Chapter 28: Arcane Arts and Combat

Chapter 28: Arcane Arts and Combat

Freehand Combat Level 2 (0/20) → Freehand Combat Level 3 (0/30)

In an instant, the fifteen techniques of Freehand Combat became more refined in Zhang Yu's mind. Even the subsequent variations and connections between each move became crystal clear.

The circulation of Spiritual Power in each move became almost instinctive. Zhang Yu felt that if he were to execute a move, the Spiritual Power within him would naturally flow to his limbs, adapting and transforming on its own.

"The passive Spiritual Respiration of the Celestial Circuit Gathering Method also played a significant role in this process."

Zhang Yu sensed the circulation of Spiritual Power within him, noting that the constant flow of power through his body made it easier for him to wield Freehand Combat.

He was deeply grateful for the Celestial Circuit Gathering Method's benefits, not just in Spiritual Respiration and Physique Cultivation, but also in practical martial arts.

However, with the exam approaching, Zhang Yu had no time to dwell on his thoughts.

He took a brief moment to practice Spiritual Respiration, restoring his energy, before heading to the examination room.

The afternoon's first exam was on Arcane Arts, followed by the martial combat exam.

The Arcane Arts exam primarily focused on the recognition and use of Talismans.

Since the Qi Refinement stage practitioners could not yet master true Arcane Arts, they could only use their knowledge and Spiritual Power to activate Talismans. Therefore, the three years of Arcane Arts courses in high school were mostly related to Talismans.

Talismans, or Fu, were incantations, while Lu were Lushu Tomes. These Talismans were the secret methods through which humans communicated with deities and harnessed divine power.

...

In the computer lab, Zhang Yu sat at a computer, silently recalling all the knowledge about Talismans.

Not far away, Zhao Tianhang was frantically flipping through his textbook, memorizing key points he feared he might forget.

Bai Zhenzhen was dozing on the table, seemingly unconcerned about the upcoming exam.

As the bell rang, students placed all items unrelated to the exam on a desk at the front of the room and returned to their seats.

A moment later, the computer screens in front of them flickered, displaying the exam questions.

Question 1: Which of the following Talismans belongs to the Ten Thousand Roads All-Through Great God of the Transportation Department?

Zhang Yu's memory instantly recalled the relevant information.

The Transportation Department was one of the eight divine departments of Kunxu, responsible for all roads, aviation, and maritime transportation within Kunxu, with the authority to oversee all transportation.

The Ten Thousand Roads All-Through Great God was a deity in charge of city roads within the Transportation Department. Zhang Yu remembered that one of the deity's powers was the ability to record all surveillance data of city roads and vehicles.

By using a Talisman, one could borrow the power of the Ten Thousand Roads All-Through Great God to access various surveillance data within the city, known as "foreknowledge of three hundred years" and "minute details."

After the memory flashed through his mind, Zhang Yu turned to the options.

There were four options, something like this:

A. !★,°:.☆(￣▽￣)/$:.°★.

B. (o>ε(o>ｕ(≧∩≦)(￣ー￣)X(^▽^)

C. `)`)▍`)*`)(((`)

D. 『』～o(▽｀o)=▊=▋=▍

"All four options are the beginnings of a Talisman, and from their style, they all belong to the deities of the Transportation Department... Haha, trying to mess with my head right from the start?"

"It should be the vehicle surveillance Talisman, option D, right?"

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and chose D, then moved on to the next multiple-choice question.

"Which of the following Talismans does not belong to the category of reporting Talismans?"

Zhang Yu was momentarily taken aback. "Reporting Talismans? We didn't learn that... another out-of-syllabus question?"

Frowning, he randomly selected an option that looked plausible and moved on to the next question.

He completed all the multiple-choice questions, then moved on to the fill-in-the-blank and problem-solving questions, which were significantly more challenging.

For example, "Please write a health examination Talisman to invite the Health-Spring Renewal Great God of the Health Department to check for any tumors in your intestines."

And, "Which Talisman can quickly subdue three ordinary people without Spiritual Power, located 30 meters to the north? Please draw the Talisman. Here are the specific data of the three people and their surroundings..."

"Damn... Can't I just knock them out directly? Why use a Talisman?"

While Zhang Yu was sweating over writing a confinement Talisman, he heard the sound of a chair being dragged.

Looking up, he saw He Dayou, a classmate, finishing the exam and preparing to leave.

Zhang Yu remembered that He Dayou had ranked third in the last Monthly Exam and was a rich kid, much like Qian Shen.

However, unlike Qian Shen, who focused on his scores, He Dayou was a show-off, and Zhang Yu rarely interacted with him.

Submitting the exam early was a form of showing off.

This was because Talismans were a subject that required significant financial investment to excel in, making it a clear dividing line between the rich and the poor.

Many people even referred to Talismans as the language of the rich.

To elaborate, drawing Talismans could invoke the power of the eight divine departments, performing incredible feats. These eight departments were often called the Eight Departments of the Righteous Deities.

