Calamity of Tomorrow

The proctors all examined Zuo Dao’s test. A moment later, they looked astonished.

“This is…” the female proctor with a ponytail said in shock. “This is the principal’s Pure and Turbid Breathing Method. You taught it to Zuo Dao?”

Zhao Shouyi shook his head, “The knowledge on the Heaven Usurpation Map can’t rashly be taught to people who aren’t students of the four big Tao academies. I didn’t even teach it to my own grandson. Why would I teach it to him?”

“It’s not the Pure and Turbid Breathing Method,” the male proctor with piercing eyes, Xing Jun, said. “Although it’s somewhat similar, it’s rougher and more primitive. It looks like it would only have less than half the potency of the Pure and Turbid Breathing Method.”

“He comprehended this from the Heaven Usurpation Map.” Lu Chongyang sighed. “This kid’s comprehension capacity is incredible. If I remember correctly, teacher, didn’t you learn the Pure and Turbid Breathing Method from the Heaven Usurpation Map?”

Zhao Shouyi nodded approvingly. The longer he examined Zuo Dao’s test, the more apparent the admiration in his eyes. Then he looked at Zuo Dao’s grades from the previous rounds and treasured this new talent, “Not bad. This gift and ability, it’s comparable to my own in my youth.”

The female proctor with a ponytail said, “Then he must be in first place this year.”

Xing Jun nodded, “His Primordial Spirit Value is one hundred five, his Degree of Taofication is one percent. He managed to do this before he even entered the school. There’s no controversy over him being in first place.”

“Not necessarily,” a proctor who’d not spoken yet said. “Take a look at this.”

They looked at another test. It contained a short line of words, but it made the five people present go blank.

“The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.”

A long while later, Zhao Shouyi said slowly, “These two sentences are magnificent and grand. They’re even better than Zuo Dao’s.”

The female proctor with a ponytail said, “Principal, just this obscure line is better than Zuo Dao’s Tranquil Breathing Method? I don’t think that’s convincing. It’s too mysterious. Who knows what this applicant thought when he wrote it?”

As she said this, she turned to look at Xing Jun. “Xing Jun, what do you think?”

“These two sentences…” Xing Jun pondered as he read the line of words on the test. His expression changed slightly, but he didn’t answer the female proctor.

Zhao Shouyi smiled then asked the female proctor, “Yuzhen, what do you think this sentence means?”

“Although it’s also a breathing method, it’s written so obscurely that I think even he himself doesn’t understand it. There’s no way he can use it to practice. How is it better than Zuo Dao’s?

Zhao Shouyi looked at Lu Chongyang on the side and asked, “What about you?”

Lu Chongyang said with a frown, “It looks like a method of swordsmanship, but it’s only a summary.”

The other proctor said faintly, “I think he’s talking about the study of runes, but it’s only a vague understanding.”

Seeing the other four proctors’ astonishment, Zhao Shouyi said in a low voice, “This line of words summarizes the contents of the entire Heaven Usurpation Map. But this applicant’s level isn’t high enough, so he only wrote these two lines. It’s only the beginning of the Heaven Usurpation Map’s description.”

Lu Chongyang said, “This level of comprehension exceeds Zuo Dao’s. Let me see…Zhou Bai. With his grades from the two previous rounds, he can be in first place.”

Yuzhen with the ponytail said, “It was just a flash of brilliance. Zuo Dao’s Primordial Spirit Value is one hundred and five. He hasn’t attended Tao academy, yet he has already entered the Tao. If he’s not in first place, who else can be in first place?”

“How can the first place in the entrance exam be determined purely based on the level of practice?” Lu Chongyang looked at the name on the test and said, “This Zhou Bai kid has an iron will…” Lu Chongyang told the rest of the proctors about Zhou Bai’s performance during the second round. The other proctors all showed expressions of approval.

Sun Yuzhen said, “The entire Zuo family is brave and loyal. Zuo Dao is the Zuo family’s only child. If he can’t rank first even with a hundred-and-five-point Primordial Spirit Value, we’re going to be drowned in the spit of the military.”

