Chapter 305: Selection Begins!

Chapter 305: The Selection Begins!

Karen rose from his chair, only to be struck by a sudden, violent wave of vertigo. The sheer intensity of the dizziness far exceeded anything he could have anticipated; he lost his balance entirely and pitched forward onto the desk.

Just then, Pu'er, having heard the commotion from the adjoining bedroom, rode Kevin into the study. Seeing Karen in such a state, Pu'er immediately leaped onto the desk and pressed the call bell.

"Karen, what's wrong with you?"

"Overextended."

"Hmm... what exactly did you do?"

Karen felt a touch of helplessness; the truth sounded rather bizarre when spoken aloud—overextended from excessive studying?

Yet that was precisely the reality. He had immersed himself so deeply in his solitary studies that an entire night had slipped away. Throughout those long hours, the Cube Key had remained continuously active. Even though Karen possessed an immense reservoir of spiritual energy, it had been drained to the very bottom after such a prolonged expenditure.

The moment he attempted to stand, a crushing weight of exhaustion and depletion rushed over him all at once.

Xili pushed open the study door and stepped inside, letting out a gasp. "Young Master, what happened to you?"

With those words, Xili hurried forward to support Karen.

"He is simply too tired," Pu'er remarked.

"Young Master, let me help you rest." Xili supported Karen as they made their way into the bedroom.

As she prepared to settle him onto the bed, Pu'er spoke up. "He won't go to bed without taking a bath."

"A bath?" Xili swallowed instinctively.

"Hurry up, help him bathe, big hips!"

"Oh, right, of course!"

By now, Karen's consciousness had grown quite hazy, and he allowed Xili to guide him into the washroom.

Xili undressed Karen, helped him lean back in the bathtub, and began to run the hot water.

Pu'er sat upon the washbasin, and seeing Xili hesitate slightly in her movements, the cat directly commanded, "Hurry and wash him. If you want to touch him, just touch him, but move quickly!"

Seeing Karen in such a state, Pu'er truly had no interest in fussing over the propriety of a maid bathing her master; the cat only wished for Karen to get some rest as soon as possible.

Once the bath was finished, his body dried, and the Young Master changed into his pajamas, Xili supported Karen back to the bedside and settled him comfortably into the mattress.

Possessing excellent stamina, she did not find tending to a nearly unconscious man during a bath to be particularly exhausting; in fact, she felt a lingering sense of unfulfilled longing.

The Young Master's skin is far smoother than my own.

"Should I prepare something for him to eat?" Xili inquired.

"No need, just let him sleep peacefully," Pu'er replied.

"Very well, I shall take my leave then. Ring the bell if you need anything."

"Mhm, off you go, big hips."

Once Xili had left the bedroom, Pu'er walked over to the side of Karen's pillow, extended a feline paw, and gently stroked Karen's hair.

Kevin also crept up to the edge of the bed at this moment, observing Karen's condition.

"He mastered that cube of the Guman family," Pu'er said.

Kevin nodded.

"To think he studied for an entire night, completely unaware that he was overextending himself. It seems the results of his learning were quite extraordinary?"

Kevin continued to nod.

The upper portion of the door between the study and the bedroom was made of frosted glass, allowing light to filter through. While sleeping the previous night, Pu'er had watched the shifting play of light and shadow coming from the study, a sensation akin to the ambient lighting of a ballroom.

It had been that way before the cat fell asleep, and upon waking, the light was still not "extinguished."

"Tsk, tsk," Pu'er smacked its lips twice. "You know, I find myself admiring Dis more and more."

Hearing this, Kevin let out a bitter smile.

It was precisely because of Dis's existence that he, a magnificent Evil God, had been reduced to his current state.

That man, upon discovering his existence, did not react with reverence, but rather with the immediate intent to destroy him.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

"Yes, I noticed it too. The family belief systems established by other progenitors were meant to ensure the better continuation and preservation of their descendants. But Dis is different. From the very beginning, his arrangement of the blood sacrifice ritual was not merely to ensure that the Immels family would stay forever clear of the church circles, save for Karen; he was paving a path.

Whether the defining trait of the Immels family belief system is learning or plundering, this kind of characteristic—which nearly shatters the boundaries of common sense—is utterly impossible to pass down continuously.

