Chapter 00261: Lime and Citrus, Exams and Swords
# Lime and Citrus, Exams and Swords
Chapter 261
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 261: Lime and Citrus, Exams and Swords
"Good, your registration process is now complete."
Inside the association’s office, Li Yun smiled brightly as she put away Ji Jue’s registration form.
"Please keep an eye on your messages so you don’t miss any announcements."
Then, she handed over a POS machine.
Now, you can swipe your card...
Ji Jue’s trembling hand typed in the password.
When his phone pinged with a message, that broken feeling hit him again.
He deeply felt that the Ember currency had its own value... and the exchange rate with the federal currency was honestly heartbreaking.
Just like that, 410,000 was swiped away, leaving only a tiny balance in his account.
From overnight riches to utter ruin in just a few days, the balance on Ji Jue’s bank card was like a roller coaster, and he felt like his whole self was shattering.
"There's still a few days before the exam. Make sure to grab that time to review," Li Yun kindly reminded.
"I just checked with a friend at headquarters. The total number of apprentices registering this year is much less than usual, only a little over eleven hundred."
"The exam this time is hosted by Gustav, one of the Eight Honored Guardians. Compared to other Guardians, his standards might be even higher and stricter. You’d better be prepared," she said.
"Difficulty's increased?" Ji Jue raised an alert.
"From what I understand, yes."
Li Yun thought for a moment, then slowly said, "According to the recent announcement, the exam content will be adjusted this year. They’re reducing the weight of theory and basics, but significantly raising the requirements for practical skills and creativity for apprentices."
"What?" Ji Jue was almost startled upright, double-checking if he had heard right.
It was hard to believe — his biggest weakness… was casually taken off?
Seriously?
Even though he was pretty confident in his practical application of beginner modern alchemy, fluid alchemy, and corruptrix alchemy, steadily controlling craftsman-level handiwork and making blessed creations, the truth was he had only just begun.
Time was too short to make up for all the theoretical gaps.
Sure, at this stage he barely got by.
But when compared to those guys who started grinding from 14 or 15 years old, this exam would probably expose the truth, and if luck ran out, he might even fail.
And now, his biggest flaw was just wiped away so easily?
"This is… too good to be true."
He tried to hide his excitement, but his face twitched slightly as he sighed long, "Cough, cough, cough… ah, what a huge pressure, what am I supposed to do?"
"I heard many apprentices who’ve registered already submitted withdrawal applications today," Li Yun sighed sympathetically.
"The association’s being unusually lenient this time. If you pull out before the official exam, it won’t count on your records or resume. You still have a couple of days to think it over."
Having known Ye Xian for so many years and understanding her personality and perfectionism, Li Yun also knew that among modern alchemy’s many branches, Ye Xian was one of the most methodical and steady.
In her eyes, even the most gifted apprentices would likely only master the basics within a year.
It wasn’t just her; even Gustav hadn’t imagined a freak like Ji Jue, who had less than half a year since starting, steady practical skills typical of a craftsman, yet utterly crushed in theory by others.
"Alright, yes, absolutely!" Ji Jue gritted his teeth, stood up, and hurried away with a worried look.
If he didn’t, he might not be able to contain his smile.
Hold it in, hold it in, don’t laugh!
He kept weeping tears of joy, dancing about, so happy even the little Pearl would have fallen off.
Who would’ve thought there's such good luck? Heaven finally showed mercy!!
After so much bad luck, this year was his turn for a windfall.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Just an exam, how could he possibly lose it?
"What are you so happy about?"
After an entire morning of Ji Jue laughing like a fool, Ye Chun could no longer stand it and doused him with a bucket of cold water.
"Although this situation favors you, they’re clearly trying to put a stop to the kind of restless attitude that you represent, okay?"
She pointed accusingly with a chip.
And it was the rude cucumber-flavored ones, no less.
"Besides, the one overseeing this exam is none other than Gustav himself..."
"Who’s that?" Ji Jue quickly snatched the chips, stuffing some in his mouth, crunching noisily.
"Gustav? Never heard of him."
Ye Chun raised her phone to show the Taiyi Ring Association’s webpage.
At the top was an oldish photo.
On the screen was a stern, expressionless, cold middle-aged man, scruffy with stubble, his gaze indifferent as if he looked down arrogantly, constantly scrutinizing everything.
