mynovelweb Chapter 229 - 158: Let Your Wife Judge
Chapter 229 - 158: Let Your Wife Judge
"Because the people in the First and Second Courtyards have been at Foundation Establishment Perfection for a long time.
"He won’t be able to gain any advantage.
"Having his confidence damaged will be a small matter. Completely missing out on the Secret Technique is the real disaster.
"He’s too confident, and too arrogant.
"He’s not steady enough."
Wei Chuyao came to the side and sat down, speaking earnestly, "Actually, this is a good thing. He skipped the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, which means less pressure for you.
"His momentum is too strong right now. It’s wise to avoid his sharp edge for the time being."
Hearing this, Meng Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes and sighed, "I never thought we’d have to avoid his sharp edge."
"He’s pulling all-nighters at the cost of damaging his Heart Spirit, so of course, you need to avoid him. But when he sees me, *he’ll* have to avoid *my* sharp edge," Wei Chuyao said with a smile. "He’s still too young. After coming to the First, Second, and Third Courtyards, he’ll find that his ’sharp edge’ is quite ordinary here.
"He’ll have to avoid the sharp edges of many people.
"Not only that, but once you reach the First Courtyard, you’ll discover his light is far less dazzling than it once was.
"Right now, he’s just burning himself out prematurely. His peak will be within these next two years. After that, he will feel the powerlessness that comes from a damaged Heart Spirit."
Pausing for a moment, Wei Chuyao continued, "Also, you need to find time to learn the Sword Control Technique. It’s necessary after entering the First, Second, and Third Courtyards. The competition grounds are too vast, and it will be very troublesome without it.
"Someone like Jiang Man, who pulls all-nighters, is completely focused on advancing his Cultivation. His Magic Skills might be his weak point.
"But you can’t underestimate him or be careless.
"Because before the First Courtyard, he is still the strongest.
"It’s just that after the First Courtyard, you will gradually stop hearing about him.
"You might not even run into him ever again.
"That is the price."
Meng Xiaoxiao nodded, showing that she understood.
Then she returned to her Cultivation.
Watching her leave, Wei Chuyao sighed. ’Looks like I’ll have to blunt Jiang Man’s edge during the Grand Competition. Otherwise, this little girl will keep trying to imitate him.’
’Young and full of vigor, she thinks if others can do it, so can she.’
’She can’t keep her Heart Spirit stable.’
’But it’s also a test. If something this minor can affect her Heart Spirit, it will be difficult for her to go far.’
’But as long as she can overcome it, the road ahead will be a bit smoother.’
After that, she got up and headed to the Alchemy Courtyard to consult a Pill Master about a few things.
Just as she entered, she heard a few Pill Masters gathered around Pill Master He, talking.
"Congratulations, Pill Master He, for taking on such a disciple! Someone from the Seventh Courtyard daring to participate in the annual Grand Competition of the First, Second, and Third Courtyards... We haven’t seen that in decades! What overflowing talent!"
"A great master produces a great disciple. We’re sure Pill Master He’s disciple will make a great showing in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards."
"Yes, Pill Master He has a keen eye for talent. His accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao are extraordinary."
"When the Grand Competition is over, Pill Master He will surely become famous in the Alchemy Courtyard and be highly esteemed. We’re all so envious."
After that, He Huai’an left with a dark expression on his face.
Wei Chuyao found a Female Pill Master and said respectfully, "Master."
The Female Pill Master said with a smile, "Oh, Chuyao, what’s the matter?"
"Master, are you very optimistic about Jiang Man?" Wei Chuyao asked curiously.
Hearing this, the Female Pill Master chuckled lightly. She then led Wei Chuyao away, and only after they had walked outside did she begin to speak. "We’ve heard about this Jiang Man for a while. Pill Master Mo originally had his eye on him, but Jiang Man was too poor and failed to become his disciple. Later, he was picked up by Pill Master He.
"He doesn’t even practice Alchemy. He just keeps buying discounted Elixirs.
"Back then, he made no progress in the Alchemy Dao, and his ranking disappeared.
"We mocked Pill Master He for a long time.
"Then he inexplicably became number one in the Third Courtyard, and those who had mocked him naturally lost face.
"And now his disciple is going to participate in the Grand Competition for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards, so of course, we have to praise him a bit."
Wei Chuyao frowned. "Is there a direct connection?"
"Do you think Jiang Man will make a great showing in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards?" the Female Pill Master asked.
Wei Chuyao shook her head. "It’s unlikely."
"That’s just it. The more we praise him, the less he wants to hear it, because nine times out of ten, his disciple will suffer a setback in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards. When he really does suffer a setback, after hearing all our praise, he’ll be too embarrassed to even leave his room. And taking a step back, even if he really does make a great showing, we’re the ones who were praising him. We won’t lose face. Instead, we can say, ’I said this would happen all along.’ Pill Master He won’t be able to get any satisfaction from us either," the Female Pill Master said with a beaming smile.
’These Pill Masters are all a bit malicious,’ Wei Chuyao thought.
’Besides Alchemy, these Pill Masters don’t do anything decent.’
Meanwhile, He Huai’an, who had returned to his residence, slammed his hand on the table.
He said, heartbroken and resentful, "He’s being doomed by flattery!"
————
At this moment, Jiang Man wasn’t thinking about anything else, nor did he care whether others were optimistic about him.
His mind was solely focused on Cultivation.
