Zhao Leming's meaning was perfectly clear.
Spots were limited, and the opportunity was rare. In previous years, it was completely unattainable.
Now the opportunity was here, but not just anyone could secure a spot.
He could get one, but it all depended on what was in it for him.
Jiang Man stood frozen, sighing internally.
'The man wanted something in return, but what could I possibly offer?'
'It must be the second half of the Raising Skill for the Flame-Stepping Spiritual Steed.'
'The first half could only negate the weakness phase once.'
'The second half was the real core of the skill.'
'He must have suspected something, which is why he's probing me with this offer now.'
'If I want this spot, I'll have to pay a steep price.'
And this Raising Skill was truly the only thing of value he had to offer.
Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man and continued, "Opportunity waits for no one. Perhaps you don't realize just how rare this chance to test a new Cultivation Skill is.
"Something this good would never have come to the Luoyun City Yunqian Bureau in previous years.
"It's only because some people from the Sect are passing through this year for certain reasons that we have this opportunity at all.
"And precisely because it's so rare, the competition is incredibly fierce.
"Ordinary Spiritual Sources and Elixirs won't be enough to trade for this chance.
"Only something unique that someone needs will get you a spot."
With the man being so direct, Jiang Man couldn't pretend not to understand.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Mr. Zhao, are you confident you can get it?"
"I'm ninety percent certain. If I fail, I can offer you other compensation." After a pause, Mr. Zhao continued, "But qualifying for the trial has its own conditions.
"The Mortal Level Upper Grade Qi Refining Skill has the lowest requirements—no specific Cultivation is needed.
"The Qi Blood Technique requires the Qi Refining Third Layer, a score of at least thirty, and you must not have previously cultivated any Qi Blood Technique.
"The Visualization Skill requires the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, a score of at least sixty-two, and you must not have previously cultivated any Visualization Skill."
"When will this be, roughly?" Jiang Man asked.
Mr. Zhao pondered for a moment. "In about two months, at the latest."
'Two months,' Jiang Man thought. He then asked, "Will it be based on the scores from the mid-November test?"
"No, you just need to meet the requirements before the trial itself. If you don't make the cut during the courtyard's test, you'll be re-evaluated when the skill is taught. However, the candidates will be selected a bit earlier, so you don't have much time," Zhao Leming explained.
Jiang Man fell silent for a moment.
'Assuming mid-November is around the ninetieth day…'
'...that means I still have ten days.'
'If that's the case, it should be enough time.'
"The timing is a bit tight for you, I admit, but if you want a Top-grade Observation Method, this is your only path." Zhao Leming chose his words carefully before continuing, "If it weren't for this unexpected event, there would only be a single Top-grade Observation Method in all of Luoyun City. The other Noble Families might seem impressive, but they can never compare to the orthodox lineage."
And the orthodox lineage, naturally, was the Yunqian Bureau.
Other families could be powerful, but they could never surpass the Yunqian Bureau.
'The man had made it clear. This was the only chance.'
'Or rather, the only chance before December.'
'There wouldn't be any others.'
'So, without a doubt, if I wanted it, I had to agree.'
'I had to hand over the second part of the Raising Skill.'
'But the conditions were also incredibly demanding.'
'I'd need to reach the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, achieve a score of sixty-two, and not have cultivated any Visualization Skill.'
'Qi Refining Sixth Layer was worth forty-eight points, which meant the remaining points had to be divided between my Qi Refining Skill and Qi Blood Technique.'
'The two Cultivation Skills had to add up to fourteen points.'
'That meant I needed to reach the Seventh Layer in both.'
'Right now, probably no one in the Sixth Courtyard could achieve that.'
"So, do you want to register?" Zhao Leming asked.
Jiang Man had the feeling the man was absolutely certain he had the second part.
After a brief silence, he said, "I'll have to trouble you then, Mr. Zhao. I will come see you again tomorrow."
Hearing this, Zhao Leming was overjoyed.
'He really does have the second part.'
'With this, my Immortal Path will be much smoother.'
'Still, securing the spot won't be easy.'
