TGA Chapter 90

Mei Rujing: “Then shall we meet after the preliminary selection?”

“That’s right.” Chu Qianli gestured a phone call sign. “Contact me anytime if something comes up.”

After discussing their plan in front of the building, the three of them split up to take action.

Not long after, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing received notifications for the preliminary test, and Mei Rujing also contacted them to update them on her situation.

Over the phone, Mei Rujing complained, “The consequence of skipping the preliminary test is listening to them make empty promises. That Shi guy said his boss is coming soon and wants to meet with those who don’t have to take the preliminary test.”

“I heard that some people from abroad will also be there. I’ll let you know who they are once I actually meet them.”

Chu Qianli asked, “Did they mention anything about the Sanqing Bell to you?”

“Not yet. These people haven’t been paying much attention to me recently—they’re more focused on another person from Qianmen.”

According to Mei Rujing, the Mondesen Group had arranged accommodations for them. However, she still felt safest returning home, so she didn’t stay at the place arranged by Shi Zhuoqu and the others. Although the hotel wasn’t very crowded at the moment, there were plenty of vacant rooms.

Mei Rujing speculated that many more people would move in later, forming what was likely to be a large team.

Chu Qianli understood immediately. This meant that the preliminary selection process would eliminate a significant number of people, and only a very few would be exempted from the initial test.

The preliminary test was scheduled for the weekend, in a high-rise building.

The towering skyscraper stood like a sharp sword, its outer glass facade gleaming under the sunlight.

The Preliminary Test Venue-

The preliminary test was held in a spacious room, with scattered tables and chairs for resting. A bookshelf filled with books stood in the corner. The layout seemed to have been altered—this place used to be an office, with only a projector and a conference table remaining as traces of the past. The extra cubicles had been removed.

The wall clock was running precisely, and there was still some time before the nine o’clock test. Yet, a large number of people had already gathered inside.

A burly man in black entered the room, glanced around, and casually tossed his bag onto a soft sofa. He frowned and said, “This place is way too shabby!”

“Huang-ge, you’re here! How’s everything going at the hall lately?”

“Don’t even mention it, it’s been annoying as hell—kept running into those damn Taoists…” The burly man in black caught sight of a group of people in the corner dressed in Taoist robes and let out a strange cry. “Damn, what a small world! I run into you guys everywhere!”

In the corner, the disciples of Qianmen, dressed in their Taoist robes, surveyed the room and remarked in surprise, “Looks like people from all walks of life are here. No wonder our master told us to stay on guard.”

Even though everyone present belonged to the metaphysical world, they came from different schools and sects. Some might even have old grudges, making it far from a harmonious gathering.

“Is Little Shishu doing okay? It’s his first time coming down the mountain, and now we’re separated.”

Among the crowd, a young Taoist in a slightly more elaborate robe, seemingly the core of the group, responded, “Zaiyuan is skilled in divination. He should be able to handle himself. The real question is whether we can pass the preliminary test.”

Before long, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing also arrived at the venue. Chu Qianli glanced up at the sign above the door labeled “Exam Room No. 3” and then surveyed the bustling room. She commented with amusement, “Wow, I haven’t seen this many charlatans in a long time. If I report this place now, do you think the whole lot of them will get busted?”

Tan Muxing timidly reminded her, “But… we’re also here for the preliminary test…”

“But the test hasn’t started yet, right? If we report the exam room now, wouldn’t that leave just the two of us, letting us advance effortlessly?”

Tan Muxing: “?” What a ruthless move—false accusations to eliminate competitors. She sounds just like certain capitalists.

Standing at the exam room entrance, Tan Muxing observed the people inside. He noticed their diverse clothing styles and remarked in confusion, “Everyone’s outfits are so unique.”

Inside, some wore Taoist robes, others donned Zhongshan suits, and a few were dressed normally. However, their accessories gave them away—be it copper coins or jade pendants, there was always something peculiar about them. They chatted in small groups, and some seemed to already know each other.

Chu Qianli chuckled. “You look like someone who knows nothing about anime and accidentally wandered into a cosplay convention.”

“…That’s actually a pretty accurate comparison.” Tan Muxing grimaced. He had no connection to metaphysics whatsoever. He then asked, “Why do they all seem so familiar with each other?”

“Because people in this field run into each other all the time. Especially those who, like Rujing-jie, do this for a living—they see each other constantly, sometimes even competing for business.” Chu Qianli explained. “Plus, some people practice conflicting disciplines. If they meet, they might just start fighting on the spot.”

Tan Muxing blinked. “Conflicting disciplines?”

