Chapter 276: I'll take three!

"Senior Teacher Hong Xin, we meet again!" Duan Li clasped his fist together when he entered the office.

"Ahh... it's you. I've heard many rumors about you flying around right now..." Hong Xin's face was pale as if he had just seen a ghost when Duan Li entered.

He was the elder that was previously in charge of handling Duan Li and Xiahou Yu when they first entered the Academy. Each subsequent tests caused him headaches especially by this fellow in front of him! Now that the other party showed up on his doorstep once more, his premonition told him that something bad was going to happen to the academy again!

"I'm here to submit this application request..." Duan Li said as he handed down a paper to Hong Xin.

Puu!

"I knew it!" Hong Xin's lips twitched wildly when he saw the paper. It was a request to take the Express Student's Course entry examination!

Is he for real?

From the rumors that I've heard, although things might be exaggerated to an extent, he seemed to have quite the outstanding battle prowess for his age!

However, this examination is not a test of one's battle prowess, but more towards one's proficiency in each of the minor class...

"You know that this exam will be extremely difficult right? Furthermore, how did you even manage to convince the Principal to sign this?" Hong Xin asked in bewilderment.

From his knowledge, although the Principal was quite the eccentric man, he wasn't the type of person to be so casual in matters related to this! Previous applicants were all excellent students with powerful family background that dated all the way to the founding of the empire itself!

Is this fellow really that outstanding?

"Never mind. Since you already got his signature, I'll just have to approve it. Go to the examination hall and wait there." Hong Xin instructed as he chose to not think about the matter any further. Since the Principal had already vouched for this fellow, then there was nothing else he could do. He only hoped that the reports he had to write later on will not be another headache for him. Otherwise, he might just have to retire early!

...

Inside the examination hall...

There were currently 4 Senior Teachers standing at the very front facing towards him, each carried an imposing aura that would send cold sweats to anyone that was stared intensely by them! These people were the invigilators!

Le Cenglei, the head of the Appraiser Class department in the academy. He was also the very same teacher that disguised himself as a 3-Star rank Appraiser when in fact he was actually an 8-Star rank Appraiser!

Ding Ziqing, the older sister of Duan Li's Herbalogist teacher, Ding Huiqing. She was the head of the Herbalogist Class department and was also an 8-Star rank Herbalogist!

Zhang Xi, the Vice-Principal of the academy whose main class was a Strategist. However, since his minor class was a 7-Star Master Teacher, he was qualified to become the invigilator today.

Finally, Shen Long. Shen Murong's grandfather who always went around showing his bulky upper body that was full of scars. He was the head of the Combat Class department, and was one of the very few people that has a 10-Star rank qualification inside the academy!

All four of them right now were looking at Duan Li with a solemn expression, as if they were not planning to give him even an ounce of leniency in this examination!

"It seems that you are vastly more talented than I previously assumed. It has gone beyond my expectation for you to apply the Express Student Course program under the personal vouch from the Principal himself!" Le Cenglei said as he nodded his head, feeling impressed by the young man in front of him.

"Hmph! I'm still not convinced that this little fellow are up to the task! Should you fail your exams later on, you will bear the consequences for wasting my time!" Ding Ziqing harrumphed with a frosty expression. She was just in the middle of concocting new pills when a notice came in for her to invigilate Duan Li's exam.

"Don't be too hard on him. Who knows, he might even be able to breakthrough for the 6-Star class examinations later on!" the Vice-Principal Zhang Xi chuckled. He was well aware of Duan Li's means and was actually looking forward for Duan Li to surprise them in these minor occupation examinations.

"I heard that you've been treating my grandson well? Don't worry, I will not look down on you. Instead, I will squeeze every last droplet of your strength in this examination as a show of gratitude!" Shen Long said with an indifferent tone, his tall stature made him look more menacing than the others!

Gulp!

"So, which exam will you take first? The whole examination would take three days in total, but we will all observe you at the same time to determine the appropriate difficulties that we should give you for your next subsequent exams as well as to prevent cheating." Le Cenglei said.

Eh? Three days? That's not good...

Hearing this, Duan Li turned to look at the Vice-Principal. Understanding that gaze of his, the Vice-Principal made a dry cough before suggesting to everyone.

"I propose that Duan Li should do the Appraiser and Herbalogist class examinations simultaneously. After all, not only do the two exams are similar in nature, he was recommended by the Principal himself. Thus, if he can't even do this much, then as Ding Ziqing said, he really is wasting our time!"

The three other senior teachers looked at each other before nodding.

"Oh? This suggestion is not too bad. As Zhang Xi said, he should be able to at least do this much for someone recommended personally by the Principal!" Ding Ziqing was the first to be overjoyed by this suggestion. After all, this meant that she wouldn't have to waste her time becoming the invigilator today!

As to if this would lead to Duan Li's failure, she didn't care one bit at all.

"Then we shall do that. The more pressure a cultivator experience, the more potential we will be able to squeeze out of him!" Shen Long stroked his long white beard with intrigued expression.

"This... well, since everyone already agreed, then I have no reason to object. Duan Li, I hope you will not disappoint us!" Le Cenglei was reluctant at first before going through with the majority.

At this moment, Duan Li was struck amazed by the Vice-Principal's suggestion!

"As expected of the top-notch Strategist of the academy, the Vice-Principal was able to sway them effortlessly!" he thought to himself with a look of respect as he glanced at the Vice-Principal!

Since the Vice-Principal knew that three days will not be possible for Duan Li, as the latter would have to prepare for his coronation ceremony as well, he made use of this subtle suggestion to make it look like he was being strict and difficult on Duan Li!

In reality however, he used this method only because they were short on time!

Unbeknownst to him though, Duan Li wasn't planning to simply agree to this. In fact, Duan Li wanted to suggest something even more daring!

"Hmm... Senior Teachers here are right. If I don't push myself today, then I don't deserve to be acknowledged by the Principal! Therefore, why not we do it this way? Instead of going for two exams at the same time... why not I do the Master Teaching exam at the same time as well?" Duan Li said with his eyes flashing in confidence.

Puu!!

All four senior teachers choked on themselves and farted.

This little guy! Aren't you being too ambitious?

Here we had thought that you would cry and beg to us to do the exam normally, but who could have thought that you would chose to strangle and drown yourself in water while your hands and legs are already tied?

Are you sure you are not committing suicide here?

Ding Ziqing felt like her face was slapped hard, and she couldn't help but to become agitated by this. With a harrumph, she replied, "Oh? Quite the arrogant young man who thinks so highly of himself huh? Fine. Let's do it your way then! I would like to see how you will fare later on!"

Meanwhile, the Vice-Principal's countenance turned slightly pale as his brows twitched.

I have a bad feeling about this...

...