Mist Origin sect was way too intriguing of a sect for Ning to not visit at all. In fact, he wanted to do more than just visit it. He wanted to join it. So, this early morning he had left the city for exactly this reason.
He wanted to join the sect. He had been wondering what joining a sect would feel like ever since learning about the three sects 10 days ago, and now he was going to join one.
Except, he needed to pass their test exam before being allowed to enter the sect.
When he reached the Mist Origin sect's sect land, he nodded to himself. Just as the city knowledge had told him, the sect was in fact on top of an elevated piece of land.
Ning was, however, surprised to see so many people in front of the sect, ready to take the test.
'System did say the exam took every month. But I didn't expect so many to join at once,' he thought. 'Although, most will probably fail. It would've been great if the system could see the future too. It could've told me what the tests were. I would never fail that way,' he thought.
Soon a person came out wearing a red robe and started speaking.
"Everyone, Welcome to the monthly test of Mist Origin sect. We have only two requirements for you to join the tests," the man said.
"First, you cannot be over 25 years of age, or you will be disqualified."
"Second, you must be at least a Qi Condensation 2nd realm cultivator," the man said. After finishing that, the gate opened and everyone was allowed in. Ning got into a queue that led inside the gate and was tested by someone.
Once the person made sure that his age and cultivation requirement were okay, he let Ning go inside.
He was sent to a hall where he stood still waiting for something to happen. Sometime later, a man walked in and started speaking.
"Everyone, Welcome to the actual entrance examination. Soon, you will be handed a set of books that will list the species and rank of the beasts. All you have to do is read and remember it," the man said.
A group of people entered and handed out the different books. Each person got handed two sets of books. Ning started flipping the book and soon realized that it was a list of monsters with names and a ranking next to it.
'We are supposed to memorize this?' he thought in shock. 'What do they think I have? Photographic memory?'
Ning then thought for a second. 'I should have that though. It will be useful. System, how much does photographic Memory costs?' he asked.
<Eidetic Memory costs 2,000,000,000 Energy>
'Thats…' he counted in his mind and said, 'FIFTY DAYS worth of energy gathering. Sh*t, it's either get Eidetic Memory in 50 days or gather energy for 500 days and double the gap. Oh god, why does it all costs so much?' he hated it all.
'Whatever, I should start reading the books,' he thought and started studying it. The monster names were convoluted and hard to remember for someone that had never learned much about monsters.
Not only that, there were multiple monsters of the same type, only a little different and thus of different species that one had to remember the name and rank of. Very soon Ning realized that that was not happening.
'Alright System, I need your help here. Transfer whatever knowledges are in these books straight into my hea— NO, better yet, what are the costs for similar information in the system?' he asked.
<All Knowledge on Monster Beasts>
<Basic Knowledge on Monster Beasts: 242,000,000 Energy>
<Beginner Knowledge on Monster Beasts: 2,420,000,000 energy>
<Intermediate Knowledge on Monster Beasts: 24,200,000,000 energy>
<Advanced Knowledge on Monster Beasts: 242,000,000,000 energy>
<Omniscient Knowledge on Monster Beasts: 2,420,000,000,000 energy>
'Sh*t. Why is everything so expensive. I don't even have enough for the basic one. Urgh,' Ning cursed.
'What about turning these books into information? Does that cost a lot?' he asked.
<Turning the two books to information costs 298,000,000 Energy>
'Wait, are you telling me this book has more information than Basic knowledge on monster beasts?' he was surprised.
He quickly opened the book once more and realized that the book went in-depth with the explanation more than a few times of the confusing beasts. 'Arhh, I just need to recognize it right? Then maybe I don't need to remember the name at all,' he thought.
'Alright system, just dump the rankings and pictures, and leave out the words and information,' he said.
<It will cost you 122,000,000 Energy, are you sure?>
'Damn that's expensive as hell as well. At least its affordable though. Alright, buy it' he said.
<Confirmed>
Information poured into his brain as he now knew the images of different monsters and swiftly say what rank it was. However, he couldn't know what the name of the monster beast was, or what made it different from a similar monster beast.
He decided to use the remaining time to read the rest of the book and try to remember just as much as he could. While he didn't have an eidetic memory, he still had a far more formidable mental strength when compared to someone with a normal Qi condensation 2nd realm cultivation base.
His superior energy mind combined with his human mind gave him a lead against a normal cultivator. Soon he was done reading the book. It felt like he could remember every single page of the book.
However, he knew that it was just a feeling and in reality, he didn't really remember much. Only someone who was taught this stuff from very early on could remember the name and ranking of so many beasts that were listed in the book.