Chapter 54: Aftermath

Chen Mobai called Qingnu, but she didn't answer. Searching around the station where she got off was like looking for a needle in a haystack, yielding no results. At that moment, he blamed himself for not getting off with her and taking her home.

It wasn't until his spiritual power was exhausted, making it impossible to maintain his Ascension Technique, that Chen Mobai, panting, sat on a curbstone by the road, contemplating everything he knew about Qingnu. "That's right, she's a student at Immortal Sect First High School. She should be in class right now."

Chen Mobai had taken the day off. He checked the time and realized it was currently the free usage period for the school's cultivation rooms. If that were the case, Qingnu's phone would definitely be on do-not-disturb mode. He waited for his spiritual power to recover somewhat, then took a bus and headed towards Immortal Sect First High School.

"Since none of you have any objections, we'll finalize this year's exam paper." At the summit of Spirit Peak, the Crimson-Robed True Person, after synthesizing everyone's opinions, made the final decision. "Yuanhe, please revise it according to these suggestions."

Yuanhe, who had designed the questions, immediately stood up and nodded upon hearing the True Person's words. He then collected the revised papers from the representatives of the Four Great Daoist Academies and several Scholarly Palaces. "Then I'll take my leave."

"Mmm."

After Yuanhe left, the Crimson-Robed True Person began the main topic of the day. "What kind of entrance examination do your Daoist Academies and Scholarly Palaces plan to conduct this year?"

The scores from the college entrance examination (Gaokao) served to filter out those without innate spiritual aptitude. Only after meeting the Gaokao score requirement could one apply to the Four Great Daoist Academies and Ten Great Scholarly Palaces. After these sixteen institutions had made their selections, it was the turn of academies like Red Cloud Danzhu.

Each year, the entrance examinations set by the Four Great Daoist Academies and Ten Great Scholarly Palaces could either be combined or conducted separately. However, to conserve public resources, they were usually merged. During a single assessment, numerous stages would be set up, and participants would be scored based on their performance at each. If any of the Four Great Daoist Academies took an interest in someone, they naturally had the first pick. If two academies simultaneously wanted the same student, then the student themselves would choose. However, such an event had never occurred in Danxia City. Only among the top-ranked great grotto-heavens were there truly exceptional cultivators, "Immortal Roots and Dao Seeds," who would cause all four Daoist Academies to vie for them.

"This year, there's a directive from above, so I don't need to rack my brains. True Person, please see, this is the Dean's official approval." Lan Haitain spoke first, smiling as he handed a letter to the Crimson-Robed True Person. The latter took it and couldn't help but exclaim in wonder. "This is truly strange. How did that old fellow come up with this?"

The young man in the white suit frowned, but he also took out a letter. This was given to him by his teacher when he left the Daoist Academy, personally specifying the content of this year's entrance examination. "True Person, this is from our department head."

The Crimson-Robed True Person also took it and his eyes widened. He then looked up at the other representatives from the Daoist Academies and Scholarly Palaces. These individuals hesitated for a moment, then simultaneously produced their envelopes. The Crimson-Robed True Person flicked his finger, and all the envelopes landed in his hand. His spiritual sense instantly read through all the contents, leaving a look of disbelief on his face. "This truly is an entrance examination rarely seen in a thousand years."

After reading the identical contents of all the envelopes, the Crimson-Robed True Person's expression calmed. As a Golden Core True Person, he discerned some high-level intentions behind this entrance examination. "I understand. We'll proceed with this arrangement. The location will be my Danzhu Academy."

After the Crimson-Robed True Person finished speaking, the representatives from the Scholarly Palaces rose and bid farewell first, followed by those from the Four Great Daoist Academies. After everyone had descended the mountain, a woman's voice echoed from the wooden hut at the summit of Spirit Peak. "Thank you for your trouble, True Person Yu."

"Tsk, now I understand why you've been hiding. You must have known about this for a long time."

"Something like that. But I am indeed at a critical point in my cultivation and cannot move. I can only trouble you with this."

"Alright, I'll take charge of the Gaokao matters, but the affairs of the Righteous Law Hall are not within my purview. You'll have to handle those yourself, Senior Sister."

As soon as the Crimson-Robed True Person finished speaking, someone who had already descended the mountain returned. "Lan Haitain of the Righteous Law Hall greets both True Persons." Lan Haitain, who had met Chen Mobai twice, saluted the Crimson-Robed True Person and True Person Shi Qing in the wooden hut with a solemn expression.

"I was wondering why Kunpeng Daoist Academy would send you, a Golden Core Dao Seed, to Danxia City to handle entrance examination matters. Tell me, is this a directive from the academy, or an order from the Hall Master?" As a Golden Core cultivator, the Crimson-Robed True Person had also heard of Lan Haitain's renowned name. He was one of the most likely talents to form a Golden Core in the next generation, equally famous as the Jade Branch Immortal from Nature Scholarly Palace. Because Lan Haitain was also a Dharma Cultivator of the Righteous Law Hall, one of the three great halls of the Immortal Sect, his reputation even surpassed that of the Ice Spirit Root cultivator from Nature Scholarly Palace, who dedicated herself to arduous cultivation.

"It's the Hall Master's order." Facing the two Golden Core True Persons, Lan Haitain did not conceal anything and answered truthfully.

"What is the matter concerning?" The Crimson-Robed True Person asked again, but Lan Haitain shook his head with a bitter smile. "This matter is an internal affair of the Hall; I'm afraid I cannot disclose it to the True Persons."

"Alright, then I'll make my exit." Although the Crimson-Robed True Person was very curious, he was a person devoted to arduous cultivation and dared not truly get involved in the affairs of the Righteous Law Hall. Hearing this, he immediately laughed heartily, conjured his escape light, and vanished from the summit of Spirit Peak.

"I understand the Hall Master's intention." After Lan Haitain delivered a scroll into the wooden hut, he received this remark from True Person Shi Qing. Although the latter said nothing more, he already understood the True Person's meaning.

"Yes, this junior bids farewell."

Evergreen Pharmacy.

After Gu Changfeng closed his shop, he was about to continue refining medicine, but as soon as he stepped into the backyard, he discovered an uninvited guest. A person wearing a Thunder God mask stood atop the large vat in the very center of the courtyard, looking down at him.

"Why are you here?"

"Why did Lan Haitain come to see you?"

"He was assigned as the chief examiner for Kunpeng Daoist Academy in Danxia City this year. When he learned I was living in seclusion here, he came to reminisce."

"That's truly chilling."

Gu Changfeng's brow furrowed upon hearing this. "What do you mean by that?"

"As you know, Lan Haitain has killed many of our people. I can't help but tremble and feel afraid when I hear that name."

Gu Changfeng grew impatient. "What exactly do you want to say?"

"To prevent Lan Haitain from finding us, we can only cut off the leads here, at your place."

"You..." Gu Changfeng's eyes widened in fury. Vast spiritual power surged forth, and a medicine cauldron flew out from the courtyard, transforming into a shield of light that enveloped him. But at the same instant, a bolt of lightning flashed across the clear sky. A purple bolt of lightning erupted from the void above Gu Changfeng's head, shattering his skull into ash.

After killing Gu Changfeng, the person with the Thunder God mask jumped down from the medicine vat, picked up the latter's phone, and made a call: "The person has been dealt with. You can handle the aftermath."

"He also has a female apprentice who might know something. Aren't you going to deal with her too?" This sentence came from the phone lying on the floor, but the person with the Thunder God mask had already vanished from the spot.