Chapter 749: Pre-exam Sprint

Chapter 749: The Final Push Before the Exam

Ever since he began preparing for the Sect Entrance Examination, Kuang Tianqing had felt mounting pressure bearing down upon him.

Especially as time slipped away and his scores improved ever more sluggishly, a gnawing anxiety began to coil within his chest.

“Three months… it really is far too short.”

Kuang Tianqing understood clearly—if he relied solely on ordinary methods of study and training, he likely stood no chance whatsoever of entering a sect.

But unconventional methods…

The thought of the assistance offered by the Righteous God brought him only torment.

Though those methods could indeed drastically increase his odds of passing the exam, their side effects were ones Kuang Tianqing found utterly unacceptable.

“If I use those means to enter a sect… will I still be myself? Even if I succeed, how much potential would I truly retain?”

Kuang Tianqing sighed inwardly. If only the elder generation’s Free-and-Easy Sovereign of Demon Heaven University were still alive—perhaps that venerable figure could seal away his memories. Though even that carried considerable risks, it would still be far preferable to his current predicament.

But the new headmasters now in charge—the disciples sent down from above—would never do such a thing for him.

And if someone else’s memories were forcibly implanted into him until he became another person entirely, Kuang Tianqing knew full well that “he” at that point would no longer wish to have his own memories sealed away. That, too, would become yet another layer of trouble.

“But I… truly want to re-enter a sect.”

“As long as I can join a sect, as long as I can ascend higher along the Immortal Path—what sacrifice would be too great?”

Again and again, Kuang Tianqing suppressed the impulse surging within him—yet each time, it returned fiercer, more insistent, harder to contain.

He understood: this was the “Heart Drawn Toward the Immortal Dao,” imprinted upon him at the moment of his reincarnation—a ceaseless, instinctive yearning to surge upward, to climb ever higher.

“It’s unbearable.”

“Cultivators are like moths drawn to flame—and the Immortal Dao is the warmest, brightest fire of all.”

“Even knowing death lies ahead, driven by an endless longing for the summit of the Immortal Path, they will inevitably fling themselves forward without hesitation.”

Kuang Tianqing let out a bitter laugh. He knew—he would sooner or later give in, resorting to any means necessary to take the exam, to enter a sect.

And when that moment came… he would no longer be himself.

Then, everything changed the day his “son” from above contacted him. When Kuang Tianqing heard that someone had practiced the *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture*, his eyes instantly lit up.

“The *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture*… If I can harness this technique, perhaps I won’t need to pay such a heavy price—and might still gain entry into a sect once more.”

And when he heard the name Zhang Yu, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes: “Just as I originally suspected.”

“My key to passing the sect exam lies with Zhang Yu.”

…

“I am a reincarnated soul descended from the Heavenly Demon Sect above.”

Kuang Tianqing looked straight at Zhang Yu before him and immediately revealed his hand: “In my previous life, I encountered certain complications within the Heavenly Demon Sect and was forced to reincarnate below, tasked by the Reincarnation Consortium with fulfilling specific missions.”

Seeing Kuang Tianqing lay bare such explosive information right from the start, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but blink in mild astonishment.

Kuang Tianqing continued: “I reveal this to assure you—my visit today, and everything I’m about to say, carries absolutely no ill intent.”

Zhang Yu fell silent for a moment, then asked, “What do you want? And how can you prove what you just said is true?”

Kuang Tianqing replied calmly, “You’ve recently… used the *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture*, haven’t you?”

Zhang Yu stiffened slightly, then sighed inwardly: *Damn this wretched Kunxu Realm—the surveillance here is absurdly strict. The scripture connects directly to reincarnation, yet they monitor it so intensely they can even verify the identity behind every single invocation?*

Kuang Tianqing went on: “But don’t worry. We can provide cover for you—ensure no one discovers you’ve used the *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture* or communicated with the cycle of reincarnation.”

“If you’re willing to cooperate with us, we may even grant you expanded access to reincarnation permissions in the future—allowing you… to retrieve the memories of certain deceased individuals.”

