Chapter 58: A Deserted Sect and a Surprise Exam

At the Qingluan Sect, the midday sun blazed overhead. In this cutthroat cultivation world, one might expect to find numerous martial cultivators diligently training in the scorching heat. Even on such a sweltering day, the practice grounds should have been bustling.

However, as Xiao Xixi descended on her elder sister’s sword, she noticed something unexpected. The Qingluan Sect today seemed remarkably deserted.

Peering down from the towering ‘Soul Condensing Sword’, only a sparse couple of figures could be seen, aimlessly wandering through the outer disciple training grounds, their movements imbued with a sense of dejection.

Feeling a pang of confusion, Xiao Xixi couldn’t help but turn to her elder sister, who held her securely.

“Elder Sister, is the Qingluan Sect on holiday today? Why is no one around?”

Bai Luozhu, expertly guiding the sword, heard Xiao Xixi’s amusing remark. She gently tapped the tip of her nose.

“Xixi, there’s no such thing as a holiday in cultivation. It’s the beginning of the ninth month, and since you’ve just arrived at the Qingluan Sect, you might not know yet.

Every month, the Qingluan Sect holds assessments, divided into written exams and practical tests. Those with excellent scores receive better treatment and higher monthly sect stipends. The most outstanding performer each month, if noticed by an Elder, will be promoted to an ‘Inner Disciple’.”

Hearing her elder sister’s explanation, Xiao Xixi couldn’t help but feel a little perplexed.

‘Does the Qingluan Sect even issue monthly stipends? Why haven’t I received any?’

Regarding the little one’s question, Bai Luozhu found the young girl truly naive.

While the path of cultivation certainly benefited from the support of natural treasures, the most crucial factor was having a good guide.

With Xiao Xixi by her and their master’s side, the resources she already had far surpassed any ‘stipends’. Yet, the young girl was still interested in such meager allowances.

‘She truly is a precious little one, born into fortune yet unaware of it!’

****

Moments later, the ‘Soul Condensing Sword’ smoothly descended at the main entrance of the ‘Literary Hall’. Xiao Xixi, carried by Bai Luozhu as they dismounted, looked towards the hall.

Her gaze swept across the vast Literary Hall, only to find it packed with a dense crowd of cultivators.

Observing the throng that resembled a horde of zombies, Xiao Xixi felt that this was nothing like the exam she had imagined. The scale of this assessment was simply enormous!

Moreover, the proximity between people was alarmingly close. Was there no concern about cheating?

Having recalled the ‘Soul Condensing Sword’, Bai Luozhu noticed the young girl’s bewildered expression. Following her gaze, Bai Luozhu quickly understood her confusion and explained.

“In this examination hall, every candidate is spaced in an alternating pattern of literary and martial cultivators, so there’s no possibility of cheating. Furthermore, many Inner Disciples act as proctors; getting caught cheating will result in severe punishment!”

Hearing her Elder Sister Luozhu’s explanation, Xiao Xixi paused slightly.

Immediately, a new question arose in her mind: since all these candidates were taking exams, where was she, a newcomer, supposed to play today?

However, the very next second after this thought surfaced, Xiao Xixi felt a warm touch envelop her small hand.

Realizing it was her elder sister’s hand, and that she clearly intended to lead her into the ‘Literary Hall’, Xiao Xixi hesitated.

She didn’t move her small, pale legs, feeling a strange reluctance.

Sensing the young girl’s hesitation, Bai Luozhu turned her head and spoke.

“Xixi, why aren’t you moving forward? Didn’t Elder Zhen say that you would also participate in the exam in two days?”

Hearing her elder sister’s words, Xiao Xixi felt as if struck by lightning. It was true, Elder Zhen had indeed mentioned assessing her two days ago.

But at the time, she had merely dismissed it as a joke. Who would have thought it was real?!

****

Moments later, Xiao Xixi, holding Bai Luozhu’s hand, walked into the ‘Literary Hall’ with a look of utter despair.

Why such despair, one might ask?

Because Xiao Xixi had only just entered her first year of university, having barely escaped the endless sea of exams during her college entrance examinations. She truly hadn’t expected that even after transmigrating to another world, she would still face the ordeal of exams!

This was simply too tragic, Xixi!!!

