The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 183 Today is his death day! (Three-in-one)

In the game, the "Civil and Martial Tower" would simply be a fun little dungeon.

The written test assesses your knowledge reserves. Although it will occupy your screen during the test, you can still take out your phone to search for answers or ask for help.

However, because there is a time limit for completing the levels, and sometimes the tests test certain obscure facts from the game's background, the chance of failure is quite high.

The martial arts test is not simply about testing combat power, but rather about facing various mechanic-based monsters and testing your in-depth understanding of the various buffs and hidden mechanics in the game.

Overall, it's a pretty interesting dungeon crawler.

However, when Yaoshan was setting it up, the [Civil and Martial Tower] did have a bug that wasn't exactly a bug.

In theory, only one person can enter the tower to attempt the challenge at any given time.

Only by passing a level will the restriction to enter the next level be lifted, allowing the challenger to ascend to a higher level and continue the challenge.

However, this is also where the problem lies.

The only rule of the [Civil and Martial Tower] is that "the restrictions of a level will be lifted once the challenger passes the test of a level".

However, there are no regulations regarding the number of participants, nor are there any restrictions on whether the person attempting the challenge and the person passing the challenge must be the same person.

In other words, if the person attempting the challenge wants, they can go back and try again, reopening the restrictions so that another person can also pass.

In this way, one can take exams for others.

All I can say is that this is how the underlying code is written.

However, this method has been thought of before, but it is very difficult to implement.

After all, the Wenwu Tower isn't just a self-operating machine; Yaoshan Academy is right next to it, and the people from the academy are watching right there...

In addition to the academy disciples guarding the gate, there would also be teachers from the academy who would come over from time to time to check on the situation.

Trying to bring another person in right under the academy's nose is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Furthermore, most people can't even pass the test themselves, so how can they take it for someone else?
Ideal is full, the reality is very skinny.

There is only a theory that exists, but no possibility of its implementation.

However, none of these things mattered to Gu Fangchen...

You Shao originally wanted to say that this was against the rules, but then he looked at the sword in the maid's hand.

The sword was simple and unadorned, like wood or stone.

But they all knew that this was the peerless sword that had been forged from the veins of mountains and rivers, and whose name was later confirmed by the Eye of Heaven as the "Seventy-Two Peaks Towering to the Sky Sword".

On the list of divine weapons of the Eye of Heaven, this sword is second only to the [Sick Spring] sword in Ying Baishou's hands.

Below the Zhenpin (a type of ancient Chinese sword), this sword is the best in the world.

There's no way around it; although this sword doesn't have any actual combat record, the ability to split into seventy-two pieces is already amazing enough.

Furthermore, if it can be fully refined, this sword could even challenge [Sick Spring].

Unfortunately, Gu Fangchen knew in her heart that this sword could never succeed from the very beginning.

Because this sword is actually just part of the formation, extracting the earth's vein power and using it as a medium to transmit it to the Ancestral Master.

Although it's unclear what the Ancestral Master intends to do, there's no doubt that the sword's refinement has completely failed, leaving no possibility for further progress.

However, to outsiders, this sword remains Gu Fangchen's greatest asset.

You Shao naturally turned his gaze back to Gu Fangchen, sighed, and cupped his hands in greeting:
“Since the young master has spoken, we cannot stop him… If the young master can pass through twice, then he can naturally take his maid with him.”

If it were anyone else, the academy wouldn't break the rules so easily.

But who can blame him when he's the heir apparent to the Prince of Zhenbei?
If he can manage to do it twice... then I'll say he's really capable.

Anyway, as long as Gu Fangchen gets into the Literary and Martial Tower, their mission will be complete...

However, the cultivators around him were not as calm as You Shao.

Gu Fangchen's words were tantamount to saying that those who hadn't passed before were all fools!

Among these cultivators were many who had tried and failed before, and they immediately became furious. Their faces flushed red, and they gritted their teeth, sarcastically remarking:

"What a Gu Fangchen! He's just a brute of the sixth rank. Does he really think that just because the Confucian sage said a few polite words, he's a genius who is proficient in both literature and martial arts?"

"Exactly! He wasn't the one who stole the show at the Qionglin Banquet!"

"I don't think he dares to take the written test at all. He's just relying on his martial arts skills. I think the fifth level is his limit."

"No way? The academy invited him to be a teacher, does he really dare to show his disrespect in public? That's too arrogant..."

