The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 236 - 162: I Don’t Need Approval

Upon entering the Second Courtyard’s territory, Jiang Man felt it was somewhat more desolate and quiet than the Third Courtyard.

The Third Courtyard was filled with cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. As he himself was at Foundation Establishment Perfection, it hadn’t been difficult to defeat them.

Besides, five true geniuses were also searching for people on his behalf.

That added a certain degree of prestige to his name.

It was enough to instill fear in their hearts.

Otherwise, it would never have been that easy.

If over three hundred cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment had besieged him all at once, he would have been worn down to death.

In fact, in their eyes, he was just hired muscle for those geniuses.

’But why would those geniuses be so kind?’

Gao Rong had seen through this and asked Jiang Man about it.

He meant it as a warning.

Jiang Man just smiled. "To watch the show, of course."

’Those guys are true geniuses. Why would they suddenly offer to help?’

’It can’t be because they’re bored or because we hit it off right away, can it?’

’They naturally have their own agenda.’

’He had no connection to them.’

’There’s no such thing as a free lunch.’

"Then letting them find people for us..." Gao Rong trailed off.

The people these geniuses knew were by no means ordinary.

So if they were to deliberately set him up, the first person they "found" wouldn’t be just any ordinary cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Jiang Man looked at Gao Rong and said casually, "It doesn’t matter who they find."

Those few simple words left Gao Rong speechless.

’So confident. So arrogant.’

’Is he really going to be okay acting like this?’

’Sometimes, overconfidence can lead to your downfall.’

Jiang Man didn’t give it much thought.

It was a trivial matter. Old Huang had said there were no true prodigies at the Foundation Establishment realm, which meant there was no need for scheming and plotting.

’If there are,’ he thought, ’it just means I’m not strong enough.’

All he had to do was become stronger.

He just had to stay true to himself and grow ever stronger.

Everything else would fall into place.

True geniuses or false prodigies, it made no difference.

’What did they have to do with him, an Unparalleled Celestial Pride?’

Traveling by Sword Control, Jiang Man finally found the location Su Qinya had marked.

Gao Rong had been in contact with her.

After they entered, they used a type of Talisman to pinpoint her location.

Otherwise, finding a single person within the Second Courtyard’s vast territory would not be easy.

The place was simply too large.

He hadn’t encountered a single person so far.

That was why he desperately needed those five geniuses to find people for him.

"This should be the place," Gao Rong said, looking at Jiang Man.

There was an Array here, which meant something was inside.

The two of them quickly landed in the forest.

"You’re here?" Su Qinya walked over to greet them.

She wore plain clothes and had a cold expression, as if nothing could stir her emotions.

Jiang Man asked, "Senior Sister, are you after the item here?"

The teams formed among the First, Second, and Third Courtyards didn’t have many restrictions.

You could choose whether or not to acquire items.

Simply put, three people could take three different items, but they still had to fight for them.

For instance, with this Array, they had to enter it, defeat the Puppet inside, and fend off any other competitors.

The winner could then choose whether to take the prize.

You could only take one item from this grand competition.

That was why everyone wanted to head to the First Courtyard to fight for the most important treasures.

"There’s a Top-grade Technique here called the Purifying Heart Technique. It will enhance my Cultivation Skill," Su Qinya stated frankly.

This was indeed what she wanted, and it would indeed enhance her Cultivation Skill.

It perfectly suited her needs.

Even if she had teamed up with someone else, she would still have gone for this item.

Mixing one’s schemes into a genuine objective was the safest approach.

A complete fabrication was too easily seen through.

That would only backfire.

Jiang Man turned to Gao Rong. "Young Master Gao, do you want it?"

Gao Rong was silent for a moment before asking, "Young Master Jiang, what are you planning to fight for?"

"The Seven-Star Body Refining Technique," Jiang Man answered honestly. "Young Master Gao, you’re from the Third Courtyard, so you should understand the need to cultivate Skills from the same series. Otherwise, reaching Core Formation won’t be easy."

Gao Rong was momentarily at a loss for words.

As things stood, he had no chance of reaching Core Formation.

He also cultivated the Seven Stars series.

But without a Top-grade Skill, someone with his level of Talent would have to rely on buying one with Spiritual Source.

He was already planning to purchase the Seven Star Condensing Yuan Technique with his clan’s support.

If he could obtain a Top-grade Body Refining Skill now, his progress would practically double.

"I also need the Seven-Star Body Refining Technique," Gao Rong replied.

Hearing this, Jiang Man nodded. "Then let’s help Senior Sister get the Purifying Heart Technique first."

The three of them then headed toward the Array.

Just as they arrived, before they could even enter the Array, someone flew over via Sword Control.

It was three men.

They seemed a bit surprised to see Jiang Man and his group.

"To think someone got here first." The leading young man stared at Jiang Man with curiosity. "A new face? A genius from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards?"

Su Qinya was inwardly surprised to see the three men approach, as they weren’t the ones she had arranged to be here.

Still, she wasn’t too concerned. She could just play it by ear.

This was a welcome, unplanned development.

After all, her objective remained the same. It didn’t matter who showed up.

It changed nothing.

Jiang Man looked back at him and asked curiously, "And I can’t be someone from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards?"

"I don’t think so," the man replied with a slight smile. "I’d definitely remember someone from the First, Second, and Third Courtyards who’s as poor as you.

"After all, if someone that poor has a high ranking, they’re usually a threat.

"Coming from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, you do pose a certain threat.

"However, it also means your Magic Skills and Cultivation Skills are incomplete.

"That lowers your threat level somewhat.

"Not to mention you have someone from the Third Courtyard with you. He gave you Spiritual Source, didn’t he?

"How much Spiritual Source did he give the two of you?

"He doesn’t look particularly wealthy himself, so he couldn’t have given you much, could he?

"Only people who clawed their way up from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards would be this cheap."

For a moment, Gao Rong’s mouth fell open, but he didn’t know what to say.

He had, in fact, paid them in Spiritual Source.

And compared to people like this, it really wasn’t much.

Moreover, he was clearly being mocked.

Or rather, they might have been speaking the truth, but the words were still incredibly grating to his ears.

The man probably wasn’t targeting him specifically. He wasn’t even worthy of being targeted by people like them.