Chapter 547: The Stone Statue

The rain pattered softly.

Inside the thatched hut, the light was dim.

Wu Xian opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was a black-robed stone statue, its appearance nearly identical to that of the Land God—except for two streaks on its cheeks, eroded by dripping water.

He had passed the minor exam and returned to the thatched hut, now sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, as if the village, tunnel, and gorge he had just seen were nothing but a phantom dream.

But the leather satchel on his shoulder and the incense in his hand proved that everything he experienced during the minor exam had been real.

To Wu Xian’s left, others sat on straw mats as well.

All of them had their eyes closed; some grimaced, others sweated profusely with expressions of terror—they too were likely enduring the minor exam.

Wu Xian looked up at the statue and asked: “Do you wish to convey some message to us through this exam?”

The statue gave no response.

“Of course—you’re just a statue. Statues can’t answer questions. It’s my mistake for trying to speak to you.”

Wu Xian pulled back the tattered curtain, preparing to leave the exam hall and return to the dormitory, when suddenly a raindrop struck his face.

Pitter-patter…

Dense raindrops suddenly hammered against the thatched roof, crackling as the straw, poorly sealed, began to leak.

Wu Xian stood at the doorway, turning back in shock—he saw two trails of rainwater tracing down the statue’s cheeks.

As if the statue were weeping. “I think… I understand a little now.”

With that, Wu Xian stepped out of the thatched hut. Before he took the exam, the outside had been a light drizzle, with only the area around the hut remaining dry.

Now, the rain outside was fine as silk, yet around the hut, it poured like a river cascading from heaven—even the paper figures of the Golden Boy and Jade Girl were soaked through.

…

Wu Xian returned directly to the dormitory.

No student union members had participated in today’s minor exam, so the number of statues in the training center was too few, making search efforts inefficient. Coupled with the pile of items Wu Xian had brought back from the exam, he gave it a moment’s thought and decided not to waste time outside.

When Wu Xian reached the ninth floor, he found the atmosphere heavy—as if a quarrel had just taken place.

Wu Xian set down his leather satchel.

After glancing around, Old Man Hai Weijiang volunteered to tell Wu Xian what had happened.

The matter was simple.

Several newcomers, unable to bear their hunger any longer, had planned to go out together to find food—but the only place with food in the training center was the mess hall, so they sought help from the Quanren.

When they approached Ma San, they were mercilessly mocked; their accumulated pressure finally erupted into a shouting match.

Wu Xian smiled, then pulled four large pancakes—big enough to serve as pot lids—from his leather satchel.

The two cans of meat were reserved for himself.

Though only four pancakes, they were military rations—heavy, hard; soak them in water from the bathroom, divide a small piece among each person, and you’d be half-full.

Once their stomachs held food, both newcomers and Quanren felt slightly better.

Then Wu Xian distributed the bayonets he had obtained.

Following the principle of taking everything he could, Wu Xian’s leather satchel held over twenty bayonets; even after giving one to each person, he still had five left.

After receiving the bayonets, even the Quanren were satisfied. Though the bayonets themselves offered limited threat to evil spirits, when combined with the ability to worship deities, they might prove crucial.

The newcomers, now feeling they had some means of self-defense, grew much more cheerful. The atmosphere on the ninth floor softened again; people laughed and chatted, as if forgetting the earlier quarrel. After eating, Ma San’s expression improved slightly. He gestured Wu Xian over with a finger, signaling they should speak aside.

“You know, even if you feed them, their chances of survival remain slim.”

Wu Xian raised an eyebrow: “Why say that?”

Ma San said coldly:

“The ones who caused trouble today were also the worst performers these past few days.”

“They must have chosen the ‘False Door Exam.’ But you know—the content of the True Door and False Door exams is identical. Can they possibly survive three minor exams with their abilities?”

“Their eagerness to find food outside likely stems from the fact that they never passed the exam to earn credits—so they can’t eat in the mess hall anymore. That’s why they’re so panicked about food!”

“Even if you feed them today, they’ll die tomorrow or the day after. Giving them food is a waste!”

Wu Xian looked at him in mild surprise: “You really think that way?”

Ma San frowned: “What’s wrong with thinking that way?”

“No, thinking that way is correct.” Wu Xian waved his hand and turned away. “But how I handle the pancakes I found is my own freedom.”

A little distance from Ma San, Wu Xian walked to the window, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed outside.

Regarding Ma San, Wu Xian felt deeply conflicted.

Ever since Hua Zhao had told him on the first day that someone had instructed her to say “Do as you see fit,” Wu Xian had been observing Ma San.

Before entering this blessed land,

Wu Xian had once been attacked by a Nie Person. In that incident, one of the last remaining native inhabitants of that blessed land had been present—and the reason that land became irredeemable was because a Quanren had stolen its most important “Immortal Talisman.”

Xian’s “Yu Rang” had gone through that event with Wu Xian. Afterward, Yu Rang likely went to find that person.

But he didn’t know how to handle that person.

So he manipulated matters to force that person into Wu Xian’s vicinity just as Wu Xian was about to enter the blessed land, using some method to compel the person to join.

Later, Yu Rang passed information to Wu Xian through another Quanren, Hua Zhao, with the sole purpose of letting Wu Xian judge, based on that person’s behavior in the blessed land, whether they should live or die.

This was what Wu Xian had understood after hearing Hua Zhao say “Do as you see fit.”

The Quanren who stole the Immortal Talisman must be Ma San and his wife—only they had entered this blessed land without explanation.

Wu Xian sighed deeply: “Ugh, this damned old man—can’t figure it out himself, so he dumps the pressure on me?”

He stood by the window for a while, then heard footsteps climbing the stairs. After waiting a moment, he saw it was Xue Chenghe, the white-haired native who had approached them yesterday seeking cooperation.

The Quanren and newcomers gathered again.

Xue Chenghe got straight to the point: “I’ve found what you’re looking for. It took me considerable effort, so I require compensation.”

Wu Xian smiled and handed him a bayonet.

“Attacks with weapons, impure tools, or iron objects have some effect against evil spirits. If I find a safe way out of the training center, I’ll tell you.”

Other Quanren also offered tokens: Hua Zhao gave him a flower that withered near evil spirits; Su Mi revealed several dangerous spots within the training center…

These items weren’t vital, but they aided Xue Chenghe’s survival.

Upon hearing them, Xue Chenghe kept his word.

“I found eight dorm rooms downstairs where everyone is dead—rooms 402, 503, 209…”

(End of Chapter)