Zhu Xiaosuo, standing at the end of the line, drew the attention of the crowd.
But it was rely attention.
No cultivator at the Honoring the Ancient Stage would lower themselves to converse with one at the Rebirth Stage.
Especially not a dying Rebirth Stage cultivator.
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't initiate conversation with anyone, simply standing quietly in line.
The cultivators here for the examination seed to have so background, and the examination process was not particularly swift.
On average, it took about the ti of a stick of incense to finish examining one person.
Most walked out with their heads hung low.
They probably didn't pass.
Finally, when the fifth person erged from the examination, he laughed heartily:
"I passed, I passed!!"
Seeing his exuberant deanor, there was not a trace of the majesty of a Honoring the Ancient Stage cultivator.
It was evident that becoming an academy instructor was a great honor for those at the Honoring the Ancient Stage.
As soon as the cultivator who passed the examination stepped out of the bamboo grove, a dozen spirit carriages descended, surrounding him.
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't know what they were doing, but seeing the cultivator's radiant face, it seed like a good thing.
Perhaps it was sothing like a marriage proposal?
Or maybe an invitation to be a guest elder for a family?
It didn't matter; it had nothing to do with him.
Of the eight people before Zhu Xiaosuo, only one passed the examination.
Finally, it was Zhu Xiaosuo's turn.
"Are you here to register for the academy instructor examination too?" asked the spirited female cultivator beside the wooden door.
"Yes."
"Rebirth Stage Fourth Layer?"
"Yes."
"Do you know that if you fail the examination, you will die?"
"Understood."
"If you're looking for fa, why not co back at the Bone Transformation Stage? Unless you have a death wish."
"Good advice is wasted on those destined to die. Senior, please let take the examination."
The female cultivator frowned, displeased:
"Since you're so set on dying, I have nothing more to say. Go in and turn right."
"Yes."
Zhu Xiaosuo stepped through the wooden door and found the interior filled with orchids and bamboo, exuding elegance.
Turning right, he walked down a small path, and after twenty or thirty steps, it opened up into a small courtyard.
In the courtyard, there was only a stone table and four stone stools.
Three people were already seated.
A middle-aged male cultivator with sharp eyebrows and wolf-like eyes.
A middle-aged female cultivator with three moles on her chin.
An elderly man with an immortal aura, his hair and beard white.
The three were conversing about sothing, seemingly disappointed.
Seeing Zhu Xiaosuo arrive, they stopped their conversation.
"Rebirth Stage Fourth Layer?" the middle-aged male cultivator asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Zhu Xiaosuo replied.
The middle-aged female cultivator seed to recall sothing and asked:
"Aren't you that Zhu... Zhu sothing?"
"Zhu Xiaosuo."
"Oh, right, you're Zhu Xiaosuo?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing Zhu Xiaosuo's na, the elderly man also scrutinized him:
"You're Zhu Xiaosuo?"
"Yes."
"I've lived a long life and seen all kinds of people. But soone like you, with a chance to marry into wealth and yet seeking death, is a first."
"Yes."
The sharp-eyed middle-aged cultivator seed to have heard of Zhu Xiaosuo as well, nodding slightly.
"Alright, since you're here, have a seat. I am Sha Daojing, the deputy head of the academy."
"Yes. Greetings, Dean Sha."
"It's Deputy Dean Sha."
"Yes, greetings, Deputy Dean Sha."
The female cultivator spoke:
"I am Tao Lii, the chief professor of the academy."
"Yes, greetings, Chief Professor Tao."
The elderly man said leisurely:
"I am Gui Yunfeng, the forr head of the academy."
"Yes, greetings, Forr Dean Gui."
"Ahem... My surna is Gui Yun."
"Yes, greetings, Dean Gui Yun."
"No need to add 'forr'!"
"Yes, greetings, Dean Gui Yun."
Sha Daojing spoke:
"Alright, introductions are over. Which subject do you plan to choose for the examination?"
Zhu Xiaosuo was taken aback.
What, you can choose?
He had no idea.
Shang Shan Qiusuo and Chen Pusuo never ntioned that there was a subject selection for the examination.
"This... you can choose?"
"You didn't know?"
"Uh... no."
"Why did you co for the examination if you didn't know? Are you mocking us?"
In anger, Sha Daojing slamd the stone table, shattering it.
Zhu Xiaosuo swallowed hard.
"Deputy Dean Sha, calm down. I've heard about his background; he's just a simpleton. How could he know about the academy instructor examination? Let explain it to you."
"Thank you, Chief Professor Tao."
"There are four subjects for the instructor examination: Mathematics, Literature, Music and Arts, and Craftsmanship."
"I choose Mathematics."
Zhu Xiaosuo chose Mathematics without hesitation.
He hadn't even heard what the other three were.
Even if he had, he wouldn't know them.
Sha Daojing was surprised that Zhu Xiaosuo casually picked one, growing even angrier:
"I think you shouldn't even take the exam. Since you're so intent on dying, I'll rcifully send you on your way!"
It seed Tao Lii and Gui Yunfeng had no intention of stopping him.
Zhu Xiaosuo quickly said:
"Wait, wait! Deputy Dean Sha, I'm not seeking death, I really only know Mathematics!"
"Mathematics is the hardest subject. You don't even know what the examination entails, yet you chose Mathematics?"
"Deputy Dean Sha, I've been learning Mathematics since I was in the womb. Please give a chance!"
Sha Daojing grew even angrier upon hearing this:
"Nonsense! Everyone knows your background! You're an orphan. If you rember things from the womb, how could you not know who your mother is?"
"Well... but I really do know Mathematics!"
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't expect that his impromptu lie to survive would be caught by Sha Daojing.
It was Tao Lii who intervened:
"Fine, let's give you a question. If you can't answer it, don't bla us for being ruthless."
"One question to decide life or death? Chief Professor Tao, can't I have a few more chances?"
Tao Lii coldly replied:
A quick look at "paw𝑟ead" will leave you more fulfilled.
"Don't push your luck. Either answer one question to determine your fate, or face death."
Zhu Xiaosuo hung his head:
"I'll answer, I'll answer, okay?"
"A pattern recognition question. In a sequence, the first six numbers are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. What is the next number?"
"Thirteen."
He answered instantly.
The three exchanged glances, sensing that Zhu Xiaosuo might not be simple:
"How did you calculate it?"
"The sum of the first two numbers in the sequence equals the third number."
Fibonacci, an old friend.
If he couldn't answer this, it would truly disgrace his PhD in engineering.
Hesitating even a second would an a brain clot.
"Alright. You have so skill. Next question. In a cage, there are ten frogs, so with four legs and so with three. From below, you see thirty-eight legs. How many four-legged frogs and how many three-legged frogs are there?"
"Eight four-legged frogs, two three-legged frogs."
The three were stunned.
So fast?
Zhu Xiaosuo explained on his own:
"If all ten were four-legged frogs, there would be forty legs. But there are two fewer legs, indicating two three-legged frogs. The remaining eight are four-legged frogs."
A classic chicken and rabbit problem, just a piece of cake.
Elentary school wasn't for nothing.
Tao Lii nodded in approval.
"Good. Next question. Deputy Dean Sha travels thirty miles every hour, while Dean Gui Yun travels twenty miles every hour. They start from the sa place in the sa direction. Dean Gui Yun departs five hours earlier. How long until Deputy Dean Sha catches up to Dean Gui Yun?"
Gui Yunfeng interjected:
"Why do I travel twenty miles while he travels thirty?"
"You're older, walking slower is better for your health."
"Ten hours."
Before Gui Yunfeng could finish arguing, Zhu Xiaosuo provided the answer.
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