The cultivation method used for the Daoist test was part of the examination. It was extremely easy to pick up, requiring no prior cultivation, and could be operated directly according to the formula. In several hundred years, this formula had changed only three times, and had not changed at all in the past century.
As the formula circulated, Wei Yuan felt the prayer mat beneath him and the two incense burners gradually merge into one with his body. From the prayer mat, wisps of cool sensation continually welled up and entered Wei Yuan's body, and stirred by this coolness, two intangible forms emerged within him.
The incense burners on either side produced suction, latching onto the two intangible forms inside him. Both intangible forms clearly existed—plainly overlapping each other, yet as distinct as the Jing and Wei rivers. As the formula circulated, the pull from the incense burners grew stronger, forming two conduits that drew the two intangible masses wisp by wisp into the burners.
The left incense burner drew upon his foundation, while the right drew upon his karmic destiny. Wei Yuan's foundation was fairly normal, but as the formula circulated, the intangible form representing karmic destiny surprisingly swelled like an iceberg breaching the sea's surface, growing larger and larger with no sign of stopping. In the blink of an eye, this mass of karmic destiny expanded beyond the bounds of Wei Yuan's body, faintly forming a connection with the unseen depths of the cosmos.
Wei Yuan had no idea what was supposed to happen during the Daoist test; assuming this was all normal, he guarded his mind and continued circulating his art.
As the formula turned, the karmic destiny in Wei Yuan's body began to reveal an immense, crushing weight. Now, the conduit seemed too narrow, no longer wide enough for the karmic destiny to pass through smoothly. Wei Yuan could only circulate the formula with all his might, like hoisting a small mountain onto his shoulders and shoving it bit by bit through the passage. As time went on, Wei Yuan felt the burden grow heavier and heavier, which even slightly affected the foundation side.
Wei Yuan was wholly focused on circulating the formula, entirely unaware that the hall above had already erupted into an uproar.
In the evaluators' eyes, Wei Yuan's pillar of light representing innate aptitude shone crimson, rising slowly. Just as it passed seven feet, its pace began to slacken. This counted as an upper-grade foundation, yet not dazzling enough to stun anyone. However, his pillar of light for karmic destiny was as thick as a washbasin, shot past nine feet in the blink of an eye, and was still climbing!
Wei Yuan's karmic destiny pillar was grayish-white. Though towering and thick, its substance was extremely diffuse; the six evaluators could barely touch upon a sliver of it even when exerting their perception to the utmost. Were it not right before their eyes, an evaluator whose strength did not lie in perception might have thought nothing was there at all.
Meanwhile, every so often, a wisp of black qi would drift out from the incense burner beside Wei Yuan and merge into the karmic destiny pillar, causing the pillar to shoot up another notch—yet its substance did not condense in the slightest.
The six evaluators had never seen karmic destiny like this. As they exchanged glances, Wei Yuan's karmic destiny pillar finally surpassed ten feet—another Transcendent Grade!
The middle-aged Confucian scholar looked toward the Daoist and said, "Daoist Master Fufeng, this is internal business for your Palace of Grand Beginning. How should it be handled?"
Daoist Fufeng's peripheral vision seemed to glance casually toward that vacant seat. Expressionless, he said slowly, "Impartially."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar nodded. "Naturally, so it should be."
Hearing the Daoist say this, the other evaluators took the hint, and their gazes returned to the disciple below. Strangely, even now, Wei Yuan's two pillars of light were still slowly growing, whereas the pillars of the other candidates in this group had ground to a halt moments ago.
*Clang!*
A desolate, lingering bell chime rang out. Wei Yuan's body jolted, severing the connection with the prayer mat and incense burners, and the intangible substances that had not yet been transferred slowly faded away. Wei Yuan assumed that was simply how it was, so he rose to his feet and, urged on by the Daoist inside the hall, briskly walked out.
When Wei Yuan stood up, his foundation pillar stood at seven feet nine inches, and his karmic destiny pillar at eleven feet.
