Chapter 115: Chapter 115: The Provincial Competition Starts

Competitions sure are tough!

Late at night.

The thought crossed Chen Che’s mind as he was in Shushan Park, familiarizing himself with the exam grounds. He noticed that every candidate he passed on the way looked stern and anxious.

He understood why.

These students had all been at the top of their respective school districts. But now, at the provincial competition, they had suddenly discovered they were merely average. It was only natural for them to feel defeated.

The few people with him were even more silent.

This was especially true after they overheard a conversation between a mother and son by the roadside:

"Inspector Fu, is it useful to check out the exam site at night?"

"The exam lasts three days, so there will definitely be a night battle. I want to get familiar with it."

"...Are you a little nervous? Just do your best."

"It’s just a small-scale exam. Nothing to be nervous about. I’m already at the late-stage Seventh Layer. As long as I don’t lose my head and fight Jiang Jingyuan and his group to the death, qualifying should be easy..."

The two of them gradually walked away.

Chen Che glanced back, a set of information appearing in his mind.

Inspector Fu.

Student at He City First Middle School, member of the Dangerous Group.

Just as he was thinking this, a girl in their group suddenly stopped, her expression grim.

It wasn’t just her. The others didn’t look much better.

"I want to go back and cultivate."

Meeting Chen Che’s questioning gaze, she sighed and explained, "I want to try and raise my Cultivation a little more before the exam starts."

They had exhausted themselves just to reach the Seventh Layer before the provincial competition.

But other people...

"Alright, let’s head back then."

Chen Che glanced at the park.

He had already seen the entire nightscape a moment ago when he scanned it with his Divine Sense.

So, when Old Li called for him to continue scouting the exam site the next day, Chen Che flatly refused.

It wasn’t just him. More than half of the students who had gone out that night were unwilling to go again, wanting to use every second to cultivate.

Su Peng had originally planned to scout the exam site as well, but when he saw Chen Che wasn’t going, he also decided to stay behind and cultivate.

Before they left, Yan Jun had instructed him to follow Chen Che’s study routine.

Lin Yi and Zong Yudao, on the other hand, were the carefree ones. They followed Li Xiaoshuang around Shushan Park for two days. When they returned, they chattered on about trivial matters, like which pretty girls they had seen, or how two parents had argued for ages without ever coming to blows.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The day of the competition.

Having finished his daily Cultivation, Chen Che slowly opened his eyes. Data flashed across his Micro Crystal Brain:

[Name: Chen Che]

[Realm: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (16.24%)]

[Qi and Blood: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (89.7%)]

[Divine Sense: Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer (62.3%)]

[Warning: True Essence reserves 134.1% higher than Cultivators of the same tier.]

’That’s quite a bit more than I expected.’

Glancing at the data for the last item, Chen Che’s lips curved into a smile.

Just then, Old Li’s voice came from outside the door: "Chen Che, time to go to the exam site..."

"Coming!"

After gathering his things, Chen Che was about to leave when his phone buzzed with a message. He opened it.

Ye Youwei: Good luck!

Chen Che: Thanks!

...

When they arrived at the exam site, the entire Great Shu Mountain Park had been sectioned off by an Array. Waiting areas and spectator zones had been set up around the perimeter.

As far as the eye could see, members of the Immortal Sect’s Law Enforcement Team patrolled back and forth, Weapons on their backs. There were even ten examiners at the Golden Core Realm constantly inspecting the grounds. A chief examiner at the Nascent Soul Realm presided over the park from the highest point.

Seeing such a display, many candidates were so nervous they hardly dared to breathe.

Of course, the provincial competition was also much stricter.

After passing through detection gates and being scanned from head to toe to ensure they carried no prohibited items, the candidates were randomly assigned and sent into ten separate waiting areas.

Even in the waiting areas, there were members of the Law Enforcement Team.

In this atmosphere, even the most naturally lively students couldn’t utter a single word.

Chen Che, however, took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The students around him were all strangers.

Zong Yudao, Lin Yi, and Su Peng had all been assigned to other waiting areas. Only the girl he had eaten with a few days ago was standing next to him. A sideways glance revealed that although her face was calm, her legs were trembling slightly.

Clearly, she was extremely nervous.

"This provincial competition, organized by the Immortal Sect’s Ministry of Education, will last for three days. It will be invigilated by one Nascent Soul Cultivator and ten Golden Core Cultivators..."

At that moment, a voice boomed from the sky:

"The rules of the exam are as follows: There are a total of ten Jade Talismans. The main objective is to seize a Jade Talisman. Those holding a Jade Talisman when time runs out will qualify to advance..."

The examiner’s voice was loud, introducing the rules with a rhythmic cadence, and also included some points of caution.

’It’s just as Old Li said...’

Chen Che looked up at the sky, summarizing the rules in his mind.

At the same time, he subconsciously glanced at Li Tingyu not far away. He saw that she had a solemn expression, sitting cross-legged in the void. She was barefoot, and an anklet forged from jade adorned one of her ankles, making her feet seem all the more smooth and perfect.

As if sensing his gaze, Li Tingyu lowered her eyes to look at him.

’A Nascent Soul Cultivator’s senses are truly sharp!’

Chen Che quickly looked away.

WHOOSH!

Just as the rules were fully explained, Li Tingyu waved her sleeve. Light manifested in the void, and one hundred and eight massive light screens slowly materialized over the spectator area. These screens were aimed at every part of the exam site, acting as monitors.

They also made it convenient for the people outside to watch the competition.

Time slowly trickled by.

"DING~"

Following the crisp ringing of a bell, a brilliant light erupted from the ten waiting areas, enveloping the waiting candidates.

’The provincial competition really is something else...’

When Chen Che opened his eyes again, he was already inside the exam site. Looking out, his vision was obscured by a layer of mist.

The candidates inside the site had no way to contact the outside world.

’Such a huge lake?’

After getting his bearings, he immediately began to survey his surroundings.

He found that he had appeared on an artificial lake. This lake was originally only an acre or two in size, but under the enhancement of a Spatial Array, it had expanded to more than ten times its original size. In an instant, it gave off a feeling of ancient wilderness, far removed from the city.

’A Pill Furnace?’

Scanning the lake with his Divine Sense, Chen Che’s eyebrows shot up. He was surprised to find a Pill Furnace submerged at the bottom of the lake.

This was the difference from the city-level competition.

In the provincial competition, the provided items would no longer be highlighted. It was entirely up to the candidates to discover them on their own.

If one’s observation skills weren’t sharp enough, they would miss out.

’A shame it’s not a Weapon.’

Chen Che lamented.

However, having a Pill Furnace had its advantages. Herbs would also appear randomly on the site, which was a convenience for Pill Masters.

Of course, Array Banners, Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and other such items suited for the secondary professions of other Cultivators would also appear in the exam site.

"Hm?"

Just as Chen Che stored the Pill Furnace in the standard-issue Storage Pouch provided for the competition and was about to leave, a figure sprinting past the lake caught his attention.

’What a coincidence. If it isn’t him!’

His eyebrows raised slightly. The other person was none other than Jiang Jingyuan.

And at the same moment, Jiang Jingyuan also spotted Chen Che.

However, the two merely exchanged a glance before quickly passing each other by.

Chen Che’s thought was: ’The Jade Talismans’ locations haven’t been announced yet. There’s no need to reveal my strength this early.’

Jiang Jingyuan’s thought was: ’He won’t even live to see our next meeting.’

...