The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 191 - 140: It’s Over Just As It Started?

People came and went in the bustling wine shop.

Most were here to buy fine wine.

The wine shop was quite famous on Red Water Peak.

Especially under the Shopkeeper’s management, which had taken the business to new heights.

At the moment, however, the Shopkeeper wasn’t paying attention to the business outside.

He was still tasting wine and revising his recipes.

He hoped to brew a fine wine he could be satisfied with.

Although he had failed twice, he wasn’t anxious. He preferred to take his time.

That was his nature—to remain perfectly calm even if a mountain were to collapse before him.

He believed that no matter what one did, one needed to be sufficiently calm.

But suddenly, he heard the sound of panting from a corner of the room.

"In such a hurry?" the Shopkeeper asked without looking up.

"Shopkeeper, something’s happened," a slightly anxious voice called out from the corner.

"What is it?" the Shopkeeper asked, his mind still on the wine recipe.

"The first round of the annual rankings is over," the man in the corner said immediately.

Hearing this, the Shopkeeper raised an eyebrow and looked toward the corner. "The first round of the annual rankings? Which annual rankings? The First, Second, and Third Courtyards?"

The First, Second, and Third Courtyards often had problems.

The man in the corner took a deep breath and said, "The annual rankings for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards are over. The results have already been announced."

The Shopkeeper’s brows furrowed. "What did you say? The rankings for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards are over? It’s only been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. How could it be over already?"

The voice from the corner was filled with a hint of shock. "Someone single-handedly defeated every genius from the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards, ending the assessment.

"The rankings were announced. There’s only a first place, and nothing else."

The Shopkeeper’s hand tightened around the wine ladle he was holding. "Who was it?"

The voice from the corner was heavy as it spoke, syllable by syllable: "Cloud Mist Peak, Eighth Courtyard, Jiang Man."

CLANG!

The wine ladle in the Shopkeeper’s hand fell to the floor.

He instantly recalled Zhuo Bufan’s words.

’The prodigy from the Eighth Courtyard is back. I need to keep up with him, and I’ll need more resources.’

’If I miss this chance, I’m afraid I’ll never get another one.’

"This is bad!"

————

Inner Sect.

Yu Wanyi, who had been cooped up at home, was plucking petals from a flower.

The contest for the Seven Peaks had begun.

The results would be out in three days at most.

By then, the person she’d invested in would be number one, and she could go to the small mountain peak to collect her reward.

Her name would appear among the investors on that small peak.

It would shine with glory.

Everyone around her would surely be shocked.

Though it wouldn’t create the same shockwaves as a win in the Ninth Courtyard.

But being first in the Eighth Courtyard was still astounding enough.

It would still be a hugely successful investment.

Senior Brother Lu’s investment was certainly impressive, but their two picks hadn’t faced each other yet. If they did, it was anyone’s guess who would win or lose.

For now, she’d let him have his moment.

’It’s a shame my reputation isn’t high enough, or I might have had a chance at the team leader position Master mentioned.’

As Yu Wanyi was lost in thought, someone suddenly flew over on a sword.

It was Senior Sister Xia.

She hurriedly leaped down from the sky, landing in front of Yu Wanyi. "Something’s happened to the person you invested in!"

At her words, Yu Wanyi shot to her feet. "Senior Sister Xia, don’t scare me! Did my investment just go down the drain?"

"No, it’s not that," Xia Jin said, her voice still laced with shock. "The annual rankings for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards are out."

"Jiang Man isn’t first?" Yu Wanyi asked immediately.

Xia Jin took a sip of water. "He is first, but... this time, there’s only a first place on the ranking list. And don’t you think it ended too quickly?"

Yu Wanyi thought for a moment. "You’re right. Didn’t it just start today?"

Xia Jin stared at her and said seriously, "It ended within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The person you invested in opened a special challenge channel and took on everyone from the Seven Peaks by himself. In less than an incense stick’s time, he defeated every genius from the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards. It happened so fast that the others weren’t even worthy of being ranked."

Hearing this, Yu Wanyi was stunned. "They weren’t worthy of being ranked? That must have huge repercussions, right?"

Xia Jin nodded. "Yes. Your investment has disrupted the plans of many other investors. They’re definitely going to do something about it."

Yu Wanyi was a little dazed. She hadn’t expected Jiang Man to be so aggressive.

It was as if he was afraid people *wouldn’t* know he was a genius.

’Now I’m in danger.’

——

In the Secret Realm of the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Courtyards.

A crowd of people lay on the ground, their eyes fixed on Jiang Man, full of unwillingness to accept defeat. "If you had given us time to prepare, you might not have beaten us so quickly!"

Jiang Man stood tall in the Secret Realm, a golden light from his True Martial Skill radiating from his body. His very presence was like an insurmountable mountain.

Looking at the resentful crowd, Jiang Man took out a notebook and began flipping through it.

After looking it over, he put the notebook away and said, "No need to be so resentful. You can try to surpass me."

’You’ll just be watching my back until I disappear from sight.’

’They’ve already lost the chance to ever be defeated by me again.’

Jiang Man turned and left. Lin Qingshan looked at the crowd and said, "Work hard. Then you’ll discover you’re no longer qualified to be his opponent.

"The day you lost is the closest you’ll ever be to him."

He also turned and left.

Fang Yong, on the other hand, looked at the crowd and announced, "He’s a good friend of mine."

And with that, he left as well.

The smug look on his face was disgusting.

After leaving, Jiang Man received two items.

The first was a Top-grade Skill, Giant Swordsmanship.

The second was a stone, a Sun Refining Stone.

Looking at the Top-grade Skill, the three of them fell silent.

Giant Swordsmanship was certainly powerful, but it required a Sword Cultivator to unleash its full potential.

And they were all Magic Cultivators.

"Actually, you could buy a Spirit Sword and then go serve as a chief examiner at the Yunqian Bureau," Lin Qingshan suggested.

Jiang Man and Fang Yong looked at him. "Can you afford one?"

Lin Qingshan looked back at them. "Can’t you guys afford one either?"

The three fell silent again.

Finally, they turned their attention to the Sun Refining Stone.

It was a stone used for daytime Cultivation that could make one’s efforts twice as effective.

It was indeed a great item for Fang Yong and Lin Qingshan.

"Now that they’ve been defeated, how will the rankings be decided?" Fang Yong asked.

Jiang Man didn’t know.