Bai Luozhu led the pure white young girl, who was dressed like a little sprite today, deeper into the Literary Hall.

As the exam was rather dull, Xiao Xixi attracted quite a few students’ gazes along the way.

Noticing many people looking at her, the somewhat socially awkward Xiao Xixi instinctively leaned her small frame closer to her elder sister.

Feeling the little one’s reliance, Bai Luozhu’s usually cold cheeks softened, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards. The small hand she held tightened imperceptibly.

Due to her shyness, Xiao Xixi kept her head down, clutching her elder sister’s hand tightly. After walking for an unknown duration, she suddenly felt herself enveloped in a warm, familiar embrace.

When she lifted her small head, she saw none other than her gentle and beautiful master, Su Mei, standing before her.

Su Mei had actually spotted the ‘bling-bling’, radiant, and captivating young girl from a distance. As they drew closer, observing the cute off-the-shoulder dress and the slightly elevated new shoes she wore today, Su Mei mused that perhaps it wasn’t so bad for the little one to occasionally be taught by her eldest disciple.

Not only would it allow her adorable little disciple to relax her guard around her, but didn’t she also get new clothes and new shoes out of it?

Just as Su Mei was thoroughly appraising her completely refreshed little disciple, a woman in a long green robe appeared behind her.

Xiao Xixi recognized Elder Zhen, who she had met once before and who had ‘flown off’ after assigning her homework. Seeing her appear now, Xiao Xixi immediately felt a pang of guilt, remembering how she hadn’t touched a single book these past two days.

Before Xiao Xixi could even lower her head in embarrassment, Elder Zhen handed her a white paper with black ink—an examination paper—then pointed to a square table nearby, which held a brush and an inkstone.

Though Elder Zhen said nothing, her meaning was clear: Xiao Xixi was to go there and answer the questions.

Xiao Xixi took the first exam paper of this other world, looking like a frost-bitten eggplant, and listlessly walked to the empty seat Elder Zhen had indicated, where she sat down.

Although Xiao Xixi had a history of skipping classes, the thought of trying to escape an exam right under the noses of Elder Zhen, her master, and her elder sister… Emmm, after a brief consideration, Xiao Xixi decided against it.

She sat softly on the cushion before the examination table in an extremely smooth ‘duck sit’ posture. Though Xiao Xixi hadn’t studied and felt a strong aversion to the exam, she soon realized she had nothing else to do and was under Elder Zhen’s watchful eye. Therefore, Xiao Xixi obediently turned her attention to the test paper.

Xiao Xixi had initially assumed she wouldn’t know any of the ‘Literary Cultivator’ questions. However, when she actually saw the paper, she was surprised to discover something.

Emmmmm, the exam for literary cultivators in this world surprisingly felt much like a Chinese language test. There were questions on matching couplets for ancient poems, completing couplets, reading comprehension where she had to write her thoughts using classical Chinese particles, and finally, a tiny bit of math with a ‘chickens and rabbits in a cage’ problem.

Seeing these familiar questions, Xiao Xixi’s eyes brightened. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to submit a blank paper.

However, just as Xiao Xixi was about to pick up her brush, she reconsidered a very important question.

Should she even bother taking the exam?

She had just heard her elder sister explain that the purpose of the exam was to obtain better resources like ‘elixirs and raw stones’.

But for her, first, she couldn’t advance her cultivation without ‘being lewd’, so elixirs were useless. Second, possessing a ‘storage ring’ meant she was a veritable little rich woman. Emmm, the monthly resources from the Qingluan Sect seemed unnecessary.

Therefore, considering all of the above, Xiao Xixi quickly concluded that the outcome of the exam, whether good or bad, was actually of no use to her!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Xiao Xixi’s hand, which had just picked up the brush, withdrew once more. Immediately after, she rested her two small arms on the table, using them as a pillow, intending to take a wonderful midday nap.

However, the very next second after she was ready, Xiao Xixi suddenly heard a gentle voice from beside her.

“Little Xixi, why aren’t you starting the paper yet? Have you not studied these past two days? If that’s the case, your master will have to give you a good education!”

As she spoke, Su Mei lightly waved her fair, delicate hand through the air.

In response, Xiao Xixi instinctively clapped her two small hands over her perky chest!

All drowsiness vanished!

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