“To demonstrate our sincerity, after I leave, try activating the scripture again and confirm it for yourself.”

True to his word, after Kuang Tianqing departed, Zhang Yu once more attempted to channel the *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture*. The usual emptiness that followed contact with the reincarnation cycle vanished—instead, images of one deceased person after another appeared vividly in his mind.

Behind each figure, shifting lights and shadows played. Zhang Yu sensed that with but a slight mental nudge, he could extract and peruse their lifetime memories.

Among them were many cultivators he personally confirmed had died during the University Wars.

Yet when Zhang Yu actually tried to access those memories, an invisible resistance blocked him, preventing any deeper intrusion.

“So it’s just bait dangled before me—to lure me in.”

Still, Zhang Yu had to admit—he was deeply tempted.

“If the Reincarnation System doesn’t merely preserve the memories of the dead but can also retrieve them… then doesn’t the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor, who commands this system, effectively hold nearly all knowledge—every secret—of Kunxu throughout history?”

A sudden chill ran through Zhang Yu: *Could he… already know my secrets?*

In that instant, Zhang Yu felt as though every inch of his being had been laid bare, utterly exposed.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he thought silently: “It seems the Reincarnation Consortium—the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor—is the entity in Kunxu possessing the greatest informational advantage of all.”

“And yet, even such a being cannot rule unchallenged.”

“Standing alongside him at the pinnacle of Kunxu are nine other Immortal Emperors.”

At that moment, Zhang Yu suddenly felt he understood Fu Xian Tian and Dao Qiankun’s mindset a little better—grasping the profound helplessness one feels when facing an opponent beyond defeat.

The next day, Kuang Tianqing returned before Zhang Yu and said coolly, “Sovereign Zhu Yi—you’ve verified it by now, haven’t you?”

Recalling Fu Xian Tian’s words that the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor could be tentatively trusted, Zhang Yu asked, “What kind of cooperation do you propose?”

Hearing this, Kuang Tianqing smiled faintly, relief washing over him.

He replied, “From now on, I’d like you to use the *Hell Soul-Washing Scripture* to help me pass the Sect Entrance Examination.”

Zhang Yu frowned. “Are you certain this is your consortium’s objective—not just your personal goal?”

Kuang Tianqing gave a serene smile. “Trust must be built step by step. This exam presents an excellent opportunity.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. “I’ll help you. What’s in it for me?”

Kuang Tianqing raised one finger. “If I successfully pass this exam, we’ll grant you one allocation.”

“One set of memories from the dead.”

“You may choose the individual yourself.”

At this, Zhang Yu’s heart stirred. Curious, he asked, “Suppose I obtain a deceased person’s memories and implant them into a living body—would that count as helping them reincarnate?”

Kuang Tianqing chuckled softly. “Reincarnation isn’t so simple. What you describe is merely copying and pasting memories.”

“When the body dies, the soul remains; when the soul dies, spirit emerges.”

“Only the True Spirit—the singular essence beyond flesh and soul—represents a person’s true existence. It is this True Spirit that enters reincarnation, takes rebirth in a new life—that is genuine reincarnation.”

Zhang Yu mused inwardly that this True Spirit was probably akin to a unique ID number, while memories were merely data.

Thus, after reaching an agreement with Kuang Tianqing, Zhang Yu contacted Deng Bingding that very night, agreeing to undergo memory infusion.

As year after year of examination-related memories flooded into Zhang Yu’s mind, an intense wave of pain crashed over him.

These memories contained nothing but studying and testing—stripped of virtually all other content.

This made the experience of receiving them profoundly dull and agonizing.

With each memory injected, Zhang Yu felt as though he had truly lived it—as though he had genuinely spent decades in Kunxu Layer 11, taking the sect exam year after year as a native, enduring an endless cycle of study and examinations.

Thirty long years passed in this manner—until, at last, it finally ended.

A long while later, when Zhang Yu came back to his senses, a trace of lingering fear still flashed through his heart.

"Bitter... too bitter."

"But it is worth it!"

Zhang Yu said excitedly, "I should have done this long ago! Only in this way can I pass the Sect Examination."

