"What's going on?"
Hikari quickly moved closer to Kaito, whispering the question while scanning the empty bookshelves around them, trying to locate the source of the voice.
Orochimaru and Nagato both turned to look at Kaito, their faces blank with confusion—practically sprouting question marks above their heads.
After all…
Uchiha Kaito had claimed this pagoda was his magical artifact.
But judging by the current situation…
Wasn't this artifact a little… off??
"Relax, relax."
Kaito forced a smile, signaling for everyone to calm down and assuring them he could handle it.
After briefly reassuring them, he immediately focused his mind, reaching out to communicate with the artifact.
"Artifact spirit…?"
"Never mind what you're called. Get us out of here right now."
"And stop that so-called knowledge training!"
His tone carried a hint of irritation. A terrible premonition was creeping up on him…
Why did this artifact's style feel so similar to that First Set of Elementary Foundation Establishment Techniques he had obtained before?!
"Respected examinee, I regret that I cannot comply."
"This product is dedicated to helping examinees achieve excellent results, fulfilling their aspirations of entering their desired top-tier Immortal Sect academies…"
The pagoda's artifact spirit rambled on for a full ten minutes, but the gist was this:
This was a study tool specifically designed by parents in the cultivation world to push their children to study. It contained a vast repository of exam materials from the cultivation world.
Once users chose to enter, the knowledge training would automatically activate.
Once training began, they would undergo seven days of specialized study, followed by an exam on the eighth day…
Those who passed could leave freely, but those who failed…
Would be subjected to lightning tribulation body tempering—with the intensity of the tribulation increasing with each failure. According to the artifact spirit, the highest level could reach the power of a Heavenly Tribulation.
After hearing this, Kaito really wanted to curse. Unfortunately, the artifact spirit was just a pre-programmed mechanism—yelling at it wouldn't change a thing.Good news.
From now on, they wouldn't lack Cultivation of Immortality techniques anymore.
But the bad news…
Why the hell does this Magical Artifact force people to become grind kings??
"How's it going??"
Hikari gently tugged on Kaito's sleeve, noticing his expression shifting between pale and ashen, which immediately made her worried.
After all, this guy would usually use space-time Ninjutsu to teleport away the moment he encountered such situations.
Nagato and Orochimaru also looked on with anticipation.
Apart from the unfamiliar voice that had just spoken, a ten-minute countdown now appeared before them...
As they watched the time tick down, their hearts filled with panic, along with an indescribable sense of urgency.
Kaito first tried his teleportation ability, only to find that the title he was wearing had turned gray, accompanied by a small note...
[Activity in progress. Usage prohibited.]
Alright, alright...
So there's no escaping this damn knowledge training, is there??
Realizing he couldn't leave through other means, Kaito let out a long sigh. He looked straight at the three of them, hesitating for a long while before finally speaking.
"One good news, one bad news..."
"Which do you want to hear first?"
Hikari: ??
Nagato: ?
Orochimaru: ??
All three wore varying degrees of confusion on their faces.
They had just come in to move some books...
How did things suddenly seem so off??
"Just say it," Orochimaru, being the quickest to adapt among the three, seemed to have already pieced together a rough guess from the earlier events.
Nagato and Hikari also nodded in agreement, opting to hear the good news first.
"We have to study all the knowledge here and pass an exam before we can leave."
"?"
Hearing this, Nagato and Hikari's expressions barely changed, but Orochimaru's face lit up with excitement—though he still seemed puzzled by Kaito's answer.
"You've finished the good news. What about the bad news?"
Kaito: ?
Orochimaru impatiently replied.
Given the knowledge training and the locked door, he had already guessed this was some kind of forced training.
Forced learning? Interesting!
"No... that is the bad news!"
Kaito was utterly dumbfounded by Orochimaru's response, then proceeded to explain the rules he knew.
When they heard that failing the exam would result in Lightning Tribulation Body Tempering, both Orochimaru and Nagato's faces lit up with excitement.
"Adapting to the lightning tribulation in advance!"
"Kaito, this Magical Artifact of yours is a huge help!"
Nagato thought back to the tribulation Kaito had endured before, then recalled his own simple breakthrough with deep regret.
In his eyes, the difference between having and not having Heavenly Tribulation tempering was immense.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, upon hearing that they could not only gain knowledge for free but also receive physical enhancement benefits, immediately began debating whether he should intentionally fail a few times first.
"Perhaps..."
"We could temper our bodies once first, then start the exam."
Hearing these two's remarks, Uchiha Hikari was so frightened she crouched behind Kaito, gripping his clothes tightly while cautiously eyeing these two lunatics.
"Idiots! That kind of lightning... Heavenly Tribulation will kill you!!"
As one of the people who had experienced it firsthand, Hikari knew full well how terrifying that Heavenly Tribulation was—yet these two madmen looked utterly thrilled...
What the hell is wrong with them??
And also...
With Nagato looking like a complete illiterate, is he even going to pass the exam??Uchiha Hikari grew increasingly frightened the more she looked at those two. Being in an enclosed space kept triggering unpleasant memories, so she quickly pulled Kaito aside and began chattering nervously.
Kaito wasn't worried about Granny getting struck by lightning. With him and Nagato acting as giant power banks, Granny could easily withstand several lightning tribulations using Eight Thousand Spears.
Moreover...
Given Granny's good habit of reading books daily, her chances of passing seemed even higher than his own.
"Countdown ended. Knowledge training begins. Examinees may commence learning."
"As examinees didn't select knowledge training topics, random assignment has been initiated."
Just as Nagato and Orochimaru were still discussing how to maximize their gains, the artifact spirit's prompt sounded in their ears again.
Then four books materialized before them.
Orochimaru flipped open his book and nearly cursed aloud upon seeing the title.
"I..."
Noticing the snake's unusual reaction, Kaito looked over first.
What he saw was Orochimaru holding...
"Postpartum Care for Immortal Pigs"
Orochimaru took a deep breath, his initially ecstatic expression gradually darkening.
New knowledge was indeed wonderful.
But...
Compared to knowledge about immortality or eternal life, Orochimaru found this book somewhat disappointing.
The silver lining was that it was written in Shinobi World script.
"Yay!!"
Suddenly, Granny's cheerful voice rang beside Kaito.
"Kaito, look! 'Complete Guide to Celestial Desserts'!"
"I love this training!!"
Granny flipped to the first page about ice cream making, becoming even more excited than Nagato and Orochimaru had been earlier, shaking Kaito vigorously.
"Okay, go enjoy it."
After sending off the excited Granny, Kaito noticed his own book was about techniques...
"Second Set Body Tempering Technique: Eaglet Takes Flight"
Kaito: ?
Wait... this can't be right???
While learning new techniques should be exciting, seeing this familiar name made it impossible for Kaito to feel happy.
His expression matched Orochimaru's when seeing "Postpartum Care for Immortal Pigs."
As he pondered life's mysteries, Nagato suddenly approached and whispered:
"Kaito... what is advanced mathematics?"