Chapter 553: Unprecedented Contestant

These questions are all obscure and highly effective at assessing one's level.

For Ding Huan, these questions posed no obstacle whatsoever.

In just a short incense stick's time, Ding Huan finished answering all the questions.

To wait for others, he sat stubbornly in his seat for a full hour before leaving the examination hall to wait in the square.

"How did you do?" Qu Qu Shanshan's voice came again as Ding Huan was still wondering how long it would take for the written exam results to be announced.

She truly seemed to regard herself as his friend, her tone still warm and concerned.

"Not bad," Ding Huan replied.

If the graders didn't deliberately deduct points, scoring full marks posed no problem for him.

"The Dao Master written exam is just like this—deliberately testing obscure questions you'd never encounter normally; even if you fail, don't care. It's just one exam."

Qu Qu Shanshan didn't seem to have heard Ding Huan's answer, or if she did, she didn't believe him.

Ding Huan didn't think these questions were all obscure—they were the very foundation of the Dao.

They seemed strange, but without a solid grasp of the Dao's fundamentals, you truly couldn't answer them.

"Let me tell you about something in the Star Realm Daoist Alliance—no danger, no need to fight, just collect supplies from the rear…"

Qu Qu Shanshan spoke on her own, uninterrupted.

This woman wasn't just talkative—she was genuinely enthusiastic.

But he'd only met her today, hadn't he?

From Qu Qu Shanshan's rambling, Ding Huan learned the Qu family held high status in Eternal Day Xiancheng, ranking as a major immortal clan.

Moreover, he learned the Dao Corridor also had external wars.

The external wars seemed to involve insect demons, but he didn't ask for details—Qu Qu Shanshan spoke freely, utterly unconcerned whether Ding Huan was listening or not.

Less than half an hour later, the square's air echoed again: "Attention all contestants—check your competition array plaques. Dao Masters whose array plates display 'Advanced' must proceed to Examination Hall One for the Dao Test.

Dao Masters who failed the first-round written exam must leave Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy immediately, or face the consequences."

Ding Huan looked at his competition array plaque—it clearly glowed with four characters: Written Exam Advanced.

Ding Huan scanned the area with his divine sense; at least forty to fifty thousand people remained, yet no more than a thousand had advanced from the written exam.

"You actually passed the first-round written exam?" Qu Qu Shanshan stared at Ding Huan in shock.

Not just Qu Qu Shanshan—many surrounding cultivators turned their gazes toward Ding Huan.

Those who passed the first-round written exam were far too few; how could someone so young have passed?

"Haha, congratulations! My eye for talent is still sharp—I knew you'd make it, and now you've passed the first round!"

Qu Qu Shanshan laughed heartily, her tone boisterous and utterly without restraint.

Ding Huan stared at Qu Qu Shanshan in silence—when exactly did you think I'd pass? You've always thought I couldn't, hadn't you?

Still, since he had passed, he naturally left the square and headed for Examination Hall One.

Upon entering Examination Hall One, his seat was assigned first.

It seemed he was ranked number one.

Even the proctors studied him carefully for a long moment before nodding to him.

Other contestants didn't know his score—he knew perfectly well: full marks on the first-round written exam.

Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy held dozens of Dao Master examinations each year; full marks weren't unheard of.

But for a cultivator who looked no more than a Great Immortal to achieve full marks? That was exceedingly rare.

Around nine hundred and some cultivators participated in Examination Hall One—fewer than a thousand.

Nearly all divine senses swept over Ding Huan.

After all, sitting in the first seat meant Ding Huan had ranked first in this written exam.

Ding Huan sat at his seat, before him a large flat table inscribed with teleportation array patterns.

Ding Huan had never taken a Dao Test before and didn't know what would be examined.

The proctor, once all contestants were seated, spoke: "This examination has ten questions. Question One: within half an incense stick's time, construct a water-elemental divine technique model capable of activation.

The materials to construct the divine technique model will be transmitted to your tables via the teleportation patterns."

Ding Huan understood—this examination method resembled talisman crafting.

The focus was likely not the power of the activated technique model, but its completeness.

This included the integration and construction of various Dao principles and cosmic rhythms.

Otherwise, cultivators specializing in water-elemental techniques would have a clear advantage.

This question primarily tested contestants' understanding of technique activation and the Dao rhythms and principles within techniques.

Even so, this question remained unfair.

After all, cultivation levels varied, and elemental affinities differed—clear inequities existed in constructing the technique models.

Ding Huan didn't care; no examination could ever be perfectly fair.

