Chapter 159: Curtain Call (One More Update Today)

"Subject to inspection."

"Xu Zixin, carrying one artifact known as a pistol and various ammunition artifacts, inscribed with several elementary arrays including the Wind Wing, Pointed Arrow, and Spark Arrays. Assessed as a low-to-mid tier artifact, entirely activated by personal martial qi, permitted for carrying."

By the time Ji Yang arrived at the martial arena and looked upon the woman before him—who was said to only be in the Martial Master realm—an inexplicable wave of vigilance rose within his heart.

Had it been before, he would never have felt this way, but after witnessing so many matches from Lingyun Academy, he might actually believe it now even if someone told him this young woman was a Martial Ancestor expert.

"Will she... burst forth with a cultivation level of at least the late Martial Grandmaster stage later?" Beside him, the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince both clenched their fists slightly. They had not believed a word Fang Qi said moments ago, but now, they would probably believe whatever he uttered!

"Does this Miss Xu know the Sword Control Technique as well?" Mu Donglai was also rather curious. "But even if her Sword Control Technique has reached the pinnacle of perfection, it's impossible to cross so many realms, right?"

Even a cultivator couldn't cross so many echelons to deal with a Martial Ancestor!

"No display of cultivation?" On the arena, Ji Yang held a dark gold, broad-backed saber with both hands, his gaze narrowing slightly.

Standing several paces away from Xu Zixin, he struck several martial arts stances in rapid succession, poised but not striking, as he slowly circled her to find an opening.

After the preceding battle, he had already discerned some clues: "If it is the Sword Control Technique, I absolutely cannot use high-power martial skills recklessly, unless I can find the perfect opportunity..."

"First employ some swift, precise martial skills, preferably keeping a mid-range distance, using saber qi against the enemy..." Ji Yang calculated his upcoming strategy in his mind, "But it's best to first figure out the depths of her strength..."

On the martial arena, Ji Yang struck a few more martial stances, yet he still did not launch an attack.

"Huh? What is this prince doing?"

"Could it be that he also learned how to feint?!"

"It really looks like he's just feinting!"

The players in the internet cafe were utterly bewildered.

The Second Prince was losing his patience: "What is Fifth Brother doing?! Why hasn't he attacked yet?!"

"He is sounding out the enemy's true nature! As the art of war says, 'If the enemy does not move, I do not move.'" The Eldest Princess said serenely, "Fifth Brother holds the highest points in the entire arena, so naturally he must be cautious everywhere. If he strikes recklessly and is caught off guard by the opponent's Sword Control Technique, losing the initiative would do more harm than good."

The black-robed elder beside them also nodded: "Reasonably said. Facing an unknown enemy, one must be just like this... keeping one's composure!"

"Yes! Seeking victory through stability, the Fifth Prince is indeed wise." At the main seats, Vice Palace Master Yu of Shengjing Academy nodded slightly. "Possessing such cultivation coupled with such a steady state of mind, leaving no openings for the enemy..."

*Bang!*

The crisp sound of a gunshot rang out.

The Fifth Prince collapsed to the ground!

Vice Palace Master Yu was caught right in the middle of his sentence, freezing solid on the spot, unsure whether it was better to continue speaking or to stop...

The eyes of everyone nearby widened in sheer disbelief!

What on earth was this again?!

Watching Xu Zixin holster the doubly modified Magnum back at her waist, the electric gleam in her eyes faded away along with it.

In the entire venue, perhaps only Fang Qi discerned that she had used the "Inner Sight" technique from Diablo—a method that enhanced mental focus and eyesight—to elevate the accuracy of her marksmanship.

Fang Qi shrugged: "No matter how high your kung fu, one shot lays you low."

After all, Ji Yang had only just stepped into the Martial Ancestor realm, falling far short of the Martial Ancestor expert Fang Qi had encountered previously.

Of course, if he had shielded his entire body with martial qi from the very beginning and rushed forward, he might have stood a chance.

