[Vol. 6] Chapter 207: Continental Simulation
The Eastern Saint personally appearing as the examiner for the competition created a stir among participants, especially those in this round of the literary test. His unexpected presence, while making many nervous, also fueled the already tense atmosphere of the venue.
Although the Saint wasn’t an emperor in the traditional sense, he was the highest authority and actual ruler of the nation. For him to take on the role of examiner himself indicated a special interest in the [Geographical Spiritual Veins] category. If someone could impress him during the test, it could be as valuable as gaining entry to the Spirit Veil Immortal Island.
In Eastern Kingdom’s societal structure, many participants in the literary competition were individuals without natural talent for cultivation. They relied on their intellectual abilities and academic accomplishments to pave their way toward a career in governance or influence. The stakes were high, and this competition offered a rare chance to secure their future.
As the contest was about to begin, Violet reined in her thoughts and gently tugged on the sleeve of the silver-haired girl beside her. Leaning in close, she whispered, “Don’t you think the Saint’s appearance is a bit odd? Can you figure out why he’s here?”
The Spirit Maiden considered her question for a moment but unexpectedly declined to answer directly. Instead, she offered an explanation.
“Violet, [Heavenly Secrets] isn’t omnipotent. It’s not possible to calculate the reason behind every person’s actions, especially for individuals with extraordinary [fate]. Their actions often defy normal reasoning. Besides, this isn’t the right setting for such calculations.”
“Alright, alright… so you’re saying you can’t figure it out. Lately, you seem a bit… never mind.”
Violet suppressed a flicker of doubt and mismatched feelings as she forced a smile.
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Whatever his intentions, it’s unlikely he’s here just because of the two of us. Let’s just handle whatever comes our way and adapt as needed.”
“Enough talking. The competition is about to start. Go find your assigned spot,” Hen replied calmly.
“Got it.”
With that, Violet turned and headed toward her designated area, leaving behind the enigmatic atmosphere surrounding the Saint’s unexpected arrival.
The silver-haired girl sent a final encouraging glance to Violet, her expression calm but supportive, before turning away and heading to her own spot.
Much like seats in an exam hall, each [geomantic compass] was labeled with a number corresponding to the nearly one thousand participants, deliberately randomized to prevent any chance of coordinated cheating.
Violet was assigned to station “271”, positioned close to the center of the arena. A location that ensured she would be in full view of the examiners and possibly the Saint himself. Meanwhile, the Spirit Maiden was placed far on the edge of the venue, almost at the boundary of the competition area. Whether this was coincidence or intentional was unclear.
As Violet searched for her designated station, she spotted a familiar face, Yu Dan’er, the girl she had met during registration. Seeing that Yu Dan’er had also advanced to the second round was no surprise to Violet. The two exchanged polite nods of acknowledgment before heading to their respective positions.
Once most participants were in place, a examiner standing beside the Eastern Saint stepped forward to explain the rules.
“Welcome, everyone, to the second round of the [Geographical Spiritual Veins] competition. This session consists of three tasks, each of which you will complete using the geomantic compass in front of you.”
“Some of you may not have prior experience with this type of specialized equipment. Don’t worry. Each of you will be assisted by two aides and one scribe. These individuals will help you fairly and impartially, ensuring you can focus on demonstrating your knowledge and giving the correct instructions.”
“Now, please take your positions!”
The inner doors of the venue opened slowly, and a team of assistants dressed in standard uniforms entered in orderly formation. Without saying a word or making any unnecessary contact with the participants, they quietly took their places beside each compass, waiting patiently.
Violet’s assigned team consisted of a neatly groomed man in his early thirties as the scribe and two youthful aides, both appearing no older than their early twenties.
The two young women had a clean, professional air, with one wearing her hair short and the other long. Their light makeup and composed demeanor made them appear approachable yet unremarkable. Ordinary, but highly capable.
“Trained professionals,” Violet thought immediately, her instincts picking up on their disciplined aura.
