"Three three two one four three two two one..."
Shi Lai held a test paper, reciting a string of numbers like a QQ number, while a petite girl sat at the desk in front of him, at a loss.
"Give... give me back my paper."
"Wait." Shi Lai committed it to memory. "Fill in the blanks: one, the First Emperor; two, Bai Qi; three, year 193 of the Demon Emperor calendar; four, year 422 of the Demon Emperor calendar..."
"Have you memorized everything?" a faint voice sounded behind him.
"Almost." Shi Lai sped up his recitation, then thrust the paper back into the girl's hands when he finished. "Thanks. Here you go." He turned around, saw the expressionless Hu Jun, and grinned.
"Get out!" Hu Jun roared angrily.
"Yes, Teacher Hu!" Under the eyes of every first-year student in the beginner class, Shi Lai ran out without feeling the slightest pressure. He looked left and right along the corridor, ran next door, and kicked the door open with a bang!
The second-year students in Beginner Class were answering their papers. They looked over in surprise at the noise, and the female teacher invigilating frowned and snapped, "You're... a first-year freshman? Out! If you need something, knock first!"
Shi Lai ignored her. His gaze swept around, spotted Zhou Xiaoxian, and he grinned in greeting. Then... he lunged straight at Feng Mo! Surprise had barely appeared in Feng Mo's little eyes before pain struck his left cheek!
Smack!!
The resounding slap stunned not only him, but everyone else as well!
"Bastard! You?!"
Feng Mo flew into a rage, but Shi Lai gave him no chance to vent it and immediately used Reloading a Save!
The scene shifted. Back in his own classroom, sitting properly in his seat, Shi Lai beamed. That felt great!
He picked up his pen and began answering. "Three three two one four three two... what came next? Hiss..."
After thinking back for a moment, he stood and snatched the test paper from a petite girl diagonally ahead of him.
The scene played out again.
At noon, having successfully passed the written exam for the Four Little Talented Scholars and slapped Feng Mo three times, Shi Lai walked along a mountain path at the Holy Academy, relaxed and cheerful.
After thinking it over, he felt a little regret.
"Reloading a Save twice would've probably been enough to pass. I got too caught up in enjoying myself. There's still the martial exam this afternoon. With only four Reloading a Save attempts left, things could get dicey if I'm unlucky."
"Too bad I couldn't learn another skill from that old gay geezer. Otherwise..." Shi Lai suddenly paused and called, "Hey! Old... Grandpa!"
That was close. Almost called him the wrong thing.
Not far ahead, Xia Yi was walking side by side with Deputy Dean Luo Ti. Hearing the call, he smiled in greeting. "Shi Lai, how did it go? Did you pass this morning's written exam? I'm still looking forward to seeing you put on a splendid fight this afternoon."
"I passed, I passed." Shi Lai carefully studied Xia Yi's expression. Seeing nothing unusual, he finally sighed in relief. Then he noticed Luo Ti beside Xia Yi, and a slightly odd look appeared on his face again.
Again! That look, as if he's looking at an idiot, again! What is wrong with this freshman?!
Luo Ti was furious inwardly, but showed none of it on his face, even joining in. "I'm also very curious to see how the freshman you think so highly of will perform this afternoon, senior.
"A first-year taking a place among the Four Little Talented Scholars or Talented Women from the second-years only happens once every few decades. As I recall, Song Ziyu, currently the top male student in the beginner class, only made the top eight last year."
"Did you hear that, Shi Lai? This is a chance to become a legend. Give it your best. Haven't you always wanted to learn a Saint Soul from me? As long as you become one of the Four Little Talented Scholars, I'll teach you!"
[Ding! Xia Yi has issued a quest: Become a legend (become one of the Four Little Talented Scholars)][Quest rewards: a large amount of experience, a Saint Soul reward] [Accept?]
What a turn of fortune!
Shi Lai's eyes lit up. This way, becoming one of the Four Little Talented Scholars would earn him two sets of rewards. He instantly felt even more motivated. This afternoon, anyone in my way dies!
