TEC Chapter 27

◎ When doing problems, don’t rush, first understand the scoring points!◎

[Team 11111 selects to confront on the 1720th floor of the Zhenchuan Trial.]

[Girl, tonight, will you follow me.]

As they stepped into the teleportation array at the resting level, ripples appeared.

Lin Shuang and the others were shocked.

“What’s on this level, girl? Wasn’t it supposed to be a defense?” Meng Zi exclaimed.

Huangfu Yuan, while the teleportation array hadn’t fully activated, reached out his slender finger towards Zhao Keran.

“Uh, Senior Brother Fuyuan, do you still want to switch the Alchemy Master’s non-exploding furnace into a third-grade defensive treasure cauldron?”

Huang Fuyuan: “Hmm.”

In a hurry, Zhao Keran rubbed her left and right feet, changing her steps like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Quickly taking over the alchemist’s blessing for the non-exploding furnace, she threw a third-grade treasure cauldron into the array.

“An extra 3,000 spirit stones from you!”

“Deal. Leave this place, and you can’t make exchanges again.”

Zhao Keran’s reminder was distorted by the teleportation array, gradually moving away.

“Junior Sister, hehe.”

Huang Fuyuan chuckled in Lin Shuang’s ear.

“If the treasure cauldron is useless, you have to take responsibility for my alchemy furnace.”

“…”

As if he could refine pills.

Lin Shuang lowered her head to look at her embroidered shoes, counting how many stitches and feet were on them.

“Hmm? What did Senior Brother Huangfu say? Senior Brother, why would you be someone trying to take a shortcut by using external defenses like a treasure cauldron during the confrontation of the three people?”

“…”

“So, Senior Brother, how long can this treasure cauldron protect the three of us?”

“…”

The teleportation array swayed slowly.

Lin Shuang finally saw the manual for the treasure cauldron that Huang Fuyuan displayed in front of her.

【Can defend against attacks below the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment Core, three times.】

The number of times was a bit limited.

Expensive and impractical!

Meng Zi stole a glance and felt a pang of heartache, “Let’s make it clear. If we lose, no matter whose book is taken away, we’ll share the loss. Is that okay?”

A moment of silence for the three.

It seems there is absolutely no trust in each other.

The teleportation array finally stopped.

Before stepping out of the array, they heard a chorus of spiritual frogs outside the array, one after another.

Lin Shuang looked up and saw a vast plain with wisps of smoke rising from five thatched houses.

A burst of fragrance wafted through the air, pleasing to the senses.

In this level of Zhenchuan, there unexpectedly lay a silent little village. No signs of the influences of the winds from any direction, and no human figures in sight.

“Could they have entered this level before us? Hiding in these thatched houses?”

Meng Zi vigilantly gripped his large knife.

They only stepped in when the teleportation array started, entering at the last moment of the final breath.

“Huangfu Senior Brother, I told you, since they are all third-grade, just buy the cheapest defense treasure bottle. You insisted on picking one with a bird on it,” Meng Zi complained.

Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes flickered, “That’s a chicken.”

“…”

“A three-winged feathered chicken, with shiny feathers and delicious meat.” Huangfu Yuan explained

Huang Fuyuan was about to take out the cauldron to show him but was stopped by Lin Shuang.

“Wait, don’t take it out. Let me recalculate this arithmetic progression.”

“?”

Lin Shuang took out pen and paper, looking at the village in confusion.

What exactly is this question testing?

The Xiao Ai talisman immediately spewed out an Excel table made of spiritual energy.

“I shouldn’t be wrong. Don’t you guys find Zhenchuan’s trials a bit familiar if you think about it?”

Lin Shuang quickly wrote on a draft paper.

——Common nine-item cultivation competitions in the outer sect’s frequent spiritual spring battles:

——Defense 1, Spiritual Power Endurance 2, Speed 3, Alchemy 4 (Assist), Sword Cultivation 5 (Attack), Sound Cultivation 6 (Main Spiritual Perception), Comprehension 7, One-on-One Combat 8, Team Battle 9.

“External Disciples’ Nine Tests of Spiritual Springs?”

Meng Zi was stunned for a moment, “Are you saying that all the assessments in Zhenchuan are based on the Nine Tests of Cultivation Quotient?”

Huang Fuyuan’s phoenix eyes glittered with interest, “Zhenchuan’s annual assessments for mountain levels rotate, and no disciple knows the assessment content for each level in advance.”

“So, this rotation follows a pattern, is not arbitrary?”

Lin Shuang nodded, “That’s my guess.”

Huangfu Yuan and Meng Zi simultaneously looked down at the ‘Excel’ table recorded by Xiao Ai, which was very clear.

“Level 307—Zodiac Sign” (suspected main defense, belongs to the turtle)—the level number, a multiple of 9 plus 1.

“□□ One level – If you’re a cultivator, reach a hundred,” speculated as endurance—the level number, a multiple of 9 plus 2.

“841 level, oh, I’m dead” – Healing teammates—alchemy—the level number, a multiple of 9 plus 4.

“976 level, you poke me to see if I’m dreaming” – Suspected sword (attack)—the level number, a multiple of 9 plus 5.

“1222 level, Ten Thousand Books House” – Comprehension—the level number, a multiple of 9 plus 7.

Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes flickered, “Is this the arithmetic progression you mentioned? We are currently on level 1720, which is a multiple of 9 plus 1, so it corresponds to defense.”

Lin Shuang nodded, rechecking all the recorded calculations.

Xiao Ai didn’t make a mistake.

She reassured, “Yeah.”

\[What does that mean?\]

\[They seem quite sure that the phrase ‘Girl, tonight, will you follow me’ on this level is testing defense.\]

\[How did they figure it out? Does anyone know?\]

\[Uh, I only heard Junior Brother Fuyuan saying, ‘This is the arithmetic progression you mentioned. The level we are currently on, 1720th, which is the dot-dot-dot of dot-dot-dot and dot-dot-dot, hence corresponding to defense.’\]

\[… So what does dot-dot-dot mean?\]

\[Gah, this damn Zhenchuan, the ear-blocking prohibition has been triggered again!\]

\[! I feel this sentence is crucial, it involves the secrets of Zhenchuan’s stone levels! It’s also very advantageous for us higher-level disciples to pass!\]

\[So, they triggered the prohibition again. I’ve entered Zhenchuan five times, a total of fifty years, and I’ve never heard so much ear-blocking buzz, wailing, dripping, crackling in the projection of any junior sister or brother who was breaking through before. What’s going on with these three? From the book house to this level, Zhenchuan has been nervous about us knowing something.\]

\[Is the housing manager here? @Housing Manager Senior, can you inform us?\]

Amid the idyllic countryside where Lin Shuang and the others stood, the projection screen continuously flashed with disciples’ messages conveyed through divine thoughts.

