46: The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) has begun!

June 7th, Friday.

Jiang Hao woke up early.

“Today is another day full of hope!”

The spirited Jiang Hao finished breakfast and put on the clothes he had prepared the night before.

He straightened his collar in front of the mirror, took out his transparent stationery pouch for the exam, and only left the house after ensuring everything was ready.

Listening to the usually noisy city grow quiet, he looked at the flowing Light Screen on the building which read: “Victory in the National College Entrance Examination is Assured.”

Jiang Hao walked to the roadside, quietly waiting for a taxi to arrive.

Around him were several students, like Jiang Hao, who were taking the National College Entrance Examination, along with their accompanying parents.

The parents' faces showed expressions of nervousness and anticipation.

The car stopped.

Jiang Hao sat calmly in the back seat.

He looked at the encouraging wishes for the National College Entrance Examination sent by several friends on his fei xin account.

After replying to each one, Jiang Hao smiled silently:

“A mere Martial Exam Champion? Easy!”

Jiang Hao had good luck; his examination hall was in No. 3 Middle School.

In the examination hall, there were Martial Exam Students like Jiang Hao, and students whose talent was insufficient, so they couldn't become Martial Artists and had to take the Academic Exam.

He easily finished the paper, and after the time arrived for early submission, he walked out of the examination hall with style.

Seeing some students who were also taking the exam at the same school, they exchanged glances and nodded in greeting.

The afternoon was the Realm Test segment, held in the lobby on the first floor of the Martial Unification Bureau.

More than two thousand students across the city participated in the Martial Exam.

This was already an exaggerated number, especially since Yunlan City was just a small city.

Just like the legendary Spiritual Qi Recovery, the number of Prodigies emerging on Blue Star and students becoming Martial Artists in the past two years far exceeded previous records.

According to some interviewed experts in the news:

“In the future, the Elemental Power content of Blue Star will continuously rise, and a large number of highly talented individuals will appear in ordinary families.”

It was as if the Blue Star World was giving back to humanity... In the afternoon, at the Martial Unification Bureau.

Jiang Hao walked through the entrance, having done this many times, and greeted Captain Qin, who was on duty, with a smile:

“Good afternoon, Brother Qin! Are you on duty today?”

Seeing it was Jiang Hao, Captain Qin silently pulled out a Lollipop and put it in his mouth.

“After all, today is the National College Entrance Examination. All Combat Members of the Martial Unification Bureau must maintain the venue's Order.”

“It's also to prevent anyone from getting disappointed with their results and causing a scene, affecting others.”

As he spoke, he gave Jiang Hao a faint glance:

“Of course, if a Prodigy like Young Master Jiang emerges, we can only surrender.”

Alright, it seems his rapid development had hit Captain Qin hard enough to doubt life itself!

Thinking back then... well, it wasn't that long ago.

Jiang Hao was still watching Captain Qin from a distance, envying him as he casually unleashed Wind Blades.

His figure, lifted by the fierce wind and standing mid-air, was practically a God of War.

The Rank Four Martial Artist opposite him was like an Emperor in the flames.

Now, however, Jiang Hao was confident he could split the win 90/10 with Captain Qin!

Watching the students enter sequentially to participate in the test, Captain Qin bit down hard, “Crunch!”

“Alright, hurry up and go wait in line,” Captain Qin said, straightening his clothes and facing the examinees squarely.

He looked at the row of Elemental Power Detection Devices placed in the center of the first floor, and the names appearing one by one on the Light Screen unfurled mid-air.

“Brother Jiang! Over here, over here!” A familiar voice came from the front.

Looking closely, it was indeed Xiao Lizi.

Jiang Hao just raised his hand to wave and prepare to walk over.

Most of the bored waiting students immediately cast admiring gazes toward Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao blinked, watching so many people look at him with hope.

His mouth twitched; his hand was itching again!

“Ahem! Everyone, good luck on the Martial Exam...” Before he could finish speaking, a boy immediately cut in:

“I know!”

“Dreams aren't out of reach; you just have to chase them bravely!”

As he spoke, the boy displayed an expression that seemed to say, “As expected of me.”

Damn it, why did he have a brain cramp and pour out so much Inspirational Nonsense back then?

Watching some students who seemed moved, clenching their fists, their eyes showing determination and expectation for the future.

Jiang Hao put away his awkward smile and silently moved away from the wall.

They truly wanted to become powerful Martial Artists, even knowing the path was full of thorns.

The former Jiang Hao was also just one member of this Vast Multitude.

“Martial Exam Realm Test begins!”

Following the words displayed on the Light Screen, the first batch of testing students in the hall automatically took their positions according to the message and seating chart received on their Wristbands.

