Chapter 67: The College Entrance Exam

The day of the college entrance exam.

Chen Xinglan also specially came over from Chixia Academy to cheer on his son.

Compared to his parents, Chen Mobai looked very relaxed, carrying his admission ticket and stationery box, and walked into the examination room with a calm face.

Since cultivating divine consciousness, he had been reviewing the knowledge in the textbooks and had mastered it all within two months.

Although he couldn't say he had a thorough understanding, at least he had a clear grasp of all the key points and could easily find the relevant content in his memory when faced with corresponding questions.

On the first morning, it was the Technique Paper.

Chen Mobai filled out the paper from start to finish very smoothly, only getting slightly stuck on the last question.

This major question involved knowledge beyond the high school curriculum, but Chen Mobai was well-prepared. Using the knowledge in his mind, he deduced the missing parts of the technique, completed it, and wrote down the answers. Although they might not be the standard answers, he filled in all the blanks.

While the other students were frowning, he calmly submitted his paper and left.

In the afternoon, it was the Alchemy Paper.

Although he hadn't studied this area in detail, he had learned some knowledge outside the textbook through his interactions with Qingnü. After writing down all the content he knew, he stopped and waited for the bell to ring for the submission.

On the second morning, it was the Equipment Paper.

He had no clue about the last major question and could only try to fill it as much as possible.

Finally, it was the Array Paper.

Chen Mobai smoothly completed the second-to-last question and then, with a try, reviewed the last major question.

After going through three papers, he had figured out the pattern: the last major question always involved knowledge beyond the textbook, designed to challenge high scorers.

Each paper was worth 100 points.

According to past score lines, a score of 330 or above generally allowed one to apply to the top ten academies and participate in the entrance exams. The admission threshold for the four major Daoist academies was 350 points last year.

However, these scores fluctuated based on the number of applicants.

Chen Mobai finished reading the last major question on the array paper and couldn't help but smile.

"【Provide at least two methods to repair the incomplete Fuhai Array plate, then fill in the five array flags of the Fuhai Array and their functions, and arrange them in the order shown in Example 1 to form a complete array. (20 points, no penalty for incorrect answers.)】

"If I can score over 90 points in this subject, I will definitely treat Teacher Chan to a meal."

Chen Mobai thought to himself, took out his ruler, and, based on his understanding of the Bishui Array, applied it to the Fuhai Array. He first completed the entire array and then solved the problem according to the diagram.

The essence of array techniques remains the same, and the Fuhai Array, like the Bishui Array, is a second-level array rooted in water veins.

Chen Mobai recalled the functions of the Bishui Array flags and filled in the corresponding names of the Fuhai Array flags given in the diagram.

For the methods to repair the array plate, he had repaired the Bishui Array before and had also checked similar answers online and consulted with Chan Si to ensure he hadn't made any mistakes.

Chen Mobai, being a forward-thinking person, had more than two methods to repair the array in his mind, just in case the Bishui Array had issues again.

For the incomplete Fuhai Array plate, he chose the two most suitable methods from his memory and filled them in with satisfaction.

This array paper was the one he spent the most time on and the most mentally draining. He barely finished it five minutes before the submission bell rang.

Finally, he used his divine consciousness to check once more before putting down his pen with peace of mind.

"Phew! I might have picked up about 15 points."

Chen Mobai was confident about the last major question on the array paper, but since the Bishui Array was an array from the Tianhe World, even with Chan Si's help to understand it using the knowledge of Diyuan Star, it still had differences from the Fuhai Array.

Getting 15 points out of 20 was already very satisfying for him.

The four papers had 320 points of textbook knowledge, which he was confident he could score fully. Except for the last major question on the Equipment Paper, which he had no clue about and could only fill it as much as possible, he believed he could score some points on the minor questions in the Technique Paper and Alchemy Paper.

If he performed well, he might just barely reach 350 points, qualifying him for the entrance exams of the four major Daoist academies.

For cultivators who have cultivated divine consciousness, they can estimate their scores quite accurately right after the exam.

Chen Mobai was the same.

However, he didn't check the answers to give himself some hope and avoid a bad mood for the entire holiday.

"Freedom!"

"Finally over!"

"To hell with the Fuhai Array..."

After the college entrance exam, various emotions were displayed among the students of Xianmen No. 5 High School. Chen Mobai leaned against a pillar in the corridor, watching his classmates' intense emotional fluctuations, and suddenly felt a bit out of place.

After cultivating divine consciousness, these emotions became nourishment for his divine consciousness, making him remain calm at all times while gradually losing the normal human emotions of joy, anger, and sorrow.

Is this what cultivation is all about!?

Suddenly, Chen Mobai understood why cultivators with higher levels were less likely to appear in society.

But he also felt that this was wrong.

If cultivation makes one lose human qualities, what's the point of becoming an immortal?

Or is it that immortals must cut off all ties with the mundane world and live in seclusion?

While thinking, a pair of eyes fell on him. Chen Mobai looked up and saw Song Zheng.

The two nodded at each other and then left the noisy classroom together, walking to the playground outside.

"You might feel a bit uncomfortable after just cultivating divine consciousness. To avoid this, Yan Bingxuan and I decided to act a bit more aloof and reduce our interactions with you."

Song Zheng spoke, and it turned out that they were the same.

"Does cultivation ultimately mean living in seclusion?"

"My teacher said that most cultivators in the Xianmen cultivate the mundane world. Those who want to be hermits generally end up dying of old age in seclusion."

Hearing Song Zheng's words, Chen Mobai laughed, but considering the scarce resources on Dyiuan Star and the spirit veins controlled by the Xianmen, if one really chose to live in seclusion without a supply of spiritual energy, it might indeed end up that way.

"Which of the top ten academies will you choose?"

Song Zheng asked again.

"Oh, are you so confident in me?"

Chen Mobai looked puzzled; he wasn't very familiar with Song Zheng.

"My teacher said you often consult him about techniques. If you're willing, we can call each other fellow disciples. If we can go to the same academy in the future, we can support each other."

"Isn't your goal the four major Daoist academies?"

"Only the last major question on the Technique Paper was completed, and the score might not reach 350."

At this point, the usually proud Song Zheng suddenly sighed, showing a low-spirited look that Chen Mobai had never seen before.

"I will probably choose Chongyang Academy and Taiyuan Academy, but I don't know if they will accept me."

Chen Mobai also spoke, although he wasn't very familiar with Song Zheng, Old Ding had been very good to him.

"My three choices are: Taiyuan Academy, Natural Academy, and Tian Shu Academy. I hope we can go to Taiyuan Academy together."