The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 269 - 176: The Young Lady Changed After Getting Married

’Sometimes, the clan’s situation would make the Miss worry.’

’I could always see hints of it on her face.’

But ever since the Miss got married, Qing Dai felt her emotions had become... normal.

’Either she was stern and proper, or completely placid.’

’I guess getting married really does change a person.’

Besides that, she could be certain of one thing.

’The young master was still alive.’

’The Miss could even still contact him.’

But Qing Dai couldn’t figure out anything more than that.

Nor did she dare try to learn more, in case the Miss forbade it.

’Then...’

’...I’d be in big trouble.’

’But if she can still contact him, doesn’t that mean he’s somewhere within the Immortal Sect?’

’Was her leaving a mistake, then?’

’Is the Miss insisting on leaving just to draw attention away?’

’To make people think the young master isn’t in the Immortal Sect?’

"What are you thinking about?" Meng Qiewei asked.

Qing Dai shook her head slightly. "I was just thinking about how my lady is a peerless strategist, unmatched in both wisdom and courage."

Meng Qiewei looked at Qing Dai, stunned, wondering what wild conclusions she had jumped to this time.

"Did anyone ask for your opinion on the marriage alliance?" she asked.

Qing Dai shook her head. "Not yet, but I expect they will soon."

Meng Qiewei nodded and asked calmly, "How old is this Jiang Man?"

Qing Dai thought for a moment. "He entered the Sect at nineteen and reached Foundation Establishment that same year."

"Sixth Institute Core Formation..."

"So, he reached Core Formation at twenty-two?"

"Core Formation in three years... That’s quite fast."

After a pause, she decided she should go put in a word for him.

The Miss wanted to move this matter along as quickly as possible.

But she was also curious about who would be sent out.

She asked the Miss.

Unfortunately, the Miss didn’t seem to care about such things.

It seemed any arrangement would do.

’Then again, a trivial matter like this wasn’t worth the Miss’s attention.’

"Once you leave, my lady, will you go looking for the young master?" Qing Dai asked again.

Although she suspected the young master was within the Immortal Sect’s territory, what if she was wrong?

Probing a little might yield more clues.

Meng Qiewei turned her head to look at Qing Dai, a smile on her face. "Didn’t you all say he was in my room?"

"That’s what *they* said." Qing Dai immediately distanced herself from the claim.

"Is that so?" Meng Qiewei glanced toward the room and said calmly, "Would you like to search it?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Qing Dai said, shaking her head.

"You’re not going to search?" Meng Qiewei gazed at her. "If not, then forget it."

Qing Dai froze, then asked hesitantly, "I... can search?"

Meng Qiewei gave a slight nod.

In the end, Qing Dai didn’t dare.

’It would be one thing if I didn’t find him, but what if I did?’

’That would be terrifying.’

Meng Qiewei shook her head. "When you talk to them, don’t say I didn’t give you the chance."

’So the young master isn’t here, either?’ Qing Dai felt his whereabouts were far too mysterious.

Still, everyone understood one thing: as time passed, so long as the young master was still alive, he would eventually be forced into the open.

That was an absolute certainty.

Because if he didn’t, it could only mean he had died young.

————

「Cloud Mist Peak.」

"Learn the Promotion Skill?"

Yan Yiqiu was a bit surprised. "You want to teach someone the Promotion Skill for Foundation Establishment?"

Jiang Man nodded. "Is that allowed?"

"In principle, no," Yan Yiqiu said.

"So, it’s possible?" Jiang Man fumbled around for a moment before handing Mr. Yan a book.

"What’s this?" Yan Yiqiu asked, quite curious.

She hadn’t intended to ask for anything, but she was genuinely curious.

"It’s a record of some elixirs," Jiang Man said. "I collected some rather obscure ones. I thought you might find them useful, Mr. Yan."

It was the book Chang Qiweng had left behind, the same one he had lent to Xiaopang.

Much of its content was what the Old Yellow Ox had dictated to him, and just last night, he’d had Old Huang dictate some more.

It stood to reason that it would be of some use.

And indeed it was.

Mr. Yan was silent for a moment. "I’ll make a copy and return it to you tomorrow."

Jiang Man then learned of a certain place from Mr. Yan.

In principle, one could not teach the Promotion Skill to Cultivators outside the Sect.

But there were always fringe cases.

For example, there was the job of cleaning Secret Realms. After battles took place within them, residual energy and dregs would flow to the periphery.

To avoid affecting the overall environment of the Secret Realm, people were needed to go in and clear this refuse out.

These people were not allowed to engage in Cultivation inside.

However, they needed to learn the Promotion Skill. It was the only way for them to manage the ambient energies in the Secret Realm and prevent accidents.

Therefore, if someone wanted to learn the Promotion Skill, they had to take on a cleaning duty.

One trip cost one thousand Spiritual Source.

Not a reward of one thousand, but a fee of one thousand.

However, paying the one thousand Spiritual Source didn’t mean someone would teach you the Promotion Skill. You still had to find a teacher yourself.

Furthermore, even after learning the Promotion Skill, one couldn’t reach Foundation Establishment without entering the Secret Realm.

Thus, very few people took this route.

Because there weren’t many extra slots available.

"Learn the Promotion Skill?" Chang Qiweng looked at Jiang Man with some surprise.

By now, he had gotten his six thousand Spiritual Source back.

But he found what Jiang Man was saying completely baffling.

"That’s right. But you’ll have to pay a fee of one thousand Spiritual Source and register at the place I told you about." As Jiang Man spoke, he took out a book and handed it over. "After you register, you can start learning the contents of this book.

"You’ll have to wait until you complete your Reincarnation, though.

"Otherwise, learning it will be useless."

"But..." Chang Qiweng hesitated. "Doesn’t this require a slot for the Secret Realm?"

Never mind him—even Outer Sect Student Cultivators had to fight for the right to enter a Secret Realm.

Obtaining one of these slots was exceptionally difficult.

Only a very small number of people ever got the chance.

"You don’t have to worry about that. When the time comes, I’ll sell one to you," Jiang Man said.

’Right now I only have one slot, but as an Unparalleled Celestial Pride...’

’...will it really be that hard to get more in the future?’

Chang Qiweng stared at Jiang Man in disbelief, never having imagined he would say something like that.

’What kind of fantasy was this?’

’I might actually have a chance to buy a slot?’

’Unthinkable.’

After that, Jiang Man said his goodbyes to Chang Qiweng.