The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 181 The Weight of First Place

It's almost March.

It's time for the outer gate assessment again.

Jiang Man is now an inner disciple of the outer sect.

Therefore, his external assessment is optional.

They were also unable to participate in the annual competition.

After all, it would be bullying for an inner disciple to participate in the outer sect's annual competition.

However, you can participate in the courtyard assessment, but it's also very unfair.

Therefore, with the top three in the courtyard each possessing a spiritual source, Jiang Man gave up on this courtyard assessment.

“We’re all on the same side, so I understand that you need rankings,” Jiang Man said with a smile as he accepted the six thousand spirit resources.

The first is three thousand, the second is two thousand, and the third is one thousand.

Zhuo Bufan, Zhao Yaoyao, and Lin Qingshan were all deeply moved.

If Jiang Manruo participated, Zhuo Bufan would lose his first place, Zhao Yaoyao would lose her second place, and Lin Qingshan would fall out of the top three.

He also needs rankings to attract investors and resources.

"I'm fifth?" Cao Cheng looked at An Rong with disdain. "A piece of trash who can't even make it into the top five, yet he claims to have a big advantage?"

An Rong snorted and puffed out her thick chest, saying, "You're still young now. When you get older, you'll understand how high I stand."

You'll never meet him in this lifetime.

No one paid any attention to them.

Wei Beichuan stared at Lin Qingshan.

Because Lin Qingshan and Jiang Man had teamed up before, they put the other side far ahead.

He failed to surpass it.

But it will be soon.

It will be his turn to hand over the spiritual source soon.

If you haven't paid for spiritual resources in the courtyard, then you lack strength.

"If you can't even hand over the spiritual source, you're no different from Cao Cheng and An Rong, those two good-for-nothings."

He spoke up.

An Rong and Cao Cheng looked at Wei Beichuan, who turned to look at them and asked, "Do you have a problem with that?"

The two: "."

Being ranked one place higher can be incredibly stressful.

They're only in the top five, yet they're so arrogant.

Aren't we all in the top ten?

Wei Beichuan ignored them and looked at Zhuo Bufan instead.

The only one who is hard to surpass is Zhuo Bufan.

He gained an early advantage and obtained the first two chapters of the secret technique.

Surpassing it is extremely difficult.

However, secret techniques can also be a burden, and not everyone who obtains them will benefit from them.

Because mastering secret techniques requires a lot of time.

This is his chance.

There is a great chance of surpassing the opponent.

But we have to wait for the first, second, or third hospitals.

He was certain that given time, he would become the best in the courtyard.

If I didn't get first place, it must be because I didn't pay the three thousand spirit resources.

Afterwards, Zhuo Bufan gave Jiang Man a pot of wine, saying it was a gift from his cousin.

Then Zhao Yaoyao also gave him a bottle of pills.

Lin Qingshan gave him a book in return.

It says "Wind Concealing Technique" on it.

Jiang Man was stunned.

Lin Qingshan truly deserves to be called a poor man.

Get to know him.

He really needs this.

But it's very expensive.

“My investor sponsored this, and it’s already been registered for you, so there’s no violation of the rules for cultivation,” Lin Qingshan said with a smile. “It’ll benefit me if you accept it, and you don’t need to know him.”

This is indeed very valuable; the secret manual is available to everyone, and the qualification is worth real money.

But since Lin Qingshan has said so, we can't miss it.

Afterwards, everyone in the courtyard gave them some gifts.

Some people represent their family to a certain extent, but most of them represent themselves.

For them, Jiang Man's attainment of the Golden Core stage was an immense benefit.

Whether it's his cultivation level or his status within the clan, he is exceptional.

Being in the same college as pioneers of change already sets them apart.

These people may not be wealthy, but at the very least, they all possess the Chaoyuan Pill, which is used to achieve the Golden Elixir.

One piece costs 1,800.

The Chaoyuan Pill is divided into four categories, corresponding to the four realms of early, middle, late and perfect. The pills are Shaoyang, Taiyang, Shaoyin and Taiyin respectively.

