Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 167: Chapter 108: Former State Preceptor’s Disciple and the First Challenge (Please Subscribe)

After entering the Autumn Examination Secret Realm of the Star-picking Tower, Xu Jin just looked around once and couldn’t help exclaiming in amazement.

Because the so-called Autumn Examination Secret Realm was too realistic.

Xu Jin saw people continuously appearing from all directions around him, the area already packed densely with figures.

Just one look around and he roughly understood.

All the disciples who entered the Autumn Examination Secret Realm were positioned according to their State and County, and their positions varied according to their identity.

For example, Xu Jin was currently located at the position allocated to the Jinshan Taoist Institute of Yan State.

A large flag with ’Yan State’ written on it fluttered not far behind him, and even closer fluttered a smaller flag with the words ’Jinshan’.

Under the great flag of Jinshan Taoist Institute, disciples constantly appeared, but they were divided into two areas.

Trialists like Xu Jin were at the forefront under the great flag, and all thirty-five disciples from Jinshan Taoist Institute participating in the Autumn Examination had already arrived, while hundreds of disciples from Jinshan Taoist Institute who came to watch were at the back of the great flag.

Xu Jin tried it and found that he couldn’t walk toward the back, as there was an invisible barrier.

In addition to this, there were seven other great flags fluttering.

Five of the great flags were state flags, representing Song State, West Sea State, Pill State, Thunder State, and Jing State, and under each state’s flag, there were varying numbers of smaller flags.

All seventy-four counties across the six states of Dachen had participated.

Another two great flags, one was Wanyi.

Since Wanyi was the capital of Dachen Country, the Wanyi Taoist Institute was arranged in the style of a State Taoist Institute.

The last great flag bore the five large characters of the Great Chen National Taoist School.

Below this flag, the area for Autumn Examination Refiners was packed densely with people, easily numbering over a thousand.

The participant count for each State Taoist Institute was also quite high, with those further away being unclear, but those closer, like the Yan State Taoist Institute, had no fewer than three hundred heads bustling around.

Participant counts for each County Taoist Institute also varied.

For instance, the twelve counties under Yan State had numbers varying from fifty-six in some to around thirty or forty like Jinshan Taoist Institute.

And the total number of disciples from Yan State participating in this Autumn Examination wasn’t far from a thousand.

What shocked Xu Jin was the scene of this Autumn Examination Secret Realm.

It was incredibly imposing.

In his previous life, even the most overhyped virtual reality wasn’t a patch on this Autumn Examination Secret Realm.

In Xu Jin’s understanding, this world also possessed what could be called technology, such as Star Power Flying Boats, and there were a few items driven by Star Power, but overall, their technology was a thousand years behind his previous life.

But this Star-picking Tower, it was formidable.

From what Xu Jin already knew, the information about Star-picking Tower was incomparable to his past life.

So how did this far advanced Star-picking Tower come about?

Or is it that the transcendental attribute is just this way?

”The first phase of the Autumn Examination usually tests abilities, and as long as you perform normally, over eighty percent of the participants will pass.

Once the specific test stages are announced, just perform normally,” Ning Yuchan, the Chief Instructor, appeared at some point in the trialist area of Jinshan Taoist Institute and sat behind Xu Jin, beginning to give the disciples some pre-examination reminders.

”Besides, during the test, pay a little attention to the other participants around you; don’t get too close to them.

Because there are so many participants, they may sometimes affect your performance.

But whether intentional or not, you only get one chance at the exam.

The rules of the National Taoist Institute’s Autumn Examination follow one main direction; everything is based more closely on actual combat,” said Ning Yuchan.

Xu Jin listened thoughtfully.

Influence from other people?

Was this a normal reminder from Ning Yuchan, or a deliberate hint?

Or does this Autumn Examination have a tradition of internal strife?

Elsewhere, under the great flag of the Great Chen National Taoist School, Dong Zhao of Jinshan Taoist Institute, who had just arrived, greeted many senior officials before taking his seat in the fifth row.

