[A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality] The Covering Moon Sect's Guide to Passing the Civil Service Exam

[A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality fanfiction + goofy cultivation]

Nan Gong Tao wakes up to find herself a female cultivator in the Covering Moon Sect who has been stuck at the same level for two hundred years.

In three days, the sect will hold another Ascension Ceremony, but she has none of her original body's memories and has no idea how to cultivate.

Heart Demon System: "Go on! As long as you work hard, you can succeed. As long as you work hard, you can advance to elder... Hehe, if you're worried you won't advance, this generous System can tell you a demonic cultivation method: find a male cultivator and dual cultivate..."

Nan Gong Tao slaps it away. "Stop yapping. This is a proper story. No naughty stuff."

Heart Demon System: "How dare you hit this System? I'm trying to find you the fastest shortcut."

Nan Gong Tao: "The Party says there's no shortcut to passing the civil service exam. There's no shortcut to ascension either. You have to work hard yourself."

The first time, she fails to ascend.

Heart Demon System: "Ha ha..."

The second time, her ascension attempt falls apart halfway through.

Heart Demon System: "Ha ha..."

Elder Nangong Wan earnestly advises her, "Tao... why don't you go out and gain experience for a few years, then come back and take the Ascension Ceremony?"

Nan Gong Tao accepts a mission to gain experience in the Chaotic Star Sea.

As soon as she arrives in the Chaotic Star Sea, a fifth-tier demon beast, the Golden Flood Dragon Serpent, coils around her.

The Heart Demon System jumps up and down in excitement. "See? See what happens when you don't follow my instructions? Dual cultivation is the fastest way to progress in cultivation, and it's an established practice in the Covering Moon Sect. You want to advance through proper cultivation, one step at a time? Forget becoming an elder after the Ascension Ceremony. A low-tier demon beast in the Chaotic Star Sea could crush you to death!"

Nan Gong Tao: "You talk too much!"

Unable to beat the demon beast, she turns to run, but unexpectedly gets rescued by a young male cultivator.

The young cultivator successfully kills the beast.

Determined to make the most of every learning opportunity, Nan Gong Tao takes the initiative and asks him to accept her as a disciple and protect her. "Thank you for saving me, fellow cultivator. May I ask your name, and whether you would be willing to take on a disciple?"

The young cultivator falters for a moment, then bows and backs away. "I'm sorry, miss. I'm just an ordinary cultivator. I haven't cultivated enough to take on disciples. Please look elsewhere."

"Then at least tell me your name!"

"...My name is Li Feiyu!"

Theme: If mortals can cultivate to immortality, then civil service exam candidates can, too