World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 74 - 71 Launch Ahead!

74: Chapter 71: Launch Ahead!

Unbelievable Second Round!

74 -71: Launch Ahead!

Unbelievable Second Round!

Then, all the students also looked at Suo Lun’s scores in disbelief.

In the past, every year at the Royal City Academy there would be an exam, and without exception, Suo Lun had always come in last.

And on the most basic theory test, with a perfect score of two hundred, Suo Lun had never surpassed ninety points.

Now, he had actually scored one hundred and seventy-two points—this was incredibly impressive.

Seeing this score, Lanling couldn’t help but be slightly startled, as it was about four points higher than his own estimated score.

It seemed that he had guessed a few questions correctly after all.

Then, Lanling looked at the rankings.

One hundred and seventy-two points might be a decent score, but his ranking was not so great.

About thirty or so people were ahead of him, placing him in thirty-eighth place.

However, this was entirely within Lanling’s expectations.

The basic theory exam was the simplest for other students but the most difficult for Lanling.

“So impressive, young master.

Miss will definitely be happy, and I am proud of you too,” Ye Jingyu said as she came up and whispered in Lanling’s ear: “Let’s go home, get some good rest, and prepare for tomorrow’s second exam.”

Lanling nodded and then turned to leave.

He got into the carriage and left the Royal City Academy, heading back to the Earl Tianshui’s residence.

However, just as they were leaving the noble students’ avenue, a snow-white carriage was stopped up ahead.

Lanling knew it belonged to Princess Zhining; she was returning home after her work grading the papers.

Indeed, a moment later, she appeared as if surrounded by stars.

Then an eunuch knelt on the ground to serve as a human stool for her to step on as she boarded her carriage.

From beginning to end, Princess Zhining didn’t even glance at Lanling, even though his score was an unprecedented one hundred and seventy-two points.

And indeed, she didn’t pay it any mind, although she had been slightly shocked when she saw Suo Lun’s score.

But after all, this was the simplest subject, entirely reliant on memorization.

If he hadn’t memorized it after a few months of work, then Suo Lun would indeed be useless.

Without a doubt, Suo Lun’s good fortune had come to an end.

The essay questions in the second subject would certainly expose his true ability.

Princess Zhining knew that Suo Ningbing was talented and certainly had helped Suo Lun practice many essay topics to memorize.

However, the topic of the next examination would be unprecedentedly difficult and unexpected, stunning everyone.

It was absolutely impossible that they guessed the question correctly.

Princess Zhining almost guaranteed that with such a difficult topic, Suo Lun was doomed to fail spectacularly, struggling to even get twenty or thirty points.

And to earn the Noble Samurai Medal, one couldn’t stumble on any of the exams!

“Let’s go,” Princess Zhining said indifferently.

The four snow-white horses galloped away, heading toward the Commandery Princess’s residence.

The eunuch beside her, like a shadow, followed closely without touching the ground.

After returning to the Commandery Princess’s residence, Princess Zhining stepped down from the carriage and was immediately met by an eunuch with white eyebrows waiting at the entrance.

She was slightly startled and then showed an unprecedented smile, quickened her pace to approach him, and said, “Eunuch Li, why not come inside the residence?

It’s late at night, and you are advanced in age, too.”

Princess Zhining’s expression was usually cold and clear, giving one the feeling she didn’t know how to smile.

But at this moment, she actually revealed an unprecedented smile, and it even seemed genuinely heartfelt.

This person was none other than Prince Zili’s trusted eunuch, Li Chenglian, the future chief eunuch of the Rage Wave Kingdom.

Immediately after, the middle-aged eunuch who had been following Princess Zhining came forward and respectfully kowtowed, saying, “Father, your son greets you and wishes you safety.”

The eunuch who followed Princess Zhining was extremely skilled in martial arts, never spending more than one move to kill an opponent within the Royal City.

With him by Princess Zhining’s side, her safety was absolutely assured.

Yet, when he saw the eunuch with white eyebrows, he was as if a mouse before a cat.

“Li Zhu, it’s not appropriate for you to pay such respects before our master,” the senior eunuch Li Chenglian said indifferently.

“Why not?” Princess Zhining said coquettishly, “My brother and I were brought up under your watchful eye.

During the turmoil, if you hadn’t risked your life to protect us, we’d have perished long ago.

If not for the propriety, I would want to bow to you each time I see you.”

This ruthless woman, she could actually be coquettish.

Li Chenglian’s gaze softened, almost unable to resist reaching out to stroke her head, something he often did when she was a child.

Eunuchs have no offspring, and both Prince Zili and Princess Zhining were raised by him.

He truly cherished them like his own grandchildren.

“How did Suo Lun perform?” Li Chenglian asked.

His tone was indifferent, without adding words like profligate or good-for-nothing when mentioning Suo Lun.

Princess Zhining replied, “He ranked thirty-eighth, which is unexpectedly good.

But after all, basic theory is the simplest subject.”

Li Chenglian nodded, saying, “The young master knows about the wager between the Commandery Princess and Suo Lun.

It’s stirring up quite a storm.

He feels that the Commandery Princess was unwise.”

“Yes, Zhining knows her mistake,” Princess Zhining admitted, bowing her head.

Li Chenglian continued, “This must also be Suo Ningbing’s doing, creating public opinion to force the royal family’s hand.

She’s very clever.”