The next group of examinees filed into the hall, and another round of the Daoist test began. The chime of the chime-stone had barely faded when two jade-colored pillars of light shot into the sky! The two pillars were so dense they seemed almost corporeal. If their substance was like giant columns carved from jade, then Wei Yuan's karmic destiny pillar from moments ago had been like a rising column of kitchen smoke.
The evaluators looked down and saw a girl as exquisite as carved jade. She serenely circulated her cultivation, a faint, precious luster unexpectedly surfacing on her small face. Within the two jade-colored pillars of light, the colossal silhouettes of fiendgods faintly emerged.
Seeing the girl's face clearly, the evaluators understood: so it was Miss Bao.
There was nothing much to see in this round; the girl led by leaps and bounds, her pair of pillars heading straight for ten feet, while the rest were mediocre and beneath mention.
The young cultivator who looked barely in his twenties broke the silence, saying, "There should be no objection to Miss Bao's evaluation, but as for how to evaluate that child from the previous round, I'm afraid we'll have to discuss a guideline."
The young cultivator looked toward Daoist Fufeng, but Daoist Fufeng remained silent. The young cultivator smiled and said, "It seems Brother Fufeng wishes to avoid suspicion, so the rest of us will discuss it!"
The elderly Confucian scholar, Liu Sigu, recalled Wei Yuan's two striking pillars of light. If evaluated by normal standards, Wei Yuan's score would even surpass Li Zhi's.
For some reason, when seeing Wei Yuan's karmic destiny, the old Confucian scholar had felt an inexplicable aversion, and now that feeling was even stronger. Miss Bao had peerless talent and an established reputation; surpassing Li Zhi in the Daoist test was completely expected. But this Wei Yuan had shallow roots—how dared he overshadow the Academy's predetermined champion?
The old Confucian ran through the roster in his mind, confirming that Wei Yuan was on no list whatsoever, and made up his mind. Stroking his long beard with a solemn face, he said, "This child's foundation and karmic destiny are decent enough, but regrettably, the substance is flimsy and vacuous, and his karmic destiny contains not a shred of righteous qi. If left among the common wilderness, he would likely become a rebel."
The young cultivator frowned slightly and said, "Since ancient times, evaluation standards have never considered substance, nor does whether karmic destiny is righteous or not affect the score. Aren't Elder Liu's words a bit biased?"
The other evaluators all nodded slightly. Since ancient times, every sect accepting disciples looked only at whether karmic destiny blessed the person; having it was good, so who cared if it was righteous or evil?
The old Confucian did not argue, saying merely, "This is only my humble opinion; each of you may decide for yourselves."
Having spoken, ignoring the others, the old Confucian lifted his brush and wrote his evaluation directly on the roster: Earth-C, 20!
The other five evaluators were secretly astonished. Liu Sigu giving this score was clearly an attempt to push the child straight down to a blessed land, not even leaving him a chance at a grotto-heaven.
A sharp glint flashed in Daoist Fufeng's eyes as he said slowly, "Elder Liu, isn't this evaluation a bit too harsh?"
The old Confucian looked back at the Daoist, completely unfazed, and said, "This Fengyuan unified examination is of immense significance. With heavy responsibilities on our shoulders, who among us isn't walking on eggshells? I hear that certain person of your palace disappeared for six years, yet as soon as he returned, your palace granted him the post of evaluator—what tremendous favor! But where is that person right now? Does he hold you or me in any regard? Does he hold the Immortal Sect Unified Examination in any regard?"
The Daoist glanced at the empty seat, gave a cold snort, and said no more.
The middle-aged Confucian scholar stepped in to smooth things over: "Elder Liu is straightforward by nature and speaks a bit bluntly; Brother Fufeng, please don't take it to heart. That said, the few of us bear responsibilities on our shoulders, which makes us different from that person after all. It is just as well that he is unwilling to come. Everyone should know that the top spot in this unified examination is especially vital to Duke Huien's son. If Miss Bao competes for it, everyone will rely on their own merits, and if we lose, we will have nothing to say. But if it's anyone else, it is best not to let unexpected variables arise."
