Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 410: Mongolian Study Test, Imperial Examination System _1
"Elementary Study is divided into two parts: learning and testing."
"Mostly, it is learning-focused. As long as you pass the exam, you can become a Spirit Master."
This seems a bit like the Soul Resemblance Awakening ceremony.
Wang Linchi sensed a familiar feeling.
The learning part was somewhat like his previous physical conditioning and combat skill acquisition. However, in this context, it meant studying the classics, history, and various anthologies. During the exam, one would write about the content of these studies. The goal was to determine, through the resonance between one’s Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian, if one could manifest their own Spirit Law.
That’s why even if most commoners possess Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian, successfully becoming Spirit Masters is not easy; sufficient talent is required.
However, while talent may be innate, it must be honed through learning to be realized.
"After Elementary Study, the path upward becomes the imperial examination system. Fortunately, promotion is not approved by the Court but aligns with the Heavenly Dao; it is reviewed by Heaven and Earth."
When he saw this, Wang Linchi was somewhat dumbfounded. What in the world is this? How did it suddenly become so grandiose?
Of course, Spirit Masters have levels: Tongsheng, Scholar, Lifted Person, Tribute Officials, and Jinshi. These are the five levels following Elementary Study.
It sounds a bit absurd, Wang Linchi thought. I wonder which transmigrator copied this ranking system.
However, this examination system becomes progressively more difficult, demanding intense competition and having corresponding rankings.
Those ranked in the top three would even awaken additional Spiritual Talent, so competition was fierce.
Elementary Study was slightly better as it didn’t require competition. However, differences in aptitude still led to variations in levels achieved.
"Thinking about it, it seems rather impressive," Wang Linchi couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
Nothing involving the world of Heaven and Earth is ever simple.
"I have an official status. If I obtain Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian, perhaps I can use this opportunity to siphon off some nourishment."
He wasn’t interested in this ranking system because it was too low-level. Even a so-called Jinshi would be no match for a Saint Master in combat; their strength likely lay more in political maneuvering.
Since this Spirit Master System is connected to Heaven and Earth, and Wang Linchi is a world embryo, manipulating it slightly shouldn’t be much of a problem.
"With my learning ability, I don’t need anyone to teach me. I just need to buy the textbooks."
"The only trouble is taking the Elementary Study test."
The test isn’t something one can take at will. Every year on August 15th, the Court compiles a list of students eligible for the Elementary Study test. Participants then burn incense, fast, and report to Heaven and Earth. On September 9th, all these students enter the Imperial Examination Space for the unified test.
Cheating here was unthinkable, as the conditions made it impossible.
"Logically, a world capable of this shouldn’t be low-level. So why are there only these few ranks?" Wang Linchi grew increasingly puzzled.
This gave him a strong sense of incongruity.
"Let me see... there are fifteen days until August 15th. Well, I’ll have to wait until next year." After checking, Wang Linchi gave up on the idea for now.
It wasn’t that he was unwilling, but he lacked even a Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian. Without them, he couldn’t even enter the examination grounds, let alone take the test.
So, he could only wait until next year.
If the world ends next year, well, there’s nothing I can do about it.
Even if he could create Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian within fifteen days, they would only be of the lowest quality. Why rush and create something subpar just to meet a deadline?
"I can only try genetic modification."
Wang Linchi returned to the underground laboratory and took out a sample of his own genes.
He had backed up numerous samples of his flesh, so he didn’t need to worry if he used them up; he could use his External Incarnation to create more.
He planned to personally cultivate a Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian most compatible with himself and then modify it.
"Although people from both worlds are human, the genetic and cellular differences between them are vaster than those between humans and algae."
"Therefore, artificially cultivating Spiritual Bone and Spiritual Meridian means overcoming rejection won’t be so easy."
He needed to use his clone as an intermediary, a springboard of sorts. Attempting the process directly on his own body, without this intermediate step, would undoubtedly end in failure.
Bai Changsheng was panting heavily. Just moments ago, he had personally killed a Spirit Master—albeit one without an official title.
Meanwhile, the woman who called herself Liu Ling’er was also seriously injured. During the fight, her disguise as a man had been revealed. The figure and face that met his eyes were, naturally, stunningly beautiful.
"What are you staring at, silly?" Liu Ling’er chided playfully.
"You’re very pretty," Bai Changsheng said, touching his nose as he teased her.
His words made Liu Ling’er blush. "You’re such a smooth talker," she retorted.
