8: Chapter 8 The College Entrance Examination is Coming

The chirping of cicadas baked the June afternoon to a sizzle. The countdown board on the back wall of the classroom had been changed to "30" in red pen. Chalk dust drifted in the sunlight, mixing with the smell of exam paper ink, creating the anxious atmosphere unique to the third year of high school.

Zhang Wen had just stuffed the last set of mock exams into his desk when he heard a gasp from the front row—the Dean of Students walked in holding a stack of admission tickets, the metal badges dazzling in the sunlight. "Everyone, perk up!" He slapped the admission tickets onto the podium with a thwack. "The unified Cultivation exam accounts for 60% of the total score, and academic subjects 40%. For those who want to get into Qinglan University, the spiritual power test must exceed 800 points!"

These words were like a stone dropped into boiling water, and the classroom instantly erupted. "I heard the score line for the Lightning element rose again this year!" "Ding Siyi's Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire is definitely a sure thing; after all, it's an SS-grade talent..." Zhang Wen turned his head toward the window. Ding Siyi was looking down, calculating spiritual power formulas, the gold-red flame at her fingertip swaying gently with her breath—after three months of bitter cultivation, her Early Stage Shimmer was as steady as a rock, and the purity of her immortal fire had improved by thirty percent compared to before.

"Nervous?" Zhang Wen handed over a peppermint candy.

Ding Siyi peeled the candy wrapper, the flame spinning around her fingertip. "My grandfather said that the spiritual herb garden at Qinglan has a thousand-year-old fire lotus. Its petals can condense fire element essence, which is perfect for nourishing the Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire." She looked up and smiled, the sycamore leaves outside the window reflected in her eyes. "What about you? The Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder test shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Zhang Wen squeezed the Concentric Jade in his pocket, the jade pendant giving off a warm touch. "Don't worry, my spiritual power reserves at the Late Stage of Shimmer are enough to handle the test." In truth, he was already confident—the System had rewarded him with the "College Entrance Exam Spiritual Power Blitz Manual" last week, which even highlighted obscure question types the examiners might pose in red.

When the school bell rang, Wang Lei rushed over clutching a stack of "Complete Collection of Cultivation Exam Points." "Brother Zhang! Let me copy your Lightning element notes, please? My mom said if I don't get into a second-tier university, she'll send me to learn how to give back scrubs. I don't want to compete for business with your thunder bath towel!" This remark drew a burst of laughter from those around them, and even Ding Siyi turned her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Zhang Wen laughed and tossed the notes to him. Just as he finished packing his schoolbag, the System prompt sounded: [College Entrance Exam Preparation Mode Activated! Daily Cultivation grants double spiritual power. Complete mock tests to receive a 'Anti-Anxiety Soothing Incense' stick.] He patted the now much better-behaved thunder bath towel in his pocket—this thing had recently been requisitioned by his mom to "electro-treat" the pickled vegetable jars, and it actually made the sour beans ferment twice as fast.

Walking out of the teaching building, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long. Ding Siyi suddenly stopped. "After the exam, let's take a photo together at the entrance of Qinglan University?"

Zhang Wen kicked away a small pebble at his feet, his voice light: "It's a deal."

The evening breeze swept across the playground carrying the sound of cicadas. The bulletin board in the distance was surrounded by students checking their exam room assignments. Zhang Wen watched the immortal fire dancing at Ding Siyi's fingertips and felt the Lightning Radiance surging within his own body. He suddenly felt that this college entrance exam, which would decide their futures, was more like a journey of cultivation toward a promise.

As the morning light just spilled over the windowsill, Zhang Wen was staring blankly at the "College Entrance Exam Secret Realm Simulation Map" rewarded by the System when his phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Ding Siyi, accompanied by a flame emoji: "My grandfather opened the Family's trial Secret Realm. It's said the terrain is very similar to the exam Secret Realm. Want to go practice together?"

