Chapter 137: Uncertain, Have Another Look
After a brief interlude, the “Leap Over the Cliff” examination proceeded as usual!
Following a frenzied thirty minutes of props preparation, it was time for the candidates to present their results one by one.
In Jiang Cheng’s batch, the first contestant was number 1011.
1011 was a new student at the Traditional Cultivation Academy. He had made a pair of wings using parts provided by the admissions office.
It seemed he nned to rely on his strength advantage, imitating a bird with a rge force flings a brick” tactic, and forcefully flutter himself across to the other side.
However, this n clearly fell through.
1011 leapt off the mountaintop with great momentum, plunging down all the way. ording to his n, he should have “borrowed the light wind to ascend to the high skies”!
But in reality, the wings dered the dream of 200 pounds too heavy to carry.
1011pleted the first gravity eleration test experiment of his life with a near textbook-perfect verticalnding.
Fortunately, with Core Formation Stage teachers supervising, such hijinks weren’t a big issue.
When 1011’s head was just five centimeters from the ground, a teacher grabbed him by the ankle and hoisted him back up.
To everyone’s delight, 1011 scored an impressive 60 points!
He had clearly outscored “ancestral regression” candidate 1002 and “skin painting for you” candidate 1003.
Logically, although 1002 and 1003 had different methods, they both sessfully leaped over the cliff; hence, their scores should have been higher than 1011’s. Yet, the failed 1011 ended up with a higher score than both 1002 and 1003.
To the average person, this might seem inexplicable.
But by applying Jiang’s Fundamental Logic Analysis Method, the conclusion bes clear: the hands-on ability examination evaluates artistry and aesthetics in their achievements.
Therefore, it’s not difficult toe to the same scoring conclusion.
In ancient times, Icarus regretfully fell into the sea when the sun melted his wings; and now we have 1011, struggling to fly while pulled by Earth’s gravity.
One with astronomy, the other with geography, truly understanding the invisible wings like the match of Crouching Dragon, Hidden Phoenix.
After the appetizer came to a close, the main course—Jiang Cheng, number 1016—was finally served.
Jiang Cheng didn’t conjure up anything bizarre; the props he prepared were inly disyed before everyone all along.
Three wooden nks, three wooden sticks, one thin wooden board.
The wooden board was a simple magical treasure with a floating formation. Its sole function was to hover; it couldn’t even change direction or move.
But such a “clumsy” magical treasure wasn’t difficult for Jiang Cheng to use.
With the “Talisman Army Training Talisman,” any small, non-living object could be endowed with a “mechanical soul” for a short period.
Jiang Cheng went to the presentation spot.
Here, only a step away from the “cliff” edge of “Leap Over the Cliff,” and on the other side, thirty meters across, was the rooftop of the teaching building—the endpoint of this journey.
“This candidate, you can rest assured and demonstrate; there are Core Formation Stage teachers for protection, you don’t have to worry about life-threatening danger.”
Jiang Cheng nodded, didn’t waste words, and immediately tossed out the wooden nks he had been training with.
The first to position itself was therge hovering wooden nk, followed by the three thicker sticks.
The well-trained sticks automatically settled into the slots Jiang Cheng had carved on therge nk.
Thest three thin nks then consecutively fell onto the sticks.
Jiang Cheng walked to the edge of the cliff and, under the gaze of all, he lifted a foot and stepped onto the first wooden nk.
Then, something exhrating happened—Jiang Cheng stood on one foot atop the strange flying device he had crafted. There was no wobble, nor was there a fall; at least he managed to hover sessfully!
With this fundamental effect, Jiang Cheng’s minimum score for the examination was secure. Without daring to hope for more, at least thirty points were within reach.
That alone was enough to trounce candidates 1002 and 1003.
However, Jiang Cheng’s performance was not yet over.
He attempted to ce his other foot on the second wooden nk ahead.
As expected, he sessfully took his first step on his wooden flying machine!
Then, Jiang Cheng lifted his foot again.
He lifted, stepped down, andnded on the third nk, which was also thest one!
At the same time, the true purpose of the flying machine began to unfold!
When Jiang Cheng stepped on the third nk, the first nk and the wooden pir that supported it cleverly flew to the front, forming a fourth step!
One, two, three, one, two, three…
The three nks cycled in this way.
Each time Jiang Cheng stepped forward, a new nk would appear under his feet.
And after Jiang Chengpleted two cycles, the lowest floating nk would rotate around a wooden pir as its center, resetting the slots used by the advancing wooden pirs.
In the process where the small nks and pirs cycled, and therge temte rotated on schedule.
Jiang Cheng walked as if on t ground, strolling leisurely toward the rooftop of the teaching building some thirty meters away.
He was in perfect sync with the training nks, his movements smooth and continuous, even silkier than a lubricated Dove chocte.
As a result, Jiang Cheng’s entire “Leap Over the Cliff” seemed quite effortless.
He was just walking, moving forward, and before anyone knew it, he arrived.
When Jiang Cheng finished the examination, the quickest to react among the onlookers turned out to be the next examinee, number 1017.
1017: “Hey, he’s finished, can I go now?”
The host, as if waking from a dream, hastily said, “Please, judges, score him!”
No sooner had these words been spoken than the previously silent mountaintop erupted into noise.
Many senior students from the Treasure Department and Talisman Department began discussing the principles behind Jiang Cheng’s talisman.
Meanwhile, seniors from the Traditional Cultivation Department tried to use spells to replicate the silky effect of Jiang Cheng’s rotating nks.
The judges were fervently debating what score to give Jiang Cheng.
After much noise, they could only consult the scoring handbook provided by the admissions office.
1. Did the examineeplete the crafting of the prop independently?
Too independent he even managed to deal with the director’s skepticism during the crafting process.
2. Does the examinee’s prop have originality? Is there any sign of imitation?
Too original who would have thought of cycling nks?
3. Did the examinee’s traversal demonstrate the prop’s stability,posure, and safety?
Smooth switching of nks without stuttering equals stability.
Jiang Cheng had his hands in his pockets the whole time, no need for manual assistance equalsposure.
He walked the entire way equals safety.
The judges scoured the scoring handbook but couldn’t find any reason to deduct points from Jiang Cheng.
Thest judge said, “Don’t feel bad, he’s not the first person to get full marks in this assessment.”
The judges thought about it and realized that indeed, Jiang Cheng had been getting full marks all along, so what’s one more?
Anything less than full marks would have been strange!
On the rooftop of the Immortal Research Building, counselors Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen watched Jiang Cheng’s performance, each with their own schemes.
Mao Lang: This kid truly has talent! If only he could act a bit more normal. There’s another testter, which is an ‘intelligence’ puzzle. As long as he acts like a normal person in thest test, I want him on my team! Sure, he’s risky, but the rewards are big!
Liu Lingshen: Something’s not right. Jiang Cheng seems quite outstanding, so why would Mao Lang hand over such a good talent to me? Something’s fishy! It just so happens that there’s an Illusion Breaking test this afternoon. If he does well in that, even if it’s a trap, I’m jumping in!