– 345 people are watching, 3121 words have been sent.

– Currently accumulated 2207 spirit stones, to be settled for the winning side.

In the resting cave, Zhao Keran, who was practicing with hands and feet moving independently, looked at the projection, deeply moved.

“Senior Auntie, do you know what ‘dripping’ means?”

The pink-robed Woman’s eyebrows jumped, “I don’t know!”

Zhao Keran immediately puffed up his cheeks.

Not knowing is not knowing. Senior Auntie was getting angry for no reason.

Senior Sister is amazing!

But in the next moment, the projection screen changed.

Lin Shuang and the others were about to explore the idyllic countryside and a few thatched houses.

Suddenly, in the innermost house, a thatched courtyard twice as large as the others, with a creak, the courtyard door opened.

An old man with white hair and a grey robe, holding three large red silk-wrapped bundles in his hands, rushed out anxiously from inside.

With a runny nose and teary eyes, he came quickly toward the stunned Lin Shuang and the others.

“Immortals, please save me!”

“Save my little daughter!”

“The Wang family next door wants to take my daughter away; they won’t let her live!”

Lin Shuang’s eyebrows twitched, never expecting this.

Meng Zi, carrying a big knife, was pounced on by the old man, and his face turned green, “You, you speak from a distance.”

He was already at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, but he couldn’t even avoid the old man rushing at him.

Huangfu Yuan’s expression was subtle, “It turns out that above the 1500th level, there will be a test with puppetry.”

“Puppetry?” Lin Shuang heard about it for the first time.

Zhenchuan opens to internal disciples once every ten years, and even Xu Rui, the manager of the outer sect, doesn’t know much about Zhenchuan.

She had very little information.

“Yeah, for disciples who pass the higher levels, this isn’t considered a secret.”

Huangfu Yuan held a purple-bronze sheep-headed silver-thread furnace in both hands, “The reason why Zhenchuan gets more difficult as you go up is that the high-level trials are no longer as simple as the usual transmission hall. It doesn’t just judge based on the depth of understanding of the techniques and the disciple’s cultivation level, evaluating whether it passes or not.”

\[The assessment in the higher levels of Zhenchuan is very complex, such as combining the puppets made by the alchemists. These puppets, according to the different assessment topics on each level, are set with specific behaviors and responses.\]

\[Each level must fulfill the requests or wishes of the puppets to pass.\]

\[That’s right, low-level disciples shouldn’t think they’re impressive just because they got a hundred-level level master.\]

\[I’ve been stuck at the five-thousandth level for a whole decade.\]

\[Ah, too much talk is just tears, forget it.\]

The projection text flickered.

However, Lin Shuang felt a sense of novelty, looking at the old man in front of her with concern and curiosity. He looked lifelike, indistinguishable from a real person, yet he was just a puppet.

This assessment seemed like an immersive RPG game.

Unable to resist triggering the follow-up plot, she spoke, “Grandpa, you just said the neighboring village wants to take your daughter. What happened?”

The old man nodded, tears welling up.

“Three immortals, the tyrant son of the Wang family next door wants to forcefully marry my little daughter. But this tyrant plays with birds and chickens all day, has a big abscess on his head, and emits a continuous foul smell, even the stray dogs on the roadside avoid him. How can I agree!”

“As a result, the Wang family couldn’t marry her, so they want to forcibly take her. I’m at my wit’s end and can only ask immortals for help.”

【Indeed, testing defense!】

【Protecting the puppet’s mission is relatively simple.】

【Three people guarding one person, you can fight or escape, and hiding is also possible.】

But just as the words of the disciples floated across the screen, a thunderous roar echoed through the sky!

“Old man Li, you must not talk nonsense!”

“You accepted the marriage proposal from my Wang family long ago, but three days before the wedding banquet, you backed out, where does that leave the face of my Wang family!”

“I give you three days, hand over the bride to let my son marry happily! Otherwise, my Wang family will come to your Li family village, burn down your Li family ancestral hall, and snatch back the bride!”

Old man Li was originally crying, but now he was both shocked and angry.

“Heavens, listen, there’s no justice! It’s your Wang family’s deceitful engagement…”

“Three immortals, I have nowhere else to turn. I’m willing to offer my entire life; please help my Li family village, help my little daughter Fang Fang avoid this disaster!”

He held three red silk bundles in his hands, making a clinking sound of spirit stones.

In a breath, he cried and kowtowed to Lin Shuang and the others.

While speaking, a ripple appeared, and the majestic voice of Zhenchuan rang out.

[1720th-level Trial: Girl, tonight, will you come with me?]

[Petition from Li’s Village:

1. Protect Li Fang from being taken by the Wang family.
2. Protect the Li family ancestral hall from destruction by the Wang family.]

Lin Shuang greatly admired the creativity of the elders behind Zhenchuan.

It was a tragic story of a tyrant trying to snatch a girl, yet they chose such an artistic name for the trial layer.

In the realm of Green River, this was undoubtedly a title scam.

Fortunately, her arithmetic sequence was correct.

At this level, it was indeed testing defense!

Meng Zi’s face didn’t look too good, “This level unexpectedly has two separate tasks. Senior Brother Huangfu’s defensive bird cauldron can only be used three times.”

Huang Fuyuan’s expression was subtle. “It’s a chicken.”

\[This level is more challenging than I thought. Protecting a woman allows for fighting and evasion, but protecting the ancestral hall requires confrontation!\]

\[So, disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage, who have historically reached the two-thousandth level, are very few. Most of them linger around the one-thousandth level.\]

\[The difficulty is high, and the rewards are abundant. I’m afraid these three red packages from the old man are quite heavy with spirit stones.\]

\[I’m also a bit curious, hoping that the three of them can pass, so I can know the rewards.\]

\[I know, I’ve seen disciples pass this level, and a single red packet contains five hundred spirit stones.\]

\[Naive!\]

\[Childish!\]

\[Is this junior brother someone who just reached two thousand layers this year? How can he utter such laughable words?\]

\[???\]

\[Whenever it comes to the puppet section, after the disciple completes the goal, different rewards will be given based on the favor and admiration gained from the puppet.\]

\[???\]

\[Look at these three red packages from Old Li. Why aren’t there three trays with spirit stones? When the task is completed, the red packets may contain three spirit stones, or it could be three thousand spirit stones, fluctuating up and down but not exceeding the highest reward for this level. Understand?\]

\[Really!\]

The text on the projection was like a galloping horse.

