**Chapter 27: Mock Exam (12)**

**Chapter 27: Mock Exam (12)**

Although Su Chen did not know the specific doubts of the teachers observing outside the secret realm, he had a general idea.

When he initially searched for Qingxuan Wood, the first place he checked was the school's treasure house. However, he didn't find any Qingxuan Wood there.

Now, encountering a Qingxuan Wood tree in the secret realm—a tree that didn't exist in the outside world—what did that mean?

It suggested two possibilities:

1. These Qingxuan Wood trees had appeared only recently, so the school hadn't yet cataloged them in the treasure pavilion.

2. The Qingxuan Wood was so valuable that the school deliberately withheld it from the treasure pavilion.

Regardless of the reason, this moment presented his best opportunity to obtain Qingxuan Wood. After all, even if the school added it to the treasure house in the future, he'd need credits to exchange for it.

But now? He could get it for free!

Freeloading might be shameful, but it was undeniably satisfying.

Su Chen was never one to miss an opportunity to grab something for free.

"The me in games cuts down trees, and the me in real life also cuts down trees. This world... truly amazing."

After a moment of reflection, Su Chen raised the magic sword in his hand and began his lumberjack business.

Bang. Bang. Bang!

The rhythmic sound of chopping echoed through the quiet secret realm of Wuquan Mountain.

From gaming during exams to chopping trees during exams—Su Chen had left the teachers speechless.

To them, he was no longer just an internet-addicted teenager. No, he was now a bizarrely rebellious teen addicted to gaming and cutting trees!

After all, what serious student would cut down trees during a mock exam? Could he at least show some respect for the school and the teachers who prepared the questions?

Meanwhile, six hours into the exam, the number of candidates had already dropped significantly.

Out of the initial 92 participants, only 50 remained. A total of 42 students had been eliminated, nearly half of the original number.

However, as the number of participants dwindled, the remaining students began regrouping with their teammates from the first stage. The elimination rate was expected to slow until the second phase concluded.

At that point, fierce battles would erupt again, accelerating the elimination process.

Su Chen, however, paid no attention to any of this.

"You fight your battles; I cut down my trees. We both have bright futures!"

Meanwhile, in a forest one kilometer from Su Chen's location, another scene unfolded.

A single student from the Heaven Dao class, Bian Shouyi, had surrounded five students from the Earth Dao class.

Yes, one person surrounding five.

"Bian Shouyi, are you sure you want to make enemies of all five of us?"

"Even with your innate sword body and clear sword heart, you're still only at the seventh level of the Qi Gathering stage."

"If the five of us team up, you might not be able to handle us. Instead of getting hurt on both sides, why not step back and let us go our separate ways?"

But their warnings fell on deaf ears. With his sword in hand, Bian Shouyi walked toward them, unflinching.

A sharp, invisible sword intent emanated from him, so intense it made the five students hesitate to meet his gaze.

Frustration filled their hearts. Why, of all people, had they encountered this sword fanatic?

They exchanged glances and made a decision.

No matter how strong he was, they weren't weaklings.

Even cornered rabbits would bite back. Together, they might just overpower him.

"This is his doing! Let's go all out!"

"Agreed!"

Seeing them charge forward, Bian Shouyi's previously icy face lit up with excitement.

As his opponents approached, he murmured, "My father once said, 'The sword is the best of all weapons. A swordsman must walk a straight path, never a crooked one.'

"To a swordsman, the ultimate disgrace isn't death. It's turning your back on the enemy."

He gripped his sword tightly, his eyes clear and resolute beneath his disheveled hair.

Facing the five opponents, he drew his sword and declared solemnly, "I am Shouyi, one who holds the center. My swordsmanship does not allow retreat.

"Now, please enlighten me."

Half an incense stick later...

"Bian Shouyi, you're insane! People like you, who refuse to adapt, are doomed to fail—not just in this exam, but in life!"

The last of the five students shouted these words as he was teleported out of the secret realm.

Bian Shouyi, unmoved, looked at his sword and murmured, "I don't care about change. I just want to surpass everyone else."

With that, he turned and walked deeper into the forest. Something was drawing him there—a primal instinct urging him forward.

Back at Su Chen's location, he wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled.

"It took six hours to chop down one tree. It seems Qingxuan Wood trees here are far older than the ones in the game."

This discovery was a delightful surprise.

After all, as the saying goes, "Getting something for free is satisfying for a moment; getting something for free all the time is eternal joy."

Who would have thought he could profit from the school's resources during the exam?

For now, Su Chen had completely forgotten about the mock exam or credits. His mind was consumed by the endless expanse of green trees before him.

"I'll take a short break and continue chopping later," he decided.

But just as he was about to rest, a sudden noise broke the calm.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Su Chen disappeared from his spot. A sharp sword energy struck where he had stood, leaving a deep mark on the tree stump beside him.

The Qingxuan Wood tree stump—sturdy enough to rival a ninth-level Qi Gathering cultivator—now bore a thumb-deep sword gash.

"...Bian Shouyi?" Su Chen muttered, eyeing the approaching swordsman with surprise.

He hadn't provoked this sword maniac. Why was he here?

"What do you want?"

Ignoring the question, Bian Shouyi raised his sword excitedly.

"Classmate, please enlighten me," he said.

Su Chen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Rather than sparring with this fanatic, he'd much prefer to continue chopping trees in peace.

Fighting could happen anytime, but opportunities to profit for free? Those were rare.

Still, Su Chen knew Bian Shouyi's stubborn nature well. Once fixated on something, he wouldn't give up easily.

This would be troublesome... or would it?

Su Chen's gaze fell on the sword marks Bian Shouyi had left on the tree stump. A bold idea formed in his mind.

If he could turn Bian Shouyi into a woodcutter, why not others?

A grin spread across Su Chen's face. His eyes gleamed with newfound excitement as he studied Bian Shouyi.

"With strength and sword energy like that, you're a born woodcutter," he thought.

PS: Read +20 advance chapters on my Patreon: [patreon.com/Thebeginning331]

(End of this chapter)