Reborn right after ascending to immortality?

Chapter 21 Lecturer An Mengmeng Chami

The first torture chamber.

In a solitary cell, the candlelight was dim, reflecting the pupils of many demonic cultivators whose faces were shrouded in shadow, their eyes as cold as venomous snakes.

"The second trial, 'Wisdom,' is presided over by the 'Wen Suan Zong,' who can explore destiny and divine fate. It is to test our wisdom."

An Sheng explained the topic of the second trial to those around him, speaking in detail:

"It is said that in ancient times, there was a scholar named Song who was on his way to the capital to take the imperial examination. One night, he encountered a thunderstorm and stayed overnight in a small temple in the wilderness."
When Song Sheng entered the temple, he saw that the surrounding area was overgrown with weeds and the sound of rain outside the window was mournful. Remembering the strange and evil tales he had heard, he gathered some firewood to keep warm, recited the Diamond Sutra a few times, lay down under the Buddha statue, and quickly fell asleep.

Just then, a bewitching, evil wind blew in, extinguishing the fire. A seductive fox spirit emerged from the shadows, placed her delicate hand on the scholar's shoulder, and with her thin lips still open, began to absorb the scholar's vital energy.

But Song Sheng remained unmoved, reciting the true scriptures and steadfastly guarding his vital essence to seek answers—"

"I know the next question."

Nine-Dragon truly lives up to his reputation as a prisoner from Kunlun; he is knowledgeable and experienced.

He said, “The so-called ‘wise man does not fall in love’ means that the questions in the Wen Suan Zong are meant to test our wisdom in getting rid of temptations, transcending worldly desires, and strengthening our resolve to follow the Dao.”

“If he loses control of his nature and can’t resist the fox woman’s temptation,” Nine-Dragon said seriously, “the scholar will be sent to the judicial prison by the fox woman for ‘rape.’ So the correct answer is that we should slap her immediately.”

He nodded smugly, convinced that he had definitely guessed the right exam questions.

"The version isn't this early; it says it's set in the 'Primordial Era.' They didn't pay attention to the question." An Sheng glanced at Nine-Tattooed Dragon. "Excuse me—"

"It takes four hours for the fox spirit to drain all the scholar's yang energy; it takes six hours for the scholar to replenish his yang energy through practicing the Diamond Sutra. If the fox spirit drains the scholar's yang energy while he is reciting the Diamond Sutra, how many hours will it take for the scholar's yang energy to be completely drained?"

Nine-Dragon fell silent. Are you sure this is ancient times? Are you sure this version isn't up to par?
Who would chant the Diamond Sutra to accumulate yang energy while having their yang energy drained by a fox spirit?

This scene is too bizarre; this scholar is playing too fancy a game.

Are you using the Diamond Sutra like Viagra to prolong your life?
And in front of the Buddha statue?

What do you take Buddha for, you beast?
Is it part of your sex games?

Even the self-proclaimed great demon monk, Flower Monk, had never heard of this evil method before and felt that he had learned another trick.

It's true that you have to keep learning until you're old.

"Brother Ansheng," Mei Yun couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure these are the questions the Wen Suan Sect will be testing next?"

A quick mental calculation revealed that the scholar had managed to endure for a full day and night.

So this is the real Diamond Sutra!
“Since we’re all scholars of literature and mathematics now, it’s natural that we’ll test everyone’s literary and arithmetic skills,” An Sheng said seriously. “But only mathematics represents true wisdom. This problem about ‘scholars absorbing yang energy’ is just the first easy question!”

Everyone agreed that An Sheng's words made a lot of sense.

"How did the Impermanent Demon Prince know this?"

Nine-Dragon's expression was solemn. "The questions for the Grand Trial are different every year, and even the questions differ from one interrogation site to another. Especially in our First Interrogation Site, the questions are all sealed tightly, with a level of secrecy comparable to forbidden techniques. No one can get the questions in advance."

Everyone understood the unspoken meaning behind Nine-Dragon's words—

If one could obtain the questions in advance, then the power of this fickle demon in Kunlun would far exceed the limits of ordinary people's imagination.

Thinking of this, everyone felt a mix of fear and doubt.