Unfortunately, Lin Shuang couldn’t see it.

They reached the 1,700th level, and according to the rules of Zhenchuan, they could only watch projections below the 700th level.

A thousand levels apart were restrictions Zhenchuan imposed to prevent disciples from copying, cheating, or taking advantage of others’ trials.

Thirteen years ago, Meng Zi entered the inner sect and only reached the 1,100th level that year.

Moreover, Fuyuan, with his frail health, joined the Clearwater Sect. For rules above the higher levels, he merely used the words ‘I heard’ to lightly gloss over them, smiling without saying much.

As a result, Lin Shuang’s understanding of this level’s trial still lacked analytical data.

But Lin Shuang had gone through the modern college entrance examination, a fierce battlefield.

Big exams, small exams, midterms, finals, simulations, spring exams, joint exams…

In the tactical sea of questions, Lin Shuang had her own set of efficient problem-solving methods.

“Analyze.”

She spoke with her hands behind her back, facing the old man.

Meng Zi: “?”

Huang Fuyuan raised an eyebrow.

The old man looked at her, tears in his eyes, with a bewildered expression.

Lin Shuang cleared her throat, realizing that the elders who set questions in Zhenchuan were not modern people.

Without feeling embarrassed, she continued, “Grandpa, I want to know which one, protecting the ancestral hall or protecting your daughter Fang Fang, has more points?”

“?”

“???”

Old man Li was stunned, his hands holding the three red silk bundles paused.

Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes, experienced in countless ‘battles.’

Efficiency in Examinations Section — when solving problems, first understand the score distribution among different questions, and allocate time accordingly!

In case of time constraints, tackle the questions with more points first.

Although, under normal circumstances, saving a life would be the top priority.

But now, this is the world of cultivation, where the old man and his granddaughter are controlled puppets of the questioners and not real entities.

Lin Shuang, coming to Zhenchuan for the first time, wanted to verify the true train of thought of the elders who set the questions in Zhenchuan.

Cultivators must break away from the mortal realm before they can ascend. The so-called bonds and emotions with family and loved ones, in the hearts of these senior experts who transcend tribulations and ascend, might be like fleeting clouds.

She had to understand if the emotions related to protecting family and loved ones mattered to these seniors, as this knowledge would bring her closer to the standard answer.

“What I mean is, in case we can’t defeat them, which one is more important? The three of us will focus on protecting that aspect.”

\[What’s the point of this question? If I go to this level, I’ll take Fang Fang to the ancestral hall and protect them together.\]

This statement flew past Old Li’s face in an instant.

But when Old Li heard it, his wrinkled face, full of hesitation, surprised the onlookers.

What shocked the observers even more was that he was actually seriously contemplating this question as if he were a living, breathing person.

“Ah, my Li family moved here three hundred years ago.”

“The ancestral hall holds the tablets of ancestors… If it is severed because of my family, how can I, after closing my eyes, have the face to meet my ancestors?”

Lin Shuang frowned slightly.

Old Li, holding three red silk bundles, turned decisively in place and then revealed a hint of determination.

Looking at Lin Shuang, he said, “Immortal, the ancestral hall is, of course, the most important!”

Huangfu Yuan, who had been observing, raised an eyebrow, and a faint trace of mockery appeared on his lips.

“So, I beg you to protect my little girl first!”

Old Li suddenly knelt.

Huang Fuyuan was taken aback.

\[This twist—\]

\[This big turning point…\]

\[The elder who set the questions is full of surprises!\]

Fortunately,

Lin Shuang breathed a sigh of relief.

So, she said, her investigation of the major sects in Donghua Territory years ago, and eventually choosing Clearwater Sect, was not wrong.

The highest virtue is like water; she liked the school culture here.

This also confirmed her speculation during the ‘Ah, I’m Dead’ level: the central theme is saving companions.

Love.

——Clearwater Sect, putting people first!

In this way, her schedule for the next hundred years, studying, and working, could all be done in Clearwater Sect.

No need to waste time transferring, or changing jobs; how delightful.

Lin Shuang secretly rejoiced, immediately helping up the tearful old man. “Grandpa, I understand. You can rest assured; we will do our best to help you.”

As her words fell, a ripple condensed in the air.

[Lin Shuang triggered Old Li’s contemplation.]

[Rule changes:]

[1. If both the protection of the ancestral hall and Fang Fang are successful: The trial is passed, and the competition against Team 235 is considered a success.]

[2. If the ancestral hall is destroyed: The trial fails, descend one hundred levels, and the competition against Team 235 is considered a draw.]

[3. If Fang Fang is taken away: The trial fails, descend two hundred levels, and the competition is considered a draw.]

[4. If both the protection of Fang Fang and the ancestral hall fail: The trial fails, descend three hundred levels; and if the competition against Team 235 fails, you will lose one of your personal cultivation techniques.]

Meng Zi was wide-eyed. “The rules have changed. As long as one protection is completed, we can draw with Dao Dong and the others?”

【…!】

【I understand! Is this what she meant by ‘scoring points’? Can it be done like this?】

【This junior sister is so clever! If she didn’t ask and tried to protect both Li Fang and the ancestral hall at the same time, and lacked the ability, the trial would have ended immediately!】

【Can I also be so clever on the 5,000th level?】

Texts fluttered, quickly creating a bold water ripple.

[Because disciple Lin Shuang spoke in this projection, it is also helpful for high-level clearance.]

[The fee for watching this projection: Rises to 500 spirit stones/half an incense stick.]

[The fee for speaking here is raised to 1 spirit stone/5 characters.]

【Shocking!】

【…】

【Close your mouth, start!】

In the projection, Huang Fuyuan remained silent, his phoenix eyes falling on the old man’s shoulder, seemingly lost in thought.

Even when Lin Shuang and Meng Zi were interpreting the rules, he didn’t blink.

He had always thought that cultivators were absurd, sacrificing their close relatives for fame and longevity, unlike their Demon race, where there was no importance attached to their kin before life and death.

But what happened in this level seemed different.

Huang Fuyuan looked at Lin Shuang with a complex expression. “How did you come up with asking him?”

Lin Shuang tilted her head. “Understanding the mentality of the examiners, wasn’t that normal?”

The mentality of the examiners?

The elders behind Zhenchuan, the pinnacle power of Clearwater Sect.

Huang Fuyuan fell into contemplation.

Afterward, he smiled faintly, “Junior sister, I want to go to higher levels with you.”

Meng Zi, carrying a large knife, was already checking the environment around the thatched cottages in the wheat fields.

Hearing his words, he rolled his eyes. “Senior brother Huang Fuyuan, let’s get through this level first. I noticed that you bought a bird and chicken cauldron, and now you’re floating away.”