These people were giving away Chaoyuan Shaoyang Pills, which are used in the early stages of the Golden Core realm.

Master He also gave me the Chaoyuan Shaoyang Pill.

Jiang Man accepted everything with a smile. Some of them thanked him, while others were quite excited but remained silent.

It was as if their fate had been altered.

Especially the last woman.

She choked back tears as she handed over the pill: "I don't have much spiritual energy."

Jiang Man didn't understand why she was choking up, but she still smiled and said, "It's a small gift but a big sentiment."

Upon hearing this, the woman was taken aback for a moment, then thanked her profusely, saying, "My cultivation is the worst; I've embarrassed you."

"The future is uncertain, so don't underestimate yourselves. I'm waiting for you to catch up. Although you won't see me in the end, chasing me already puts you ahead of everyone else," Jiang Man said with a smile as he accepted the pill.

After saying all this, Jiang Man returned home with a full load of goods.

This wave earned a lot of spiritual resources.

Two thousand per person, that adds up to one hundred thousand.

It's really too easy for the Golden Core Ancestor to obtain spiritual resources.

Alchemists, blacksmiths, talisman masters—what kind of alchemists, blacksmiths, talisman masters?

I can't compare to myself at all.

When we get back, we'll leave the pills behind and sell the rest of the items to buy spiritual energy.

I had just returned to my residence when I saw Ren Qian.

Ren Qian is not a true member of the Enforcement Hall; he is in charge of the evil gods, not the sect's order.

Jiang Man was puzzled as to why the other party had suddenly come.

Are you going to sleep?

Is it still about Huo Bingzhi?
“Junior Brother Jiang has quite a lot of things, but he won’t need to show off like this for long,” Ren Qian said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Man asked in confusion, "No need to pretend like that? You're going to be poor soon?"

Ren Qian shook his head slightly and said, "You'll know when you get to the Enforcement Hall. It just so happens that Junior Sister Yu was looking for you, so we're looking for you too."

"What does Senior Brother want with me?" Jiang Man asked.

“Someone anonymously reported you as a lackey of the evil god,” Ren Qian said helplessly. “They said the sentence you left behind was too eye-catching, and now they’ve directly reported you. Let’s see if the Enforcement Hall will arrest you.”

Jiang Man looked completely taken aback.

I didn't expect it to be like this.

Aren't they afraid of accidentally harming their own people?
It seems that the evil god's subordinates are also quite complex and not of one mind.

"Should we arrest them or not?" Jiang Man asked.

"Arrest him," Ren Qian said softly. "Junior brother, come with us. Junior sister Yu has something to say to you."

"Let's talk about the rest later. After all, our junior brother is number one, and we dare not shut him down."

He was innocent to begin with, and was even a hero in the fight against the evil god, having learned of the existence of that misty, dilapidated temple.

It was a major discovery for them as well.

There is no possibility of detaining him.

As for exposure.

So what if it's exposed? As long as Jiang Man isn't worried about retaliation, he can go back that same day.

If he's worried, the Enforcement Hall will still play along with his act.

Being the best in the outer sect is more than just a title.

The preferential treatment given to the top student by the sect is never small.

Don't be fooled by the saying that only those who excel in the Golden Core stage can get attention; that attention comes from the top-tier beings.

Normally, the number one spot is never overlooked; these people often pay attention to the top rankings, especially number one.

To ensure that the top outer sect leader is not eliminated due to any turmoil or power struggles.

First, if someone dies unexpectedly or suffers unfair treatment, it will affect their normal promotion.

The outer gate, the inner gate, and the enforcement hall—all will be held accountable.

Finally, Jiang Man decided to leave his things at his residence and then go to the Hall of Law Enforcement.

It was my first time going, and I was a little apprehensive.

If I go in and never come out, I'll have to let Lao Huang know.

If something goes wrong, remember to find a way to get him out of trouble.

The old ox grazed on its grass, completely ignoring Jiang Man. "Old ox, there's no need to play dumb now," Jiang Man reminded him.

The old ox continued grazing, still offering no response.

Jiang Man had no choice but to leave.

On the road.