Chu Qianli nodded. “Yeah. Rujing-jie and I don’t follow any religion—we just focus on numerology. But some people study other things, and they often refuse to acknowledge each other’s practices.”

The wall clock’s hands slowly pointed to 9:00 AM, the official start time of the preliminary test. However, no exam proctor had appeared.

The burly man in black remained seated on the soft sofa, his legs crossed, surrounded by a few others. He grumbled, “What’s going on? No one’s in charge?”

“Can someone step up and organize this? Wasn’t the test supposed to start at nine?”

“This is such a waste of time. I already thought this preliminary test was a hassle—if there’s something to say, just say it. Why gather all these people and play dumb?” He snapped in frustration.

“Huang-ge, calm down. Let’s grab a meal later? It’s been a while.”

The Taoists from Qianmen also found the situation odd. They quietly waited in the corner, not engaging with anyone else.

Tan Muxing glanced at the time. He noticed that Chu Qianli was lingering at the entrance instead of entering the room. Curious, he asked, “Aren’t we going in? It’s already nine, even though the test hasn’t started.”

Chu Qianli had been pacing at the doorway, peering inside, but she showed no intention of stepping into the exam room.

She shook her head. “No, the test has already begun.”

“But I don’t see any proctor,” Tan Muxing said, looking around. He scanned both the room and the hallway, but there was no sign of an examiner.

“That’s because this is the test.” Chu Qianli tilted her head, moving her fingers thoughtfully. “The proctor is already inside, pretending to be a test taker.”

“The test is about finding someone?”

Chu Qianli touched her chin. “Yeah, it’s pretty efficient. If someone can’t figure it out and just leaves, that naturally eliminates those who lack patience. Plus, it avoids direct conflict with the troublemakers.”

Tan Muxing hesitated. “So… should we start looking for the proctor?”

Chu Qianli lifted her chin proudly. “Why should I look for him? He’s not worthy of testing me. I am the best in the world!”

Tan Muxing: “?”

“I hate these kinds of cryptic puzzle tests. Since the proctor wants to act like a participant, let them keep playing pretend.” Chu Qianli smirked. “I came for the preliminary test, but I never said I was going to be a test taker.”

The examiner had set up a hidden identity challenge to avoid disputes. By the end of the test, those who hadn’t figured it out would naturally be eliminated.

But Chu Qianli wasn’t interested in just quietly finding someone—that was too boring. She’d rather start a fight!

On the wall, surveillance cameras recorded the entire room, capturing every moment of the test.

The lack of an official organizer had begun to unsettle the test takers.

The burly man in black was the first to stand up. He grabbed his bag and grumbled impatiently, “I’m out. No sense of time at all.”

“Hey, Huang-ge, are you really leaving? Why not wait a little longer?”

The Taoists exchanged glances, also starting to feel that the wait had been unusually long.

The young Taoist furrowed his brows slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he suggested, “Perhaps we should consult a divination…”

Suddenly, a voice called out from outside the room.

“Apologies, apologies! The traffic was terrible—I’m sorry to have kept everyone waiting!”

At that moment, a crisp voice suddenly came from the doorway, and a young girl entered the room hastily with her companion. They repeatedly bowed in apology and quickly ran to the conference table, placing the items they had brought with them.

Tan Muxing kept his head down the entire time. He pulled out a chair beside the conference table, took out a stack of documents from his backpack, and pretended to be busy, completely avoiding eye contact with the surrounding occult practitioners.

Chu Qianli, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. She clapped her hands with a bright smile and cheerfully announced, “Our exam is about to begin!”

Some people in the room reacted with a flicker of surprise but quickly masked their expressions. Someone seemed eager to expose them but hesitated, blending back into the crowd.

“You were supposed to start at nine o’clock, yet you’re late!?”

Chu Qianli’s acting was impeccable. She cupped her fists in greeting and said warmly, “My apologies, my apologies. The traffic was terrible. Please accept my apologies.”

The burly man in black scanned her up and down and sneered, “Which sect do you belong to? I’ve never seen you before. Are they just letting any random cat or dog take this exam now? Don’t let some outsider come in here trying to tell us how things should be done!”

Chu Qianli had expected someone to challenge her—this was precisely why the examiner was staying hidden. Being questioned didn’t bother her in the slightest. She calmly pulled out an ID and smiled. “No sect, I’m indeed an outsider. I hope the masters here can show me some leniency.”

She deliberately covered the name and position on the ID, flashing it so quickly that it was nearly impossible to catch the details.

“Religious Affairs Association…” The burly man barely got a glimpse of the ID, only catching a blur of what seemed to be an important institution. His expression subtly shifted, and his voice lowered. “…You’re not from our circle?”