To feint like this...

Was simply courting death!

Bullet screen comments on the internet cafe's large screen:

"Hahaha no matter how high your kung fu, one shot lays you low! The boss is profound!"

"This feinting lacked any soul!"

"Fifth Prince, for this wave you ought to buy Counter-Strike and Resident Evil!"

"Fifth Prince: Buy, buy, buy, I'll buy them all, alright?!"

"Xiyi Academy and Shengjing Academy: We'll come to play games en masse tomorrow, please stop beating us up!"

The entire martial arena fell into a dead silence once more!

It was so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop!

A flash of fire?!

And he was just gone?!

A hidden weapon?!

How could there be such a hidden weapon?!

What utter nonsense?!

"This artifact must be subjected to inspection once again!"

Fang Qi casually sent a message to Xu Zixin: "If anyone wants to buy it later, quote a price of 3,000 spirit crystals. The sole new-style artifact of the Wuwei Daoist Alliance, take it or leave it! I'll have Li Haoran make you another one later."

"..." Xu Zixin was utterly speechless. I spent barely a thousand spirit crystals to custom-make this... and it turns into three thousand spirit crystals upon resale?

"Is this a firearm already inscribed with arrays?" Mu Donglai laughed heartily. "Simply marvelous! Haoran actually managed to research it over there?"

When he originally recommended Li Haoran to Fang Qi's internet cafe, he had harbored precisely this sort of intention.

"Half and half," Fang Qi said with a pang of heartache. "It took a massive amount of manpower and material resources just to make this one. It's very rare."

"Boss Fang... is this from your shop again?!" At this moment, the gazes of the surrounding crowd all gathered upon him.

Even Daoist Wuyun, who sat somewhat further away, pricked up his ears, terrified of missing even the slightest detail!

Previously they had only heard that Fang Qi ran a magical little shop, but who could have known it was magical to this extent!

"Is this... a victory?!" Mu Hongzhu was thrilled to the core. Having experienced this for so long, she had gradually begun to understand the thoughts within these disciples' hearts.

With such an excellent way to improve one's strength, who wouldn't be willing?

Yet they had suffered suppression because of it!

Witnessing the darkest moments of these students, the dawn was finally arriving at this very moment!

"Mingxue is so clever, she shouldn't be ignorant of what to do next..." Mu Hongzhu thought to herself, "Send messages to the academy's instructors!"

"What?! The elite disciples led by Chief Instructor Qin were completely defeated?! The inferior disciples used martial skills cultivated at the Origin Internet Cafe to turn the tables?!"

"Is the Origin Internet Club about to turn its fortunes around?!"

"Are all the inferior disciples who were removed from the Lingyun Roll about to turn their fortunes around?!"

At this very moment, across the entire Lingyun Academy, numerous instructors received the messages!

Whether it was true or false, some believed it while others doubted, but many had already begun rushing toward the Origin Internet Club. Whether it was true or not, one look would tell!

Just as the blood of the Lingyun Academy disciples and instructors in the internet cafe began to boil with excitement, over at the martial arena's spectator stands,

Xu Zixin was surrounded by a massive crowd of people.

Why did this compact little gadget possess such immense power?!

One had to know that with high-power bows and crossbows like the Immortal-Destroying Crossbow, one couldn't even draw the string without cultivation!

This thing seemed to be of that category, but... how was this achieved?

Truth be told, listening to an explanation might bring quick comprehension, but expecting to understand the mechanisms of an entire alien civilization at a mere glance was pure absurdity.

Faced with the collective bewilderment, Xu Zixin froze for a moment.

Well...

If you want to understand the principles, how about I start by teaching you some junior high school physics?

In the final verdict, Xu Zixin was declared the victor through her use of a specialized magical artifact; though it smacked of an unfair advantage, the rules had been set by the Emperor himself and brooked no alteration.

Thus, the original ruling stood and Xu Zixin won, but she was forbidden from using such artifacts in the duels to come.

