I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 623: Chapter 570: Ranking Examination

The extraordinary examination concluded, leaving everyone wanting more, particularly the Zhuge Family’s Inner Sect disciples.

Seeing Jiang Yuebai emerge, they crowded around her, their eyes sparkling as they looked at her.

”True Monarch, will you teach us the Armored Technique in the future?”

”Can we learn that move you just used from you?”

”When will you start classes? I want to register now!”

”True Monarch, please remember me!”

The crowd was buzzing with enthusiasm, making Jiang Yuebai feel a bit embarrassed because she, too, was a novice in the Armored Technique and wanted to attend classes with them.

However, the Armored Technique had already been entrusted to Bai Jiuyou, and she might have already passed the Armored Apprentice selection and settled in the Outer City.

Jiang Yuebai was in high demand, while Zhuge Ziyin was left coldly aside, his expression unchanged.

Fann Mingshan was even more embarrassed and angry, standing aside with no place to hide, quietly lowering his presence. He knew he was finished; if he lost to Zhuge Ziyin, he still had prepared excuses.

But to lose to an outsider, a Loose Cultivator lower in cultivation and age, and be defeated in such a manner, Fann Mingshan did not know how to regain his face.

He couldn’t say it was because his Dantian was sealed and thus he lost, could he? If he unsealed his Dantian and fought again, wouldn’t he be a higher cultivation bullying a lower cultivation?

What if he lost again then... Fann Mingshan dared not to think!

”Alright,” Zhuge Shou spoke, and everyone quieted down, ”Get back to your responsibilities. If True Monarch Wangshu wants to teach, he will post a notice in the Inner Affairs Hall.”

The Family Head had spoken, and so everyone left reluctantly.

Zhuge Shou glanced at Zhuge Ziyin, his brow furrowed.

Zhuge Ziyin lowered his eyes, knowing he had made a mistake today by letting Jiang Yuebai and Fann Mingshan clash; he should have taken down the flag outside and ended the examination before they started fighting.

Zhuge Shou did not publicly reprimand Zhuge Ziyin, just instructed, ”Lead Elder Fann to rest first.”

Zhuge Shou looked at Fann Mingshan, who turned his head, his old face blushing, his gaze dodging.

”Fellow Daoist Wangshu, please follow me to the Inner Affairs Hall, Elder Moh and Ziqian as well.”

Jiang Yuebai nodded, and before leaving, she accidentally caught Zhuge Ziyin’s direct gaze; in his eyes lingered an eager desire to battle, and Jiang Yuebai raised her chin slightly, her gaze fearless.

On the way to the Zhuge Family’s Inner Affairs Hall, Moh Baichun pulled Jiang Yuebai to the back, secretly transmitting a message.

”You’re really something. I honestly didn’t see you have such talent in the Puppetry Path.”

Jiang Yuebai proudly raised her eyebrows, ”It’s nothing, just skilled hands!”

Moh Baichun chuckled, continuing the transmission, ”You can be proud. Are you really planning to develop in the Yin Yang Family and not delve deeper into the Armored Path? I think you are very well-suited for this path.”

Jiang Yuebai seriously looked at Moh Baichun, taller now after reconstructing her legs. She even had to look up to see him.

”Do you see any path that I’m not suitable for?”

With full confidence in her eyes, Jiang Yuebai raised a finger to Moh Baichun, waving it, her eyebrows rising as she smiled and chased after the distant Zhuge Family members.

Moh Baichun stood still at the back, speechless, ”So thick-skinned!”

The Inner Affairs Hall is in the lower layer of Zhuge Family’s inner city, similar to those Jiang Yuebai had seen elsewhere, responsible for handling various Zhuge Family affairs, and is an extensive group of buildings taking up a vast area, constantly having various small Armored figures entering and exiting.

When Jiang Yuebai arrived, she first saw at the main hall entrance a bronze-armored figure over a hundred feet tall, extraordinarily majestic, silently standing in the center of the Inner Affairs Hall’s outer plaza like a guardian.

The four bronze giant swords, matching its size, were placed on either side, with ancient patterns carved on them and many small characters.

The sight of this bronze-armored figure suddenly reminded Jiang Yuebai of the Bronze War General she had seen in the Secret Realm of Kongfang City in the Earth Spiritual Realm.

