Chapter 67: High School Entrance Examination

It was the day of the college entrance examination.

Chen Xinglan made a special trip from Chixia Academy to cheer on his son. Unlike his parents, Chen Mobai looked relaxed. He calmly walked into the examination hall, carrying his admission ticket and pencil case.

Ever since he mastered divine sense, he had been reviewing the textbook knowledge, managing to grasp everything within just two months. While he couldn't claim to have fully integrated all the knowledge, he had at least thoroughly understood all the concepts. When encountering relevant questions, he could easily recall the corresponding information from his memory.

The first morning was dedicated to the Techniques paper. Chen Mobai completed the paper smoothly from start to finish, only getting slightly stuck on the very last question. This major question involved knowledge points beyond the scope of high school. However, Chen Mobai was prepared; using his accumulated knowledge, he deduced the missing parts of the spell and completed it. Although his answer might not have been the standard one, he filled all the blanks by the time he finished. While the students around him were frowning in frustration, he calmly submitted his paper and left.

The afternoon was the Alchemy paper. Although he hadn't delved deeply into this subject, his recent interactions with Qing Nü had given him some knowledge beyond the textbooks. After writing down everything he knew on the paper, he didn't trouble himself further. He put down his pen and waited for the bell to signal the end of the exam.

The next morning was the Artifacts paper. He had no clue for the last major question and could only try his best to fill it in.

Finally, there was the Formation Arrays paper. Chen Mobai smoothly completed the second-to-last question, then, with a "let's see" attitude, he reviewed the last major question. After going through three papers, he had understood the pattern: the final major question always tested knowledge beyond the textbooks, designed to challenge those aiming for high scores.

Each paper was worth 100 points. According to previous years' score cutoffs, generally, a score of 330 or above allowed one to apply to the Ten Great Academies and participate in their entrance exams. The admission qualification for the Four Great Daoist Institutes was 350 points last year. However, these scores fluctuated, depending on the number of applicants.

As Chen Mobai finished reading the last major question on the Formation Arrays paper, he realized something. His expression brightened with surprise and delight.

"10. Please provide at least two repair methods for the following incomplete Overturning Sea Formation Array disk. Then, state the functions of the five formation flags of the Overturning Sea Formation Array and arrange them in sequential order to form a complete array as shown in Diagram 1. (This question is worth 20 points. No points will be deducted for incorrect answers.)"

"If I can score over 90 on this subject," Chen Mobai muttered to himself, "I'll definitely treat Teacher Chan to a meal." He took out his ruler, and, applying his understanding of the Azure Water Array, began to work on the Overturning Sea Formation Array. He first completed the drawing of the entire formation, then solved the question according to the diagram.

All formation arrays, no matter how varied, follow fundamental principles. The Overturning Sea Formation Array, just like the Azure Water Array, was a second-tier formation rooted in a water vein. Chen Mobai recalled the functions of the Azure Water Array's formation flags, then matched them one by one to the names of the Overturning Sea Formation Array flags provided in the diagram and filled them in.

Finally, there were the methods for repairing the array disk. He had coincidentally repaired the Grand Azure Water Array before, and to ensure he hadn't made any mistakes, he had also looked up similar answers online and consulted Chan Si. Chen Mobai was someone who prepared for the unexpected; fearing that the Grand Azure Water Array might encounter problems again, he had stored more than two methods for repairing grand arrays in his mind. Matching the incomplete Overturning Sea Formation Array disk mentioned in the question, Chen Mobai chose the two most suitable methods from his memory and confidently filled them in.

This Formation Arrays paper took him the longest to complete and required the most mental effort. He barely finished it just five minutes before the bell signaled the end of the exam. Finally, he checked his answers using his divine sense before putting down his pen with peace of mind.

"Phew! That's about 15 extra points picked up."

Although Chen Mobai had considerable confidence in the last major question of the Formation Arrays paper, the Azure Water Array was, after all, a formation from the Heavenly River Realm. Even though he had understood it with the help of Chan Si and his knowledge of the Primeval Star, it was still distinct from the Overturning Sea Formation Array. He would be very satisfied if he could get 15 out of 20 points for that.

Out of the four papers, 320 points covered textbook knowledge, which he was confident he could ace. Except for the last major question on the Artifacts paper, for which he had no clues and could only try his best to fill in, he believed he could score some points on the minor questions in both the Techniques and Alchemy papers. If he performed exceptionally well, he might just scrape by with 350 points, qualifying for the entrance exam of the Four Great Daoist Institutes.

For cultivators who had mastered divine sense, they could estimate their scores with high accuracy the moment they finished an exam. Chen Mobai was no different. However, he didn't review the answers, wanting to leave himself some hope so that his entire holiday wouldn't be spoiled.

"We're free!""It's finally over!""To hell with the Overturning Sea Formation Array..."

After the college entrance exam concluded, a myriad of emotions unfolded throughout Immortal Sect Fifth High School. Chen Mobai leaned against a pillar in the corridor, watching his classmates' wildly fluctuating moods amidst their laughter, shouts, and curses. Suddenly, he felt a bit out of place. After mastering divine sense, these emotions had become nourishment for his divine sense, keeping him constantly calm but also causing him to gradually lose the normal range of human emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

Is this what cultivation is like!? Suddenly, Chen Mobai understood why cultivators with higher cultivation levels tended to avoid social interaction. Yet, he also had a feeling that this wasn't right. If cultivation meant losing one's humanity, then what was the point of being an immortal? Or was it that immortals were meant to abstain from worldly grains and earthly desires?

As he pondered, a pair of eyes landed on him. Chen Mobai looked up to see Song Zheng. They exchanged a nod, then simultaneously left the noisy, playful classroom and walked out onto the sports field.

"Since you've just mastered divine sense, it's natural to feel a bit unaccustomed," Song Zheng spoke, revealing that it wasn't just Chen Mobai; they, too, felt the same way. "To avoid this, Yan Bingxuan and I simply acted a bit more aloof, limiting our interactions with you all."

"Does cultivation ultimately lead to reclusiveness?"

"My teacher says that most cultivators in the Immortal Sect cultivate within the 'mortal realm.' Those who wish to become hermits almost always end up passing away from old age while in meditation."

Hearing Song Zheng's words, Chen Mobai couldn't help but chuckle. However, considering the scarce resources on the Primeval Star and the spirit veins entirely controlled by the Immortal Sect, if one were to truly seek seclusion in the mountains without a supply of spiritual energy, such an end might indeed be their fate.

"Which of the Ten Great Academies will you choose?" Song Zheng asked again.

"Oh, you have that much faith in me?" Chen Mobai looked puzzled; he wasn't particularly familiar with Song Zheng.

"Teacher said you often consulted him about spell-related issues. If you're willing, we could refer to each other as senior and junior brothers. If we end up going to the same academy in the future, it would be good to look out for each other."

"Isn't your goal the Four Great Daoist Institutes?"

"I only managed to write something for the last major question on the Techniques paper; my overall score might not be enough for 350." As he said this, Song Zheng, usually so proud, suddenly sighed, revealing a dejected expression Chen Mobai had never seen before. "I'll probably choose Chunyang Academy and Taiyuan Academy, though I don't know if either of them will accept me."

Chen Mobai also spoke up. Although he wasn't close with Song Zheng, Old Man Ding had always been very good to him. "My three choices are Taiyuan Academy, Nature Academy, and Heavenly Scroll Academy. I hope we can go to Taiyuan Academy together."