Lava Fairy Palace.
Ding ding ding...
The bell tolls resonate through the square in front of the main hall.
At thirty-three desks, the expressions of the cultivators are not looking good.
Some are frowning deeply, some have solemn faces, and some tremble in body and mind upon hearing the bell.
This is because new information has been transmitted into their minds—the first round of the monastic examination had ended, all cultivators must cease answering, those who violate this will have their qualifications for the following trials revoked.
Thus, the cultivators all wear bitter expressions, reluctantly putting down the jade slips in their hands.
"It's over!"
"I haven't finished yet."
"Why did time pass so quickly?!"
"I tried to answer everything, knowing some were incorrect, but answering is surely better than leaving them blank, right? Shouldn't I get some encouragement points?"
The thoughts of the cultivators are more or less the same; they quietly pray they can successfully pass this time.
Concerning the position of the Palace Master of the Lava Fairy Palace, they all are the elite among those who infiltrated the Immortal Palace, naturally, they harbor great ambitions. No one wants to be eliminated in the first round.
Information continued to reach everyone, instructing the cultivators to wait a moment, as the exam papers will be graded immediately, and the results will be known.
So, the cultivators on the square take this time to eagerly exchange information, asking each other for the answers to various questions.
Zhu Xuanji, however, was lost in thought all by himself.
At this moment, Shuzhong Jun took the initiative to approach him: "Lord Zhu."
Shuzhong Jun asked with a smile on his face, "Do you think the frequently mentioned 'Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique' and 'Demon-infused Bloodline Technique' in the jade slip might form a set with the 'Five Elements Qi Regulation Art', serving as the inherited treasure of the Lava Fairy Palace—the Three Superior Sect Techniques?"
Zhu Xuanji was pondering this very question. Hearing the voice, he looked up and spoke frankly, "I was just contemplating the snippets of these two techniques in the exam questions, and I believe they appear to be complementary."
"However, to truly confirm this, we would need to find cultivators like City Lord Meng Kui to perform calculations."
Shuzhong Jun nodded, "Do you suppose the Demon Skill Calming Technique that you possess, might be for sale?"
That was Shuzhong Jun's real purpose.
During the Golden Core melee, the Demon Path True Scripture had emerged. Although it ultimately revealed its false nature, there was still a trace of truth to it—after all, Ning Zhuo had previously released the genuine Demon-infused Bloodline Technique to win over people's trust.
Golden Core Cultivators who participated in the melee and got ahold of the True Scripture knew a bit of the initial layers of the 'Demon-infused Bloodline Technique'.
However, Shuzhong Jun had not participated at that time.
Despite his desire to do so, he was affiliated with the Complete Book Pavilion. The latter is famously neutral and cannot casually engage in local strife.
Therefore, Shuzhong Jun knew nothing about the 'Demon-infused Bloodline Technique'.
He wanted to purchase it from Zhu Xuanji but was immediately rejected by the latter.
Had it been before the first trial, Zhu Xuanji might have been tempted by Shuzhong Jun's high offer and sold the parts of the technique he knew.
But now, with the first round of the examination just concluded and the jade slip questions fresh in his mind, Zhu Xuanji had just used some knowledge from the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique to answer them.
This made him even more certain of the value of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique. At this critical time in the examination, it was not possible for him to sell it!
Shuzhong Jun sighed and could only bid Zhu Xuanji farewell to look for other breakthroughs with the Zheng Family or Zhou Family.
Watching Shuzhong Jun's departing figure, Zhu Xuanji's eyes became thoughtful.
As it stood, Shuzhong Jun was second on the leaderboard; from this ranking, he was Zhu Xuanji's biggest rival.
Elsewhere.
"How did you fare in the exam, elder brother?" Zheng Shuanggou asked with concern for Zheng Danlian.
Zheng Danlian snorted coldly, suppressing the irritation in his heart.
During the recent monastic examination, he nearly took out his scythe and hacked the desk to pieces!
Zheng Danlian said, "The Upper Method elders are nothing special after all. Before hosting the monastic examination, they should have transmitted the Three Superior Sect Techniques."
Zhou Nongying replied, "We've already discussed this. It's likely that the Demon Beast raid prompted the exam to be moved up significantly. According to the original plan, there should have been a transmission of the techniques."
Ning Jiufan added, "Alternatively, on the timeline of the 'Soul Entering Immortal Palace', the Three Superior Sect Techniques should appear in a later part."
Zheng Shuanggou shook his head and smiled bitterly: "No matter, no matter, we are all in the same situation; our rankings should not change too drastically."
Nearly all the cultivators shared their mentality.
Except for Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo.
Zhou Zeshen approached Ning Zhuo to ask about his experience in this monastic examination.
Ning Zhuo smiled wryly, "This time, I'm afraid I've botched the exam. Ah, I might lose a life-changing opportunity!"
Zhou Zeshen immediately felt relieved and comforted him, "Everyone is in the same situation; Brother Ning, take it easy."
Ning Zhuo, however, shook his head: "How can us Qi Refining Cultivators compare with those Golden Core ones? Their perspectives are much broader than ours. Even without knowing what the Three Superior Sect Techniques are, they can attempt the questions through their understanding."
"For you and me, it's not the same."
Zhou Zeshen nodded and sighed bitterly, "My thoughts are the same as yours, Brother Ning."
