Chapter 8: The Academy Exam
Frozen Moon Villa Academy sat on a mountain overlooking Golden Leaf City.
Li Wei stood at the base, staring up at the massive stone gates. Hundreds of other candidates milled around—young cultivators from across the region, all hoping to pass the entrance exam.
Yue Mei stood beside him, surprisingly nervous.
"You'll be fine," she said. For the tenth time.
"You said that already."
"Because it's TRUE!" She straightened his collar fussily. "You're Stage 5 now. You know Shadow Step. You're smart. You'll pass easily."
Li Wei wasn't so sure.
The other candidates looked... competent. Confident. Like they belonged here.
Meanwhile, Li Wei was a transmigrated otaku wearing borrowed clothes and trying not to get recognized as a wanted criminal.
EXAM REQUIREMENTS
[1] Cultivation: Stage 5+ [✓]
[2] Combat Test: ???
[3] Talent Assessment: ???
> System Note: Good luck! You'll need it! :)
A gong sounded.
The massive gates swung open.
An elderly man in pristine white robes stood at the entrance. His aura was terrifying—Soul Realm at minimum, maybe higher.
"Welcome, candidates," he said, voice carrying effortlessly. "I am Elder Frost, Vice Principal of Frozen Moon Villa Academy. Today's exam will test your worthiness."
He swept his gaze across the crowd.
"First test: Cultivation. Step forward and place your hand on the measurement stone."
A massive crystal appeared, floating beside him.
One by one, candidates approached. The stone glowed different colors based on cultivation level.
Red: Stages 1-3 (failed immediately)Orange: Stage 4 (barely acceptable)Yellow: Stage 5 (pass)Green: Stage 6+ (excellent)
Li Wei's turn came.
He approached the stone, heart pounding.
Placed his hand on the cold crystal.
It glowed yellow.
Stage 5. Pass.
"Li Wei," Elder Frost read from a scroll. "Mortal Realm Stage 5. Acceptable. Proceed to the second test."
Li Wei exhaled in relief.
He'd made it through step one.
The second test was combat.
Candidates were paired randomly for sparring matches. Victory wasn't required—Elder Frost explained they were testing technique, adaptability, and combat sense.
Li Wei's opponent was a muscular young man named Jin Hua, Stage 6, armed with a massive sword.
"Don't take this personally," Jin Hua said, grinning.
The signal sounded.
Jin Hua charged, sword raised.
Li Wei activated Shadow Step—
Appeared to the side—
Jin Hua's blade crashed into empty space.
"Teleportation?!" Jin Hua spun.
Li Wei didn't fight back. Just dodged. Used Shadow Step to stay out of range.
Fifteen seconds. Thirty. A full minute.
Jin Hua was getting frustrated, swinging wildly.
Li Wei saw an opening—Shadow Stepped behind him—and tapped his back with two fingers.
"Yield," Li Wei said quietly.
Jin Hua froze, realizing a blade could've been there instead.
He lowered his sword. "I yield."
The watching examiners murmured amongst themselves.
"PASS!" Elder Frost called. "Li Wei—excellent evasion. Next pair!"
Li Wei stepped back, sweating but unharmed.
Two down. One to go.
The third test was talent assessment.
Another crystal, this one measuring spiritual root quality and potential.
Colors ranged from gray (no talent) to gold (genius level).
Li Wei approached nervously.
His talent was... he had no idea, actually. Zhao Tian's body. His soul. Would it even work properly?
He placed his hand on the stone.
It flickered.
Gray. Brown. Orange.
Then—unexpectedly—a flash of purple.
The crowd gasped.
"Rare element affinity," Elder Frost said, surprised. "Shadow attribute. Uncommon, but valuable."
Li Wei blinked. Shadow attribute? That explained why Shadow Step felt so natural.
"PASS. Welcome to Frozen Moon Villa Academy, Li Wei."
Relief flooded through him.
He'd done it.
Actually done it.
The successful candidates were led into the academy grounds. Li Wei followed, still processing.
Then he saw her.
Standing at the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, ice-blue eyes locked on him.
Lin Xue.
Wife number one.
The woman who'd betrayed Zhao Tian.
The woman who'd hunted him through the forest.
She wore academy robes with an instructor's emblem.
She was a teacher here.
⚠ WARNING ⚠
WIFE #1 DETECTED
Target: Lin Xue [Academy Instructor]
Distance: 15 meters
Affection: 3/100 (HOSTILE)
> ALERT: She is staring RIGHT AT YOU.
Li Wei's blood ran cold.
She couldn't sense his soul from this distance. But she was looking at him. Studying him.
Did she suspect?
Elder Frost continued his speech: "Your instructors will guide your training. Instructor Lin will oversee combat classes."
Lin Xue's eyes narrowed.
Li Wei forced himself to look away. Act normal. Blend in.
But his heart was hammering.
This was bad.
Really bad.
Evening came. The new students were assigned dormitories.
Li Wei collapsed on his bed, mind racing.
Lin Xue was HERE. Teaching. Watching.
If she got within ten meters, she'd recognize his soul signature.
Then he'd be dead.
A knock on the door.
Li Wei jumped. "Who is it?"
"It's me!" Yue Mei's cheerful voice.
He opened the door. She slipped inside, grinning.
"How did you get in?!" The academy was supposed to be secure!
"I'm an assassin. Security is a suggestion." She plopped onto his bed. "I watched your exam. You did great!"
"Lin Xue is an instructor here."
Yue Mei's smile faded. "Oh. That's... problematic."
"She'll recognize me if she gets close!"
"Then don't let her get close." Yue Mei shrugged. "Skip her classes. Stay ten meters away. Easy."
"That's not a long-term solution!"
"Then make her fall for you before she figures it out!" Yue Mei said it like it was obvious. "Win her over. Raise affection. By the time she realizes you're her husband, she won't want to kill you anymore!"
Li Wei stared. "That's... actually not a terrible plan."
"I know! I'm brilliant!" She stood, stretching. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow is your first day as a student. Don't die!"
She slipped out the window before he could respond.
Li Wei sighed.
Frozen Moon Villa Academy.
Where he'd train. Get stronger. And avoid getting murdered by his first wife.
Simple.
Totally simple.
NEW QUESTLINE UNLOCKED
Quest: Survive Academy Life
Sub-Quests:
[ ] Avoid Lin Xue's detection
[ ] Train cultivation to Spirit Realm
[ ] Make allies
[ ] Don't die
Duration: Indefinite :)
Li Wei lay back, staring at the ceiling.
One day at a time.
That's all he could do.
Survive one day at a time.