As the most observant one of the group, he keenly sensed the trace of Blood Evil Qi that hadn’t quite dissipated from Chu Bai’s body. He also noticed his gaze, which, though weary, was exceptionally sharp.
It was the kind of aura one only developed after a true life-and-death struggle.
Besides, while Chu Bai wasn’t usually one for idle chatter, he was certainly not the type to make things up about something like this.
’Could it be...’
’...that it’s real?!’
"You guys... stop laughing," Jiang Kuo said, his voice trembling slightly as he cut off their laughter.
Zhou Tong and Chen Shi’s laughter died abruptly, as if they were ducks whose necks had just been wrung.
They followed Jiang Kuo’s gaze to find Chu Bai still sitting there, his expression placid. He showed no embarrassment at having a joke exposed, nor did he seem the least bit guilty.
That very placidness was, in itself, a silent form of proof.
GULP.
Chen Shi swallowed hard, his eyes wide and his voice cracking. "Brother Chu... you mean you really fought that mob of third-year monsters? And... you won? You made it into the top ten?"
"From this rundown room of ours... came an Immortal Official?!"
Chu Bai nodded slightly and sighed with a touch of regret. "It’s a shame you all had to study for the exam today and couldn’t be there to see it."
"Haaa—"
All three sucked in a sharp breath, their minds reeling.
This wasn’t just getting a head start.
This was ascending to the heavens in a single leap!
Seeing the ghost-like expressions on their faces, Chu Bai couldn’t help but crack a smile. He then stood up, adjusted his clothes with mock solemnity, and clasped his hands in a formal bow toward the three of them.
"Fellow classmates, since my future is now secure, I suppose you can say I’ve graduated ahead of schedule."
He winked, his tone tinged with a mischievous grin. "From now on, whether we meet at the Daoist School or elsewhere, you won’t be able to get out of calling me ’Senior Brother Chu’."
"You... you rascal..."
Zhou Tong pointed at Chu Bai, speechless for a long moment, before finally letting out a helpless, laughing curse. The shock in his heart slowly gave way to sincere admiration and an indescribable sliver of envy.
"Alright, alright, Great Immortal Official Chu! Senior Brother Chu! When you make it big, don’t forget us poor brothers still slaving away for these exams!"
Chen Shi was a frank and straightforward guy. Though he felt the blow, he was mostly just happy for his friend.
Jiang Kuo took a deep breath, his expression complex as he remarked, "I really never thought our class would actually produce a monster capable of crushing the third-years. Looks like we’ll be hearing legends about you for a long time to come."
Night deepened. Inside the room, the oil lamp’s flame danced, casting a dim, yellow halo.
That night, none of them went to sleep early as they usually did, nor did they spend any more time studying for the exam.
Their conversation drifted from the dangers of the Immortal Official Examination to their individual hopes for the future.
Chen Shi hoped to get a decent score on the exam. He’d be content if he could later get into a department with plenty of perks and become a Petty Official.
Zhou Tong, for his part, was determined to study Arrays, hoping to one day become an Array Master. Jiang Kuo didn’t say much, but his words betrayed an ambition to climb the ladder.
Chu Bai leaned against the headboard, listening quietly.
’Even though they were all in the same room, after tonight, their paths would truly diverge.’
’These kinds of pure, late-night talks between classmates would likely become rarer and rarer.’
The moon climbed high into the sky, and snores began to fill the room.
Chu Bai rested his hands behind his head, staring up at the pitch-black ceiling beams. As he listened to the steady breathing around him, his own thoughts gradually quieted.
’Tomorrow, I need to go and scout out the various departments.’
’I have to make sure the first step in my new role is a steady one.’

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