It was well known that there were different paths to entering the occult world. Some people had little formal education but stumbled upon enlightenment through some chance encounter, often looking like practitioners of dubious, unconventional methods. Others operated openly, such as monks from renowned Taoist temples or a few hidden yet highly skilled scholars of metaphysics.

Chu Qianli remained unshaken and spoke gently, “I rarely go out, so I still have a lot to learn from you all. I came this time to gain some insight into the masters’ skills.”

Hearing her calm and composed manner, the burly man hesitated, sensing an extraordinary aura about her. He pondered for a moment but remained unwilling to back down. “Just flashing an ID doesn’t prove anything. If you’re here to test us, you should at least show some skills first. Otherwise, why should we accept this?”

“He’s right! Our sects practice different things. What if you don’t even understand what we study? How are you supposed to evaluate us?!”

The burly man in black seemed to hold some authority, and his challenge quickly gained the support of others.

Chu Qianli smiled and said, “If you’re not in top form recently and don’t think you can perform at your best, there’s no need to push yourself. You can always attend our makeup test in a few days.”

The burly man flinched, instinctively clutching his chest in surprise. “How did you know…”

“You seem to have suffered an injury recently and are worried it might affect your performance?” Chu Qianli had already discerned his background—he appeared to be a ‘spirit medium’ of sorts, relying on spirit possession for divination.

Others around him were equally taken aback. “Huang-ge, you’re injured? You didn’t mention that just now!”

“It’s just a minor injury…” Huang Jue said irritably, “What are you trying to say? You make it sound like I’m scared to take the test!”

With just a few words, Chu Qianli had subtly twisted the situation, suggesting that Huang Jue’s attempt to challenge her was simply an excuse because he was in poor condition. It was as if she was implying that he was incompetent and just stirring up trouble.

Chu Qianli maintained a calm demeanor and reassured him, “It’s okay. If you’re worried about your performance, you can always take the exam later. We won’t force anyone.”

“Take it! Who says I can’t take the test?” Huang Jue, now provoked, refused to back down. He asked, “How do you want to test us?”

“Just state your name and demonstrate your best skill,” Chu Qianli said methodically before turning to remind, “Xiao Tan, take notes.”

Tan Muxing hadn’t expected her to start acting on the spot. He pretended to write something down and muttered, “…Got it.”

“I’m Huang Jue. Since you already know my specialty, there’s no need for further introduction,” Huang Jue declared loudly. “Let’s get straight to the demonstration.”

He was surprisingly straightforward and immediately entered a trance.

Before everyone’s eyes, the burly man in black suddenly convulsed, his entire body trembling violently. His head swayed from side to side, adopting an eerie and unsettling posture.

“Whoa, it’s been a while since Huang-ge entered a trance!”

“The spirit medium is here, the spirit medium is here…”

However, the Taoist disciples of Qian Sect were visibly displeased. Their leader furrowed his brows, his face dark and solemn, and sternly reprimanded, “Deviant sorcery.”

In Taoism, spirit medium practices were considered unorthodox. They claimed to summon immortals, but in reality, they relied on spirits or entities, which were deemed improper. Nowadays, with many fraudulent practitioners, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the real from the fake.

While metaphysical novels often depicted spirit mediums as commonplace, in reality, only a few individuals truly possessed the skill.

Chu Qianli watched with great amusement. “Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen good old feudal superstition.”

Tan Muxing and Chu Qianli were standing slightly apart from the crowd, so their private conversation went unnoticed.

Tan Muxing, seeing Huang Jue’s bizarre body movements, was baffled. “What… is this exactly?”

Chu Qianli answered casually, “Spirit medium practice. Those who believe in gods think it’s immortal possession—having a trained animal spirit temporarily take over a person’s body. Atheists, on the other hand, think it’s just a psychiatric condition, or maybe just someone acting. You can pick whichever explanation you prefer.”

Tan Muxing noticed her lack of reaction and asked curiously, “Aren’t you a Marxist believer? You seem rather indifferent to all this.”

He still remembered that Chu Qianli didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits, yet she was remarkably calm in the face of Huang Jue’s possession.

“Oh, please. Even the people who believe in gods can’t agree on whether spirit mediums have official celestial status. Why should I, a non-believer, bother worrying about it?” Chu Qianli smirked and muttered mischievously, “Let them fight, let them start arguing first…”

She suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly corrected herself with a righteous tone, “Ahem, I mean, let our friends with religious beliefs hold an internal academic discussion first. Then we can participate!”

“……”

I am just a novice translator and Chinese is not my native language. I try my best to translate the chapters as accurate as possible.
If there are any mistakes then kindly comment and remind me. Your support means a lot.