Chapter 137: 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 planned to rely on his strength advantage, imitating a bird with a “large force flings a brick” tactic, and forcefully flutter himself across to the other side.

However, this plan clearly fell through.

1011 leapt off the mountaintop with great momentum, plunging down all the way. According to his plan, he should have “borrowed the light wind to ascend to the high skies”!

But in reality, the wings declared the dream of 200 pounds too heavy to carry.

1011 completed the first gravity acceleration test experiment of his life with a near textbook-perfect vertical landing.

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 successfully 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 becomes clear: the hands-on ability examination evaluates artistry and aesthetics in their achievements.

Therefore, it’s not difficult to come 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 plainly displayed before everyone all along.

Three wooden planks, 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 planks he had been training with.

The first to position itself was the large hovering wooden plank, followed by the three thicker sticks.

The well-trained sticks automatically settled into the slots Jiang Cheng had carved on the large plank.

The last three thin planks 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 plank.

Then, something exhilarating 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 successfully!

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 place his other foot on the second wooden plank ahead.

As expected, he successfully took his first step on his wooden flying machine!

Then, Jiang Cheng lifted his foot again.

He lifted, stepped down, and landed on the third plank, which was also the last one!

At the same time, the true purpose of the flying machine began to unfold!

When Jiang Cheng stepped on the third plank, the first plank and the wooden pillar that supported it cleverly flew to the front, forming a fourth step!

One, two, three, one, two, three…

The three planks cycled in this way.

Each time Jiang Cheng stepped forward, a new plank would appear under his feet.

And after Jiang Cheng completed two cycles, the lowest floating plank would rotate around a wooden pillar as its center, resetting the slots used by the advancing wooden pillars.

In the process where the small planks and pillars cycled, and the large template rotated on schedule.

Jiang Cheng walked as if on flat ground, strolling leisurely toward the rooftop of the teaching building some thirty meters away.

He was in perfect sync with the training planks, his movements smooth and continuous, even silkier than a lubricated Dove chocolate.

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 planks.

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 examinee complete 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 planks?

3. Did the examinee’s traversal demonstrate the prop’s stability, composure, and safety?

Smooth switching of planks without stuttering equals stability.

Jiang Cheng had his hands in his pockets the whole time, no need for manual assistance equals composure.

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.

The last 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 test later, which is an ‘intelligence’ puzzle. As long as he acts like a normal person in the last 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!