“…”

Huang Fuyuan closed his eyes.

One day, he would have to teach this junior brother a lesson.

“Our situation is still very unfavorable. The terrain here, if the Wang family comes, we can only fight directly!”

Meng Zi, using the blade, pointed to the vast wheat fields around.

“Just now, the rules showed that if we fail to protect the person and the ancestral hall, even if we lose to Dao Dong and the others, it seems they will blend in with the Wang family who wants to snatch people.”

The old man in the village wiped the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, “Dao Dong? I have never heard of this name. Could it be that these three are the immortals invited by the old Wang family overnight?”

Lin Shuang and the three nodded unanimously.

“This level has been selected as the content for the competition, so there have been some changes. When ordinary disciples come in, they will represent the Li family village to protect people, just like us. But this time, Dao Dong and the others will represent the Wang family village to snatch people.”

Huangfu Yuan, holding the silver-threaded hand furnace, said, “In this way, it’s reasonable for both challenging parties.”

【Reasonable? It’s very unreasonable!】

【That’s right, even if the rules change, as long as you protect one thing. But the three of you average in the Qi Refining stage, and Dao Dong and the others are in the Foundation Establishment stage, this… it’s like hitting a rock with an egg.】

【Difficult.】

【This outer disciple junior sister is so smart. It’s a pity that she encountered Meng Zi, who has a cultivation level that is too weak! If it were me, at the Ninth level of Foundation Establishment, I could take her up to the 5,000th level together!】

【???】

【???】

【Honestly, I also have some admiration for this outer disciple junior sister. In the past, when breaking through Zhenchuan, our team of three could only fight head-on, but with her, maybe I could find some clever ways to pass the levels.】

【Right. I wonder if the junior sister will fail on this level, will she change teams?】

The texts were full of admiration for the junior sister.

Zhao Keran looked up at the projection from the resting cave, full of admiration.

Even with insufficient cultivation, she gained the attention and respect of some senior brothers.

Senior sister, is this what you meant by focusing on oneself, and there will be returns?

Zhao Keran danced with both hands and feet even more vigorously.

She couldn’t fall too far behind her senior sister!

She wanted to follow her senior sister all the way forward… not lag behind and lose sight of her senior sister’s figure!

Zhao Keran took a deep breath, twirling as she did to match, wiping the hundred-treasure rack, and looking towards the pink-robed martial auntie who was selling caves not far away.

“Martial Aunt, I still have some energy left. I’ve wiped the teacup, jade tablet, hundred-treasure rack, and stone tablet.”

“What else do you want me to help with?”

Pink-robed woman: “…”

Li Dao Wei!

Are these the disciples you’ve taught for ten years in the outer sect?

Can’t they see?

In the projection array, all the texts were worried about Lin Shuang.

However, with just one sentence, she made everyone choke.

She looked at the old man in front of her, then at the five thatched cottages, and spoke after some thought.

“Grandpa, do you have any experts in your village who can help us defend against the attack from the Wang family village?”

Huang Fuyuan and Meng Zi were stunned simultaneously.

“What? Lin Shuang, speak louder.”

Meng Zi yelled, wishing he could cover her mouth.

Wooden puppets set the questions, and she expected them to help.

She actually asked the examiner for assistance!

She had such courage!

Even the senior brothers and sisters watching the projection admired her.

But in the next moment, the expression of the old man, who had just been weak and helpless, crying miserably, changed.

“Immortal, what are you talking about!”

Sure enough… he was about to be scolded. The trials of the disciples of Zhenchuan rely on themselves!

Meng Zi covered his forehead, not daring to look.

“I, the Li family, have been here for three hundred years! We thrive and multiply!”

“Of course, there are people!”

The old man spoke angrily.

Meng Zi: “??!”

Huang Fuyuan: “…”

【???!】

【…?!】

“In our Li family village, from top to bottom, there are a total of three hundred people of all ages, all with the immortals!”

As Li Lao spoke, the atmosphere shifted.

Li Lao’s words implied new rules.

If casualties exceed ten percent, the three hundred warriors from the Li family village would all withdraw.

They wouldn’t help them anymore.

Lin Shuang nodded repeatedly.

She got the essential information.

Meng Zi, on the side, was truly amazed. “This actually works.”

He asked the question everyone had in mind.

Lin Shuang smiled.

It was like a word problem; all the information in the question was generally useful. Examiners wouldn’t casually add a sentence; were they that free?

She had questions the moment she entered.

If only Li’s daughter was being abducted, why were there five thatched cottages on the field, and why bring along the ancestral hall?

In each sentence of the question, there was an eighty percent chance that it was related to the train of thought for solving the problem, and the remaining twenty percent could be misleading information given by the examiner.

No harm in asking.

Sure enough, her guess was correct.

[Li Family Village defends 303 people: 6 attackers from the Wang Family.]

【…Speechless.】

【Can someone who has passed this level tell us? Are Dao Dong and the others doomed?】

But not long after, ripples appeared.

[Due to the challenge battle involving disparate strengths, it cannot proceed, so there is an additional adjustment.]

[The Wang family, three generations of ancestors, and Dao Dong, Dao Xi, and Dao Bei, are about to set off but encounter 297 bandits. They quickly agreed, preparing to invade the Li family village together!]

[Strength on both sides: 303 people – 303 people.]

【!】

[Strength adjustment: Compensation of 300 spirit stones each for Lin Shuang, Meng Zi, and Huang Fuyuan.]

[Li family villagers, familiar with each other, caring for each other, increase in strength by ten percent.]

[Wang family bandits, from all corners of the country, wary of each other, decrease in strength by ten percent.]

[If villagers’ casualties exceed ten percent, the Li family village will withdraw from the battle; at that time, the bandits will take advantage of their injuries and invade the thatched cottages to rob, also withdrawing from the battle.]

[If bandits’ casualties exceed ten percent, being bold and daring, they will ignore each other’s casualties and continue fighting until casualties exceed half, then disperse.]

【Hiss.】

【One can’t have casualties of more than thirty people, the other can’t have casualties of more than one hundred and fifty people. The difference…】

【As expected, Zhenchuan’s warnings are not false. Triggering three hundred villagers may not be a good thing.】

【…Strange, but reasonable…】

【Heh. I thought it was assistance.】

Many were pessimistic.

Only Lin Shuang was not discouraged; on the contrary, she exclaimed eagerly, “Good!”

“Now that the information for the question is all listed, I’m going to start solving the problem.”

【!!】

【???】

Meng Zi, who only knew to charge forward, and Huang Fuyuan, who just wanted to watch from the sidelines, both looked at her simultaneously.

