Even the two sent out earlier were flabbergasted to see Chi Muyao and Xi Huai stuck together. No wonder there was such a ruckus in the classroom.

It really was a...somewhat mystical sight.

The clothes were what was attracted by the Mandarin Sleeves, not their bodies.

This resulted in Chi Muyao's clothes being tightly attached to Xi Huai's, which in turn forced him to basically stand flush against Xi Huai's body.

Yu Yanshu's expression darkened. He frowned, having been rendered speechless and motionless by the sight. It took some time before he reacted and took a deep breath.

Even Song Weiyue, who always sided with his friends no matter what, couldn't help but hiss in commiseration at the sight.

Though Song Weiyue grew up with Xi Huai and he could cheer Xi Huai on even if he was committing arson or murder, Song Weiyue didn't take acting vulgarly nearly as well.

At the very least, he couldn't wholeheartedly praise Xi Huai for this kind of behaviour.

"L-let me go." Chi Muyao struggled hard to try and put some distance between him and Xi Huai.

Xi Huai pretended to be innocent, even spreading his hands out and saying, "I'm not controlling you."

However, since their clothes were completely stuck together, Chi Muyao moved whenever Xi Huai moved. His hands went up with Xi Huai's, to Xi Huai's ears, until it looked like he was asking to be hugged.

His eyes immediately reddened with shame.

He tried to pull his clothes back and remove himself from Xi Huai. Unfortunately, he used too much force and soon heard the sound of tearing fabric, which made him freeze.

This outfit had to last him until the Exam was over. If it tore now, he wouldn't be able to alternate outfits to wear and wash anymore.

Their Yu Chong School was so poor that they couldn't even afford an extra set of clothes.

Yu Yanshu cast seals with one hand in an attempt to free Chi Muyao from all those Mandarin Sleeves.

Song Weiyue immediately seized his hand upon realising this. "Mind your own business."

Good friends not only helped deal the final blow at the critical moment, they also had to stop anyone from interfering when a friend was acting like a hooligan so that said friend could be as much of a hooligan as he liked.

"Here I thought you were kind at heart. Yet you do such vulgar things here at the Nuan Yan Pavilion?" Yu Yanshu's eyes widened with anger as he asked harshly.

Song Weiyue raised his chin and replied shamelessly, "I swear on Hell and Earth that the three of us have never been kind at heart."

As expected of Yu Yanshu, he was still strict while arguing and corrected Song Weiyue's mistake. "It's Heaven and Earth."

Song Weiyue, after a moment of consideration, "Oh."

Then he immediately reacted, "Like I need you to tell me?! Are you looking down on me 'cause I'm illiterate?"

"You're illiterate?" Yu Yanshu asked, astonished.

"..." Song Weiyue took a deep breath. "Seems like you and I get along about as well as water and fire. Don't blame me for what happens if you don't start minding your own business."

Chi Muyao turned to look at the two that were arguing, only for Xi Huai to use the Control Object Technique again to force him to look at Xi Huai.

Now they were looking into each other's eyes with their bodies pressed together, making things even more ambiguous.

Xi Huai looked down with downcast eyes, Chi Muyao's visage reflected in his pupils.

And Chi Muyao could only look straight up like he was going to swallow a sword to meet Xi Huai's eyes.

The Nuan Yan Pavilion's academy was a three-story building situated in the depths of a lush bamboo forest.

They were currently on the third floor terrace with the bamboo leaves from the forest peeking through the fence.

A faint, crisp breeze made the forest sway in waves.

A small spring in the forest bubbled, its gurgling waters slowly carrying scattered bamboo leaves downstream.

With the sounds of water and the rustling of leaves as accompaniment, the fragrance of vegetation and perfumed clothing intertwined. They were so close together that the other's scent could be detected on every breath.

Chi Muyao struggled some more, asking, "What on earth are you trying to do?"

"I'm bored. You make me less bored."

"Let me go or I'll..."

"Or you'll what?"

"I'll release my bird to peck you!"

"Which bird?"

"..."

Satisfied, Xi Huai recalled the Mandarin Sleeves with a smirk, finally setting Chi Muyao free.

He stepped back five or six paces before coming to a stop. He subconsciously wanted to hide behind Yu Yanshu, but he was only two steps in before the Mandarin Sleeves' attraction reappeared and pulled him closer to Xi Huai again.

Chi Muyao planted both feet firmly on the floor and tried to resist to no avail. He only came to a stop again when he was far away from Yu Yanshu.

By then he had finally realised that Xi Huai didn't want him looking at or getting close to Yu Yanshu.

This put Chi Muyao between a rock and a hard place. In the end, he withdrew from all three of them and stood by himself in a corner. He was near a window here, which allowed him to quietly retrieve his book with the Control Object Technique and continue listening to the lecture.

As he read his book in the corner clothed in a smoky green robe, his already slender and thin figure made him appear like a weak scholar.

A refreshing breeze blew past, blowing Chi Muyao's bangs and the pages of his book into disarray.

