Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 305 - 186 Basic Examination, Microscopic Array_2

Chapter 305: Chapter 186 Basic Examination, Microscopic Array_2

"Out of ten questions, only managed to do one."

"I’m pretty much the same." Another person sighed, "This exam was really tough!"

Sigh?

Upon hearing this, Sun Daoyu took note.

Listening further to others’ discussions, he became even more confident — his performance wasn’t bad at all!

Most people probably could only manage to answer ten to twenty percent of the questions.

He glanced sideways at Zhou Qianyuan.

"Senior Brother...some of the things, I heard being discussed by Senior Zheng and Senior Sister Zhang..."

Zhou Qianyuan understood his meaning and, scratching his head, said.

Sun Daoyu also agreed, since Zhou Qianyuan was always close to those two, he undoubtedly had gained more than others.

...

"Junior Zhou scored well!"

The papers were quickly marked, and Zheng Fa, looking at the top scorer, expressed his surprise.

Next to him, Master Pang smiled smugly, seeming to bask in the reflected glory.

"Not bad at all, ranked third in academics and first in talismanic magic," Senior Sister Zhang praised.

In terms of math, Zhou Qianyuan did have some competition, as there were disciples in the workshop who were good at it.

But in talismanic magic, Zhou Qianyuan was unrivaled among these disciples — he was Master Pang’s prized pupil and had also absorbed quite a few ideas from Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang, leading to a very solid foundation.

"My disciple..." Master Pang, hearing both of them praise his disciple, smiled and waved his hand, "still needs polishing."

...

"This Jiushan disciples’ major exam first place goes to Junior Zhou Qianyuan."

Hearing Zheng Fa say this, Zhou Qianyuan suddenly looked up, feeling slightly dizzy.

He heard Zheng Fa smiling towards him, "From today, monthly exams will be held, and the top ten scorers each time will receive certain rewards to encourage all of you to study hard."

Saying so, Zheng Fa brought out a jade plate with several quite valuable spiritual materials on it.

"Come, Junior Zhou, this is yours."

Zhou Qianyuan, still in a daze, stepped forward and took the jade plate from Zheng Fa’s hands.

The other disciples looked on, their eyes flickering with envy, and even a bit of jealousy.

Especially after seeing the spiritual materials on the jade plate, they seemed to suddenly understand the value of knowledge.

"Now, Junior Zhou, please share some of your study insights and experiences."

"I..."

"It’s just... I owe my results to the guidance of our mentors..."

Master Pang nodded smilingly on the side, seeming to consider the disciple well-taught and already thinking of himself.

"Following Senior Zheng, I learned how to analyze Primordial Talismans..."

"Following Senior Sister Zhang, I got to know a lot of mathematical approaches..."

The smile on Master Pang’s face slowly faded — this disciple was indispensable!

Luckily, Zheng Fa’s sister also did well this time!

...

"Zheng, this exam you’ve conducted, it’s changed the atmosphere here in Jiushan Realm..."

In the laboratory, Master Pang said to Zheng Fa.

"Hmm?"

Zheng Fa, who was studying a Spirit Talisman, was momentarily perplexed upon hearing what Master Pang said.

"That ranking...is too cruel..."

Master Pang said quietly.

Zheng Fa smiled slightly, he had indeed done it intentionally.

Although he only announced the names of those who did well in the great hall, when posting the ranking list, Zheng Fa didn’t hide anything — much more ruthless than modern times.

Therefore, the disciples who didn’t perform well... naturally felt huge pressure.

But looking at Master Pang’s expression, he didn’t seem too concerned — after all, with the current environment in Xuanwei Realm, treating the Jiushan Sect disciples like modern students would truly be detrimental to them.

Zheng Fa aimed to provide a relatively relaxed environment for the Jiushan Realm disciples, but on the other hand, he had to admit, born in distress, die in comfort.

If one cannot even endure being ranked last, then... there’s no need for cultivation.

"You did well." Indeed, Master Pang spoke, "I see some of my poorly performing disciples are now foregoing sleep and food, preparing to redeem themselves. There are one or two disciples who are usually lazy, but this time they seem to have been spurred into action."

