Chapter 19: The Mockery of Magic: Zhang Liang’s Desperate Exams

The bell chimed, and a steady stream of examinees began to pour out of the testing hall.

“I can’t believe how easy that question was.”

“Right? It was practically a giveaway.”

While other students beamed with satisfaction, Zhang Liang’s face was a mask of despair, his expression vacant, like a zombie wandering aimlessly.

As he stumbled out of the exam room, sweat trickled down his cheeks.

He braced himself with hands on the ground, overwhelmed by a profound sense of despair.

‘Ah… It’s over. I’m finished.’

‘What in the damn hell were those ridiculously convoluted questions?’

‘Under what state of mind did the creator of the technique develop it?’

‘Under what circumstances did the martial artist who invented the ‘Old Cold Leg Stance’ achieve enlightenment, and what did it signify?’

‘As if I’d know a damn thing about that! They’re just preying on my lack of formal education!’

‘Oh, go on, try to guess what mood I’d be in if I were to flatten this entire school!’

‘Damn it!’ Zhang Liang cursed inwardly.

Of the entire test, Zhang Liang only knew the answer to the final question.

‘How was the Ancient Demon God defeated?’

When Zhang Liang was still the Sword Dao Demonic Venerable, he had acquired two ancient secret manuals.

The first was ‘Mastery of Battle Qi,’ and the second, ‘Sword Under Heaven.’

Relying on these two skills, Zhang Liang had slain monsters far beyond his level and dominated all rivals.

Within those texts, it was recorded that the Demon God had been defeated by Battle Qi.

Yet, on a paper graded out of 120 points, that final question was merely worth a paltry 5.

What earthly good would that do him?

The elite class was likely out of reach, but there was still a chance for general admission.

The entrance examination comprised three parts: one written test and two martial arts tests.

If he could achieve full marks in the remaining two sections, he might barely scrape by the passing grade.

“Mr. Zhang? What’s wrong?” Xi Lan asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

“Young lady, is that even a question? He obviously flunked.” Yun Yun placed her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and looked at Zhang Liang.

“Me? I’m definitely getting full marks! Ahahaha!”

Being mocked by a little loli immediately ignited a spark in Zhang Liang.

He stood up, playfully rubbing Yun Yun’s cheek with a teasing smirk.

“Oh really? Then tell me, what was the answer to the last question!?”

Battle Qi had been lost tens of thousands of years ago; people nowadays had no idea what it even was.

Zhang Liang was certain his answer was correct.

“Hand… take your hand off!” Yun Yun grabbed Zhang Liang’s wrist, pulling her head away.

“Well, obviously, it was because the hero Zong Zhen and his companions, with their tenacious perseverance, relentless efforts, and hearts dedicated to the people, moved the Sky Gods.

The hero received the Sky Gods’ power and ultimately defeated the Demon God.”

‘Hah, is that all?’

‘Isn’t that just a fairy tale for children?’

‘Wait a minute…’

‘Battle Qi had been lost for ages; no one now knew of its existence.’

‘Damn! What good was writing ‘Battle Qi’ if no one understood it?’

‘Ah…’

Zhang Liang’s face turned ashen, his legs gave out, and he braced himself with his hands on the ground.

Others could distinctly feel the gloomy aura emanating from him.

‘Even those five points were gone.’

“Ahahaha! See how knowledgeable I am now?”

Xi Lan spoke with a touch of reproach.

“Yun Yun, you mustn’t be so rude.”

“Mr. Zhang, Yun Yun is still young and doesn’t understand.

Please don’t take offense.” Xi Lan helped Zhang Liang to his feet.

“There are still two more tests.

Let’s do our best together.”

‘Good heavens, she! She was practically mocking him!’

‘How was this any different from her saying, “I’m right here, come at me if you dare”?’

‘This was a psychological blow, a crushing defeat to his spirit!’

‘Do our best together, she says! I’d be more inclined to ‘add flavor’ to her humiliation!’

Zhang Liang never would have dreamed of being ‘comforted’ by Xi Lan in such a way.

****

After the lunch break, they gathered at the sports field.

In the center of the field stood a metal pillar, towering ten meters high.

Zhang Liang knew what this contraption was for: testing the power of skills.

The greater the destructive power, the higher the number displayed on it.

‘This was a sure thing now.’

