For the second test, our knowledge was put to trial. The examiner began with a simple yet layered question:
> "How should one proceed for cultivation?"
I replied, "There are many ways to cultivate, but the best path depends on the individual. For example, if a young woman wishes to learn cultivation, it wouldn't be ideal to go to extremes with body refinement right away. Instead, a blend of delicate techniques and balanced exercise would better serve her. The key lies in judging which method suits the person's physique and nature, then tailoring the training accordingly."
The examiner moved on to more questions—topics of theory, energy flow, and body discipline. I might not have possessed the encyclopedic knowledge some candidates did, but I knew how to present my answers with confidence and clarity. When the second test concluded, I could tell I had left an impression.
The final stage was a practical teaching test. Each candidate was given a class with only one student. Mine was a boy named Wang Tao—around fifteen years old, with a lean build, sharp black eyes, and an impatient energy, like a wild colt waiting to run. His hands bore faint calluses, suggesting he'd already dabbled in physical training.
As the test began, I followed what I had said in the previous round: first, understand the student. I spoke with Wang Tao for a while, learning about his interests and training habits. Then I asked him to perform a few basic exercises. His movements were raw but powerful; he had the stamina for more extreme physical cultivation.
"It seems the extreme body refinement method suits you best," I told him. Over the next three hours, I guided him through advanced physical drills, corrected his postures, and taught him how to focus his breathing to amplify each movement. By the end, his sweat-soaked tunic clung to him, yet his eyes were bright—he could already feel his body responding to the training.
When the class ended, the examiners recalled all candidates and announced the results. As expected, I passed.
We were taken to the Headmaster's office for formal induction. The Headmaster was an elderly man with long white hair, a neatly combed mustache, and a flowing beard that reached his chest. His eyes were deep, calm pools, yet his presence carried an undeniable weight, like a mountain standing before the wind. The faint hum of spiritual energy around him made the room feel heavier. He didn't need to speak to command respect—his very aura did that. Seeing him, I thought, One day, I will stand even higher than you.
After the formalities, I was assigned a room in the teachers' dormitory and told my duties would begin in five days. I returned to my inn, packed my belongings, and moved in immediately.
Those five days passed in steady rhythm. I trained daily, explored the academy grounds, and spoke with other teachers to understand their methods. Soon enough, the morning of my debut arrived—the day I would stand before students as an official teacher of White Tiger Academy.