"Just you watch, Grandpa! I'm off to squeeze in some sword practice!"
Shi Lai rushed off in a whirlwind.
Xia Yi smiled and turned to Luo Ti. "Sorry you had to see that, Deputy Dean. I have a presumptuous request. For this afternoon's matchups, could you have him... face some stronger children?"
Stronger ones? Hearing the first half, Luo Ti had thought Xia Yi wanted to help Shi Lai, but instead he wanted to make things difficult for him. Why?
Xia Yi volunteered an explanation. "I'm not deliberately making things difficult for him. It's simply a test. If he passes my test, I'll take him as my second disciple. I don't want him relying on luck."
"I see." Luo Ti understood. After some thought, he nodded. "A simple matter."
The stronger his opponents, the more experience he'll get, letting him grow stronger through battle! A glint flickered in Xia Yi's eyes, and he added, "Also, the girl told me that the top three only join the matches after the others have determined the top five. If Shi Lai is lucky enough to reach that stage, I hope he'll face Feng Mo."
"Feng Mo?" Luo Ti was surprised. "As far as I know, three students among the boys and girls in the beginner class have advanced to Two-Star Celestial Pivot: Song Ziyu, Sun Xin, and your disciple Zhou Xiaoxian. And Feng Mo is only a step away from two-star. For that freshman to face him..."
"This is the final test. Becoming my disciple isn't that easy. Not making him face Song Ziyu is already going easy on him." Xia Yi laughed heartily. "Of course, I have my own selfish reasons too. Feng Mo's father has had a clash with me."
Luo Ti's expression did not change. "Is that so? Heh heh. Since you've been so frank, senior, I certainly won't disappoint you. I'll keep an eye on the matchups."
Hmph! That freshman, beat Feng Mo? Perfect. Let Feng Mo teach him a lesson. See if he dares look at me that strange way again!
After that brief interlude, Xia Yi continued following Luo Ti on a tour of the Lieyang City Holy Academy. The Holy Academy had four peaks in total. The first peak was the lowest, housing the Beginner Class students' classrooms, dormitories, and all their other facilities.
The third peak was the next highest and housed the intermediate class. The fourth peak came next in height and held the residences and cultivation grounds of the Holy Academy's teachers, principal, and vice principal.
The second peak was the tallest, serving as the site for sacrifices to Heaven and competitive matches. As for an advanced class, Lieyang City was not large enough to establish one. In all of Great Zheng, only the Holy Academy in the capital had an advanced class. Every student there was at least Three-Star Tianji, and there had even been Five-Star Jade Balance Rank students.
Following Luo Ti up the second peak, Xia Yi saw a towering sacrificial altar, flanked by comparatively lower fighting platforms.
Luo Ti gestured toward them. "In two hours, the Beginner Class students who passed the written exam will determine the top four on these two platforms. At noon tomorrow, I'll conduct the sacrificial ceremony on this altar and ask Father God to bestow Saint Souls."
Xia Yi nodded and looked at the altar, reflecting inwardly, Through all these centuries, it hasn't changed.
Eight hundred years ago, there had also been similar matches and ceremonies. Unlike now, however, there had been no heaven-bestowed Saint Souls like the Four Little Talented Scholars and Four Little Talented Women, suited for young boys and girls to compete for. There had only been the Human Race 108 Stars, the Heavenly 36 Stars and Earthly 72 Stars, which only five-star and six-star Human Race experts could fight to claim!
Xia Yi had won one once, personally experiencing the process of Father God granting a heaven-bestowed Saint Soul. He had even overestimated himself enough to try to analyze Father God's origins, but in the end, all he had sensed was an ocean-like vastness!
It was just as the ancient legends told.
Before heaven and earth had taken shape, Father God had existed. Later, his four limbs and torso had separated into five realms, his ears, nose, mouth, and eyes had combined into one realm, his brain and heart had each become a realm, and his Three Souls and seven spirits had each become another realm, forming ten realms in total.
And the Saint Soul Continent was the very center formed from Father God's Three Souls. Father God was the Creator!
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