Chapter 150: National Exam Turmoil (3/4)

The Imperial Capital, Yingtian Pavilion.

This tavern was the finest establishment in the entire capital, rumored to be backed by a proprietor from the imperial family itself, hence the name Yingtian. Though the veracity of the rumor remained uncertain, the sheer depth of the tavern's background was undeniable.

Upon reaching the capital, Fang Qi had shut down his livestream.

"Shopkeeper Fang, it has been a long time." Mu Donglai, the mustachioed young man before him, spoke; even Li Haoran treated him with immense deference, a clear sign of his elevated status.

Fang Qi shrugged. "Just out for some sightseeing, didn't expect you to be here as well."

"I am a native of the capital myself," Mu Donglai replied with a shake of his head. "Regrettably, I have been buried in affairs lately, otherwise I would have made another trip south of the river to visit your shop, Shopkeeper Fang."

"They call it a game, but it truly is a marvelous thing!"

"It is hardly something an ordinary game can match!" Mu Donglai's words were unstinting in their praise. "I hear your shop has released several new games?"

The two drank and chatted, while at that very moment, inside the internet cafe.

"There are other volumes of Diablo here?" Several warriors walked in from the outside.

"They say it's... a game where you can be the protagonist yourself?!"

"Hush! Quiet down. They say the Southern Alliance Chamber of Commerce is joining forces to suppress this little shop," one warrior murmured. "Slip in quietly, don't let anyone notice, lest we offend them."

"Hiss...! So expensive..." A few warriors glanced at the prices on the small blackboard.

"A single book costs a spirit crystal now, so the games must be even pricier!" another warrior remarked. "These things are luxury goods!"

"Don't discount it just yet. I heard that a while back, Young City Master An spent several spirit crystals just to buy an item from that Diablo game." At that time, Diablo had not yet spread across the entirety of Jiuhua City, so many naturally dismissed it as a mere joke. Recalling it now...

"Let's give it a try, maybe it's actually worth it!" the warriors agreed. "If I can get a few items like that, I'll make my investment back in no time! Not to mention... they say the game is far more thrilling than the novels!"

"Let's go! Try it first!"

It wasn't just these few; right after they entered, several masked warriors stepped into the shop.

"Blackie, has the word been spread?"

"Of course!" the black-clothed warrior replied. "On my own, I can't afford to provoke those titans, but now so many in the city are asking about Diablo. I've rallied them all. I refuse to believe the Southern Alliance Chamber of Commerce can do anything to a crowd of our size!"

"Move, move, move! Why waste so much breath?! Get inside quickly!" a dark, burly fellow bellowed. "I haven't been here in so many days, I'm practically suffocating!"

"Xiaoyue! Get me a computer, get me a computer!" Blackie sniffed. "Ah—! As expected, the familiar scent!"

"Hurry up and set up the machines! We've been holding back for too long!"

"Hmm?" Blackie noticed a large crowd gathered by the door.

"What's wrong with the boss?! Why did he just shut off the livestream like that?!"

"Exactly! I haven't even had my fill yet!"

"What's he doing now that he's in the capital? Why won't he let us watch?!"

"Yeah, I was waiting to see the capital! I've never been there, so catching a glimpse would have been nice!"

...

Meanwhile, at the Yingtian Pavilion in the Imperial Capital.

"The National Examination?" Fang Qi frowned slightly, vaguely recalling hearing that Song Qingfeng, Nalan Mingxue, and the others had traveled to the capital to participate.

"Could it be that Shopkeeper Fang does not know?" The mustachioed youth, Mu Donglai, smiled. "This is the most celebrated event in the capital of late, very few remain ignorant of it."

"I know of it," Fang Qi shrugged. "But I don't understand it well. Perhaps Mister Mu could enlighten me."

"The National Examination is said to be a collaboration among the three great academies, but in truth, it was initiated by the reigning Emperor himself, which is why it bears the name 'National Examination'." Mu Donglai explained, "The three great academies are Shengjing, Lingyun, and Xiyi. Not only do they possess the longest histories in the realm, but their strength is also the most formidable. The heads of these three academies enjoy an extraordinarily exalted status."

"Take Shengjing Academy for instance," Mu Donglai continued. "Even royal descendants and imperial nobility must cultivate like ordinary folk once they enter Shengjing Academy, with absolutely no special treatment!"

...

At this moment, Nalan Mingxue, Song Qingfeng, and the others were inside Shengjing Academy.

Shengjing Academy possessed a vast array of existing equipment, fully prepared for testing martial qi, strength, speed, and all other facets.

Today was the civil examination—the "civil" here, of course, did not refer to literacy, but rather to basic metric testing.

Thus, under the guidance of their instructors, the group arrived at the testing grounds for the civil examination.

What was being tested were the hard indicators of each elite disciple, such as strength, speed, and cultivation.

"I hear several formidable figures have emerged in this National Examination?"

"Naturally! Especially at Shengjing Academy, this generation's Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow courts are simply absurd!"

...

"I heard many people discussing this when I entered the Yingtian Pavilion," Fang Qi said, holding his wine cup. "They say the Fifth Prince possesses peerless natural talent. In terms of age, he belongs only to the Earth Court of Shengjing Academy and has not yet ascended to the Heaven Court, yet his strength has already reached the Grandmaster realm. After this National Examination, he might very well be admitted to the Heaven Court as an exception?"

Fang Qi pondered for a moment. "In Lingyun Academy, the standard cultivation level for the Earth Court is the Great Martial Master realm, correct?"

Mu Donglai smiled faintly. "Precisely. I hear Qin Jiang of the Earth Court is roughly at the pinnacle of the Great Martial Master realm, but he is still quite a distance away from becoming a Grandmaster."

...

"How is that possible?! Shameless! This is cheating!" At that moment, Qin Bing slammed his hand heavily against the table. "The Fifth Prince suddenly broke through?! Reached the Grandmaster realm?! A Grandmaster expert who hasn't even entered the Heaven Court?!"

"Chief Instructor Qin, please calm your anger!" Several instructors hastily offered words of comfort. "Even if he has reached the Grandmaster realm, he has only just broken through, and his foundation is unstable. With that martial technique of his, Master Qin might not necessarily be unable to defeat him!"

"What about the Heaven Court then?! How is the Heaven Court?!" Qin Bing demanded again.

His face was dark. Originally, a pinnacle Great Martial Master in the Earth Court was dominant enough, and with the martial technique Qin Jiang practiced, he had a high probability of sweeping through the Earth Courts of all three academies. But now...

A Grandmaster expert?!

"The Heaven Court remains lukewarm; it is hard to tell if they are concealing their strength!"

"True, an Earth Court Great Martial Master breaking through to Grandmaster is still within the realm of plausibility. But for the Heaven Courts of the three academies, where a large number of disciples are still in the Great Martial Master realm, breaking through to a Great Grandmaster? How could it be that easy?"

The path of cultivation naturally grew more difficult the further one progressed. For a disciple's cultivation to reach the Great Grandmaster realm was something unprecedented in history.

"It seems I have worried overmuch." Qin Bing let out a long breath.

"Tomorrow is the martial portion of the National Examination, is it not?" Qin Bing closed his eyes with a touch of weariness. "Notify all disciples to intensify their cultivation and slacken not!"