Despite his slow pace, he completed the water-elemental technique model in less than half an incense stick's time.

"Question Two: use your own Dao rhythm to create a technique that, when activated, produces five flowers of the metal, wood, water, fire, and earth elements. Expression method self-determined. Time: one incense stick."

The proctor immediately issued Question Two as soon as the time for Question One expired, utterly unconcerned whether anyone had finished the first question.

Again, this wasn't testing technique strength, but the cultivator's mastery over the Five Elements' principles.

Ding Huan felt zero pressure.

In less than half a day, all ten Dao Test questions were completed.

"Return and await results. Whether you may participate in the Law Test three days from now will be indicated on your competition array plaque.

Remember: after leaving the examination hall, exit Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy immediately—failure to do so will be deemed failure of the examination, and you will be held accountable."

As soon as the Dao Test ended, the proctors swiftly ordered everyone to vacate.

Ding Huan had barely stepped out of the examination hall when several cultivators approached to make acquaintance and exchanged communication beads.

They did not know Ding Huan's exact score in the first written round, but since he sat in first place, he was surely the top scorer.

According to past evaluations at Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy, a candidate who ranked first in the first written round had a fifty percent chance of becoming a Dao Master at Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy.

So now, befriending Ding Huan might mean befriending a Dao Master.

If Ding Huan became a Dao Master, he might prove helpful to them in the future.

Ding Huan had no interest in mingling with these people; after briefly exchanging communication bead data with a few nearby cultivators, he quickly returned to Immortal Path Rest Inn.

"How did you do?" Seeing Ji Luo asked the moment Ding Huan entered.

Ding Huan had not brought Seeing Ji Luo along for the examination.

"It was fairly easy, I don't think there'll be any problems," Ding Huan replied offhandedly.

For him, this examination was truly too simple—no challenge at all.

…

What Ding Huan found simple, some Dao Masters of Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy found explosive.

Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy had been recruiting Dao Masters for days, and many candidates had achieved full marks in the first written round.

But no one had ever achieved full marks in both the first and second rounds.

Especially the second round—scoring perfectly in it was nearly impossible.

No matter how well-rounded a cultivator was, he could not master every single sect's arts.

Though the second round Dao Test had only ten questions, the Dao principles and cosmic laws embedded in them were numerous.

Under such conditions, unless one were an Immortal Emperor, it was unimaginable for an ordinary cultivator below Immortal King rank to score full marks.

Before Ding Huan even took the third round, Vice Principal Gu Min of Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy—an Immortal Emperor—was alerted.

Everyone was eager to see the results of Ding Huan's third round, the Law Test.

After returning to the rest inn, Ding Huan continued practicing the Great Heavenly Eye Art.

In three days, he elevated his Great Wilderness Eye to Level Five of the Heavenly Eye.

The character "Passed Second Round" appeared on his competition array plaque, instructing him to proceed immediately to Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy for the third round, the Law Test.

After the third round Law Test came the interview.

If he passed the interview, he would become a probationary Dao Master of Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy.

Once he became a probationary Dao Master, he would gain the right to reside within Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy.

So this time, Ding Huan brought Seeing Ji Luo along and canceled his stay at the rest inn.

"You?" The guard at Yonghuang Divine Arts Academy stared at Ding Huan, momentarily stunned.

He knew Ding Huan well—he had been the one to guide Ding Huan to the examination site when he first came to apply.

He had assumed this was merely a cultivator who came to hand out Immortal Crystals, never expecting him to return today.

"I'm here for the third round Law Test," Ding Huan held up his competition array plaque.

Last time Ding Huan entered, the crowd had been too thick—the main gate was wide open, and he hadn't been checked by the guards at the entrance.

This time, arriving alone, he was immediately recognized by the guard.

"Oh, please come in, please come in…" The guard quickly stepped aside to let Ding Huan enter the academy.

Only after Ding Huan had walked far away did the guard mutter: "He made it to the third round? I never saw it coming."

His companion was also stunned, and for a moment, no one teased him about it.

Ding Huan easily found the Law Test venue.

He had assumed that since a thousand had taken the Dao Test, at least a hundred would take the Law Test.

Selecting one in ten seemed fairly strict.

But when he arrived at the Law Test venue, he realized he was wrong.

Including himself, only five candidates were taking the Law Test.

Four were Luotian Xian, and he alone was a Da Luo Xian of early stage.

Upon Ding Huan's entrance, even the proctor nodded politely at him.

Ding Huan did not know he had already become somewhat famous—scoring full marks in two rounds was a feat few could achieve.

(Fellow Daoist, good night—please support with moon tickets!)