I will win even if I die!

Before he knew it, Hu Ziyu had forgotten the feeling of nervousness and fear. After experiencing Ling Hong's opening technique, perhaps nothing in the world could frighten him anymore.

Go to the hall and wait quietly for your name to be called, kneel respectfully to receive the order, respond with courtesy and thank you, then stand up and take a seat.

Completed in one go, without panic or confusion, without a single mistake, Hu Ziyu gave his performance a score of 87. Fifty meters behind him, he could sense Taiyin Xingjun at the table and Linghong, who was standing by, both smiling with joy and satisfaction.

The seats for the Shinjin priests were arranged in the first row on the left side of the main hall, with seven seats for seven people. The Immortals were arranged in order of rank after them, with a total of three rows of twenty-one people.

The corresponding hall masters of the Xinren priests sat on the opposite right side, also seven seats in total. Closest to the Jade Emperor was Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East China Sea, master of the Dragon King Hall. Next was Hou Tu Niangniang, master of the Earth Administration Hall. In the center were Madam Huang Hua, the Moon God, and Ye Gong, the City God. Following them were Wen Qu Xingjun, Yue Lao Xingjun, and Marshal Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth.

Behind the seven gods, there are still some family members and immortals.

The thrones of the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were set far away, about a floor above the guest seats, so even if the Xinren priests looked up, they couldn't see them clearly. And Hu Ziyu didn't dare look directly at the faces of the hall masters, only occasionally looking up to see if they were exactly like the descriptions in the myths.

Generally speaking, it's pretty close.

The Dragon King's majesty revealed a touch of a father's kindness and doting. The God of Wealth, who had once roamed the battlefield, possessed a might and bravery comparable to that of the God of War. Behind Wenqu Xingjun stood the Spiritual Swan Master, who, besides occasionally glancing back to follow his own True Lord's movements, would occasionally glance in Hu Ziyu's direction with a scrutinizing and questioning gaze.

"Why are you glaring at me? I wouldn't set my sights on your senior brother. Oh, ignore it, ignore it," Hu Ziyu thought to himself, trying not to notice Ling Hu and the other malicious glances, and shifting his attention to his colleagues. To his left and right sat new recruits. The young man on the left was dressed simply, a plain white shirt paired with a denim jacket and pants—light, simple, and stylish. His features were deep-cut, his eyes were bright and lively, and his thick, dark brown hair was short and slightly curled. Overall, he had an air of naiveté.

The young lady on the right has her black hair tied up in a bun, secured at the back with two barrettes, her hands clasped on her thighs, and she sits at attention. These two people perfectly embody the two extremes of laziness and seriousness.

To the boy's left sat a handsome young man in a long coat, his hair draped over his shoulders. He was handsome and imposing, his boldness tinged with a touch of frivolity reminiscent of his father's generation. While the three men each had their own style of dress, they all embody a modern and elegant style, making for easy movement.

Hu Ziyu just couldn't understand why Linghong had to go to so much trouble to conjure up a set of ancient formal attire for him, even though it was very much to the taste of the old men in the hall.

To the young lady's right sat the shy and timid Zhu Yi Zhenjun. She spoke softly, forcing the ceremonial officers and others to strain their ears to barely understand her. She responded with a feigned timidity and a delicate, effeminate manner. She even pulled back her hand too soon when receiving the decree, sending the scroll tumbling sideways from the east side of the hall. After taking her seat, she forced composure and quietly wiped away the tears that were about to fall.

The last two were too far away from Hu Ziyu to greet him, so he didn't bother them. The Jade Emperor's speech was only a few sentences long, and the gods listened with bated breath, not daring to make a single sound. However, when it was the turn of the regents, the ceremonial officials, the military officials, and the criminal officials, to speak, the situation was different.

Some were sliding their Pads, some were taking a nap, some were chatting, some were watching TV series, and some were even preparing to slip away.

Ao Botong, the master of Suanni Palace, folded his arms and closed his eyes to rest; Wan Taian, the Tiger Lord, took out his PAD covered with tiger-striped leather and skated with great enjoyment; Liang Yanqi, the night patrol assistant, had no change in expression, and it was unclear whether he was listening attentively or resting; Zhuyi Zhenjun Zhu Huaizi lowered his head, and his hands kept fiddling with the silk ribbons of his red Hanfu... After taking a general look around at everyone, Hu Ziyu decided to strike a balance between relaxation and not being presumptuous.