For Zhang Liang, he could cleave it with a mere twig.

‘A single strike would instantly register 9999.’

Suddenly, a female teacher in an office lady uniform and black stockings stepped onto the platform.

‘Holy crap! It was Lin Na!’

And honestly, in that teacher’s outfit, she really looked the part.

“I am the chief examiner for this test, Lin Na.”

Upon hearing Lin Na’s name, the examinees stirred, murmuring among themselves.

“Lin Na? Is she the Dragon-Slaying Hero Lin Na? My first time seeing her in person.”

“I thought she’d be some old hag, but she’s so young! Could she even be younger than me?”

The examinees’ chatter grew incessant, filled with speculation.

No one knew who started it, but suddenly they were discussing her relationship with Zhang Liang.

After all, she was one of the ‘headline heroines.’

“Cough, cough.” Lin Na’s authoritative cough instantly silenced the crowd.

“I will demonstrate once; pay close attention.”

“Thunderous torrent, Queen who commands lightning, grant me the power to conquer my foes—Heavenly Lightning Descent!” Lin Na chanted the incantation with fervent passion.

With her palm pointed skyward, seven magic arrays materialized one after another, ascending from bottom to top.

Immense magical power unleashed a fierce gale that swept across the entire sports field.

In an instant, dark clouds obscured the sun, thunder rumbled, dust swirled, and trees rustled ominously.

“Boom—!” A thunderous crash shook the earth, as a bolt of azure lightning struck directly down, hitting the metal pillar.

The examinees who witnessed this scene trembled from head to toe.

The awe-inspiring thunder, the lightning that seemed to bleach the very air, appeared to them as a divine judgment from the heavens.

As the sound of gears ceased, the number 9999 appeared on the metal pillar.

“Is that the legendary Emperor-tier Seven Array Magic? What immense power!”

“How terrifying… The Black Rock Dragon must have been killed by that move.”

“Is this the strength expected of the Ten Prodigies? The gap is truly immense.”

Seven Array Magic was an advanced spell that only those who had stepped into the Imperial Domain could unleash.

However, Zhang Liang felt it was nothing but a flashy display.

Utterly impractical.

While its power was formidable, it might be suitable for annihilating armies or targeting slow-moving opponents.

But against him, the mere chanting time would be enough for the caster to die a hundred times over.

Zhang Liang found it perplexing why Lin Na would use such a drawn-out technique for her demonstration.

Her ‘Shocking Thunder Overlord Slash’ was clearly much stronger.

“The demonstration is complete.

All examinees, please use your most proficient magic to attack the metal pillar.”

‘Magic?’

‘Wait? Attack with magic?’

“Lin Na! Can’t we use swords?” Zhang Liang raised his hand and shouted loudly.

“This is a magic test; swords are not permitted,” Lin Na replied.

‘Huh?’

‘A magic test?’

‘I don’t know any magic!’

To use magic, one must activate the internal vessel and implant the corresponding elemental core.

Anyone who had attended school would have activated their vessel and implanted their preferred elemental core there.

However, Zhang Liang was an orphan who had never attended school, nor did he have the money for it.

In his previous life, he never activated his vessel, let alone implanted an elemental core, right up until his demise.

At first, Zhang Liang had thought magic was incredibly cool and impressive.

But his living conditions were too harsh; he never had the opportunity or resources to learn it.

Once he became the Sword Dao Demonic Venerable, there was even less need for him to learn it.

And so, in the second round of testing, Zhang Liang once again scored zero.

Zhang Liang’s eyes were bloodshot as he scratched his scalp.

‘This is completely screwed,’ he thought.

‘If I can’t get into Saint Spirit Academy, what good is revenge then?!’

****

At the sports field, in the teachers’ section.

“Lord Fan, look at that person.”

“That’s…?” Fan Sha squinted, looking in the direction his subordinate pointed.

“Who is that?”

“Don’t you remember? He’s the beggar who swindled our sect, and also the one who poached the Heaven-Shaking Demon Thieves yesterday.”

“What!?” Fan Sha slammed his hand on his chair and stood up.

“Give me that fellow’s information.”

Fan Sha took the documents handed to him by his subordinate and glanced through them.

“Zhang Liang, zero points in both tests?”

Fan Sha smirked, a wicked idea forming in his mind.

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