Chapter 20: My Goal Is the Nine Great Dao Academies!

If not for the Immortal Exam rules prohibiting arbitrary probing of candidates’ other attributes, he would have outright grabbed Lin Mo’s bone structure to weigh it right then and there.

Lower-grade spells aren’t impossible to score highly on—it’s just that the requirements for a high score are absurdly high, far beyond what these seventeen- or eighteen-year-olds can achieve.

Spell cultivation is divided into several proficiency levels: Entry, Minor Mastery, Major Mastery, Peak, and Perfection.

According to calculations, if Lin Mo scored 180 points on the spell test, it proves his Qixing Zhu proficiency reached over 600 points—that is, he achieved Peak level.

It’s nearly impossible to reach this without decades of grueling cultivation.

If this were a park bench-standing contest for elderly men in a neighborhood, he’d still be in the top three.

“You’re quite good.”

This was the examiner’s second compliment of the day—and it wasn’t directed at Zhu Hongyuan, who scored higher, but at Lin Mo.

The students below the stage wore varied expressions.

Those unfamiliar with Lin Mo were merely surprised—wondering why another high scorer had suddenly appeared today.

But those who knew Lin Mo well looked distinctly uneasy.

Li Feng gaped, eyes wide with disbelief, his face flushed with shame and anger.

His score was 352—just barely above the passing line by two points.

Lin Mo’s score exceeded the admission threshold by 155 points—100 points higher than his!

Wasn’t the one who just mocked him for embarrassing himself on stage now the one truly humiliated?

As for the classmates beside him, they were first stunned, then visibly relieved.

Thank goodness I didn’t open my mouth to mock… They all thought this simultaneously, then silently glanced at Ye Chen beside them.

Ye Chen’s eyes flickered in surprise, then his brows knitted tightly as he fell silent, saying nothing.

No wonder you’re still playing the silent, cool act… Lin Mo observed their expressions one by one, deeply satisfied.

Thanks to days and nights of relentless effort, plus last night’s all-night “overtime,” he’d finally pulled off his comeback before the third mock exam.

Do you have any idea how many merit points it cost to raise Qixing Zhu to Peak level?

Over 1,800 points!

That’s nearly two days’ worth of effort!

At last, hard work had tangible meaning.

Just as he was smiling inwardly, a dark shadow shot onto the stage with lightning speed, grabbed his collar, and roared:

“You deserve to die! How the hell did you score so high? Did you sneakily cheat behind your dad’s back? Tell me! Admit you cheated—your real score isn’t this high! Tell the teacher! AAAAAA—”

Lin Mo froze, staring at Zhang Dahai, whose spittle flew onto his face as the man screamed in near madness.

Almost forgot about this bastard…

Turns out the worst wasn’t anyone else—it was Zhang Dahai.

…

…

Only after the third mock Immortal Exam ended did the group follow the examiner out of the gymnasium, all eager to gather at the director’s office.

Among them, Lin Mo walked beside examiner Nong Qing, positioned right beside Ye Chen.

Beside him, Zhang Dahai, still unable to accept it, kept muttering incessantly:

“This can’t be right… How could he possibly be at Qi Refining Level 4?”

“I didn’t even pray for him when I visited the temple!”

You really are a piece of trash… Lin Mo thought bitterly, then smiled calmly and said:

“I don’t know. Maybe I just suddenly woke up.”

Saying this, he deliberately glanced at Ye Chen, who was walking out with the examiner, and added:

“I haven’t even gotten any pills lately—just kept practicing, and then I broke through. Probably just luck.”

He stressed the words “luck” heavily. Ye Chen, who had been pretending to be aloof, suddenly turned his face dark.

Lin Mo pretended not to notice, turning to the examiner and saying:

“Ah, my progress is still too slow—I need to keep working harder. Examiner Nong Qing even said my score’s still risky if I want to get into Xuan Yuan Dao Academy.”

Nong Qing: “…”

I don’t agree with the second half—but the first half? Absolutely not!

Nong Qing cleared his throat and said:

“Young man, don’t undervalue yourself. You’re truly impressive.”

“What I meant earlier was, your score is slightly short for early admission—but it’s not entirely out of the question. We could discuss it.”

The students nearby were even more astonished.

Is Lin Mo nearly qualified for direct admission?

But soon, a doubt surfaced: Why hadn’t Zhu Hongyuan, who scored higher, received an invitation?

Nong Qing naturally understood their thoughts, but offered no further explanation.

While for most cultivators, spiritual roots determine everything,

for body cultivators, what matters most isn’t spiritual roots—but [Bone Structure].

The better the [Bone Structure] value, the faster one cultivates body cultivation techniques.

And at the same realm, cultivators with higher [Bone Structure] values almost always outperform those with lower ones.

Moreover, if [Bone Structure] is exceptional enough, it can even give rise to special body types.

Such as Blood Serpent Body, Shaoyang Body—these body types grant bonuses when practicing special body techniques, far surpassing peers in combat power.

Rumor has it that this year, a province next door produced a once-in-a-century Primordial Ancient Holy Body, potentially capable of claiming the top spot in this year’s Qin Province Immortal Exam.

That’s the advantage of special body types.

After obtaining Lin Mo’s consent, Nong Qing briefly felt his bones and found his [Bone Structure] seemed ordinary—even lighter than average.

But Qixing Zhu at Peak level doesn’t lie. So he strongly suspected Lin Mo possessed some undetectable mutated body type.

Cases like this have occurred in past Immortal Exams.

That’s what “not entirely out of the question” really meant—it was a preemptive nod to the possible existence of a [Special Body Type].

Of course, compared to the uncertain Lin Mo, his interest in Ye Chen was clearly far greater.

This was a confirmed [Destined One]—a fact most students here didn’t even know: a Destined One’s value to a Dao Academy surpasses even that of an ordinary genius.

Thus, the academy’s directive to him was clear: bring Ye Chen back at all costs!

Thinking of this, Nong Qing glanced at Ye Chen’s gloomy face and spoke at the perfect moment:

“As for student Ye Chen, I hereby extend, on behalf of Xuan Yuan Dao Academy, a direct admission offer!”

The surrounding students erupted again in shock, their faces filled with obvious envy.

Xuan Yuan Dao Academy ranks eleventh among Qin Province’s thirty Dao Academies—undoubtedly a mid-to-upper-tier institution.

For ordinary Immortal Exam candidates, it’s the academy they dream of entering.

Ye Chen’s expression softened slightly, then he adjusted his face and said to Nong Qing:

“Examiner Nong, if coming to the director’s office is about this, then I must decline, because…”

He paused, glancing sideways at Lin Mo with a flicker of contempt, then declared firmly:

“My goal is the Nine Great Dao Academies!”

A fresh wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.

Amid the gasps, Lin Mo glared back just as fiercely.

Oh, you think you’re special? Like my goal isn’t the Nine Great Dao Academies too.

I only came along to see the sights—I’m definitely not here because I want some measly eleventh-ranked academy’s direct admission…