Fantasy: I Become God by playing a game [Dungeons + LitRPG +Xinxia]

**Chapter 17: Mock Exam (2)**

Jiangnan No. 1 High School, Secret Realm of Wuquan Mountain

"Is this the secret realm of Wuquan Mountain?"

Su Chen stood in the middle of a lush forest, carefully observing his surroundings.

Unlike the towering steel jungles of Jiangnan City, the vegetation here was dense and wild. Towering trees stretched as high as five-story buildings, bushes reached up to a person's shoulders, and the ground was littered with hard, gnarled branches.

The scene resembled a primeval forest—vibrant but fraught with hidden dangers.

Here, cultivators weren't alone; this space also housed a host of vicious monsters.

Su Chen leaned against a tree, mulling over the mock exam rules.

"The first stage lasts ten days. I need thirty points and must reach the central area to pass. Students can't attack each other, so this stage should focus on testing cooperation."

He folded his arms, contemplating further.

"By the second stage, alliances formed in the first phase will likely dissolve. Some will team up temporarily to target students with high points. The pace will accelerate, and within three days, most participants will form groups, leaving only the strongest as lone wolves."

He smirked. "But what does that have to do with me?"

Unlike most students, Su Chen wasn't chasing top marks. His goal was simple: outperform his previous records. Nothing more.

Without urgency, he sat cross-legged beneath a massive tree, pulling out his phone.

"A mock exam isn't nearly as important as my game progress," he muttered, opening "Cultivation of Immortality".

Su Chen's current focus wasn't on his classmates but on his game.

He was tantalizingly close to the fourth level of the Qi Gathering Stage—one of the conditions for completing the game's second novice mission. If not for the mock exam, he would have already spent his accumulated experience points and made progress.

But the exam demanded his attention, forcing him to slow down.

"Reality is different from the game," he thought. "I can log off in the game, but I can't in real life. Still, I can use this time to plan my next move."

His main concerns revolved around the Qingyun Sect. Becoming an outer disciple wasn't as straightforward as reaching a certain cultivation level. Other requirements had to be met.

Even more pressing was how to handle the changes in his spiritual roots. While improved aptitude might draw the sect's attention, it could also bring unforeseen risks.

"The game world isn't like the dungeon," Su Chen mused. "In the dungeon, I can resurrect infinitely. Here, a single mistake could cost me everything."

Su Chen tapped his phone idly, a frown forming as he strategized.

"If the Qingyun Sect learns about my improved spiritual roots, I might gain favor, but it's too risky. I don't know how they'll react. For now, it's best to stay low-key."

His gaze grew distant. "And there's the matter of the sect's future... The tomb taught me that Qingyun Sect's current strength doesn't guarantee long-term survival. If I become too tied to them, I might get caught in their downfall."

He nodded to himself.

"Step by step. I'll meet the conditions for entering the outer gate while staying under the radar. No unnecessary risks. No reckless advances."

Satisfied with his plan, Su Chen returned his focus to his game, letting the mock exam take a backseat.

---

Outside the Secret Realm

In the teacher's monitoring area, a sharp-eyed instructor frowned at one of the displays.

"What class is this student from? He's playing games during the mock exam!" the teacher exclaimed. "If he doesn't want to take the exam seriously, why is he even here? This is disrespectful to the school!"

Chen Fugui, Su Chen's homeroom teacher, broke into a cold sweat. He had noticed Su Chen's antics long ago but couldn't bring himself to intervene.

As the teacher's criticism grew louder, Chen Fugui grimaced. 'Su Chen, couldn't you at least pretend to take this seriously?'

Other teachers began noticing Su Chen as well.

"Hey, isn't that Su Chen from your class, Lao Chen?"

The voice belonged to Li Youquan, the Heaven Dao Class's homeroom teacher. His tone was light but laced with amusement. "He's playing games during the exam? Has he already given up?"

Chen Fugui forced a chuckle, too embarrassed to respond.

While Chen Fugui secretly hoped Su Chen would woo Lu Xiaoye, Jiangnan High's star student, Li Youquan felt differently. As Lu Xiaoye's teacher, he was determined to keep Su Chen at arm's length from his prized protégé.

Still, even Li Youquan wasn't entirely heartless. Though he disliked Su Chen, he avoided openly criticizing him to prevent upsetting Lu Xiaoye. Instead, he saved his mockery for moments like this, where Chen Fugui bore the brunt of his teasing.

"I'm impressed, Lao Chen," Li Youquan quipped. "It takes guts to play games during an exam."

Chen Fugui's internal roar was deafening. 'Su Chen, you're killing me! If you want to play games, wait until you're out of the secret realm!'

---

Unaware of the commotion he was causing, Su Chen remained engrossed in his game.

In the secret realm, a shadow moved silently through the dense underbrush, approaching Su Chen's position. Outside, the teachers watching the scene grew tense.

A square-faced instructor furrowed his brow. "It's a Swift Wind Scythe Weasel, fourth level of the Qi Gathering Stage. This student is completely unaware. He'll be the first to fail."

The creature crept closer, its claws gleaming in the dappled light.

"Good," the instructor added coldly. "If he'd rather play games, let him be eliminated early. No need to waste our time."

Su Chen, lost in his thoughts, seemed oblivious to the approaching danger.

His phone reflected in his eyes as he muttered, "Almost finished…"

The teachers braced themselves, watching as the weasel prepared to strike.

---

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(End of Chapter)