Lu Chongyang said, “The path of practicing Tao is long. When have we ever considered lineage? Did we ask our parents for help when we practiced?”

Looking at the two of them get louder and louder in the argument, Zhao Shouyi said, “If we can’t agree, then let’s decide by voting.”

Then, with a wave of his hand, Zuo Dao’s and Zhou Bai’s grades from the previous two rounds appeared before everyone.

Sun Yuzhen said, “I choose Zuo Dao.”

Lu Chongyang said, “Zhou Bai.”

The other proctor said, “Zuo Dao.”

Sun Yuzhen looked at Xing Jun, and Xing Jun glanced at Zhou Bai’s test again. He said in a quiet voice, “Zhou Bai.”

The next moment, the four proctors all turned their heads to Zhao Shouyi.

***

In the lounge, the applicants started to feel confused.

“Why is it taking so long?”

“Didn’t they say it’d be over in half an hour?”

Jing Xiu looked at the big screen with intrigue, “Brother Zhou, it’s been almost an hour. Why do you think the grades aren’t out yet?” As she said this, she turned around and saw Zhou Bai lying on the ground. She was befuddled. “Brother Zhou, why are you lying on the ground?”

Zhou Bai’s lips twitched. He looked at the Laziness value that hadn’t changed, then said, “I have nothing to do anyway, so I might as well practice.”

Jing Xiu watched him with admiration, “Brother Zhou, you work so hard.”

At that moment, the big screen lit up. Countless names and numbers flashed on it.

Jing Xiu exclaimed, “It’s here! Brother Zhou, they’re releasing the rankings! Your grades from the previous two rounds were so good, you’ll be in the top ten.”

Zhou Bai looked up too. Although he felt pretty confident when he’d copied the Tao Te Ching, by now he was a little worried that it didn’t suit this place and wouldn’t impress the proctors.

He looked at the rankings with overwhelming anxiety. Meanwhile, Jing Xiu said with glee, “Haha, I ranked ninth! I made it into the top ten. Mom and Dad will be so happy!”

The next moment, Jing Xiu continued reading, “Third place, Qian Wangsun.”

“Second place, Zuo Dao.”

“First place…Zhou Bai?”

Jing Xiu looked at Zhou Bai with deep respect, saying with admiration, “Brother Zhou, you ranked first! You’re the top candidate!”

Zhou Bai’s expression froze for a second, then he said quietly, “Not bad. This year’s proctors are pretty good.”

“Tch.” Christina tsked disapprovingly. “This Zhou Bai, in the first round he used the auxiliary system to add points. He raised it to ninety-nine points in ten days.

“In the second round, he relied on the auxiliary system too and confirmed his Primordial Spirit Value didn’t change. Plus he was already running out of strength…

“In the third round…hmph, who knows where he stole that comprehension from.

“He just cheated…slacked off, and managed to get first place in the entrance exam…Donghua Tao Academy has really gone downhill. Ugh, I didn’t serve any purpose at all. I thought that through this exam, I could make Zhou Bai more dependent on me.”

After the ranking was released, the top 600 were all very happy. The bottom 600 looked somber and sighed to themselves.

Zhao Shouyi walked out with the other four proctors. He said to the applicants in the lounge, “Everyone, this year’s grades are out now. The students who made it, don’t be proud. The ocean of Tao is boundless; getting into school is only the beginning. You still have many hardships to endure. I hope you can continue to work hard and see me on your graduation.”

Then, he looked at the applicants who failed the exam and said, “Those who have failed, don’t be discouraged. You were able to defeat the other applicants and become one of the twelve hundred people here. That already proves your gift and will. If you have the chance, try again next year. Even if you miss Tao academy, Paradise still has countless positions waiting for you.

“To resist against Mara, to take back our home, to protect our family, humankind needs every person’s power. I hope that even if you didn’t get into Tao academy, you can shine in other positions, and fight for the future of humankind.”

In these times of war, efficiency came first. After a few short words, Zhao Shouyi let the applicants scatter.

As for the students who passed the test, they had one day to prepare. They would officially enter the school on the third day and begin their career at the Tao academy.