The mysterious knowledge examination had over three hundred candidates, spread across ten large examination halls.
These halls were lecture rooms, typically accommodating two to three hundred students, but given that the candidates were all awakened powerhouses with keen senses, their seating arrangements were considerably spaced out.
Yin Luoxi arrived at Hall Number Four and took Seat 14.
She couldn't resist looking around, her gaze sweeping over the other thirty-odd candidates in the hall, searching for those who appeared to be academic prodigies.
...Just kidding!
Why would she need a prodigy! It was just a basic mysterious knowledge exam. Let's see how this President handles it with ease, and then she could slam her exceptionally high-scoring test paper in front of the tutor. Humph, let's see what the tutor has to say then.
She was a bit eager to see the tutor's expression.
Hahahaha—
Yin Luoxi couldn't help but laugh out loud, attracting curious glances from everyone else—is this child a fool?
But how could she, President Yin Luoxi, founder of the Witch Sisters Association, stoop to arguing with a bunch of ordinary people?
Hmph!
"Dong—"
A melodious bell echoed throughout the examination hall.
The time had arrived. The staff began to unseal the packaged envelopes and distribute the test papers one by one.
Silence fell in the hall, save for the rustling of papers and the scratching of pens. As for the patrolling invigilators? They were non-existent.
All candidates present were at least First Awakening, with many being much more powerful. These temporary staff were hardly capable of invigilating them.
Invigilation relied on surveillance.
Eight surveillance cameras were installed, covering the entire hall without blind spots, along with numerous hidden surveillance probes—even if one's own vision and internal and external surveillance, supervised by Xiao Huan in real-time, were used, one couldn't hide even a small note stashed in a four-dimensional pocket from Xiao Huan's eyes.
At the very front of the hall, on the lectern.
A mascot-like black cat statue was crouched. It appeared to be a statue, but its feline eyes darted back and forth.
Lord Cat God is watching you!
This was precisely Hei Tong, but not entirely Hei Tong; rather, it was Hei Tong's avatar.
After advancing to Fourth Awakening, Hei Tong Meow, in addition to the usual two-dimensional upgrades, surprisingly gained a third awakening ability, 'Spirit Cat Avatar,' which Fang You found astonishing. It was the first time he had seen a new ability emerge upon reaching the non-human tier.
This ability was somewhat similar to Qian Mian's 'Puppet Clone,' a combination of an item and an ability. By casting a life-sized Hei Tong cat statue with special materials, it could serve as an avatar.
Compared to Qian Mian, the Spirit Cat Avatar had a further range limit and a far greater number of avatars.
Currently, there were ten such Spirit Cat Avatars of Hei Tong crouching in the ten examination halls.
Its true body was not here, but over a thousand meters away, playing games.
Hei Tong's paws tapped on the keyboard, and another avatar manipulated the mouse, truly showcasing the versatility of the ability.
With the head invigilator, Cat God, in place, the candidates commenced the tense mysterious knowledge examination.
Yin Luoxi began reading the questions after writing her name. The initial section consisted of multiple-choice questions. She approached them with full confidence, but paused slightly.
[Question 01: If you are an ordinary person who has learned Blade Slash (Beginner Level), your physique is greater than 3, and you are holding a basic awakened weapon, how many cuts would it take to slay a Grimy Knocker?]
a. One cut
b. Two cuts
c. Three cuts
d. Can't win, how could I possibly win?
Yin Luoxi: ⊙▃⊙
She knew Blade Slash, and she knew Grimy Knockers, but she usually took out a whole swarm with one move. How would she know about ordinary people versus Knockers?
What kind of trash question is this!
This question isn't right, next! The next question will surely be in her area of expertise.
With her still considerable confidence and drive, Yin Luoxi proceeded to examine the second question.
[Question 02: What is the advanced form of the two-star Grimy entity 'Gloom Lantern'?]
a. Three-Ring Gloom Lantern
b. Triple Gloom Lantern
c. Three-Gathering Gloom Lantern
d. Three-Phase Gloom Lantern
Yin Luoxi: Meow meow meow!
She froze again, her eyes widening in indignation.
What kind of trash question is this, it's making things difficult for this beautiful me!
Does she, the President of the Witch Sisters Association, have to care about what Grimy entities eat and what they are called?
Unreasonable!
This question, skip!
With less than full confidence, Yin Luoxi looked at the next question.
[Question 03: How should one attack a Grimy entity 'Mountain Behemoth'? (Image attached)]
a. Attack with a lightning-based ultimate move.
b. Sever its blade-like four legs.
c. Detonate the volcano on the beast's back.
d. Blast an opening on its mountainous body.
She was familiar with this Mountain Behemoth!
Yin Luoxi's eyes widened, showing a hint of joy.
Yin Luoxi stared at the options.
Yin Luoxi's eyes widened even further, a look of bewilderment crossing her face.