In another corner of the area.
Yang Chanyu approached Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong wore a look of conflict on his face.
Yang Chanyu couldn't help but worry, "Hey, you Foundation Establishment Cultivator, how did you do?"
"You're so young, and your cultivation level is weak; don't get eliminated for having too many blanks."
"If I'm left to attend the subsequent trials alone, I'll have to raise the share of profits by another ten percent!"
Sun Lingtong scoffed and rolled his eyes at Yang Chanyu, "Woman, just watch and see."
He quickly glanced at Ning Zhuo in the distance.
After acquiring the Three Superior Sect Techniques, Ning Zhuo had shared them with Sun Lingtong without reservation!
Ning Zhuo could answer the questions with all his might, but Sun Lingtong could not.
That's because he was acting under the name of Ning Jiufan.
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So, although he knew the answers to many questions, he couldn't give the correct responses.
Sun Lingtong had to consider the situation once the results of the palace examination were announced.
Hence, throughout the entire palace exam, he was extremely conflicted.
Grasping this balance was just too difficult!
The communication among the cultivators was suddenly interrupted by incoming news.
"The ranking of the first round of the palace exam is as follows:"
"Bare Minimum Standards."
"Shuzhong Jun."
"Zhu Xuanji."
...
The crowd immediately burst into an uproar.
The first place was simply too... too... too conspicuous!
"Bare Minimum Standards?!" Everyone looked at Sun Lingtong with eyes filled with shock, anger, hatred, and contempt.
Even though Sun Lingtong had an audacious spirit, faced with so much animosity, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Yang Chanyu let out a cold huff, stepped forward to shield Sun Lingtong behind her, and scoffed, "Gentlemen, if anyone wishes to be eliminated by the Lava Immortal Palace and stripped of their exam qualifications, feel free to make a move!"
The eyes of the crowd almost burst with surging rage.
"What a Bukong Sect move!"
"Who would've thought their infiltration ran so deep, to be so familiar with the Three Superior Sect Techniques!!"
"If Sun Lingtong knew the Three Superior Sect Techniques, how could he only practice his Youthful Emperor's Technique?"
"This is clearly cheating, blatant cheating!"
"We worked hard to answer the questions, to honestly take the palace exam, and this thief, this sneak, dares to cheat so brazenly?!"
"Alas, I should've realized it sooner. Sun Lingtong, being at the Foundation Establishment Stage, yet he was able to enter the Immortal Palace. Going through the levels, taking advantage of the higher cultivation level. It seems that the Bukong Sect has discovered a huge loophole in the Lava Immortal Palace!"
"Where is the Palace Spirit? Someone is cheating!!! Please punish them severely!"
The cultivators were seething with anger.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been paying attention the whole time and rolled its eyes upon hearing this, feeling utterly powerless.
Because it knew the truth.
It growled, "What you should truly be concerned about is Ning Zhuo! It's this little monster!!"
Seeing that everyone was kept in the dark, and seeing "Ning Zhuo" placed in the middle of the ranking, unremarkable and unnoticed,
filled the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit with a sense of powerlessness, and the chill deep inside it grew even more intense.
Sun Lingtong breathed a big sigh of relief.
He had successfully completed his task, not letting his scores stand out too much, allowing Ning Zhuo to continue to remain hidden.
Suddenly, Yang Chanyu embraced him tightly.
Such an affectionate gesture made Sun Lingtong extremely repulsed. He pushed hard against her, breaking free.
"Yang Chanyu, what are you doing?!" Sun Lingtong shouted.
Yang Chanyu, with fervent eyes, stared intently at Sun Lingtong: "Impressive, you little one, you really do the Bukong Sect proud."
"How did you do it?"
"Did you really get hold of the Three Superior Sect Techniques, or is it cheating?"
"Quick, tell me!"
Sun Lingtong shook his head: "Oh my, you're really annoying."
Watching Sun Lingtong from a distance, Ning Zhuo also relaxed quietly, feeling quite relieved: "The boss is trustworthy!"
Ning Zhuo's name, lost in the list, didn't stand out.
New information was transmitted again.
"Combining the achievement list with the exam ranking, the new ranking is as follows:"
"Zhu Xuanji."
"Shuzhong Jun."
...
"Zheng Danlian."
"Bare Minimum Standards."
...
Ning Zhuo.
Zhou Zeshen.
...
"How is that possible?!"
"I... I failed?"
"Damn it!"
The cultivators ranked in the last ten were variously discolored, some screamed in anguish, others appeared dejected.
Ning Zhuo noticed that among them, not one was a Golden Core Cultivator. About half were trial disciples, with the other half being Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
The Golden Core Cultivators' breadth of vision and knowledge were evidently profound enough.
The questions in the Jade Slip exam were confined to the Qi Refinement Realm, with a few reaching the Foundation Establishment level. Hence, even without knowledge of the Three Superior Sect Techniques, the Golden Core Cultivators could maneuver through with their own scholarly knowledge.
On the other hand, the reason why not a single Golden Core Cultivator had failed was also due to their previous achievements ranking them at the top.
The eliminated trial disciples fell short due to their lack of experience.
As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was likely a combination of reasons. On one hand, they lacked achievements, and on the other hand, their scholarly knowledge couldn't compare to that of the Golden Core Cultivators, making their presence far less significant.
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