Just as he called out to his PAD which was set to silent mode, Ling Hong sent him more than ten messages in a row.

What a guy! Hu Ziyu cursed in his heart: "I thought you were always serious and rigid, but it turned out that you were just scrolling through your phone from beginning to end." Looking up, he saw that Ling Hong was indeed hiding behind Taiyin Star Lord, scrolling through his PAD frantically and whispering with the female fairy beside him.

"Great, he's even flirting with a woman!" Just as Hu Ziyu was thinking this, his PAD vibrated again.

"Sir Hu, although we haven't been able to find out what the questions will be this time, we already know what the punishment game is." Linghong wrote: "And what the grand prize for winning is." Linghong sent a photo of a peach, which was rosy, plump, fresh and juicy, and the picture alone made people salivate.

"These aren't just any peaches. They're a special variety grown in the orchards of the Queen Mother. They only produce three to five a year, each about the size of a basketball. The key is, eating one is worth over a hundred years of spiritual practice, so...

I will win even if I die!"

Ling Hong even enlarged this line of words into super-clear 72-level fonts so that Hu Ziyu could see it clearly.

"Eh, eh, eh, eh—!" If the military officer giving the speech hadn't had a remarkably loud voice, Hu Ziyu's whisper would have been heard by his neighbors on both sides. Wan Taian, on his left, noticed something was amiss and turned his head. Hu Ziyu feigned indifference, avoiding him and replying to Ling Hong's message via telepathy. "You don't even know the question, and you're asking me to get first place? How cruel!" Hu Ziyu searched the gallery, trying to find a sticker like "hateful" or "scamming."

Ling Hong added, "In addition, there are 5,000 bonus merits, 5,000 bonus popularity, and 50,000 gold coins. Just hearing that makes me excited, doesn't it?" Hu Ziyu replied, "If the test involves factoring or breaking down chemical formulas, I'm certainly confident I can get first place. But if they require me to do a handstand, splits, or perform street dance, then I'll... just accept the penalty game."

"I advise you not to do that. The punishment this time is different from the past..." Having said that, Ling Hong suddenly stopped transmitting the message.

Because there was a big face quietly approaching Hu Ziyu's back, and if it was only an inch away, it would rest its entire head on his left shoulder.

Big Face blew a breath into Hu Ziyu's ear and said, "Classmate, you're so cute! Which hall are you from? I'd like to meet you..." Sexual harassment and gender bullying were commonplace for Hu Ziyu. He would respond to those who hugged or choked him from behind with a single-arm over-the-shoulder throw. As for those who grabbed him by the collar or pressed him against a wall, he would give them a knee that pierced their chest.

But Hu Ziyu had never encountered someone so directly resting their head on someone's shoulder. He jumped with startle, and the protruding bone of his shoulder hit Wan Taian's chin squarely. Wan Taian screamed in pain, like a butchered pig. Ao Botong, on the far left, emerged from his doze mode, his narrowed eyes emitting a fierce and terrifying murderous aura. Liang Yanqi, on the right, was also ready to strike, the handcuffs hidden in his waist bag already half-pulled out.

Hu Ziyu covered his left shoulder and rubbed it, Wan Taian touched his chin and cried out in pain. Directly opposite, a mature and beautiful woman and Ling Hong, who were beside Hou Tu Niangniang, held a ball of soil and a flame in their palms respectively.

Wan Taian gave a silent silly laugh, signaling everyone to stay calm.

After a few seconds, he turned to look at Hu Ziyu.

"Classmate, you can add me on WeChat, uh... I mean Tianrenzhuji?"

Before Hu Ziyu could answer, Ao Botong from behind kicked him in the butt.

"You didn't look at the list of newcomers, nor did you hear the ceremonial officer call out your name. Even if you haven't heard of the name of the Rabbit God, you should at least know one thing - 'This one is so cute, it must be a boy.'" Ao Botong said.

Someone came forward to help Liang Yanqi slow down his movements and return to his previous posture of sitting upright with his clothes straightened.

"Boy" Wan Taian looked up at Hu Ziyu from his seat. "Are you?"

Hu Ziyu wanted to remain silent, so he just nodded.

Ao Botong added: "Not only that, she also had a boyfriend who was a candidate for the role of Shancai Tongzi. That person was always clamoring for a marriage between heaven and man, making a lot of noise. Wei Mingtang didn't agree, so he went to the largest Guanyin Temple, Mazu Temple, and Earth God Temple to pray, and many people in heaven and on earth knew about it." "What..." This time, not only Wan Taian, but Hu Ziyu was also dumbfounded.

