At this year's Divine Capital "Talent Selection Examination," all candidates assigned to the Ji-ji examination hall had to draw lots upon entering. Then, based on the number they drew, an immortal maiden would guide them to their assigned cubicle. This included Annie herself, who was impersonating her own disciple, Lin Daiyu.
At that moment, Annie was seated in cubicle Jia-liu-liu. A quick glance around revealed that beneath the hall's redwood ceiling and rafters, cloud-and-crane screens wreathed in swirling white immortal mist divided the vast chamber into well over a hundred examination cubicles, laid out like a chessboard.
She also noticed that although the furnishings in each cubicle were fairly simple, they were full of hidden details.
For instance, the standardized redwood desks seemed to be made from some special kind of redwood. Their natural grain contained calming array patterns, making anyone who sat down feel compelled to quiet their mind.
The Grand Tutor chairs, made from the same material, were covered with some kind of temperature-regulating silk cushion. It seemed to adjust its warmth to the sitter's body temperature, making the seat quite comfortable.
Besides the standard brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the desk, even the glowing spirit-stone lamp was no ordinary item!
Its wick seemed to be just like the one Annie had seen at Rongguo Mansion: a filament made from the fibers of a Yaochi golden lotus root, powered by spirit-stone fragments. The light it gave off was as clear as autumn water, and when it fell upon the paper, the writing seemed to glow with a faint literary radiance. Just looking at it made one feel refreshed and at ease.
Annie also discovered that the mist drifting across the screens and the immortal cranes depicted on them were no ordinary things. They could not only block