The prerequisite for awakening this particular bloodline trait is that the lineage holder must themselves be a genius comparable to a progenitor, someone on the exact same level as Dis. In other words, in the future, Karen's descendants will only be able to awaken the family belief system of the progenitor Dis if their talent reaches the same staggering heights as Karen's.

This family belief system cannot possibly be inherited through normal generations."

The specifications were too high, the demands too severe, the prerequisites too steep. They were so elevated that even with a sufficiently large base population, it would have almost no impact on the probability. The birth of a genius, after all, relied entirely on luck and destiny. Finding one in two people versus finding one in ten thousand might seem like the latter offered a higher probability, but in essence, it remained the difference between one and zero.

This meant that this family belief system could not be passed down at all. If a genius failed to emerge for just one or two generations, the lineage could practically be declared broken.

"Woof!"

"Exactly. Dis likely had no intention of establishing a legacy in the first place. He merely used this method to aid Karen. This is a family belief system Dis designed exclusively for Karen alone."

"Woof!"

"Yes, he truly spared no expense for this grandson of his. And isn't that precisely why you risked everything to find that egg for him? You have already made your choice, stupid dog."

Kevin flashed a simple, honest smile.

"This is fine. At least you have a reason to convince yourself to accept being a dog. Honestly, I no longer possess such a grand obsession with binding the Allen family to Karen anymore. The Allen Manor can just serve as an exquisite little ornament for Karen.

Even if he doesn't wear it on his person, keeping it in a drawer is perfectly fine, as long as he can see it whenever he occasionally pulls the drawer open."

"Woof! Woof!"

"You don't need to comfort me, nor do I feel despondent. Life is like an adventure. Just when you feel utterly hopeless, clinging to a plank while drifting upon the vast ocean, you can always spot an island appearing ahead, even if it is merely a mirage.

Alright, alright, let him rest. Let us dwell no further on these sentiments. I had the radio goblin purchase a statue of the Goddess Mills for you; he should be returning shortly. How about we hang the statue right behind your dog house when the time comes?"

"Woof!"

"Are you asking how a portrait of the Goddess could possibly be hung in a dog house?"

"Woof!" Kevin nodded in all seriousness.

Pu'er slapped its own forehead and lamented:

"You truly are beyond saving as a simp dog. No wonder you and the Sea King are lifelong enemies."

...

Karen slept for two full days.

The capacity of a reservoir is immense; by that same token, once the water is completely drained, refilling it requires a significant amount of time. Fortunately, under Pu'er's arrangements, some nutritional supplements had been administered to him during his slumber. Thus, when he finally awoke, although the sensation of hunger was incredibly intense, it had not reached an exaggerated extremity.

"Huu..."

Exhaling a long breath, Karen reached up to run his fingers through his hair. Outside, the sky was dark. He glanced at the clock; it was four in the morning.

"You're awake."

Pu'er crawled up from the bed, sat upon the blanket directly in front of Karen, and examined him closely before asking, "Is there any discomfort anywhere?"

Karen shook his head.

"Well, diligence and ambition are certainly fine things, but next time you study, do not throw yourself into it so desperately. Though, I suppose saying this is entirely futile, for I too have tasted that sensation where a mere fraction of effort elevates one's realm.

After all, true talent is being able to state in simple terms: progress follows effort."

"I understand. I was simply too immersed this time. How long have I slept?"

"Two days."

"The selection—"

"Rest easy. Had you not awakened by dawn, I would have roused you, for the selection begins this morning. Oh, by the way, last night your teammate Vannie called specifically to let you know they would be driving over to escort you to the examination grounds."

"An escort to the exam?"

"Indeed, your teammates truly are exceedingly enthusiastic."

"They are."

Karen rose from the bed, went to the washroom to take a shower, and after completing his morning routine, walked into the kitchen to cook himself a large bowl of noodles.

Having eaten, he sat a while longer, and only when the sky began to turn a faint grey did he feel his body finally restored to its absolute peak condition.

It was still early, so Karen walked into the study and sat down, his eyes falling upon the copy of *Roggat Manor* on the desk, which he had finished reading a few days prior.

Unfurling his palm, a Rubik's cube materialized, but with a swift wave of his hand, he dissolved the spell.