Soon, an elder sitting in the front row turned around and with a smile asked Dong, ”Dong, you’ve had a good year, having achieved two Great Merits and one Special Merit. If you manage to get an A-level in your professional duties this Autumn Examination, you could return to the National Taoist Institute.

So, are you confident?”

The questioner was Chen Liao, the Supervisor of the Great Chen National Taoist School, who had a decent relationship with Dong Zhao.

”Elder Chen, it’s hard to say! However, this year the Jinshan Taoist Institute I oversee indeed has a few promising talents, who should perform well.

But whether I can achieve an A-level evaluation, that’s hard to say,” replied Dong Zhao with a smile.

”You, oh you, are as humble as ever! Even in matters you are completely sure of, you’d only claim a sixty percent chance.

It seems likely you’ll return to the National Taoist Institute this year.

Are you interested in becoming my deputy?” asked Chen Liao with a smile.

Dong Zhao modestly replied with his eyes downcast, ”That would require an A-level, or even an A+ evaluation, in order for me to skip levels! I don’t have that much confidence, Elder Chen, you flatter me.”

”You, oh you!” Chen Liao pointed at Dong Zhao and laughed without saying more.

Meanwhile, Lu Chenfeng, the Dean of the Yan State Taoist Institute, was sitting not far behind Chen Liao, listening to their conversation with a gloomy expression, inadvertently glancing toward the direction of Yan State Taoist Institute.

”Chenfeng, how did you muddle through this year?”

During the conversation, another person spoke up; it was Song Bing, the Right Libationer of the Great Chen National Taoist School, also pointing at Dong Zhao, but inquiring of Lu Chenfeng, the Dean of Yan State Taoist Institute.

”Look at young Dong, two Great Merits, one Special Merit, and possibly an A-level, enough to jump levels directly.

What about you, how come you were reprimanded twice!

Aren’t you being too lax?

Or do you not fancy your position at the State Taoist Institute, not wanting to continue there?” Right Libationer Song Bing, ostensibly asking, was in reality scolding.

Under the gaze of so many, Lu Chenfeng immediately stood up with a shameful expression, saying, ”Indeed, I have been lax and have disgraced my teacher.”

”Sit, sit!”

Right Libationer Song Bing waved his hand, ”Disgracing me is a minor issue, but messing up state affairs is a serious matter. Anyway, you of Yan State, need to be unified as a whole. Families that fight internally with each other for merit aren’t going anywhere good. Isn’t that right, young Dong?”

This was a clear and loud rebuke.

Dong Zhao slightly bowed, confirming that it indeed was the case.

Right Libationer Song Bing waved his hand again, ”I’m not blaming you, just making a passing remark.”

However, we in the National Taoist Institute still value pragmatism, everything depends on your achievements.

”Hope the autumn exam in Yan State goes well for you, otherwise...”

Dong Zhao lowered his gaze, but Lu Chenfeng once again assured him.

The higher-ups sitting in the Martial Observation Platform had long been accustomed to this.

Competition, after all, was common every year.

It’s normal for the vast National Taoist Institute to have factions; it would be abnormal not to.

But Libationer Song Bing, this was done intentionally, with apparent favoritism.

However, it’s only human nature, not to mention the mentor-student relationship between Song Bing and Lu Chenfeng.

Mainly because the two reprimands Lu Chenfeng received from the National Taoist Institute this year were all related to Dong Zhao’s merits, and it was no wonder grudges formed.

After being rebuked twice, for Lu Chenfeng to maintain his position as the Dean of the State Taoist Institute was already quite good.

Moreover, Dong Zhao’s status was somewhat special.

He was a True Disciple of the former State Preceptor.

Normally, Dong Zhao would have been seated in the first two rows of the Martial Observation Platform.

However, the relationships involved were extremely complicated.

But at this moment, he could only sit in the fifth row.

At the same time, under the large banner of the Yan State Taoist Institute, Chief Instructor Chai Yuanchang was making some special pre-exam arrangements.

Suddenly, the Star-Picking Order trembled slightly, and Chai Yuanchang received another Starlight Transmission from Dean Lu Chenfeng.

