Stepping off the train, Long Xiwang's heart raced at the thought of what was to come. He, a poor boy from a backwater village, was now amidst the bustling streets of one of the kingdom's most renowned cities. The air was filled with the hum of activity, and he could see the grandeur of the city buildings towering above. Determined, he swore to himself that he would do whatever it took to get into the academy. He glanced at Ye Xiao, who didn't seem to care that their fate would be decided in the next four hours. Instead, he was flirting with one of the other participants, which earned him a punch that sent him sprawling. Long Xiwang thought to himself that his perverted friend was beyond saving as he headed to the inn where they were to stay.
Some participants went to the Weapon District to get weapons, others headed to the city's food district, sampling all sorts of exotic dishes, while others, like Long Xiwang, made their way to the inn. However, Leng Rushuang simply got into a finely decorated cart that had stopped nearby, her expression indifferent. Out of curiosity, Long Xiwang went up to her and asked, "Hey! Where are you heading? The exam's starting in less than four hours."
Leng Rushuang glanced at him with a cool, dismissive look. "You insolent peasant, how dare you walk up to me and corrupt the air I breathe with your presence," she said, fanning herself. "The exam is merely a formality. I'm already a student at the Academy. I am royalty, after all. I thought that was clear to you during my evaluation," she added before the cart moved away smoothly.
Long Xiwang, standing there, felt a mix of disbelief and frustration. The nobles didn't care about the exams; they were guaranteed entry. He managed a wry smile as he watched the cart disappear into the distance, its wheels clattering softly on the cobblestones. Shaking off the thoughts, he reminded himself he was simply a poor boy who barely passed the evaluation. He had to pass the final exam, or all his years of hard work would be for nothing. He rushed to the inn to make preparations.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Upon reaching the inn, he was about to pay the innkeeper, but she waved him off with a warm smile. "No need. This inn is used to house examiners each year. It is owned by the Sect. We're students at the Sect, but we're Outer Disciples, so we work here."
Long Xiwang, surprised, began to bombard the innkeeper with questions. "Please, what do you know about the final exam?"
The innkeeper's smile faded slightly, and she looked at him with a mix of pity and concern. "It's held in Hell's Garden, a dangerous forest nearby. Even Inner Disciples don't dare to wander there. It's filled with spirit beasts at the Spirit Sea realm…" She noticed the confused look on his face and sighed. "Cultivation in the First Three Heavens is broken into nine stages: Body Tempering, Meridian Cleansing, Qi Gathering, Qi Condensation, Spirit Sea Realm, Core Formation, Soul Manifestation, Soul Refinement, and lastly Immortal Treading. Each stage is divided into early, mid, and late stages. From what I can sense, you're probably still at the Body Tempering realm, which means you'd be in serious danger if you encountered a Spirit Sea realm beast."
Her words hung heavy in the air, and Long Xiwang felt a sense of dread creeping in. "Now, don't worry. The forest only has four Spirit Sea realm beasts, so as long as you steer clear of their territory, you should be fine. But regardless, the probability that you'll pass or survive is only 20%. I suggest you give up."
Hearing this, Long Xiwang continued to dig his nails into his palm. He knew she was right. He was at the Body Tempering realm and had tried many times to advance but had always failed. He had even damaged his meridians, making it nearly impossible to reach the Meridian Cleansing realm without an elixir or pill. The innkeeper decided to break the silence. "Or not. I would give you a protection talisman, but that's against the rules. However, you could go get a weapon; you'll definitely need one."
He shook off the thoughts in his head, thanked her for the information, and hurried toward the Weapon District. The city's sounds faded into the background as his focus sharpened. Time was running out, but he wasn't about to let this chance slip away.