Allen truthfully recounted his experiences in the dreamland.
Unsurprisingly, he was ridiculed and teased by the other candidates.
That didn't matter.
The most crucial thing was Elder Tanuki's attitude.
Alan could tell the elder was in a bad mood.
He could only blame his bad luck for picking up the wrong script.
Elder Tanuki was also an elderly man.
He had a daughter and son-in-law at home, as well as a young and beautiful wife and concubine.
He couldn't help but picture Allen's dreamland experience, that of his father-in-law, who had unknowingly been cuckolded.
How could he possibly be in a good mood?!
He had every reason to dislike Allen, but he couldn't express it directly, let alone use it as a reason to deduct points.
After all, in that situation, Allen's actions, in order to protect himself and to retaliate against his cheating wife and his discriminatory father-in-law, were not excessive.
Elder Tanuki, you just said, 'If a man doesn't work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth!'
Alan was putting his words into practice.
Could he immediately switch sides and criticize Alan for his selfishness and disregard for ethics?
Elder Tanuki didn't mind a bit of double standards.
But he couldn't be so blunt; it would be embarrassing.
He had to find another way, to find some leverage against Alan from another angle.
Get a hold of this morally corrupt brat and deduct his points!
Thinking this, Elder Tanuki activated his telepathy.
A faint magical glow shone in his eyes, secretly scanning Alan's thoughts.
Beyond the exam, prying into his privacy, discovering what sins he had committed!
As soon as Elder Tanuki's mental fluctuations radiated...
Alan was immediately alert!
The 4th-level Soul-Calming Meditation Method could resist 4th-level telepathy.
Combined with the system, it could also selectively conceal thoughts.
Alan could completely block Elder Tanuki's prying eyes.
But he endured it.
He didn't want to appear too special in front of the examiners.
If Elder Tanuki wanted to read his mind, let him do it.
Alan had already hidden important secrets, such as the Taotie System and the Poison Demon Bloodline.
With Elder Tanuki's limited skills, he couldn't see through them.
As for other matters, there was no need for Alan to hide them.
He hadn't lied, so what was there to be nervous about?
However, the situation gradually became outrageous.
Elder Tanuki actually tried to probe his cultivation level and the origins of his lineage, outside of the illusionary experience.
Alan endured it.
Let's assume Elder Li did this simply to dispel his suspicion of being a spy.
Then Elder Li began to probe into his family situation.
Alan endured it.
Finally, it was Elder Li who lost his temper.
He simply laid it out and asked Alan, "Tell me honestly, what have you done that you feel guilty about?"
Alan scratched his head.
The question was somewhat unexpected.
Through his efforts to recall his experiences since crossing over, Alan looked up and met Elder Li's blazing gaze.
He answered frankly, "I have never done anything wrong in my life."
"Lie!"
Elder Li slammed his hand on the table, his face filled with indignation.
"A person like you, with no moral integrity and who seduced your mother-in-law to a higher position, can never have a clean conscience!"
In fact, his outburst was also partly a performance.
When he harshly questioned the examinee about their past misdeeds, no matter how stubborn they tried, they would inevitably feel guilty and unable to help but recall their past misdeeds.
This way, Elder Tanuki's telepathy allowed him to exploit the situation and pry into the examinee's private lives.
He could then seize upon the examinee's weakness and use it as leverage for future gain.
When he used this tactic on Allen, the result was quite surprising.
The young man sitting across from him at the round table remained impassive, his heart unmoved.
Elder Tanuki's mind-reading efforts proved fruitless, and he was furious!
In his view, Allen was a scumbag with no moral or ethical boundaries. How could he possibly have a clear conscience?!
Unless he was inherently evil and saw evil behavior as natural and justifiable!
A demon certainly wouldn't consider evil wrong; instead, he would take pride in it!
The more Elder Tanuki thought about it, the more he felt this was the truth! "You, by nature, are evil, with ulterior motives!"
"You failed the character test! Get out!"
After enduring this, Allen could no longer bear it.
He frowned slightly and stared down the furious Elder Raccoon.
"Elder, you claim I'm evil and have ulterior motives. Where's the evidence?"
"How could a person, from childhood to adulthood, have never done anything wrong?!"
Elder Raccoon roared.
"I don't see a trace of remorse or guilt in you. That just proves you have something to hide!"
"You're most likely an undercover agent sent by Red Moon Island!"
Alan couldn't help but laugh.
"If I were an undercover agent, I wouldn't be so clear-headed and guiltless, making myself appear suspicious."
