Chapter 127

"Not bad."

"How many Jiguan do you think we can pass today?"

"I can't predict that. Same as the previous text-based test — split into 5 stages?"

Li Ruanyu turned her head to look at him again, her gaze a little helpless.

"What's going on with you? Don't you read the notices I post in the group?"

Zhao Chi thought for a moment — indeed, he hadn't seen them.

He'd been wholly focused on improving the stockings lately and hadn't paid attention to the group messages.

Zhao Chi nodded: "I've been focused on development these past few days, haven't really looked at the group."

"Fine, it doesn't matter. The test rules will be explained again at the academy. Not much different from before — still defeating magical beast incursions, just increased to 10 stages."

"Got the gist."

This kind of test was very common.

Previously, Zhao Chi and the others had all used text to simulate it, similar to a wargame.

Specifically, some of the magical beasts invading from beyond the wall would be diverted.

According to difficulty, quantity, and species, they were channeled into the participating territories.

The students had to defeat those magical beasts.

Difficulty gradually increased with each stage.

Scores were comprehensively judged based on factors such as the number of stages cleared, speed of defeating magical beasts, the extent of one's own losses, and other considerations.

The first stage was naturally the easiest; the last stage the hardest.

During the test, multiple instructors would proctor each territory together.

Mainly to protect the students.

If a student felt the enemies in a certain stage were too strong, they could immediately request instructor rescue.

On the other hand, although the system could fully record all the test data — number of stages cleared, time taken to defeat enemies, and so on —

the instructors still needed to record each student's specific performance.

Such as tactical arrangements, command situations, psychological素质, soldier training results, and so on and so forth.

Although test scores were basically purely results-oriented, review of these aspects was also very important.

In the future, after these students graduated, they would basically all become forces protecting the city.

When the time came to divert magical beasts, different beasts would be assigned based on their combat habits, the types of magical beasts they were adept against, and so on.

One of the references for this was precisely what the instructors had recorded.

Zhao Chi asked: "Instructor Li, what's the reward for this one?"

Li Ruanyu slowed the vehicle.

There were more people ahead — a bit of a traffic jam.

"The specific rewards will be announced by the Dean shortly, but since this is your first test after becoming lords, the rewards will be a bit more generous, as encouragement."

Zhao Chi nodded: "After clearing each stage, will there be credit point rewards?"

"Mm, yes."

"Can you say what it is?"

"Well… mm… I can say it. Credits are tied to the stages — you can earn them at every stage. Clear stage 1, you get 1 credit; clear stage 2, another 2 credits; clear the final stage 10, you get 10 credits."

"That high? So the maximum this time is 55 credits?"

"That's right. So, how confident are you — how many points do you think you'll get?"

Zhao Chi smiled: "Before it was all theory classes, I've never actually done combat practice before, so I can't say for sure, but of course I hope for as many as possible."

Credits had nothing to do with academic advancement.

They could only be used to exchange rewards at the academy.

Although the Eighth Academy was just a weak civilian academy, the rewards available for exchange weren't few.

At least for new lords like Zhao Chi, they were more than sufficient.

Zhao Chi had been studying here since he was 17.

It had been over three years now.

In the early period, everything studied was theory — all kinds of theories, common knowledge, and research.

As well as various practical courses.

Such as sewing, forging, alchemy, enchanting, and so on.

Students like Zhao Chi weren't professionals at all and couldn't be compared to craftsmen.

But they were lords — these tasks could be done poorly, but they had to know how to do them.

After passing the final exam for these courses, depending on importance, one could obtain 1 to 10 credits.

There were also tasks normally arranged by instructors — if completed, additional credits could be obtained.

Up to now, Zhao Chi had accumulated 82 credits.

That counted as a middling level.

Mainly because his previous studies hadn't been good, and after Zhao Chi transmigrated, he was even more in the dark — failing multiple courses and earning no credits.

It was only after this year's fundamentals were brought up that he gradually got the credits in hand.

But now that he had become a lord, there were more ways to earn credits in the future, and there was no need to fuss over the points lost before.

Once he became an official lord, he could use these credits.

While he was thinking, the mechanical vehicle had already driven onto the road before the academy gates.

Both sides were jammed with mechanical vehicles and horse-drawn carriages.

There were quite a few pedestrians on foot as well.

Li Ruanyu stopped the car: "Zhao Chi, get out here. It's too jammed up ahead. I'll go find a place to park."

"Alright, thank you, Instructor Li."

"Don't mention it. Do your best today."

Zhao Chi got out of the car, and Li Ruanyu drove off.

Four male trainees stood nearby, also watching Li Ruanyu leave.

Then one of them asked: "Which class are you from?"

Zhao Chi pointed at himself: "Me?"

"Yeah, who else would we be talking to?"

"... Who are you people? What do you want?"

A very tall trainee said: "I'm from the Intermediate Lord class. I'm just a little curious about that female instructor. She's Li Ruanyu, right? How come you were riding in the same car as her?"

"That's none of your business, is it?"

"Yeah, it's none of our business, but we just want to ask — did she come from the wealthy district this morning, or from the noble district?"

Zhao Chi shook his head: "I don't know."

"Oh, you don't know, huh... You're from the beginner class, right? According to the regulations, we're your superiors."

Zhao Chi turned around and said: "The regulations refer to the reference rank after graduation, not a rank that's already in effect now. Our statuses are equal at present."

"Huh? Do you know who I am?"

"I do. Zuo Shizhang."

"You know who I am and you still dare talk to me like that?"

"Keep it up, Zuo Shizhang. A year ago you were the pride of the commoners. I hope you still are afterward."

Zhao Chi turned and walked away.

"... Damn it, kid. Give me your name."

Zhao Chi smiled faintly: "... Beginner Class Four. Cao Feng."

"Cao Feng? You son of a bitch, you're Cao Feng? Good. I've got my eye on you now."

"Plenty of people have remembered me. A few more from you lot won't make a difference."