When morning arrived, Xiao Feng came for Wu Guang personally. They ate breakfast that was served in one of the rooms in the guest quarters and then they started speaking.
"I know you will be taking part in the entrance tests, but I doubt you will have any problems with that. So, do you want to explore the city? I would accompany you and show you some interesting places"
"I appreciate the offer, but I have to refuse. Elder Chen tasked me with obtaining first place in all the tests. I am fairly sure of the one's related to cultivation, but can you loan me any books about the island and other matters that should be asked in the knowledge test?"
"First place, huh? Did you mention cultivation tests? This task includes the tests as an internal disciple in waiting?"
"Yes"
"Are you sure about your cultivation? Only people starting from the 6th level of the Body are considered"
"Yes, there should be no problems with that. Although I would ask if I can cultivate somewhere around here for some time"
"Ok, judging from this you are pretty serious about completing that task. Or as I see it, you need to complete it because of some reason..." His face turned a bit pensive before the words "Follow me" were added.
Wu Guang followed him while they passed several corridors, courtyards, and a small artificial lake.
After walking around the latter, Xiao Feng entered a medium-sized building that faced it. A small sanded training ground was seen nearby, while inside shelves with different books and scrolls were seen.
"Brother Wu. This is the place I used for training before entering the sect. I did not encounter any questions that I had not seen here, except the ones in the extra theoretical exams. For them, I will try to get you something later. Near the training area, you should see a blue stump, it's a nice cultivation spot with several qi currents"
"Thank you"
"None are needed. You can return to the guest quarters to sleep, but there is a room where you can stay inside. I only expect that the day before we leave to the sect, you will accompany me to dinner and meet my father, as I have told him about you"
"I prefer to stay here, and I would be honored to meet him. Thank you again, Brother Xiao"
"Don't, or I will be angry. I will send someone to bring everything you need then. Do check the two scrolls that should be somewhere marked with the Sect's seal, they should basically explain everything included in both the normal and advanced entrance tests. I will come later to check on you"
With these words, Xiao Feng slowly walked away. "How nice to meet someone who you can call brother in your path" was a quick and fleeting thought that crossed Wu Guang's mind.
Quickly scanning the contents of the shelves, Wu Guang indeed noticed the two scrolls he was told about. Opening the first one, he encountered a description of how the basic test was conducted.
It wasn't anything surprising for the selection. An applicant would be checked by a rune platform that would show the basic width of one's pathways, as well the current situation of one's meridians. If one had damaged meridians or the pathways were disconnected, the applicant would be rejected.
The aptitude test was the first official test, with the applicant being pressured by a level superior to one's cultivation. By such a non-cultivator would encounter the most basic qi current. The test was timed, with the amount of time that one resisted considered for the ranking.
Then a character test followed, which was almost not explained as every time it would change. But basically, one would be confronted by several situations with several manners of resolving them. It was hard to fail it and it wasn't ranked, but if someone solved it uniquely, he would gain an extra mark apart from the passing one.
The knowledge test was a combination of a written one and an incense stick of several random questions from the examiner. Both sections had separate scores, and the scroll had a small remark that for the second one, several quick answers would be not always the best score compared to one real answer.
As Wu Guang expected, two-thirds of the themes in the knowledge part were about basic cultivation, which 'The Path' mostly covered. The rest of the themes were common knowledge about the land and history, which was exactly the reason why he had to study.
After confirming this, he reached for the other scroll. This one explained the extra and the advanced tests.
The extra tests were basically a way to confirm anything not included in the basic ones.
There were optional tests for languages, weapon training, arts, and some unique talents. The results would simply add some points to your total score. These extra points could not exceed an amount that would be announced at the test start.
Talents in areas like herbs, medicine, refining, and runes were ranked separately by a theoretical test. But one could apply to a practical one, and a good result would guarantee one entrance.
The most special extra test was for bloodlines and special body constitutions, but they were treated on an individual basis and did not affect the score per se.
Advanced tests were for people with previous cultivation and for Wu Guang could be considered the easiest ones. There was a comprehension test followed by several qi manipulation ones.
The last of these advanced tests was only applied to applicants intending to enter as inner disciples in waiting, and it consisted of an area with several obstacles.
Finishing both scrolls, Wu Guang relaxed, seemingly there were no people with higher cultivation than the 6th or maybe 7th Body realm level applying for the Sect. Although after a brief moment he pointed to himself that Elder Chen was one of the strongest cultivators from the sect, being only at the pinnacle of the 3rd minor realm.