"I certainly have my own demonic methods." An Sheng glanced at everyone indifferently and said in a profound and unfathomable way, "This is just the first question, an easy one. By the way, besides arithmetic, there will also be a Chinese test later."

In fact, no one can get the questions in advance.

But An Sheng is a reborn being; he had already solved this problem a thousand years ago.

He has an excellent memory; he's a master of solving problems, having honed his skills over millennia. He never forgets a problem he's solved once.

"What about the actual exam questions later?" the group asked An Sheng suspiciously, they were very uneasy, "Could the Impermanent Demon Prince reveal anything about them?"

"There will be a charge later." An Sheng smiled, revealing his true intentions.

"Five low-grade spirit stones for each question, fifty in total."

The disciples of the Demonic Sect exchanged glances and smiled at each other, finally putting their minds at ease.

Who would believe what the Impermanent Demon Child says without charging a fee?
This is the rhythm they're used to.

"Don't worry, everyone," An Sheng said, "if the questions are different from the test questions, you can ask me for a full refund."

Nine-Dragon pondered for a moment. His family was wealthy, so he certainly didn't lack these spirit stones.

This deal wouldn't harm him; if it were true, buying it for a few dozen spirit stones would be a huge profit.
If it's fake, it means that the Impermanent Demon Child doesn't actually have that much power; he's just a fraudster who makes a quick buck and then leaves, lacking any long-term vision or perspective, and is short-sighted.

If it's the latter possibility, then it's even more profitable.

He had long wanted to steal the title of the Impermanent Demon Prince.

"Impermanent Demon Prince, give me one."

Nine-Striped Dragon said, "By the way, if you can teach me the 'Diamond Sutra' that the scholar was reciting, I'll add another hundred spirit stones!"

"I want it too, I want it too"

"Please give me one!"

Seeing that Nine-Tattooed Dragon had made his move, the demons rushed to pay, even those who were short of money. This grand examination was based on ranking; if others knew the questions beforehand while they didn't, they would definitely be hundreds of places behind.

Even if the Demon Prince of Impermanence gives them a fake, they'll still want one for that one percent chance.

Soon, almost all the cultivators in the first torture chamber paid An Sheng to ask for their questions.

An Sheng tallied up his earnings, which totaled one thousand low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to ten mid-grade spirit stones.

Mengmeng Chami.

Spirit stones are rich in spiritual energy. Besides being used for purchasing and trading, they can also be used for cultivation. They are the hard currency of Kunlun and Jiuyou.

"Brother Ansheng," said the Third Young Master Mei, "I am short of funds and afraid I cannot pay. I will leave this sword with you as collateral until I have earned enough money through work."

"Just keep it on credit." An Sheng's face darkened. Who wants your toy sword?

"Brother Ansheng is truly a generous and righteous man." Mei Yun exclaimed, "He didn't even want my precious sword. Brother Ansheng is indeed a man of honor."

After receiving the questions and carefully memorizing them, everyone opened the cell doors and rushed to the second trial.

They were eager to verify whether the Impermanent Demon Child was real. If he was fake—though he was probably fake most of the time—it would only mean that the Impermanent Demon Child was of low character and nothing special.

People in the Demonic Sect may cheat and swindle, but they should not resort to such low-level cheating and swindling.

If there's even a one in ten thousand chance that it's true, then that's terrifying.

That means that the Impermanent Demon Prince has considerable influence in the upper echelons of Kunlun. He can control the Great Judgment and win people's hearts, sharing with the disciples of the Demonic Sect at a low price. If the Impermanent Demon Prince really has such a grand vision, then the revival of the Demonic Sect is by no means a pipe dream.

Seeing the eagerness of those thieves, the Taoist Xuan thought to himself that the lower classes of the Nine Netherworlds were truly uncultured. These uncouth men from the bottom of society simply did not understand what they were about to face:
When it comes to arithmetic, you either know it or you don't.

These questions were extremely difficult even for the most righteous disciples of the Kunlun Upper Realm, who were of impeccable lineage and prestigious schools.

It is a specially compiled 'Kunlun Volume'.

How could someone who relies on labor camps for education possibly pass?
"Hmph, look at the paper!"

Immediately, the Taoist Master Suanxuan chuckled coldly, unfurled countless scrolls, and the numerous test papers fell like white swords, attacking the demons!

(End of this chapter)