Didn’t they just have to fight?

[Protection for the weak is over in three hundred breaths.]

[Group 235, Dao Dong, Dao Xi, and Dao Bei, have arrived.]

[The battle begins!]

Meng Zi looked vigilant, his hand on his sword, guarding in front of Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan.

Gazing to the west, he looked at the vast wheat fields in front of the thatched cottages. “Uncle Li, where is your daughter? Lead us there.”

Old man Li chuckled, indicating that he was already 78 years old this year.

If you call him young, he’ll happily prepare to give you an extra three spirit stones later.

【?】

【…】

【Hahaha, the puppet level is like this.】

Meng Zi’s disciple badge received a message from Zhenchuan. He was stunned but quickly showed a pleased expression.

Three spirit stones were also money.

Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan looked strange.

Especially Lin Shuang, who just called him “grandpa.”

It seemed she was too inexperienced.

“Fang Fang, see what treasures Dad brought you.”

Old man Li was elated. Finding three immortals to help seemed to relieve all his burdens. Upon hearing this, he led Lin Shuang and the others into the innermost thatched cottage he had just walked out of.

“It’s the fairy who protects you!”

A Chinese pastoral dog, entirely earth-yellow, seemed to sense the owner’s scent even before entering the house.

Enthusiastically running and jumping, it circled Old Man Li, wagging its tail.

“Woof—”

“Hey, good daughter, have you finished the bone Daddy gave you?”

Old man Li squatted down, hugged the dog, and pressed his head against its furry one.

【?】

【??】

【…】

The three of them were stunned to varying degrees.

“Woof, woof—”

Meng Zi, walking at the front, almost slipped.

Huang Fuyuan’s eyelids twitched as he watched Old Man Li in front of him, who was still attempting to kiss the yellow dog.

“Is this… your daughter Fang Fang?”

“Yes, she’s a year and a half old, just the right age to find a mate. That old Wang family raised a scabby son, fat and ugly. Even dogs within a ten-mile radius despise him. Does it think it can be with my daughter Fang Fang?”

“Pah!”

【…】

Meng Zi took a step back.

Miss, tonight, are you coming with me?

Lin Shuang was speechless. The level name in Zhenchuan, who came up with it? Quite talented.

【I’ve been watching silently until now for this moment!】

【Haha, seeing their shock is like looking at myself back then.】

【Everything is arranged. Only Fang Fang is a dog, so it won’t affect the balance of power between the Wang family and the Li family.】

【So that’s it!】

【What Senior Brother said is true. Fang Fang has zero combat power and zero speech, not affecting the results of the disciples’ trials!】

“Ah, my old wife passed away long ago, and my three daughters got married forty years ago.”

Facing Meng Zi’s confusion, Old Man Li wiped the corner of his eye and answered.

“Now they have their own families, and they don’t have time to come back and see me. Only Fang Fang stays by my side. If anything happens to Fang Fang, this old man won’t be able to live.”

“Don’t worry, immortals. Fang Fang is very obedient. It won’t run around. Immortals just need to guard this thatched cottage and keep the Wang family from coming in.”

Huang Fuyuan’s expression was strange. “Where is the ancestral hall of the Li family?”

“Oh, speaking of the ancestral hall—”

Old Li gestured a large circle in front of the three of them.

Meng Zi’s eyebrows twitched.

What does this mean?

Huang Fuyuan seemed thoughtful.

Lin Shuang’s expression became serious—every prop had its use.

She turned to look outside the thatched cottage, at the vast wheat fields, and beyond the fields, the supposed endpoint of the game map—a towering mountain range.

It’s well known that RPG game maps have an end.

At the edge of the map, the character controlled by the level can no longer move forward. There is no road, and the mountains are just background decorations.

But the old man drew a circle with his finger, directly pointing toward what she thought was the end of the map.

“The Li family ancestral hall is located on that mountain.”

“Don’t worry, immortals just need to guard that mountain, and it will be fine.”

Most people know that the mountaintop visible to the naked eye seems close, but it’s far away.

Lin Shuang fell into silence.

Facing the old man’s identical words, Meng Zi pinched his brow, and Huang Fuyuan chuckled.

Rest assured, as long as the immortals guard this thatched cottage, it’s fine.

Rest assured, as long as the immortals guard that mountain, it’s fine.

But the two places are miles apart!

A Foundation Establishment cultivator would take half a day to fly!

If one place is attacked, the other might not be able to return in time for reinforcement.

“Where is the Wang family?”

Huang Fuyuan looked at the yellow dog chewing bones on the ground, his phoenix eyes flickering.

“The bastards of the Wang family are on the west side of the mountain at the other end, about two and a half to three days away,” Old Li said.

Meng Zi understood, “They first go to the ancestral hall and then attack the thatched cottage to steal the dog.”

Disciples just need to guard the first checkpoint at the ancestral hall.

But Lin Shuang, an efficiency expert, scheduled kings and was particularly uncomfortable with vague words like ‘about two and a half to three days.’

Is it two and a half days, or is it three days?

Her obsessive-compulsive disorder kicked in.

“Uncle Li, do you have a detailed map of the Wang family village and the Li family village area?” Lin Shuang asked.

【? I didn’t ask before, I just waited at the ancestral hall for the people from the Wang family.】

【She has weak strength, just at the Qi Refining stage, it’s normal to be cautious.】

【But for those at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, bold guarding is enough; a map is useless.】

But just as the text floated by Old Li patted his sleeves.

The tattered sleeves expanded with the wind, and in an instant, he pulled out a sand table about the size of two tables from inside!

【!】

【…?】

【…………】

【Hidden wind sleeves?!】

No one expected that this old man could be like water in a sponge—squeeze him a bit, and more comes out.

“I… Uncle Li, can’t you explain things all at once?” Meng Zi’s temple throbbed.

Huang Fuyuan fell silent.

They all gathered around to look at the Feng Shui sand table that the old man placed in front of Lin Shuang.

The sand table that Old Li took out was surprisingly a spiritual treasure.

Not only did it accurately reproduce the position of the fields and thatched cottages in front of them, but Lin Shuang also discovered that her divine sense could penetrate into this small sand table.

Various mountain and forest sceneries appeared before her like a 5D effect. With a slight movement of her divine sense, she could quickly see the small road on the other side of the mountain, incredibly realistic.

If she were to fly with a sword within it, she could even hear the simulated sounds of water from the village, the rustling of leaves, and feel the fragrance of flowers and trees coming to her.

“This is a third-grade magical treasure, the Miniature Landscape Sand Table,” said Huang Fuyuan, who, as the manager of Rong Bao Pavilion, was well-informed and recognized it at a glance.

