Chapter 17: Post-Exam Arrangements

Chapter 17: Arrangements After the Exam

"It's about time."

Gan Tang thought to herself.

Unlike a certain someone who cheated and peeked at others' papers, Gan Tang, naturally, was fully prepared for the exam to end.

She unhurriedly did one last check, confirmed everything was in order, tidied up her exam paper, cleaned her brush and inkstone, put them away, and looked up at the very top of the palace.

On the crystal ceiling, which was like a still water surface, a huge "silver moon" was being reflected.

That was, of course, not a real moon, but a newly added sect treasure of the Celestial Spirit Sect.

The sundial clock.

Unlike ordinary sundials, it divided each of the twelve double-hours into sixty minutes, further split by the "hour's start" and "hour's midpoint" marks, with each half-hour also subdivided. Two newly added minute and second hands ticked, indicating the time precisely. For instance, this exam was precisely timed to end at forty minutes past the You hour.

Gan Tang didn't understand why it was divided this way, and it took the sect's disciples several days to get used to it.

But the time division was a minor thing (in Gan Tang's view). What was truly amazing about this treasure was the vertical gnomon it originally had.

This needle was forged from the purest spiritual energy and the essence of sun and moon, making it so pure it was formless—it couldn't be seen without using spiritual power. But no matter the weather—cloudy, sunny, rainy, or snowy—or whether it was day or night, this gnomon could cast a shadow on the dial to indicate the hour.

This shadow would be reflected by the sundial's gleaming surface, landing on different locations of Celestial Spirit Mountain depending on the hour.

Take right now, for instance—the You hour.

As the sun set, the gnomon's shadow was cast onto the Bu Yan Palace. The light outside the palace gradually dimmed, and at the same time, the peach talisman hanging next to the jade pendant at Gan Tang's waist emitted a faint glow.

This peach talisman was proof of one's status as a Celestial Spirit Sect disciple.

Every disciple who formally joined the sect received a talisman made from a branch of the old peach tree at the mountain gate. It was inscribed with the disciple's name and could also provide simple blessings and fortune (not much), warn of danger (unreliably), replenish spiritual power (very little), and send messages to fellow disciples (only in brief fragments).

With the sundial clock in operation, the talisman gained a new function.

Teleportation within the sect.

For instance, at this moment, the shadow of the gnomon fell over the Bu Yan Palace, signaling the end of the day's lessons. During the time the shadow remained, disciples could use their talismans in the Bu Yan Palace to choose their destination: dormitories, the cafeteria, the library, and so on.

This was a tremendous help for disciples like Gan Tang who hadn't yet had the chance to refine their own flying swords.

After all, the Celestial Spirit Sect was in the mountains. Without a flying sword, it was all uphill and downhill, stairs and slopes, day in and day out—enough to walk a person to death.

Sure, they said that in cultivation, you had to train the body before the mind, as a test for disciples just starting on the path of immortality—but which disciple didn't complain inwardly before they could use a flying sword?

Now with the sundial clock, although it required set times and places, it saved a lot of trouble.

At least Gan Tang could return from the Bu Yan Palace to her dormitory in the outer sect in the blink of an eye.

However, there was a notice today that after the exam, all disciples were required to go to the library, so they could not choose their own destination but would be teleported against their will.

So when the bell signaling the end of the exam rang out with a "Clang—", Gan Tang saw the same scene that Su Xin had seen.

She saw the exam papers swim off like silver fish, the Coral Platform pop like bubbles, and the entire palace turned into drifting clouds, dissipating in an instant.

But Gan Tang was not flung out like Su Xin.

The black shadow of the gnomon seeped into every inch of space, and only the bubble around Gan Tang remained unbroken. But everything around her, including herself, was reduced to shades of gray, black, and white, as if she were suspended in a gap in time.

No, at this moment, time really had stopped.

Some inquisitive disciples had experimented when the sundial clock was completed, finding that one could remain in this time rift for up to three minutes. This time was set aside for disciples to prepare for teleportation.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's still incredible."

Gan Tang marveled.

She'd heard that this sundial clock was refined by Senior Brother Guan Ye, the Immortal Venerable's personal disciple.

He was only in the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, yet he could create a treasure involving time and space. Such talent in artifact refinement—no wonder he was personally chosen by the Tireless Immortal Venerable to be his disciple!

She really needed to work harder!

As Gan Tang pondered, she waved her sleeve.

Time immediately started flowing again. The black shadows and everything around her vanished like the palace. When Gan Tang looked up again, she was standing in the newly renovated hall of the library, with other disciples teleported there at the same time.

A familiar face spotted Gan Tang and greeted her: "Gan Tang, how did you do on the exam?"

"Not bad," Gan Tang asked in return, "And you?"

"I got lucky, all the questions were ones I reviewed!" the other replied proudly.

Gan Tang nodded, thinking that it was just as she had guessed—the exam paper was tailored to each person's strengths.