"Wasn't this guy a spoiled brat before? Old habits die hard. I don't believe that after acting for so many years, he didn't have any real feelings involved!"

These people were talking amongst themselves, and some of them actually wanted to provoke Gu Fangchen and make him embarrass himself by taking the written exam.

Because they knew perfectly well that even if Gu Fangchen really went to take the martial arts test, could the people of the academy possibly refute the sage?
—Judging from this guy's arrival at the Literary and Martial Arts Tower, accompanied by a sword-wielding maid, he's probably here to take the martial arts test.

The invitation was extended by the sage, and no matter how dissatisfied the academy was, it had no choice but to accept it.

Gu Fangchen walked to the tower, and the two academy disciples at the entrance gestured for her to enter, explaining:

"Your Highness, the civil service exam is on the left, and the military exam is on the right."

Gu Fangchen smiled, turned to look at Xuexiang, raised an eyebrow and said softly:
"Let's go, just wait for the restrictions to be lifted at the written exam area."

Xuexiang nodded, picked up her sword, and walked to the left.

The gatekeeper disciple shook his head secretly.

If they had chosen the martial arts test, they wouldn't have said anything... They're still young and impetuous, unable to resist being provoked, and insist on taking the written test. They're probably going to embarrass themselves later.

Gu Fangchen smiled, then stepped to the right, waving her fan. The gatekeeper was taken aback and said:
"Your Highness, the written examination is this way..."

Gu Fangchen didn't stop walking, glanced at him, and said calmly:
"I didn't say I would only go one way."

Because only one person was preset to complete the challenge.

The civil and military exams are not judged separately; where a person is does not affect their ability to answer the questions in the civil exam.

He told Xuexiang to wait while he took the written exam, and he could also take the martial arts exam for her while he passed.

Although it would be fine to just go through it normally, since we've already come all this way, as players, how can we not give these people a little shock if we don't do justice to the long journey we've spent planning day and night?

If you're going to show off, show off big!

The two gatekeepers were instantly stunned, seemingly unable to understand the meaning of Gu Fangchen's words.

Only after Gu Fangchen's figure stepped into the threshold of the martial arts test and disappeared into it did the two of them look at each other, both seeing the speechlessness in each other's eyes.

This guy... he must have been completely blinded by the provocation.
Taking both the martial arts and the literary exams simultaneously is significantly more difficult than passing either the martial arts or the literary exams twice!

It's difficult for a normal person to multitask, let alone doing a physical fitness test while simultaneously solving a math problem.

It's simply impossible!
The cultivators outside the tower were stunned when they saw Gu Fangchen and his maid walk to opposite sides, and then a commotion broke out.

"Has Gu Fangchen gone mad?!"

"Heh... He's just young and arrogant, and can't take criticism. Let's wait for him to slink down in shame. This so-called tenth place on the Little Heavenly Ranking is nothing more than that."

"With cultivation gained through drugs, even the martial arts competition is in jeopardy, yet he wants to have it both ways—it's utterly ridiculous!"

"The changes to the Wenwu Pagoda can be clearly seen from the Jiangling River. This is truly a huge loss of face..."

The young cultivators shook their heads and sneered at Gu Fangchen's arrogant and ignorant behavior.

This Wenwu Pagoda has stood here for many years, and only a handful of people have been able to reach the seventh floor or higher.

These people later reached at least the third rank of cultivation.

Gu Fangchen's actual combat record was too little to be seen, and they just felt that this guy was really overestimating himself.

Even if someone is eager to prove their abilities, there's no need to resort to such a foolish method.
In this way, what would have been a loss of face once has now become a loss of face twice...

However, this was truly astonishing, and some of the cultivators whose attention had been drawn to the pleasure boat were drawn back to it.

Furthermore, more and more people continued to gather there.

Obviously, some busybodies spread the news immediately... It's only human nature to want to watch the excitement and hear gossip.

Furthermore, if Gu Fangchen really succeeds, then today's challenge will be recorded in history!

Everyone looked up, eagerly anticipating what was to come.

However, the interior of the Wenwu Tower was sealed off, and they could not see the specific situation. They could only wait for the tower to light up with the five-colored light that symbolized the lifting of the restrictions and the transmission of the teachings.

……

On the river in the distance.

The Dugu family's painted boat moved slowly on the water. A group of beautiful women, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, laughed and played on the bow, admiring the scenery along the way, or composing a few simple poems and commenting on them.

