First-Year Mock Exam

Mock exams allowed team-ups, with a maximum of four people.

You could also solo them, if you were a top student.

Ji Ziling soloed them.

Those who wanted to team up with her weren't good enough for her.

Those she thought were good enough didn't want to team up with her.

Too many ill-fated ties.

"Senior, what's your cultivation?"

The young man looked at him with some pleasant surprise, wiping his right hand on his clothes. "Let's get acquainted. My name is Li Qiuchuan."

"Jiang Changkong, Late Star Qi Stage."

Jiang Changkong thought for a moment and reported a little lower.

Although he had reached perfection, equivalent to Star Qi Peak.

But he had also only just arrived there, and only by a little. It was better to be a bit honest.

"We found a hidden top student."

The students around them said excitedly, "Senior, team up with us. Carry us through the mock exam."

"Take the exam for you?"

Jiang Changkong froze. This world had that kind of trick too?

"How could that count as taking the exam for us?"

Li Qiuchuan said cheerfully, "This is called a team assessment. The school allows it."

"Exactly. As for a lot of students, why can they pass? Isn't it because they build good relationships with seniors, or they have someone in the school?"

Someone muttered under their breath.

Connections were everywhere.

"If I help you, what will you do about your Five-Year College Entrance Exam?" Jiang Changkong asked.

If they passed the mock exam, but lacked strength when killing Star Demons, wouldn't they die outside?

"Senior, we're not stupid. The school's mock exams allow at most four people, but during the college entrance exam, it won't be limited to that."

Li Qiuchuan smiled and said, "As long as Senior helps, when we pass the Mock College Entrance Exam, how about giving Senior half the rewards?"

"How much?"

Jiang Changkong was somewhat tempted.

"The Mock College Entrance Exam rewards one second-tier Star Stone, which is Nebula Level, and three peak first-tier Star Stones."

Li Qiuchuan said, "The First-Year Mock Exam and Two-Year Simulation Exam also both have first-tier Star Stone rewards. To Senior, they're good things too."

"Star Stones?"

Jiang Changkong was tempted. He was badly lacking Star Stones. He gritted his teeth. "Let's try it."

"Senior, team up with me. For the reward, I only want a first-tier weapon. All the Star Stones go to you."

The surrounding students hurriedly crowded over.

"Senior, the First-Year Mock Exam will be easy as turning over your hand for you. I don't want anything. It's all yours."

Jiang Changkong was instantly surrounded. These students were really enthusiastic.

In order not to be expelled, they were going all out.

Once they caught a wild top student, they had to hug that thigh tight.

"All of you, move aside. I was the one who made the deal with Senior Changkong first," Li Qiuchuan said unhappily.

This was the senior he knew. What was the meaning of all of them coming over to hug his thigh?

Jiang Changkong's expression was complicated. He really wanted to carry all of them through.

However, in the school's mock exams, each person could only clear each stage once.

He could only take one set of rewards.

Moreover, he couldn't even guarantee that he could participate in the mock exams.

His student ID was temporary.

"Let's start with the simple ones," Jiang Changkong said.

Only those at Late Star Qi Stage could participate in the Mock College Entrance Exam.

Even Star Qi Perfection might overturn the cart there. He didn't have much confidence.

It was better to start with the easy ones. After getting Star Stones and improving, he could farm the Mock College Entrance Exam.

"Right! Senior Changkong hasn't even passed the First-Year Mock Exam yet, so how could he participate in the Mock College Entrance Exam?"

The surrounding students grew excited and said repeatedly, "Senior, pick me! I'll give you all the rewards."

Jiang Changkong looked at the crowd and shook his head. "I only want Star Stones. Weapons and the like—you can keep them."

Weapons were useless to him right now even if he took them.

Once he enrolled, if he solo-cleared again, he could still get rewards.

"Senior, so generous." The students stared at him eagerly, hoping Jiang Changkong would choose them.

"Senior, how about I introduce someone to you?" Li Qiuchuan suddenly said.

"You..." The crowd instantly flew into a rage.

"That works too." Jiang Changkong nodded. He did not care what the others thought. "But let's make this clear first: it might not work out."

"Understood."

Li Qiuchuan took out his phone and made a call. "Found a wild top-student senior. Didn't take the mock exam. Come quick."

The students around them wilted. Some looked at Li Qiuchuan with hatred.

This had been their chance, and he had snatched it away.

It was deeply dishonorable—taking up the Mock College Entrance Exam, and now taking up the mock assessment too.

Soon, three youths arrived, all at the Mid Star Qi Stage.

If they relied on themselves, completing the First-Year Mock Exam would probably be very difficult.

"Senior." The three arrived and looked at Jiang Changkong respectfully, excitement on their faces.