“Xie Tianxiao,” Rank One, Third Heaven! 320 points.

“Sun Xiaohui,” Rank One, First Heaven! 300 points.

“Gao Shi,” Rank One, Fifth Heaven! 340 points... As students went up one by one to complete the test, the atmosphere in the hall began to relax.

Some people already knew their results and left the hall indifferently, while others, although their results were out, still waited nearby for their friends.

“Jiang Zhuang,” Rank One, Ninth Heaven! 380 points.

“Class Monitor is awesome!” The dozen or so boys from Class One who had finished testing early shouted together.

Even the Invigilating Teacher showed Jiang Zhuang an approving look.

“Zhang Jiangyou,” Rank Two, First Heaven! 400 points.

That Genius from No. 1 Middle School who used to wear a Trench Coat and act unbearably arrogant now had a Short Buzz Cut and wore the No. 1 Middle School uniform.

Standing in front of the Elemental Power Detection Device, he looked toward Jiang Hao.

The Invigilating Teacher from Yunxiao Martial Arts School enthusiastically approached Zhang Jiangyou to talk, hoping he would consider Yunxiao Martial Arts School.

“Jiang Hao!”

The voice paused.

The entire venue fell silent, watching Jiang Hao walk forward.

The Invigilating Teacher immediately put on an expression that seemed to say, 'Big Boss, please take your time.'

Zhang Jiangyou, accompanied by a few Lackeys and the Class Monitor, watched expectantly from the side, while none of the students from Class One had left, all crowding to the front.

Jiang Hao placed his hand on the device, listening as the result was announced:

“Jiang Hao,” Rank Three, Eighth Heaven! 500 points, Full Score!

Not only the examinees, but even the Invigilating Teacher showed an expression of doubting life itself!

“Brother Jiang is Invincible!”

“Powerful and strong, powerful and strong, croak!”

The students from Class One shouted like maniacs, including even some students from No. 3 Middle School.

They nearly shoved the students waiting to be tested aside.

The surrounding members of the Martial Unification Bureau were 'a beat too slow.'

They failed to stop them.

The Invigilating Teacher coughed and said:

“Alright! Everyone who has tested, please quiet down, and don't affect the other examinees who haven't tested yet.”

Jiang Hao shrugged and walked down, looking at Zhang Jiangyou, whose face was flushed as if he wanted to say something: “What, want to have a match?”

Zhang Jiangyou choked, then managed to squeeze out a sentence: “You win. The Number One Prodigy of Yunlan City is yours.”

After speaking, he hurriedly left with his Lackeys.

The Class Monitor came over, looked at Zhang Jiangyou's retreating figure, and laughed:

“A few days ago, he went to No. 2 Middle School and severely beat up that idiot who was constantly slandering you, Brother Jiang.”

“Uh, I hope they're okay.”

The surrounding examinees were still excitedly discussing the Heaven-Defying result.

“My cousin went to an Ordinary Martial School in Canghai Prefecture, and even after graduation, he was only Rank Three, Fourth Heaven. Even so, he was still an Outstanding Graduate of his cohort!”

“Are you kidding? How can God Jiang be compared to Mortals like us? Forget Yunxiao Prefecture, he's number one even Nationwide!” (Feng Qiluo: Who's calling me?)

“Too small, the scope is too small! Even globally, Great God Jiang cannot find an opponent!”

Jiang Hao's transformed body possessed powerful hearing and perception; if he wanted to, he could isolate the information he needed even in a noisy environment.

Listening to the increasingly outrageous statements.

Jiang Hao genuinely worried that a video of him declaring war on a Saint Rank Expert would appear online tomorrow.

He quickly led his Buddies out of the hall.

The entrance of the Martial Unification Bureau was packed with parents.

The Class Monitor looked at his classmates and said:

“For tomorrow morning's Combat Test, Old Class Teacher made it clear: everyone knows how capable they are.”

“If anyone scores 300 points tomorrow, or gets a Complete Zero, we'll all laugh at them for life!”

“The Combat Test tomorrow is important, but don't be too nervous. Just like Old Class Teacher said, if you can't win, can't you run?” Jiang Hao chimed in with a smile.

“Just run toward the edges immediately, use all your strength, and if you evade for five minutes, you get 320 points!”

“Old Class Teacher specifically mentioned that Rank One A.I.s don't have Movement Martial Skills.”

“Don't worry, Brother Jiang! If I score below 320 points tomorrow, I'll bring you my head!”

Xiao Lizi still loved being the Hype Man.

The Class Monitor raised his Wristband: “Alright, alright, if you have any questions, discuss them in the Group Chat when you get back.”

“Now.”

“Go home!”