Ren Qian said, "Actually, you can bring the things with you."

"What items does the Enforcement Hall reclaim?" Jiang Man asked.

Ren Qian was taken aback for a moment, then said, "It can be recycled, and the price should be higher than outside, after all, you paid a lot to find the evil god."

Jiang Man felt that it was entirely possible to go back again.

It's no big deal to make a couple more trips for the sake of Lingyuan.

However, Jiang Man did not speak.

Since I didn't ask about the price, I don't know if it's really more profitable.

We need to know the market price beforehand.

Then go to the Enforcement Hall.

Ren Qian did not refuse.

-

"Senior sister, you..."

In the prison cell of the Enforcement Hall, Jiang Man was speechless as he watched Yu Wanyi eat.

My senior sister is still locked up in the Hall of Law Enforcement.

He thought the other person worked in the law enforcement hall.

"I committed a minor offense. What normal prisoner eats as well as I do? Do you eat as well as I do?" Yu Wanyi said nonchalantly.

Jiang Man fell silent as he looked at the three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes on the table.

He has never eaten so well in his life.

They ate coarse grains in the village, and they ate the same things in Yunqiansi. Things got a little better after they came to the sect.

But there was neither meat nor vegetables.

If it weren't for taking elixirs, I would be malnourished.

He suddenly asked the enforcement officer next to him with curiosity, "Can we eat this well just by living here?"

The other party was stunned for a moment, then shook their head: "No."

Jiang Man pointed at Senior Sister Yu, who remained silent.

Jiang Man also fell silent.

In the end, they gave up on moving into the Enforcement Hall.

Otherwise, you can stay in the hospital for a while because of this report, as long as it doesn't affect your cultivation.

"Why did you suddenly contact me, Senior Sister?" Jiang Man asked.

"How did you get here so quickly?" Yu Wanyi asked, somewhat curious.

"I was reported for being connected to an evil god and was arrested," Jiang Man said truthfully.

Yu Wanyi looked at Jiang Man, but ultimately said nothing.

It's all thanks to Jiang Man's connection to the evil god, otherwise she wouldn't be able to live here.

“The evil god is not important. What matters is getting along well with your partner. Have you shared your stories with her? When you see her, you should express your feelings. For example, if you find her beautiful at a certain moment, you should say so truthfully and not keep it to yourself.” Yu Wanyi put down her chopsticks and instructed, “You should also say that you righteously rejected other people’s advances for her sake.”

“Nobody threw themselves at me,” Jiang Man explained.

"Even if she doesn't have one, she can still have one. As long as she likes to hear it, who cares if she doesn't? Besides, you're the number one in the outer sect, how could you not have one? You definitely will." Yu Wanyi sighed, "You can't deceive your Daoist partner, but you can coax her."

“My Daoist partner isn’t that mundane,” Jiang Man said.

Despite her advanced age, she remains an unparalleled powerhouse.

Why would I care about these things?
“You’re being superficial. Besides, you achieved this because of her. What’s wrong with saying a few things she likes to hear?” Yu Wanyi said seriously. “You need to perform well, and remember not to say anything if you have any complaints.”

For example, is she old? Jiang Man thought to himself.

The woman from the law enforcement hall standing nearby looked somewhat surprised.

Doesn't that sound like the top outer sect disciple is living off a woman?
Did she discover something important?
Yu Wanyi didn't say anything more, but asked instead, "Has your Immortal Abode qualification been granted?"

Jiang Man nodded: "I'm coming down."

"I went through so much trouble to get this application, you'd better live up to it," Yu Wanyi said.

Jiang Man remained silent for a moment.

Senior Sister Yu has done a lot of harm.

However, it's indeed difficult to refuse.

"And this is a special reward I secured for you as the number one. Originally, only Shangguan Liuyun had it, since he was the number one in the competition."

“You’re a bit behind eighth place, but you entered the Golden Core stage quickly enough, and I used special channels,” Yu Wanyi said, handing over a small bag.

Jiang Man took the bag, somewhat surprised: "What's this?"

"Use your divine sense to perceive it," Yu Wanyi said with a smile.