'Luckily, I have the Raising Skill to offer. Otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to get it.'
He hesitated for a moment, then added as a word of caution, "If you're set on the Visualization Skill, you should be prepared. You might not be able to raise your score in time, and there is absolutely no leeway on the scores."
Jiang Man nodded, indicating he understood.
The man also made it clear that if Jiang Man's final score or Cultivation didn't meet the requirements, he wouldn't be held responsible.
Jiang Man acknowledged this as well.
He then took his leave.
'In truth, I don't really care about the second part of the Raising Skill.'
'Trading it for a chance to register is more than worth it.'
'There's no other way.'
'My only worry is what he might do after he gets the complete skill.'
'I can't be sure, but I also can't refuse.'
'I have no choice.'
'I'm too weak, this place is too small, and there's only one path forward.'
'Even the greatest Talent can be trapped here.'
Jiang Man went back to find the Old Yellow Ox. He first wrote down the Raising Skill, then began cultivating his Qi Blood Technique.
'I'll try to reach the Ninth Layer in the next two days.'
「The next day.」
Zhao Leming was waiting when Jiang Man arrived.
He was practically bursting with impatience. If not for the need to maintain the upper hand in their deal, he would have gone to find Jiang Man himself.
'The sooner I get the Raising Skill, the sooner I can unlock my potential on the Immortal Path.'
When he took the book, he didn't look at it immediately. Instead, he told Jiang Man to wait for news, promising a definite answer by November at the latest.
People from the Sect would likely arrive in October.
He told him to keep an eye out.
Only after Jiang Man had left did he eagerly open the book.
It was, indeed, the second part of the Raising Skill.
It was more profound than the first part, but deciphering it was only a matter of time.
This made him even more certain that someone was backing Jiang Man.
He couldn't be sure who it was, and he knew nothing about the circumstances.
But the transaction had gone smoothly.
'I'm seeking fortune and a future, and it seems he is too.'
'In that case, we just need to complete the transaction.'
'There's no harm in it.'
'Being too greedy isn't necessarily a good thing. If I block his path, my own path might be blocked in the future.'
'It comes back to the same principle.'
'Spare him, and spare myself.'
He patted the book in his hand, planning to head out.
'I've received my payment, now I have to do my part.'
Jiang Man returned to the courtyard. All he could do was wait for news and raise his Cultivation as quickly as possible.
In two months, he needed to raise his Cultivation to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
'It would certainly be difficult.'
'It had taken him a month, even with Elixirs, just to reach the Third Layer.'
Not only would the difficulty increase exponentially from here, but he also had no more Flawless Qi Gathering Pills.
'This Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart is too stingy.'
Today's lecture was on the Qi Blood Technique. After it was over, Jiang Man immediately began to cultivate.
He cultivated for two straight days.
On the afternoon of the second day, Jiang Man stopped his cultivation.
'Simple Qi Blood Method, Ninth Layer.'
'Time to strengthen my Physical Body.'
Before he began, however, he planned to go back and eat some meat.
He had spent some of his Spiritual Source on food over the past few days, all to ensure his Physical Body would be properly enhanced.
In the courtyard, Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu were also leaving.
They hadn't gone far when Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, how come you haven't looked for Jiang Man to spar with these past two days?"
"Everyone is saying I intend to groom him as my personal guard. What do you suppose he thinks about that?" Luo Xuan asked.
"He's probably happy about it, right? But he has been improving rather quickly lately. I can't tell if he was hiding his strength before or if this is a sudden breakthrough." Cheng Yu mused for a moment before adding, "Or maybe he had some kind of epiphany. It's just a little too late for that."
"Yes, it is too late. But with enough resources, he might not be entirely without a chance," Luo Xuan said with a smile. "That's why he must be weighing the pros and cons.
"Everyone's calling him a future guard; perhaps he's starting to lean that way himself.
"At least it's a publicly acknowledged path.
"He's had two days to think it over. Especially after strengthening his Physical Body, he should understand that he can't afford to support his own cultivation.
Now, all he needs is the right opportunity.
If he's truly interested, I just need to give him an opening, and he'll come to me."