Baiyu's eyes quickly scanned the exam paper, observing it a few times before realizing that the test was incredibly simple.
Simple to the point of being ridiculous.
It didn't even reach the difficulty level of the papers he usually practiced.
But he didn't let his guard down.
A cautious person always remains alert.
An exam framed by Mysticism is vastly different from an ordinary test.
Firstly, although the questions have been specially processed to avoid causing mental fluctuations and increase the degree of mental contamination, they can still provoke or amplify negative emotions.
Once negative emotions are amplified, it is very easy to get mentally polluted.
Secondly, it's not just about knowing how to solve the exam questions.
Often you'll forget the Mysticism knowledge in your mind; it's the brain's self-protection mechanism.
This is why students need to repeatedly memorize.
Moreover, even a smattering of Mysticism contains a vast amount of knowledge.
High school only lays the foundation. If you truly want to delve into the complete and complex Mysticism, it can only be pursued in university.
Once the exam paper was distributed, the rest of the exam hall had already begun writing vigorously.
Baiyu didn't want to waste any time either.
He picked up his pen and began swiftly answering the questions on the paper.
The exam hall was extremely silent, with proctors occasionally walking outside, and mechanical cameras providing full, unobstructed surveillance of the classroom.
The podium was adorned with defensive barriers enhanced with Spirit Techniques like "Qingxin," "Harmonization," and "Mental Soothing."
Cheating under such scrutiny was virtually impossible.
Moreover, if anyone cheats in an exam, they will be expelled instantly and barred from studying Mysticism in any form for life.
Under such heavy penalties, ordinary people don't dare to cheat.
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
The pen tip made sounds on the exam paper.
Baiyu breezed through the multiple choice, short answer, Spirit Technique simulation, Magic Elixir simulation, and Mysticism essentials questions.
During this time, he indeed experienced negative emotions.
They were thoughts of pessimism and decline.
However, thanks to the Scholar Secret Technique Purification, he easily dispelled these emotions.
Only the final main question remained on the paper.
"An open-ended scenario simulation question?"
Baiyu was a bit surprised.
Logically, the final question should be extremely obscure in the realm of Spirit Techniques or Magic Elixirs.
And it would combine to test knowledge points step by step, making it extremely difficult and challenging for the student's spirit, endurance, and mastery of knowledge.
That is for those who are not academically gifted or ordinary people.
In the presence of a true academic achiever, it's no big deal.
Baiyu was intrigued by the new scenario simulation question and quickly finished reading the scenario's several thousand-word preamble.
But after reading, his expression turned extremely peculiar.
This question, it was based on himself!
In the text, the protagonist was named Bai Hao, who encountered an extraordinary event, and like Baiyu, obtained the Sealing Object that sparked the incident. He then made contact with the mastermind behind the supernatural event and narrowly managed to defeat the perpetrator, though not without causing casualties and nearly sacrificing himself.
It was basically the same story Baiyu had relayed to Allen.
Only now, it was embellished and modified, resulting in this scenario simulation question.
Even the name "Bai Hao" was full of implications!
Baiyu thought the exam writer must have involved someone from the Anomaly Bureau and the Steam and Mechanical Church, almost putting his name directly on it.
The questions below were:
1. Do you agree with the actions of the protagonist in the scenario simulation? If yes, please state your reasons; if no, please outline your solution.
2. List the laws of the East Prosperity Imperial and Linjiang City that Bai Hao violated through his actions.
3. Analyze the optimal handling plan for Bai Hao at that time.
4. Assuming Bai Hao failed, if you were a bystander, how would you handle the situation?
"Simulating oneself feels weird."
"Judging by the Church's enforcement team captain's attitude that night, it clearly seemed my actions were against the rules, so to score points, I have to answer ."
"First answer: I don't agree; I could do better... am I, like the saying, surpassing myself?"
"The handling of the Sealing Object, hmm, it should be handed over to the Church."
"Then request voluntary isolation."
Baiyu began to write heavily on the exam paper, and as he was about done, others in the exam hall began to finish the previous questions.
Many were drenched in sweat from the taxing exam, both physically and mentally exhausted.
When they saw this question—they fell into utter despair.
Where's the promised difficult Spirit Technique question?
The obscure Magic Elixir question?
An open-ended scenario simulation question!
What is this nonsense?
Keep in mind, these kinds of questions are the hardest.
Because there's no fixed way to solve them, nor are there defined knowledge points, and they were hardly ever practiced; now, they had no clue where to start.
"Who on earth is this Bai Hao, so awesome, defeating a Tier Seven Martial Artist? The story's credibility is so low; isn't it fake?"
"Damn, who the hell came up with this perverse question."
"Should I agree? No, but if I don't agree, what should I do? How am I supposed to know what to do?"
Thoughts flooded the minds of everyone in the exam hall.
Some even secretly cursed Bai Hao for being so twisted!
Suddenly, someone broke their pen in frustration and clutched their head, crying out in agony:
"This question is too hard; how come it's an open-ended scenario simulation question? Weren't we told it would be a combination of Magic Elixir and Spirit Technique?"
The two proctors, their expressions stern, immediately restrained him.
Soon after, the medical personnel waiting outside rushed in, placing him in a restraint jacket and swiftly carrying him to the ambulance waiting outside the exam hall.
Though not common, it still happens a few times each year during exams.
The exam paper has undergone various treatments, and the content capable of causing mental contamination has been minimized.
But students are under constant high pressure, and those who over-study for long periods can easily be triggered to deteriorate.
Aside from maintaining mental health and strengthening psychological endurance, there's almost no other resolution.
Moreover, if one loses control, it could spread like a plague to others, causing others to lose control too.
"Continue answering; only forty minutes have passed."
The two proctors maintained the order of the exam hall.
The students continued to silently curse the creators of the exam while trying to think of solutions.
But no matter how much they thought about it.
This scenario simulation question was completely a trap.
In the entire classroom, only Baiyu had already finished answering, but the increasingly loud breathing next to him prevented him from leaving immediately.
Sitting next to him was Ning Qian.
This large-breasted, scatterbrained girl was obviously not in the right state at the moment, far from it.
The guy who had just lost it wasn't far from her, and the despair, helplessness, and emotions he had obviously infected her.
She was resisting internally.
But it looked like she was on the path to follow in his footsteps.
"Hey, don't let this exam kill you. Tests are precious, but life is higher in value; know when to give up!" Baiyu shouted in his heart.
Of course, Ning Qian couldn't hear his thoughts.
Her slender fingers gripped the pen tightly, her lips biting down, and determination shone on her petite face; she was clearly intent on continuing.
The proctor noticed the anomaly too and briskly walked toward them.
Baiyu saw the persistence in Ning Qian's eyes.
He discreetly sent a Purification her way.
Ning Qian felt her mind clear, a warm sensation surged within her body, spreading instantly to every limb, almost making her sigh in relief.
Incredibly refreshing!
The dejection, despair, and frustration she felt earlier vanished.
Replaced by a strong spirit of endeavor and progress.
"I can't give up; otherwise, the gap between Baiyu and me will only widen!"
Ning Qian bit her lip, clarity returning to her eyes, and continued answering.
The proctor saw this scene and paused, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
Such mental resilience and strong psychological endurance meant her future achievements would not be shallow.
"Teacher, I'm done with my paper."
Baiyu's untimely remark broke the proctor's mental musings.