Chapter 122: The Written Examination

Previously, Xu Lin had taken the second round of the Qinglong Academy’s entrance exam. Since Li Jiansan was not yet ready for that, he was soon led into a study hall.

“Ahem, the Qinglong Academy’s entrance examination consists of three rounds. Now, this is the first round: the written test.”

“The written test assesses your knowledge of martial arts: the cultivation methods, how to counter enemy moves, and the flaws in various martial techniques.”

“The rules for this written test are as follows: you have one full hour to complete it, and your accuracy must be above eighty percent...”

As the white-bearded elder spoke, he handed out thick stacks of test papers.

Li Jiansan glanced at them and twitched the corner of his mouth. Each person’s test paper was an enormous pile—dozens of pages, enough to circle the entire study hall.

Damn it, so many papers? Do they think I’m a printer?

Listening to the elder drone on, Li Jiansan roughly understood the rules: finish all the questions within the allotted time and score over eighty percent. It didn’t seem impossible...

But as he looked at the test papers, his brow furrowed tightly.

“What is the weakest of the nine major acupoints in a martial artist’s body?”

“Among all the limbs and bones, which meridian holds the greatest spiritual energy?”

...

Damn, this is so hard...

What kind of nonsense is this—human anatomy?

Even medical doctors struggle with this. You expect a martial arts novice like me to know?

Suddenly, Li Jiansan remembered something.

“I can use the Purple Extreme Demon Child. Doesn’t that let me see through weaknesses? I could just scan someone and know the answers.”

At that moment, the system suddenly spoke: “Master, given your current state, you cannot use the Purple Extreme Demon Eye.”

Li Jiansan was startled. “Why not?”

“The Purple Extreme Demon Eye consumes immense spiritual energy. You need to close your eyes and rest to accumulate your energy.”

“...” Li Jiansan was rendered speechless. Well, there was no choice then. He might as well rest his eyes. After all, these questions were so difficult anyway...

So, Li Jiansan closed his eyes inside the study hall.

“What a fool.”

The surrounding candidates noticed Li Jiansan closing his eyes and assumed he was sleeping. This guy didn’t even look at the test paper and immediately fell asleep at the start of the exam. When had anyone ever seen such a candidate?

No one would believe he was here to take the test.

“Hmm, this guy is already asleep?”

“Maybe the questions are just too hard, so he’s given up?”

“But wouldn’t it be more comfortable to hand in the paper early and go home to sleep?”

“Maybe it’s comfier here,” they laughed.

Seeing Li Jiansan snoring quietly, many candidates were stunned. They’d never witnessed anyone so openly sleeping during an exam.

“Huh...”

The white-bearded elder noticed Li Jiansan resting and frowned.

“That kid actually...”

He paused. “Wait, something’s not right...”

“Teacher, I’ll go kick out this rogue,” said a displeased female disciple nearby. Li Jiansan was sleeping during the exam—this was blatant disrespect, an outright provocation.

“Hey now, young lady, disturbing a person’s rest isn’t right,” the white-haired elder said.

The female disciple was stunned. Usually, this teacher hated such behavior, but today he was acting strangely.

Could he be possessed?

Half the exam time had quietly passed. The others were still deep in thought. The questions grew harder as the test progressed—that was the classic finale.

In the meantime, many disciples began handing in their papers.

Seeing this, others were surprised.

“Could they really have finished so quickly?”

“No way, I haven’t even finished reading the questions.”

“I think they just gave up because the questions were too hard.”

“You all have time to chat? I don’t even have enough time to answer!”

The white-bearded elder smirked hearing this.

Yes, that’s right.

He was the one who set the test and had deliberately increased the difficulty.

His reason? “The hardships I endured back then, they must experience them as well.”

His gaze fell on Li Jiansan. He’d seen many unusual candidates, but never anyone so calmly sleeping in the exam hall.

Following the elder’s gaze, the female disciple realized the teacher’s attention was on the snoring Li Jiansan.

She looked at the elder, puzzled. Though usually jovial, the teacher was strict about academy matters, so why was he so focused on that guy today?

Could he really be possessed? She decided to get someone to check on the teacher after the exam.

“That guy is obviously a spoiled brat. He got in through connections; otherwise, he’d never enter Qinglong Academy. Such a person isn’t worth the teacher’s attention.”

The female disciple suddenly gasped. “Connections?”

“Could it be the teacher was bribed? Otherwise, why pay attention to him?”

Just then, Li Jiansan yawned slightly and opened his eyes.

“Look, he’s awake now,” the white-bearded elder said with interest.

Hearing this, the female disciple’s heart sank.

Teacher, how could you? I always thought you were upright and just...

“Huh, he’s already started answering,” the elder remarked as Li Jiansan put pen to paper.

Starting so late, there was no way he could finish in time.

Teacher, if you let him pass, that’s blatant favoritism, and it damages your integrity.

No, no, I can’t let the teacher make a mistake.

With that in mind, the female disciple said angrily, “There’s only fifteen minutes left. It’s impressive if he even reads the questions. I can’t stand him anymore. Everyone else is done; I’m kicking him out.”

“Hey, get up. The exam’s over,” she said, glaring at Li Jiansan.

Li Jiansan looked around and then at the girl. “Why is everyone leaving? There’s still fifteen minutes left.”

Most candidates had finished or given up, so only Li Jiansan remained.

The girl frowned. “So what if there are fifteen minutes left? Do you think you can finish? Get out of here!”

“So what? Am I not allowed to answer during the exam time?” Li Jiansan asked, puzzled by her anger.

Was she recently dumped or visiting relatives?

Hearing this, the girl found it ridiculous. “Answer? You’ve been sleeping since you got here. Do you look like someone taking an exam?”

“I’m resting and conserving energy. What’s wrong? Do you have a problem with that?” Li Jiansan replied. She must be dumped or visiting relatives.

That stumped her; the rules didn’t say you couldn’t sleep during the exam...

“Fine, you’re conserving energy. There’s only fifteen minutes left—write, but I bet you won’t even finish reading the questions,” the girl said angrily.

Li Jiansan waved his hand, exasperated. “You’re watching me nonstop. How am I supposed to concentrate?”

“You... I’m sitting right by the door. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.”