Translator: Noodletown Translations  Editor: Noodletown Translations

Not knowing that she had been criticized, the Royal Princess asked, “Mr. Mu, this gentleman is…”

“This is Mr. Fang.” It seemed like Mu Donglai didn't like events with crowds either, and he did the introduction casually.

“He owns the most wonderful shop?!” After hearing the introduction, the people around them looked baffled.

How could a shop be wondrous?! He is just a show owner no matter how miraculous the shop is.

He is just a shop owner…

After some polite greetings, the people around them looked back toward the training field as if nothing had happened.

[The shop owner has been slighted!]

[Hahahaha! Mr. Fang, I can't believe that I saw this!]

[Sir! It's time for you to show them your Innumerable Sword Scroll!”

[I agree! Sir, show them your sword control technique and fly into the sky! You'll see how their expressions change!]

Fang Qi's face turned dark. [Please, I'm here to watch the national examination…]

At this moment, a large group of people came into the internet cafe. Almost all of them wore masks, and some of them looked around cautiously. Seeing nothing unusual, they asked the question, “Instructor Mu, shall we go in?”

They came here with an instructor! It was a scenario that none of them had imagined!

“The national examination has begun?!”

“So soon?!”

“Look! Instructor Mu, I see the disciples from our Lingyun Academy on the screen!” Xi Xiaoyun pointed at the big screen and whispered.

“Really? Where?” They all entered the shop.

The rules for this national examination were quite simple. From yesterday's civil test, all the disciples obtained their initial points. Each disciple could challenge the disciples from the other two academies no more than three times, and each of them could accept challenges no more than three times as well. The winners would get all the points, and the losers' points would be reduced to zero.

Of course, there were some restrictions on the challenges issued to weaker opponents. One could only challenge another disciple of the same house who was within three ranks below or no more than ten initial points below. It meant that one couldn't challenge someone who was obviously way weaker than oneself.

However, one could challenge anyone who was stronger than them.

The final ranking of the academies would be determined according to the total points of the disciples.

As for the individual ranking, the disciples would be ranked according to their initial points.

To show fairness, the rules for today's combat test were determined by the Emperor of Dajin and issued to the public through the edict just before the test.

After the rules were announced, the disciples in the three academies began to talk among themselves.

“How shall we proceed?” Instructor Chen Zhong and the disciples from Cla.s.s A of the Huang House in Lingyun Academy gathered together.

“Ms. Nalan, what do you think?” Chen Zhong wanted to hear the disciples' ideas first.

“There are tricks in the rules,” Nalan Mingxue said after a moment of consideration, “Three challenges and three acceptances of challenges means that each of us has three opportunities to take points from others, and then we have to guard our points. However, after issuing three challenges, we might get a higher amount of points and thus attract others' attention. After fighting three battles, you might lose all the points to a stronger opponent. More importantly, you wouldn't be able to challenge others and get back points.”

“In other words, the best strategy is to defend first and then attack,” Chen Zhong concluded.

Nalan Mingxue nodded and said, “After accepting three challenges, then we can issue challenges and get points. By then, even if our points are high, no one can get it from us.”

Chen Zhong froze for a second, surprised that this girl had gained such a deep understanding of the rules that were just announced. “Then, we'll use this strategy.”

The moment that they decided on their strategy, someone announced, “Luo Yun, the No.1 Disciple of the Huang List of Xiyi Academy, challenges Nalan Mingxue from Lingyun Academy!”

“Luo Yun from Xiyi Academy?!”

A wave of exclamations came from the audience, “It's said that Luo Yun of Xiyi Academy is the daughter of the North-Guarding General Luo. She ventured into the mountains alone and hunted animals when she was only 12!”

“She's less than 17 but has reached the peak stage of the Official Warrior Realm. She's absolutely a genius!”

“It's been ten years since I saw a person who reached the peak stage of the Official Warrior Realm at this age.”

Song Qingfeng and the others froze for a moment before laughing, “Hahahaha! You can't keep a low-profile even if you want, Ms. Nalan!”

“Maybe it's because my initial points are too high,” Nalan Mingxue answered lightly before walking to the combat field.

“Please accept the check!” To ensure fairness, any disciples entering the combat field would be checked. Their spiritual artifacts and weapons must be activated with their own cultivation strength instead of power from other sources.

“Nalan Mingxue has an ordinary short saber and nothing else.” The man and woman doing the check looked surprised when they saw that Nalan Mingxue had put everything away but the short saber which was hanging at her belt before walking out.

“Nalan Mingxue will fight the first match?!” At this moment, the Lingyun Academy disciples who were watching the show in Origins Internet Club became excited.