Ling Hong and the others were aware of these matters. However, they were currently focusing on the official banquet, and fearing that Hu Ziyu would be upset, they only tried to tell him the good news, such as "Hu Zilin received a suspended prosecution at the fastest speed in judicial history," and so on. The rest was suppressed for the time being and would be discussed later when preparing for the spiritual manifestation.

The newly appointed military attachés, who were giving speeches, were so enraged by the frolicking that they crushed their handheld microphones. The new military attachés, feeling overwhelmed by the situation, repeatedly declined the ceremonial officer's invitations and gave up their chance to speak. Thus, the ceremony officially entered its highlight of the day.

Ling Hong sent several more messages, each emphasizing the severity of this punishment. But Hu Ziyu's mind was in a state of confusion, the words on the PAD barely registering in his mind or heart. A boy beside the Queen Mother's throne held out something resembling a lottery stick and asked him to pull one out. Unaware of the reasoning, he obeyed.

"What's the number above?" Ling Hong asked anxiously.

Hu Ziyu hadn't fully recovered yet. He stared at the number on the slip and said, "The number is six."

"It's the finale, a mixed bag of good and bad, but that's fine. Let's take this opportunity to think about what we're going to perform later." Ling Hong said.

What kind of performance was being performed? Hu Ziyu's dazed brain had not yet recovered, but Liang Yanqi, who had drawn the first lot, stood up from his seat calmly, walked to the center of the hall, and saluted towards the officials and guests from all directions.

"I, Liang Yanqi, the Night Patrol Assistant of the City God's Palace Inspection Division, would like to present a skill. I sincerely hope that you will not despise me." A ceremonial officer in a red coat approached her and asked, "What talent would you like to bring?"

"One hundred continuous and rapid pull-ups." Liang Yanqi replied.

The ceremonial officer looked up and shouted, "Alright, Liang Yanqi, the new assistant to the Night Patrol God, will perform 100 pull-ups for everyone—" The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were the first to applaud, and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. Liang Yanqi sat directly across from the City God, followed by the Night Patrol's leader, the Night Patrol God, and four other members. The Night Patrol God extended his right hand and flicked two fingers, and a horizontal bar, nearly two meters high, suddenly appeared on the red carpet. Liang Yanqi glanced up to check the height, removed his tuxedo jacket, and handed it to his assistant. Then, he stretched out his arms and leaped upward, grasping the railing with both hands and exerting force to pull himself up.

The ceremonial officer began to count the times.

One, two, three...

Light as a swallow, composed and at ease. Liang Yanqi not only moved faster and faster, but his breathing remained evenly even. After counting to fifty, Wan Taian blew a whistle. At seventy, many people stood up and applauded. Hu Ziyu was also pushed to his feet by the excited immortals behind him.

So that's it, it turned out to be a talent show... After a while, Hu Ziyu finally figured out the topic, but at the same time, he felt that it was impossible for him to win the first place.

"I don't have any talents, so what's the point of performing this? Even if I could solve polynomials or calculus in ten seconds, those old people wouldn't understand," he thought.

After a hundred reps, Liang Yanqi reached his goal in a flash. He stepped down and bowed. Next to him came the Dragon Fifth Son, the Suanni Palace Master. Joining him was a winged creature covered in golden feathers, aglow with yellow and sparkling fire—the phoenix chick, the fire sorcerer Suzaku.

"I am Ao Botong, the master of Suanni Palace. I would like to present a high-altitude fireworks show to you. Please accept it." After the ceremonial officer finished recounting the program, the ceiling of the Lingxiao Palace immediately opened in all directions, turning into a hollow and spacious skylight.

There is no need for rehearsal or preparation, as everything seems to have been arranged already.

Ling Hong sent a message: "Don't underestimate the intelligence network on the sea line. They are determined to win and will do whatever it takes." Hu Ziyu used his PAD to search and learned that Suanni is a lion. It likes quietness and smoking. It is often seen on palace buildings, Buddha statues, and porcelain incense burners.

Ao Botong was reincarnated into a religious family. His educational group hosted several mental development summer camps, featuring thrilling activities like walking through fire, swallowing fire, and iron-loving. Challenges that seemed insurmountable to mortals were easier than crushing an ant in the eyes of the dragons. Ao Botong absorbed all the bluish-white flames exhaled by the phoenix chick. After a moment, he leaned back toward the sky, his body arched like a bridge, and opened his mouth to release several jets of flame.

