Once everyone had arrived, Zhao Leming came in with the books.
This assessment was no different from the previous ones.
However, it was also the last normal assessment.
The contest for the Sect assessment qualifications was next month.
Actual combat would be incorporated starting next month.
Only actual combat could truly determine who would qualify.
The rest would have to consider their futures.
Next August, they would have to officially leave the Yunqian Bureau and go their separate ways.
Everyone quietly waited for the assessment.
Jiang Man observed Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu, noticing that neither of them looked his way.
Luo Xuan glanced at Fang Yong, while Cheng Yu took a couple of extra glances at him.
Their reactions seemed normal, and Jiang Man couldn't quite tell which of them was the greater threat.
He decided not to dwell on it. For now, taking first place was what mattered most.
Zhao Leming, standing at the front of the room, wasn't surprised to see them back.
However, he was also very curious about what score Jiang Man would achieve this time.
If he couldn't make it into the top three, he would be in serious trouble.
The people from the Sect would truly eliminate a candidate.
The Token could be used, but one had to demonstrate their strength to justify it.
Otherwise, they wouldn't accept it.
He pushed the thought aside and began distributing the books.
The day's two assessments concluded without a hitch.
Luo Xuan and Cheng Yu walked back together.
On the way, Cheng Yu asked curiously, "Luo Xuan, did you really pay a price to rescue Jiang Man?"
"No." Luo Xuan shook her head. "I was surprised when I heard the news, too, but I didn't pay it much mind. Since he's not interested, there's no need for me to do anything more."
"That was a perfect opportunity to win his loyalty. You just let it pass by?" Cheng Yu asked with a smile.
Luo Xuan shook her head. "I don't know him well. I only used him to hinder Fang Yong. Getting myself more involved wouldn't be worth it.
"He has some potential, but from what I've seen so far, he doesn't seem like the type to become a guard.
"I don't need to waste my energy on him. Right now, I only have one goal: secure my rank and get one of the spots."
After parting with Luo Xuan, Cheng Yu furrowed her brow. 'Everything was going so smoothly. It's a shame they both got out.
'I thought Luo Xuan had finally wised up and rescued Jiang Man early.
'It seems Luo Xuan really has given up on Jiang Man.
'She's so shortsighted. He's a prime candidate for a guard.
'Who says he won't be a guard?
'It just means her methods aren't persuasive enough.'
With that, Cheng Yu headed for the Law Enforcement Department.
After bribing the right people, she was able to see Chang Qiweng, who was locked inside.
"Miss Cheng, did I complete my mission?" he asked immediately.
Cheng Yu toyed with a lock of her long hair and smiled. "You failed."
Hearing this, Chang Qiweng immediately exclaimed, "How could that be?"
"It had nothing to do with you. You did well enough, but you were too obvious. They revoked your qualification, and you won't be getting out for a while." After saying this, her tone shifted. "But I can take care of all that for you.
"I have a new mission for you."
"Please tell me, Miss," Chang Qiweng said respectfully.
"On the fifteenth of next month, injure either Luo Xuan or Fang Yong. Do whatever it takes," Cheng Yu said with a smile. "I still want that Sect qualification spot."
Chang Qiweng nodded respectfully. "It will be done."
Then, Cheng Yu left.
She hesitated, wondering if she should go and find Jiang Man.
But his situation wasn't desperate enough yet.
Besides, she didn't know how he had gotten out, so she decided against going to see him.
She decided to wait for the latest rankings to be released.
It would be even better if his rank was near the top. As long as he agreed to her terms, it might even be possible for her to secure two spots—one for him included.
Later on, he could become a sharp blade in her arsenal.
'Not to cultivate such a promising guard... Luo Xuan is just too proud.'
***
Chang Qiweng was back, too.
Everyone was rather surprised.
How on earth had he gotten out?
Even Jiang Man was a little surprised.
'Did Young Master Yang pull some strings?'
He found it hard to believe.
But there he was, free.
One thing was certain, though: Chang Qiweng's ranking wouldn't be high this time.
After all, he had missed yesterday's assessment.
But it didn't matter to Jiang Man. Whether the third-ranked competitor participated or not made no difference to him.
Soon, the day's assessment was over.
The rankings would be released tomorrow, the seventeenth.
"When are you coming over tomorrow?" Xiaopang asked, walking up to Jiang Man.
Jiang Man shook his head. "I probably won't be able to make it tomorrow. The rankings will be announced at noon, so you'll know my rank then."
"Is breaking into the top ten difficult?" Xiaopang asked, his voice full of hope.
Jiang Man considered it for a moment, then said, "It will be difficult."
Xiaopang sighed. "Well, that's okay. Getting close to the top ten is still pretty good."
Jiang Man didn't explain, simply turning to go back to his Cultivation.
His priority now was to build up his Cultivation to prepare for the actual combat trials next month.
He also had to step up his Magic Skill training, and on top of that, he needed practical combat experience.
That part would be tricky.
He needed to find someone to spar with.
He could either spar with someone of comparable strength or spend money to hire someone.
After some thought, Jiang Man decided to go to the guard post to try his luck.
After all, other people needed combat experience too. He could rent himself out as a sparring partner.
"You're going to learn the Visualization Skill tomorrow?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.
Jiang Man nodded. "Yes."
"If you can't learn it right away, make sure to memorize the contents. You'll have other chances later," the Old Yellow Ox reminded him.
Jiang Man understood.
One thing was critically important when learning a Cultivation Skill: the lecture.
Cultivation Skills were not something one could learn at a glance; they were actually extremely complex.
They required a teacher's explanation, followed by one's own comprehension.
Only then could one figure out the operational pathways.
Relying on self-comprehension alone would make it impossible to even reach the Entry Level.
Geniuses capable of that were incredibly rare and required a vast foundational knowledge of Cultivation Skills.
Jiang Man lacked such a foundation, but as long as he could memorize the skill, he could still ask the Old Yellow Ox for guidance.
Dawn broke quickly.
A full night of Cultivation had left Jiang Man famished.
He ate everything he could find.
If he failed today, there would likely be no second chances.
He had to be in peak condition.
Soon, he arrived at the Dharma Transmission Department.
He presented his Token as soon as he entered.
The guard seemed surprised, but he returned the Token and said, "Follow me."
「Meanwhile.」
「Cyan Cloud Pavilion, Sixth Courtyard.」
The ranking sheets were distributed one by one.
Luo Xuan immediately checked the contents of her sheet.
November 17th.
Yunqian Bureau, Cyan Cloud Pavilion.
Rear Area, Sixth Courtyard.
Name: Luo Xuan.
Rank: 2 (of 26).
Cultivation: Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
Cultivation Level: Dust Purification Qi Cultivation Method, Eighth Layer; Spring Ming Qi Blood Method, Fifth Layer; Simple Observation Method, Second Layer.
Resources Acquired: Simple Qi Refining Skill, Simple Qi Blood Method, Simple Observation Method, Divine Step, Six Harmonies Palm, Three Talents Force.
Plan: Eighty rounds of Cultivation daily.
Score: 63.
Comments: Must work harder to reclaim first place.
The moment she saw the results, Luo Xuan's pupils contracted.
'Second place?'
She found it hard to believe. 'Did Fang Yong surpass me?'
She had expected him to surpass her in December, not November.
It baffled her.
At that moment, Fang Yong also saw his rank.
Third place.
He was profoundly shaken.
'Did Cheng Yu surpass me?'
'So it's true. She's the biggest threat.'
When Cheng Yu saw she was still ranked fourth, she was surprised. 'There's another expert?'
For a moment, a complex mix of emotions washed over everyone at the top of the rankings, but no one said a word.