One month before classes began, boarding facilities opened to selected students. Everyone underwent talent testing ~ older students or those who hadn't enrolled previously got cultivation checks, and anyone above Bronze rank qualified for the spiritualist class.
New students faced a different process. First came written tests confirming mental growth, then physical assessments ~ punching, weight lifting, endurance trials. Chi Tao scored 90 points, advancing to soul realm testing where he managed exactly 70 points, as planned.
Somehow, among the class roster, he and Nie Li ended up together. Two other fighter apprentice classes existed alongside theirs.
He'd met Nie Li during family gatherings every couple years ~ a cool guy without the hotheadedness, genuinely humble. Though Chi Tao was mature with his own small following within the family, outside it he remained relatively unknown, spending most time learning or training. Among peers, he came across as rather aloof.
During one Glory City family assembly when he was five, all families gathered together. He'd glimpsed young Xiao Ning'er, Shen Yue, and Lu Piao, though not Ye Ziyun ~ but he did meet her adopted brother Ye Han. The boy showed confidence while secretly seeking validation from others. That was all a five-year-old could observe in such situations.
Library tokens arrived with their enrollment packets.
Chi Tao did his usual routine ~ touching whatever books his hands could reach while moving, but at careful intervals to avoid suspicion from fellow readers or the librarian. Around 2000 books total. This continued for a week and a half until he'd inputted everything into the Library of Heaven's Path, balancing mental exhaustion with discretion.
Books still restricted for higher cultivation bases existed, so he avoided repeating his inscription guild stunt. Instead, he moved within ten meters of them, using creation energy to download everything directly to the Library of Heaven's Path. Each evening, he'd select a random book, read silently, and try pointing out flaws himself before comparing with the Library's analysis. He succeeded about 90% of the time.
Many cultivation techniques filled those restricted sections ~ discussions about Demigod realm laws and spiritual gods. His technique became flawless up to Demigod level, and he gained access to minor world laws as well. The Mortal Transcendence Scripture, alchemy methods, martial arts, cultural arts, weapon usage ~ all became more inclusive of world laws that he could decipher when needed.
His body was strong enough to learn about these laws, though not yet to mobilize them ~ might cause conflicts since not everyone was a reincarnated knowledge seeker.
And that's exactly what he did. During the last month before classes, he studied flawless compiled books during rest periods inside his mind, while daytime brought sightseeing around marketplaces and the academy with children from his family and others affiliated with Hong Yue noble family.
A few more faces appeared in fighter classes due to his interference ~ Nie Li might recognize this difference. Three got selected for better physical results, two for yellow soul realm. Only one ended up in his class.
Both his parents had reached late-stage Gold rank, while elders achieved late Silver or beginning Gold rank thanks to his optimized cultivation techniques. Many had already exhausted their potential, but if his parents crossed into Black Gold rank, the family would rise to noble status.
Some copying of their business ideas had emerged ~ advertisement posters and banners, imitation pizzas and food items, farming tools he'd introduced. As first movers, they still held many advantages. Relevant people knew him now, which was exactly why Chen Linjian had approached recently, calling him talented and asking if he'd like to join up.
He'd agreed after considering that he might not need much convincing for treasure hunting opportunities when the time came. Besides, Chen Linjian gave him free demon spirit coins ~ not that he needed them, his family provided about 5000 monthly ~ for small tasks like buying market goods or seeking advice from others.
Look, he wasn't a leader like every protagonist. Don't judge. That's... well, that's unfair. He liked knowing what it felt like to follow others too.
Chen Linjian was a decent leader though. Today he'd gone out buying elixirs for him and his followers.
That's when he met Director Yang Xin. From what he knew about her, she came from humble origins but did odd jobs to fund alchemy studies, joined as an apprentice, and became what she was today. Someone deserving respect.
An impulse hit him ~ take the primary apprentice exam. In theory, he could take the Alchemy Grandmaster exam if needed, but no point stealing Nie Li's thunder. The Alchemist Association was declining, consisting of only six old men as master alchemist elders.
With that thought, he approached the counter asking about exams. The receptionist gave instructions ~ knowledge of ten alchemic book sets and 50 demon spirit coins required.
Since this was an apprentice exam, it could be arranged anytime, unlike master exams which required selected master alchemists preparing difficult questionnaires. This could be easily arranged.
The exam was set within half an hour. He went to the designated room as instructed and sat down, only then noticing the exam monitor was none other than Director Yang Xin herself.
Seeing his confused expression, she explained that the usual monitor had taken leave and she was free, so with nothing else to do, she'd come to monitor the student exam.
Well... that might not be the whole situation. Maybe she was indeed free, but she might also be curious why a beginner student like him ~ not even Bronze rank and this young ~ came to take the exam without even looking at alchemy medical books first.
The exam started and he answered with ease, though he noticed one question was actually beyond beginner range, so he intentionally left it unanswered. Answers were validated on the spot, results showing he'd indeed passed ~ now a primary apprentice alchemist.
She mentioned checking his background, and since he was admitted to Holy Orchid Institute's fighter apprentice class, he could take morning classes there and come here afternoons to study with the masters.
He returned with purchased pills, distributing them to Chen Linjian and his people.
From the next day onwards, he visited the Alchemist Guild for the rest of the month. He worked as the spirit plant fetching boy, occasionally entering the Master's section library by following them or fetching books during their refinement sessions when needed. He took full advantage, using creation power to extract information copies from these books to the Library of Heaven's Path ~ basically a hobby at this point.
Seeing how well he adjusted without mistakes and quickly learned from their experiences, they promoted him to primary intermediate apprentice. Yang Xin sometimes took him as an assistant along with her pill tester for alchemy work. Probably just due to his looks, he figured. Only two things made people interesting to others ~ looks and talent. He had both.
He'd also broken through to Silver rank 2 through passive cultivation. His concealment techniques improved dramatically ~ no one detected anything.
Classes would start tomorrow. He couldn't wait to see the confrontation between Shen Xiu and Nie Li. Should he interfere? Stand with Nie Li? Nah, not worth it. Would be difficult always pretending in front of that old pervert anyway.