"Perhaps you're playing hard to get, doing the opposite," Elder Raccoon speculated sinisterly. In the same room, the other five candidates watched the growing tension between Allen and Elder Tanuki, their expressions varying.
With the exception of Renee, who appeared bewildered and worried, the other four were mostly watching the show and gloating.
Alan, unwilling to continue playing the leading role in this farce, once again took out Sister Lion's letter and placed it on the table.
"Elder, I have a handwritten letter from Ms. Maria."
"That's the Maria nicknamed 'Lion Lady,' a direct disciple of Master Shiva, the head of the Cat Academy."
Alan said calmly.
"Maria is my adopted sister."
"In this letter, she endorses my origins."
"So, I can't be a spy."
After hearing this, Elder Tanuki's expression shifted.
The results of the mind reading showed that everything Allen said was true.
He even modestly downplayed his deep connection with Maria.
Elder Li was well aware of Maria's fiery temper.
If he drove away the young lover she was so madly infatuated with, it would surely lead to a deep feud.
Elder Li pondered.
Was it necessary to offend the direct disciple of the headmaster of the Cat Academy just to control Allen and to pick a fight with a junior?
"Ahem..."
Matthew suddenly coughed dryly.
"Brother Allen, why did you pull out the letter of recommendation again?"
"Don't you remember the lesson we learned earlier?"
"The ruthless Elder Li won't fall for that!"
"You'd better put that letter away quickly, or you'll lose another ten points!"
"Haha... who said it wasn't?"
Linda was also unbalanced, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
"Alan has a letter of recommendation, and so do I."
"Elder, there shouldn't be any discrimination, right?"
"After all, you said you'd treat us all equally!"
Alan stared at the two, speechless.
There are people like this in the world, always doing things that harm others and benefit themselves.
Elder Li was humiliated by Matthew and Linda, and he gritted his teeth to maintain his established persona.
Even if it meant offending Maria!
"You're such a wicked boy!"
"A failure is a failure!"
"Even if you bring the chief here, you can't pass this test!"
Alan's words were filled with anger.
"Elder, what is ?"
"What are the criteria for evaluating a good or bad ?"
"How much empirical data supports this evaluation criteria?"
"I haven't done anything wrong, yet you call me evil."
"Does having done something wrong make me proud?"
"Excuse me, but you're just making a false accusation!"
"How dare you!" Elder Tanuki, enraged by his scolding, slammed the table and stood up. "Who the hell do you think you are, boy? How dare you speak to me like that!"
Just as he was about to explode, a ball of light suddenly appeared in mid-air.
In the center of the ball of light, a glimmering lion emblem shone—unmistakably Maria's mystical seal!
Alan grasped the ball of light and read the letter from Sister Lion. He then replied, admitting he had run into a minor problem.
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it!"
Maria, who was invigilating in another exam room, angrily sent a message directly to Elder Tanuki. "Old Cat! You can be so disrespectful, I don't mind."
"But let me remind you, Allen is of the bloodline of the Demonic Leopard, a superior talent."
"He's only seventeen, and he's already reached the third level!"
"I've already reported Allen's situation to Master."
"Master is quite interested in him, you can handle it yourself!"
After reading Maria's letter, Elder Li wiped his cold sweat.
This has become a big deal...
He had just said that even if the First Master came, it wouldn't be of any use.
But that was just talk!
If he dares to drive away the genius that the First Master favors, he'll never be able to stay in the Cat Academy again!
Elder Li is no longer the impulsive young man of youth; he knows what's important.
He sighed and silently gave Allen a perfect score.
As for the other candidates' protests...
He could only put on a face and feign deep evasion:
"Fairness is indeed important."
"But unfortunately, fairness isn't the only important thing in this world."
"Perhaps, that's what life is."
...
The character test is just the first hurdle.
The actual test will come later, and that's the real climax.
Cat Courtyard, Sanhua Dojo.
The spacious courtyard is paved with large, flat tiles.
The tiles come in three colors—yellow, black, and white.
The interlaced pattern of colored tiles resembles the fur of a calico cat.
Sparsely planted bodhi trees surround the courtyard wall.
Each tree stands tall and straight, casting a canopy of green shade.
Beneath the thickest tree stands a long table and two chairs.
A first aid kit sat on the table, ready for candidates to use if they were beaten black and blue.
Two examiners sat in armchairs, relaxing in the cool breeze.
Contrary to everyone's expectations,
In the Cat Academy exam room, the examiners weren't cat-type sorcerers.
