novelnext Chapter 237 - 162: I Don’t Need Recognition (2)
Chapter 237 - 162: I Don’t Need Recognition (2)
But the truth was so cruel.
Hearing this, Jiang Man asked curiously, "What’s your name?"
"Sun Yuan," the man replied softly.
Jiang Man took out a notebook and began to write. "Sun Yuan. Blatantly mocked my good friend, Gao Rong, right in front of me."
Jiang Man’s action dispelled much of Gao Rong’s dejection and embarrassment.
Moreover, he clearly caught the two words "good friend."
’He’s giving me too much credit.’
’He was probably doing this for Xiaogao’s sake.’
’This wasn’t just a transaction. There was real friendship involved.’
’Young Master Fang truly is a master strategist.’
’Ten thousand was worth it!’
"What are you doing?" Sun Yuan asked curiously.
Jiang Man answered honestly, "I have a habit of writing down the names of people who offend me. Then I look through the list whenever I have a spare moment."
The three of them, Sun Yuan included, were speechless.
’Is this guy here to extort us for our Spiritual Source?’
’But without the strength to back it up, he’s just asking for a beating.’
"You think you’re that strong?" Sun Yuan asked in disbelief. ’He might get away with this in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Courtyards, but in the First, Second, and Third Courtyards? Is he not afraid that there’s always someone stronger?’
Jiang Man closed his notebook, then looked at them and said, "Remember my name. Cloud Mist Peak, Jiang Man."
"Now, it’s time for you to exit."
The moment his voice fell, a red sun rose behind Jiang Man.
"Purple Mist Divine Light?" Sun Yuan sneered. "I’ve been ready for you."
In an instant, the stockiest of the three men stepped forward, a powerful aura erupting from his body.
The moment the Magic Skill took form, Jiang Man vanished from his spot.
A brilliant light erupted.
BOOM!
A powerful force slammed directly into the man at the front.
With a CRACK, the man’s Magic Skill shattered. The attack continued unabated, piercing through the remnants of the skill and striking his face.
A single punch caused his face to contort.
But he gritted his teeth and managed to endure the blow.
His goal was to exhaust the brilliant light so the two behind him could attack.
He hadn’t thought it would be difficult, but his opponent’s light was fiercer than expected.
With a BANG, he was sent flying.
In that instant, Sun Yuan and the other man began their attack.
A giant sword materialized and slashed down.
However, Jiang Man had somehow already appeared by his side.
His body was slowly covered in golden light.
True Martial Skill.
The moment Jiang Man fully activated his True Martial Skill, he struck Sun Yuan with a palm.
The angle was so deceptive that Sun Yuan couldn’t defend against it.
Shadowless Thousand Palms.
POW!
This palm strike landed squarely on Sun Yuan’s chest.
Where the palm landed, a visible indentation appeared.
CRACK!
The sound of breaking bones followed.
Just as Sun Yuan was about to be sent flying, a wisp of cyan smoke appeared beside Jiang Man. It was the last, skinny man, using Cyan Smoke Melody to launch a sneak attack.
The opponent threw a palm strike.
Without even turning his head, Jiang Man countered with a palm strike of his own.
BAM!
The two palms collided.
In an instant, a gale erupted, and the opponent’s Gang Qi shattered.
Then he was sent flying backward.
This all happened in the span of a single breath.
The moment they were sent flying, the red sun rose behind Jiang Man again.
The light fell upon them once more.
Then, they saw Jiang Man closing in.
BOOM!
Before the three of them could even land, they were smashed into the ground by Jiang Man.
Bones shattered, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.
It all happened so fast that Gao Rong and the others couldn’t even react.
So fast that the people Su Qinya had arranged for arrived and entered the battle zone without even having time to think.
Jiang Man, covered in golden light, turned to look at the three newcomers, a little surprised. "More accomplices?"
The next moment, the red sun rose, its brilliant light shining down.
The three who had rushed over opened their mouths, but before they could speak...
...
BANG!
A terrifying power erupted.
True Martial Skill, Thirteen-Layered Purple Mist Divine Light, and a full-power strike combined.
It also took just a single breath.
The three of them were slammed into the ground and knocked unconscious.
Jiang Man landed softly in front of Gao Rong, the golden light around him slowly fading.
He was completely stunned.
’Before, I just saw Jiang Man bombard them with sheer power.’
’But this time was completely different.’
’Those men weren’t defeated in a single blow. They even managed to counterattack.’
’But it was useless.’
’His combat prowess is extraordinary.’
"I told you I’ve trained," Jiang Man said with some emotion.
’Actually, it’s all thanks to Mr. Ji’s excellent teaching.’
’Every single one of his lessons is filled with practical knowledge and skill.’
’There’s no fluff, and more importantly, everything he teaches is something we can actually absorb and learn.’
