Volume One: First Steps into the Dao Chapter Seventeen: The Test Results

As time passed, the test within the Anze Trial Grounds finally drew to an end. The people in the arena, as if waking from a long task, gradually showed signs of returning to consciousness. Before long, the blue light barrier that had enveloped the trial grounds suddenly began to fade, and in a short while, it vanished completely, as though it had never existed.

Just as the blue light disappeared, a familiar electronic voice belonging to An Ling rang out once more: “The entrance examination has concluded. The results will be announced on Yingze Net. Please check accordingly.” As the words faded, the new students in the arena began to wake in succession. They sat on the ground, rubbing their heads, as if trying to recall the events they had just experienced.

Ye Junze, upon hearing An Ling’s voice, slowly awakened like the others. He recalled what had just transpired, quickly checked his body and surroundings, and found he was still within the trial grounds, as if everything before had been but a dream. “A dream? But why did it all feel so real?” Ye Junze mused in silence.

“Junze, you’re awake too!” Wang Dongdong exclaimed in delight as he came to. “Let me tell you, it was like I was dreaming! There was everything—delicacies, fine drinks, fun things, even beautiful women. Heavens, it was practically a paradise on earth.”

Ye Junze was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Wang Dongdong’s voice. With a hint of resignation, he thought, Paradise on earth—those words mean something quite different for this chubby fellow than they do for me, don't they? He couldn’t help but say, “You really never forget about food, drink, and amusement, do you?”

“Heh heh,” Wang Dongdong replied sheepishly. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted since I was a kid. But Junze, wasn’t that dream just now almost too real? The food in there was the most delicious I’ve ever had—it made me never want to wake up.”

“Don’t just think about eating,” Ye Junze said helplessly. “What about the test? How did it go?”

“Oh, the test? Well, in the dream, there was this shadowy figure who asked me what I wanted most. So I thought: since I’m at this school, what I want most is to join the Alchemy Department and eat even more delicious food. As soon as I thought that, I don’t know what happened, but the figure said I’d passed the test. Then I woke up.”

After hearing Wang Dongdong’s account, Ye Junze pondered, “It seems everyone’s test was the same question. I wonder how the school determines our departments based on what we wish for. That’s quite interesting.”

With that, Ye Junze collected his thoughts, stood up, patted Wang Dongdong, and said, “Well, since it’s over, we just have to wait for the results. Let’s head back for now.”

At his words, Wang Dongdong leapt up and declared, “Right! All I can think about after waking up is that food—I’m getting hungry. Once we’re back, I’m going to eat to my heart’s content.”

“Eat, eat, eat—you’ll eat yourself into the grave! If you really do get into the Alchemy Department, even the beauties there will ignore you,” Ye Junze teased.

“Well, thank you for the blessing, Junze! Whether the beauties like me or not, I can’t let myself go hungry. After all, food is heaven’s blessing,” Wang Dongdong replied cheerfully.

The two walked back to their dormitory together. Ye Junze looked around at the campus: groups of students laughing and playing, some even engaged in mock duels, hands weaving complex gestures that sent forth flashes of light dazzling to the eye. The campus was vibrant and peaceful, and for a moment, Ye Junze thought that perhaps things could stay this way. Yet deep within, he knew this tranquility was only a facade; real danger might be lurking just ahead, and he would need to grow strong enough to face it before it arrived.

“I thought I’d suffocate before I could speak again!” Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in Ye Junze’s mind. Overjoyed, he replied, “Meng Yuan? Where have you been? I thought you’d disappeared.”

It was none other than Meng Yuan, who had been missing for some time.

“I hid back in the dream realm,” Meng Yuan explained. “I’m not as powerful as that formation spirit—she’d have discovered me easily. It’s not that I didn’t want to answer you; I just truly couldn’t.”

“What were you afraid of? I thought I was done for, and when I called, you didn’t respond,” Ye Junze complained.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? You used that sword spirit to fool her, after all.” Meng Yuan paused, then teased, “If I’d been discovered, it wouldn’t have mattered much. But do you want to be taken apart and studied by some people in this school?”

Ye Junze rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll let it go this time. But next time, give me some warning!”

“Alright, alright, I get it. Things just happened too fast. I didn’t expect such a powerful formation spirit to be here, and she moved so quickly. I had no time to warn you—I had to retreat immediately.”

So Ye Junze continued chatting with Meng Yuan as they walked, occasionally responding to Wang Dongdong’s chatter beside him. When they finally returned to their dormitory, Wang Dongdong invited Ye Junze to join him for a meal. Thinking that they might be assigned to different departments soon and such chances would become rare, Ye Junze readily agreed.

True to his word, Wang Dongdong ordered a table heaped with dishes, and even then, he seemed unsatisfied. “Junze, order anything you like—it’s my treat,” he said enthusiastically.

“That’s enough, that’s enough. This much would last me three days on my own…” Ye Junze said, holding his forehead in disbelief.

“Oh, come on, don’t be so polite! We’re friends, aren’t we?” Wang Dongdong grinned and ordered even more.

Looking at the mountain of food before them, Ye Junze couldn’t help but wonder just what delicacies Wang Dongdong had tasted in the test to double his usual appetite today.

But Wang Dongdong had no inkling of Ye Junze’s thoughts, and even if he did, he’d probably just laugh it off. He was too busy perusing the menu, picking out dishes. Only when the table was almost full did he finally declare himself satisfied.

“Don’t just stare, Junze—dig in! The next batch will be here soon; let’s start with these,” Wang Dongdong said, already wolfing down his food.

Ye Junze, hearing this, decided not to think too much and joined in the feast.

After some time, the two managed to finish nearly all the food, leaving only scraps behind. Stuffed, Wang Dongdong patted his round belly and sighed, “Even if it’s not as good as what I ate in the test, this is still delicious.”

Ye Junze, having eaten far too much, was too drained to reply, left only to regret his gluttony. But at least Wang Dongdong was right about one thing: food is indeed the blessing of the people, and the school’s dishes truly were delectable. He couldn’t blame himself for overindulging. This thought brought an involuntary smile to Ye Junze’s face.

As the two sat quietly digesting, their phones rang simultaneously. They checked their screens and saw identical messages: “Entrance examination results have been released. Please log on to Yingze to view them.”