The Immortal Alliance Unified Entrance Trial, the official name is Immortal Alliance's General Sect Entrance Trial of Shenzhou. So basically, other than those really special sects like the "Heavenly Sword Palace" that oversee the whole world and guard the heavens secretly, every sect that register under the Immortal Alliance must use this trial to recruit disciple one.
Every year around January, each division of Immortal Alliance will send out low-level cultivators to teach some beginner knowledge to those who want to pursue the immortal path. Then by midsummer, they will give test to all these new students. Based on the result and personal preference, then decide go which sect and what position can get.
But also got exception lah. Some noble families or loose cultivator clans, their kids already learn this kind of thing from young, so if let them take same test with normal people a bit not fair lor. Then those genius rogue cultivator who pick up ancient legacy by luck or the one being chosen by old master also different — they learn faster. And those young prodigies already reach through-the-heaven level, no need study beginner stuff anymore. These kind of people got special treatment one.
According to Immortal Alliance's rule, these five kind of student must be sent to main headquarters or one of the nine major branch (like Lü De, Lei Yang etc.) to study for at least one year. After that, they only can go enter sect with next year's batch.
When Wang Qi first hear about this system, he really almost cry lah — "Walao eh, even in this kind of magical world also got high school exam type system? Still must send good student go high-scoring region one ah? So not human!"
He really thought about maybe ask Yan Heyi to anyhow throw him in any normal branch only. But got two issue lah — one, he already hit two of the five conditions. Maybe still can bluff say the "ancient method cultivate until success" is because Zhenchanzi teach well. But the current cultivation using modern method already real deal, cannot fake one. Second, Sister Xiang very fast tell him another thing.
"Normally ah, Immortal Alliance Five Great Sects — Wanfa Sect, Guiyi Union, Tianling Ridge, Burning Gold Valley, and Mysterious Mist Palace — only will choose core disciples from those who enter through main HQ or nine major branch. If from normal branch even get first place, also maybe only can enter second-class sect like Mountain River City or Flowing Cloud Sect as inner disciple only."
Because he already learn some modern cultivation system knowledge, Wang Qi understand this thing a bit already. Nowadays sect divide disciple into four class — Odd Job Disciple, Outer Disciple, Inner Disciple, and Core Disciple.
Odd Job Disciple do all the menial stuff lah — sweep floor, cook rice, copy scroll — sect will give them some basic cultivation technique and practical spell. The resources they get also like part-time salary like that. If use Earth thinking, they like vocational school level.
Outer Disciple no need do so many chores. Get resources from sect, also can do task in Immortal Alliance to get reward. Wang Qi feel like this is similar to undergrad student.
Inner Disciple lagi higher. They can join some research task. Those task more relaxing, got high reward, and can help to understand Dao of heaven and earth. Like Master-PhD joint program already.
As for Core Disciple, no need worry about anything at all. Got expert teacher guiding, can do self-research, got top-level resource. Wang Qi just call them "Guaranteed Employment Research Institute Student" lah. Not everyone can envy until this level one.
Also, different sect got different level. Among Five Great Sects, Wanfa Sect, Guiyi Union, Tianling Ridge, and Burning Gold Valley all build up slowly from battle with ancient cultivation methods. Their techniques and spell go through heavy polishing, very solid. As for Mysterious Mist Palace, full of top experts, always at the frontier of exploring universe secrets. Those second-level sect like Thousand Machine Pavilion, Mountain River City, Flowing Cloud Sect, also not bad lah. Even smaller sect, if can train disciple until grandmaster level already very keng one. Even their Core Disciple maybe not as powerful as Five Great's Outer Disciple.
Compare this way, Wang Qi only can tell himself: "Not just entrance exam meh, scared what!"
Although he don't really get why Sister Xiang use the word "entrance exam" in that serious tone, but he really admire himself also — not scared of difficulty, still can joke. Sister Xiang see him got this spirit, also feel he got potential, and since they went through danger together before, she also feel a bit close. Straight away拍胸口 say she'll help him.
Five days — not long but not very short also. Xiang Qi slowly put away her sad mood, start to teach her new little junior brother seriously. Wang Qi also use the time on boat to stabilize his early-stage cultivation — but what he feel most achievement is actually... he finally get used to the sea sick lah, aiyo.
Soon reach day five. Wang Qi go find big sis to do routine sparring.
Got eight green flame surround Wang Qi. The young man put on serious face: "Sister, sorry I'm going in."
"Come on lah," Xiang Qi grin.
"Now I'm late-stage of Foundation Establishment… 'Illusion Demon Hand'!"
"Too young la you. This 'Illusion Demon Hand' must really hit then got effect one. See this — 'Sunfire Shield'."
"Turn end…"
"My turn. First I draw two card, then put two cultivation card. Now got four cultivation card on field, break through to Core Forming Stage! Then, tap two cultivation card, activate 'Celestial Sequence First Weekday'!"
Wang Qi's fire suddenly got two extinguished. He frown: "I say, need so serious meh…"
Xiang Qi just sigh and shake head: "Yesterday who win me five round in a row de? Who start being serious first?"
