The snow fell for three days and three nights.
When it stopped, thick snow blanketed everything, cloaking the Sword Sect in pristine white silence, a silver-wrapped world.
With the snow came a faint sense of the New Year approaching, stirring deep-seated festive instincts. Even Su Qing, only half a year in this world, felt an urge to splurge and celebrate.
Immortal cultivators celebrated the New Year too.
She’d confirmed this with Tang Yueling.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Tang Yueling’s voice rose in disbelief. “Don’t they celebrate where you’re from?”
“We do,” Su Qing said thoughtfully. “Mortals live a hundred years, so each one counts. But cultivators live so long—do you still celebrate every year?”
“Most cultivators live two or three hundred years. Even the gifted, living a thousand or so, celebrate annually,” Tang Yueling explained. “Not everyone reaches their full lifespan. Some die in secret realms chasing breakthroughs. Each year survived is a win, worth celebrating. Even if clan elders skip it, kids don’t. Every year matters for them—they grow so much.”
Su Qing nodded. Cultivators fought fate daily; life wasn’t guaranteed. A year gained was a year earned, deserving celebration.
Tang Yueling grew excited. “If the sect let us out, the streets would be lit with lanterns, bustling with shops. Ten storage bags wouldn’t hold all I’d buy. When can we go shopping together?”
Tianning muttered, “No money.”
Before Tang Yueling could glare, she deftly added, “You’re right.”
Tang Yueling still shot her a look but hummed, satisfied. “Go with me—think I’d make you pay? Just carry my bags.”
Tianning’s funds had vanished in merchants’ sales traps again. Su Qing took her money pouch, planning her expenses. It was simple: Su Qing had money now and was confident she could make more.
Despite the festive mood, the sect’s students were tense, shrouded in gloom.
The reason was straightforward—exam week had arrived.
Though the sect’s academic cycle spanned sixty years, professors loved half-yearly quizzes. So, before the New Year and summer, students faced assessments.
Good grades brought joy; poor ones sparked fears of failing to graduate.
The worst fate was languishing in the sect for centuries. Peers might study 240 years, earn a dual Sword Sect degree, and become honored clan guests with endless resources, while you, at 300, were still stuck repeating courses.
Good grades also won teachers’ favor, aiding future jobs or sect reputation. The cultivation world ran on connections too. Many grumbled exams were pointless—“dogs wouldn’t bother”—but when roommates meditated, they secretly burned midnight oil, practiced survival skills, or frantically crafted talismans, elixirs, or sword forms. It was common.
Freshmen were especially nervous.
With only one class per course before exams, it felt unfair. Disciplined students fared better, but many relaxed upon entering, thinking sixty years allowed a half-year breather. Anxiety crept in, but they played through it until exams loomed, sparking panic.
Suddenly, Wuya Pavilion overtook the cafeteria as the sect’s hotspot. Students studying, reviewing, or cramming filled every study area.
The old librarian became the sect’s most popular figure, besieged by students asking, “Sir, you’ve read countless tomes—is there a secret technique to wake up knowing everything? Sir, don’t leave!”
Beast Sect’s koi, Little Seven Colors, grew sulky. Too many students petted it for luck. Those who couldn’t offered unneeded gifts or tossed coins into its tank!
Even their offerings were last-minute. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City
Its master, delighted, said, “I count on these exams to get rich!”
As a freshman, Su Qing, freed from a month of shop duties, ate and trained harder amidst her anxiety, regaining strength lost to her busy schedule.
With the Spirit Tea Shop empty—Manager Lin and his wife gone—Su Qing doubted they’d face good fates. She felt no satisfaction, only unease. But it cleared her Honey Spirit Tea’s competition, boosting business and busyness.
Good news came from the turmoil of Guan Jiayu’s death. The second cafeteria saw staff changes, letting Su Qing recruit two capable, trustworthy workers for her shop.
This freed her and Chen Minjing to focus fully on exam prep. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City
A week earlier, Chen Minjing resigned. Su Qing gifted her a spirit stone package. She refused, but Su Qing anticipated this, saying bluntly, “I don’t have much to give. This is your fair pay. If you don’t take it, I’ll hesitate to ask for help next time. I want a long-term friendship, so please accept it.”
With that, Chen Minjing relented.
She felt heavy-hearted, unused to kindness after frequent exploitation, making her cautious.
Su Qing believed it’d pass. Chen Minjing was at Qi Refining Layer 4; as her strength grew, she’d adjust.
A week later, exam day arrived.
Su Qing had three tests: Basic Cultivation (I) with a talisman and general knowledge quiz, Basic Swordsmanship (I) with a Xiaoyao Sword test, and Basic Body Refining (I) with a physical test.
The culture test—talisman and knowledge—was written, while swordsmanship and body refining were physical, like an athlete’s pivot.
