Chapter 115: The Provincial Exam Venue Was Truly Unique

The tall, curvaceous beauty finally spoke: “Uncle… um, cough, classmate.”
—Could you please not force that “classmate” so awkwardly!

“Classmate, my sister is taking the provincial exam this year, and I’m here to cheer her on. But I’m a bit… hehe, not very good with directions. Could you please help me find the examination venue?”

Oh, so not only short but also directionally challenged—a truly pitiful child.

Shi Tiexin glanced at the time—it was already 9:45 a.m., and the provincial exam would start at 10. Captain Chen had assigned him to the model team—don’t be surprised; given the level of provincial exam candidates, Shi Tiexin’s cultivation was only enough to serve as a model.

Tall and mighty, with an imposing presence, his muscular frame did little to intimidate troublemakers here. If chaos broke out, the elite sharp warriors would handle it; he was basically just there for show, which made him perfect for the model team.

The model team’s role was to stand by the examination hall’s edge at the start of the provincial exam, projecting an aura of authority. Since the time was just right, he might as well take this little directionally-challenged girl along.

“All right, come with me.”

Shi Tiexin looked up at the prominent, lofty hall nearby, then at the orderly streets, genuinely baffled as to how this directionally-challenged girl could get lost.

The little directionally-challenged girl’s voice was sweet: “Thank you, thank you, Uncle… uncle-brother.”

What on earth is “uncle-brother”?

Does this girl have some wires crossed in her brain?

“My name is Shi Tiexin, studying at the Primary Academy in Muyuan District.” Emphasis on the surname Shi, not “uncle”!

“Oh, so we’re kin, what a pleasure to meet you!” The little short girl, Shi Yuwei, said happily. “I study in the Southern District and am about to take the junior provincial exam. My sister asked me to come watch closely so I can perform well in the junior exam!”

Wait, what’s your name? And what kin are we supposed to be?

No, forget it, that’s not the point. The point is—does observing the provincial exam really help with the junior provincial exam?

If so, great! I’m right at the front row of all observers!

But how exactly would watching the provincial exam benefit the junior one?

Lost in thought, Shi Tiexin and the girl soon arrived at the exam hall.

“Thanks, Uncle-brother, I’m off!” The little short girl, Shi Yuwei, waved at Shi Tiexin and then darted off like a playful wild rabbit, vanishing in an instant.

She seemed fun, but Shi Tiexin was startled. That little girl was incredibly fast, with a solid stance indicating a high level of strength cultivation. Her fake pill, likely larger than a quail’s egg and much more potent than his own green bean-sized one, marked her as quite advanced among the children.

Southern District, junior provincial exam?

It seemed the junior exam was truly filled with hidden talents. Though he didn’t know her heart cultivation level, it was clear there was no shortage of prodigies among her peers—the situation was tougher than he imagined.

Perfect, this modeling gig was right on point—let me see what secrets the provincial exam held!

Shi Tiexin rallied himself and entered the venue through the staff entrance.

The First Academy of Tumubao was the premier academy in the Tumubao Space City. Compared to Fengming No.1 High School in another timeline, the First Academy was full of unique features from the Mist Age. Being in a space city, its grounds were not expansive, and there seemed to be no dormitories. Yet its style was even more magnificent.

Shi Tiexin had expected the exam to be held in a building resembling a school, with students assigned to classrooms and taking the exam one by one—just like the historical junior provincial exam, ideally in single rooms with strict proctors to prevent cheating.

But the scene before him baffled him completely.

This was not a school building but something like a gymnasium, or even a Roman amphitheater, with an open dome. The candidates weren’t sequestered in rooms or divided into separate exam halls; instead, they all stood unified on a circular platform one and a half meters high in the center of the arena.

At 9:55 a.m., everyone was in place. The hall’s gates were closed; candidates and observers stood in their respective areas. No one sat down—neither examinees nor observers. This setup was unusual.

“That’s too far! I can’t see anything clearly!”

At the farthest, outermost edge of the stands, ten students from the Star Engineering School stretched their necks pitifully. Someone complained, unable to see the action clearly.

“Quiet! Stand properly! Today, a big shot from the Student Union is here. Anyone who embarrasses the Star Engineering Union will answer to me!”

He Chong barked sharply, silencing everyone.

What could He Chong do? Positions were assigned according to social rank. Though he ruled at school, here he was just a minor player. He dared not cause trouble, lest it bring serious consequences. So, under He Chong’s threat, everyone stayed cautious, keeping a low profile, hoping the view would improve once the exam officially began.

Down below, candidates stood in neat rows, upright and poised on the circular platform. Surrounding it, imposing security guards dressed in uniform black stood tall, facing the platform with pride. The scene was majestic and dignified, embodying the spirit of a society devoted to martial excellence.

Among these formidable guards, the showpiece warrior, Iron Overlord, blended in unnoticed.

He had no idea what was going on—why an exam felt like a sports event—but kept a solemn, authoritative expression with chin raised and eyes scrutinizing. Though confused inside, from the outside he looked like the leader of the model team.

As Shi Tiexin pondered, a commotion erupted in the stands.

“The City Lord!”

“City Lord Shen is here!”

Shi Tiexin turned his head but couldn’t see. No matter how hard he rolled his eyes, he couldn’t see behind him. The City Lord and others were just out of his line of sight.

Looking around during security duty was forbidden. Captain Chen made it clear: losing composure and offending important guests could have grave consequences. Besides, it didn’t really matter what the City Lord looked like, so Shi Tiexin quickly gave up on spying on the dignitaries.

But soon, another wave of uproar broke out in the stands.

“Look! Who’s that person showing such respect to City Lord Shen?”

“Idiot, that’s the Student Union’s Grand Sacrificer! The chief examiner for this exam!”

“Oh my, it’s my first time seeing the Grand Sacrificer—a super expert at the third level of Heart Cultivation, the Fa Domain Realm!”

What?

Student Union Grand Sacrificer? Fa Domain Realm?

Shi Tiexin had never heard of any of this!

His curiosity piqued. He didn’t care much about the City Lord, but a super expert was intriguing. He tried again to find a way to look behind him, but no matter how he tried, even after the City Lord finished speaking, he couldn’t find a way to see behind.

Forget it, the Fa Domain Grand Sacrificer was too far above his rank; he’d rather not look.

However, when the City Lord announced the start of the exam, the stands erupted in uproar for the third time.