Both examiners were eighteen years old, younger than most of the candidates.
A tall, sturdy young man in a green robe and a bald head, his eyebrows as green as bodhi leaves!
His name was Baker, the deacon of the Bear Academy.
He looked a little scary, but his eyes were gentle and his temperament was kind.
A short, stocky young man in a yellow robe had a large, round face, round eyes, a double chin, and a simple, honest demeanor.
His name was Hogg, and he came from the Pig Academy.
Both young examiners were at the early third stage of cultivation.
Just like Allen.
Since these two were qualified to be selected as examiners, their strength must be significantly superior to that of warlocks of the same rank.
The rules for the practical exam are simple.
Candidates choose an examiner and challenge them.
Candidates can also team up, two-on-two.
The time limit is five minutes. If a candidate is defeated, or if the examiner is defeated by a candidate, the exam ends early.
This last scenario has no precedent.
After the exam, individual performance will be graded.
The longer you persist in the exam room, the higher your score.
"The candidate with the highest practical score among the six candidates will receive an additional bottle of 'Heaven-Replenishing Potion'!"
Baker pointed to the first aid kit on the table.
Alan had heard about the Heaven-Replenishing Potion from Teacher Sora.
First-time users have a high chance of improving their bloodline purity.
Improving from low to medium aptitude, or from medium to high aptitude!
For those with high aptitude, or bloodlines with a ceiling exceeding the fifth rank, the Heaven-Replenishing Potion is essentially ineffective.
Those who submit to a master with a skill are almost impossible to be of high aptitude, let alone have a high ceiling.
Otherwise, they would be respected in their original sect, so why would they change sects and submit to a master with a skill?
Generally speaking, this logic holds true.
Of the six candidates who submitted to a master with a skill this year, five had medium aptitude.
Alan was the only exception.
He was truly special.
Not only was he of high aptitude, he also possessed the extremely rare "Magic Leopard Man" bloodline!
And this was despite his reservations.
The true Poisonous Demonic Leopard Man bloodline, created out of nothing, a unique ancestor!
It was so shocking that he dared not reveal it to the public!
From this perspective, the Heaven-Replenishing Potion is of the least use to Allen.
But from a long-term perspective, keeping this potion to replace some of his potential when fusing with other bloodlines is still a good option.
What's more, from a distance, Allen could already smell a faint, enchanting scent from the potion box...
The scent of a special ingredient!
Gulp!
Alan swallowed hard.
Excuse me, the other candidates, please step back and fight for second place!
I've got the Heaven-Replenishing Potion!
The two examiners looked formidable.
Without knowing the examiners' strengths beforehand, the candidates were unsure.
So, one-on-one or team-up?
Candidates must choose their exam strategies carefully.
There are significant differences in the cultivation levels of the six candidates.
In the early stages of the third stage, Allen and Matthew.
In the late stages of the second stage, Weber, Truss, and Renee.
In the early stages of the second stage, there was only one, Linda, who was at the bottom of the pack.
When forming teams, everyone considered more than just cultivation.
The five examinees' eyes naturally focused on Allen, each revealing a strong desire.
Allen, you have a high cultivation level and a powerful backer!
How powerful is his backer?
Even the ruthless Elder Tanuki couldn't bear to offend him, and had to make an exception for him!
Even Elder Tanuki was wary of Allen's backer.
Baker and Hogg, two young deacons, dared not give Allen face?
Allen's participation was essentially a guaranteed pass.
The two examiners dared not show him any mercy.
If I were lucky enough to team up with Allen, wouldn't I be able to benefit from his presence?
No one was stupid.
The twists and turns here were easy to figure out.
Therefore, Allen immediately became a popular choice for teaming up!
"Brother Allen, you and I are both in the early stages of Tier 3, perfect for a team challenge!"
Matthew spoke first.
Weber and Truss also put aside their pride and took the initiative to invite him.
"Brother Allen, may I have a moment?" Linda smiled sweetly. "I have a little secret to share with you. It'll be very helpful for us to get high scores in the upcoming exams."
"Alan... well, I know 'healing magic,'" Renee shyly offered. "Team up with me, and I'll heal you."
Allen smiled politely.
"Thank you for your kindness, I'll need to think about it."
From a power-matching perspective, teaming up with Matthew seems to be the best option.
However, Allen hasn't forgotten his earlier sarcastic remarks.
He doesn't particularly like Matthew, who seeks to profit at the expense of others.
Alan is confident of scoring high points against either Baker or Hogg on his own.