"Let's go." Jiang Changkong could hardly wait now. He wanted to try it.

The four entered the Iron Tower. Inside was a broad space, with over a dozen stone doors ahead.

In the corner was the stairway leading to the second floor.

Five doors stood wide open, but hazy starlight blocked them. Some doors were tightly shut.

An open door proved no one was taking the assessment inside.

At the doorway hung a crystal panel, palm-sized, with a card slot in the middle.

Jiang Changkong had already learned about this from Ji Ziling. He went first to a door, took out his student ID, and slid it into the card slot.

Beep.

The crystal panel made a sound, displaying the numbers one through four.

Jiang Changkong tapped four and pulled out his temporary student ID. The three others followed and inserted their cards.

The hazy starlight dispersed, and the doorway opened completely.

A temporary student ID could be used for the mock exam!

Jiang Changkong grew excited inside. He was going to strike it rich!

The information inside a temporary student ID reset every day.

In other words, if he took the assessment today, he could still take it again tomorrow!

Senior Sister was so good to him!

This wave was no loss!

The four entered through the doorway, and with a rumble, the stone door shut directly behind them.

Inside the room, the space was large, around a hundred-plus square meters, and completely empty.

The surrounding walls were all alloy. Even Star Cloud martial artists could not break through them.

"Jiangcheng Martial Arts School, First-Year Mock Exam, preparing to begin. Countdown: three seconds."

A cold synthetic electronic voice came through.

"Senior."

The three students were a little panicked and stood tightly behind Jiang Changkong.

Jiang Changkong's expression turned solemn. Although it was only the First-Year Mock Exam, this was his first time and he had no experience, so he would go all out.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

The countdown ended!

Within the space, countless golden motes of light flew up.

The golden motes gathered together, forming four golden figures.

All of them were at the limit of the Early Star Qi Stage, infinitely close to the Mid Star Qi Stage.

The golden figures held golden lightswords, their auras not weak.

"Senior, be careful! Those golden lightswords are comparable to first-rank mid-grade weapons."

The three spoke at the same time.

A mid-grade Tier-One weapon; Tier One corresponded to the Star Qi phase.

A mid-grade Tier-One weapon could easily tear through the defenses of a Mid Star Qi Stage Star Demon.

As for human martial artists, even those at Star Qi Peak could not withstand it.

Jiang Changkong's expression did not change. He had already taken his opening stance. "You three, step back."

"Begin!"

The cold, electronically synthesized voice fell, and the four golden men charged at the four of them at the same time.

The four of them retreated. Star qi surged through Jiang Changkong's body, and with a stomp of his foot, he went up to meet them.

Four swords arrived at once. Jiang Changkong turned sideways to dodge one sword, spotted the gap, and his left hand shot out like lightning, landing on the wrist of the golden man on the far left.

A force of utmost softness guided the golden man's longsword, blocking the other three swords.

"Hm?"

Having blocked them with ease, Jiang Changkong relaxed. The gap was too great.

Against this kind of lineup, someone at the Mid Star Qi Stage might capsize in the gutter, but someone at the Late Star Qi Stage absolutely would not—let alone him.

With an idea in mind, he let go of the wrist. The four swords came again, and Jiang Changkong gave up on defending.

"Senior!"

The three of them paled. What the hell was this senior doing?

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out. Four sword marks appeared on Jiang Changkong's body, yet he had not suffered the slightest injury.

Copper skin and iron bones!

A mid-grade Tier-One weapon could not break his defense!

"Could he be wearing armor?"

The three of them were stunned.

Jiang Changkong said nothing. His hands slowly shifted and brushed through the air, and a faint, insubstantial Taiji diagram appeared, flickering in and out of sight.

The four swords came again and stabbed straight into the Taiji diagram.

It was as if they had stabbed into an alloy wall; they could not advance by even a hair.

The Taiji diagram between Jiang Changkong's hands seemed to carry an attracting force, drawing the four swords into rotation. Then he gave a gentle push.

Rumble.

Crack.

The air exploded. The Taiji diagram flew out, and the golden light swords shattered.

The four golden men exploded, turning into countless motes of golden light that dispersed into the air.

Utmost softness, utmost hardness—Hard-Soft Taiji Fist Classic!

"Assessment passed."

The cold, electronically synthesized voice came again. The three people behind him were still a little dazed.

"It's over?" The three of them stared with their mouths agape. So fast.

Were wild top students all this fierce?

Clang.

The stone door opened. The assessment was over.

"My Star Stones. Don't forget them," Jiang Changkong said. After speaking, he got up and left.

"Don't worry, senior. We won't forget. We wouldn't dare forget," the three of them said excitedly.

The First-Year Mock Exam had been passed just like that. They would not be expelled!