On the high platform, Judge Li, clad in a dark red official robe, took a step forward. With a solemn expression, he began to announce the specific rules for the Immortal Official examination.
"This examination will be divided into three rounds, each one interlocking and progressively more difficult."
Judge Li’s voice boomed like thunder, each word ringing with absolute clarity in everyone’s ears:
"The first round is called [Object Control]."
"Within that designated area, there are several hundred ownerless Dharma Artifacts from the Daoist School’s collection. All of them are for use by those in the Qi Refining Stage, but they vary widely in grade, from high to low."
"From a distance of five hundred zhang, you must use your Spiritual Power to communicate with them, attempting to awaken and master their power. The first person to fully activate and control a Dharma Artifact will claim it as their own and may bring it into the next round!"
"The time limit is one quarter-hour."
As soon as he said this, an uproar erupted below the stage. The buzz of discussion exploded like boiling water.
"Bring it to the next round? Doesn’t that mean whoever snags a Top-Grade Dharma Artifact gets a huge head start?"
"No kidding! This first round is obviously a gear grab! We’re all empty-handed right now. If someone can get their hands on an Upper Grade Magic Sword, their combat power will instantly double!"
The students’ gazes instantly grew feverish, and their breathing quickened. They had all been feeling a little uncertain since they were forbidden from using their own Dharma Artifacts. But now, they had a chance to claim one during the exam itself—and on a first-come, first-served, winner-takes-all basis. Who wouldn’t fight for that with all they had?
Judge Li ignored the commotion below and continued:
"The second round is [Demon Hunting]."
"You will take the Dharma Artifacts obtained in the first round and enter a special Spirit Realm to hunt Demon Beasts.
The Demon Beasts in this Spirit Realm are unique. Each one’s body contains an amplification of a different elemental Spiritual Qi.
After you kill one, that Spiritual Qi will attach to you, amplifying your combat strength.
The more you kill, the stronger the amplification becomes!"
"As for the third round, it is the final [Arena Battle]."
"At that time, you will all carry the advantages of the Dharma Artifacts and Spiritual Qi amplifications you’ve accumulated from the first two rounds into the arena to determine a victor. The winner reigns supreme while the loser is eliminated, continuing until the final ten spots are decided!"
After hearing the rules, Chu Bai’s eyes narrowed slightly as he rapidly analyzed the pros and cons in his mind.
’These rules... are very interesting.’
’It’s essentially a snowballing game. Snag a good Dharma Artifact in the first round, and your efficiency at killing beasts in the second round will be higher, giving you a greater Spiritual Qi amplification. With the huge advantage accumulated from the first two rounds, you can enter the third round and hold your own even if your Cultivation is slightly weaker.’
’Conversely, if you fail in the first round, you’ll fall further and further behind, even if you’re a genius. You might not even get a chance to make a comeback.’
’So... for this first round, I have to go all out. I absolutely can’t hold back!’
Chu Bai clenched his fists, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
’A competition of Spiritual Power control? My Perfection Level Spirit Water Needle and Formless Cloud Hand excel at precise, long-range manipulation!’
"The rules have been made clear."
Judge Li turned to the headmaster beside him and nodded slightly.
The two raised their hands in unison, and two Official Seals exuding a vast, imposing pressure materialized from thin air.
"Open!"
Following a low shout, the two Official Seals collided in midair. A golden light flared, instantly linking with the omnipresent Great Zhou Law Net.
RUMBLE!
In an instant, the world spun.
Under the power of the Law Net, the once-flat Martial Arts Arena underwent an earth-shattering transformation.
The area to the left folded in on itself, transforming into a vast, gray wasteland. Upon this wasteland, hundreds of assorted Dharma Artifacts were planted densely in the ground, like a Sword Tomb.
There were blades, spears, swords, and halberds gleaming with a cold light, as well as ancient, heavy Bells, Tripod Cauldrons, pagodas, and Seals.
Some had their brilliance contained, simple and unadorned; others overflowed with Spiritual Light, their sharp auras on full display.
These were all treasures the Daoist School had stored for years, regularly maintained by dedicated personnel. Now, they waited silently for their new masters.
The Dharma Artifacts were divided into Upper, Middle, and Low Grades. The higher the grade, the greater the power, and the farther forward and deeper into the wasteland they were located.
The many examinees, meanwhile, were separated by an invisible barrier in another area, over five hundred zhang away.
As for the spectators, they were all isolated on viewing platforms outside the Spirit Realm. They could only watch through a projected light screen, making it absolutely impossible for them to influence the examination grounds in the slightest.
The three headmasters and the Judge hovered high in the sky, their Divine Thoughts sweeping across the entire space like gods looking down upon the mortal realm.
Within the arena, the atmosphere was tense to the extreme.
The students’ eyes were wide, their Divine Senses fully extended as they continuously scanned the pile of Dharma Artifacts in the distance, preparing to select their targets.
’What should I choose?’
This was a gamble.
First was suitability. A Sword Cultivator would be clumsy with a saber, and a Fire Cultivator’s power would be halved with a Water Dharma Artifact. Compatibility was crucial.
Second was the trade-off between distance and grade. The Upper-Grade Dharma Artifacts were powerful, but they were the farthest away, the most difficult to communicate with, and were certainly being eyed by many others, making it easy to get caught in a struggle. The Low-Grade Dharma Artifacts were close and easy to obtain, but if you took one into the second round, you would likely suffer a great disadvantage.
Chu Bai’s gaze was like lightning. He silently activated [Golden Eye Shattering Illusion], and his vision instantly pierced through the hundreds of zhang, allowing him to see the strength of each Dharma Artifact’s Spiritual Light with perfect clarity.
He quickly began to filter through the targets.
’I have Formless Cloud Hand and Spirit Water Needle, so I’m not lacking in long-range control. What I need now is a boost to my ultimate speed or stronger physical protection.’
His gaze locked onto a large boulder deep in the wasteland, approximately eight hundred zhang away.
A crimson ring hovered there, faint patterns of flame swirling around it.
[Fire Element Ring]: An Upper Grade Qi Cultivation Dharma Artifact. It can be attached to the feet. When activated, it erupts with fierce flames, not only greatly enhancing the user’s Body Technique speed but also allowing them to kick out with an explosive Fire Force to injure enemies.

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