Zhang Wen replied "Be there in a second" and grabbed his backpack, rushing out and nearly knocking over Zhang Jianguo, who was coming back with soy milk. "Not eating breakfast?" his dad shouted from behind. He waved his hand without looking back, but the thunder bath towel in his pocket suddenly jumped out and snatched the tea egg off the table—it seemed this "Divine Artifact" knew quite a bit about replenishing energy.

Ding Siyi's Family manor was hidden in a bamboo forest on the outskirts of the city, with flame patterns carved onto the ancient stone gate. The young girl was wearing short, practical clothes for movement, the Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire flowing between her fingers. Seeing the tea egg in Zhang Wen's hand, she couldn't help but laugh. "Your bath towel even steals food?" Just as Zhang Wen was about to explain, her grandfather, Old Master Ding, came out leaning on a dragon-head cane, his white beard twitching. "Little friend, you've come at the right time. The spiritual power fluctuations of the Illusionary Beasts in the Secret Realm are similar to the actual exam questions. It's the perfect chance for you two to test your skills."

The moment he stepped into the Secret Realm, Zhang Wen felt a familiar sense of pressure—just as the simulation map described, spiritual power crystals used for testing floated in the air. A flash of immortal fire from Ding Siyi's fingertip accurately ignited a distant fire-attribute crystal, and the scoreboard immediately jumped to a blood-red number: "85 points! It seems your proficiency is sufficient."

Zhang Wen wasn't to be outdone either. The Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder transformed into several thin lines, shattering the scattered lightning-element crystals simultaneously. The scoreboard shot straight to 92. "Not bad, not bad." Old Master Ding nodded while stroking his beard, then suddenly changed the subject, "But the college entrance exam doesn't just rely on offense; you also have to know how to cooperate."

No sooner had he spoken than a winged Illusionary Beast lunged out of the dense forest, sending Wind Blades mixed with fireballs toward them. Zhang Wen was about to summon thunder, but Ding Siyi grabbed his wrist. "Use this!" She slapped a Fire-Thunder Talisman into his palm. Immortal fire and Lightning Radiance were injected simultaneously, and the Talismanic Incantation instantly transformed into a roaring Thunder Fire beast, which actually swallowed the Illusionary Beast's attack whole.

"This is a Thunder-Fire Resonance Talisman, specially made using my Family's resources." The girl's cheeks flushed slightly. "Grandpa said there might be duo cooperation questions on the exam." Zhang Wen looked at the "Synergy Points +20" surging on the scoreboard, and his heart suddenly felt warm—it turned out she had already prepared for their cooperation long ago.

The two of them went deeper. Ding Siyi's Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire was responsible for purifying the mist, while Zhang Wen's thunder was used to break through illusions. Their Late Stage Shimmer spiritual powers complemented each other perfectly. Passing by a cliff, Zhang Wen's foot suddenly slipped. Ding Siyi was quick to pull him back, and her immortal fire accidentally brushed against his wrist, actually striking a series of gold-purple sparks with the thunder bath towel.

"This bath towel seems to get along quite well with the immortal fire?" Ding Siyi curiously poked the still-glowing bath towel, which nuzzled her finger affectionately. Zhang Wen was speechless; this "Divine Artifact" was never this docile with him.

By the time the setting sun dyed the Secret Realm's exit red, their scores had already broken through the "Excellent line." Old Master Ding handed over two bottles of Spiritual Spring Water with a smile. "At this rate, Qinglan University is a sure thing." Zhang Wen took the water and exchanged a look with Ding Siyi; both saw certainty in each other's eyes—in this college entrance exam, they weren't just going to win, they were going to win together.

As they walked out of the manor, Ding Siyi suddenly remembered something and pulled a small sachet from her bag. "This is Soothing Incense; you'll need it before the exam." Zhang Wen squeezed the sachet, which still held some of her warmth, and the bath towel in his pocket began to sizzle and flash again, as if cheering in advance for the upcoming grand exam.