"Thirty years of Sect Examination memory is still too little."

"Perhaps I should increase it tenfold."

"Repeating it ten times, infusing three hundred years of Sect Examination memory..."

Right at that moment, Fu Ji's words splashed down like a bucket of freezing water, interrupting Zhang Yu's speech.

"Zhang Yu, you have been influenced."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu was startled, settling his mind to reflect on his recent thoughts, only to feel cold sweat drenching his back in an instant.

"The memory infusion has mixed my true thoughts with the thoughts brought by the memories. The two are almost indistinguishable, impossible to tell apart."

"With the slightest slip, I would take the thoughts brought by the memories for granted, and in the end, bit by bit... be completely changed."

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, immediately circulating the Hell Soul-Washing Sutra to pack and isolate the Sect Examination memories in his mind, then cast them into one of his demon-born clones.

Watching this demon-born clone struggle back and forth, trying to break free, Zhang Yu once again marveled at the sheer scale of the memory infusion's influence.

Fortunately, however, the authentic clone forged through the Myriad Transformations Freedom Mysterious Technique was entirely under his control, leaving no worry about losing command.

"But just like this, it is inconvenient to use for taking the Sect Examination."

Thus, after a brief consideration, Zhang Yu drew the demon-born clone back into his body, while in his heart, he dubbed this demon-born clone the Sect Exam Clone.

Then, he sealed away a portion of the relevant memories, temporarily handed control of the body over to the demon-born clone, and silently hid himself away to observe.

As long as he wished, he could reclaim control of the body from the Sect Exam Clone at any moment.

Yet the Sect Exam Clone felt absolutely nothing amiss, believing itself to be the true Zhang Yu as it began to review, study, and cultivate...

Watching all of this silently, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "It seems there are no issues. In that case... operating like this during the exam will allow me to use this Sect Exam Clone to sit for the test."

At this thought, Zhang Yu grew even more determined to slowly infuse more Sect Examination memories into this clone hereafter, using it to raise his preliminary exam scores.

Of course, even with this method that bordered on cheating, Zhang Yu did not halt his own studies regarding the Sect Examination, for the various data and intelligence on the sects remained vital.

Even after entering a sect, the one who needed to make all kinds of decisions would still be himself, not this clone, so the learning could not stop.

Thus, in the days that followed, Zhang Yu cultivated while he studied, rapidly elevating his cultivation level and Sect Examination capabilities.

...

Inside the Spiritual Realm classroom.

Looking at the score of the new round of mock tests, Tu Lishan sighed inwardly, "Too difficult. Wanting to use conventional methods to reach the level required to pass the preliminary exam within three months... is nearly impossible."

"And the civil engineering department..." As Tu Lishan learned more and more sect information, he also came to understand a truth more clearly.

The Myriad Dharmas Sect did not need new disciples from a civil engineering background.

"Even if I can pass the preliminary and the retake, my civil engineering background is very likely to cause me to fail during the interview."

"But I..."

Tu Lishan grit his teeth, thinking to himself, "I still want to try."

Thus, with a shift of his gaze, he looked toward the Righteous Deity in his contact list.

...

"Wang Yin, 78 points."

Looking at this score, Wang Yin's face turned ash-grey, knowing that if this continued, he would be completely severed from the sect.

And remembering how his mother had pulled strings everywhere, investing so much for him, and even having to humble herself and sycophantly flatter Zhang Yu just to get him the chance to enter the cram school, a surge of resentment welled up even fiercer in Wang Yin's heart.

But the urge to seize this rare opportunity to enter the sect and ascend to the peak of the immortal path drove him forward, making him willing to pay any price.

Consequently, after contacting the Righteous Deity responsible for the Netherworld University district, Wang Yin returned home that evening to find a parcel that had arrived early.

Unwrapping the package, a Yin artifact legal skeleton manifested before him, within which was stored an immense treasury of Sect Examination memories.

Stroking the legal skeleton before his eyes, Wang Yin understood that if he used this artifact repeatedly, he would no longer be himself.

Through session after session of release, the various affairs of the past mortal world would gradually lose connection with him, and the lingering attachments of the dust-laden world would be forgotten.