He had to participate in the Grand Competition of the First, Second, and Third Courtyards in his best possible condition.
Getting into the top fifty was not going to be easy at all.
It was currently mid-March. There were only five months until mid-August.
In five months, he needed to raise his Cultivation to its peak and then continue practicing his Top-grade Skills.
For example, Purple Mist Divine Light and Cyan Smoke Melody.
Giant Swordsmanship could be put off until the end.
After all, he wouldn’t have many chances to use it.
Once used, the wear and tear on his Spirit Sword would be too great.
The gain wouldn’t be worth the loss.
The first thing he bought was, naturally, Earth Element Pills.
The latest Gourd for his Cultivation was open, but still empty. The amount of Spiritual Qi had not yet reached its maximum.
He’d start with thirty.
The maximum amount.
Spiritual Source minus twenty-four thousand.
Fifty-seven thousand remaining.
Next were fifty Nourishing Essence Pills to enhance his Physical Body.
Spiritual Source minus twenty-seven thousand.
Thirty thousand remaining.
Without the help of a Top-grade Skill, he couldn’t temper his Physical Body, so it required the most Elixirs. It was hard to say if fifty pills would even be enough to fill the Gourd for the Physical Body Eighth Layer.
Let alone open the ninth Gourd.
In the days that followed, Jiang Man first took the Earth Element Pills to temper his Cultivation, then took the Nourishing Essence Pills to enhance his Physical Body.
「March 15th.」
He had used five Earth Element Pills and seven Nourishing Essence Pills.
「March 25th.」
He had used fifteen Earth Element Pills and twenty-five Nourishing Essence Pills.
「April 10th.」
The Earth Element Pills were exhausted. His fifth Cultivation Gourd was seventy percent full.
His eighth Physical Body Gourd was eighty percent full.
It was more difficult than he had expected.
After that, Jiang Man bought another ten Earth Element Pills and thirty Nourishing Essence Pills.
Six thousand Spiritual Source left.
Then, Jiang Man continued his Cultivation.
「April 15th.」
He had used three Earth Element Pills and ten Nourishing Essence Pills.
「April 20th.」
He had used six Earth Element Pills and twenty Nourishing Essence Pills, and he began to break through.
「April 23rd.」
The last ten Nourishing Essence Pills were exhausted. A dull sound emanated from his body.
He took a step, leaving a footprint behind.
Physical Body Ninth Layer.
On May 1st, the Earth Element Pills ran out.
The fifth Cultivation Gourd was successfully filled.
This was only because his Physical Body and Spirit were both at the Ninth Layer, which provided a bonus to his Cultivation. Otherwise, it would have taken a few more days.
With that, Jiang Man looked at Old Huang, who was eating grass, and said, "Old Huang, what do you think of my Cultivation now?"
Without raising its head, the Old Yellow Ox said, "Based on Cultivation alone, you can’t rank in the top fifty."
Jiang Man nodded slightly.
’Based on Cultivation alone, I really can’t get into the top fifty.’
Right now, although his Physical Body and Spirit were both at the Ninth Layer, the ninth Gourd for each was empty.
Only when they were full would he reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
But there wasn’t enough time, and he had no more Elixirs.
However, he still had over three months. He also had to temper his Visualization Skill every day, so reaching Great Perfection in his Spirit was possible.
His Physical Body, however, was a different story.
He had never tempered his Physical Body with a skill, so it could be considered a weak point.
Fortunately, the True Martial Skill could compensate for it to some extent.
Next was improving his Top-grade Skills.
In over three months, he could barely manage to master two Top-grade Skills.
But he had three Top-grade Skills. He would have to give up on Giant Swordsmanship for now.
"Old Huang, this is the first time I’ve ever run into this situation. I actually don’t have enough time to practice my Top-grade Skills. Is it because I’m not working hard enough?" Jiang Man said, looking at Old Huang.
Old Huang lowered its head to eat grass, then replied, "It’s May. The Magpie Bridge will open in another two months. Go tell your wife."
"Let her be the judge of whether you’re not working hard enough."
Jiang Man was silent for a moment before saying, "That’s not a good idea, is it?"
The Old Yellow Ox kept eating grass and didn’t respond again.
Just as Jiang Man was about to resume his Cultivation, Gao Rong came looking for him.
He had a woman with him.
She was dressed in plain clothes, but her features were delicate and her skin was fair.
Jiang Man was a bit surprised. "Young Master Gao, you were looking for me?"
Gao Rong said, a bit awkwardly, "I came to ask... is our team full? Senior Sister Su Qinya, a genius from the Second Courtyard, would like to join us."
At this, Su Qinya stepped before Jiang Man. With elegant posture, she introduced herself in a way that was neither servile nor overbearing, and then said, "If Junior Brother hasn’t found anyone yet, I believe I am a suitable candidate."
Jiang Man looked at Gao Rong and said, "As long as Young Master Gao agrees, it’s fine."
’After all, I took his Spiritual Source. If he wants to add someone, he can add someone. It’s not like I have anyone else in mind anyway.’
Hearing this, Gao Rong was stunned. He found it a bit hard to believe. Jiang Man was giving him a lot of face.
’Fang Yong was right. This is friendship mixed in with a transaction.’
’It’s all because of the goodwill from Xiaogao.’
’I’ll have to show more concern for Xiaogao in the future.’
’I can’t be like I was before.’
’These thirty thousand Spiritual Source were well spent!’