Chương 34: Chapter 34: When Will You Be Able to Transform?
Five days later, Xu Pangda was set to take the tongshi exam.
Although Wang Feng had dismissed it earlier with, "It's just a minor exam, nothing worth worrying about," on the actual day, she still accompanied Xu Pangda to the examination hall.
Instead of heading back, Wang Feng chose to wait for him at the tea stall in front of the Qingshui Academy, watching the entrance with unwavering patience.
When the exam concluded and students began filing out, Wang Feng stood up immediately. Seeing Xu Pangda's confident expression, she finally let out a breath of relief. However, her face remained cold. "Hurry up and get home for dinner. You're late."
"Yes, Mother," Xu Pangda nodded, quickly following her.
"Mother," he said, glancing up at her, "I think I did pretty well."
"Oh," Wang Feng responded indifferently.
Xu Pangda lowered his head, but not for long. A moment later, Wang Feng spoke again, her tone casual, "How well? Do you think you can pass as a xiucai?"
Xu Pangda's eyes lit up instantly. "Don't worry, Mother! Today's exam questions, I..."
On a quiet street in the capital city,
a child spoke excitedly,
while his mother listened calmly.
---
A month later, the results of the tongshi were announced.
Xu Pangda achieved the top rank, securing the title of xiucai at just ten years old.
The Xu and Qin households were astonished.
Everyone knew that the third young master, Xu Pangda, had been studying, but no one expected him to excel to such a degree—let alone claim the top spot! Was he a prodigy?
Xu Pangda's success placed enormous pressure on the two concubines of the Xu family.
While their sons were gifted in cultivation, the fact that Xu Pangda, at just ten years old, had become the tongshi top scorer made him a rare genius. To make matters worse, the last person to achieve this feat in the capital had gone on to win all three prestigious imperial exams.
If Xu Pangda were truly to become a zhuangyuan (imperial top scholar), who could say whom the emperor would favor when granting the hereditary title of Duke Xu?
To celebrate, the Xu and Qin households held grand banquets. Xu Xiaopang's grandfather, Xu Shuiya, and his father, Xu Zheng, were overjoyed. The family matriarch could not stop smiling, repeatedly exclaiming that Xu Pangda must be a reincarnation of the literary star.
Yet, amidst the overwhelming praise, Xu Xiaopang remained humble.
He knew this achievement wasn't entirely his own—because Fifth Brother hadn't participated.
---
During the banquet, the two concubines had expected Wang Feng to seize the moment to humiliate them for their previous actions. In fact, they were so apprehensive they nearly feigned illness to avoid attending.
But to their surprise, Wang Feng said nothing during the feast. She sat quietly in her seat, responding to the guests' congratulations with nothing more than a faint smile.
It was as though her son's success and the matter of the hereditary dukedom meant nothing to her.
That composed aura of a proper first wife left the two concubines feeling even more defeated, more so than any scolding could have.
---
Two months later, Xu Ming noticed that the Tianxuan Goose had stopped moving altogether.
Alarmed, he worried it might have died. But the goose's body was still warm, and its heart continued to beat steadily. Its feathers, however, had become fluffier and fluffier.
A month after that, its plumage had expanded so much that it resembled a giant ball, making it impossible for Xu Ming to even see its long swan neck.
Both Chen Suya and Xu Ming were concerned about the goose and debated whether to call a veterinarian.
However, recalling the National Preceptor's warning—"Do not interfere with her"—they decided to leave it be. After all, the goose was still alive.
---
Time flew by. Another six months passed.
One morning, a resonant honk echoed, waking Xu Ming from his sleep.
He stepped out of his room and was greeted by a courtyard littered with feathers.
Amidst the snowy goose feathers scattered across the ground stood a swan of unmatched elegance. Its feathers, as white and flawless as blooming white lotuses, gleamed with a silky sheen. Its long neck was slender and graceful, its wings resembling delicate fans crafted from pure snow.
This swan, however, was no ordinary creature. The Tianxuan Goose was nearly twice the size of a typical swan. Its eyes were lined with markings resembling feline eyeliner, as if delicately painted with rouge, giving it an almost charming, refined appearance. Staring at it for long enough, one might even find it rather graceful and attractive.
Additionally, at the center of its forehead was a touch of vermilion, lending it a subtle, feminine allure. Compared to its previously vacant, dazed expression, the Tianxuan Goose now had eyes brimming with life and intelligence.
"Honk honk honk! (Kid, your big sister here is not the same as before!)" The Tianxuan Goose let out a series of honks upon seeing Xu Ming. "Honk honk honk! (Come, spar with your big sister!)"
"Alright, let's spar. It's a good chance to test my progress," Xu Ming replied with a grin, relieved that this so-called "dog-goose" hadn't slept itself into the afterlife.
"Hoooonk!" The goose cried out and charged at Xu Ming.
With a flap of its wings, two wind blades sliced through the air toward him.
Xu Ming's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected this dog-goose to evolve to the point of using magic!
Not daring to be careless, he gripped his Peach Blossom Sword tightly and executed his Bingyang Sword Technique, slashing through one wind blade with a swift stroke and shattering the other with a horizontal swing.
Xu Ming leaped into the air, his Peach Blossom Sword aiming directly for the goose's head.
Was it his imagination, or did the goose flash him a ridiculous grin?
"Honk!"
The Tianxuan Goose spread its wings and honked loudly. The feathers scattered across the ground converged before it, forming a shield.
When Xu Ming's sword struck the feather shield, the impact sent a jolt through his wrist, making his grip falter slightly.
However, the sword energy radiating from Xu Ming's strike made the Tianxuan Goose's eyes narrow in caution. It quickly dodged to the side.
"Slash!"
The goose leaped away just in time. The feathers where it had stood were cleanly sliced through, leaving a noticeable crack in the ground.
"How did this kid get so strong?" the Tianxuan Goose thought, startled.
But before it could process further, Xu Ming had already lunged forward, aiming a punch at it.
"Honk~!" The goose responded by curling its right wing into a fist and clashing directly with Xu Ming's blow.
---
Fifteen minutes later.
"Honk honk honk~! (Little guy, do you admit your big sister's strength now?)"
The Tianxuan Goose let out a triumphant honk, pinning Xu Ming to the ground once again.
[You battled the Tianxuan Goose (Awakened Talent): Strength +30, Spirit Power +10, Combat Experience +10]
While being pinned, a line of text flashed across Xu Ming's mind.
"You've awakened your talent?" Xu Ming asked, tilting his head back from his position on the ground.
"Honk. (No idea.)" The goose stood with its wings on its hips, lifting its long neck proudly. "Honk honk! (I just took a long nap and suddenly had a bunch of stuff in my head.)"
"When do you think you'll transform into a humanoid form?" Xu Ming asked.
"Honk. (No clue.)" The goose answered decisively.
"Alright then." Xu Ming sighed, a bit disappointed.
He had been curious about what the dog-goose's humanoid form would look like. Would it really be an eight-pack abs warrior queen?
Just as Xu Ming lay on the ground with the swan towering above him, a sudden flash of light lit up the sky.
A Ranking appeared, hovering in the air for all to see.
Across the capital city, including Xu Ming and the Tianxuan Goose, people stopped what they were doing to look at the Qingyun Ranking:
[Qin Qingwan, native of Wu Kingdom, direct disciple of the Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect, age eight, entered the Sixth Realm of Qi Cultivation—Observation Sea Realm.
Ranking on the Qingyun Ranking: Ninth.]
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