The monthly exam was divided into three days.

The first day was for academic classes, the second for auxiliary subjects, and the third for combat class and a cultivation level check.

As a member of the Alchemy Dao Class, Chen Che’s exam was naturally on Alchemy.

The school provided ten Pill Formulas. The task was to refine pills according to the instructions, and the time limit was also eight hours.

The grading criteria were simple. Each Pill Formula was worth thirty points, with the final score judged by the quantity and quality of the pills produced. If you could refine five pills from a single formula, and each one was relatively complete with no side effects, you would get full marks.

Otherwise, it was zero points.

It was impossible to cheat on this kind of exam. Even in the same examination hall, simply copying the order in which someone else placed their Spirit Grass would lead to huge disparities if there were even slight differences in the details.

After receiving the Pill Formulas, many students were scratching their heads in frustration.

Along with the smell of something burning, sounds of cursing could be heard from time to time in the alchemy classroom. Clearly, someone had ruined their pills.

However, for Chen Che, who had been engrossed in his Alchemy Skill lately, this exam was a breeze.

He successfully refined pills for all ten formulas. However, the last Pill Formula was quite obscure and he hadn’t practiced it enough, so he only managed to produce two finished pills. There wasn’t enough time to start a second batch, so he didn’t waste his effort. Instead, he reviewed which steps had gone wrong.

After the exam ended and he had handed in his pills, Chen Che estimated his score:

points.

’That should be enough to rank in the top ten of the entire grade.’

It wasn’t that the top ten were all alchemy geniuses. Most of them were wealthy Second Generation Immortals, like Huang Zhongfei, who had been exposed to Alchemy long before high school. Compared to these Cultivators who paid to win at Cultivation, he was still slightly behind.

"You did well on the exam!"

After packing up the Jade Bottles, Ding Dawei patted Chen Che’s shoulder and then left in a hurry.

Obviously, he had to go back and evaluate the students’ pills.

"Holy crap, I nearly had a heart attack during the exam today!"

"What happened?"

"Ying Fuzhen was tearing at her hair during the exam. I was terrified she was going to turn around and suddenly shove my Pill Furnace over!"

"Damn, she wouldn’t have the guts for that, would she?"

"Who knows? A few years ago, during the Immortal Sect College Entrance Exam, didn’t some girl suddenly knock over someone else’s Pill Furnace? I heard all her exam scores were reset to zero..."

「After school.」

The students chatted in small groups.

"Sigh, I bombed this one. I’m never reading web novels again."

Following the flow of students out of the classroom, Chen Che glanced at the bitter expression on Lin Yi’s face.

"Heh."

Back home, he cooked a meal.

After eating, Chen Che went straight to his Cave Mansion. He drank a mouthful of Profound Ink Turtle Soup, performed a set of the True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands, and then began to meditate and cultivate.

...

The last day was, of course, the combat exam.

Early in the morning, the students gathered in front of the Void Illusion Realm, organized by class. Since it was the final exam, many had a look of relief on their faces.

Because, although the combat exam also lasted eight hours, it was the only one that could be finished early.

"This is the provincial school newspaper. I had someone get you an advance copy."

Before the exam, Li Xiaoshuang specifically called Chen Che aside and handed him a silk Scroll. "Unfortunately, it was rejected during the second review for the Xianmen High School newspaper. The reason given was that while it was highly spectacular, the Realm was too low."

"I expected as much. The minimum standard for the Xianmen High School newspaper is Late-stage Qi Refining."

Chen Che nodded.

He casually unfurled the three-meter-long silk Scroll. It was inscribed with Spirit Runes and filled with the notes and insights of top students.

The final feature was the video of his battle. After he infused it with True Essence, the Scroll immediately projected a 3D holographic image.

"What’s your estimate for your performance in this combat exam?"

Li Xiaoshuang’s expression was somewhat serious.

Thinking about his recent increase in strength, Chen Che didn’t hide anything. "The fifth stage should be easier than last time."

"Really?"

"Yes. I’ve reached Small Success in the True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands."

"Hm? Good, good, good!"

Li Xiaoshuang’s face lit up with a smile. The main reason was that there had been some debate online, with most people arguing that Chen Che had only passed by a fluke.

If he could pass again this time, those arguments would naturally fall apart on their own.

"With Small Success in the True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands, even if the fifth stage is harder, it won’t be a problem for you! Remember, don’t give up on the sixth stage. Every point you can earn is a point earned. With your combat ability, you might even have a shot at first place in the entire grade this time!"

After speaking, Li Xiaoshuang left with a spring in his step.

After he left, Lin Yi, who had been waiting nearby, walked over and pointed at the Scroll. "What’s that? What did Old Li just say to you?"

"The provincial school newspaper."

Chen Che walked back to the line with him and replied casually, "He told me not to give up on the sixth stage and to try and score higher."

"Being valued by the teacher really makes a difference!"

Lin Yi lamented, grinding his teeth in frustration. "If you keep being this outstanding, you’re going to steal the hearts of all the girls in school. I’d say you’re courting death!"

Chen Che was unconcerned. "It’s not that exaggerated, is it?"

"Of course it is! I just overheard a girl from Class 7 planning to confess to you after the exam today." Lin Yi jutted his chin. "Look, over there, see..."

Chen Che turned his head to look.

She was pretty, with well-defined features. She had a streak of wine-red color highlighting her hair, and a nice butterfly tattoo on her exposed forearm.