Could it be that the Zhuge Family also came from the Earth Spiritual Realm?

Zhuge Ziqian, seeing Jiang Yuebai’s curiosity, once again took on the role of a narrator.

”This was a gift from a friend of one of the Zhuge Family’s ancestors. It has been the Zhuge Family’s guardian, helping resist numerous crises. During peaceful times, it is placed here. The four bronze swords alongside bear the battle power rankings of the Zhuge Family’s Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stage disciples.”

Battle rankings?

Jiang Yuebai was startled; wasn’t this the same as the Heavenly Interence Sect’s battle rankings?

Wanting to ask, Jiang Yuebai saw Zhuge Shou waiting ahead, so she suppressed her curiosity, quickly stepped into the Inner Affairs Hall.

Zhuge Shou arranged a Quiet Room, explained the situation, and handed Jiang Yuebai an exam paper, with questions about the Armored Path aimed at quickly assessing Jiang Yuebai’s competence for further grading.

Then, based on her level, they would provide her a direction for continued deep learning; on the other hand, it was meant to determine which level range of Low-Level Disciples she could teach.

Being a Guest Elder of the Zhuge Family isn’t about living the high life nor freeloading their skills; one must contribute equivalently in labor.

This was Moh Baichun’s purpose for having her memorize those books, ensuring that her scores during grading wouldn’t look too bad.

Jiang Yuebai found the Zhuge Family’s set of rules interesting; compared to solely assessing cultivation, this method was more intuitive and efficient, quickly and accurately discovering each individual’s strengths, and then thoroughly utilizing them.

Wondering who came up with these rules, she thought they were far superior to the Heavenly Immortal Fatian of Doumu Realm, who managed even attire and dining.

The exam paper was thick and comprehensive; Jiang Yuebai carefully reviewed it. It not only included knowledge about Armored Masters and the Yin Yang Family but also covered sections involved in armory creation, such as Talisman Dao, Array Dao, Numerology, Artifact Refining, and even the Medical Dao concerning the construction of human and Spiritual Beast bodies.

The seemingly simple Puppetry Path actually encompassed many facets, far from merely a straightforward cultivation school.

Thus, throughout the Cultivation Realm, top-tier Puppet Masters were rare.

Zhuge Shou personally waited by the side, sitting with five elders who would later be responsible for scoring the exam, sipping tea and inquiring about recent teaching conditions across various institutes.

These five elders were the Zhuge Family’s most knowledgeable figures, akin to college deans; they might not be the finest Armored Masters or from the Yin Yang Family, but they each specialized in one path, deeply cultivated for years, holding a certain authority in their respective fields.

Moh Baichun and Zhuge Ziqian sat at a corner tea table, with Zhuge Ziqian pouring tea for Moh Baichun, attentive and considerate.

Moh Baichun thanked him, aware of Zhuge Shou’s ’calculations’; Zhuge Shou noticed the mutual interest between her and Zhuge Ziqian, deliberately facilitating the direction to draw her into the Zhuge Family.

This was not new in the Zhuge Family; Moh Baichun sincerely disliked such practices, yet Zhuge Shou did not excessively and evidently create opportunities for them, merely going with the flow.

She also saw that Zhuge Ziqian was sincere, without ulterior motives or utilitarian intentions.

Therefore, her inner resistance gradually reduced, gladly accepting.

But she certainly wouldn’t be bound to the Zhuge Family; if she wished to leave and Zhuge Ziqian was unwilling to accompany her, then they would simply part ways.

Having painstakingly reconstructed her legs, Moh Baichun vowed to measure the world with her feet, traverse mountains and rivers, becoming a Puppet Master richer than any other!

Moh Baichun casually drank her tea, watching Jiang Yuebai writing vigorously and skillfully, marveling at how she truly memorized all those books within three days. Such a mind was enviable.

”When she finishes the examination, how about accompanying me to the Armor Making Hall?” Moh Baichun asked Zhuge Ziqian.

”Sure.”

They exchanged a warm smile.

Everyone expected this to be a quickly completed examination, and no one anticipated that in the end, Jiang Yuebai’s assessment evolved into a large-scale debate.