"They say the thing he hates most are those flashy, talentless types who talk big but can’t back it up."
"Since he became a director, over twenty craftsmen have had their licenses revoked internally just for inadequate talent or ability..."
Ye Chun paused, then said with pity, "The rule forbidding apprentices from taking the exam within three years of training, that was his idea. Who do you think he’s targeting this time?"
"Ugh..."
Ji Jue gasped.
"And he has a spat with Auntie too," Ye Chun smirked with schadenfreude, "Three years ago at the council, he publicly criticized many craftsmen including Auntie, for ignoring association rules and doing their own thing..."
"... And then?" Ji Jue's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
"Well, what else? Auntie doesn’t bother with stuff like that, right?"
Ye Chun shrugged and sighed, "Apparently because of some later failure, it was never brought up again... But don’t worry, the directors are magnanimous — they wouldn’t mess with you over something so trivial."
"…"
Ji Jue was speechless.
"By the way, if I cancel my registration now..." he lowered his voice, "can they refund the exam fee?"
Ye Chun’s smile brightened even more.
Crossing her arms over her chest,
"Nope."
Smack!
Professor Ye’s righteous justice struck from heaven.
Ji Jue caught Ye Chun quietly sneaking up from behind, raising a hand to knock her on the head.
She yelped, rolled around on the sofa, wriggling.
With tears in her eyes, she stared angrily at Ji Jue.
"You framed me!"
Ji Jue shrugged apologetically.
"You brought it on yourself..."
"Don’t worry about Gustav."
Ye Xian said calmly, "He’s stubborn, but he values rules above all. He won’t mess with you just because of some petty beef with me."
"Instead, focus on your weak spots."
"Whether you pass or not, if you want to go far, there are still subjects you need to catch up on."
She paused, her eyes glinting with a hint of menace.
"You don’t think that just by taking a few extra classes elsewhere, everything will be fine, right?"
"No!"
Ji Jue stared and answered resolutely, "Cháoshēng Workshop is my home! You’re the only sun in my heart! I trust no one else! How could I possibly take any ridiculous classes outside?!"
And what about Jian Yuan?
Old Geezer? No way! Get lost!
"Is that so?"
Professor Ye gave a smile that made Ji Jue shiver.
Then, with her other hand behind her back, she slowly raised a heavy book as thick as Ji Jue’s head.
The gold-embossed large characters on the cover gleamed chillingly.
——“Collection of Written Exam Questions from Past Taiyi Ring Craftsman Exams (Cataclysm Era 109–401)”
She gently placed the book into Ji Jue’s hands and patted his shoulder: "Some things, even if the association doesn’t test, I will."
"Good timing, the exam doesn’t start until next week. You’ve still got enough time."
She said, "No need to push yourself too hard; just finish it before the exam begins."
"…"
Ji Jue stared blankly, flipping the cover, looking at those paper-thin, almost transparent pages inside, and evaluating the sheer deadly volume of questions enough to give himself a brain hemorrhage.
He swallowed dryly.
With his last hope, he looked at Ye Chun on the sofa with tears in his eyes, pleading.
Senior Sister Heavenly Lord, where are you?
Please save me!
Ye Chun sneered coldly and moved her gaze away.
She even opened another bag of chips.
Senior Sister’s already dead.
You chose this path, exam rat!
And so, that was settled.
No indulgence or joy before the exam, not even enough time for “last meal.” In the distant future—the forty-first decade of the Cataclysm Era—in this dark world, there was only cramming.
Because of physical reasons, Ji Jue had skipped school for half a month, then got kicked into the workshop basement, starting the endless day-and-night grind of endless questions again.
He didn’t even dare close his eyes to dream.
All wrong answers were marked by Professor Ye.
The second time he made the same mistake in theory or question type, he got a free extra reading note and analysis on related thesis.
Hungry? Eat.
Thirsty? Drink.
Tired? Sleep.
His soul’s growth from rank breakthroughs and the body conditioning from Zhou Zhong wouldn’t even allow him to pass out, not to mention the endless alchemy potions he had on hand, making it nearly impossible to just drop dead.
From initial restlessness and crying, to habit and immersion, then finally complete numbness.
He became a question-answering machine.