The culture test was in her usual classroom. The proctor, a Qi Transformation cultivator, monitored with divine sense sharper than cameras. Everyone focused, cheating impossible.
Considering varied cultivation levels, questions were easy, mostly free points.
For example:
…
The next section was talismans.
Three were tested: a basic cleansing talisman, a low-level fire talisman, and an easy blessing talisman.
Preparation paid off—Su Qing knew everything, answered perfectly.
She filled the written section swiftly and began drawing talismans. In top form, her abundant qi flowed through the brush, crafting three high-grade talismans effortlessly.
Submitting her paper, she realized she’d written so many characters fluently.
She’d overcome her literacy struggles.
The afternoon held Xiaoyao Swordsmanship and body refining.
Xiaoyao Swordsmanship covered eight basic moves, like Su Qing’s college taiji elective—easy to cram.
Across the sect, freshmen frantically practiced Xiaoyao forms. The technique had never been so popular. Many paired up, correcting each other’s stances.
Su Qing practiced twice to warm up, then stopped. She trained daily until sunrise; last-minute practice meant little.
As the exam neared, Senior Sister Qin Zhen arrived late, her calm facade hiding clear resentment. Su Qing guessed she loathed this task. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City
“Bad luck—it’s me again,” Qin Zhen said, suppressing a sigh. “Let’s make this quick. Begin.”
The format was simple: ten students per group, ten groups, performing Xiaoyao Swordsmanship to the proctor’s commands. A high-level cultivator’s divine sense could track even a hundred at once.
Some students hoped to blend in, mimicking others. But when Qin Zhen gave commands, they realized it wasn’t so simple.
“Draw, lead, lift, block, strike, thrust, point, press.”
Standard Xiaoyao Swordsmanship.
But Qin Zhen didn’t want that. She called random combinations.
“Draw, strike, lead, press, point, block, thrust, lift.”
“Thrust, lead, strike, point, press, lift, block, draw.”
…
As sequences scrambled and her pace quickened, many faltered, movements chaotic, unable to keep up.
Some stumbled, collapsing in frustration. “This is too hard!” one complained.
But glancing up, they saw a few calmly following, even adding personal flair.
Su Qing was among them, unfazed. She trained this way daily—her body reacted before her mind processed. Her movements were precise, transitions smooth, standing out vividly among the flustered.
Qin Zhen noticed, her eyes flickering, and called, “Draw, point, block, strike, thrust, lead, press, lift.”
This set was tough, with clashing centers of gravity, demanding strong physique and practice.
Some faltered, movements stiff. For Su Qing, it was routine—she’d done it countless times.
She just did it naturally.
After the hundred finished, Qin Zhen graded on the spot. Five ranks: fail, pass, average, excellent, outstanding, awarded as medals.
Failures had to retake the course. Passers moved to the next chapter.
Su Qing knew she’d hit average, hoped for excellent, but never expected Qin Zhen to pin an outstanding gold medal on her.
Stunned, she blurted, “I didn’t show any remarkable sword intent.”
“Beginners don’t need flashy intent,” Qin Zhen said. “Your fundamentals are solid. That’s outstanding by my standards.”
She saw Su Qing’s effort clearly, adding, “Heavy swords suit you. Keep practicing.”
Staring at the gleaming medal, Su Qing thanked her sincerely. “Thank you, Senior Sister Qin. I’ll keep working.”
“Don’t thank me,” Qin Zhen said, uncomfortable with gratitude. “Thank yourself.”
…
After swordsmanship, Su Qing went to body refining.
The past six months hadn’t involved intense training—just eating well, sleeping well, and building endurance and strength to nurture qi and blood.
Curious how Lin Hebai would judge, she found the test was indeed endurance and weight-bearing.
Students had to circle the main peak within a time limit, carrying weight without qi, relying purely on physicality. The load was four-tenths of body weight.
For Su Qing, it was easy. She daily hauled her Manqing Sword, nearly her own weight, around the peak multiple times.
Among over 300 body cultivators, she casually placed in the top ten.
At the finish, Lin Hebai pinned a gold outstanding medal on her.
Unfortunately, the student behind her failed—coincidentally, one who’d scoffed at Lin Hebai in the first class.
“It’s unfair!” he protested.
“You used qi,” Lin Hebai said bluntly. “I said no qi.”
“You’re targeting me,” the student sneered, pointing at Su Qing. “I don’t believe a Qi Refining Layer 2 outran me without qi.”
“Does your belief matter? Her strength surpasses yours,” Lin Hebai laughed. “Su Qing, show him your load.”
Amid disbelieving stares, Su Qing summoned her towering, person-heavy Manqing Sword from her storage bracelet, standing it beside her.
She’d run the entire course carrying her full body weight.
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