and power fusion create significant disparities."
Lin Qingshan nodded in agreent. "Normally, one can advance to Foundation Establishnt Perfection with a Physical Body and Spirit at the Fifth Layer. But there are still four more layers above that. The Ninth Layer is only worth ninety points, and there are still ten points above that. The gap is enormous."
"Besides, I’ve heard that participants in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards’ assessnt use Hidden Spirits the most."
A Hidden Spirit is a Foundation Establishnt cultivator’s trump card. One can almost only use it once, and a single use can directly alter the outco of a battle.
Jiang Man felt the pressure mount as he listened.
’Looks like I’ll need more Elixirs to speed up my progress,’ he thought.
"Oh, right, I heard that people from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards look down on those who cultivate by pulling all-nighters," Cao Cheng chid in.
"I heard that too. They think anyone who gets first place that way is just using cheap tricks," An Rong added.
Even though those people were unconvinced, there was nothing to be done. So far, no one who pulled all-nighters had ever managed to beat them.
But the day would co when they would be convinced.
"You have all been taught by Mr. Ji, so you should have made great progress. For those of you staying in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards for this year’s assessnt, you’d better bring back first place," Yan Yiqiu said, looking at Zhao Yaoyao.
Zhuo Bufan might not be staying.
Zhao Yaoyao naturally understood as well.
The most conventional annual grand competition for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards was approaching.
With the exceptional geniuses gone, it was the only chance for the "ordinary" geniuses to fight for first place.
Zhuo Bufan was also hesitating. Should he go to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards to compete for the Middle Chapter, or stay in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards to secure the Upper Chapter?
This was the final year. If he failed to obtain the Upper Chapter in the competition for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards, he would lose his eligibility for the Lower Chapter.
And if he competed for the Middle Chapter and failed, he would lose out on the Upper Chapter as well.
Soti later, he once again headed to Red Water Peak.
He arrived at the winery.
To his surprise, he saw soone he knew.
His clanswoman.
"I was just looking for you. I have sothing to discuss," Zhuo Qingcheng said, looking at Zhuo Bufan.
Hearing this, Zhuo Bufan replied with a hint of resignation, "In what capacity are you asking for my help, clanswoman?"
He rembered the ti he’d tried to score a deal and hadn’t even managed to get a Spirit Sword.
Cao Cheng had mocked him for it.
Even though the guy had spent a thousand Spiritual Source to erase the na, he’d laughed very loudly.
He’d even claid he’d made a thirty-thousand profit from his own find and offered to share so.
Then Cao Cheng had to spend ten thousand on healing.
With more Spiritual Source to spare, Cao Cheng and An Rong had started speaking more recklessly.
Zhuo Qingcheng offered him ten thousand Spiritual Source. "This is purely from as your clanswoman. You do the work, you get the Spiritual Source. This is for you."
"The favor I need is simple. I heard Jiang Man from your courtyard is participating in the annual assessnt for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards. I want you to find a way to get him to join Zhuo Ling’s team."
Zhuo Bufan pushed the Spiritual Source back. "I can’t do that."
"Why not?" Zhuo Qingcheng asked.
"Clanswoman Zhuo Ling isn’t qualified," Zhuo Bufan said bluntly.
For a mont, the shopkeeper standing nearby was stunned.
Zhuo Ling, a genius who ranked in the top three of the First Courtyard on Red Water Peak and in the top twenty of all Seven Peaks, was just told she wasn’t worthy.
"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?" Zhuo Qingcheng stared at Zhuo Bufan.
Zhuo Bufan replied, "Haven’t you seen him before, clanswoman?"
"He is extraordinary, but that doesn’t an his strength is overwhelming. As he is now, he might not gain any advantage in the top three courtyards," Zhuo Qingcheng said.
"I won’t do it," Zhuo Bufan refused. After a pause, he added, "Unless she joins Jiang Man’s team."
"I will not join his team." Just then, Zhuo Ling walked in, her steps light and her bearing graceful.
But her eyes held a pride that was all her own. "Soone from the Seventh Courtyard, at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishnt at best, with an unforeseeable future... As soone in the top three of my courtyard and the top twenty of the entire Outer Sect, how could I possibly lower myself to that level?"
"I stand by my opinion. I walk beside an Unparalleled Celestial Pride; I am already close enough to him. If I beco estranged from him because of this deal, it will be the clan’s loss." Zhuo Bufan looked at everyone and continued, "Of course, if my clanswoman orders to do this on behalf of the clan, I will naturally go and ask, and I will find a way. But I will not bear the consequences. Furthermore, I suggest you try spending so Spiritual Source to invite him to join your team. If the deal falls through, at least you won’t have damaged the relationship too much."
Zhuo Qingcheng looked at the two of them, realizing that these two re Foundation Establishnt cultivators were each more stubborn than the last.
She could understand the one in the top twenty of the Outer Sect being stubborn. But the other, a re second-place from a minor courtyard with no ranking in the Outer Sect, was acting even tougher than soone in the top ten.
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