He Is it necessary to let Matthew take advantage and free ride?
Matthew, that scheming fellow, boasts of being a tyrant.
He'd rather betray the world than be betrayed by the world.
It's best not to expect a man like that to repay a favor.
It's hard to say whether he'll resort to physically destroying his benefactor to completely settle this debt.
Alan simply ignored Weber and Truth.
Linda, a bitch, has the weakest cultivation.
But she seems to have something.
This woman knows her stuff, with her tricks and cunning skills.
Finally, that big-breasted, brainless, naive Renee...
Alan wanted to help Renee.
This kindhearted, silly woman had a quality that made him feel pity and compassion.
However, Alan steeled his heart and gave up the idea.
He didn't want Renee to owe him this favor.
Otherwise, she would surely risk her life to repay him.
She was too foolish, too naive, and still had a heart of a saint.
Good intentions leading to bad consequences is the most deadly!
Alan was adept at dealing with scheming bitches, green tea whores, and slutty sluts, but he was completely unable to handle a true white lotus like Renee!
To be honest, he was even a little afraid of Renee.
Afraid that this silly girl would be dragged down by him and suffer misfortune because of their connection, or even recklessly sacrifice her own interests for him...
The thought of this made Alan's heart ache!
So, he deliberately kept his distance from Renee.
Not only did he not want to help Renee, he wanted to give her a hard kick in the ass, tell her to get out as soon as possible, and never see her again! The outside world is too complex and dangerous. A rare species like her should have been extinct long ago.
Going home, getting married, having children, and living the rest of her life in peace—for Renee, that's the best outcome.
Baker and Hogg had already heard about the conflict between Allen and Elder Tanuki. Seeing the candidates vying to team up with Allen, it wasn't hard to guess their plan.
Baker coughed twice, drawing everyone's attention.
"Just a reminder: connections and backgrounds don't count with me and Hogg."
"We won't be especially lenient with a candidate just because they have connections in the Cat Academy."
At first, Matthew and the others were skeptical.
Didn't Elder Tanuki initially portray himself as impartial and fair?
What happened later?
Everyone witnessed his ugly behavior, his initial arrogance and subsequent subservience.
Hogg's gaze swept across everyone's faces, seeing through their thoughts. He sneered and took over.
"Don't think we're just talking."
"Think about it for a moment. This is the Cat Academy exam. Why aren't both of us examiners from the Academy?"
The candidates, including Allen, had long since noticed this question and waited curiously for Hogg to reveal the answer.
"The practical test is different from an interview."
"To prevent favoritism and fraud, we'll use a cross-examination system. The Cat and Bear Houses will send people to serve as examiners for the Pig House candidates."
"And so on. The Cat and Pig Houses will examine the Bear House, and the Pig House and Bear House will examine the Cat House."
"Silver Moon Monastery, with its three branches, is independent of each other."
"You Cat House candidates' connections there are nothing like those of us examiners from the Pig and Bear Houses."
"Baker and I can confidently say we won't give anyone any face!"
Hogg's words made sense.
The attitudes of the other five candidates diverged.
Since Allen's connections weren't effective in this exam, Matthew's attitude toward him immediately cooled.
He had the same cultivation level as Allen, was five years older, and considered himself to have more practical experience.
Rather than teaming up with Allen and being held back by this young man who hadn't even fully grown, it was safer to go it alone.
Reni and Linda's attitudes remained unchanged, and they still preferred to team up with Allen.
The most noticeable shift in attitude came from Weber and Truth.
They both knew they had little competition in Allen's eyes.
It was unlikely Allen would team up with them.
Since Allen's backing wouldn't bring any benefits, there was no point in trying to curry favor with them.
They all turned to Renni.
"Junior Sister Renni, team up with me and I'll see you through!"
"Work with me, Junior Sister Renni. Let's strive for a good result together!"
Previously, Renni had always been the target of everyone's ridicule.
Now, Weber and Truth suddenly began to pay her attention.
She felt bewildered and flattered.
Alan, observing this comical scene, couldn't help but laugh:
"You seem to have forgotten that you were all teasing Renee not long ago?"
"When it comes to finding teammates, your body is quite honest!"
Weber and Truth looked embarrassed.
They chose Renee and tried to recruit her into their team not only because of her strength, but also because they considered whether the teammates were trustworthy.
Besides Renee, who among those present could truly be called a "good person"?
Everyone's character had been fully demonstrated in the previous illusion test.
Besides Renee, who wasn't selfish?