Chi Muyao pressed down on the book cover with one hand. A gleam of light fell on his fingertips, making it seem like the sun itself was inlaid within.

Xi Huai kept looking at Chi Muyao, unwilling to look away.

Xi Huai's mind was clear on one thing: Chi Muyao was A-Jiu.

He just couldn't prove that at the moment.

Of all the people he had observed in the Mitian Tongyin Array, it was only when he was with Chi Muyao that he felt most like he was with A-Jiu.

Xi Huai trusted his instincts wholeheartedly.

Chi Muyao was the person he was looking for. Now he just had to find the proof.

Xi Huai was at a loss as to how to find said proof since Chi Muyao was more cunning than he had thought.

It wasn't until he had returned to his room that Xi Huai realized that Chi Muyao hadn't tried to remove the ribbon before taking a bath, only after. He was clearly putting on a show for someone. And before he tried to take it off, Chi Muyao was clearly frantic, evidenced by how he went to retrieve his clothes himself instead of just using the Control Object Technique.

Xi Huai just needed that definitive proof to put his worries to rest.

It was like A-Jiu was standing right before him, less than three feet away but still out of reach.

One should never jump to conclusions without definitive proof.

If...it was confirmed, he would probably sweep Chi Muyao into his arms and give him a bone-crushing hug.

Now it was just a matter of when Chi Muyao would slip up.

Alas, he was impatient like all young people.

He couldn't settle down knowing the one he loved was right in front of his eyes.

Whether it was through tricks or teasing, anything was fine as long as Chi Muyao looked at him. Paid attention to him.

That alone would be enough.

Seeing that Xi Huai was no longer harassing Chi Muyao, Yu Yanshu stood up straight where he was and continued his punishment.

Song Weiyue chose instead to sit on the railing, lazily letting the breeze blow through his hair like a contented cat after lunch.

Then, some of the papers in the classroom were blown out by the wind, scattering through the window.

Chi Muyao wanted to go pick them up, but others were even faster than him.

Xi Zihe and Han Qingyuan, who were sitting by the window, both got up and went to pick up the scattered papers.

A young boy and a pretty girl surrounded by bamboo and flying papers. The two of them both reached for the same paper at the same time, causing their fingers to touch and their gazes to meet. Sparkles seemed to light up around them.

Chi Muyao sighed at the sight with his book in hand. As expected of the male and female lead, always spreading dog food everywhere.

By the time he came back to his senses, he saw that Xi Huai was looking at the scene downstairs beside him like it was something that didn't really interest him.

When Chi Muyao looked at the other two, he saw that Yu Yanshu and Song Weiyue were also watching this moment between the male and female leads.

It seemed like everyone was witnessing the two of them falling in love.

Song Weiyue and Chi Muyao not having much reaction was one thing, why were the second male lead and the villain acting like this was okay??

And Xi Huai not being interested in Han Qingyuan was one thing, but what about Yu Yanshu??

Dude, if you don't start eating vinegar soon, the male and female leads are going to become cultivation partners and have twins in three years!

But Yu Yanshu only took a glance before resuming his punishment like he wasn't really interested.

Chi Muyao was somewhat anxious. He asked, "Yu-shixiong, what do you think of Xi-shixiong?"

Yu Yanshu thought he was asking about a three element spiritual root joining the third house, so he calmly replied, "He has good insight into formations and is a savvy and kind-hearted individual. I have no qualms with him entering the third house."

"Then what abou Han-shijie?"

"Which Han-shijie?"

"Her." Chi Muyao pointed downstairs at Han Qingyuan.

Yu Yanshu glanced over again and seemed to be trying hard to remember. "She isn't a disciple of the third house, but the fifth. I'm not familiar with her, but she is very well-behaved with good aptitude. If she works hard, there will come a time when she reaches the Nascent Soul stage."

"That's it?" Chi Muyao asked.

"Er..." Yu Yanshu hesitated. "She is a good match for Xi-shidi."

Chi Muyao fell into deep thought while holding his book. It seemed like Yu Yanshu wasn't even familiar with Han Qingyuan at the moment.

He didn't intervene in the love triangle between the trio, and there wasn't any external interference either...so why did Yu Yanshu and Han Qingyuan's relationship plotline suddenly fall apart?

Over there, Song Weiyue suddenly got a headache and walked over to comfort Xi Huai. "Aiyo. Calm down, calm down dude."

Only then did Chi Muyao direct a puzzled look at Xi Huai. He discovered that Xi Huai was standing beside him with an unhappy expression.

Song Weiyu and Xi Huai had mingled their divine senses before, so he could sense Xi Huai’s emotions. Realising he was upset, Song Weiyue came over to calm him down.

However, Chi Muyao knew that Song Weiyue could've reminded Xi Huai through divine sense transmission. Saying it out loud like this was more for him to overhear.

So he pretended to not hear a thing.

Chi Muyao looked calm, but he was grumbling on the inside: Vinegar jar.

Does cultivating together make me something that belongs to you? Didn't we agree to go our separate ways after leaving the cave beforehand? Why are you going back on your word now?