Beside him, Zhang also spoke: "Apart from the embarrassment of scoring poorly, your rewards also tempt them... Those who did well are now tasting the sweetness and are also trying hard."

Zheng Fa also smiled.

This type of exam, besides letting Zheng Fa understand the level of these disciples to better tailor his teaching in the future, seemingly fostered these disciples’ enthusiasm for various areas of knowledge, particularly mathematics, without intent.

Without Master Pang and another saying it, Zheng Fa himself noticed, now the atmosphere in the Jiushan Realm has become competitive.

Jiushan Sect disciples compete in mathematics, talismanic magic not to mention.

Even the little sister said that her classmates in the academy now also have a much higher enthusiasm for studying — after all, doing well in studies can lead not only to official positions but also to cultivation.

"The most important thing is fairness..."

It was Master Pang who again presented a new insight.

"Hmm?"

"I have to admit, this type of examination is relatively fair..." Master Pang spoke thoughtfully, "Previously, when we trained disciples, in addition to looking at aptitude, we also followed our own moods..."

"Now we allocate some resources based on exam results."

"I see many disciples, now seem to have a bit more motivation than before."

"Effort leads to rewards..." Master Pang sighed, "This matter, simple to say, is actually very hard."

Zheng Fa was stunned; he hadn’t thought of this point.

To be honest, he was lucky — because of so-called talent, he had always been given much attention, and did not have firsthand experience of this issue.

And the modern examination system — although it can’t be said to be completely fair, compared to the past various practices, it is much more equal.

The former system in the Xuanwei Realm was actually very much about the preferences of those in higher positions.

This aspect was actually better in the Jiushan Sect, but as Zheng Fa knew — many sects, the higher-ups often treat lower-level disciples as serfs.

Demon Sect even more so.

Especially since the answers to the examination subjects are relatively objective, it further reduces some human factors.

Master Pang sighed:

"I don’t know where you get so many ideas, all quite effective..."

Zheng Fa was a bit embarrassed.

This... was just a little application of modern knowledge.

"Like this microscopic Array..."

"Light refraction... can achieve microscopic effects?"

Seeing him somewhat disbelieving, Zheng Fa smiled and said, "Master Pang, haven’t I explained the principle already?"

Zheng Fa had previously wanted to use magical treasures or Arrays to replicate observational instruments from laboratories.

Thinking it through, he found that other instruments might need some modern help, but the principle of an optical microscope is too simple — merely light refraction.

Thus, using an Array to achieve it was relatively simple.

Although the accuracy of the optical microscope itself is affected by the wavelength of light and may not be as good as the "Void Spirit Eye."

But this device and "Void Spirit Eye" do not necessarily conflict.

Zheng Fa anticipates that, the combination of both could achieve higher precision.

Of course, Zheng Fa currently does not understand the principle of the Void Spirit Eye, so he is not sure if these two can complement each other — but it is still a direction to consider.

Moreover, the thousand-year-old purple bamboo is not adapting well to the soil and water in the Jiushan Realm, so the microscope is also a good supplement.

"The principle..." Master Pang sighed, ""Void Spirit Eye" cultivation requires the Purple Bamboo Tears... and now you’re telling me, just find two mirrors?"

Zheng Fa laughed as well.

If the talismanic magic research doesn’t work out, he was going to try making glass — the Xuanwei Realm also has glass, it’s just that it’s relatively hard to find in the Jiushan Realm.

He is now trying the microscopic Array not only to observe spiritual materials but also to further study talismanic magic and become familiar with talisman formations.

Master Pang, Sister Zhang, and Zheng Fa discussed for a while, and finally determined the composition of the Spirit Talisman for the microscopic Array.

Sister Zhang’s Fei Xian Pen flew in the air for a moment, several Spirit Talismans flew out, and a talisman formation appeared in front of the three.

Master Pang, looking at the Xuanlei Stone magnified hundreds of times in front of him, touched his eyes, suddenly feeling like crying...