Chapter 660 - 352: Have You Really Not Held Hands Yet?

Chapter 660: Chapter 352: Have You Really Not Held Hands Yet?

"Applying to convert it into a mission? That won’t be easy. Not only does it require approval from the Upper Courtyard, but you also have to pass next year’s Upper Courtyard assessment. Otherwise, there would be too much room for manipulation, and people would constantly exploit the loophole," Yu Wanyi explained.

Jiang Man was stunned. "So I really have to wait until after next year’s assessment to advance to Returning Void?"

Sitting in the cell, Yu Wanyi gave a slight nod. "Yes, but the time difference isn’t that significant. Once the assessment is over, integrating the qualification will also take quite a while.

"However, as long as you complete the mission, you can integrate the qualification in advance. Then, as soon as the assessment ends, you can enter the Secret Realm to advance.

"Give or take, it’s only a difference of about half a year."

"Is it easy to apply?" Jiang Man asked.

A six-month delay was a bit hard to accept, but for the sake of the Supreme Heart Hall, it wasn’t out of the question. Besides, there was no telling when he would return from the Supreme Heart Hall anyway. It wasn’t too much of a loss.

"The application is easy. The hard part is getting their approval. You have to find a way to convince them." Yu Wanyi pondered for a moment before continuing, "Leave the application to me; I’ll have it sorted out in the next couple of days. The rest will be up to you. Also, is your mission difficult?

"If it’s too simple, it won’t pass the review."

"It shouldn’t be simple," Jiang Man replied. He paused for a moment before asking again, "What if the mission fails?"

"Then the qualification will be gone," Yu Wanyi said. She quickly added, "So you must think it through. Besides, all these things are temporary; your Dao companion is what truly lasts. No matter what mission you take on, don’t forget to care about your Dao companion’s feelings.

"A long-lasting relationship is never just about empty words, but about enduring care.

"Of course, mere basic concern isn’t enough either. You need some emotional interaction."

After saying this, Yu Wanyi glanced around. Once she was sure no one was around, she asked, "How far have you two progressed? Don’t tell me you haven’t even held hands yet? This will affect the advancement of your Cultivation."

Jiang Man looked at the person in front of him and said earnestly, "Senior Sister, my current Cultivation is entirely the result of my own hard work. It has very little to do with Miss Ji Meng."

Yu Wanyi nodded. "I understand. Regardless, you must know your place and avoid any entanglements with other women. Look at Miss Ji Meng—for your sake, she has never had any involvement with other men. Aside from her enemies, there is no one else.

"You can’t let her efforts be in vain.

"However, you also can’t stop her from making those efforts.

"Only through mutual dedication can you deepen your relationship."

Jiang Man felt that Senior Sister Yu hadn’t listened to a single word he had said. He then took his leave. Right before he departed, she mentioned that she was currently striving to secure some resources that he could use as soon as he reached Returning Void. Jiang Man had no idea what kind of resources they were, but Senior Sister Yu certainly had plenty of them. His entire journey up to this point had relied heavily on her support.

Three days later.

The application was submitted, and the Upper Courtyard quickly received the news. In a small courtyard, a man of extraordinary bearing looked at the message in astonishment. "Applying to lock in a Returning Void quota?"

"Exactly. Who is this guy? Who does he think he is?" a woman nearby scoffed. "As someone in the top fifteen, I should have the right to refuse, right? If I don’t agree, he can’t lock it in, can he?"

The extraordinary man nodded slightly. "Yes. The condition given this time is actually very simple: the top thirty must all agree. As long as even one person objects, the Returning Void quota cannot be locked."

The woman chuckled coldly. "I don’t agree. I’d like to see what he can do about it. A brat from the Third Courtyard dares to be so audacious? Does he really think the Upper Courtyard is just like the outside world?"

The others nodded, their faces filled with indignation. How could someone from the Lower Courtyard’s Third Courtyard have the audacity to submit such an application? Such an unhealthy trend could not be allowed to fester. Otherwise, if everyone came to apply, what would be the point of advancing to the Upper Courtyard? If he truly had the capability, he should fight for it fair and square.

The woman picked up the invitation letter in her hand and said, "I’ll be the first to go and meet him."

The next day.

In the courtyard, the woman who had gone to accept the challenge was missing. She had taken a leave of absence and left behind a letter of consent. Another man snorted coldly, "What kind of bribe did she receive to agree so easily?" The others were equally outraged. To make matters worse, when they went to visit the woman, she had closed her doors and refused all guests. It was simply outrageous.

