Chapter 21 (2/2)

Zhou Bai asked, “But how do you test one’s willpower?”

“Back then, I had to squat in an illusion formation,” Zhang Aidao replied. “The demand was to be one of the last 5,000 standing.”

Zhou Bai uttered, “How horrifying…”

Zhang Aidao nodded in agreement. “I squatted for seven hours. I almost felt like my legs weren’t my own anymore.”

Zhou Bai inquired further, “Then what about learning capacity?”

“Learning capacity is one’s gift for practicing Tao,” said Zhang Aidao. “After all, the resources are limited. Although it’s a little cruel, the best resources have to be provided to the most gifted people, so as they become stronger they can use them to protect us.”

“When I was tested on learning capacity, I remember it was a written test,” said Zhang Aidao. “They showed us an ancient Taoist scripture, and then we had to write one sentence summarizing its meaning.”

“That ancient Taoist scripture was probably a product from before the Heavenly Tao became distorted. It described the Heavenly Tao in an indirect, metaphysical manner. I suppose the better you understood it, the greater your gift for practicing Tao. That was the round that I got eliminated in.”

Zhou Bai nodded and asked, “Then how do I prepare?”

Zhang Aidao shrugged. “Primordial Spirit Value can’t be increased over a couple days, so there is no way to prepare. As for willpower, I don’t know how you could strengthen that.”

“As for learning capacity, it’s half talent and half accumulation. If you’ve been reading Taoist books and ancient Taoist scriptures since childhood, that might be useful. But it’s too late to do that now.”

Zhou Bai asked, “Huh? Then I can only sit around and wait for the test? This conversation has been completely useless!”

Zhang Aidao objected. “How can you say that? At least you’ve confirmed there’s no use in preparation, and you can go into the exam without any burden.”

Zhou Bai continued complaining while Zhang Aidao put on a white outfit and looked at himself in the mirror. He opened the door and said to Zhou Bai, “That’s all you need to know about the exam. And now, I have a date.” He waved dramatically to Zhou Bai. “Once you finish cleaning everything, go back and rest.”

After watching Zhang Aidao leave, Zhou Bai “humphed,” stopped working, and fell on the sofa to rest.

“If I can’t prepare for this entrance exam, doesn’t that mean I have to rely purely on luck?”

Immediately, Zhou Bai’s eyes glowed. He saw in his auxiliary system that his Primordial Spirit Value had increased.

He looked at the time and noted that it wasn’t past midnight yet.

“Is that so? Slacking off and not doing the cleaning can increase Laziness too?!”

Zhou Bai was ecstatic. He continued lying on the couch and watched Laziness in his auxiliary system rise. It increased by 1 point almost every minute. Ten minutes later, it had increased by 10 points but then stopped rising.

Pleased with himself, Zhou Bai converted the 10 points of Laziness into Primordial Spirit Value and then went deep into thought while watching it reach 71 points.

…

After having slacked off for long enough, Zhou Bai got up to finish the rest of the chores. When he returned to his room, he found someone waiting for him—an elder with a yellow shiba inu at his door.

“Hello, are you Zhou Bai?”

Zhou Bai nodded. “What’s the matter?”

“Your companion has been recovered. You can see her now.”

“Really?” Zhou Bai happily exclaimed. “Then let’s go. Take me to see Elsa. What’s her situation?”

The elder rubbed his chin awkwardly. “She’s pretty good. She’s a big eater.” Then he pointed at the shiba inu on the floor and said, “That’s her. Take a look and see if there are any problems.”

The shiba inu widened her mouth, gazing at Zhou Bai with joy.

Zhou Bai was in shock.