Chen Xiao only lingered in disappointment for a moment before gathering his thoughts and turning his attention back to the scene unfolding inside.

Half an hour had passed when the person standing behind the seats stepped forward to collect the booklets from the youths. With the leader gone, he no longer needed to remain in his previous position and now stood alongside the host of the test.

The host glanced at him, silently seeking confirmation. The other man shook his head slightly, signaling for him to continue managing the proceedings.

The host then announced, “Next, I will ask each of you a question.”

The first in line was Wu Xinzhi. He felt a surge of nervousness and silently recited the contents of the booklet over and over in his mind. The host pointed at him. “You’re first. Step forward and recite what you’ve memorized.”

Wu Xinzhi steadied himself and began to recite the text he had memorized. He had an excellent memory and was often praised by the instructors at the academy for his ability to retain texts.

At first, his recitation was smooth. However, after the first third, it became fragmented. By the final third, he started skipping over parts he couldn’t recall. Unable to pause and reflect, he pressed on, skipping forgotten sections and continuing with what he could remember.

Wu Xinzhi had used a strategy. He memorized the beginning and end of the text most thoroughly, focusing less on the middle sections. At the academy, instructors typically chose excerpts from the start or end of a passage when testing students, rarely venturing into the middle or later parts.

He assumed this immortal master would follow the same pattern and hoped to pass with this tactic. To his dismay, the master did not stop him at any point, allowing him to recite to the very end. Despite faltering in the latter parts, Wu Xinzhi believed he had recited more than anyone else and felt confident in his performance.

The immortal master gave a slight nod, and Wu Xinzhi’s heart soared with relief. Just as he thought he had passed, the master suddenly asked, “‘To refine oneself is to harmonize with the profound essence.’ What does this mean?”

“Huh?” Wu Xinzhi froze, his mind blank. “What... what does it mean?”

The master patiently repeated, “Explain your understanding of this phrase.”

Cold sweat poured down Wu Xinzhi’s back. He had focused solely on rote memorization and never considered the meaning of the text. These texts were profound and abstruse, often requiring days for instructors to explain. To expect him to articulate his understanding on the spot was beyond his capability.

Mumbling incoherently for a while, Wu Xinzhi ultimately failed to provide an answer. The master waved him aside. “You may step back. Next.”

Wu Xinzhi’s face turned pale. He stumbled back to his position at the front of the line, his mind in turmoil. His earlier confidence had crumbled entirely.

The second youth stepped forward. As with Wu Xinzhi, the master first asked him to recite the text. This youth had no tricks up his sleeve. Lacking Wu Xinzhi’s photographic memory, he managed to recite only the first third of the text.

The master made no comment on the quantity recited but, as before, asked for an interpretation of a chosen phrase. Though nervous, the youth took a moment to think and managed to provide his understanding.

By this point, Chen Xiao understood the nature of the test. The final round wasn’t about memory but comprehension. The immortal masters of Chongxuan Sect were assessing the youths’ ability to grasp the meaning of the text. How much they memorized was irrelevant; what mattered was having their own perspective.

Wu Xinzhi’s clever strategy had backfired, making him the least favorable candidate.

Standing at the front of the line, Wu Xinzhi quickly realized the issue. His face turned ashen as he anticipated his rejection.

In the end, the opportunity to join the immortal sect was awarded to the youth at the back of the line. The boy’s joy was evident, while Wu Xinzhi stood frozen as if struck by lightning.

After informing the academy instructors that they would return in a few days for another selection, the two immortal masters departed.

The villagers, who had been watching, dispersed contentedly. Though only one out of ten was chosen, most families were prepared for such an outcome. They comforted their children, proud of their efforts, and left the scene. Wu Xinzhi’s family, however, remained behind, voicing their grievances loudly.

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The Wu family, though wealthy, lacked scholarly insight and didn’t understand the emphasis on comprehension in the final test. Wu Xinzhi’s parents were indignant, arguing that their son had recited the most and performed the best. How could he lose to someone who memorized only a few hundred characters?

Their words carried an undercurrent of accusation, questioning the fairness of the selection process. One of the academy instructors, still present, broke out in a cold sweat. He sternly rebuked them, “Silence! The immortal masters have their reasons. How dare you question them!”

Seeing Wu Xinzhi’s downcast expression, the instructor softened his tone. “Xinzhi, don’t lose heart. The Chongxuan Sect is a prestigious sect with exceptionally high standards. With your talents, you could easily join any other sect as an inner disciple.”

Wu Xinzhi bit his lip, his eyes red. “Instructor, I just... I can’t accept it! I didn’t understand the meaning. Otherwise... otherwise...”

His strong sense of pride made this rejection a crushing blow. He held back his tears, refusing to cry in front of everyone.

A sigh escaped the headmaster’s lips. Normally, immortal sects selected disciples based solely on spiritual roots and physique. Who could have anticipated that the Chongxuan Sect would add a test for comprehension?