As his gaze fell upon them, the group of girls immediately started teasing. It seemed a friend had said something embarrassing, and while the girl chased and playfully hit her friend, she also stole a few glances at Chen Che, thinking she was being subtle.

"What do you think?"

Lin Yi asked.

Chen Che thought for a moment and gave a very serious assessment: "Usually when I buy Spirit Pork, I avoid the part with the stamp on it."

"Why?"

"It’s off-putting to eat. I’m afraid it might be poisonous."

"Class Monitor!"

Someone clapped Huang Zhongfei on the shoulder. "How about a father-son match with Old Chen?"

Huang Zhongfei shot the person a glare.

Soon, the final exam began.

"Qi Refining Stage, Third Layer!"

"Qi Refining Stage, Fourth Layer!"

The cultivation level check and the combat exam were conducted at the same time. Each Layer was worth thirty points, with a perfect score of three hundred points for reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The Realm was also important.

"Qi Refining Stage, Mid-stage Fourth Layer!"

After their cultivation was checked, the students entered the examination area one after another.

Looking at his own Realm notification, Chen Che stepped into the Void Illusion Realm.

WHOOSH~

The light before him shifted, and the Illusion Realm transformed into a crimson desert.

The climate was scorching hot, arid and waterless.

The sound of the fierce wind howling was like the shriek of a vengeful ghost. The swirling sand whipped against his face as if it were a blade.

Clearly, it was another random map.

And from beneath the desert, a faint tremor could be felt.

’It’s starting!’

Chen Che took a deep breath and stretched his body, his bones and tendons cracking and popping.

Then, he lowered himself into a half-squat.

His right hand gripped the hilt of the sword on his back in a reverse grip. BANG! The next moment, he shot forward at high speed.

...

...

As the students entered the Void Illusion Realm, the once-bustling area outside the examination hall instantly fell silent.

Generally, it was impossible to cheat in the Void Illusion Realm, so the teachers waiting outside the examination hall simply started chatting in small groups.

"How many points did so-and-so from your class get?"

"He bombed the academic classes this time. I’m afraid he won’t make the top three in the grade."

"Teacher Li, what about Chen Che from your class?"

someone in the crowd called out.

"Academics 489, Alchemy 288..."

Li Xiaoshuang said casually.

That teacher did a quick calculation and exclaimed in shock, "He’s at the Mid-stage Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, so that’s 132 points for his Realm. With a base of 150 for combat, he’s already at a thousand points! Even if he took the Immortal Sect College Entrance Exam right now, he could get into a second-tier Daoist School!"

The other teachers were incredibly envious.

Both the Realm score and the combat score would increase with his Cultivation. In two years, he could improve by at least two hundred points, bringing his total close to 1300!

With a score like that, looking across all the high schools in the Six Continents, he could definitely get into the top 100!

"And he’s extremely diligent. He might even be able to push for 1400!"

"There are too few students like that."

"If so-and-so from my class were half as hardworking as Chen Che, he wouldn’t just be ranked in the middle with his Earth Spirit Root."

The moment students were mentioned, the teachers all started to complain.

However, Li Xiaoshuang wanted to hear more praise for his student, but they stopped right there.

"How could his score be that high?"

Li Xiaoshuang cleared his throat and deliberately played devil’s advocate:

"To be honest, I’m not that optimistic about Chen Che. After all, he only has a Middle Spirit Root. There’s a limit to what he can achieve, no matter how hard he works. By my estimate, the best he can do is get into a second-tier Daoist School. You all see him through rose-colored glasses. He’s actually a poor student!"

As expected.

As soon as he said this, he was met with a chorus of support from the other teachers.

"Old Li, you’re never satisfied!"

"That’s right... He’s this amazing with just a Middle Spirit Root. If he had an Upper Spirit Root, wouldn’t he be a shoo-in for a top-tier Daoist School!"

"If you don’t want him, give him to our class!"

...

’Praising him myself is nowhere near as satisfying as hearing others praise him.’

Whenever the teachers’ discussion died down, Li Xiaoshuang would chime in with a comment, greatly satisfying his vanity.

As time went on.

More and more students were ejected from the examination hall after being "killed."

However, the good students were still taking the exam. The faster ones had already entered the fifth stage.

Of course, the topic of the teachers’ conversation also gradually shifted.

At the same time, Chen Che also stepped into the fifth stage.

"Oh?"

Seeing the figure slowly emerge from the swirling yellow sand, Chen Che raised an eyebrow. "A Body Cultivator!"

The newcomer was a burly, imposing man, just like Wei He.

The man was a full 2.4 meters tall, his body a mass of gnarled, rock-hard muscle.

A Body Cultivator! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

In combat exams, this was universally acknowledged as the most difficult type of opponent to face.

They didn’t have the strange buffs of a Pill Cultivator, the turret-like Magic of a Talisman Cultivator, the countless traps of an Array Cultivator, or the endless Magical Treasures of an Artifact Cultivator. They believed in one principle: overwhelming force conquers all techniques.

"Well, what a coincidence."

Chen Che grinned.

He had cleared the previous four stages with ease, without much effort.

He hadn’t even had a chance to use the True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands, leaving him with the lonely feeling of a master without a worthy opponent. This stage, however, was giving him just the opportunity he wanted.

Chen Che casually plunged the sword from his back into the sand.

He placed one hand behind his back, raised the other slightly to his side, and crooked his finger, beckoning his opponent forward.