Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Kang Lu ‘s Achievements
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin didn’t care about the order of the examination, since going earlier or later didn’t have much impact either way.
All 3000 disciples had drawn their own order. The Pill Array was as quiet as a mouse. Some people looked at their own order number, their faces visibly nervous.
Others were sitting there in a daze, while many more were striving to calm themselves down.
Fang Lin looked at Lu Xiaoqing and seeing her being quite nervous, he smiled and said, “Don’t be so nervous. Look at me, I’m not nervous at all.”
Lu Xiaoqing gave Fang Lin a disdainful look, saying, “You think everyone is as carefree as you.”
Fang Lin chuckled and responded, “Sometimes being carefree is better, and besides, you won’t pass the examination this time either, so why be so serious?”
Lu Xiaoqing slapped Fang Lin in irritation. Who even talks like that? Even though she Imew that her chances of passing were slim, she still harbored some hope. What if she miraculously passed?
Fang Lin and Lu Xiaoqing were chatting softly to each other, aiming to alleviate Lu Xiaoqing’s nervousness.
Not far away, Sun Hao was staring at Fang Lin and Lu Xiaoqing with a particularly venomous look, his fists clenched tightly.
Ever since his embarrassing incident that night, Sun Hao had become the laughing stock among the Pill Apprentices. Even those who used to get along well with him became alienated.
After all, trying to kick in a female disciple’s door in the middle of the night, then being beaten up by Fang Lin — the humiliation was too great. Who would want to associate with him after that?
Sun Hao could clearly remember the events of that night, his heart full of resentment. He wasn’t only angry with Fang Lin, but also Lu Xiaoqing. As for Kang Lu, who goaded him into kicking the door, he dared not harbour resentment towards him.
Not far from the Pill Array, a woman was watching everyone on the Pill Array with a cold gaze. It was Cao Ying, who had been punished by Meng Wuyou, being deprived of one opportunity to take the exam.
Out of 3000 disciples, only Cao Ying was deprived of her chance to take this year’s exam, and was thus not the eligible to participate. She could only watch from afar.
Hate was clearly visible on Cao Ying’s charming face, along with a hint of regret. If it wasn’t for her trying to curry favor with Kang and inciting Sun Hao, she wouldn’t be caught in her current predicament.
Nonetheless, resentment was her most dominant emotion. She resented Fang Lin, Lu Xiaoqing, and Meng Wuyou.
Brother Kang, I wish you all the best in clinching first place in this examination and become an official disciple,” Kang Lu’s followers were speaking up one after another.
“I wish Brother Kang a bright future.”
“I wish Brother Kang will get the top score!”
Listening to these praises, Kang Lu felt elated. However, thinking of Fang Lin’s presence, a hint of gloom flashed across his eyes.
Noticing Kang Lu’s change of expression, a Pill Apprentice whispered: “Brother, are you worrying about Fang Lin?”
Kang Lu nodded. He indeed was worried about Fang Lin. He was worried that Fang Lin might affect his status during the exam.
The Pill Apprentice chuckled, “Brother, there’s no need to worry. Even if Fang Lin is a genius, this is his first time taking the exam. Even if he performs well, he can’t become an official disciple yet. On a conservative estimate, Brother, you have at least a ninety percent chance of becoming an official disciple this time. Once you become an official disciple, would you still need to care about a small character like Fang Lin?”
Kang Lu felt relieved by these words. He understood the truth in them but would always feel a bit uneasy whenever he thought about Fang Lin’s exceptional potential.
“Even if you, Fang Lin, are a genius, you can’t possibly become an official disciple in one go. Eventually, you’ll still be stepped on by me, Kang Lu, to be at my mercy!” Kang Lu mentally snorted in disdain.
An elderly man named Zhou surveyed the audience and coughed twice before saying, “All disciples have received their order numbers. Let the examination begin. Those from number one to a hundred, take your assigned order numbers and proceed to the corresponding chambers for the exam.”
Just as he said, a hundred disciples rose, following Zhao Dengming towards the chambers for the exam. Lu Xiaoqing, being number seventy-three, was naturally included.
“Good luck!” Fang Lin cheered for Lu Xiaoqing.
Lu Xiaoqing smiled and followed the crowd.
An hour later, the hundred people returned. With the exception of a few who had a trace of anticipation and excitement, the rest were downcast and sullen.
Lu Xiaoqing was pouting and seemed slightly upset. Fang Lin could tell from one look that she had probably suffered a setback in the exam.
Upon their return, Fang Lin comforted her saying, “It’s alright, you’ll pass after a few more tries.”
Lu Xiaoqing sighed, appearing rather reluctant.
Soon, the results of the first hundred participants were released. The highest scorer only had two hundred forty points, while the lowest did not even reach a hundred points.
Lu Xiaoqing’s score was neither high nor low, having a hundred ninety points, which was about average.
Of course, none of the hundred people managed to meet the promotion criteria and all failed.
Those who initially thought they might have achieved the promotion score were dumbfounded when they saw their results.
Kang Lu smirked disdainfully. He had already experienced two examination cycles and was considered a veteran among the Pill Apprentices. He knew how difficult the examination was. It was simply wishful thinking to believe that one could become an official disciple after one or two tries.
From the history of the Pill Apprentices, the quickest one to become an official disciple underwent two exams and those who only took three exams were considered quick.
“Next batch, numbers one hundred and one to two hundred, enter the chambers,” the elderly man named Zhou announced.
Another hundred disciples stood up, Sun Hao was among them.
Sun Hao wasn’t a young disciple. He had already undergone one exam and this year would be his second.
However, from Sun Hao’s absent-minded look, it was clear that this year’s results were likely to be worse than last year’s.
As expected, when the results were released an hour later, Sun Hao only scored a hundred points, he even performed worse than Lu Xiaoqing who was only in her first year as an apprentice.
Batch after batch of disciples entered the chambers to take the exam. During the sixth batch, Kang Lu was among the participants.
“Kang Lu is surely going to become an official disciple this year,” Zhao Dengming nodded in acknowledgement.
Mu Yan and Meng Wuyou remained silent, while the elderly man Zhou gave a soft chuckle.
Seeing that no one agreed with him, Zhao Dengming’s face darkened and he huffed in displeasure.
When Kang Lu and his batch of disciples came out, everyone saw that Kang Lu had a slight smile on his face, an excited look in his eyes.
Seeing this, everyone understood that Kang Lu seemed confident about his results this time.
When the scores were announced, everyone looked at Kang Lu with envy.
Kang Lu’s score was astonishingly two hundred and eighty, meaning he had passed the exam and could become an official disciple.
“Bravo!” Zhao Dengming couldn’t help but exclaim in delight, which caused Mu Yan to roll her eyes in response.
“Congratulations, Brother Kang!” Kang Lu’s followers also congratulated him in unison, with their faces alight with joy..