Chapter 22 Who on Earth Is It

Exam scene.

Bai Wendao, dressed in the second-order magical treasure "Golden Iron Robe," walked to the center of the examination area.

The practical assessment had many requirements for students, but the requirements for teachers were quite simple.

The teachers needed to simulate "Body Cultivation," a task for which the magical treasure "Golden Iron Robe" already compensated. Therefore, all the teacher needed to do was suppress their cultivation level to Qi training and ensure not to release any spell that was above Qi training level and aggressive in nature.

Generally, exams didn't require teachers to go all out.

After all, teachers were at the Foundation Establishment stage and, with the aid of high-level magical treasures, even just throwing punches, they were not something the students could contend with.

The teacher's main task was essentially to get on the field and take the students' hits, then chase them around when the time was almost up, just for show.

If students could still be annihilated by a teacher under these circumstances, they indeed had no necessity to graduate.

However, Tao Weiping seriously reminded Bai Wendao.

He said, "Once attacked by a 'Healing Talisman,'" "if your body feels numb and sore, don't move at all."

Bai Wendao did not take Tao Weiping's advice seriously.

Wasn't this a joke?

A "Healing Talisman" could attack?

If the teacher's body felt numb and didn't move, wouldn't this exam just become a complete capitulation to the students?

Bai Wendao prided himself on integrity, treating his students earnestly and responsibly. He absolutely would not water down an exam.

Moreover, he also believed that students from the Sword Cultivation Academy were definitely not those in need of his leniency; cunning, advantage-seeking children.

Sword cultivators not only cultivate swordsmanship but also temperament.

If one's temperament was not upright, the path ahead would inevitably be short.

After Bai Wendao arrived and took his position in the middle of the examination arena, his opponents, three students from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, also arrived at the assessment field.

Their exam area was the most challenging—the grassland field.

Here, teachers and students would confront each other in a bona fide face-off.

There was no possibility of trickery.

Bai Wendao had not taken action in a long time, and now facing a few wet-behind-the-ears kids, seeing them so young and full of vigor, a desire to fight also arose in him.

"Lads, attack boldly; there's no need to hold back!"

The three students split into three groups, encircling Bai Wendao.

Bai Wendao nodded in approval.

However, as the students unleashed several sword energies that struck his body, he shook his head.

These sword energies were light and scattered, far too weak.

If this was the extent of these three's abilities, then their graduation today seemed quite unlikely.

Bai Wendao had no sympathy for these students. In his view, those who did not excel in their studies should return to reforge their skills; otherwise, letting them graduate would bring disgrace to the Sword Cultivation Academy.

Bai Wendao, enduring the sword energies, began to chase after the three students.

But to his surprise, these students seemed to be wearing magical treasure boots, running incredibly fast.

"With limited spiritual power at Qi training, magical treasure boots consume a lot, Old Master wants to see how long you can hold on."

After a chase, the three students indeed began to slow down more and more.

Bai Wendao shook his head with regret, "Tricks will never suffice for great endeavors."

He bent his elbow and swung his fist, poised to eliminate a student, when unexpectedly, the student clenched a talisman and turned to deploy it on him.

It seemed to be the effects of a 'Healing Talisman' applied to his body.

Bai Wendao was astonished.

Using the wrong talisman was a basic mistake that could not be more elementary.

This student truly did not deserve to graduate.

He was about to take action when he felt a numb soreness spreading over his body.

At that moment, Bai Wendao remembered Tao Weiping's words: if your body feels numb and sore, absolutely do not move.

Not move?

What a joke.

Weiping, today Old Master will show you, this is not how a teacher should act!

Bai Wendao's fist had already swung out, but who could have anticipated that his arm would start cramping!

His fighting instinct prompted him to move his legs and step back, but even more unexpectedly, his legs also began to cramp!

Bai Wendao looked down in shock, and then he discovered that it wasn't just his legs and feet—every small, intricate muscle from his shoulders to his neck, back, and waist, without exception, all succumbed to cramping!

The intense pain accompanying the muscle cramps flooded Bai Wendao's brain.

But the pain was secondary to him; the crucial issue was that he found himself completely unable to move!

It was as if he had been frozen in place by a binding spell.

If it were a binding spell, Bai Wendao believed that the effect couldn't last for long.

But who knew, he had waited for more than ten seconds, and the cramping effect still hadn't subsided.

He didn't even know when this restricted state would end!

This was too bizarre, truly too bizarre!

What on earth was the Healing Talisman used by that student?

While Bai Wendao was shocked by the effect of the talisman—

the three students who were participating in the assessment strolled over with their hands in their pockets, looking relaxed.

"Is it about time?"

"Let's wrap this up quickly."

The last student said, "We originally wanted to keep a low profile, but Teacher, you were pursuing us too closely. We had to end the assessment early."