A favorable impression of him began to form in her heart.
"Alright, you want to go to the Academy to study and pass the Elementary Study test to become a Spirit Master, right? I’ll help you with that!" Liu Ling’er declared, taking full responsibility.
"Really? Which Academy?" Bai Changsheng asked, incredibly surprised and delighted.
"The Origin Flow Academy in Zhenhai City, of course. But you’re older, so you can only join Class D. Classes A, B, and C have requirements for both aptitude and age; anyone over fourteen is not accepted," Liu Ling’er explained.
This didn’t bother Bai Changsheng in the slightest. "That’s fine, that’s fine! As long as I can access the classics and take the Elementary Study test this year, that’ll work."
"Huh? You want to take the Elementary Study test this year?" Liu Ling’er covered her mouth in surprise. She quickly advised, "If you fail the test this time, you’ll be expelled from the Academy’s registry. You should wait until next year."
She had developed a fondness for the handsome Bai Changsheng and naturally wanted to offer him sound advice. If he failed this time, even she, the legitimate daughter of the Liu Family of Zhenhai City, wouldn’t be able to get him back into the Origin Flow Academy.
However, Bai Changsheng arrogantly declared, "Heh, a mere Elementary Study test? It’ll be a piece of cake for me."
"You’re just bluffing," Liu Ling’er said, naturally disbelieving.
As she spoke, her eyebrows suddenly furrowed. Looking down, she saw a patch of blood seeping through her clothing.
It was an injury inflicted by the Spirit Master earlier. She hadn’t paid it much mind while they were talking, but the movement from speaking had aggravated it.
"That damned traitor! Hmph!" Liu Ling’er kicked the corpse again, her disgust palpable. She had accepted a mission from her clan and never expected such a disastrous turn. If not for Bai Changsheng, her fate would have been uncertain.
"The wound is deep. It needs to be treated as soon as possible. We can’t wait until you get back to Zhenhai City. We have to find someone in the county town to dress it first." Bai Changsheng rushed to her side. Seeing the amount of bleeding, he didn’t offer to treat it himself.
He possessed heaven-defying medical Comprehension, but without medicinal herbs or tools, he was helpless to treat her with his bare hands.
"The county town? To Huichun Hall or Shunmin Hall?" Liu Ling’er immediately recalled Wang Linchi’s words and asked.
"No, go to Health Medical Hall. Those other two are unscrupulous and incompetent. Given your condition, if you went to them, they’d likely try to take advantage of your life-threatening situation for their own gain."
"The three men I killed earlier were sent by those two medical halls, all for my ancestral secret recipe," Bai Changsheng said with disdain.
"The two medical halls sent three men?" Liu Ling’er wasn’t foolish; she immediately sensed something amiss with his statement.
"They are all businesses owned by the Cheng Family in the county. They monopolize the trade of medicinal herbs, furs, and similar goods in Baihe County and its surroundings. Aside from common ailments like headaches and fevers, anyone needing treatment for serious injuries or illnesses had to go to them, as other medical halls couldn’t manage such cases." Bai Changsheng’s words were a slight exaggeration, but the Cheng Family’s two medical halls indeed controlled 90% of the medical services.
The remainder was dispersed among smaller medical halls, with Wang Linchi also getting a small share of the market.
"Alright, I’ll listen to you," Liu Ling’er said, her face flushing slightly as Bai Changsheng lifted her onto his back and started running towards Baihe County.
The close proximity naturally made her feel even shyer.
Cheng Xun wore a baffled expression. How had he suddenly lost three house servants, their bodies nowhere to be found?
Upon hearing the full account, his expression turned grim.
"How many times have I stressed this? You are to buy, not rob! Do you still think our Cheng Family is the same as it was in the old days?" Cheng Xun slapped Housekeeper Xu across the face.
Before his father’s death, Mr. Cheng, a Spirit Master holding the Child’s Title, had been fearless. Now, with his father gone and he himself the only Spirit Master left—and without a title at that—they could no longer afford to be as arrogant as before.
"Then... then what should we do now, Master?" Housekeeper Xu asked, his voice trembling.
"Since a blood feud has been established, we might as well send him on his way. It’s better than allowing him to rise up and retaliate against our Cheng Family later."
"A mere peasant—killing him would have been nothing! What infuriates me is that you actually failed to kill him and let him live!" Cheng Xun roared.
This made Housekeeper Xu shudder. He hastily replied, "I’ll make the arrangements immediately!"
