Chapter 513 - 284: Old Yellow Ox: The Recipient Rejected the Message

Chapter 513: Chapter 284: Old Yellow Ox: The Recipient Rejected the Message

The dazed newborn was taken to the Law Enforcement Hall’s prison cells.

He was truly blessed, getting jailed right after birth.

When he grew up, he could tell everyone that at his birth, a powerful expert from the Zhenyue Bureau had descended from the heavens to personally escort him to the Law Enforcement Hall.

From then on, he’d never have to worry about food or clothing.

On the way, Ren Qian asked curiously, "Who are you working with?"

Jiang Man answered truthfully, "I don’t know. Probably a subordinate of the Great Evil God."

"What’s the purpose of this cooperation?"

"To inform them of the whereabouts of the Immortal Dao Coordinate."

Hearing this, Ren Qian looked at Jiang Man in astonishment. "Through the subdued Evil God?"

Jiang Man nodded, then said, "Do you want to know? I can also find out who currently has it."

At his words, Ren Qian shook his head slightly. "I don’t need to know. But I will report this matter, so someone might come looking for you."

"As for Collecting Spiritual Source, you’ll have to figure that out yourself."

"The shop has to be closed for three months. Usually, no one cares as long as there are no complaints."

"Besides, there was another reason you were arrested this time."

Jiang Man was surprised. ’What other reason could there be?’

"Peak Master Bai’s targeting of you seems to have changed. You need to be especially careful. Don’t leave any loose ends," Ren Qian warned.

Jiang Man immediately thought of his new identity.

To some people now, he wasn’t the Unparalleled Celestial Pride of the Wuyun Sect.

He was Meng Qiewei’s husband.

Someone would always be coming to test him.

’This situation will probably be at its most intense when I enter the Inner Sect.’

’But if I just have a little time to shed the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart and advance to a higher Realm, I’ll be able to fight Golden Core and Primordial Spirit cultivators in the Inner Sect despite being in a lower realm.’

————

Elder Bai, who was in charge of disciples entering the Inner Sect, had originally planned to use the issue with the sesame-cake shop as a pretext to lead a group to attack Jiang Man.

He hoped to injure him in the process.

Even if that failed, he could at least gauge his strength.

However, he was surprised to discover today that the shop had been reported.

The shop was sealed, and Jiang Man was arrested.

"Who reported him?" Elder Bai was quite curious.

His subordinate quickly provided an answer.

"Fang Yong of the Outer Sect."

"This Fang Yong might be useful. What’s his Cultivation?" Elder Bai asked the man reporting to him.

"He’s at the Early Stage of Golden Core and is also set to enter the Inner Sect this year. Apparently, he’s even in the same courtyard as Jiang Man, likely to gather more information to sell," the man said respectfully, bowing his head.

"Did he succeed?"

"He got in."

"It seems their relationship isn’t so strained, and he’s got some tricks up his sleeve. Ask him if he’s willing to take on a big job: giving Jiang Man a slow-acting poison."

"What if he takes the Spiritual Source but then tells Jiang Man the situation and has him pretend to take the poison?"

Hearing this, Elder Bai raised an eyebrow at the man beside him and chuckled. "This is a whirlpool. He’s being so obvious because he *wants* someone to approach him."

"He chose to get involved, yet he thinks he can play both sides and profit without offending anyone?"

"Where in the world can you find a deal that good?"

"Once you’re in, there’s no freedom."

"Whether he feels helpless or that his hand is forced, if he takes the Spiritual Source, he’ll only have two choices."

"Either he actually makes Jiang Man take the poison, or he takes it himself."

The subordinate lowered his gaze and said nothing.

’Once you’re in the whirlpool, you can’t just avoid the danger because you see it coming.’

"Go find him. He’s probably waiting for you," Elder Bai said.

——

「Endless Mountain Range.」

Aboard the Ji Family’s Flying Treasure, Ji Shoumo and the others sat in silence, gazing out at the desolate mountain range.

They had never been this far from home before.

At least, never across this endless, desolate mountain range.

It was like a world utterly devoid of life.

There wasn’t a trace of Spiritual Qi, let alone any vitality.

Their knowledge of the events from over three hundred years ago was fragmented at best.

They only knew that a great war had erupted between heaven and earth, completely extinguishing all life on the land.

Countless Sects were annihilated.

Rivers of blood flowed.

The Four Major Immortal Sects rose from the ruins and began to rebuild order.

But even so, a great number of those who practiced Immortal Cultivation perished and faded away in an environment devoid of Spiritual Qi.

Ordinary people suffered an even more tragic fate.

If not for a few world-altering figures from the Immortal Sects who rewrote the Cultivation Skills, the situation would have been irreversible.

The Immortal Sects, armed with the Simple Skill, traveled throughout the lands of order, allowing everyone to practice Cultivation.

Only then was the land stabilized.

New Spiritual Qi was condensed.

Afterward, as it began to spread, the Immortal Sects also took on the responsibility of restoring the land while suppressing the turmoil left over from three hundred years ago.

"This is the first time I’ve seen the outside world so directly," Ji Linglong said.

