Chapter 43: Contest

"Mix, chaos, origin, symbol?" Jiang Yu read the flashing title word by word.

After Jiang Tu flew to where it had completely refined the space, at the appearing dragon stele, a pulse of spiritual power opened the secret chamber behind it.

Then he quickly searched for a book about the inherited memory, "I seem to have a vague impression; it's in this book."

At this moment, Jiang Yu inwardly gazed at the book floating motionless in her Upper Dantian, finding that her divine sense could not turn its pages, and besides a name, it gave her no further information.

She willed it with her heart, wanting to take the book outside to look, but couldn't command it, "Hey, I'm the master here, you're just a tool and refuse to work, yet you want to stay idle."

As she spoke, she firmly tried to drive the book away, but unexpectedly this creature, which responds to force not gentleness, quietly opened the first page.

Jiang Yu only felt a dizzy spell, as countless talon patterns flew up from the page, instantly filling her mind.

Meanwhile, the little black turtle was also flipping through the book at high speed.

"Found it, this is a book where humanity bound the innate Great Dao talismans together."

"It counts as an acquired auxiliary spiritual treasure, but once the symbols on it are drawn into existence, they can not only slay enemies but also command ghosts and gods."

"Legend says the book itself can, in battle, mobilize the world's primordial qi to surround and seal a clan."

"All tribes feared its strange power, and so it was destroyed in a great war."

"Who would have thought it wasn't destroyed, appearing on the Tianyuan Continent, letting Empress Hou, a great cultivator, give you a broken toy as a gift." Jiang Tu had just finished speaking when he turned his head and saw his companion's eyes go blank, the person sitting there motionless.

"Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu? What's wrong with you, don't scare me." It felt a stir in its heart, wanting to check Jiang Yu's soul condition via the soul contract.

And Jiang Yu just came to her senses then, "I'm fine, but now I can only say that the Sea of Consciousness in my Upper Dantian is too small, my soul relatively weak, and suddenly receiving so many ancient five-element talismans is uncomfortable."

"So we should establish the foundation early, opening up a large Sea of Consciousness."

"When encountering a treasure like the Dragon Pearl, nurturing it in the Sea of Consciousness refines faster than in the dantian." Jiang Tu was obsessed with her foundation establishment, occasionally whipping her with it.

It put the book back, lay beside the dragon stele to find a spot to sleep, "Today has exhausted this little king, go play, don't disturb my sleep."

Jiang Yu, however, followed up, "Just a little disturbance, why can't I send the talisman book out of my Upper Dantian?"

"With weak cultivation, of course you can't command it; use more divine sense to refine it, after foundation establishment you will surely master it completely."

"It probably already has a hint of spirituality, easily found a little nest to nurture it, and of course won't leave."

"In your future cultivation, you'll likely have to spare some spiritual energy to nourish it."

"I seem to have forgotten something very important..." Jiang Tu's voice grew lower and lower, the last sentence unfinished as he fell asleep.

Jiang Yu flashed out of her space, first inwardly withdrawing a few old-colored talisman books, confirming they had recognized her as master and would not harm her, then began to slowly digest the talon patterns just poured into her mind.

But sitting at the desk studying the patterns for half a day, though she could see them clearly, when she lifted the brush to draw, she made the same mistake as before.

She also ruined a sheet of premium talisman paper, nearly breaking another talisman brush, thinking it was mostly due to low magical power, so she could only set it aside for now, to understand slowly before trying to draw again.

Looking outside again, the sky was already somewhat dimly bright.

She then remembered the message talisman outside the door, pinched the seal to take it in, and her divine sense penetrated it to see Senior Brother Lin repeatedly emphasizing that the examination had been moved up.

He hoped that Jiang Tu could, as soon as she woke, hurry her to register before the Si hour (9–11 a. m.) tomorrow.

"Tomorrow... is today!" Jiang Yu fully awakened, even though she received a monthly stipend as an inner-transmission disciple, she also wanted to leap from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect to enjoy more benefits.

Body following mind, she washed her face, changed clothes, combed her hair, and went to the Inner Affairs Hall at top speed to register.

