Chapter 68: Duel

When Chen Mobai and Song Zheng returned, the entire class looked at them in surprise.

Song Zheng was famously arrogant in class. When Yan Bingxuan was still enrolled, the two would occasionally clash. However, after Yan Bingxuan dropped out, Song Zheng's arrogance became a solitary trait; he rarely acknowledged anyone else in class.

"Alright, we were just waiting for you two. Please take your seats," said their homeroom teacher, Chai Deyun, from the podium, gesturing for Chen Mobai and Song Zheng to return to their desks.

"I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?" Chai Deyun, usually quite stern, offered a rare moment of humor, perhaps because he sensed his students were nearing the end of their time under his guidance.

"Good news!" the students chorused in unison.

"This year, the Ten Great Academies are expanding their enrollment and will be lowering the admission score threshold. With a bit of luck, even those at Qi Refinement Layer 6 might be accepted." As soon as Chai Deyun finished speaking, half the class erupted in cheers. However, Lu Hongsheng, who sat next to Chen Mobai, deflated. Being at Qi Refinement Layer 5, the expanded enrollment wouldn't benefit him.

"Now that the good news is out of the way, it's time for the bad," Chai Deyun continued. Everyone in the class looked up at him as he cleared his throat.

"The content for this year's entrance exams for the Four Great Daoist Academies and the Ten Great Academies was distributed to all major high schools the day before yesterday. For students who have dedicated themselves solely to intense cultivation, this might pose some difficulty. We withheld this information previously to avoid affecting your mindset for the general college entrance exam, but now is the opportune moment to inform you."

At this, the hearts of most students skipped a beat, and even Song Zheng and Chen Mobai were no exception.

"The theme is two words: Spell Combat!"

"It will test your cultivation of spells. Each participant must rely solely on their spellcasting in combat, without using magical artifacts, elixirs, or formations. Students who progress further will be scored by representatives from the Four Great Daoist Academies and the Ten Great Academies."

"However, the specific combat order and rules will only be announced after the score thresholds are determined and Danzhu Academy has prepared the venue. It's possible that applicants for the Four Great Daoist Academies and the Ten Great Academies will engage in separate spell combat sessions, depending on their score classifications."

After hearing Chai Deyun's explanation, everyone was stunned. Spell Combat!?

It seemed that such a raw and direct entrance examination hadn't been seen in nearly a century. Was this meant to select students with exceptional combat talent?

"Is a major pioneering war coming?" Song Zheng muttered to himself, but then his eyes lit up. He was a disciple of Ding Jinglue, and spellcasting was his absolute forte; even Yan Bingxuan had been defeated by him. If the exam truly focused on spell combat, then his admission to his preferred academy was virtually guaranteed. If the score threshold was high enough, even the Four Great Daoist Academies might not be out of reach.

"Teacher, can talismans be used during spell combat?" Chen Mobai suddenly raised his hand and asked.

"Theoretically speaking, talismans are solidified spells and fall within the scope of spell combat. However, if they were allowed, it would be overly advantageous for students from wealthy families with long-standing legacies. I believe their use will be prohibited. For definitive details, we'll have to await the official announcement from Danzhu Academy," Chai Deyun replied after a moment's hesitation.

His words mirrored Chen Mobai's own thoughts. The Immortal Sect categorized talismans as a skill, but since they required minimal spiritual energy to activate and no preparation time, unlimited use would essentially guarantee admission for students from affluent backgrounds.

Chai Deyun then answered a few more student questions, before looking at the 49 familiar faces before him with a sense of poignant reflection.

"Though I wished to accompany you further on your journey, every path eventually ends. The grand road ahead is yours to walk alone." With these words, Chai Deyun dismissed the class for the final time.

He then suppressed the reluctance welling up within him, turned, and walked towards the door. "Stand up!" the class monitor announced. As soon as the words left his mouth, all the students rose and bowed deeply to their homeroom teacher, who had guided them for three years.

Chai Deyun's steps faltered for an instant, but he then quickly exited the classroom, seemingly unwilling to let his own emotions of farewell affect his students.

Chen Mobai felt intense emotions welling up within his heart. After closing his eyes to cultivate his thoughts and forge his spirit, he discovered his spiritual sense had increased by a tenth. He finally began to understand why, after a profound realization, one's spirit could undergo sublimation. Every strong emotion propelled their growth. No wonder TV dramas often portrayed cultivators, male or female, entering the mundane world to temper their hearts after encountering a bottleneck; it truly was a method of breakthrough. Of course, there was also the risk of succumbing entirely and having one's spiritual state shattered.

"How about we all have a farewell meal the day after tomorrow?" At that moment, the class monitor, Mo Simin, stood up and called out to the entire class. Most students cheered enthusiastically, while a few who were more socially anxious looked hesitant but didn't voice their refusal.

"Hey, Chen, come join us! We're all going our separate ways soon, and who knows when we'll see each other again." Lu Hongsheng, who enjoyed a lively atmosphere, leaned closer and immediately began to persuade Chen Mobai when he saw no reaction. Pu Jiangxue and Yu Shu, two beautiful girls from the front row, also came over to encourage him.

Chen Mobai considered it and nodded in agreement. Song Zheng, on the other hand, flatly refused, stating he intended to use the time to cultivate a powerful new spell. "His Dao heart is truly unwavering," Chen Mobai thought, a little wistfully.

Chen Mobai watched Song Zheng rise and leave without hesitation, shaking his head with a wry smile. It wasn't that he lacked emotional intelligence; rather, to be someone with high emotional intelligence often meant compromising oneself to accommodate others. Therefore, he usually expressed his thoughts directly, just as he had done the first time he went for grilled fish with Qing Nu. For cultivators, a clear and unburdened mind prevented the rise of inner demons. If one harbored many unfulfilled desires or grievances, future breakthroughs would inevitably be fraught with difficulties, potentially even leading to a fractured spiritual state.

"I'm heading off now. Once you've decided on the time and place, just let me know," Chen Mobai told Lu Hongsheng before standing up to leave. Lu Hongsheng opened his mouth, intending to say something, but for some reason, the image of Song Zheng and Chen Mobai walking in together earlier came to mind. He seemed to grasp something subtly and ultimately gave a quiet nod.

Upon returning home, Chen Mobai searched for information regarding spell combat in the Immortal Sect's entrance examinations. He found that sixty-nine years ago, Wangwu Grotto-Heaven's entrance exam had featured a spell combat. The eventual victor was a student from a military family.

After all, 'spell combat,' in common terms, was simply fighting. And those most skilled in fighting were undoubtedly soldiers. While the Immortal Sect's army hadn't engaged in any life-or-death battles for the past century, a martial and combative spirit had always prevailed. Constant practice and daily sparring would naturally make one formidable in spell combat.

Chen Mobai eventually found a news report featuring an interview with the winner. "To excel in spell combat, practical experience is paramount," the winner had stated. "Three years of practicing spells won't compare to three months of rigorous military training. You only see my victory, but not the countless scars from my childhood, constantly drilled and healed." To Chen Mobai's surprise, he knew the winner's name: Lan Haitain.