The evaluators immediately saw the matter clearly. The old Confucian's sudden heavy blow was out of wariness toward Wei Yuan, fearing he would pose an added threat to Li Zhi. The middle-aged Confucian's words also confirmed one thing: the Four Sages Academy intended to use first place in the unified examination to build momentum for Li Zhi. If he truly took first, Li Zhi could ride that momentum to soar to great heights, and his future path of cultivation would be incomparably smooth.
Daoist Fufeng remained impassive, betraying nothing of his thoughts. However, the other evaluators had long anticipated his stance and knew he would not actually interfere. Daoist Fufeng had his own mission; if Wei Yuan truly took first place, it would merely be a minor setback on Li Zhi's cultivation path, but one of the Palace of Grand Beginning's three slots would be solidly taken. At that point, Daoist Fufeng would find it hard to answer to his superiors.
The immortal sect slots had long since been carved up, and not even a child of karmic destiny was an exception, unless someone went to demand an extra slot like the monk had. If they botched such a major affair as the quotas and provoked the fury of the prominent clans and noble houses behind the scenes, none of the evaluators present could bear the consequences. Though they held immense authority in their hands, how that authority was wielded was not theirs to decide.
Daoist Fufeng pondered for a moment and finally said, "As for how the two of you write your marks, this poor Daoist naturally cannot interfere. However, Junior Brother Zhang is not an easy man to deal with, nor can the dignity of my Palace of Grand Beginning be trifled with. If the two of you look down on my Palace of Grand Beginning, this poor Daoist will have no choice but to consult the supreme arts of the Four Sages Academy."
Seeing the mood turn sour, the middle-aged Confucian cupped his hands toward Daoist Fufeng and smiled. "Brother Daoist, appease your anger! The Palace of Grand Beginning is the Palace of Grand Beginning, and that gentleman is that gentleman. We naturally respect the Palace of Grand Beginning, and in all fairness, whatever evaluation Elder Liu gives Wei Yuan will not affect the Palace of Grand Beginning's overall interests. As for that Junior Brother Zhang, let alone being at the Dao Foundation realm just like us, even if he were a True Person of the Dharma Idol realm, we could hardly bend the rules for personal reasons! Otherwise, if our superiors hold us accountable, I fear none of us could shoulder the blame."
These words made things abundantly clear: the Academy's two Confucians merely wanted to suppress Wei Yuan, with no intention of meddling in the Palace of Grand Beginning's internal quota competition, minding their own business where Daoist Fufeng was concerned. As for Wei Yuan's master, all of them were Dao Foundation cultivators, none significantly weaker than the other.
Having nothing to fear, Liu Sigu said, "This old man has already put brush to paper, and it cannot be changed!"
The middle-aged Confucian scholar chuckled and said, "Very well. Elder Liu detests evil as an enemy and treasures his reputation, so let me bear the title of being tactful!"
He lifted his brush and inscribed his evaluation on the roster: Heaven-C, 25.
The other evaluators inwardly called him a slippery fox.
The middle-aged Confucian's words sounded pleasant, but he had pulled no punches when putting brush to paper. Heaven-C was a rating under the old system, included here merely as a reference to show respect for ancient custom; what actually mattered was the score that followed. While twenty-five points seemed considerably higher than what Liu Sigu gave, it fell just shy of qualifying for a grotto-heaven. With two out of six giving low scores, it would already be exceptionally difficult for Wei Yuan to climb into a grotto-heaven.
With such a massive pit dug here in the Daoist test, trying to stage a comeback later would be as hard as ascending to the heavens.
Below in the hall, a new batch of examinees had already begun the Daoist test. The evaluators stopped bickering and each wrote down their evaluations. A new line of text soon appeared upon the stele:
Wei Yuan: Earth-A, 30.
The old Confucian's expression soured slightly. He glanced around at the other evaluators, wanting to see who had been so blind as to deliberately cross him. But anyone capable of becoming an evaluator was a crafty old fox; how could they possibly let him read their thoughts from their faces?
Chapter 11