Don't think the sky isn't bright yet; the sect already has many diligent disciples out exercising, some choosing to practice movement techniques while walking.

On the way, those who knew Jiang Yu saw her running faster than before, and a competitive thought arose, prompting them to chase after her.

"Junior Sister Jiang, long time no see."

"Junior Sister Jiang, have you reached the ninth level of Qi Refining?"

"Jiang Yu, have you registered for the Grand Examination?"

"Senior Brother Qian, Senior Sister Wu, Senior Sister Gu, greetings."

"I just left seclusion, and as soon as I got the news I hurried to register."

"We're in a hurry, let's talk later." Jiang Yu wanted to finish registration quickly, she waved her hand and stepped forward first.

The remaining few, seeing her astonishingly swift movement, couldn't help but sigh, "So determined."

"Fifteen years old, ninth level of Qi Refining."

"She deserves to enter the Inner Sect."

If Jiang Yu heard this, she would surely laugh happily; the sect she joined still has a very proper atmosphere.

As far as can be seen, most interactions among disciples are healthy competition.

Like some members of the Ye family who act that way, they exist but are only a minority.

More people focus their thoughts on cultivation advancement; as the saying goes, if one is not proactive in cultivating immortality, there's something wrong with their mind.

Jiang Yu arrived at the Inner Affairs Hall, quickly registered and received the examination token.

In a few days, the Grand Examination officially opened its curtains, first the literary contest then the martial trial.

Today the sect square was very lively; all disciples who were not at home in seclusion or on duty, and who had registered to participate, gathered here.

Just to catch a glimpse of the demeanor of three Nascent Soul cultivators.

Jiang Yu saw for the first time the Profound Void Sect's Sui Lv Zhenjun, Fuju Zhenjun, and Sect Master Lin Quan all seated together speaking.

After only a few short words of encouragement, and producing pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations he personally refined as prizes, he fully mobilized the enthusiasm of the lower-level disciples.

Next, De Zhang Zhenren announced the competition rules; the process went quickly, and the disciples were also diverted to different locations for the exams.

The so-called literary contest consists of choosing one you excel at from among pill crafting, artifact forging, talisman drawing, formation laying, medicine, divination, beast taming, puppetry, spiritual plants, and spiritual food, then making it on the spot.

Those who select two or three items can earn extra points, but ninety-nine percent of disciples do not, because they know a little but lack specialization, and going up to attempt it would only result in a botched effort and point deductions.

Like Jiang Yu, she harvested low-grade spiritual herbs from her space last year, had ample supply, and thus could refine superior grain-avoiding pills, hemostatic powder, ice dew pills, unifying qi pills, and bone-setting ointment.

While the mandatory qi-gathering and detox pills require aged spiritual herbs, she has practiced little and hardly produces superior pills, so she would not go up and embarrass herself.

She is very familiar with the ways of artifacts and formations, but temporarily set those aside, so she properly chose to draw talismans.

While Lu Ruochan chose artifact forging, both are confident of scoring high.

The other few familiar outer disciples each have their own options.

Jiang Yu and a group of fellow disciples. No specific names.

Little Turtle Jiang Tu – Jiang Tu is a character; Jiang Yu is also referred to as "she", so Jiang Tu appears.

Full marks, the martial exam will be held in Ershan the day after tomorrow; no teaming up, no actively hunting pregnant or young beasts, but you may bring your own spirit beast into the arena.

Over five thousand people are taking this entrance exam; anyone who sends out a distress signal midway is eliminated.

Moreover, the sect does not forbid independent cultivators from hunting demons and gathering herbs on the competition field, allowing casualties to occur.

I must make full preparations and rest and recuperate for another day. This means they will have to compete with independent cultivators, casualties notwithstanding.

Jiang Yu took the several boxes of talismans she had drawn over the past six months, selected the most aggressive among the medium and high grades, and placed them into her storage bag.

She also refined the swords, needles, flying darts and other magical implements she had just exchanged for with merit points.

Jiang Tu again, also mentions the sect but it is not named.

February 24th, the weather is fine and sunny, suitable for going out.

Soon after entering Er Mountain, Jiang Yu was thrown down a flying sword by the Foundation Establishment martial uncle……