With this information, he quickly formulated a plan of action. "I need to complete my knowledge about the Island and the Realm to pass the entrance tests with full marks. For the extra tests, to gain the maximum amount of points I should train a bit with a weapon or two, so I integrate my memories of their usage into the body. Adding that to the Wildlands language, I should reach the maximum allowed. If not, I will apply for the only one of the four arts that I don't need to practice with the body, weiqi (Go). The theoretical should be easy to pass with full marks using my memories. This body is normal so the last extra part can be ignored. I have full confidence with the advanced ones, and no preparation seems to be needed".
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He started acting as the plan was finished. With his Saint-level consciousness and Soul, his memory was absolute, while his comprehension was at levels that no one in this realm could reach, or even understand. All the information that could be needed for the basic exam occupied only one small bookstand, so scanning each book or scroll and fully memorizing all the information took him only three hours.
There were several other bookstands and shelves with books in this study room, so he decided to look at them to pass the time. Some of them covered the same information as he had read before, some were full of things that were considered the most basic of knowledge for his original self, while some were meant for entertainment.
When the sun started setting down, Xiao Feng accompanied by several servants bringing the dinner came. They saw a Wu Guang sitting down cross-legged and surrounded by several books as if thinking of something he had learned from them. Xiao Feng would faint on the spot if he knew that in reality, Wu Guang had already finished all the writings inside the building, and the ones near him were the first ones he had read. He spread them there to create the illusion of him studying.
"Brother Wu! Stop studying and let's eat" Xiao Feng called him while the servants quickly served the dinner inside a small pavillion surrounded by flowers.
Wu Guang opened his eyes and while stretching approached the pavillion. The dinner was far more luxurious than the ones he had eaten lately and could be compared only to the first dinner he had in the tower alongside Elder Chen. The most surprising part was the number of minor spirit ingredients used for its preparation, even with his senses fully retracted, Wu Guang could feel several types of herbs and at least two spirit beasts.
"Hahaha, don't be surprised. A young master eats and drinks well around here" Said Xiao Feng with a chuckle. He wanted to poke Wu Guang with the fact that the latter was also from a noble family, but remembering the story did not.
"I see, thanks for showing benevolence and letting me partake in such delicacies" Wu Guang said in a mocking tone
The next moment both started laughing. The dinner indeed was very good, and Xiao Feng insisted on drinking light wine to accompany it, so Wu Guang complied. After the organs were tempered with qi a cultivator could drink enormous amounts of common wine without getting intoxicated. And as the wine was indeed common, they simply enjoyed the flavor.
"So, how are your studies going?"
"I should be able to pass the basic test with no problems. But I will later write a quick summary and study it during the remaining days"
"Good! I asked the resident masters employed by the city and they will send several simple books about their areas. So I think tomorrow or the day after you should have everything you need to study for the herbs, medicines, refining and runes exams. I also asked my father and the masters, they agreed to let you visit on the last day, so you can actually see them at work or even do something practical if you want"
"Thank you! That would be great. I have been interested in medicines and runes for a long time" Wu Guang did not really lie, although his memories were full of this and other knowledge, this body did have no experience or practice. Plus he owned no tools or resources to practice at all, so a bit of free practice would be extremely good for him.
"Like I said before, no need to thank me. I am just doing this because we are brothers that shared dangers together, and when you join the sect we will be disciple brothers as well"
"Well, thanks are made to be expressed, but brothers should do it silently and with their acts"
"Nice words! Any plans apart from reading the books and cultivating?"
"I want to familiarize myself with weapons and practice the bow a bit. I saw that weapon training gives extra points, so I will also take that approach"
"Hmm, don't overstretch yourself. Although now that you said that, I remember Cui Li saying that you are actually pretty good with the bow. What weapons do you need? I will send someone to bring them"
"No need Brother Xiao. I intend to buy and keep a few different weapons of medium or low quality for training later as well. While for the bow, I intend to buy one as my main weapon until I am lucky enough to acquire a spirit weapon, or at least a rune engraved one"
"I see, well, I will be busy with some minor city matters that my father intends me to familiarize with now that I am here. I will ask someone in the morning so they show you the way to the alley that smiths use as a market, I think you should be able to get any medium and lower quality weapons there. As for the bow, I think there is a merchant that specializes in bows, but I have never visited him, so I will ask someone from the guard"
Wu Guang did not thank this time but flashed a grateful smile towards Xiao Feng.
"Oh, now that I think about it. Will you be okay with the money? Common weapons are not expensive, but a quality bow would actually cost several gold coins. Do you need me to borrow you some?"
"Don't worry, my Uncle gave me some. It should be enough for everything I need"
When they finished this conversation the night was already on them and the wine jars were empty, so after wishing each other a nice rest, Xiao Feng left.
Wu Guang returned to the building that was submerged in shadows, following the only light he saw, he reached the room where he would stay. It was a small room with only a pair of chairs and a bed. An oil lamp was present for illumination and after extinguishing the flame, Wu Guang went to sleep in total darkness.