What kind of trash question is this!
This question, skip! Next, next! Her hand clenched the desk, creating cracks, and she read each question word by word, her expression gradually shifting from full confidence to facing a formidable enemy, and finally to doubting existence itself.
Bang—
Yin Luoxi collapsed.
Half her face was pressed against the test paper, her wine-red hair scattered loosely, faint foam at her lips, and circles in her eyes.
What kind of trash question is this!
Why are they all making things difficult for this President!
She doesn't want to take the test, she doesn't want to take it anymore, sob sob sob!
...
In the adjacent hall,
A burly and fierce man sat at his seat, staring at the test paper before him, also facing a formidable challenge.
He was Donghuang's number one Grimy Hunter, the Rending Fist Martial Saint, Xing Jinglei.
He could have opted out of this mysterious knowledge exam, but as a core member of the Torch, a core member personally invited by the tutor, how could he let the younger generation surpass him?
So, he came.
And he brought his three subordinates with him, determined to obtain the certificate of qualification in basic mysterious knowledge.
"Hmph! It's a bit difficult, but this great master has never been defeated by hardship!"
"Answer! I will finish this test paper even if I die!"
He guessed through the multiple-choice questions and then looked at the fill-in-the-blanks.
[Question 01: Please list the names of the seven mandatory courses: ________.]
Xing Jinglei paused slightly, his brow furrowed in thought.
[Question 02: Please list the names of at least six three-star Grimy entities: ________.]
Flesh Giant, Bone Knight, what else...
Xing Jinglei fell into contemplation.
His reading speed gradually increased, and the number of blank spaces he skipped grew.
He planned to tackle the questions he could answer first.
This question, skip.
This question, also skip.
This question, still skip.
Xing Jinglei's hand holding the pen trembled slightly.
[Third Section: Material Identification. Please write the names of the corresponding mysterious materials based on the following images.]
Xing Jinglei stared, veins gradually bulging on his forehead.
This test paper is not right, what kind of trash questions are these! These questions, this Master Xing refuses to answer!
Wait, aren't these questions personally set by the tutor?
Ahem, it's just that these questions are too profound. The tutor's questions are indeed not simple.
Xing Jinglei glanced at the others and met the equally bewildered and uncomfortable gaze of his first subordinate, Dao Hun.
Their eyes met, and he understood Dao Hun's meaning.
"Boss, these questions are really difficult. How about we just give up?"
Xing Jinglei hesitated.
His gaze then fell upon his second subordinate, Bao Lishi.
Bao Lishi's eyes conveyed: "Me too!"
Xing Jinglei was somewhat tempted. He then looked at his third subordinate, Shan Xiong.
Shan Xiong was rubbing his belly and looking up. Xing Jinglei understood his meaning without even needing eye contact.
— "I'm hungry, why don't we go eat?"
That made him hungry too.
Damn it!
Xing Jinglei agonized between submitting a blank paper early and persevering.
...
In the hall next door, Hall Number Three.
The exquisite Princess Anna was diligently writing.
Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, material identification, essays—she answered each question after a moment's thought.
Half an hour later, seeing her completed test paper, Anna nodded in satisfaction.
"It's indeed not difficult."
"After all, it's an exam with a 'basic' prefix. The tutor probably wants as many people to pass as possible."
She glanced around, seeing other candidates who appeared to be still diligently staring at their papers, and immediately abandoned the thought of submitting early.
If everyone else is so serious, how can she be complacent?
She has only finished answering the questions, not yet checked them. For a basic exam like this, not getting a perfect score is a failure.
Yes, absolutely no careless mistakes!
Princess Anna lowered her head and began to check her answers.
...
An Jianyou was also checking her answers. Her test paper was filled with writing. While completing and reviewing the paper, she was also contemplating the tutor's deeper meaning behind the questions.
If it were herself, how would she set the questions? What was the purpose of these questions? What difficulty level should be maintained?
Perhaps this was the tutor's intention in making her take the exam. Next time she sets questions, she must share the burden with the tutor.
Go for it!
...
Zhou Hai, Jiang Tingqiu, Xu Tian, Roland, Liu Ji, and others were all diligently answering the questions.
Some submitted early, while more were utterly bewildered.
The gap between the top students and the struggling students was evident at this moment.
Outside the examination halls,
Fang You had personally come. He walked past the halls, looking at the candidates inside, some answering questions, others scratching their heads, including Yin Luoxi, who was bewildered and foaming at the mouth.
It was truly wonderful.
He meant it was normal. Let this silly child catch up on her studies and take a break for a while.
After surveying the examination halls and glancing to see if Hei Tong was slacking off, Fang You returned to the secret realm.
As soon as he entered, he intended to get a drink at the Blessing Shop in the lobby, but he saw Master Wang's gleaming bald head.
"Tutor, I have already made the item you requested."
--Outside the text--
The next chapter will be later, ah.