Pu'er strolled into the study, leaped onto the back of Karen's chair, and extending her paws, began to massage his shoulders.

Though the strength was lacking, the sentiment was profound; after all, this was service rendered by the grand young lady Pu'er herself.

"Do not be nervous, just perform as you usually do, and you will be fine."

"Are you here to comfort me or to mock me?"

"A bit of both, I suppose. I simply find it impossible that you could fail to pass the selection, unless every single slot has been predetermined through underhanded means."

Just then, Alfred pushed open the door and stepped inside, carrying a change of clothes.

"Alfred, help me change into a slightly looser set of clerical robes."

"Of course, Young Master."

Alfred returned with a set of robes one size larger; back when Karen used to frequent the coupon shop, he had to calculate prices meticulously against a myriad of strict constraints, but now that circumstances had improved, the reserve of clerical robes in the household had gradually multiplied.

Having changed into the robes, Karen tested manipulating the Rubik's cube within his sleeve; since it possessed no offensive capabilities and merely provided the user with deduced results, simple concealment would suffice.

After all, the examination grounds during the selection could not possibly be completely silent; with so many young clergymen present, each employing their own methods to tackle the test, the leakage of a minuscule ripple of magical fluctuation would hardly arouse any suspicion.

"Young Master, this bag contains chocolate, biscuits, water, and some potions, and your identification documents are in here as well."

"Potions will likely not be permitted inside the examination hall."

"Then let Miss Vannie and the others hold onto them for you. This subordinate worries that you might require them upon stepping out of the venue, Young Master."

With Vannie and Peg escorting him, there was naturally no need for Alfred to go.

"Yes, very well."

Pic came to inform them that Vannie and Peg's carriage had arrived.

Karen carried the bag outside the shop; today, the two women were driving a luxury carriage, identical in model to the one requested for missions, which Karen recalled the captain mentioning he intended to assemble a replica of.

"The captain's carriage?" Karen inquired after taking his seat inside.

"Yes, the captain spent a fortune to assemble it."

"That will make things much more convenient in the future," Karen remarked.

Peg turned her head to look at Karen and asked, "Karen, are you nervous?"

"Not at all."

"It is quite alright; if you are nervous, you can say so. Furthermore, I have heard that if one feels anxious before an exam, doing *that* thing and letting it out can effectively relieve the tension."

"Doing what?"

Having just slept for two days, Karen had not quite attuned himself to the rhythm of the conversation.

Peg licked her lips.

"No, there is no need. I am not nervous to begin with, and if I release any more pressure, I fear I might become so detached upon entering the hall that I will not even care about the results."

"Hehehe," Peg chuckled as she started the carriage.

The carriage did not head straight for the Academic Affairs Building; instead, it pulled up before the gates of the Guman residence.

Peerless from inside the carriage, Karen saw Richard emerge carrying a bag, his face still bearing bruises, though the fact that he could walk under his own power with a pack suggested no major harm done; it appeared Mr. Eisen had precisely mastered the recovery rate and efficacy of that white worm.

Thrashing his son, alleviating the illness, and not disrupting important matters—a triple win.

Richard's departure was far more grand; Old Master Delon, Madam Tangli, Kaixi, Mr. Eisen, alongside Richard's aunt, uncle, and cousin had assembled en masse to see him off.

Richard waved back to the crowd as he walked toward the carriage, and only after climbing inside and pulling the door shut did he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Karen, I have always felt that at my tender age, I bear a weight of life that is simply unbearable."

"An exaggeration."

"Sigh, I know my grandfather has always held immense expectations for me. You have it so much easier—oh, no, I am terribly sorry, I misspoke."

Richard recalled Karen mentioning that he was an orphan.

"It is fine."

Karen patted his shoulder; your grandfather merely wishes for you to maintain the status of the Guman family, whereas my grandfather expects me to...

"I wonder if I can pass," Richard said, pursing his lips. "When we enter later, let us stay close. Even if they divide the examination numbers by sectors, I will strive to glimpse the array before entry and convey the preliminary deductions to you."

"Mm, just follow closely behind me when the time comes. Even if the numbers and sectors are divided, we should still remain within the same grand environment, and with the connection of the array, attempt to sense me, just as you did before your grandfather last time."

"Eh?"

