As dusk fell, the crowd at the Martial Arts Arena gradually dispersed.
Zhang Shan, however, did not leave right away. Instead, he deliberately waited on the sidelines for a moment. Seeing that Chu Bai had finished up with Instructor Lei, he quickly strode over to greet him.
"Junior Brother Chu."
With a touch of emotion on his face, Zhang Shan cupped his fist and said, "Today’s battle was a profound experience for me. If you hadn’t held back so freely at the last moment and saved me some face, I’m afraid Instructor Lei would have had to step in and save me. If it had really come to that, I wouldn’t have known where to hide my face from the shame."
Recalling the scene from the afternoon, Zhang Shan still felt a lingering fear.
Losing to a monstrously talented freshman wasn’t scary; what was scary was losing too disgracefully. Chu Bai’s intentionally missed Golden Eye Shattering Illusion not only saved his life but also preserved the last shred of dignity he had in front of all the new students.
"Senior Brother, you exaggerate."
Chu Bai returned the gesture with a calm expression. "Sparring in actual combat is meant to test what we’ve learned; stopping at the right moment is all that’s needed. Besides, I’ve always remembered the favor you did for me by introducing me to the Dean for that mission. As for what happened before, it’s all in the past."
Hearing this, the last weight on Zhang Shan’s heart was finally lifted, and he let out a long sigh of relief.
’This Chu Bai... not only is his strength terrifying, but his character and bearing are also impeccable.’
The two walked side-by-side toward the student dormitories.
"By the way, how is that Law Net monitoring mission going for you, Junior Brother?" Zhang Shan asked casually.
"Everything is going well. Thanks to your recommendation back then, Senior Brother, the two points of Daoist Merit per day have been a great help," Chu Bai said with a smile and a nod. If it weren’t for this mission, his early-stage expenses on Spiritual Cuisine would have been quite tight.
"That’s good."
Zhang Shan nodded, then suddenly stopped and looked up at the distant sky, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes. "I’ve had some insights recently, and my bottleneck is starting to loosen. If all goes well, I’ll be entering seclusion in the next few days to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. I’m afraid I won’t be able to come for combat sparring anymore."
"Oh? That’s wonderful news!" Chu Bai congratulated him sincerely. "I wish you success in one attempt, Senior Brother, and a swift entry into the Late Stage Realm."
"I’ll take you up on that good omen."
Zhang Shan smiled, then his expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice to remind him, "Junior Brother, with the strength and potential you’ve shown, you can start planning for certain things ahead of time. Don’t slack off. Keep this momentum going."
"Even at our Dayuan Prefecture Daoist School, the competition is extremely brutal. If you can keep from falling behind in your cultivation, you might... you might be able to try for the school-wide graduation examination early at the end of your second year and compete for one of those ten Immortal Official positions!"
’Immortal Official positions again?’
This was already the second time he had heard that term today.
A thought stirred in Chu Bai’s mind, and he took the opportunity to ask, "Senior Brother, what are the specific rules for the Immortal Official selection? I heard it only happens during the third-year graduation?"
"That’s usually the case."
Zhang Shan explained, "The Immortal Official selection is held once a year, concurrently with the school-wide examination.
It’s typically the third-year seniors who compete for it upon graduation. That’s a real battle of titans.
However, the Daoist School doesn’t have an explicit rule forbidding underclassmen from participating. In past years, a very small number of exceptionally talented second-year students, confident in their own strength, have chosen to enter the fray early to test the waters."
At this point, Zhang Shan sighed. "But it’s extremely difficult. Think about it—most of the third-year seniors have been polishing their Third-Layer Perfection of Qi Cultivation for a long time. Their foundation in Magic Techniques and their combat experience are far beyond ours. To break into the top ten when you’re a full year behind them is almost as hard as ascending to heaven."
"But..." Zhang Shan looked at Chu Bai, a glint in his eye. "I have high hopes for you! At your growth rate, by the time you’re a second-year, you might just have a fighting chance!"
Chu Bai nodded, his face betraying no emotion, but his mind was racing, calculating.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Shan, Chu Bai walked back to his room alone, his thoughts growing clearer and clearer.
’Qi Cultivation is divided into nine layers. The first three are the early stage, and the Gray Talisman limits you to this ceiling.’
’According to the progress of an ordinary student, one layer per year is the norm. Even a genius like Dong Feng would need until at least the end of his second year to reach Third-Layer Perfection of Qi Cultivation.’
’But I’m different.’
Chu Bai summoned his panel, looking at the progress bar for [Qi Cultivation Second Layer (27/100)].
’At my current speed, plus the remaining two hundred double-hours in the Class A Blessed Land...’
’At most, it will take me three or four months to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer!’
Chu Bai’s steps faltered for a moment, and his brow furrowed.
Once he broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, reaching Perfection would only take another month or two. At that point, limited by the Status suppression of the Gray Talisman, his Cultivation would be unable to advance an inch. He could only improve his combat power by polishing his Magic Techniques.
’If I really wait until the second year to take the exam, as Senior Brother Zhang suggested, wouldn’t I be stuck at the Third-Layer Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm for a whole year for no reason?’
For someone like him, who possessed an "infinite progress bar," that one year would be an absolutely intolerable waste!
’A year and a half is too long; I must seize every moment.’
A bold idea surfaced in Chu Bai’s mind.
’Five months.’
’At the school-wide examination in five months, if I, a first-year freshman, can directly participate in the graduation selection...’
If this idea got out, it would probably make everyone’s jaws drop. A first-year wanting to graduate? Such a thing had never happened in the history of the Dayuan Prefecture Daoist School!
But the more Chu Bai thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
’By then, I should already be at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. In terms of Cultivation, everyone will be stuck at the ceiling, so no one will be higher than anyone else.’
’The only difference will be our foundation in Magic Techniques and our combat experience.’

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