The third day.

The man who had been clamoring the loudest also took a leave of absence, similarly leaving behind a letter of consent. He, too, refused to see any visitors. This left the crowd sighing in disbelief, but soon enough, word spread that another courtyard had dispatched three people all at once.

The fourth day.

All three of them took a leave of absence and left behind letters of consent. Day after day, the numbers of the top thirty rapidly dwindled. Sometimes it was one person a day, and sometimes it was three to five.

The seventh day.

The extraordinary man couldn’t stand it anymore. He finally chose to issue an invitation to put an end to this farce. The others cheered. With Young Master Luo making a move, this matter was as good as settled.

The eighth day.

Young Master Luo went missing. After a search and rescue effort, he was eventually found somewhere in the mountains. He was heavily injured and unconscious. Only after everyone administered first aid did he finally wake up. Then, he took a leave of absence and left behind a letter of consent. Finally, he locked his doors and refused all visitors.

It was deeply humiliating. Now, his only hope was for the remaining disciples to hurry up, accept the challenge, and suffer a crushing defeat so they, too, would need rescuing. Otherwise, where would he put his pride?

Ten days later.

All of the top thirty attended class together. No one mentioned the fact that someone had applied to lock in a quota, nor did anyone bring up the reasons for their respective leaves of absence. Even if someone else brought it up, they simply smiled and walked away.

"What exactly happened?" someone asked privately.

"Heaven knows exactly what method that person used to convince so many people?" another asked.

"Is that person a man or a woman?"

"It’s probably a peerless beauty. Otherwise, why would some of them walk away with their heads hung low? They were acting shy; they must have been affected by a Charm Technique."

"That makes sense then."

"What are you guys talking about? They were obviously beaten."

"Tch, how could a nobody from the Third Courtyard defeat all of them? If they were simply defeated, why would they keep their mouths completely shut?"

"Exactly! You didn’t see Young Master Luo—he was practically beaten into the ground. He looked absolutely heartbroken and emotionally devastated. That wasn’t just a simple physical defeat; it was an emotional one."

Rumors flew endlessly in the Upper Courtyard, but Jiang Man paid them no mind. At present, those rumors wouldn’t reach his side anyway. Regardless, without any unexpected hiccups, he had successfully secured his Returning Void quota. As long as he completed the mission, the quota would be in his hands, and once he passed next year’s assessment, he could use it.

However, while he was busy challenging those people, a few rumors had also surfaced in their own small courtyard. They concerned Fang Yong.

Word on the street was that Fang Yong had been selling information about him and had even secretly reported his shop. Various accounts of him betraying his friends kept cropping up. For a time, the way everyone in the courtyard looked at Fang Yong completely changed. It used to be normal, but now it was as if they had finally seen through him. Even Xiaopang and the others from the Outer Sect were shocked.

As the victim, Song Qing was even more silent. He had never understood why he had been arrested back then, but now he realized it was because Fang Yong had reported him. Not only that, but Fang Yong had also done many malicious things against them behind their backs. For instance, whenever someone was causing trouble for Jiang Man, he would have people stake out the flatbread shop.

"I never expected Young Master Fang to be this kind of person," Song Qing couldn’t help but say.

Xiaopang was a little taken aback. "Could there be some sort of misunderstanding?"

"He definitely must have offended some big shot. Otherwise, how could news like this spread so quickly?" Chang Qiweng chimed in.

Song Qing was still fuming. "It’s one thing if he sold me out, but this is Young Master Jiang’s place. He was harming Young Master Jiang!"

Luo Xuan said softly, "Perhaps we can ask Jiang Man."

Song Qing remained furious because he was the one who had been reported. He had been absolutely terrified back then. When so many people had surrounded them, a mere Qi Refining cultivator like him could feel his hands and feet trembling. At the time, he thought he was doomed and that he had dragged Jiang Man down with him. He never expected it to be Fang Yong who turned them in.

Later, more rumors leaked out regarding Fang Yong’s behavior. Even though he was clearly dirt poor, he insisted on pretending to be a young master to swindle benefits wherever he went. His character was rotten, and his disguise wasn’t even convincing. He was nothing but a pathetic clown.

When Jiang Man heard these rumors, he was utterly bewildered. He frowned and looked at the Old Yellow Ox. "Old Huang, is Young Master Fang about to strike it rich?"

Whatever plan Fang Yong had cooked up, he hadn’t come over to reveal a single word of it.