"What do you mean 'eh'? Just do as I say."

"Last time at Grandfather's place, was it not a hallucination of mine within the illusion?"

"It was not."

"I... then if that is the case... does it not mean... does it not mean..."

"Mm."

A look of sheer ecstasy first washed over Richard's face, but soon after, his head drooped once more as he said, "But, I do not wish to cheat."

"This does not count as cheating."

"It does not?"

"Upon entering the hall, they will certainly examine and arrange us to eliminate any possibility of external interference. Therefore, as long as they do not detect you cheating, you are not cheating."

"Can it really be interpreted that way?"

"Mm."

"But why do I still feel a bit strange about it?"

"Just look on the bright side. Think about it, if you fail to even make it past the York City District selection, when you return, your father..."

"Hiss..."

Richard's action couldn't truly be considered cheating; during the test, everyone would naturally employ whatever methods they could, so long as they relied on their own abilities to endure the ordeal.

Richard's capacity to sense him stemmed, in the end, from the Artea family bloodline within his veins, which allowed him to feel a resonance with close kin.

This was an inherent trait within his very blood, and one could hardly expect him to purge it before entering the examination hall.

Mr. Eisen had lapsed into despondency because of this lineage, and the previous "Kallen" had suffered the exact same fate; the Artea line had practically endured a curse due to their blood, so now, they were merely enjoying a rare taste of sweet retribution.

Within church circles, utilizing the power of bloodlines and faith was entirely normal, considered a part of one's own strength; everyone either sought aid from gods or invoked their ancestors, it just so happened that the subject of Richard's appeal was participating in the test alongside him.

"Wow, Kallen, how on earth did you pull that off?"

Kallen ignored him and closed his eyes to rest his mind; what did it have to do with him? It was the other who had willingly come to cling to his coattails.

Granted, sheltering Richard meant Kallen would bear the weight of two people alone, yet he remained willing to assist Richard, for this cousin truly left nothing to be desired in how he treated him.

The vehicle arrived beneath the administrative building.

Alighting from the car, Kallen noticed the captain waiting there with the entire squad.

"Do your best, Kallen, Richard, our whole team is here praying for you!"

Richard was moved to tears, offering his gratitude to everyone.

Kallen, meanwhile, offered a smile and a nod of acknowledgment to each in turn.

Furthermore, Kallen observed that quite a crowd had gathered, some escorted by their families; the divine robes worn by the elders were of visibly high rank, and those with pedigree naturally possessed more resources, making it far easier for them to achieve greater progress in their youth than ordinary folk.

There were also those who had arrived entirely alone, showing no nervousness, appearing utterly composed.

After all, those who secured a spot were either absolutely exceptional candidates recommended for their merit or possessed powerful family connections, and more importantly, because the test carried risks, absolute fools would never be forced in no matter how strong their ties, as accidents could truly happen.

Richard carried a bag of his own and held another for Kallen.

Upon entering the building, specialized personnel directed them down to the subterranean level; it appeared the examination site was not within the administrative building itself, but required teleportation.

"Kallen!"

Leon called out to Kallen, walking over alongside Laure.

There were quite a few young people waiting for the teleportation array, numbering nearly two hundred upon a rough glance.

"On such a large scale?"

This number seemed somewhat inconsistent with the single, hard-won spot Grandfather Delon had mentioned.

Leon explained, "That is because more than half of them, or their parents, are merely registered in our district but do not actually reside here, nor are they governed by our district—such as the garrison, the knights, and various dispatched agencies; many here have only recently rushed back to York City for this selection."

"Ah, so that is how it is."

Thus, the spots left for the local residents of the York City district were few to begin with.

"How are your preparations?" Leon inquired.

"Passable."

Laure spoke up, "Oh, answering with such confidence?"

Kallen smiled faintly; if this was considered overconfident, then how would answering that he intended to bring a tagalong match up?

Just then, a deep, resonant voice echoed from above:

"Will all selection participants please enter the D-1 teleportation circle in sequence, and prepare for transit to the examination grounds."

The venue fell instantly silent as everyone stepped into the teleportation array.

Kallen stood firm, while beside him, Richard took deep breaths with two bags on his back.

A flash of white light erupted, enveloping everyone present.

The York City district selection test,

Was about to begin!