new realm
As everyone picked out the fakes one by one, the shadow of a clepsydra appeared in the sky.
There was an uproar in the crowd: "What is that?"
Everyone speculated: "When all the water in the clepsydra has dripped down, this exam will be over."
Everyone was excited and focused on distinguishing the real classmates around them, striving to win a higher ranking for themselves before the end of the quiz.
The sound of water dripping from the clepsydra soon stopped. Everyone looked up and saw that the full moon in the sky had disappeared, the stars were dim, the lights on the ground were all out, and the surroundings gradually fell into darkness, so dark that one could not see one's hand in front of one's face.
When Bai Roushuang woke up, she found herself lying on the bed in the dormitory. She got up hesitantly. Was everything just a dream? Thinking of the classmates who had been bitten, she breathed a sigh of relief.
In the dormitory not far away, Xu Shulou also opened her eyes. She had guessed this long ago and was not surprised at this moment. If the setting that one would be assimilated if bitten in the quiz happened in reality, who knows how many students would be killed. The teachers would definitely not do this.
This quiz was actually conducted in a dream. The reason why it was not announced in advance was probably because students were afraid that they would relax their vigilance if they knew it was a dream, and would not give their best effort without feeling nervous.
She thought of that lucid dream. Could it be that she fell asleep again within the dream and that gave her the opportunity to meet Xu Shulou from the storybook world face to face?
After the quiz was over, the teachers announced the results. The students who were bitten were naturally eliminated, and those who were deceived by the monsters disguised as classmates were rated very low. Xu Shulou originally had a high rating, but she missed the literary test, so she could not be considered the first.
She smiled and didn't take the rating of this small test too seriously. After all, "No. 121" was already printed at the top of the first test of Xuancang Academy. She first went to chat with Master Xue about the progress of Cangsheng Sword, and received his praise. She also asked some questions, said goodbye to her junior brothers and sisters, and set off on the road back to Wuchen Island. For such a long period of seclusion, she was used to choosing a place like Mingyue Peak that was absolutely safe.
The place in the back mountain used for retreat was quiet and peaceful. Xu Shulou sat upright on the stone platform, feeling the spiritual energy flowing into his dantian and converging into his qi sea.
She likes to be lively, but she can stand loneliness. On the road to becoming an immortal, everyone has to go through this journey. If one cannot stand loneliness, how can one complete this journey?
The spiritual energy circulated in her body for who knows how many small cycles. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to feel the pull and surged towards her like waves. It then merged into her body and became a part of her, allowing her to circulate freely without any stagnation.
During this retreat, spring came and autumn passed, and seven years passed in the blink of an eye.
Xu Shulou opened her eyes. She had successfully entered the initial stage of tribulation. Her body was overflowing with abundant spiritual power. Her every move carried the kind of pressure that belonged only to cultivators who were undergoing tribulation.
After reaching a higher realm, she seemed to be able to feel the mysteries between heaven and earth, touch the spiritual energy in the air, and hear the sounds of leaves growing and flowers blooming and falling. No wonder the world of cultivation often says that when one enters the Tribulation Crossing Stage, one has already stepped half a step into the gate of immortality.
She restrained the pressure around her and walked out of the cave. This step seemed to enter another world. It was spring outside, the season of grass growing, birds singing, flowers blooming, the grass and trees green, the air was filled with the scent of earth, the sun was shining, the sky was clear blue, and it was refreshing at the sight of it.
Xu Shulou closed his eyes in enjoyment, went to the back mountain to soak in a hot spring as usual, changed into a light spring dress, and walked through the spring scenery of the mountains.
There was a pool of spring water at the foot of Mingyue Peak, with rippling waves. A rabbit was drinking water nearby. Xu Shulou walked over and touched its ears. Perhaps the rabbit felt an aura from the rabbit that blended with the heaven and earth, so it just moved its ears and did not run away in fear.
There is an apricot tree blooming by the water. Occasionally, petals fall and float on the water, without disturbing the pool of spring water.
After returning to the secluded world from her retreat, Xu Shulou adjusted herself for a moment before going out to look for people. She found that her master was in retreat again and her fellow disciples were not on Mingyue Peak. She hesitated for a moment and then flew to the mortal world.
The smell of fireworks in the mortal world is exactly what she loves most.
Xu Shulou discovered that after entering the initial stage of tribulation, she had gained a very useful ability. When she walked on the street, she could quickly and accurately identify which food stall was emitting the most fragrant aroma.
It's great to be capable, Xu Shulou sighed again as she held the cooked chestnut cake, jelly, beef balls, and eel buns that she had bought following the aroma, and sure enough, none of them was unpalatable.
Carrying these things, she knocked on the door of Sheng Mansion. Her appearance had not changed at all from seven years ago, and the person who answered the door recognized her at a glance: "Miss Xu?"
"It's me. Is your master at home?"
"Yes, yes, Miss Xu, you came at the right time," the concierge replied with a smile, "The master, the mistress, the young lady and the young lady are all here. They just came back half a month ago."
Hearing that Xu Shulou was coming to visit, several people from the Sheng family came out to greet him. Even though the past seven years had been good, they were still getting older. Both Sheng's father and mother had some white hair on their temples, and Sheng Wuyou looked more mature, but his eyes were still as clear as they were seven years ago.
