CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 15: CHAOS OF THE EXAMINATION

New Celestial Origin Calendar Year 12,345, February 2nd.

The sky over Flying Dragon Mountain was clear, with numerous young cultivators ascending the mountain to participate in the academy assessment.

Most young cultivators climbed the mountain alone, but some were accompanied by elders from their families or sects, eager to witness the excitement together.

At the mountain top, a large arena had already been set up. Atop the arena stood Mr. Cao as the lead, followed by four academy students.

Lin Jing, dressed in white and with a gourd at his waist, Zi Ling’Er in a fiery red dan robe exuding the fragrance of pills, Yuan Jing in a pure black robe with a long sword on his back, and Xu Zhizhi in a green robe with a scholarly demeanor.

"That’s the academy’s teacher, Cao Zhiwei. It’s said that he has reached the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul cultivation and is skilled in the art of reading auras!" An elder introduced Cao Zhiwei to the younger generation:

"It’s said that once Mr. Cao went back to his family, and a junior member was seeking a spouse. Mr. Cao was asked to oversee the match and, with just one look, recommended a partner with an innate ordinary body, claiming they had ’auspicious spouse luck.’ The junior gave up pursuing someone with a special physique and chose the ordinary body instead. Guess what? The two innate ordinary bodies ended up having a child with an ’Innate Thunder Spirit Body,’ the mightiest among Innate Spirit Bodies!"

"Since then, many women from cultivator families seeking husbands have preferred to employ Mr. Cao to vet their choices at considerable cost. If Mr. Cao selects you, consider yourself fortunate—if he says you have auspicious spouse luck, you can join any cultivator family through marriage without issue!"

"I see." The young cultivator looked at Cao Zhiwei with a fervent expression and said, "This auspicious spouse technique is truly powerful!"

...

"Are these four the academy student representatives as examiners? Two Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, one at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, and one at the seventh level?"

Some candidates carefully scrutinized the four, selecting a suitable challenger.

"Choosing Foundation Establishment examiners is certainly difficult to defeat, but even showing a remarkable performance, though failing, is definitely higher scoring than defeating the examiner at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation!" A young cultivator analyzed quietly, "If you’re confident in yourself, challenge those two!"

Hearing his analysis, an elder nearby slapped him and said through sound transmission, "What did I tell you every day? Information comes first in everything you do. That seventh-level Qi Cultivator is from the Beast Taming Sect; his strength lies in his pet beast. Just months ago, he arrived in Hidden Dragon City and defeated a Foundation Establishment cultivator with his current cultivation; incredibly powerful!"

"The other three were beaten by him six months ago! Of course, they were still in Qi Cultivation back then, and now that some have reached Foundation Establishment, things have surely changed."

"Nevertheless, the Beast Taming Cultivator’s reputation in Hidden Dragon City surpasses the other three. Defeating him might render a higher score, given that Hidden Dragon Academy cultivates luck and reputation!"

"Huh???" The slapped young cultivator was dumbfounded. What?! Such deceit?! This academy assessment is really devious.

"So, you should challenge the Beast Taming Cultivator! Lowest cultivation, biggest reputation, who else would you choose to better showcase yourself and get a high score?" Seeing the junior incapable, the elder provided this intel to prevent him from failing the assessment.

...

Most candidates were analyzing information, determining which examiner to challenge best suited themselves.

This assessment, said to test combat, was more like a battle of intelligence.

Undoubtedly, some were absolutely confident in their skills, showing calm expressions, like the Divine Body from the Wang Family; he stood out as a peerless figure in the crowd.

Wang Xiao crossed his arms, silver armor glittering, with his gaze fixed on Cao Zhiwei awaiting the announcement of the assessment’s commencement, not bothering to glance at Lin Jing and his fellows.

With such a strong presence, ordinary candidates dared not approach him.

"The time has come!!!" At this moment, Cao Zhiwei rose into the air, scanning those before him, "I am Cao Zhiwei, the chief examiner for this academy assessment, welcoming everyone to apply for the academy."

"Today marks the first assessment. Regardless of the path you cultivate, personal strength is the foundation of everything. Following this, candidates are to choose one of the four academy cultivators to challenge. I will score based on each’s actual performance."

"Well, no more idle talk, who will challenge first?" As he finished, a sturdy youth at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation leaped onto the arena.

"I am Lei Qiu from Thunder Sound Valley." The robust youth introduced himself. Thunder Sound Valley was by no means a prominent sect.

The valley does not cultivate thunder spells but employs the method of body forging, attracting thunder to temper the body, hence his skin faintly flickering with lightning.

"I’ll challenge him." He looked at the wiry Xu Zhizhi, "I’ve long heard of Young Master Xu’s reputation!"

Xu Zhizhi stepped up with grace, gazing at this Body Cultivator.

"You are courageous indeed. It seems you know of my previous encounter in Grotto Heaven where I killed a formidable Snowfield Body Cultivator! It was an Innate Myriad Beast Body, exceptionally powerful. Are you attempting to prove that you surpass that Snowfield Body Cultivator by challenging me?"

As Xu Zhizhi praised himself, Yuan Jing and Zi Ling’Er’s lips twitched—how could anyone have such a thick skin, saying it without blushing, when it was Lin Jing who heavily injured that Snowfield Body Cultivator, and you just delivered the final blow!

"Yes!!!" Lei Qiu grinned, wanting to prove he was more formidable than the Snowfield Body Cultivator!

"Begin the assessment!" Cao Zhiwei soon announced the start of the assessment, with Lei Qiu’s body sparking with lightning and his form vanishing, charging towards Xu Zhizhi with terrifying speed.

Simultaneously, people only saw that Xu Zhizhi somehow had a bamboo weapon in hand.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes twinkled, aiming as he squeezed the trigger; the Mechanical Bamboo Spear unleashed countless bullets on the advancing Body Cultivator and all around.

Xu Zhizhi continued firing, unleashing a barrage of spirit bean grenades. When the mist dispersed, Lei Qiu lay on the ground unconscious, recalling that cultivators of the Literary Dao shouldn’t fight like this.

"Your speed is impressive, but I achieved night vision during my mortal phase, my sight exceptional. Speed means nothing before me, and your body’s durability pales compared to the Snowfield Body Cultivator. To avoid hurting you excessively, I defeated you with this bamboo spear." With that, he waved his sleeve and retreated, changing the magazine in hand.

Cao Zhiwei turned to Xu Zhizhi, hesitated briefly, and then said, "Next candidate."

The Body Cultivator was carried away, with his only noteworthy display being mediocre speed.

The numerous candidates were left dumbfounded, staring at the weapon in his hands.

This can’t be right, how does this seem more lethal than regular methods of the Literary Dao?

"Me, I want to challenge Xu Zhizhi!" Another young man stepped up, clad in black with gold tiger patterns embroidered.

"Gao Sheng from the Demon Extermination Gao Family!" His introduction stirred up a clamor—was it the famed demon-extermination family?

Seeing another challenger, Xu Zhizhi was quite eager, but upon hearing the name, he suddenly halted, experiencing a foreboding feeling.

As Gao Sheng jumped up, to everyone’s bewilderment, he also produced an identical machine gun to Xu Zhizhi’s, saying, "I have one too, hahaha!"

Xu Zhizhi’s vision dimmed, this was bad.