But someone else cut in: "I'm not so lucky. None of what I reviewed was on the test." Though if he weren't smiling so broadly, his words might have sounded more believable.

Another laughed and said, "I didn't get what I reviewed either, but I got tested on what I'm good at!"

In short, not everyone had figured out the exam rules like Gan Tang had, so everyone felt they had done well. They happily speculated about their scores half-jokingly, half-seriously, and the whole vibe was warm and cheerful.

It wasn't until the figure of the Tireless Immortal Venerable appeared at the top of the library that everyone stopped their discussions.

*

"You all did quite well in this exam."

Zhou Hui said, smiling.

Since the purpose of this exam was mainly to encourage, Zhou Hui naturally wouldn't scowl and lecture the disciples. He praised them: "The inner sect has made significant progress compared to the last exam, and many disciples in the outer sect have a lot of potential. I can see that you've all worked hard and used your strengths."

Qu Qianxing, standing nearby, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Even the questions were carefully selected by his master on purpose—of course they'd use their strengths!

If he had known the exam would be like that, he should have just followed his master's orders and served as an exam supervisor, rather than wasting time in the examination hall trying to save face after the last exam.

That's right, Qu Qianxing, like Gan Tang, had seen through how the questions were set, and now he really regretted it.

But there weren't many like him.

For ordinary disciples of the Celestial Spirit Sect, opportunities to see the Tireless Immortal Venerable were few and far between, much less being "praised" by him.

So when Zhou Hui said just a few brief words, most disciples present, including Gan Tang, had goofy grins, and the mood got even better.

Zhou Hui seized on this good mood to announce: "To not waste your efforts and potential, I have decided to sort you into classes based on your exam scores, with different curricula for each grade level and class. The specific plan and implementation schedule will be posted at the library for all of you to see."

At this, the disciples had no objections.

They had no idea what lay ahead, so the previously pleasant atmosphere wasn't affected. Some disciples even grinned even wider, thrilled about the prospect of more learning opportunities.

Zhou Hui nodded at this and continued, "Additionally, based on the results of this examination, several disciples will be selected to serve as Instructors."

This arrangement really got the disciples' attention.

After all, within a sect, the formal position of "Instructor" was quite important, typically held by cultivators at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage and above, or at the very least, inner disciples—previously, the Celestial Spirit Sect had Qu Qianxing and others doubling as instructors. Selecting ordinary disciples as instructors was unheard of.

Can they actually teach?

Some disciples were really worried.

But those who thought they'd aced it puffed out their chests and looked at Zhou Hui eagerly, hoping to be chosen.

"Quiet!" Qu Qianxing stepped forward at this moment.

This handsome second senior brother clearly had more than just good looks going for him—he commanded real authority in the sect. One cold look from him, and the disciples lowered their heads like quails.

"I'll now announce the list of selected disciples," Qu Qianxing said coldly. "Zhang Qian—"

"Here!"

"Wang Xiaoye."

"Here!"

...

"Gan Tang."

"Here!" Gan Tang responded joyfully.

She couldn't help but be thrilled—being an Instructor came with high status and a fat monthly stipend. For sect disciples, it was hands down the best gig there was. Especially for Gan Tang, who came from the outer sect, had zero connections in the inner sect, and no "work experience"—even with her Foundation Establishment cultivation, finding a gig that let her focus on cultivating was a real struggle.

Honestly, Gan Tang was a bit surprised she got picked, since when she'd figured out the exam rules, she'd deliberately messed with the question design, making things harder for herself on purpose.

—Later, when these top students looked back, they realized that the ones picked weren't chosen just on total scores, but were all disciples like Gan Tang—solid foundational knowledge, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to see through the exam rules.

But what got Gan Tang even more excited came next.

"...All selected disciples, report to Buyan Palace starting tomorrow," Qu Qianxing said after finishing the roll call. "You'll get the Master's personal 'training' first, and only after you pass will you be qualified to teach other disciples."

This got another round of gasps.

Getting taught by a Tribulation Transcendence Stage big shot!

Even a few casual words of praise from Zhou Hui could send these disciples over the moon, let alone personal instruction.

Even those who'd had doubts about disciples serving as instructors had no complaints now.

What could possibly be wrong with instructors trained personally by the Tireless Immortal Venerable?

Everyone was even more hyped for the upcoming lessons!

*

What adorable disciples!

In another world, students this eager to learn were hard to come by.

Zhou Hui smiled at the disciples below, who looked like a bunch of silly roe deer, feeling that his hard work on those beginner textbooks hadn't been wasted.

He couldn't wait to live up to these lovely kids' expectations and start teaching them!

But just as Zhou Hui was about to roll out the rest of the plan while the momentum was on his side, Yu Wenxuan suddenly snuck into the library and scurried over to him.

Zhou Hui's good mood instantly took a hit. "Why are you back? Where are the guests?"

"Oh, they said they had something urgent and left without eating," Yu Wenxuan said innocently and adorably.

Zhou Hui was confused. "Then why did they even come?"

Just to take the exam?