Impressive.

Lin Shuang sighed, but after seeing the overall map, she was somewhat stunned.

River… Teleportation Array

River… [Little Fang]

River… Wheatfield

River… [Ancestral Hall]

River… Wang Family Village Road

[Wang Family]… Wheatfield

Meng Zi exclaimed, “What’s behind Little Fang’s doghouse? A teleportation array?”

“Wang Family can directly teleport to the back door of Little Fang’s doghouse!?” he said in shock.

He was dumbfounded.

The ancestral hall was not a necessary passage; it wasn’t the first checkpoint guarded.

As long as the Wang family had no problems with their heads, Little Fang was the first target closest to the Wang family!

Teleporting to Little Fang’s doghouse, the people guarding the ancestral hall would be completely unaware.

If they focused on guarding the ancestral hall, they wouldn’t know their homes were being robbed from behind!

He looked at Old Li from the Li family, almost spitting blood.

Old Li subconsciously slapped his head.

“You forgot again?” Meng Zi was speechless.

【…】

【? Thirty years ago, I stayed in the ancestral hall without any problems. The Wang family came directly from the front of the ancestral hall.】

【Hey, I can’t help but speak up. The person in front, don’t deceive your fellow disciples!

Forty years ago, I failed at this level because I believed the old man’s words. As a result, my two younger sisters and I guarded the ancestral hall mountain for three days and were directly kicked out of this level. The trial failed.

The Wang family… indeed directly teleports to the back of the thatched cottage!

Initially, my younger sisters and I couldn’t understand why we failed, but later, dissatisfied, we rushed to this level again that day. It was only then that the old man cried and remembered that he had dug a back door to the doghouse inside the thatched cottage, directly connected to the ancient teleportation array at the entrance of the old Wang family!

I still remember it vividly!】

【…The person in front seems very excited, but I must remind you that speaking in this projection costs five characters per spirit stone.】

【…】

【But I’m different. I really guarded the ancestral hall and passed this level! The Wang family, father and son, indeed had excellent stealth, but they don’t have very powerful attack techniques.】

【The junior brother upstairs said that bringing Little Fang to the ancestral hall would resolve the dispute, right?】

【The one upstairs, have you not suffered losses in the puppet level?】

【The old man just said that as long as the immortals guard the thatched cottage and the ancestral hall, it will be fine. So the rule of this level is that Little Fang cannot leave the thatched cottage, or it will panic and cause a commotion. Hehe, the ancestral hall and Little Fang are both places to be guarded. 】

【…】

The senior brothers and sisters watching the projection were in constant debate.

The difficulty increases significantly with each thousand levels in Zhenchuan.

Watching a projection of someone with a strength level lower by a thousand levels is of no use for advanced disciples.

But everyone still enjoyed watching.

Because when they saw their junior brothers and sisters falling into the same difficulties and pitfalls they had fallen into, experiencing the same astonishment, confusion, and speechlessness, they felt that their situation of being tortured at the higher levels was much better.

Of course, there were also some senior brothers and sisters who were cultivation experts, focused on breaking through.

They liked to watch and discuss the details of each assessment while observing.

Although it may not be useful for the higher levels, there was a kind of ‘research’ joy.

[391 people are watching this projection.]

[12,635 words have been spoken, and the spirit stone income attributed to the winner accumulates to 19,802.]

The Dao brothers, before officially confronting Lin Shuang and the others, the number of words spoken here had already rapidly accumulated.

The spirit stones deducted from the winners continued to accumulate, climbing higher.

Zhao Keran, who was watching the projection, covered her mouth.

She took a step back.

“So, Senior Sister has already told me about the methods of earning inner sect spirit stones.”

Pink-clothed senior aunt: “…”

【Could it be that the rules of Zhenchuan have been changing all along?】

Someone asked.

In the projection, Old Li blushed shyly in response to Meng Zi’s accusation about the teleportation array.

“How could this old man dare to deceive? This teleportation array can’t be used every day.”

“When the immortals left, they reminded us not to use it on days with strong winds, heavy rain, or thunderstorms.”

He took them to the backyard of the thatched cottage, revealing a teleportation array covered by dry straw. He chuckled.

“This teleportation array can only be used about a hundred days a year. On days when there are high winds and waves by the river, the strong wind will cause severe loss of spiritual energy, making it unusable. The Wang family can only come from the mountain behind our ancestral hall.”

Meng Zi suddenly understood.

The disciples watching the projection also suddenly realized.

The enemies in this level’s trial even chose their attack route based on the day!

“Today, the river is breezy, and the teleportation array can be used,” Lin Shuang said, looking at the 5D sand table.

Huang Fuyuan crouched down, his phoenix eyes looking at the array of patterns on the millstone. “This is an outdated teleportation array eliminated fifty years ago.”

“The spiritual energy storage requires thirty days. Each time it opens, all the array patterns need two days to light up, and the maximum number of people that can be teleported is only a hundred. Just now, the prompt indicated that they encountered three hundred mountain bandits, so at most, they can teleport a hundred here—the earliest would be two days later.”

“And just now, Old Li said that it takes two and a half to three days for the Wang family to reach the ancestral hall.”

Huang Fuyuan stood up, wiping his fingers with a handkerchief. “Let’s guard this place first. Deal with the teleportation array enemies, then go to the ancestral hall.”

It takes only half a day to get from Li’s village to the ancestral hall.

Lin Shuang praised him, “Well done, shopkeeper.”

You understand some mathematics.

This is a math problem involving addition and subtraction.

All the information about the number of people present is designed to confuse the situation.

It is known that it takes two days to travel from Bad Guy A to Little Fang’s teleportation array B. It takes two and a half to three days to travel from Bad Guy A to the ancestral hall C. The distance between B and C is half a day’s journey.

Question 1: Xiao Ming splits into two groups. One group of 100 people teleports to B first. Another group of 200 people goes to C first, then rushes to B. How long does it take for the two groups to meet up at B?

Answer: Three days to three and a half days!

In other words, if they guard the back door of Little Fang and don’t deal with the 100 people who came through the teleportation array on the third day, the 200-person team attacking the Ancestral Hall may reach the gate of Little Fang and merge with the 100 people!

At that time, they will be caught in a pincer attack from front and rear by 300 people. Both Little Fang and the Ancestral Hall may be lost!

Question 2: How much time do they need to defeat the enemies who came through the teleportation array and rush to the Ancestral Hall to prevent the 200 people from destroying it?

Answer: The time needed to destroy the Ancestral Hall by the enemy—half a day.

Because the distance from A to B to C is two and a half days, and the distance from A to C is two and a half to three days.