What's a young man in his prime like you doing wasting your time on an old man like me? My achey knees and legs can't take what you want to do.

Three days after they entered the Nuan Yan Pavilion, the Nuan Yan Pavilion finally released a notice for the Exam.

Naturally, their notice was delivered in an unusual way.

The main courtyard of the third house was surrounded by forty-nine jade pillars topped with different life-like and awe-inspiring carvings of auspicious beasts.

Directly north of the central square was the Front Palace, south was the Jade Hall. The notice was displayed on the southeast side of the Fengque Building. In the distance, beyond the purple mist emanating from the Treasured Incense Censer was a gigantic tree whose branches reached for the sky. Its trunk greatly resembled a pavilion.

There was a flying carriage road connecting the buildings, and this road was where the notice was posted. There was normally nothing displayed between the two towering pillars to either side. Only when a notice was posted would a barrier with floating golden letters appear in the air.

The exams that people tended to regard as more important such as the literary and final cumulative exams were held at the end. From today onwards, cultivators could go to take the various extra credit exams.

Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi mingled in the crowd around the notice. Yi Qianxi could barely see it on her tiptoes.

Chi Muyao's main objective for coming to take the Exam was to obtain a pill that could aid in core formation.

He broke through to Foundation Building stage without the use of a Foundation Building pill through his own efforts alone and nearly had a qi deviation. Similarly, it was very difficult for him to actually build his foundation.

However, the Golden-eyed Heavenly Wolf core he had gotten last time gave him a chance at breaking through to the Golden Core stage. Yet he was limited by his subpar aptitude. He might be able to improve his cultivation, but whether he could form a core was still up in the air.

It could take him anywhere from three to more than twenty years to successfully form a core.

If he could achieve a certain rank during this Exam, he could get a pill that could assist him in forming a core and cut down on the time needed.

There were many types of pills in the cultivation world.

Pills that could assist in core formation were one type, while others could stabilise cultivation. When the latter were taken after successfully forming a core, those with good aptitude could continue to cultivate unhindered and perhaps even further raise their cultivation, approaching Golden Core middle stage.

Chi Muyao was after some of those.

He could try during the last literary test. As a former top student who wasn't that dumb, he could probably achieve a satisfactory result with some effort.

He didn't have any hopes for the main competition due to his lacking cultivation. He wouldn't achieve anything even if he tried.

However, the pills he wanted were still out of reach based on only one test score. He needed to also attend one of the extra credit exams.

He immediately skipped over artefact and pill refinement because he was completely inexperienced in those areas. The solo battle tournament was also a no-go because he was only good at sneak attacks.

He could try to take the formation test. Perhaps he could achieve something there.

He might just have enough points from the literary test, the main competition and this extra credit test to exchange for a pill.

After thinking about it, Chi Muyao decided to go register for the extra credit formation test.

He heard other people talking about him while he was in line.

"So he's that rumoured number one beauty of the three realms? He's pretty for sure, but not to an extraordinary degree?"

"What's that red thing around his neck? Looks strange."

"I heard someone from the demonic faction tied it around his neck. Apparently it's a man who's interested in him..."

"Peipei. Looks like dressing slutty does attract the wrong sort of attention. Ming-shijie's immortal bearing is much more stunning in comparison."

Chi Muyao had already heard the story about how he was deemed the number one beauty in the three realms. No wonder Ming Shaoluo had it out for him.

Ming Shaoluo was the standard second female lead found in many novels. She was prone to jealousy and tended to find any way possible to set up and put down those she didn't like. In the end, characters like her also had a tendency to darken and go on a murderous rampage.

Ming Shaoluo didn't care for Xi Huai and only had eyes for Xi Zihe, so she was blind.

And Xi Huai loved Ming Shaoluo no matter how much trouble she caused, making him blind too.

Thus the duo were a perfect fit for each other.

It was finally Chi Muyao's turn to register. He handed over his plaque before passing his spiritual energy into the large scoreboard.

Simultaneously, his name appeared on the nearby notice.

The names of all the disciples who came to attempt each extra credit test would be shown under the relevant space on the notice. This way everyone knew who was participating and could decide for themselves if they wanted to as well.

Chi Muyao was gradually gaining a name for himself, and the fact that he was in the Yu Chong School only garnered him more attention.

There were many cultivators gathered in the square right now. The appearance of his name caused a great stir in the disciples who weren't in line with Chi Muyao.

"A Yu Chong School cultivator actually registered for one of the tests? Does he think he's being tested on capturing spirit beasts again? Haha, this is the biggest joke of the century."

"Chi Muyao? That Chi Muyao said to be the number one beauty of the three realms? I'm not going to miss that."

"What's there to watch? He's still trash, just with better packaging."

"But don't you think it'll be amusing to watch a beauty embarrass himself?"

"You're right! Haha, it'll be so funny."

Chi Muyao closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Yi Qianxi came over to comfort him. "Shidi..."

"I'm fine. Just watch."