So much so that one week later, when Ye Chun pinched her nose and dragged him out of the basement, he was already totally sour-faced, eyes glazed over.
Still drooling...
"What number is this?"
Ye Chun waved three fingers in front of him.
No reaction.
"It’s over, Auntie!"
Ye Chun was shocked, "He’s gone dumb!"
In the study, a calm voice sounded: "Leave him be; he'll be fine shortly."
But this was such an amusing event that Ye Chun thought it through, analyzed it rationally, then silently pounded her fist on her palm, grinning wide.
She pulled out a marker...
——The 16th Cliff City Friendship Cup Turtle Drawing Contest Runner-Up, activiiiated!
Only after drawing four lively little turtles did Ji Jue’s eyes move slightly.
But his gaze slid past her finger and stopped on her face.
"…"
Countless swirling formulas and theories still occupied his mind’s heights.
His black-red pupils, as dim as dying embers, contracted, and he instinctively gripped her wrist, analyzing with his instincts—Human, female, twenty-three years old, stable blood Qi, weak spiritual quality, abnormal four liquid indices, internal discord suspected due to excess blessing interference, core structure sealed tight, impossible to analyze...
But instantly, all perception vanished.
As if sensing an external spy, everything disappeared again into thick fog, impossible to probe, making him more confused.
He instinctively grabbed and repeatedly checked, finding no trace.
This shouldn’t be happening.
What’s going on? That unknown spiritual substance structure blending with his soul, surely it wasn’t a hallucination?
Why did the temperature rise? About a degree above normal, abnormal blood flow speed, heartbeat accelerated, hmm? Soft and fragrant, what was this… some plant essential oil residue?
Body wash?
Smells a little like Lazy Dog Senior Sister… wait...
Ye Chun?
In that moment, Ji Jue’s eyes widened.
He stiffly raised his head.
His out-of-focus pupils contracted, his blurry view cleared slowly, and he saw that familiar face, close enough to touch, looking at him.
Looking down, he saw the slender fingers he held, the pearly white nails reflecting sunlight from the window, casting a faint glow.
"Had enough?" Ye Chun tilted her head and smiled curiously, asking, "Besides ‘smells like Lazy Dog Senior Sister,’ do you have any last words?"
Ji Jue’s hand jolted away like he’d been electrocuted.
Instinctively, he raised his hands in surrender, hoping to struggle just a little more before getting his skull cracked.
Then, a basket was tossed into his arms, along with towels, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, and finally Ye Chun found a bottle of body wash from the cabinet.
"Here, same kind as mine—lime and citrus scent..."
She pointed to the guest bathroom.
"You smell awful. Go wash up. Afterward, I’ll help you with your ‘surgical cleanup.’"
"Okay."
Ji Jue nodded obediently, bowing and scraping as he grabbed the bath basket and ran off.
More than half an hour later, clean and changed, Ji Jue sat nervously in the teacher’s study to await the results.
Only the soft sound of pages turning echoed in the silence.
After a long while, Professor Ye slowly raised her hand, took off her glasses, and instead of banging the table in anger, she nodded slowly.
Instantly, Ji Jue couldn’t hold his breath any longer and finally exhaled.
Cold sweat nearly broke out.
Though growth was joyful, the endless stuffing of knowledge day and night was quite a nightmare.
At this point, he couldn’t even count how many test papers and questions he’d pushed through in the last week, nor how many theses and notes he’d ground to powder.
"Well then, you’re about at a passing level," Ye Xian said slowly.
"The rest you can make up after the exam."
Ji Jue’s heart felt like it stopped, his vision went dark.
He felt utterly hopeless.
"Still… have to catch up more?"
Then he caught Ye Xian’s words:
"At this pace, once the craftsman exam ends, you can start—"
She paused, picking up her teacup and sipping slowly.
"—your study of the ‘Elephant Sword Treatise.’"
In the brief silence, Ji Jue’s pupils flared crimson, and saliva nearly dribbled out.
Instantly, he was starving with desire.
Cram, cram, cram!
Damn right, cram!
Cramming? I’ll jump and spin with joy for that!
At this very moment, his mind was filled with those three words Professor Ye had said.
Elephant Sword Treatise! Elephant Sword Treatise!! Elephant Sword Treatise!!!