He would no longer be a mortal; he would abandon everything to become a disciple of the Netherworld Palace.

"Mother..."

Gripping the legal skeleton, Wang Yin repeatedly recalled the figure of the Divine Lord of the Yin Spring in his mind even as he utilized it.

He wanted to strive to remember everything about his mother, striving to preserve a tiny shred of his original self under the washing tide of the Sect Examination memories.

Several hours later, Wang Yin stroked the legal skeleton in his hand and slowly began to smile, "My precious."

"With you, I will definitely pass this Sect Examination, definitely entering the sect."

But in the next instant, a trace of agonizing reluctance flashed through his eyes; he thought of the Divine Lord of the Yin Spring, feeling that the current him seemed to be gradually forgetting her.

Yet that flame in his heart to climb toward the zenith of the immortal path constantly urged him on, making him...

"Again!"

Wang Yin grabbed the legal skeleton with a sudden clutch and began once more.

As the days passed one by one, he watched his scores continuously rise amidst session after session of pouring memories.

But he also felt his memory of his mother, his impression of his mother, seemed to fade gradually through these repeated pourings, her figure growing increasingly blurred in his mind...

...

Just as Zhang Yu was making rapid progress, Tian Shenggong of the Immortal Weapon University looked at the results of his successive mock tests, feeling an ever-deepening sense of powerlessness.

"There isn't enough time. If this continues, I won't be able to test into the sect."

"Should I use the method recommended by the Righteous Deity?"

From the bottom of his heart, Tian Shenggong was unwilling to do so, yet emotions of guilt, self-deprecation, and anger constantly welled up in his chest.

"Tian Shenggong, why are you so useless?"

"The opportunity to scale the peak of the immortal path is right before your eyes, and you can't even grasp it?"

"Unwilling to make even a slight sacrifice, unwilling to pay even a small price, what kind of immortal path are you cultivating?"

"The Ultimate Tiger is about pursuing the ultimate. Have you forgotten the spirit of the Ultimate Tiger?"

After a bout of mental torment, Tian Shenggong ultimately could not resist requesting aid from the Righteous Deity responsible for the Immortal Weapon University district.

On this day, his physical body met its demise, and his soul fled into the depths of the Spiritual Realm, beginning to endure a thousand-fold acceleration of thought—a feat difficult for a mere physical body to bear, and one where the soul had to risk the melting of its sanity to achieve.

Under this extreme acceleration of thought, he rapidly learned everything regarding the sect, accepting the baptism of the Immortal Weapon Mansion's culture and philosophy time and time again.

His mock exam scores also rose continuously, going from the original 70 points to 100... 120... 140...

But a thousand-fold acceleration of thought carried not only the risk of melting one's sanity, it also accelerated the consumption rate of Tian Shenggong's soul lifespan by several thousand times.

Tian Shenggong knew that the so-called soul lifespan was the duration a soul could exist after losing its physical body, and it was the true deadline for countless soul cultivators.

“If I keep burning through my life like this, I might not have much left even after joining the sect.”

“But as long as I can enter the sect and catch a glimpse of the peaks of the Immortal Path—even if I only live another ten years, or five—what does it matter?”

Yet the fear of death gnawed at him like a relentless whisper, urging Tian Shenggong to stop.

“No, my score still isn’t high enough.”

“It has to be higher… just a little higher.”

Watching his score inch upward while his lifespan dwindled, Tian Shenggong felt like a worker bee charging headlong into an enemy—willing to tear its own abdomen apart just to drive its stinger deep into the foe’s flesh.

…

Yu Xinghan: 67 points.

Staring at his last mock exam result, Yu Xinghan sighed inwardly, “Tomorrow’s mock probably won’t raise my score by much either.”

“At this rate… I might not get into the sect at all.”

“Should I use the method the True God mentioned?”

His eyes flickered toward the rhombus-shaped crystal—the Yin Vessel Relic—resting on a nearby table. The moment he saw it, he recoiled as if shocked, jerking his gaze away.

But deep inside, a voice kept tempting him, goading him to seize the relic…

“No.”

