Chapter 34: THE EXAMINATION(8)

The praise made Li Yan’s smile widen.

"I told you I could do it."

"You did." Hu Biyan laughed softly as he reached over and rubbed his hair. "All those nights of studying were not wasted. I knew you were capable of it, but seeing you finish the examination before everyone else still surprised me."

Li Yan enjoyed the praise more than he wanted to admit.

Xiaoxiao had been quiet for most of the conversation, but she finally spoke inside his mind.

"You should be proud of yourself. You studied until you could barely keep your eyes open, and you still remembered everything when it mattered."

Li Yan smiled inwardly. "Are you praising me too?"

"Of course I am. You deserve it."

"Then say it properly."

Xiaoxiao laughed softly. "You did an excellent job, Master. I am proud of you too."

Li Yan’s smile became even more obvious.

Hu Biyan noticed and assumed the praise had simply made him happy. He looked toward the streets ahead and then back at Li Yan.

"You must be hungry after sitting through that examination for hours."

Li Yan’s stomach chose that moment to answer for him.

Hu Biyan laughed."I thought so. Come, let us find somewhere to eat before you collapse from hunger."

Li Yan followed him toward the bustling streets of Floating City, his mood considerably lighter than it had been when he entered the examination hall.

The accusation had been infuriating, but it had also taught him something.

The Nine Jade Sect was not going to treat every examinee or disciple equally.

Some people would look at his spirit root before looking at him.

Others would see his background and decide what he was capable of before he ever had the chance to prove himself.

Li Yan did not particularly care.

As long as he continued hiding his true abilities, those people would eventually have to judge him by what he actually accomplished.

And judging from today, he was perfectly capable of making them regret underestimating him.

The restaurant Hu Biyan chose was outside the Nine Jade Sect’s outer section, occupying one of the higher levels of Floating City.

Their table was positioned beside a large window, giving Li Yan a clear view of the bustling streets below, where cultivators moved between shops and inns while flying swords occasionally crossed between the suspended buildings.

The view was impressive, but Li Yan’s attention quickly shifted to the dishes arriving at their table.

Hu Biyan had ordered an extravagant feast, and nearly every dish contained meat. There were roasted magical beasts, braised meat covered in fragrant sauce, grilled skewers, steamed buns filled with meat, and several dishes Li Yan had never tasted before.

Li Yan immediately picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

"Eat slowly," Hu Biyan said with a laugh as he watched Li Yan reach for another piece of meat. "No one is going to take the food away from you."

Li Yan swallowed before answering, "I have been studying all morning."

"That is why I ordered enough for you to eat properly." Hu Biyan poured him some tea and placed the cup beside his bowl. "You should eat until you are satisfied."

Li Yan happily continued eating.

Hu Biyan watched him with a pleased smile. After the examination and the unpleasant accusation that followed, seeing Li Yan finally relax made him relieved.

"The master will be very happy when he hears about today’s examination," he said. "He always said that you learn quickly when you put your mind to something, and today you proved him right."

Li Yan looked up from his food, his expression brightening at the praise. "I only managed it because you taught me."

"I taught you, but you were the one who stayed up studying." Hu Biyan smiled as he watched him eat. "You deserve the praise as well."

Li Yan accepted the compliment without arguing and returned his attention to the feast.

By the time he finished the last piece of meat, his stomach was comfortably full. He leaned back against his chair and let out a satisfied breath, feeling considerably better after the long morning.

Hu Biyan laughed when he saw his content expression.

"Now that you have eaten, there is something you should know about the mountain examination tomorrow."

Li Yan immediately became attentive.

"The examination will take place inside an array. One day will pass in the outside world, but the examinees inside the array will experience three days."

Li Yan considered the information before asking, "Then we have three days to complete the examination?"

"You will experience three days, but you only have twenty-four hours in the real world." Hu Biyan took a sip of tea before continuing. "Once those twenty-four hours pass, the array will collapse and force everyone inside out. Anyone who has not completed the examination by then will be eliminated."

Li Yan nodded slowly as he considered the rules.

"So it is a race against time."

"That is part of the examination." Hu Biyan placed his cup back on the table. "You will also have to deal with whatever the Nine Jade Sect places inside the array."

"Do you know what we will encounter?"

"I do not." Hu Biyan shook his head. "The mountain examination changes every year, so there is no reliable way to predict what the sect will place inside. Even someone who participated in a previous examination would not necessarily know what to expect this time."

Li Yan nodded again.

There was no point worrying about something he could not prepare for. He had studied everything he could, and tomorrow he would simply deal with whatever the examination presented.

"I understand."

"Good. Then forget about tomorrow and enjoy your meal."

Li Yan smiled and picked up his teacup. "I already did."

Hu Biyan laughed at his answer, and the two of them settled into a comfortable silence.

Li Yan eventually turned toward the window again and watched Floating City’s streets. From their position high above the city, the view was even more impressive than it had been when they first arrived. Cultivators moved between different levels, merchants displayed spiritual treasures in their storefronts, and groups of young cultivators dressed in the Nine Jade Sect uniform passed through the streets.

Then a familiar figure caught his attention.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes when he recognized the young man walking below.