novel bin Chapter 105 The Grand Exam is Unpredictable
Chapter 105 The Grand Exam is Unpredictable
Chapter 105 The Grand Exam is Unpredictable
On the first day of the big exam, the sky was slightly overcast.
The martial arts hall of Tingtao Pavilion was temporarily converted into an examination room.
Hundreds of desks were neatly arranged, each with the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) and a thick stack of examination papers.
The air was thick with a tense atmosphere that was almost suffocating.
"Please take a seat!"
At the elder's command, all the disciples took their seats.
Gu Shenyan sat in the third row, on the left.
He took a deep breath and dipped his brush in ink.
The exam paper was densely packed with questions, including not only basic principles of talismans but also a large amount of extremely obscure and rare knowledge.
[Question: What is the essential difference in the thunderous energy contained in Purple Thunder Bamboo harvested on a stormy night versus harvested at noon on a sunny day? What auxiliary materials should be added to neutralize it when placing it in a talisman?]
Gu Shenyan's lips curled slightly.
If it were someone else, they would probably be scratching their head over this kind of question.
But in his eyes, it was just a search result in the database.
Blue light shimmered in the retina.
Search keywords: Purple Thunder Bamboo, Harvesting Time.
[Match result: Volume 3, Chapter 4 of *A Study of the Spirituality of Plants*.]
[Answer being generated —]
He wrote with lightning speed, his handwriting neat and powerful.
Those who harvest during thunderstorms possess a violent and murderous aura, and must be harmonized with water from a century-old cold pool; those who harvest at noon possess an excessive yang energy, and must be countered with the Xuan Yin Grass from an extremely yin place.
It was written in a long and flowing style, completed in one go.
A series of gasps and sighs of exasperation came from the surrounding area.
Han Sushuang sat not far from him, her brushstrokes flowing smoothly, her expression calm and composed.
Only Jia Shouren, sitting in the corner, was covered in sweat, his hand holding the pen trembling, but at least he was still writing and didn't hand in a blank paper.
The morning's written test ended in an almost agonizing atmosphere.
In the afternoon, we had to identify the materials.
On the long table were hundreds of numbered brocade boxes.
Each box contains a type of spiritual material.
"Within half an hour, identify the twenty designated spiritual materials and write down their characteristics."
The invigilator's voice was cold and indifferent.
Gu Shenyan walked to the long table and glanced at the brocade boxes.
[Scan started.]
[Target locked: Brocade Box No. 23, Crimson Spirit Sand (fake).]
Gu Shenyan's gaze lingered on the brocade box for a moment.
It looks exactly like top-grade vermilion spirit sand, with a bright color and full of spiritual energy.
But the data stream he saw told him that it was simply a cheap substitute called "Blood Soil," which had been treated with illusion magic on the surface.
If it were actually used to draw talismans, it would explode instantly.
Someone tampered with the exam questions.
Gu Shenyan sneered inwardly.
Without hesitation, he wrote on the answer sheet: Number 23, pseudo-spiritual sand, actually blood soil, explodes when exposed to fire, is waste material.
He replicated the same method for the next nineteen types.
Whether it's fake spirit herbs soaked in potion or pieced-together animal bones, nothing can hide from his system scan.
He even clearly marked the structural differences at the microscopic level.
When he handed in his paper, one of the deacons in charge of collecting the papers gave him a deep look, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The next day, talismans were drawn on site.
This is the real highlight.
Each person had three blank talismans in front of them.
The questions were randomly selected.
Gu Shenyan glanced at his divination sticks.
Water Element - Frozen Ice Talisman.
Fire Element - Flame Burst Talisman.
Earth Element - Earthquake Symbol.
It's fairly standard, not too difficult, but definitely not easy either.
In particular, the "Flame Burst Talisman" requires extremely high control over the heat; the slightest mistake will ruin it.
Gu Shenyan calmed his mind and picked up the talisman brush.
First, the Ice Condensation Talisman.
The brushstrokes flow like dragons and snakes, exuding a chilling aura.
Completed in one go, in excellent condition.
Next is the earthquake symbol.