Jiang Man tried it out and felt the space in the bag.

It's a storage treasure that's neither too big nor too small; it can probably hold two Old Huangs.

Jiang Man was shocked.

He had never seen it.

"This is a real gem. It's not sold outside. The outer sect only gives out one a year, and it's always given to the champion of the grand competition," Yu Wanyi said with a smile. "How about this reward? I went to great lengths to get it, otherwise you would have to be an inner sect member to receive it."

"Don't lose it, or I'll beat you up even if I'm in jail."

"This thing can get lost too?" Jiang Man asked in surprise.

"Of course, magical treasures are bound to get lost; we mustn't let them be stolen," Yu Wanyi warned.

Jiang Man loved it so much; it was so useful.

Especially extremely rare.

It's not available on the market; it's a rare item forged by a sect.

It's unknown how many years it will take to reach mass production.

However, since the forging technology of spirit swords has made breakthroughs, this storage magic item will surely enter the market like spirit swords in the future, and then when the technology breaks through to a certain level, everyone will be able to have one.

But that happened a long time later, and he was an unparalleled genius, the number one in the outer sect, who possessed such a rare storage magic treasure at a young age.

No wonder Senior Brother Ren Qian said he could bring the things; it turns out he was waiting for him here.

I should have listened to Senior Brother Ren Qian. Now that I have nothing to test, I'm eager to go back.

"Also, I heard you took on a newbie mission for the inner sect?" Yu Wanyi asked.

“Yes.” Jiang Man nodded.

“Normally, this task isn’t difficult, and many people can complete it. It’s not a big deal if you don’t. It’s just that the courtyard you’re assigned to is a bit less prestigious, the instructors are weaker, and it’s rare to see renowned elders giving lessons. Otherwise, there’s nothing to worry about.” Yu Wanyi paused for a moment and then said, “But your situation is quite special. Your brilliance is too great, and you’re related to an evil god. If someone reports you today, someone will try to assassinate you tomorrow.”

"When you go to complete a task, you should be more careful."

“If it’s just an ordinary inner disciple targeting you, you’ll at most get beaten up, but if it’s an evil god, you’ll be in danger.”

Jiang Man indicated that he understood.

Afterwards, Senior Sister Yu mentioned his Daoist partner, saying that they should cultivate their relationship properly.

Jiang Man said their relationship is very stable.

The other party has been trying to find me and use powerful methods.

Jiang Man then left.

He also did not have the Enforcement Hall put on a show to deceive the evil god's subordinates.

Instead, he told him that he would enter the ruined temple that night and leave some words.

Upon returning, Jiang Man didn't even have time to show off his storage magic treasure before lying down and entering the dilapidated temple.

He wrote a line on the message stone.

"I thought my sincerity would earn my trust, but instead I was betrayed!"

“There are bad people among the masses.”

After writing this, Jiang Man left.

Let them guess the rest, and let them guess why I'm safe and sound.

I won't tell them why.

Too much explanation breeds suspicion; if you don't explain, someone else will always explain for you.

The enforcement agency has tried to investigate the whistleblower, but without much success.

The other party's methods are quite good.

As for why these people exist, Ren Qian told him it was unavoidable.

Some of these people were initially bewitched by the evil god, while others were bewitched during their advancement.

The sect receives thousands of people every year, and it is impossible to screen out those who are associated with evil gods.

They are good at hiding their true intentions and don't do much.

So it's very difficult to find.

Furthermore, it's impossible to raise the bar, otherwise even Yunqiansi might have difficulty entering some remote areas.

The collateral damage was too great.

It would be better to let them all in, and then rely on them to discover and handle the issues.

There is danger, but it is within a controllable range.

Jiang Man expressed his understanding, after all, he also had an evil god by his side who did nothing.

I dare not do it.

This is how they evade sect screening.

Jiang Man opened his eyes as soon as he left the dilapidated temple.

He quickly walked over to the old ox, took out a small bag, and smiled, "Old ox, look what I'm holding in my hand."

The old ox stared at the things in Jiang Man's hands and silently ate grass.

(End of this chapter)