All three were clearly native to the Eastern Kingdom, and their behavior showed nothing unusual. Yet, for some reason… something felt slightly off to Violet.
Sensing the subtle energy fluctuations from the three individuals, though they were clearly trying to suppress it. Violet raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
Tsk… Xingyuan City really lives up to its reputation as the capital of a nation, full of hidden talents. Even three assistants assigned to help a random contestant turn out to include one at the [Seeker of Immortality] level and two at the [Peak Ascension] level…
If these three were ordinary workers, she’d write her name backward!
Casting a discreet glance toward the Saint seated high above, Violet quickly pieced things together.
Sure enough, she was being targeted. Fine, let’s see what they’re planning.
As she mused over the situation, the examiner’s voice rang out again, cutting through her thoughts.
"The sandbox will soon simulate specific environmental and climatic conditions. Your task is to identify the key nodes of geomantic vein anomalies and report them to your scribe."
"There will be three questions in total. Each participant has three attempts per question, and each question is timed at 15 minutes. If you use up all your attempts or fail to answer correctly within the time limit, you will be eliminated. Now, let the first question begin!"
As soon as the announcement ended, the two [Peak Ascension]-level assistants moved closer to Violet without saying a word. They began inserting markers onto the surface of the geomantic compass, which resembled a miniature model of a continent.
The compass, an intricate multi-dimensional map, was designed to emulate the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm], not by specific countries but by dividing it into hundreds of distinct regions. Below, varying thicknesses of threads intertwined, simulating the complex flow of the earth’s spiritual veins.
Violet couldn’t immediately tell how this device differed from a traditional sandbox model, but observing it posed no issues for her.
Spiritual veins and geomantic veins were fundamentally similar. While the energy flowing through them might differ depending on the world, the patterns of their behavior were nearly identical.
Generally, regions with higher populations and greater prosperity tended to have stronger spiritual veins flowing beneath them. On the compass, these appeared as thicker threads. This wasn’t because human activity altered the spiritual veins but rather a natural result of environmental selection.
Spiritual veins, when abundant, naturally create fertile soil, pleasant environments, and favorable living conditions. People who settle near such areas enjoy prosperity, good health, and for cultivators, faster progress in their training. Over time, such locations naturally develop into larger cities.
Conversely, the absence of strong spiritual veins results in barren land, harsh conditions, and sparse populations. A self-perpetuating cycle.
In reality, spiritual veins are invisible, simply pathways of energy flowing deep underground. People deduce their presence and activity by observing changes in the environment. When issues are discovered, efforts are made to adjust or mitigate disasters. This accumulated knowledge forms the basis of a specialized field of study known as [Geographical Spiritual Veins].
Abnormal weather doesn’t always mean there’s an issue with the spiritual veins. Professionals from the [Geo-Instrument Division] continuously monitor environmental changes, searching for hidden irregularities in seemingly normal climates. Their goal is to predict and prevent disasters before they occur. This is the essence of their work.
Once all the markers were placed, the two assistant girls silently stepped back, though their gazes, along with that of the scribe, lingered subtly on Violet, as if studying her reactions.
Ignoring their not-so-subtle scrutiny, Violet focused entirely on the miniature continental model in front of her.
Although only a few dozen regions were marked with climate data, the dynamic flow of the array revealed conditions across the unmarked areas as well, simulating the continent’s overall climate patterns with impressive precision.
It only took Violet a quick glance to identify several problematic nodes.
To be honest, the question was fairly standard. Challenging compared to the preliminary round but not particularly difficult for someone like her. Several locations displayed clear anomalies that defied natural climate patterns. While no actual disasters were depicted on the map, anyone with a solid understanding of climate behavior should be able to spot the irregularities quickly.
However…
Violet’s gaze briefly shifted to the other contestants around her as a thought crossed her mind.
Wait… the examiner never mentioned if everyone has the same question, did they?