’Control, application, and perception of Magic Skills.’
’Mr. Ji covers it all.’
’I’ve never seen such a capable teacher.’
Meanwhile, Su Qinya’s face was impassive, but inwardly she was reeling.
’I considered so many possibilities and countermeasures.’
But...
’I never imagined this outcome.’
’None of my schemes were any use against him.’
For a moment, she felt an inexplicable shock.
No matter her many schemes, he shattered them all with overwhelming force.
’It was both shocking and infuriating.’
Jiang Man turned back to Su Qinya. "Senior Sister, you can retrieve the item now."
Su Qinya finally snapped out of it. "You’re very strong, Junior Brother. People always say cultivating all night is just taking a shortcut, but I believe strength is strength. There’s no shortcut about it."
Jiang Man paid her words no mind.
’Did I need her to tell me that?’
’Strength from pulling all-nighters?’
’As if.’
’It comes from working hard all night. If you have Talent, you have to work even harder.’
’If you have no Talent and don’t even work hard, what’s the point of Cultivation?’
As they entered the Array, everything went smoothly.
In the end, Su Qinya got the item, but this was not the result she wanted.
It was completely different from what she had envisioned.
And...
He didn’t seem to care about her approval at all.
’It was as if he didn’t need anyone’s approval.’
’Does he look down on everyone?’
’Or perhaps, he has no doubts about the path he’s chosen.’
’What kind of person is he?’
’Arrogant, conceited.’
’Can someone like that truly go far?’
Such strong Talent could indeed shape such a personality.
She was dying to know, was he truly not afraid of an incomplete Heart Spirit during Core Formation?
Gao Rong was also curious, but he asked, "Young Master Jiang, by cultivating all night, can you really reach Core Formation smoothly?"
Jiang Man looked at him in confusion. "Why not?"
"Your Heart Spirit gets damaged, which can give rise to a Heart Demon. Even with great Talent, you’d only be able to use the First Skill to achieve Core Formation. That method leaves behind impurities, making your future path difficult. You’d have to spend a lot of time clearing them out."
"Only by using the Third Skill can you save time and enter the next Realm," Gao Rong said honestly.
Jiang Man didn’t know any of this.
But answering this question was also very simple. "Wait for me to reach Core Formation next year, and you’ll have your answer."
Hearing this, Gao Rong was stunned.
Su Qinya was also astonished.
’Core Formation next year?’
She felt the man before her had become arrogant to an incomprehensible degree.
’Jiang Man had no intention of waiting ten years for Core Formation. Wouldn’t the owner of the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart have caught up to him by then?’
’I have to reach Core Formation next year. As for the rankings, I’ll fight for them now.’
’Fight for a ranking now, fight for the Promotion Skill next year, and then achieve Core Formation.’
’I can’t afford to be any slower.’
Of course, they definitely didn’t believe him.
But there was no need to explain. Next year, they would see for themselves.
Afterward, Su Qinya asked about Jiang Man’s plans.
Jiang Man told her truthfully that he needed to find a treasure.
"A treasure?" Su Qinya thought for a moment and said, "A treasure from the old ruins?"
Jiang Man nodded.
"I do know of one, but it’s within the First Courtyard’s territory. It would take over half a day to get there via Sword Control." After a pause, Su Qinya continued, "The competition for the First, Second, and Third Courtyards has no set time limit. At its fastest, it’s over in half a month. At its slowest, it can drag on for two."
"It usually takes almost a month, so there is plenty of time."
Jiang Man considered it. ’Getting the treasure itself won’t take long. The round trip is just over a day.’
’It won’t interfere with my plans.’
’I can go there, come back in a day or so, and then fight the people from the Second Courtyard.’
’If I find something good and unlock a new Talent...’
’...then I can change my plan.’
’I won’t have to rely on defeating everyone to climb the rankings. I can just fight my way straight into the top spots.’
"Let’s go have a look," Jiang Man said.
After that, he left a message for those prodigies, telling them to wait for him for two days.
「Elsewhere.」
Xiang Liang, who received the news, was a bit surprised. "He’s actually delaying for two days? What is he going to do? And after I went to the trouble of finding him a good opponent."
Qiao Yu said calmly, "Perhaps he fought someone along the way, realized he wasn’t as strong as he thought, and got injured. He probably needs two days to rest."
That was certainly a possibility.
After that, they discussed it and decided to search within the Second Courtyard’s territory to see if there was anything they needed.
The competition in the First Courtyard was too intense.
There was no rush to go in.
「Meanwhile.」
Zhuo Ling was looking forward to Jiang Man’s arrival.
She would make her clan sister understand just how wide the gap was between her and Jiang Man.
There was absolutely no need for her to go out of her way to befriend and recruit him.
She could take him under her wing, but it seemed her clan sister had their roles reversed.