The day of the War God Academy exam dawned. At first light, the Saint Kain family sealed off the plaza before their manor. Duke Angus (An Jie Si) gathered his three sons before the statue of Xiglu, their ancestor, for a solemn ritual to honor their forebear, followed by a banquet laid out beneath the statue.
Du Cheng observed the proceedings with detachment. Having arrived in the War God world just two months ago, he couldn’t grasp why Angus and his family placed such weight on the Academy’s exam. It was as alien to him as the fervor of ancient Chinese scholars journeying to the imperial exams would be to those in this world.
The elaborate ceremonies dragged on from sunrise until eight or nine in the morning. Only then did Angus raise his goblet, addressing each son in turn. “Steve, this is your third exam…”
Steve abruptly knelt before the Xiglu statue, his voice resolute. “If I fail a third time, I’ll take my life before our ancestor in atonement!”
“Good!” Angus nodded approvingly, a rare smile softening his stern face. “You think I don’t know? The last two times, you threw your matches because your opponents were beauties! Don’t do that again!”
Steve gave an embarrassed chuckle. Du Cheng’s lips twitched with amusement. So that’s why his big brother flunked twice!
Next was Charlie. Angus’s expression grew grave as he saluted, fist to chest, his voice like iron. “At thirteen, you fought beside me, earning glory in over a dozen battles, worthy of our ancestors! Today, do not tarnish the Saint Kain name!”
Charlie returned the salute. “The Saint Kain name shall not fall! Xiglu’s Holy Radiance endures!”
“Good! I expect you to pass—and I demand you claim the championship!”
“No victory, no return!” Charlie nodded solemnly.
When Angus turned to Du Cheng, the boy spoke first. “No need to say it. I know—the Saint Kain family has only heroes who die in battle, not cowards who surrender.”
“Hmph. Good. Now go!” Angus said curtly.
Three carriages rolled up, each carrying a young lord to the exam venue—Verner Palace. Steve and Charlie’s drivers were fighters, but Du Cheng’s was none other than the dim-witted Ariza (Ali Za), who would also serve as his attendant throughout the exam.
It couldn’t be helped. Besides Steve, the only ones Du Cheng fully trusted were old Foye and this simple-minded boy.
Verner Palace buzzed with a sea of people, but a hundred meters from the main gate, imperial soldiers had cordoned off a perimeter, allowing only candidates and their attendants through.
Du Cheng helped Ariza down from the carriage and presented his exam permit to the soldiers. Gazing at the candidates in the plaza, he exclaimed, “Ariza, is that an elf? And a dwarf? Wait—what’s that dark, scrawny thing?”
In two months since his reincarnation, Du Cheng had never seen such a variety of intelligent races. He’d glimpsed beastman slaves in the trade district, but now the vast plaza held four to five thousand candidates, including five or six hundred non-humans.
“My dear brother, watch your tongue!” Steve appeared, cutting off Du Cheng’s careless remarks. “That ‘dark, scrawny thing’ is a Sino Gnome. They’re not the brightest, but they’re proud and natural-born magic aura cultivators!” He sighed. “So many rivals this year—at least four thousand. Damn, did the preliminary examiners go easy?”
Du Cheng blinked. “There’s a preliminary exam?”
“Of course! To stand here, you need to pass five rounds! Oh, we skip them since we’re titled War God descendants—special privilege!” Steve grinned smugly, then asked, “You memorized the exam process, right?”
“Yeah. Two rounds in Verner Palace, eliminating two-thirds of the candidates, then the finals at Saint John’s Cathedral across the way.”
Steve nodded. “Good. Be careful. Widno’s overseeing the palace exams and might pair you with Kaman. Surrender quickly if that happens!”
Du Cheng smiled faintly, giving no reply.
Steve’s next words took a detour. “Also, if your opponent’s a beauty, surrender with some flair—leave a good impression for later. Back when I—”
A blast of bagpipes sounded from within Verner Palace, and the gates swung open. Widno (Wei De Nuo), the Minister of Rites, strode out.
Raising his arms, he boomed, “Clear the plaza of all non-candidates! Candidates, hear the Holy Church’s doctrines!”
Soldiers swiftly dispersed the onlookers. Once only candidates and attendants remained, Widno raised his hands again, reciting the exam rules in a rhythmic, almost poetic cadence.
The War God exam spanned five major regions, with the Lanning Empire as one. All candidates from eastern Ains Continent converged here. The rules were set by Father Ferdinand and Widno, though only Church officials handled scoring.
The exam comprised written and martial tests, with final rankings drawn from all three continents and five regions. Only the top three thousand would be admitted. Theoretically, even Lanning’s top scorer could fail to qualify. On average, of the four thousand-plus candidates here, only six hundred would pass—after surviving five preliminary rounds. The War God Academy’s exam was nothing short of brutal.
“…Thus speaks the Holy Church’s doctrine!” Widno lowered his hands, clasping them before his chest. “A reminder to all candidates: you’ve endured five prior tests to stand before me. Seize this chance. Any cheater will be deemed a blasphemer of the Church’s doctrine and executed without mercy!”
Widno’s shout was punctuated by the guards’ synchronized shield strikes, their clanging menace echoing across the plaza.
Among the crowd, Steve whispered, “Once inside, follow the examiners’ orders. I can’t look out for you. And keep an eye on Ariza—he’s dim and might stir trouble!”
“Young Master Steve, I’m dim, but I don’t make trouble!” Ariza piped up, waving Du Cheng’s exam supplies with a goofy grin. “Young Master said he’ll treat me to roast calf after the exam!”
The palace’s nine gates opened, and candidates streamed in. Du Cheng and Steve were assigned different venues. Leading Ariza, Du Cheng followed the crowd to a secluded hall where dozens of desks were arranged. Over a hundred candidates filled the space—and there, among them, was Kaman.
As expected, he’d been grouped with him.
Du Cheng touched his chest, where, hidden beneath his clothes, hung the mysterious necklace from last night.
By chance, he and Kaman were seated in adjacent rows. Kaman turned, smirking. “The shame of the Saint Kain family. Didn’t expect you’d show up for the exam. Be careful in the martial test!”
“Who needs to be careful isn’t certain,” Du Cheng replied with a smile, taking a quill and ink from Ariza to set on his desk. He motioned for Ariza to fan him. “Oh, dear Young Master Kaman, I just realized you lack manners. Has no one taught you to respect a lord?”
Lords were as common as beggars in Lanning, but Kaman, at fifteen, had yet to earn a title.
“Hmph! A Lanning lordship means nothing. Once I pass the Academy exam, I’ll be granted a title recognized across the three continents!” Kaman snapped.
Their verbal sparring escalated, filling the exam hall with tension.
“No noise from candidates! Francis, Kaman, as titled War God descendants, show decorum!” The examiner barked, distributing test papers.
Just then, someone tapped Du Cheng’s shoulder. He turned—no one was there.
“Hey, look down! I’m a Sino Gnome!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhHdVISCkB
然後按「加至主畫面」