Yesterday I only get excited a bit because this cultivation version of Magic: The Gathering mah! But point is not this… point is, how the补习班 suddenly become tabletop game war zone!?
Wang Qi want to cry but no tear already.
Yesterday, after finish his study, Xiang Qi say want to play something to relax. Wang Qi thought she maybe want to play Go or backgammon or something very immortal-style. But very fast he realize, this Shenzhou world ah, talk about style all sure kena雷得外焦里嫩.
"Indeterminate Cards… eh, Sister, you wear until so traditional, but suddenly take out poker cards from pocket really weird lah… Also, if you say want play Mahjong I still can accept a bit, but why is it Magic: The Gathering?"
This game Xiang Qi teach him, call "Indeterminate Cards". The shape same like Earth's card game, and rule very similar to Magic.
Each player's deck max 80 cards. Game start draw 5, every turn draw 2. Hand limit depend on cultivation level. Each round can place one or two Cultivation Cards on field. Cultivation level is based on card number — 3 cards is Foundation Establishment, 4–6 is Core Forming, and so on. Use spell, martial art, or artifact need to tap card — which will untap next turn. Lifeforce depend on stage.
Wang Qi last time on Earth also play tabletop game a bit one. So see this new game, straight away excited. Xiang Qi just casual player level only. Cannot fight against Wang Qi this kind of strategy-type player lah. So got defeated very fast. But she quite competitive one, so say want rematch tomorrow.
Then next day after finish study, they start play until now…
After another defeat, Wang Qi guess big sis mood better already, so dare to ask: "Sister, I want ask this long time already…"
Xiang Qi shuffle her cards, nod: "Ask lah."
"Yesterday you say my time very important, must work hard one right?"
"Yup."
"Then why now become playing this game…"
She frown a bit: "Very weird meh? This one also compulsory subject for cultivator one you know. Entrance trial also got extra point."
"HUH?" Wang Qi shock until mouth open wide — Wah lao eh, play card game also can加分 for high school entrance!?
Zhenchanzi suddenly ask: "This game is simulate how cultivator fight? Understand the relationship between spell and help train mana usage?"
Xiang Qi nod: "That is one reason. But also got another."
Wang Qi ask: "What reason?"
She think think, then take out another deck from her bag. "Just now we use the basic one, no high-level skill. Actually, all known immortal spell, even Five Great's top technique, also got make into card."
She flip through the deck and pick out one card: "Like this one — Wanfa Sect's ultimate technique, super rare level 7."
Wang Qi: "Wah, even got booster pack style system… This card call 'Baize Calculation'. Effect is, tap 3 cultivation card, opponent must declare next 3 turn's action and cannot change? Got what special?"
Xiang Qi shake head: "Not the card, but the skill it represent — 'Baize Calculation' is from a legendary cultivator from North Wilderness, name Apuna, title 'Reincarnated Baize', we all call him Baize True Lord."
Wait… this name…
Xiang Qi continue: "He got one famous quote: 'If know all cause and effect of this moment, then can know all past cause and future result.' He believe, battle result between cultivator is already fixed when it start. Every technique and power can become number, then just compare number and know who win, no need really fight…"
You kidding me…
That's both Wang Qi and Zhenchanzi's reaction. Cultivator battle got so many variable, how can use number only?
Xiang Qi see Wang Qi's face also know what he think. She explain: "If reach True Lord or Immortal level, can get and analyse a lot of info instantly. So judge result also not impossible. But this method not suitable for normal people. But it help to measure combat power lah."
"Measure how?"
She explain: "Got one weighted algorithm, assign value to every skill, spell, technique, and weapon. More power = higher score. For example, basic Fireball = 0. If fully mastered, maybe 0.5. I use Celestial Sequence Sword Disc = 6, if perfect maybe 7. If one random modern cultivator learn two basic spell, his score = 0."
"Every 1 score can cover one level gap. Like early stage score 1 can fight mid stage score 0. If cross level, then need divide by 3. Like one Core mid stage with score 8, minus 2 to become Core early stage, left 6. Divide 3 = score 2 of Nascent Soul stage."
She laugh: "This method call 'Lu Renjia Weighted Algorithm', name after the poor guy always become the defeated one in people's imagination. Later, people make game based on it. Some say Wanfa Sect purposely push it, with some math inside can lead to learning Baize Calculation…"
Zhenchanzi also laugh: "Quite funny… er, very funny. Girl, is it because I old so cannot catch joke?"
She awkward: "Maybe… got laugh point but also… not that funny?"
In front of them, Wang Qi roll on floor laughing like mad.
"So funny meh?"
"Hahahaha finally even this kind of parody also no idea already! Hahaha!"
I always curious, if all Earth scientist got one match in this Xianxia world, how they will write Laplace's Demon into fantasy style. Now I know lah — Baize… hahaha…
Right at this time, Yan Heyi's voice came from outside the cabin.
"Prepare yourself. We reach destination already."