A hint of unwillingness flashed in Princess Zhining’s beautiful eyes—she disliked hearing that someone else was also clever.

Li Chenglian added, “In Tianshui City, they’re planning to act ahead of schedule.”

Princess Zhining, taken aback, said, “Is that necessary?

Those high-ranking Samurai Lords are very greedy.”

Li Chenglian said, “The young master has agreed to their demands—every high-ranking samurai lord who rebels can be ennobled as a baron, and their territories can become hereditary.”

Princess Zhining was taken aback; she didn’t expect Prince Zili to actually agree to such outrageous conditions.

However, she expressed no doubt and bowed, saying, “Yes.”

A quarter of an hour later, dozens of dark shadows dashed out from the Commandery Princess’s manor and Prince Zili’s residence, speeding towards Tianshui City to the southeast.

…

After returning to Count Tianshui’s residence, Suo Ningbing was the first to greet him.

Her beautiful eyes looked at Lanling—she didn’t ask, but her large, watery eyes seemed as if they could speak.

“One hundred seventy-two points, ranked thirty-eighth,” Ye Jingyu said.

Suo Ningbing’s eyes lit up and she said, “Little brother, you are truly remarkable.”

Ye Jingyu said, “This is just the beginning.

The real shock will come in the third and fourth examinations.

At that time, he will blow everyone away.”

Suo Ningbing said, “Previously, Gui Qinshao had always looked down on Suo Lun, thinking he had no prospects.

Now that Suo Lun is doing so well, it’s time to show her.”

Changing the subject, Lanling said, “Sister, how many samurai belonging to the Suo family are there in the Royal City now?”

Suo Ningbing said, “About a hundred or so, all of whom have been serving our Suo family generation after generation.

Half of them were previously on the estate, but now that the estate has been given to Duke Zhi Ting, all these samurai are in the Earl’s residence.

Little brother, is there something on your mind?”

Lanling said, “Have them get ready.

It won’t be long before we leave the Royal City.”

Suo Ningbing was startled and then nodded, slightly excited, “Great, I can’t wait to return to Tianshui City.”

Lanling opened his mouth but said nothing.

“Sister has stewed a ginseng soup for you.

Drink it and rest immediately to prepare for tomorrow’s examination,” Suo Ningbing said.

…

On the following day, the bet between Suo Lun and Princess Zhining had spread throughout the Royal City.

Almost everyone was talking about it, fantasizing about which part of Princess Zhining’s body Suo Lun would kiss if he won.

Countless men discussed it with great enthusiasm.

When they grew too excited, they found themselves burning with desire, so they hurried into the brothel to quell the fire.

In short, Suo Lun once again became the talk of the town, even more so than the last time with the ‘Top Nineteen Beauties of the Royal City’.

This time, he was a sensation known by almost everyone.

Regrettably, no one in the Royal City favored Suo Lun; the odds at Silver Casino were still ten to one for him to receive the noble samurai medal, and apart from the initial bet of ten thousand gold coins, there was hardly any additional gold wagered.

After all, no one in the Royal City believed that Suo Lun could pass the graduation examination, let alone place in the top ten and earn a noble samurai medal.

Although in the first exam Suo Lun scored high, finishing in thirty-eighth place and improving from his previous position of last, it was, after all, just rote memorization—the easiest of subjects, wasn’t it?

The second exam on political discourse would still be held at night, in the same large examination hall, with the same examiners as the day before.

In the evening, Lanling once again took the horse-drawn carriage to the Royal City Academy and entered the examination hall half an hour before the exam to find his seat.

The content of the second political discourse exam was straightforward: one topic was given, and the students had to write a treatise on strategy.

However, this was also the most difficult part.

A treatise on strategy could fully test one’s breadth of vision, standard, wisdom, and so on.

Whether a person had talent or not could be fully discerned from a single piece of writing.

Moreover, the grading of the strategy treatise was done by ten examiners taking turns to read, minimizing the bias and unfair influence of individual examiners’ preferences and dislikes.

Lanling had thought about many potential exam topics for political discourse and prepared many related treatises on strategy, especially combining them thoroughly with the classic masterpieces of ancient China.

The key now was whether he could guess the exam topic correctly.

Half an hour later, all the examinees had arrived, and the twenty examiners entered in sequence.

Commandery Princess Zhining and the grand monastic scholar from Dragon Temple were once again seated in the central position at the head of the room.

Looking at Suo Lun’s face, Zhining thought to herself that Suo Lun was probably dreaming of hitting the right topic, so that the treatise Suo Ningbing had prepared for him could be used.

He was dreaming.

Today’s treatise topic was unsurpassed in difficulty.

For Suo Lun to score highly, the sun would have to rise in the west.

…

“Ding!” The bell rang, signaling the start of the second political discourse examination, and the twenty examiners began to distribute the exam papers.

The exam paper was simple: one line of topic and two blank sheets.

Upon seeing the topic for the first time, Lanling’s heart jolted and he couldn’t believe it, looking again in astonishment.

At the same time, nearly all the noble students also let out a cry of surprise.

Undoubtedly, they too were very taken aback by the topic.

Lanling had considered many topics for the treatise, but no matter what, he hadn’t anticipated this one.

“How many more years does Rage Wave Kingdom have for its national destiny?

In which year will it fall?

What event will cause its downfall?”

This strategy treatise topic was indeed a shock to all, truly unprecedented in difficulty and completely unexpected by anyone.