“To become a Sect Lord like that would mean grinding my very self into dust, shredding my soul bit by bit until nothing remains.”

“And then… filling my body with the Sect Lord’s will, like shoveling in shit and piss?”

He used those crude words because, after reviewing some Sect Lords’ memories of their own entrance trials, that was exactly how he’d come to see it.

“What if I use a thousandfold mental acceleration instead?”

“That really is trading life for points. Even if I get in, how long would I have left?”

“Maybe I should wait. Didn’t Zhang Yu tell me not to act rashly?”

Torn, Yu Xinghan suddenly realized—to his horror—that the relic was already clutched tightly in his hand.

He knew he was on the verge of giving in, unable to resist using it any longer.

A voice from the deepest recesses of his mind called out incessantly: *Release it. Unleash every ounce of your drive to pass the trial. Pour forth your ambition, your hunger to join the sect, your burning desire to scale the heights of the Immortal Path.*

Seeing the relic already wrapped around his body, Yu Xinghan frantically tore it off and flung it away.

“Damn it—I triggered my cultivation instinct just now. Almost activated it automatically.”

Just as he writhed in inner torment, Zhang Yu’s voice echoed in his mind: “Are you there?”

This was the communion granted by the power of the Dark God—and with Fu Ji’s ascended status, their mental link now spanned three thousand miles, triple its original range.

Yu Xinghan replied, “I’m here. What is it?”

Zhang Yu said simply, “Wait. I’m coming.”

Moments later, standing before Yu Xinghan, Zhang Yu said, “My preliminary exam scores have been rising fast lately—you’ve noticed, right?”

Yu Xinghan nodded. “What method are you using?”

Having shared dangers together and both being devotees of the Dark God, Zhang Yu trusted Yu Xinghan more than most. And now that Fu Ji had amplified Yu Xinghan’s potential, his Three-Eyed Insight had evolved anew. In Zhang Yu’s eyes, Yu Xinghan now stood a real chance of entering the sect—the only major hurdle being the preliminary exam.

“I’ve found a way to erase unwanted memories,” Zhang Yu said.

Yu Xinghan’s eyes lit up. “You mean… implant Sect Lord memories before the exam, then wipe them clean afterward?”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Exactly. I tested it myself—seems mostly safe.”

“I came today because there’s a mock exam tomorrow. I want to run a rehearsal with you first.”

Relief flooded Yu Xinghan’s heart. He laughed aloud. “Then I’ll begin at once!”

He reached for the relic, ready to start studying.

“Wait,” Zhang Yu interjected. “Let me record this.”

Yu Xinghan frowned at him. “What do you mean by that?”

“You haven’t realized yet,” Zhang Yu said, locking eyes with him. “The more times you do this, the more Sect Lord memories you absorb, the higher your exam score climbs—you understand that, right?”

“Of course I do,” Yu Xinghan replied with a proud smile. “Truth be told, this plays right into my strengths. Among all the prodigies in our cram school, aside from you, I consider none my equal.”

Seeing the glint of mutual respect in Yu Xinghan’s eyes, Zhang Yu gave a slight nod. “Good. But there’s something else you must know: the more memories you absorb, the longer the process takes, the greater the strain on your will—and the higher the risk.”

“Honestly, I can’t predict how you’ll change after absorbing vast amounts of Sect Lord memories. You might do something unpredictable during the exam.”

“That’s why we need to test this in advance and prepare countermeasures.”

Yu Xinghan nodded gravely. “Understood. Then I’ll begin.”

“Let’s start with ten rounds and see the effect,” Zhang Yu said.

Yu Xinghan blinked in surprise. “Wait… that many?”

“From what I’ve observed,” Zhang Yu replied firmly, “you’ll need at least fifty repetitions to achieve a solid score.”

Yu Xinghan’s heart lurched—but meeting Zhang Yu’s steady gaze and feeling again that desperate yearning to join the sect, he tightened his grip on the relic and began.

As Zhang Yu and the others studied relentlessly, time slipped away, bringing the preliminary exam ever closer.

(End of Chapter)