As they walked through the grand and advanced main hall, Su Xinyi couldn't help but steal glances at Ling Xian's profile.
The main hall was spacious and clean, filled with modern architecture and glowing holographic panels suspended in the air. Information scrolled across transparent screens, displaying schedules, campus maps, and examination notices.
Groups of students moved through the hall, some chatting excitedly, others quietly reviewing materials as they walked.
Su Xinyi walked beside Ling Xian, matching his pace. Though they were surrounded by people, the silence between them felt noticeable to her.
Su Xinyi secretly wondered which family he belonged to. From the moment they met, Ling Xian didn't behave like most applicants. He wasn't nervous, nor did he seem impressed by the scale of the academy. His reactions were minimal, as if everything here was expected.
Moreover, he hadn't even told her his name.
They had already spoken a few times, yet she realized she still knew almost nothing about him. After hesitating briefly, she decided to ask.
"Hey, classmate? If it's not too much trouble... could you tell me your surname?"
Ling Xian glanced at her expressionlessly, pondered for a moment, and replied curtly, "Xian."
There was no emphasis in his tone, and he didn't elaborate further.
Su Xinyi nodded, secretly delighted. "Great! I finally know my classmate's surname!"
She smiled lightly, satisfied by this small piece of information. At least now, she didn't have to refer to him as "that quiet guy" in her head.
Ling Xian clearly captured her thoughts with his telepathy.
It wasn't something he consciously focused on. Over time, sensing surface-level thoughts and emotions had become natural. He didn't actively probe others' minds, but when emotions were strong or intentions obvious, they reached him effortlessly.
During his years living in the modern era, he had discovered two things: first, he had gained telepathic abilities; second, the dimensional spiritual energy had never been interrupted.
Even after arriving in this era, the flow of spiritual energy around him remained stable. It wasn't as dense as in ancient times, but it was far more structured.
When Wang Xiehuang used the Transdimensional Soul Restoration Technique to send him to the future, his soul hadn't shattered but remained intact.
That was the most important part.
Unlike normal reincarnation, which involved fragmentation and memory loss, his soul had crossed time whole. Because of that, the transition had been unusually smooth.
This allowed his soul to quickly find a body for reincarnation.
In other words, I created a clone for myself!
The thought surfaced calmly, without pride or surprise. The body he inhabited now functioned independently, yet it was undeniably connected to his original existence.
His true self now existed in a dimension beyond our comprehension.
Ling Xian didn't know the exact nature of that dimension, nor did he feel the need to investigate it further. He was aware of its existence, and that was enough.
He had never imagined that resurrection could be such a seamless transition. One moment he was in ancient times, surrounded by sects and cultivation battles, and the next he was standing in a modern academy equipped with advanced technology.
He couldn't help but marvel at how efficiently this world was constructed.
✮⋆˙ ✮⋆˙ ✮⋆˙
As they walked, Su Xinyi kept trying to strike up conversations, desperately trying to break the awkward silence between them.
"So, have you already checked the campus layout?"
No response.
"I heard this school has really high graduation standards."
Still nothing.
She glanced at him, clearly annoyed by his lack of reaction.
"Hmph! Say something, Xian!"
Her frustration was obvious, and Ling Xian could sense it easily. After a brief pause, he finally spoke.
"The entrance exam."
Su Xinyi blinked. "Oh. You mean, how difficult is it?"
He nodded.
Su Xinyi cleared her throat and explained, "Well, it's similar to VR technology. But when we put on the devices, we're transported to our own materialized worlds to complete the exam independently. That's all I know. It's written in the instruction manual on the holographic screen."
She pointed vaguely toward one of the floating displays nearby.
Ling Xian: "I understand."
The explanation was sufficient.
So it's a game installation...
The test wasn't just a simple assessment. It was an environment constructed specifically for each participant. That meant the difficulty could vary widely.
How am I supposed to keep a low profile?!
Ling Xian considered the problem seriously. No matter what kind of test it was, suppressing his abilities would require deliberate control.
No matter what, he had to act even more ordinary than before.
Classroom 2001 was on the second floor. Inside, students were chatting animatedly.
The classroom was large, with neatly arranged desks and wide windows that let in natural light.
Several students had already taken their seats, while others stood in small groups discussing the exam.
The examiners sat in the front row, scrutinizing the list of students taking the exam today.
They spoke quietly among themselves, occasionally glancing up to observe the room.
When Su Xinyi and Ling Xian entered the classroom, all eyes immediately turned to them.
Ling Xian: "..."
Without reacting to the attention, Ling Xian acted swiftly, casually walking to the back row and taking a seat.
His movements were efficient and unremarkable. He placed his bag down and sat quietly, as if he had always belonged there.
As for Su Xinyi, everyone was shocked that she would even attend this school!
Whispers spread quickly across the room.
She was from the wealthy family lineage "Meihua." Her family was head of the renowned Qionghua Galaxy Corporation.
This company was renowned for selling Spirit Pills.
To be precise, they specialized in Spiritual Pills.
Their products were widely used by cultivators across multiple regions, making the company highly influential.
Even more noteworthy was her exceptional swordsmanship. She had consistently ranked first in her class at Qi Condensation Middle School.
Her immense influence meant that the students were utterly astonished to see her here!
Even the examiners were shocked.
They hurriedly flipped through the student roster, locating her name and identity.
"Holy shit! She's taking the entrance exam too?!"
Standing quietly nearby, Ling Xian overheard the students' murmurs about her and couldn't help but sigh.
I'm getting too close to this school's princess. I need to keep my distance...
Attention like this always led to complications, and complications were exactly what he wanted to avoid.
The last thing Ling Xian wanted was for rumors about them to spread.
After a brief hushed discussion, the examiners suddenly signaled for silence.
The room gradually quieted.
A female examiner with round-framed glasses rose and solemnly announced, "Today marks your formal entrance examination. Congratulations to all of you—you are among the 50,000 students who passed the first round of applications. During your studies at Phoenix Ridge's Seventy-Three Academies Dao Cultivation High School, you will acquire vast knowledge. Upon graduation, you will automatically advance to university. Cherish your three to four years at this institution. Best of luck."
A male examiner nodded in agreement. "Well said. Now, everyone, prepare yourselves. Please put on your VR headsets and prepare for the 2D game installation test."
Ling Xian lowered his gaze slightly as the devices were distributed.
The exam was about to begin.