In the blink of an eye, another half a month flew by.
On this day, the door to the Class A Cultivation Room, which had been sealed for a long time, finally swung slowly open.
Two figures emerged side by side. They were none other than Chu Bai and Wang Qingli, who had been in intensive secluded training for a month.
Though they looked weary and their clothes bore a few mended tears, the auras they exuded were honed to an absolute peak.
This was especially true for Wang Qingli. Her once cool and aloof disposition now carried a profound, unshakable weight, and her gaze was resolute. Clearly, the month of hellish sparring had benefited her immensely.
"Whew... We’re finally out."
Wang Qingli couldn’t help but let out a long sigh as she looked at the sunlight she hadn’t seen in ages.
Looking back at the Cultivation Room, a hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes.
This past month had been exhausting. Every day, she had been tormented by Chu Bai’s monstrous onslaught to within an inch of her life, but her progress was tangible.
She could feel that her defensive techniques were far more seamless than before, and her experience in handling fast attacks and drawn-out battles had taken a quantum leap.
"Between the training session and all the Pills I used, my savings from the past half-year are completely wiped out."
Wang Qingli gave a wry smile and shook her empty Storage Bag.
Aside from her share of the one hundred fifty Daoist Merit points for the rental fee, she had spent a fortune just on Qi Recovery Pills to keep up with Chu Bai’s pace.
Fortunately, as a third-year elite who took on many missions, she had the savings to burn.
"Money can be earned back, but these skills are the real deal."
Wang Qingli turned to Chu Bai, her tone sincere. "Thank you, Junior Brother. If I didn’t have a sparring partner as terrifyingly strong as you putting me through my paces every day, it would have taken me at least another half a year of grinding to break through the bottleneck with my Thick Earth Shield."
Chu Bai offered a gentle smile. "You’re too kind, Senior Sister. Without your indestructible defense to act as my Sharpening Stone this past month, my new Magic Technique wouldn’t have progressed so quickly. It was mutually beneficial."
"You’re just being too modest."
Wang Qingli shook her head.
After spending every day together for a month, she knew all too well just how formidable the young man before her was.
His bottomless reserves of Magical Power and his endless array of techniques completely transcended the concept of a "first-year." He was even superior to most of the senior third-years.
"Oh, right."
Wang Qingli glanced at the Communication Talisman in her hand, her expression turning serious. "I’ve already received the detailed schedule for the Immortal Official Examination. The exam begins in three days."
At this, she looked at Chu Bai with a hint of encouragement. "Junior Brother, I know you’re preparing for the year-end exams, which are a few days after ours."
"But if I have time after my competition is over, I’ll definitely come to the first-years’ testing ground to cheer for you. I want to personally witness you take that guaranteed first place."
’In her mind, Chu Bai must be working this hard for the top spot in the first-year exams. With his current strength, him participating in the first-year competition would be like a max-level character returning to the starting zone for a massacre. The image was so absurd she couldn’t even bear to think about it.’
However, Chu Bai’s reaction left her stunned.
He simply smiled, took out an identical Communication Talisman from within his robes, and gave it a little wave.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Senior Sister. But... I don’t think we’ll have to wait until the year-end exams to see each other again."
Chu Bai’s tone was calm, as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "A while ago, Master Zhou helped me register. After the Dean’s office confirmed the roster, I received the official notification yesterday."
"What?"
Wang Qingli froze. Her gaze fell upon the Communication Talisman, and her pupils contracted sharply. "Is that... a Qualification Examination Order for the Immortal Official Examination?!"
"You... You registered for the Immortal Official Examination?!"
At that moment, Wang Qingli’s mind went blank, her head buzzing in disbelief.
She had assumed Chu Bai was preparing for the first-year finals to secure his title as the number one student in his year.
’It turned out that this whole time, the kid was preparing for the Immortal Official Examination?!’
One had to understand that the participants in the Immortal Official Examination were all top-tier, third-year elites! It was a true clash of titans.
She, Wang Qingli, had once naively registered as a second-year, only to be eliminated in the preliminary qualifiers and thoroughly humbled by the experienced seniors at Third-Layer Perfection.
Competing against students a year ahead was already a near-impossible feat.
And Chu Bai... he was only a first-year!
Was he skipping two whole years?!
"What’s wrong? Do you think I’m not qualified, Senior Sister?"
Chu Bai asked, half-joking, as he looked at the dumbstruck Wang Qingli.
"No... It’s not that you’re not qualified."
Wang Qingli snapped back to her senses and swallowed hard, her expression a whirlwind of complexity. "I was just thinking... those third-year seniors are in for a world of hurt this time."
If it had been anyone else, she would have thought them arrogant and reckless, someone simply asking for humiliation.
But this was Chu Bai. This was the prodigy who had beaten her into submission in the Cultivation Room. She couldn’t muster a single shred of doubt. Instead, she felt a pang of sympathy for his future opponents, who had no idea what was coming for them.
Even though he was only a first-year, in terms of combat power, techniques, and mentality, Chu Bai was without a doubt one of the most dangerous predators in this Immortal Official Examination!
"In that case..."
Wang Qingli took a deep breath, the fighting spirit in her eyes igniting once more. This time, she was truly seeing Chu Bai as a competitor on the same stage.
"Then I’ll see you in the arena! I just hope I don’t run into you too early, or else my years of preparation will all go down the drain."
"You jest, Senior Sister."
Chu Bai cupped his hands in a small bow, his gaze shifting to the majestic main peak of the Martial Arts Arena in the distance. A golden glint flashed in his eyes and was gone.

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