”Rest assured, Dean, everything has been arranged properly.”

After about ten minutes, suddenly, a figure with long hair scattered over their shoulders landed in the most prominent center seat in the front row of the Martial Observation Platform.

Instantly, all the elders, deans, and mountain masters on the Martial Observation Platform stood up to greet.

”Greetings to the State Preceptor.”

”Greetings to the State Preceptor.”

The greeting echoed, and in the next instant, under the banners of various states and counties, including spectators, led by instructors, they all greeted the newly arrived State Preceptor Cheng.

For a time, the voice of ”greetings” to the State Preceptor was like a mountain tsunami in this secret realm.

”Is everyone gathered?” State Preceptor Cheng suddenly asked.

Instantly, a man with a bee-like waist and ape-like arms dressed in armor stood up and responded, ”Reporting to the State Preceptor, this term’s autumn exam has 9,345 disciples participating from all institutes, and everyone has arrived. When to start the exam, please instruct, State Preceptor.”

This was Yu Da, the Chief Instructor of the National Taoist Institute.

”Hmm, over nine thousand people, that’s a few hundred more than last year. It seems the institutes have been diligent.

”Has the exam plan been set?” State Preceptor Cheng asked, addressing others.

The Supervisor of the National Taoist Institute, Chen Liao stood up, ”Replying to the State Preceptor, the two Libationers and four administrators have presented twelve combined plans. I’ve named them from one to twelve, all of which have been prepared in the Star-Picking Tower.

”Which specific plan to use, please instruct, State Preceptor.”

During the conversation, Chen Liao waved his hand, and twelve orbs of light appeared in front of him.

”Thank you, Elder Chen,” State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao waved his hand and casually pulled over five light orbs. The orbs just flashed, and he chose one and handed it to Chen Liao.

”Use this one; it looks good.”

Chen Liao took the light orb, glanced at it, and then loudly declared, ”By decree of the State Preceptor, this year’s autumn exam will utilize Plan Number Five!”

”Plan Number Five, execute immediately,” Chief Instructor Yu Da took the light orb and in an instant, tossed it into the void.

The next moment, in the Autumn Examination Secret Realm, countless dazzling starlights burst forth and gathered in the center of the Secret Realm.

Watching this scene, Xu Jin was astonished.

The stages of this Autumn Examination Secret Realm were actually being generated in real-time?

Had the Star-Picking Tower become so advanced?

Were they now playing with sandbox features?

Before long, a vast scene unfolded before the hundreds of thousands of examiners and spectators.

Xu Jin was astonished again.

It somewhat resembled a world within a world.

Especially all the spectators, who could now look down upon this newly generated exam stage.

Almost simultaneously, several messages of starlight popped up in front of Xu Jin.

[Xu Jin, the first stage of the autumn exam is the Major Selection Stage. Please reach the military flag from your entry point within 100 breaths to pass. The shorter the time used, the higher the ranking. Rewards are available for the top hundred and top ten.]

[In the first stage of the autumn exam, danger may appear from all directions. Please be cautious.]

After reading the two messages, in the blink of an eye, under the great banner of the Da Chen National Daoist Institute, a starlight flickered on a screen along with a string of information.

[Autumn Exam Major Selection Stage Rankings]

[First place, reward of one hundred strands of Starlight]

[Second to third place, reward of eighty strands of Starlight]

[Fourth to tenth place, reward of sixty strands of Starlight]

[Eleventh to hundredth place, reward of thirty strands of Starlight]

[All who pass, reward of five strands of Starlight]

Just reading the leaderboard, Xu Jin’s eyes brightened.

These rewards looked quite tempting.

One hundred strands of Starlight, that was ten thousand taels of silver.

Even the top one hundred equated to a reward of three thousand taels of silver.

Not bad at all.

In an instant, Xu Jin’s motivation surged.

[Xu Jin, the first stage of the autumn exam will begin shortly. Please enter the first stage within 100 breaths]

At the same moment, the message of Starlight emerged.