yournovel Chapter 224 - 156: Just a Man Who Stays Up Late
Chapter 224 - 156: Just a Man Who Stays Up Late
Jiang Man was number one in the Third Courtyard.
His name had long since overshadowed everyone in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards—the whole of the Third Courtyard.
No other genius, no matter how brilliant, could outshine Jiang Man.
Though many were unconvinced and would bring up other geniuses, none could truly compare to Jiang Man.
Some even claimed the only reason Jiang Man was number one was that he had yet to face Wei Ran and his peers.
In truth, Wei Ran and the others should consider themselves lucky they hadn’t run into Jiang Man.
After all, Bai Fan, who had faced Jiang Man before, was already on the verge of despair.
If Jiang Man had been in the Sixth Courtyard, Bai Fan wouldn’t have been this despondent.
When Number 210 first made a name for himself, it was back in the Ninth Courtyard.
By the time Jiang Man reached the Eighth Courtyard, he had utterly crushed Bai Fan—a genius from the Fifth Courtyard—leaving him with no way to retaliate.
Now that Jiang Man was in the Seventh Courtyard, who would dare to face him?
Only Jiang Yingcai and the others.
Just then, Jiang Yingcai and his companions turned to Bai Fan. "I remember you’re a genius with a very high ranking," Jiang Yingcai said. "You should be qualified to enter the competition for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards, right?"
"Yes," Bai Fan nodded.
"Then let’s challenge Jiang Man together," Duan Wu said consolingly. "You have a shot. Based on our estimates, you should have a forty percent chance of winning."
However, Bai Fan smiled. "No, thank you. I may be strong, but I won’t get a Secret Skill by competing in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards. I’ve decided to stay in the Fourth Courtyard and aim for first place. That way, I can pretty much get all the rewards."
The two remained unconvinced.
"You should try to look on the bright side," Bai Fan said. "The First, Second, and Third Courtyards are filled with countless experts. Jiang Man isn’t invincible there. There’s no way he can repeat what he did in the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards. He can’t challenge everyone all by himself."
’Of course, these two had no experience competing across courtyards in the annual rankings, so they didn’t know that geniuses always start by fighting in the lowest-ranked courtyards.’
’In any case, they’ll be the first to face the onslaught. I guess you could say their dream is coming true.’
’All I can do is swallow my tears and go fight for first place in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards.’
’A smooth road lies ahead.’
News of Jiang Man’s intent to jump directly to the First, Second, and Third Courtyards spread quickly. Although his application was still pending, such a direct challenge from the top-ranked disciple of the Third Courtyard was rare.
His application was considered a sure thing.
Those who knew Jiang Man was Number 210 were certain he would succeed.
The news brought joy to some and sorrow to others.
The joyful ones were a few insiders from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards.
For only they knew just how terrifying Jiang Man was.
Most people, however, felt Jiang Man was getting ahead of himself.
Being number one in the Third Courtyard just meant being the best of the weakest group: the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards.
A cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment could essentially sweep through the entire Third Courtyard.
Once you reached the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, the Mid-stage was nothing special.
There were plenty of cultivators in the Late Stage as well.
As for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards, that was where those at Foundation Establishment Perfection gathered.
Perhaps only the Third Courtyard still had some in the Late Stage; the First and Second Courtyards were almost exclusively filled with cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection.
To force a challenge like this was to court failure.
Those who were worried were, naturally, Jiang Yingcai and his group, along with Gao Rong.
Gao Rong walked along the path to Red Water Peak, his expression conflicted.
This year, he too had advanced to the Third Courtyard.
When Jiang Man first entered the Ninth Courtyard, Gao Rong had already been in the sect for eight years and was residing in the Fifth Courtyard.
Now, two or three years later, Jiang Man was in the Seventh Courtyard, while he had made it to the Third.
He had thought he’d perfectly bypassed the competition bracket for the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, thus avoiding a confrontation with Jiang Man.
He wanted to avoid a matchup where he would inevitably lose face.
After all, Jiang Man was Xiaogao’s friend and nearly ten years his junior.
Losing to him would be incredibly embarrassing.
He wouldn’t be able to look Xiaogao in the eye, especially since he had bad-mouthed and looked down on Jiang Man in the past.
Now, whenever he recalled the past, he wished he could just slap himself.
’Why did I have to say so much? Why was I so arrogant?’
’Looking down on some poor kid from my own hometown.’
’And in the end, I just brought humiliation upon myself.’
And now, the man himself was about to participate in the same annual competition as him. The situation left him at a complete loss.
And just as he was sighing, Fang Yong found him.
First, Fang Yong asked about the rules for the competition in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards.
The First, Second, and Third Courtyards were different from the others. Their competition was massive in scope, and participation was mandatory for everyone.
The competition was incredibly fierce, and valuable rewards would compel everyone into a massive brawl.
Even if you didn’t want to fight, someone would pay you to.
Finally, Fang Yong nodded and made an offer: ten thousand.
He would help Gao Rong solve his current predicament and even give him a chance to obtain some valuable items.
Gao Rong fell silent.
’Is he always this ruthless with his prices?’
’Doesn’t he know ten thousand is a huge sum?’
But Fang Yong wasn’t an ordinary person. He was ranked extremely high and had indeed helped him before.
At least he delivered on his promises when paid.
After a brief hesitation, Gao Rong agreed.
And it was because he’d listened to Fang Yong that he now found himself walking the path to Red Water Peak.
He had to find Xiaogao.
Fang Yong’s idea was for him to go through Xiaogao to get to Jiang Man, and then find a way to form a team with him.
At first, he was reluctant. Not because he was against teaming up with Jiang Man, but because he was reluctant to go through Xiaogao to do it.
Fang Yong had explained that while he could certainly avoid going through Xiaopang, Xiaopang and Jiang Man had a close relationship. As his older brother, teaming up with Jiang Man through him would no longer be a simple business transaction.
A bond of friendship is something that sometimes requires a vast amount of Spiritual Source to purchase.
’But if a bond of friendship is so precious,’ Gao Rong had thought, ’wouldn’t that mean Xiaopang is the one paying with his friendship? Isn’t that a waste?’
Fang Yong’s answer was simple. Just provide the Spiritual Source. Any that wasn’t consumed could be given to him, and he would guarantee success.
It would absolutely be a transaction laced with goodwill.
Before Red Water Peak, Gao Rong heaved a heavy sigh.
There was a time when he had always looked down on Xiaogao.
But now, here he was, having to come and ask for a favor.
’I’ve pretty much lost a lifetime’s worth of face.’
’This is the price for failing to see how things stood.’
Taking a deep breath, Gao Rong arrived at Xiaopang’s little shop. He noticed the Spiritual Qi here was considerably denser than before.
It was due to the placement of the Spirit Medicine.
Business was a little better too, also because the placement of the Spirit Medicines was causing them to grow well.
Of course, it was also undeniable that the people running the shop were very attentive.
"Young Master Gao?" Luo Xuan looked surprised to see him.
Gao Rong nodded at Luo Xuan. "Where’s Xiaogao?"
"Gao Yao is inside, moving some things," Luo Xuan replied.