Era of Mist

The beautiful, curvy girl spoke up, "Un... that is, ahem, f-fellow student."

’Could you not sound so forced when you call me ’fellow student’?!’

"Fellow student, my sister is taking the provincial examination this year, and I’m here to cheer her on. But I’m a little... hehe, you know, not good with directions. Could I trouble you to take me to the examination office?"

’Oh, so not only is she short, but she also has no sense of direction. What a poor kid.’

Shi Tiexin checked the time. It was already 9:45. The provincial examination started at 10:00, so it was about time. Captain Chen had assigned him to the model squad—don’t be surprised, compared to the level of the provincial examination candidates, Shi Tiexin’s cultivation level was only good enough to be a model.

He was tall and powerful, with a dignified air, but his muscles weren’t going to be enough to suppress any trouble here. If any trouble broke out, sharp-aura experts would be responsible. He was basically just for show, so being a model was the perfect role for him.

The model squad’s job was to stand at attention on the edge of the examination grounds when the provincial examination began, adding to the grandeur of the occasion. Seeing that it was almost time, it was perfect to take this directionally challenged girl with him.

"Alright, follow me."

Shi Tiexin looked up at the conspicuous, massive venue not far away, then at the straight, grid-like roads. He really couldn’t understand how this directionally challenged person had managed to get lost.

The little directionally challenged girl had a sweet voice. "Thank you, thank you, Un... Uncle-Brother."

’What the hell is an ’Uncle-Brother’?!’

’Does this girl have a few screws loose?’

"My name is Shi Tiexin, and I’m a student at the primary school in Mu Yuan District." ’The key point is,’ he thought, ’my surname is Shi, not Uncle!’

"Oh, so we share the same surname! What a coincidence, a pleasure to meet you!" the short, directionally challenged girl said happily. "My name is Shi Yuwei, and I study in the South City District. I’m about to take the Junior Provincial Examination soon. My sister told me to come and observe carefully, so I can perform well in my own Junior Provincial Examination!"

’W-wait a minute, what’s your name? How the hell do we share a surname?!’

’No, forget it, that’s not the point. The point is—can observing the provincial examination actually help you perform better in the Junior Provincial Examination?’

’Wouldn’t that be just perfect? I’m right in the front row of all the observers!’

’But what good could observing the provincial examination possibly do for the junior one?’

Just as Shi Tiexin was pondering this, the two of them arrived at the examination venue. "Thanks, Uncle-Brother, I’m off!" The short, directionally challenged Shi Yuwei waved at Shi Tiexin, then darted off like a wild rabbit let loose, disappearing in a flash.

It sounded amusing, but Shi Tiexin was inwardly shaken. The short girl was incredibly fast, and her stance looked extremely solid. It seemed her Force Arts cultivation was at a considerable level. The volume of her pseudo-core was probably larger than a quail’s egg, far more powerful than his own mung-bean-sized one. Among primary school students, that was already an impressively high standard.

’South City District, Junior Provincial Examination?’

’It seems this Junior Provincial Examination is full of hidden masters. I don’t know what her Mind Arts cultivation is like, but it looks like there’s no shortage of geniuses among my peers. The situation is more serious than I imagined.’

’Perfect. Being a model this time was the right choice. Let me see what secrets this so-called provincial examination holds!’

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

Tumu Castle First Orthodox School was the best orthodox-level school in Tumu Fortress Space City. Compared to Fengming First Middle School from the other timeline, Tumu Castle First Orthodox School had many features unique to the Era of Mist. Because it was located in a Space City, the First Orthodox School’s grounds weren’t very spacious, and it seemed there were no dormitories to speak of. But its style was all the more magnificent.

Shi Tiexin had originally thought the examination would be held in a place like an academic building, where students would be assigned to different rooms and take the test one by one. Just like the Junior Provincial Examinations in history, it would be best to have single-person rooms, supplemented by strict proctoring to prevent cheating.

But what he saw before him left Shi Tiexin completely baffled.

This wasn’t an academic building at all, but a place resembling a gymnasium, or even the Roman Colosseum, with a dome that wasn’t even enclosed. Moreover, the candidates weren’t in individual rooms, or even separated into different exam halls. Instead, they were all standing together on a one-and-a-half-meter-high circular platform in the middle of the arena.

At 9:55 AM, everyone was in position. The venue’s main doors were sealed, and both the candidates and the observers stood still in their respective areas. The candidates stood on the circular platform below, while the observers stood in the viewing galleries. No one sat down; the examinees couldn’t sit, and neither could the observers. The setup was certainly peculiar.

"It’s too far! I can’t see a thing!"

At the very back and edge of the stands, the ten people from the Star Worker School craned their necks pitifully. Someone, unable to get a clear view of the situation on the floor, couldn’t help but complain.

"All of you, shut up and stand straight! There’s a big shot from the Student Union here today. If anyone dares to embarrass the Star Worker Union, watch how I deal with you!"

At He Chong’s low shout, everyone fell silent like cicadas in winter.

What could He Chong do? Seating was assigned according to one’s standing in the martial world. Though he acted like a king at school, here he was just a minor figure. He didn’t dare make a fuss, lest it lead to some undesirable consequences. So, under He Chong’s threat, everyone acted with caution, tucking their tails between their legs, hoping their view would improve slightly once the exam officially began.

Looking down from afar, the candidates on the platform were also standing in neat rows, standing tall and poised. Surrounding the circular platform, imposing and powerful-looking security guards in uniform black outfits stood in a circle, facing the platform with their heads held high. The scene was breathtakingly grand and imposing, filled with the spirit of an era where everyone practiced martial arts.

And mixed in among this circle of impressive-looking security guards was the for-show-only Iron Tyrant.

He had no idea what was going on, or why an examination was being conducted like a sports meet. But his face betrayed nothing. His chin was slightly raised, his expression solemn and stern, his eyes filled with scrutiny. Though his mind was full of question marks, if you just looked at his appearance, the guy looked like the leader of the model squad.

Just as Shi Tiexin was wondering about all this, he suddenly heard a commotion from the stands.

"The City Lord!"

"City Lord Shen is here!"

Shi Tiexin didn’t turn his head or move his face. He strained to move his eyeballs, but ultimately failed. There was no helping it; the City Lord and the others seemed to be positioned directly behind him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t roll his eyes into the back of his head.

Looking around was definitely not allowed while on security duty. Captain Chen had made it very clear that if he lost his composure and displeased a VIP, the consequences would be severe. Besides, it didn’t seem that important what the City Lord looked like, so Shi Tiexin quickly gave up on the idea of trying to see the big shot.

But soon, a new uproar erupted from the stands.

"Look! Who is that person City Lord Shen is being so respectful to?"

"You idiot, that’s the Lord Sacrificial Officer from the Student Union! The Lord Sacrificial Officer is the chief examiner for this test!"

"Gods, this is the first time I’ve ever seen the Lord Sacrificial Officer! A super expert at the Third Heaven Magic Realm of Mind Arts!"

’What? What was that?’

’What Scholar Union Sacrificial Officer? What Magic Realm? I’ve never heard of any of this stuff!’

Shi Tiexin’s curiosity was instantly piqued. He could ignore the City Lord, but he was very interested in a super expert, so he once again tried to roll his eyes around to find an opportunity. But he tried this way and that for a long time, right until the City Lord had finished his speech, and still found no way to look directly behind his own head.

’Forget it. A Magic Realm Sacrificial Officer... his standing in the martial world is too far above mine. I’d better not look.’

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