They need to stop the enemy in the blink of an eye within half a day.

“In other words, if we have the extra capacity,” Lin Shuang’s eyes sparkled, “and can solve the enemies from the teleportation array within half a day, we can rush straight to the Ancestral Hall and deal with the invaders there!”

She could create a third-order swift travel talisman on the spot… no, reduce the time to the Ancestral Hall.

“There’s a certain chance that we can guard both points if we make it in time.”

“If we exceed half a day against the enemy here, the Ancestral Hall will definitely be destroyed. Going there afterward would also consume our swift travel and be inferior to restoring spiritual energy here in the thatched cottage while waiting for the enemy.”

“So, no matter which route, as long as we fully guard Little Fang on the second day, this round will at least be a draw.”

In the Fastest Learning Battle Chapter, winning earns 1 point, a draw 0 points, and losing -1 point. When the enemy is stronger than you, you wouldn’t just think about winning, right?

Meng Zi, holding a knife, had objections. “Why doesn’t Dao Dong split into two paths and send 300 people directly to the Ancestral Hall?”

“No, he’s at the Foundation Establishment Level, challenging me at Qi Refining Level 3, indicating that he’s someone who acts for his own gain. If there’s a teleportation array to Little Fang’s back door, he must be overjoyed and will definitely use it.”

Meng Zi: “…”

Huang Fuyuan: “…”

【…】

【I am unexpectedly unable to refute?】

Zhao Keran, outside the projection array, was in high spirits. “Fastest Learning Battle Chapter!”

The elder in pink raised her ears.

Zhao Keran took a deep breath.

——When facing your enemies, you must first understand them, and know their habits and tendencies that they may not be aware of, and all this information is useful.

——All of this will be reflected in their attacking moves against you.

“Ah, Elder, I’ll go wipe that side of the treasure shelf.” Zhao Keran once again wore an expression of ‘Senior Sister already told me, but I won’t tell you.’

Elder in Pink raised her eyebrows, hummed, and turned to sell his cave!

Who cares to listen?

Inside the projection.

Lin Shuang smiled at Huang Fuyuan and Meng Zi.

“We have already answered this applied problem.”

“…”

“…”

【Do you all understand?】

【…】

Projection text decreased in an instant.

At this moment, everyone found that the projection in front of them suddenly split into two.

Behind the images of Lin Shuang and the other two, a new image appeared on the left.

Three people wearing the same headband with a carved ‘Dao’ character appeared in a landscape similar to a wheat field and thatched cottage.

Dao Dong, Dao Xi, and Dao Bei, the 235th group challenging Lin Shuang and the others.

“Wang Lao Ye, do you want us to split into two groups, one going with you to snatch the dog and the other to destroy the ancestral hall?”

Dao Dong smiled, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment, he had a ‘Dong’ character engraved on his dust-sweeping tool.

Looking at his two junior brothers at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 3, one with a sword marked ‘Xi’ and the other with a knife marked ‘Bei’.

“This question is even simpler than we thought; we also have 300 bandits joining us.”

“We all understand. Let’s set out, Old Wang!”

【?】

【Compared to those who understand on the right, those on the left seem a bit…rough.】

【Blind men touching an elephant, blind men touching an elephant!】

【Giving you another chance, think carefully, East, West, North! You haven’t understood anything at all!】

Among the three, Dao Dong had the highest cultivation and the oldest age, so after some thought, he decided.

“My formation restrains Meng Zi. Even if he adds Huang Fuyuan or Lin Shuang, we don’t need to worry.”

“No matter how they allocate their forces, we’re not afraid.”

“Little Xi, Little Bei, you follow Old Wang’s instructions and take 200 people to the mountain temple and ancestral hall.”

“I alone will teleport with 100 people to the dog’s den. Once we arrive, in just twelve breaths, I can use space transference to snatch the dog.”

【!】

【Lin Shuang even thought that you, Dao Dong, would use the teleportation array!】

【Ah…】

“Okay, Senior Brother!”

“Got it!”

[Please allocate the combat power of the 235th group: How many people will use the teleportation array?]

Dao Dong hesitated for a moment.

Zhen Chuan rarely asks questions directly; usually, the choices he makes will affect the subsequent events.

He was a bit uncertain at this moment, looking at the indignant father and son of the Wang family, “Old Wang, what do you think?”

“Of course, take the most!” Old Wang blew his mustache and glared, “I must bring back Little Fang for my precious son!”

“The bride price has been given; we cannot afford to fail! The ancestral hall is just a side task.”

Dao Dong smiled, “The teleportation array accommodates a maximum of one hundred people; I understand.”

He raised his hand and infused one hundred units of spiritual energy into the array.

【Ah! We were supposed to win for sure… if they hadn’t split the three hundred, three hundred versus three hundred, Dao Dong’s cultivation would completely overpower Meng Zi’s side. The ancestral hall and the dog would be taken without any suspense. Why split into two paths?】

【Dao Dong, use your brain a bit. I don’t understand this move; weakening yourself… are you sending spirit stones to Meng Zi?】

【Everything is as she expected.】

【There’s no help for it; we are currently viewing it from the perspective of elders. Dao Dong lacks information about the trial, and being influenced by the two different targets given by the puppet, he got confused.】

【Ah, it’s urgent.】

【Hey, don’t rush. The puppet assistant is just an illusion… Dao Dong, at the Foundation Establishment, regardless of how many people the opponent has, as long as he sets up a formation on the spot, kills one-tenth of the villagers, causing casualties exceeding the maximum limit of the busy season in the Li family village, all three hundred Li family puppets will immediately disappear. Meng Zi’s side will have no advantage; what’s there to fear?】

【Right! I forgot about this!】

【Indeed, insufficient strength; triggering the hidden three hundred Li family strongmen is also useless.】

【As I said before, ten years later when Junior Sister enters the inner sect, join my team.】

Lin Shuang, who was worried by everyone and even planned to come to Zhen Chuan in ten years, posed a new question to the three hundred strongmen.

“Three hundred warriors, what kind of cultivation techniques are you all good at?”

【!】

【?!】

On the 1,700th floor, few disciples thought of asking such a question!

But since the father and son of the Wang family, who were snatching the dog, were good at hiding techniques for theft, why couldn’t other puppets have cultivation techniques they were good at?

“Uh, we just learned casually.”

“Yes, we farmers encountered a few immortals on the road and occasionally learned some cultivation techniques.”

Lin Shuang’s eyes lit up as if she had seen a second way to solve the problem.

“We are also the immortals you speak of. How about we teach you cultivation techniques?”

【???】

“Can we teach them? I don’t believe it.” Meng Zi carried his knife, looking incredulous.