Bai Wendao: ???

Bai Wendao: What do you mean? I haven't been lenient, and now you're also pouring water into the mix?

Before Bai Wendao could figure it out, the disrespectful students swept his legs, toppling him to the ground.

Bai Wendao, the respected professor, was laid out on the ground in a twisted pose, like a mouse instantly frozen by the roadside in the northern winter.

This resulted in the students' scores for the practical assessment:

7 minutes and 50 seconds!

A new record set!

...

Outside the examination venue, Bai Wendao was furious.

This practical assessment was just too disgraceful!

The students cheated on the exam, and the teachers got knocked down cluelessly. If this was the ethos of the Sword Cultivation Academy, forget about upgrading to the 'A' rank, they wouldn't even be able to maintain a 'B'! Might as well disband on the spot!

"It infuriates me, what are these students doing! They show no respect for me at all. Weiping, what are you doing? How could you let them bring such an obviously illegal talisman into the exam!?"

Tao Weiping looked at his professor sympathetically.

To be honest, he initially shared Bai Wendao's sentiments, but people always need a period to get used to changes. They also didn't accept it at first, trying all kinds of methods, but the talisman truly was peculiar, and they had no choice but to concede.

"Professor Bai, we checked, and this 'Muscle Relaxation Talisman' does indeed comply with the rules. It fits our exam regulations perfectly in every sense. We can't do anything about it."

"Can't you find some spell, or talisman, or magical treasure to counter the effects of this muscle talisman?"

"Teacher, please calm down. We've considered what you suggested. But such measures, they wouldn't conform to our exam requirements. Take magical treasures, for example; we only allow teachers to carry one second-order magical treasure. Bringing more would be against the rules. Then, not only the students, but the Imperial College would also not let our academy off the hook."

"This..."

Bai Wendao hadn't thought it through that thoroughly for a moment.

The simplest way to ban illegal talismans would be to include a prohibition list in the exam rules. However, the examination regulations for the Sword Cultivation Academy's graduation exam were set by the Imperial College. The academy had no right to unilaterally change them.

And even if they were to change them, they couldn't just amend the rules halfway through an exam. Such action would not only be irregular from a legal standpoint but would also amount to the academy smacking its own face.

Now they would have to find another way to implicitly ban use.

Bai Wendao said, "This talisman, it must have been drawn by a Talisman Master, right? You go and contact the Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect in Wuyue City, find the unscrupulous Talisman Master who can draw this talisman. Tell him to stop. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Tao Weiping smiled and said, "Teacher and our dean thought of the same thing. However, our dean is from the Linlan Sect. He disdains bowing down to seek help from the Talisman Master Association, Task Hall, and other influences of Tongtian Sect in Wuyue City. So he had trustworthy students specifically purchase the talisman to lure out the delivery person and planned to personally follow the talisman's deliverer for a frank talk."

Bai Wendao wasn't worried about Dean Lei losing the trail.

Lei Buxiao, a Core Formation Cultivator, was among the small number of experts in Wuyue City. If he could lose track of a minor at most in the Foundation Establishment stage, he might as well smash his head at the base of the academic building.

"Following minors, if this gets out..." said Bai Wendao with concern.

Tao Weiping said, "Don't worry, Teacher. With Dean Lei's methods, he will surely 'coincidentally' encounter them. How could he follow a minor?"

Bai Wendao still felt it was inappropriate to track minors. However, considering the overt and covert struggles between the Five Great Immortal Sects, he understood why Lei Buxiao wouldn't want to ask Tongtian Sect for help.

Tracking a minor would be a stain on Lei Buxiao's own face. But if the Imperial College's inspection team found out that students were freely using advanced talismans and the academy was powerless to intervene, allowing students to get away with it, it would be a stain on the face of the Sword Cultivation Academy. And if they were to seek help from the Tongtian Sect, it would be the Linlan Sect losing face.

In this situation, someone had to lose face, and the least impactful option was for Lei Buxiao to lose his own.

While they were discussing this, teacher and pupil arrived at the base of the academic building, just to see Dean Lei surveying the building from below.

"Dean? Weren't you..." Tao Weiping exclaimed in surprise.

By rights, Dean Lei should have been tracking the minor at that moment. Why would he appear in the academy? Could it be that he had actually lost track of the minor?

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Dean Lei's face. To be fair, he had tried his best, but there was something indescribable about that woman who delivered the talisman. The moment his attention lapsed, he lost sight of her completely.

Unable to have a private chat with the Talisman Master as planned, Lei Buxiao had no choice but to change his strategy and directly seek out the leader of the Talisman Masters. With a strained face, he said, "Professor Bai, I heard you have considerable connections in Wuyue City. I have an unfavorable request to make."

Bai Wendao: ?