Of course, whether this verdict was upheld because His Majesty saw that the disciples of Lingyun Academy were simply too formidable, leaving Shengjing Academy absolutely no chance for a comeback, and therefore chose to smoothly grant them a favor, remained a matter of conjecture.

As for winning by unfair means... once they bore witness to professions like the Sharpshooter, the Spitfire, and the Launcher, they would likely hold their tongues.

Following the subsequent battles, Xu Zixin ultimately revealed the might of a Grand Martial Master to instantly slay a challenger from her own grade, leaving the other two major academies plunged into total despair!

Reclaiming their points from her hands had become an utter impossibility!

The national examination had finally drawn to its close.

When Xu Zixin, Nalan Mingxue, and the others who had claimed the top spots for the three academies took the podium alongside Song Qingfeng and his companions, who had contributed immensely to this examination, tears welled in the eyes of everyone present, as well as the disciples still gathered before the large screen in the internet cafe!

"At this very moment, I only want to say a few words on behalf of those classmates who were suppressed and removed from the Lingyun Leaderboard, unable to participate in this national examination," Song Qingfeng shouted at the top of his lungs. "We are the best!"

"We are the best!"

Across the martial arts arena, a massive throng of Lingyun Academy disciples rose in resounding echo!

Simultaneously, the Lingyun Academy disciples throughout the internet cafe shuddered as one, as if awakening from the deep dark!

In an instant, the entire place boiled with excitement!

The Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow institutes had swept all the top honors! There were even those who claimed victory across different grades!

These students were formidable beyond measure!

Even the instructors of Lingyun Academy, who had rushed over upon receiving Mu Hongzhu's message, were completely struck with awe!

The bullet comments were flooding the screen!

Without having lived through their experiences, no one could possibly comprehend the bitterness in their hearts.

Many on the national examination grounds had no inkling of what they had endured, but at this moment, watching these youths roar and shout, witnessing these heart-stirring scenes born of pure emotion, everyone felt an inexplicable wave of reverence and shock stir within their souls!

Qin Bing was now slumped lifelessly in his seat; in truth, from the moment Nalan Mingxue and the others set foot in the martial arts arena, the development of events had spiraled far beyond his control!

Amidst the mountain-toppling, ocean-surging waves of cheers, Fang Qi had already quietly departed from the special guest seating.

"Splendid indeed!" Mu Donglai remarked. "Even I have not felt this invigorated in a very long time."

Fang Qi offered a faint smile.

"Where do you plan to go next, Boss Fang?" Mu Donglai asked. "Why not stay a while and tour the capital?"

"No," Fang Qi replied. "I still have to head back and tend to the shop."

"Would Mister Mu care to join me?"

"Isn't it too far?" Mu Donglai reasoned. "I shall come for a visit in a few days instead."

"It is only an hour's journey, how is that far?"

"An hour? How could that be?!"

"Sword Controlling Technique! Let us go!"

"Ah—!"

A sharp cry of alarm drifted in from outside the martial arts arena.

"Holy crap! How can that man fly while standing on a sword?!"

"That is the boss!"

The disciples of Lingyun Academy cried out in amazement.

"Who is that, and how did they just fly off on a sword?!" Countless eyes turned to look, only to see two figures standing upon a blade, vanishing into a solitary black speck in the blink of an eye!

"Could this be the Sword Controlling Technique again?!"

"This is also the Sword Controlling Technique?!"

"It can even be used like this?!"

The Eldest Princess had crossed the threshold from shock into sheer terror: "..."

The Second Prince's jaw had dropped straight to the floor: "..."

The three Deputy Academy Masters were left staring in a daze: "..."

The Emperor: "..."

Everyone: Blown away.

With this, the national examination concluded.

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To avoid a cliffhanger and to get the update out early, I have squeezed half of the fourth chapter's content into this one... brothers.

There will be another chapter shortly, I will try my best not to interrupt it, so please do not hate on me.