But the one beside him, Huang Fuyuan, chuckled, looking at the young man closest to him. “If there’s a fight later, and you get injured, can you take pills? Can we treat you?.”

“Of course!” The young man held a hoe and looked at him in shock. “Why wouldn’t we eat if we were injured? Would the immortals let us die?”

The young man next to him, looking at Huang Fuyuan’s expression, also found it strange. “If we’re injured, we naturally hope the immortals will save us. Who wants to die!”

It seemed like he had asked a very non-human question.

“If the pills aren’t enough, bandaging is also fine. There’s a barefoot doctor in the village.”

Everyone answered one after another.

The projection fell silent for a moment.

This puppet was too realistic!

Disciples in the trial seemed as if they were outside Zhen Chuan… they could give pills to the puppet, and they could bandage the puppet. Then why couldn’t they teach the puppet cultivation techniques, make them stronger, and go fight the enemies themselves!?

No one spoke in the projection; it was all silence.

It felt like whoever spoke first would expose that, for many years in Zhen Chuan, they didn’t know such a simple thing!

In the resting cave.

The pink-robed senior, who was paying attention to this trial, was introducing the cave to the disciples.

At this moment, almost forgot to introduce herself.

“Have you ever taught puppets cultivation techniques?”

“Of course… not. Cultivation techniques are hard-earned for me, even the lowest-level earth-ranked techniques in the inner sect require a considerable amount of spirit stones!”

“But this is not teaching others, it’s teaching the puppets within the array.”

“Uh, this?”

The disciples discussing in the cave looked puzzled.

The pink-robed woman listened to this conversation, unable to conceal the amazement in her eyes.

Over the past many years, trial disciples had never thought in this direction.

Everyone had the idea of protecting their treasures; they cherished what they had.

Moreover, many of the cultivating disciples who entered the Foundation Establishment Realm had been practicing in seclusion in the Clearwater Sect for many years and had long believed that immortals were different.

Encountering a commoner old man unexpectedly in Zhen Chuan, they wouldn’t even think of asking a commoner for help, triggering the hidden three hundred Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Realm strong men within the village.

Even if it was triggered, and these three hundred strong men appeared in front of them, the inner sect disciples wouldn’t think of instructing them.

Normally, disciples were not willing to take out precious cultivation techniques to share with their fellow junior brothers and sisters, let alone these central puppets!

Moreover, the crucial point was that when disciples entered Zhen Chuan, they already had a preconceived notion—

The Zhen Chuan trial was an assessment created by the elders!

Inside Zhen Chuan, everything was false.

It was all to test the disciples’ strength.

They had never thought about thinking in a normal, realistic way.

What would happen if they were really facing a life-or-death crisis?

The woman in pink fell silent.

There was also no one speaking in the projection.

However, no one exited; everyone was silently watching whether teaching cultivation techniques to the puppets by Lin Shuang and the others was feasible.

“I have a copy of the ‘Returning Sword Technique.’ ”

Lin Shuang in the projection smiled and looked at the three hundred puppets.

At this level, the Wang family needed to cross mountains and hills, taking two and a half days for a one-way journey.

The formation also required two days for teleportation.

Why was this dungeon set not for one day, not for half a day, not for now?

Wasn’t this an important clue left by the question-setter?

Lin Shuang pondered for a long time and thought it was worth trying.

“Read with me, first level, return instead, two qi in the elixir field are nowhere to be found…”

She smiled and took out a teaching blackboard from her mustard seed bag, writing each word on the board.

Then, she pointed to the blackboard, teaching all three hundred young men to recite.

All the disciples in the projection also heard it.

‘Read with me, first level, drop, drop, beep, beep, drop, drop…’

【…】

【At such a serious moment, Zhen Chuan Mountain Pavilion, don’t make me laugh!】

【Laughing won’t help me; what benefit do you have for Zhen Chuan?】

【Next time, can you just mute the voice of the junior sister? Zhen Chuan Mountain Pavilion, don’t randomly add your sounds; I would thank you!】

When everyone was casually adjusting, the next moment they were stunned, just like Meng Zi in the projection.

\[Li Family Village, one day passed from sunrise to sunset.\]

【? So fast!】

\[Fairy Lin Shuang spent the entire previous night teaching everyone to recite the “Returning Sword Technique,” reading it word by word, memorizing, copying, and explaining the essence of the technique. She vividly organized everyone to try it out in the classroom.\]

\[The three hundred youths of Li Family Village were moved in their hearts. The fairy actually taught them so kindly!\]

\[The three hundred youths of Li Family Village awakened their potential!\]

\[Initial Potential: Rank D.\]

\[After receiving careful guidance from the fairy, their potential rose to Rank B.\]

\[According to the sword technique morning classes of the successive elders of Clearwater Sect, disciples with Rank B potential usually grasp about half of the first two levels of the earth-ranked sword technique on the first day and about ten percent of the first level of the technique.\]

\[On the second morning, among the three hundred youths, thirty felt relaxed and comprehended the first level of “Sword Technique: Return Instead.” Fifteen had a profound insight, showing joy on their faces, and stepped into the second level.\]

\[The remaining two hundred-plus people were completely confused, not understanding what Fairy Lin was saying. They felt very self-blaming. Ah.\]

【! Shocking!】

【… !?】

Meng Zi: “! Damn!”

The pupils of Huang Fuyuan were completely black. With one hand, he disdainfully dragged out the pill furnace that he felt was dirty and “First Tier Poisonous Camphor Pill” which hadn’t been heated yet.

He smiled at the two hundred confused youths, “Shall I teach you alchemy?”

\[The remaining two hundred youths were greatly moved and felt guilty: I am so stupid, can’t understand the sword technique, and yet the immortal has not given up on me. Do I still qualify to continue seeking the Dao?\]

\[In the midst of their emotions, fearing that Immortal Huang Fuyuan would be disappointed, they studied particularly seriously, temporarily raising their potential to Rank C.\]

\[Alas, how few naturally talented individuals in the world? Most of them hone their skills through countless difficulties, awakening their insights halfway through.\]

\[As a result, more than sixty people learned the first-level “First Tier Poisonous Camphor Pill.”\]

【…】

【…!】

Meng Zi took a step back, his eyes turned red. “The rest of you, learn knife techniques from me!”

【…】

【…】

【East, West, North, go well.】

【Ah.】

Author’s note:

“Master Zhao’s Notes 28”: Open your eyes, trembling, inner sect Senior brothers and sisters!

—Disciples a hundred years later: …

—Zhou Xuanwu: So, as I said, it’s better to talk less. Silence will not lead to death.

—Zhao Keran: …

*