Among the ten boys from Fancun—the best of the best—only one was chosen. This demonstrated just how rigorous the requirements of this renowned sect were.

Chen Xiao stood quietly to the side, musing, This is like the difference between a prestigious university and a regular one. Comprehension is the extra credit question in an exam that determines your fate.

Seeing Wu Xinzhi so despondent, Ershun, unable to hold back her shyness, pushed her way to the front. Her eyes reddened as she softly consoled him, “Brother Xinzhi, don’t be too upset. Don’t forget there’s still the second round. You might still have a chance...”

Before she could finish, Wu Xinzhi’s parents—already brimming with frustration—turned their ire on Ershun. Wu Xinzhi’s mother snapped, “Oh, you must be pleased now! My son’s chance to enter an immortal sect is gone, and he’s left to languish as a mere mortal. I regret ever agreeing to his engagement with someone like you! Refusing to annul it, dragging my son down with you!”

Ershun was left speechless. How could she be blamed for this? It was entirely unrelated to her. Typically gentle and soft-spoken, she now found herself accused and could only shed tears in silent grievance.

Chen Xiao, unable to watch any longer, stepped in front of Wu Xinzhi and said, “If you truly have ambition, you wouldn’t let your mother talk about your fiancée like this! Any reasonable person can see what happened in that last round. It has nothing to do with my sister. Don’t assume that just because her family lacks education, there’s no one to stand up for her. I, her cousin, am right here.”

As Ershun’s cousin, Chen Xiao couldn’t directly confront her future mother-in-law. Doing so would only cause more trouble for Ershun in the future. His only option was to address Wu Xinzhi, hoping he would resolve the issue himself.

Wu Xinzhi understood Chen Xiao’s meaning all too well. It was his own misstep that had ruined his performance in the final round. His family might not see it, but the Chen family certainly did.

Ashamed, his face flushed red. Already weighed down by disappointment, his mood worsened. “Mother, stop. This has nothing to do with Ershun. It’s my own fault—I was too arrogant, assuming I could second-guess the immortal masters. My overconfidence led to failure. If you don’t want to embarrass me further, please don’t say any more.”

Though Wu Xinzhi’s mother knew Ershun wasn’t to blame, she couldn’t bring herself to scold her son. Frustration had to find an outlet, and Ershun became the target. Now, with her son publicly reprimanding her, she felt humiliated. She covered her face with her handkerchief and began to wail, “Oh, my poor son!”

The mentor stood amidst the crowd, his head pounding from the commotion. Raising his voice, he barked, “Enough! Things haven’t reached their worst. What’s all this crying for?”

Wu Xinzhi’s mother immediately fell silent. His father, seizing the opportunity, asked anxiously, “Mentor, what do you mean? Is there still hope?”

The mentor rubbed his temples and explained, “This was merely the selection for inner disciples. There will be another round for outer disciples soon.” Fixing his gaze on Wu Xinzhi, he asked, “Think carefully—would you rather join a regular sect as an inner disciple or enter the Chongxuan Sect as an outer disciple?”

The difference was clear: inner disciples had dedicated mentors, while outer disciples did not. Inner disciples were closely guided, while outer disciples were often left to fend for themselves. However, being an outer disciple didn’t preclude future opportunities. Exceptional performance could still earn one a place as an inner disciple.

Clenching his teeth, Wu Xinzhi declared, “Of course I’ll go to the Chongxuan Sect!” How could he resign himself to a lesser sect when there was still a chance at a prestigious one?

That night, after the selection, Ershun couldn’t sleep. She didn’t dare make a sound in her room for fear of disturbing her parents, so she slipped into the storage room and huddled under a blanket, quietly crying.

Chen Xiao, waking in the middle of the night to relieve himself, caught the faint sound of her sobs. He dressed quickly, grabbed a warming pot, and made his way over.

“What are you crying about? Feeling wronged after what happened today?” Chen Xiao pushed the door open, startling Ershun so much that the blanket slipped off her crouched figure.

“Brother Hanwa, why are you here?” Her voice was thick with congestion, revealing she had been crying for quite some time.

Chen Xiao sighed, “You call me ‘brother,’ so I’ll treat you as my sister. If my sister is crying here, how could I, as her brother, ignore it?”

Tears welled up in Ershun’s eyes again. Chen Xiao draped the blanket back over her shoulders and said, “Don’t let it bother you. Your future mother-in-law was just momentarily blinded by anger. Once Wu Xinzhi explains things to her, she’ll come around and won’t give you a hard time anymore.”

Ershun shook her head. “I’m afraid it won’t get better. She’ll only grow more resentful of me.”

“Why do you think that?” Chen Xiao asked, puzzled.

In a hushed voice, Ershun replied, “I think Brother Wu going to the second selection might actually be less of a chance than today.”