“So soon?!” Xi Qi bought himself a container of Haagen-Dazs and began to watch.

“Who is the girl in blue?!”

“Didn't you hear? She is Luo Yun, the No.1 Disciple in the Huang List of Xiyi Academy!”

[She issued the challenge? Girl, I admire your courage!] Xi Qi immediately sent a bullet comment.

“Royal Sister.” The handsome Second Prince who was wearing a dragon robe looked at the field and asked, “One of them is the genius from the Nalan Family, and the other is the genius from the Luo Family in the north. They are both at the peak stage of the Official Warrior Realm. Who do you think will win?”

“From their credentials, Luo Yun entered her academy one year earlier than Nalan Mingxue, and I heard that Xiyi Academy has begun training their disciples with military rules which have shown excellent effects. In contrast, Lingyun Academy's methods are much milder.”

“Royal Sister, you think Ms. Luo will win?”

The Royal Princess nodded slightly.

At the same time, Mu Donglai asked Fang Qi who sat next to him, “Mr. Fang, who do you think will win?”

“Ugh…” Fang Qi rubbed his nose and said awkwardly, “I'll pay condolence to the girl named Luo Yun for three seconds.”

[Haha! The shop owner said what's on my mind!]

In the internet cafe, bullet comments flooded the screens.

“Royal sister, someone has a different opinion,” the Second Prince said.

Obviously, all the people around them chose to ignore Fang Qi's opinion again.

Only Mu Donglai replied, “It seems that Ms. Nalan will win.”

“Mr. Mu, you agree with Mr. Fang's judgment?” The Royal Princess looked at him in surprise and with a bit disapproval. Obviously, everyone around her agreed to her a.n.a.lysis which was quite reasonable, but Fang Qi was the only one who had a different opinion.

“Little Guy, you must take responsibility for what you said.” On the other side, an old man in black looked toward Fang Qi.

Fang Qi replied, “Senior, do I look like someone who speaks without considering the consequences?”

On the combat field, Nalan Mingxue glanced at the fierce-looking girl in blue and said, “Aren't you a bit impatient to challenge someone who is on your level?”

“I killed more demon beasts than the meals you ate, Miss.” With a cold look, Luo Yun drew out a long saber while a visible murderous spirit emanated from her body. “Attack, and I'll see how much energy I need to consume to defeat you!”

Obviously, she wasn't easy to deal with since she had such a t.i.tle.

Looking at the heroic girl on the big screen, the Lingyun Academy disciples who were watching the livestream began sending bullet comments.

[I suddenly feel hurt for this girl.]

[Quoting the shop owner's words: such a beautiful person must be a guy!]

[I feel hurt for this girl as well! Such a beautiful person must be a guy!]

You are trying to say girls are as strong as guys, right? Fang Qi read the comments and felt dizzy. Don't mess around!

“They're going to attack?!” Meanwhile, the disciples from the three academies exclaimed.

Under their gazes, Luo Yun walked slowly to a spot three meters from Nalan Mingxue; it was a proper distance for a warrior of this realm to launch attacks.

With her arms slightly bent, Luo Yun held her saber with both hands, placing the handle before her midsection.

At this moment, Luo Yun's mind concentrated on one point of the saber while a chilling aura spread out!

She looked like a bow that was fully pulled; she would launch a swift and powerful attack at any time!

“Good presence!” a cultivator behind Fang Qi praised, “This girl is a bit young, but the combat test seems interesting. I wish my disciples had her talent!”

On the other side, the Black Cloud Daoist was scolding his disciple while knocking on the latter's head, “Look at her and look at yourself! When we return, you must cultivate harder!”

While they talked, Luo Yun took a step forward and slashed out her saber, creating an ear-piercing noise. The saber was so fast that it turned into a silver shadow while slas.h.i.+ng forward!

“It's the Xi Wind Slash of Xiyi Academy!”

“Even though she's the stronger one, she unleashed her full force.” An old man sitting at the central viewing platform nodded slightly. “She is using her combat technique at the beginning, which shows that she's not underestimating her opponent. Very nice.”

“Vice Academy Master Yu, you think she's good as well?” Another old man stroked his beard with smugness since Luo Yun was a student from his academy.

Before he could finish his sentence, a figure flashed forward!

A pink fist stuck Luo Yun's belly, and the latter dropped to the ground.

Fang Qi covered his face. “Carry her away. Next!”

The Royal Princess covered her mouth as she was at a loss for words.

The Second Prince almost dropped to the ground from his seat.

The vice academy masters on the central viewing platform: “…”

Everyone was at a loss for words.