Unlike the many basic theories of modern alchemy and the skills Ye had snatched from craftsmen that had always been taught to Ji Jue…
This was Professor Ye Xian’s unique secret technique, and unlike her self-developed dissociation art, it was a genuine Ye family heirloom!
Just looking at the [Gan Jiang] and [Mo Ye] matrices proved the close link between the Ye lineage and swords.
The earlier book Ye gave him, the “Elephant Sword Introduction,” was just a simple explanation of shapes and concepts for basic entry—the true core was the Elephant Sword Treatise.
Though called the Elephant Sword Treatise, it actually contained two volumes: the upper “Containing Image” and the lower “Talking Sword.”
The latter “Talking Sword” recorded the construction, analysis, blessing series, weakness, flaws, and counters of many famous swords from the chaotic era until decades ago.
The former “Containing Image” gathered countless secret techniques gathered from generations of Ye family swordsmiths across a thousand years.
Even though Ye Xian had since forged her own path, abandoning predecessors’ ways, the dusty, rusting scraps in the warehouse—still good enough to fell tens of thousands of opponents without dulling—proved the Elephant Sword Treatise’s treasure.
Add to that the legendary forge listings mentioned in “Elephant Sword Introduction”—
Such as the giant Que Chun Jun, Zhan Lu and Yuchang...
If he could really master it, maybe one day he could go up against that old Geezer Jian Yuan, settle old scores, and let him taste the power of his ultimate treasure!
In an instant, Ji Jue’s fighting spirit soared wildly!
Grind! Grind! Grind! Grind! Grind!!!
His eyes turned red enough to scare Ye Chun.
Only after he had darted out of the workshop laughing crazily for some time did Ye Chun nervously peek out.
"Wow, Auntie, did you feed him something powerful again? I’m scared when the association does spot-checks later all the stimulants will be just blood."
"Nothing much," Ye Xian said calmly, flipping a newspaper.
"Just planning to teach him the Elephant Sword Treatise, show him some real goodies, so he won’t be surprised by random things outside later."
"So soon?!"
Ye Chun was shocked, then suddenly realized something was off.
"Wait, shouldn’t you teach me that first?"
"…"
Professor Ye closed the paper and glared with a death stare:
"Yeah, why’s that?"
Here’s a fool, given a clan head name, with deep family legacy and vast knowledge, even had a master feeding him since childhood, yet never did he manage to learn the family tradition properly.
Too embarrassing, but I won’t say who.
The fool grew nervous and pulled in his head.
"Auntie, you know my… I really am not cut out for this!"
Ye Xian sighed helplessly.
Like they say, you can't make a silk purse from a sow’s ear—forcing it will upset both the mud and the wall.
Even if you try to force a stubborn ox to drink water by pressing its head, too many times and the ox chokes and dies, plus your arm gets sore.
This cycle of "Ye Chun is the real clan head!" and "Auntie, you’ll regret it!" had happened countless times ever since Ye Chun learned to read.
Even the obstinate Ye Xian had to face the fact that some people are naturally immune to embedding with Ember.
She’d given up.
Thankfully, heaven’s not entirely merciless; her family’s idiot somehow stumbled across a chosen of Ember outside.
Her ancestors’ efforts and legacy wouldn’t end here.
"But he’s only been studying for half a year..."
Ye Chun peeked again, curious, "Do you think he can pass the craftsman exam?"
"You said it yourself, it’s just the craftsman exam, not a master appraisal," Ye Xian answered carelessly.
"No matter how unwilling Gustav is, if he still has eyes in his head, he won’t be deluded and oppose reality. With the ability he has now, a bit more effort—just like me breaking away on my own—it’s more than enough. No chance he can fail."
Passing or not, no suspense.
Only the rank order remained.
But...
"Tell him—"
Ye Xian looked back at the family idiot: "—if his rank is too low, he’d better get ready for extra classes in Spirit Quality offense and defense."
Ye Chun nodded wildly.
"Yeah, yeah, that’s it!"
This exam rat only wastes resources in the world, better to beat him down hard so he won’t survive well!
Soon, Ye Chun popped her head in again: "Auntie, he wants to know how low is ‘too low’ for the ranking?"
In the afternoon sunlight, Ye Xian looked up thoughtfully.
"Besides first place."
She said, "Everything else counts as low."
(End of chapter)