However, the school only taught the most basic methods of drawing Talismans. To learn more advanced techniques, or even those not covered in school, one had to purchase Lushu Tomes.

In addition to the high cost of purchasing Lushu Tomes, there were membership fees, offerings, faith levels, and other expensive expenses.

In essence, the more money one spent on Lushu Tomes, the higher their faith level, and the more advanced Talismans they could learn and draw. This included one-on-one conversations with the Eight Departments of the Righteous Deities, guided corrections by the deities, and optimized Talismans under divine guidance. Of course, such rigorous training came with a hefty price tag.

Learning Talismans outside of school was a process that required a significant financial investment.

Furthermore, violating the rules set by the Eight Departments of the Righteous Deities, such as unauthorized sharing of Talismans or using them to break Sect laws, could result in severe penalties, ranging from fines to financial ruin.

Each time Zhang Yu took an Arcane Arts class, he couldn't help but feel that this was an unfair and unjust subject, a prime opportunity for the rich to score points in the Gaokao and a subject that most clearly separated the rich from the poor, living up to its reputation as the language of the rich.

However, Zhang Yu had also heard from Zhou Tianyi that Talismans were not the most expensive aspect of Arcane Arts.

Many of the Arcane Arts that could only be learned after Foundation Forging required substantial funds, enough to burden even a university student with significant debt.

After enduring the Arcane Arts exam, Zhang Yu stepped out of the classroom to see a large group of students surrounding He Dayou, discussing the answers.

He Dayou smiled and pulled out a Jade Talisman Pendant, drawing some symbols on it.

With a wave of Spiritual Power, a golden shadow slowly emerged from the Jade Talisman Pendant.

He Dayou said with a smile, "This is the answering Talisman of the Heaven-Knowing Ten Thousand Questions Great God. Ask Him any questions you have."

Many students gasped in amazement, their eyes filled with envy as they looked at He Dayou.

As Zhang Yu watched He Dayou, Bai Zhenzhen's voice came from beside him, "That's a Lushu Tome, right? Even with a jade-colored skin. This guy must have been planning to show off for a long time."

Zhang Yu turned to see Bai Zhenzhen, her face twisted with anger and jealousy.

Zhang Yu asked, "How did you do?"

Bai Zhenzhen replied indignantly, "How do you think? At least a quarter of the questions were out of syllabus."

"Last year's Gaokao had 20% out-of-syllabus questions, and this year it's 25%. At this rate, will half the exam be out of syllabus by the time we take the Gaokao? They have no shame at all."

"I hope I don't run into those rich brats in the combat exam. If I do, I'll make sure they fail."

He Dayou, sensing the gazes of Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu, turned around and smiled at them.

Bai Zhenzhen instantly put on a calm and composed expression, nodding at him.

A moment later, the next exam was about to start, and He Dayou and a few classmates headed to the martial combat exam room.

He Dayou was the type of student who could write an essay titled "My Father, the School Board Member."

Because his father was indeed a board member of Songyang High.

Despite his luxurious upbringing, He Dayou did not feel that his life was easy. He was just one of his father's thirty-odd children.

After passing numerous tests, competing fiercely, and meeting family Kpis, he became one of the two high school students and one of the two Cultivation practitioners among his siblings.

As for his other siblings, they had to work at his father's company to pay off the debts of their upbringing.

"Although I am the child of a wealthy family, I have reached this point through my own efforts and talent."

"I earned my father's investment through hard work. Why shouldn't I show off my wealth?"

"Those poor people complain all day, thinking I only got here because of my rich father. What a bunch of naive and ridiculous people."

With this mindset, He Dayou had always looked down on those who were both poor and academically weak.

When he entered Songyang High as the son of a board member and became more familiar with the school's unwritten rules, he began to look down on even the academically strong poor students.

"Academic success is only temporary. These poor people don't realize that from the moment they were born, they had no chance of success."

"Perhaps they are no longer even the same species as us."

With this mindset, He Dayou maintained his third-place ranking, occasionally showing off his wealth, and led a peaceful school life, waiting for the moment he would enter a top university.

Until one person's change disrupted his inner peace.

Seeing Zhang Yu's increasingly intense efforts over the past few weeks, which even inspired the whole class to work harder, made him feel disgusted.

"This poor guy... counting his monthly debts, rushing to work after school to earn a few hundred or a thousand yuan, living frugally to Cultivate, and dreaming of sudden wealth and immortality."

"They don't know who their true competitors are in the Gaokao."

"Still jumping around in school."

"Truly ugly in their poverty."

He Dayou couldn't stand Zhang Yu's intense efforts, as if he could outperform them through hard work.

Especially after hearing the rumors that Zhang Yu had been accepted as a disciple by the Golden Core Sage, He Dayou used his connections to confirm the information.

Upon confirming that Zhang Yu had not been accepted as a disciple by the Golden Core Sage, his disdain for him reached its peak.

"Refusing to clarify, trying to ride on someone else's prestige?"

So he decided to use the combat exam to teach this poor guy a lesson and make him realize his true place.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end