His brushstrokes were steady and deliberate, as if each stroke carried immense weight.
[Stroke correction enabled.]
[Spiritual energy output smoothness: 98%]
It's another excellent talisman, perfectly solid and impressive.
Finally, there's the Fireball Talisman.
Gu Shenyan switched to a wolf-hair brush and dipped it in crimson cinnabar ink.
The moment the pen tip touched the paper, a wave of heat spread out.
Just as he was drawing the most crucial "fire gathering pattern".
A sudden change occurred.
About three zhang to his left rear.
"Bang!"
A low, muffled thud.
One of the disciples' talismans suddenly exploded, and a chaotic surge of spiritual energy spread outwards like ripples on water.
This appears to be an accident.
But the direction of that fluctuation was strangely focused on Gu Shenyan!
fast.
ruthless.
quasi.
This is an attempt to destroy Gu Shenyan's talisman under the pretext of "exploding the talisman"!
If the pen tip trembles even slightly, this Fireball Talisman will be ruined on the spot.
Each person only has one set of raw materials.
If it's scrapped, it's zero points.
Above the examination hall, Shen Qingyi and Cao Wenjing's expressions changed simultaneously.
But they were too far away to make a move.
At the critical moment.
Gu Shenyan seemed to have anticipated this all along.
His left hand remained clasped under the table.
Just as the wave struck, he flicked his left middle finger lightly.
A pale yellow talisman was silently affixed to the inside of the table leg.
Improved version of the Tranquility Talisman!
A gentle barrier instantly opened, forcefully blocking the chaotic spiritual energy fluctuations three feet away.
At the same time, the "Dark Abyss" life fire within Gu Shenyan's body suddenly surged.
A refreshing sensation rushed straight to my head.
His right hand was as steady as a rock.
Even the ink on the tip of the brush did not smudge at all.
Amidst the chaotic explosions, he remained as still as a meditating monk, and with a flick of his wrist, he completed the final stroke.
Finish writing.
Success!
A crimson talisman lay quietly on the table, shimmering with light and radiating spiritual energy.
Gu Shenyan slowly put down his pen and looked up at the disciple who had made the "mistake".
The man was looking at him with a look of horror, clearly not expecting that his sure-kill attack would miss.
Gu Shenyan didn't speak, he just gave a cold smile.
That smile sent a chill down the disciple's spine.
Day three, team trial.
Behind Tingtao Pavilion, a massive array enveloped the entire valley.
Inside, illusions abound, just like in a real abandoned mine.
Gu Shenyan's group was quite lucky.
Besides him and Han Sushuang, the third person was a poor scholar named Zhao Wu.
He is an honest man, not very talkative, and skilled in earth shield magic.
"Zhao Wu, stay three zhang behind and just activate your shield. Don't worry about anything you see."
"Senior Sister Han, you take the lead in attacking; all the phantom beasts are yours."
"I'm in charge of breaking through the formation and scouting the way."
Gu Shenyan's voice was calm and decisive.
The three quickly formed a battle formation and rushed into the mine.
A chilling wind swept through the mine, accompanied by the wailing of ghosts and wolves.
Several blue-faced, fanged zombie phantoms lunged out from the shadows.
"court death!"
Han Sushuang let out a delicate shout and unleashed a shower of fire with her long sword.
The zombies were instantly burned to ashes.
But the real danger lies not in these illusions.
Instead, it's a "talisman lock" on the road.
Those were barriers that blocked the way, requiring specific attribute talismans to break.
"Five zhang ahead, a silk-entwining formation," belonging to the wood element.
"I will use the 'Golden Edge Talisman' to break it."
While giving instructions, Gu Shenyan casually tossed out a golden talisman.
"Sizzle!"
The invisible net was instantly ripped open with a large gash.
The three men advanced with unstoppable momentum.
At a fork in the road, Gu Shenyan suddenly stopped.
[Warning! High-energy trap detected ahead.]
[Type: Quicksand Illusion Array]
Solution: Attack the base of the stalactite above.
"Senior sister, upstairs!"