The others were also silent.

Back in the Ji Family, people often said the family’s Celestial Pride was a disappointment for abandoning their proudest weapon, the sword, to pick up a pen and join an Immortal Sect.

They had grown used to hearing it and also felt that the Celestial Pride had wasted their Talent.

But now, they realized that person was far beyond their comprehension.

Afterward, they began to study the message they had received.

"The message says that Jiang Man and Ji Meng are extremely important to the family, and we must protect them with all our strength, showing them no disrespect," Ji Chenfeng said, looking at the other two. "But it doesn’t state their specific identities. It only says that some people might have a general idea who they are and could make a move against them in the Inner Sect."

"That’s why we’re heading to the Wuyun Sect."

"In all likelihood, we’ll be sharing a courtyard with them."

"Golden Core and Primordial Spirit cultivators in one courtyard?" Ji Linglong sighed. "Isn’t that like bullying a child?"

"Not necessarily. Perhaps other Primordial Spirit cultivators will be there as well," Ji Shoumo said.

After a pause, he continued, "The letter repeatedly warns us not to be rude. What do you two think?"

The other two remained silent, unsure how to answer.

Looking at them, Ji Shoumo said, "Disrespect is out of the question, so we must be as polite as possible when speaking with him and not breach etiquette."

"However, regarding their protection, I hope they’ll cooperate with us."

"As for lodging, we should try to stay close to them to prevent any accidents."

"We also need to push them to get stronger. That’s the most reliable approach."

The others nodded.

Although they weren’t entirely convinced, they knew they had to be polite.

The repeated warnings in the letter couldn’t be baseless.

Acting on their own would likely invite unnecessary trouble.

For now, they could only hope for cooperation. Otherwise, resorting to force would be unseemly.

"Now that the situation is clear, can we start creating a customized cultivation plan for them?" Ji Linglong asked.

The other two nodded.

Then, they began their discussion.

Most of their time would need to be spent on Cultivation, with rest kept to a minimum.

Their Spirit—the Primordial Spirit itself—also needed to be strengthened, or they wouldn’t be able to bear the strain.

————

「Early May.」

In his prison cell, Jiang Man successfully filled his third Gourd.

Spiritual Third Layer.

He couldn’t open a fourth Gourd.

Three was the limit his Physical Body and Cultivation could withstand.

Right now, his Primordial Spirit was glowing brilliantly within him, causing his Physical Body discomfort and making his Golden Core boil.

If he forcibly advanced to the Fourth Layer, his power and Physical Body would descend into chaos, and he would likely suffer cultivation deviation.

To continue strengthening his Spirit now, he needed to improve either his Cultivation or his Physical Body.

If his Physical Body reached the Mid-stage, he could push the limit of his Spirit to the Fifth Layer.

If his Cultivation reached the Mid-stage, his Spirit’s limit could be pushed to the Seventh Layer.

If his Cultivation reached the Late Stage of Primordial Spirit, his Spirit’s limit could be pushed to the Ninth Layer.

After that, he could complete its solidification.

However, Jiang Man planned to raise his Cultivation first.

His Cultivation Skill was a Top-grade Skill, whereas he had yet to obtain a Physical Body Skill.

"You’re entering the Inner Sect on September first," the Old Yellow Ox reminded him.

’Four months. Not a lot of time,’ Jiang Man mused.

’With enough Spiritual Source, I have a chance of advancing to the Middle Stage of Primordial Spirit.’

’But it’s only a chance.’

’Advancing my Cultivation is relatively difficult, and I haven’t even tried it yet.’

’Besides, I still haven’t learned the Cultivation Skill.’

"Senior, I am ready to learn the Cultivation Skill," Jiang Man said, sitting before the Old Yellow Ox.

After that, the Old Yellow Ox began to explain the Nine-star Primordial Spirit Technique.

This explanation was longer than before, taking a total of ten days.

It took Jiang Man another three days to process it all.

Only then did he turn to Old Meng in the adjacent cell. "Old Meng, watch closely. See how I achieve Great Success."

The other man lay with his back to Jiang Man, completely ignoring him.

Jiang Man sighed, shook his head, and looked at the Old Yellow Ox.

The latter was busy eating grass, not even lifting its head.

Jiang Man found it a bit of a shame, then began his Cultivation.

His speed at cultivating the skill hadn’t changed much.

One repetition to reach Entry Level.

Two repetitions to reach the Second Layer.

A third repetition to reach the Third Layer.

A fifth repetition to reach the Fourth Layer.

「Late June.」

After Jiang Man finished his final repetition, starlight seemed to flow around his body.

Finally, it all converged and entered him.

The Nine-star Primordial Spirit Technique had reached Great Success.

"That was much slower," Jiang Man remarked with a sigh. "Almost a month slower than the Visualization Skill."

The Old Yellow Ox turned a deaf ear.

Old Meng was like a dead man; no matter how much Jiang Man called, he wouldn’t wake.

Jiang Man had Old Huang pass a message to Zhao Tiankuo.

Old Huang was silent for a moment before replying, "The other party refused to receive it."