Flames exploded in the air, and the scattered sparks were like fluttering cherry blossoms, beautiful, but disappeared in the blink of an eye without a trace.

It's a pity that it's not in the night sky, otherwise it would be even more interesting. Hu Ziyu thought that perhaps he could ask this person to co-organize the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet that Guanghan Palace handles every year.

The fireworks kept changing their patterns, and after more than ten times, they finally wrote a line of words in the air: "The power of heaven is vast, and the blessings are endless", which served as a beautiful ending.

The dragon clan relatives and friends of the Dragon King Palace all roared with admiration, clapping until their palms ached. Farther away, a few immortals and gods booed, "It was already decided, what's the point?" and "Didn't the topic come from their own family?" Ling Hong, though somewhat aware of the gossip, didn't want Hu Ziyu to know.

The Jade Rabbit Temple has been despised for many years, so the gods are naturally not optimistic about the new temple master. It doesn't matter if he performs mediocrely, but if he performs well, it will be the best opportunity to make a name for himself.

Born in a Taiwanese opera troupe in Yilan, Wan Taian was a natural-born martial artist. He first demonstrated his "carpet skills," a blend of somersaults, including tumbling, falling, flipping, rolling, leaping, and leaping. Then, the mature women surrounding the goddess Hou Tu took turns wielding spears, knives, staffs, swords, axes, and halberds, allowing him to demonstrate his "hands-on skills" in handling weapons and props. Finally, the performance concluded with the "Thirteen Rings of Heaven."

Wan Taian counted the slaps while slapping himself. His mischievousness was that, while he could have completed the entire sequence of movements, he chose to stop at the end of the jump and slap himself in the face.

"Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen! Thank you, thank you all for watching!" His face was swollen and red, and he was scolded by everyone, but Wan Taian didn't care. He smiled and bowed to the audience to take his bow.

Hu Ziyu burst out laughing inadvertently. Liang Yanqi glared at Wan Taian coldly and commented: "Idiot." Ao Botong lowered his head and drank tea, as if he didn't care about other people's performance at all.

The fourth and fifth places, although not bad, are obviously not as good as the previous ones.

The assistant official of the Peach Blossom Palace in Yue Lao Temple conjured a tumbling rope, with stars, sky rockets, iron towers, and other intricate designs appearing one after another, all displayed before the crowd on a magnified projection screen. Hu Ziyu wondered if this person's skill with ropes was the reason they were chosen by Yue Lao Temple, which required the use of red string to seal marriages.

A newcomer to the Fortune God Temple's "Wind-Win" program performed a coin magic trick. What appeared to be one coin suddenly split into several; what appeared to be on the palm of the right hand suddenly reappeared under the left armpit. Despite their dedication, many people still murmured, saying, "What's so great about that? If it's magic, anyone can do it!" and "Oh, that's not good. What else is there to do?"

Hu Ziyu racked his brains, but couldn't think of any other tricks besides solving the puzzle and memorizing the text. Despite the efforts of the previous performers, some still booed him. Suddenly, he felt relieved and thought, "Never mind. My Jade Rabbit Temple is a borderland where chickens don't poop, eggs don't lay, and turtles don't come ashore. I don't think you'll give me the Best Achievement Award." He gritted his teeth and walked to the center of the hall.

Among the new priests, Hu Ziyu admired Liang Yanqi the most, so he imitated her way of appearance and saluted the immortals of the four directions with his fists.

"I am Hu Ziyu, the head of the Jade Rabbit Temple in Guanghan Palace, Taiyin Palace. I admit that I am too limited in talent and knowledge to be shown to the public. I am reciting the 'Guide to the Ceremony of Conferring Honors on Civil Officials' in reverse order as a token of respect."

"Wait, what did you say you wanted to perform?" The ceremonial officer was stunned.

Besides him, Ling Hong, Taiyin Xingjun, the other hall masters, the newly appointed immortals, and the palace's civil and military officials all wore bewildered expressions. "I'm going to recite the 'Guide to the Ceremony of Civilian Officials' Investiture and Honor Ceremony' backwards," Hu Ziyu said loudly. "After that, if you still feel unsatisfied, you can also recite the most English word in history, square roots, the periodic table, and several chapters of the Tao Te Ching backwards." Before he finished speaking, the immortals and gods called out their PADs and searched online for the 'Guide to the Ceremony of Civilian Officials' Investiture and Honor Ceremony.