Gu Shenyan shouted sharply.
Without any hesitation, Han Sushuang raised her hand and unleashed a sword aura.
"boom!"
A huge stalactite fell, hitting the unseen eye of the formation.
The illusion array collapsed instantly, revealing a shortcut leading into the depths.
Fifteen minutes later.
The three, covered in dust but unharmed, walked out of the great formation carrying the glowing "array eye stone".
Time taken: First in the entire event.
The big exam is over, but the real show is just beginning.
Standing on the high platform, Liu Wenyuan calmly announced a new segment.
"To more comprehensively assess a disciple's potential, a new talisman appraisal system has been added."
"Please select your most satisfactory work and submit it to our three invited senior experts for evaluation."
A murmur immediately broke out from the audience.
Gu Shenyan understood perfectly.
This is for students from poor families.
Without fame or background, no matter how well you draw your talisman, those so-called "seniors" can still find fault with it.
Even a pile of dung, if possessed by a scion of a noble family, can be blown into something extraordinary.
Gu Shenyan looked at the three talismans in his hand.
The Ice Condensation Talisman is the most perfect, flawless.
But he didn't choose it.
He reached out and picked up the "Fireblast Talisman".
It's that talisman drawn under the interference of the explosion.
In his final stroke, he not only used fire elemental power, but also boldly incorporated a very faint trace of water elemental essence.
Water and fire are incompatible.
However, under extremely skillful control, this trace of water can actually suppress the rage of fire, making the power of the outburst more concentrated.
This is a concept.
A concept that transcends the Qi Refining stage.
He wants to gamble.
I bet at least one of those three judges knows their stuff.
There were three people sitting on the judges' panel.
On the left is an arrogant old man in brocade robes, the vice president of the provincial capital's talisman guild, surnamed Wang.
In the middle is an old friend of Lu Banxian, a smiling fat man.
On the right is an old man with a full head of white hair who looks drowsy. He is said to be a retired senior official from the Xuanzheng Division.
Gu Shenyan's talisman was presented.
Vice President Wang glanced at it briefly, then frowned and snorted coldly.
"The fire element is impure, and the substance is mottled with impurities."
"There's still a trace of moisture in the final stroke? That's ridiculous!"
"Water and fire clash, this talisman is useless!"
"Inferior!"
Han Sushuang, who was listening from the side, clenched her fists and almost rushed up to argue with him.
The chubby judge took it, looked at it, and smiled.
"Although it has some flaws, the overall quality is acceptable."
"Mid-grade, I guess."
Gu Shenyan remained expressionless, simply watching the old elder who kept dozing off.
The old priest slowly opened his eyes and picked up the talisman.
This observation took a full half-cup of tea time.
His eyes went from cloudy to clear, and finally even revealed a glint of light.
"Who said it's junk?"
The old man's voice was hoarse, yet it struck the table like a heavy hammer.
Vice President Wang was stunned. "This—"
"This brat is not worth discussing anything with!"
The old temple servant cursed without any politeness.
He held up the talisman and pointed to the last stroke.
"This hint of water is not impurity."
"It's the 'introduction'!"
"Like boiling water with hot oil, this slight touch of water can instantly increase the power of this fireball talisman by 30%!"
"Although the brushwork is still immature and the skill is not yet mature enough."
"But this line of thinking is—unconventional!"
"Courage—commendable!"
The old temple slammed his hand on the table.
"Top grade!"
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Everyone stared at Gu Shenyan in disbelief.
Vice President Wang's face turned a deep purplish-red, but he dared not utter a single word in rebuttal to the old patron.
Standing on the high platform, Liu Wenyuan watched this scene, and a smile finally appeared on his lips.
He took a step forward, and his aura exploded.
"The way of talismans lies in balancing innovation with solid foundation."
"My school selects students based first on potential and character, and secondly on current skills."
He gave Vice President Wang a cold look.
"May we all strive together."
This is not only a summary, but also a warning.
It is also a declaration.
Gu Shenyan stood below the stage, meeting Liu Wenyuan's gaze, and straightened his back slightly.
He won this round.