Seeing her, they were all very happy, especially Mother Sheng, who pulled her aside and said, "You have been in seclusion for seven years. We have been thinking about you."
"I came to visit you right after I came out of seclusion." Xu Shulou smiled and handed over the snow-soaked plum blossom wine he had just bought. "How has everyone been doing these past seven years?"
"We are fine. A while ago, Ah Ping took us to the city that never sleeps," Sheng's mother had a lot to say. "It was really new. The old man even said that he wanted to settle down there for a while."
Father Sheng was a little embarrassed: "Isn't it because you like it so much that you don't want to leave?"
Sheng Wuyou laughed and took Xu Shulou's hand: "I'm sorry to make you laugh. The two of them are becoming more and more like children."
Xu Shulou smiled and said, "It means everyone has lived well in the past seven years."
Sheng Wuyou gestured: "The last time I saw you, you were only this age. I didn't expect that it would be seven years since we last met."
Xu Shulou touched his face and inexplicably felt as if he was pulled in front of an elder whom he had not seen for a long time during the New Year, and the other person exclaimed in surprise that the child had grown so big.
She gave Sheng Wuyou a hug: "Seeing you are happy, I feel relieved."
Sheng's father and mother asked the kitchen to prepare the dishes. It was amazing that after all these years, they still remembered Xu Shulou's preferences.
After three rounds of drinks, Xu Shulou asked about the junior brothers and sisters of Song Ping. He nodded with a smile, "All are fine. Junior sister and sixth junior brother worked together on the fasting pill recipe. Five years ago, they successfully made a pill with the flavor of osmanthus cake. Once it was launched, it became famous in the cultivation world. After that, every other year, a new flavor was developed. Currently, there are several flavors, including crispy apple, lotus seed paste and egg yolk, almond Buddha's hand, and milky white grape."
Xu Shulou laughed.
"Yes," Sheng's father also sighed, "half a year ago, they improved the recipe of this pill so that mortals can also take it. Now many mortals use this as food during their journeys. They no longer have to carry heavy dry food for thousands of miles."
Sheng Wuyou added: "And their prices are not expensive, so many people can afford it. It is really a blessing to the world."
Song Ping continued, "The names of Bai Roushuang and Ji Ci are now well-known in the cultivation world, but they insist that everything is Mr. Dan's credit and refuse to take credit."
Xu Shulou smiled: "They are all good kids."
Song Ping nodded: "Yes, even Master said that our Mingyue Peak is finally no longer known for the notorious Xu Shulou."
“…”
Everyone couldn't help but smile. Xu Shulou naturally didn't care about the teasing. He shook his head and laughed too.
"Has everyone left Xuancang College?"
"Almost all of them have finished their studies and left. Only the fourth junior brother stayed there and vowed to read all the books. Xuan Cang even hired him to manage the library," Song Ping smiled. "Given the fourth junior brother's personality, the quiet atmosphere there suits him."
Xu Shulou nodded: "Where are the others?"
"Third Junior Brother has taken his group of spirit pets to travel around the world. It is said that whenever his spirit stones are used up, he finds a job as a temporary worker locally," Song Ping said. "Fifth Junior Brother recently went to the Talisman Master Conference to exchange experiences in making talismans. Sixth Junior Brother has built a hut near the Endless Sea and quietly makes pills. Junior Sister stays there for a few months every year to help him develop new flavors. The rest of the time she practices swordsmanship and strives to improve her strength."
"Everyone has his or her own life..." Xu Shulou sighed.
Song Ping toasted her and said, "If everyone knew that you were out of isolation, they would come back to reunite with us."
Xu Shulou drank the plum wine in his cup and said, "I miss them a little bit, too."
"I'll write a letter to inform them," Song Ping thought for a moment, "but it's not necessary. As long as Senior Sister walks around outside and casually fights with someone, I'm afraid the entire cultivation world will know that Xu Shulou has come out of seclusion."
"Where is my gentlemanly Second Junior Brother?" Xu Shulou looked at him with a smile. "I haven't seen you for seven years. Your wife has influenced you so much that you're now teasing me?"
"I dare not," Song Ping laughed, "I will write the letter right away."
"No need," Xu Shulou looked out the window, "I'll go visit them one by one."
Perhaps everyone needs to draw some warmth from their relatives and friends occasionally, and Xu Shulou is no exception. Her reunion with the Sheng family was very short, but it gave her a sense of returning to the world. After saying goodbye to everyone, she set out on her journey again.
Xu Shulou often heard people say that when a cultivator reaches a high level, with each breakthrough, his mind will become more and more indifferent, and he will feel that his connection with the world is gradually weakening. This is a sign that he is about to leave this world and ascend to immortality.
But she felt that she still could not let go of this world, still liked to see the prosperity of the world, wanted to visit friends everywhere, still wanted to travel the world with a sword, avenge her enemies, and still wanted to drink and sing with her fellow junior brothers and sisters.
Xu Shulou was flying in the air, feeling the breeze blowing towards him, and thought lightly that it seemed that this statement was just a rumor and could not be fully trusted.
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