Mocking Renee for being silly and having a virtuous heart was fine.
But when it came time to find a partner to work with, could they still laugh? No matter how naive or naive Renée might be, at least she's genuinely kind-hearted.
She wouldn't actively betray her teammates; in crucial moments, she'd even sacrifice herself to protect them.
To put it bluntly, having someone like Renée as a teammate means not only can you trust her with your back, but you can also sell her out when necessary, using her as a tank or a scapegoat.
Such a perfect teammate is hard to find.
Weber and Truss, two brilliant minds, were calculating in this very way.
Unfortunately, Renée isn't as foolish as they think.
She's been exploited and cheated more than once, so she's likely learned her lesson.
Especially after Allen's warning, Renée quickly came to her senses.
There's no such thing as love without a reason.
Two men who had looked down on her not long ago were suddenly showering her with attentions. What good intentions could there be?
The flattered expression on Renee's face faded into a familiar resignation.
She rejected Weber and Truth's advances, ultimately choosing to challenge the examiner alone.
No one wanted to take the lead in the practical exam.
Everyone expected others to take the first test, so they could observe and gauge the examiner's strength.
The more intelligence they gathered, the more strategies they had.
But no one was stupid; someone had to go first, right?
If you didn't, I wouldn't either, and the atmosphere became awkward.
In the end, the soft-hearted, kindhearted person had to take the fall.
Renee was the first to take the exam.
The other five candidates watched from the sidelines.
Renee's gaze flickered between Baker and Hogg.
Finally, the focus settled on Hogg.
With his bald head and green eyebrows, Baker looked a bit intimidating.
In contrast, Hogg, with his cheerful expression, seemed easier to deal with.
"Alas, it seems I've been treated as a pushover again."
Hogg stood up from his armchair in frustration and turned to his partner, saying, "Give Renee 20 points."
"I've noted it!"
Baker, holding the roster and quill, wrote a 20 after Renee's name.
"Bonus points...?"
Renee looked bewildered.
The examinees on the sidelines were also in an uproar!
"Ahem! Here's the thing: in previous years, the order of appearances was determined by drawing lots. This year, the rules have been changed. The first person to appear gets an extra 20 points."
Baker said nonchalantly.
"Why?!" Linda screamed angrily. "If there's such a rule, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Yeah! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"The draw was fine, why suddenly change the rules?!"
"You're clearly biased towards Renee!"
"This isn't fair! The exam is rigged!"
"We're protesting! We're suing!"
Matthew, Weber, and Truth were also filled with indignation.
Alan didn't join in their protest.
At first, he thought it was funny, but then he thought about it and felt depressed.
Silly girl got 20 points for free, maybe she can pass the exam!
This wasn't the result he wanted.
Baker noticed the change in his expression and cast a curious glance at him.
"Alan, what do you think of this?"
"Brother Baker, I think it's fair."
Alan replied expressionlessly.
"Everyone knows that those who go first suffer the most."
"So, there should be some compensation in the score; it's reasonable."
"The question isn't whether it's reasonable or not!" Weber interrupted, "but why wasn't it said earlier?"
Alan glanced at him, worried about his intelligence.
"If this rule had been announced from the beginning, wouldn't everyone be rushing to go first?"
"So, before the exam begins, shouldn't you hold an internal tryout to determine who gets to go first?"
"When it comes to being at a disadvantage, only Renée is willing to be the first to take the blame."
"When there's an advantage to be gained, wouldn't you all be eager to take the lead?"
"So, this rule, kept secret, is precisely to ensure fairness and maintain order in the exam room."
Weber and the others were speechless.
Renee turned to look at Alan, her watery eyes filled with gratitude.
Of all the candidates, Alan was the only one who hadn't mocked her.
This handsome boy had just stood up for her.
She'd remembered it all. Alan felt a slight headache coming from her strange gaze.
"Alan, if you understand this, why don't you go before Renee?" Hogg asked.
"Because I was slow to realize it." Alan frankly admitted that he wasn't that smart.
Renee blinked, her IQ suddenly rising! "Examiners, if I find a teammate to go with me, does that mean each of us can get 20 extra points?" "Not 20," Hogg shook his finger.
"If we go together, each of us can only get 10."
"Ten extra points...that's a lot!" Renee muttered to herself.
Alan, seeing her like this, suddenly had a strong sense of foreboding! This silly girl, could it be...?
Whatever you fear, it will come true.
Renee turned around, looking at him with delight.
"Junior Brother Allen, join me on this team! You'll get 10 extra points!"