Leisurely and carefree, I feel quite at ease.

These are all eligible young ladies from the Dugu family, along with several ladies who are chatting idly.

Ning Caiyong was among them, staring blankly at the tall tower standing on the distant shore.

She changed into an elegant and dignified dress, with black and white ink-wash plum blossoms blooming along her waist, while a light red shawl was draped over her arm. In the simplicity, this trailing splash of vibrant color was particularly eye-catching.

The striking contrast of colors is something most people couldn't handle, but Ning Caiyong's incomparably beautiful and elegant face, truly a national beauty, was far more vibrant than the red she wore.

At first glance, onlookers will only be attracted by her appearance, and only then will they notice what she is wearing.

This woman, once considered the most beautiful woman in the world, has a beauty that even the passage of time cannot diminish.

Even among this group of pampered young ladies, the radiant Ning Caiyong outshone everyone else.

Ning Caiyong came to this painted boat not only to witness Gu Fangchen pass the Civil and Martial Arts Tower, but also with the intention of choosing a consort for Gu Fangchen.

But when she was actually standing among these young flowers, memories of the past flooded her mind, and she felt somewhat uncomfortable, and also somewhat lonely that she couldn't help but feel.

There will always be younger beauties in the world, but she can no longer have her wasted youth.

The soft sigh dissipated in the river breeze.

What began then has ended now.

The good husband she thought she had was nothing but a dream.

Ning Caiyong looked at her reflection in the water—when the ripples broke and blurred her face, the beauty in the water looked just like the sixteen-year-old girl who had passed by the Wenwu Pagoda back then.

The dress she was wearing was the same one she wore that day.

Ning Caiyong pursed his lips, looked at the Wenwu Tower, and his expression was complicated and hard to describe.

How she wished... to start over, so as not to encounter the wrong people.

Behind her, several young ladies from the Dugu family covered their faces with fans and whispered among themselves, clearly aware that Gu Fangchen had been invited to challenge the Wenwu Tower.

"This first level isn't difficult at all. How long do you think it will take His Highness?"

“If it’s a martial arts test, it’s not difficult. Back then, the Prince of Zhenbei only took ten breaths to pass the first level. Now that the young master’s cultivation is at the sixth rank… thirty breaths shouldn’t be a problem.”

Gu Fangchen's breakthrough to the fifth rank has only been a few days, and no outsiders know about it yet. In their minds, Gu Fangchen is still a sixth-rank Martial Courage Realm cultivator.

At this moment, a faint white light emanated from the Wenwu Tower, indicating that challengers had already entered.

The girls on the boat hadn't finished speaking.

The next moment, two five-colored lights lit up on the first floor of the Wenwu Tower!

The people on the ship were stunned for a moment, their pupils contracted, and they all stood up in disbelief, their mouths forming an "o" shape as they covered their mouths.

"How...how long did this take?"

"It seems like less than five breaths... I'm not mistaken, am I?"

"hiss--"

"But why are both sides lit up at the same time?"

After everyone realized what was happening, they looked at each other with surprise and uncertainty.

Surely there can't be two people working together to complete the challenge, right?

The young master only took one maid with him when he went out today...

They had investigated the background of that maid; she was just an ordinary maid from a farming family. It was already incredibly lucky that she had been chosen by the prince to be his concubine.

He had no cultivation at all; he was just an ordinary person. How could he possibly pass through any level of the Literary and Martial Tower?
Immediately, someone took out a communication stone and inquired about the situation from the people on the shore.

And in that very gap, the second floor lit up again!

The painted boat fell silent for a moment.

"How long did it take this time?"

"Ten breaths?"

"It's lighting up on both sides again..."

Someone who read the message on the communication stone was stunned. Their hand slipped, and they nearly dropped the stone, exclaiming in disbelief:

"The young master is taking both the civil and military examinations at the same time?!"

Upon hearing this, those on the other pleasure boats who hadn't paid much attention to the matter before showed expressions of shock and stood up, looking towards the direction of the Wenwu Pagoda.

A dozen or so magnificent pleasure boats all stopped in the middle of the water, no longer moving forward.

Soon, the third floor also lit up!

"Twelve breaths?"

The fourth floor!
"Wait... ten breaths?! Why is it getting faster and faster?!"

There was absolutely no pause; they walked across as if it were flat ground!
At this moment, all the onlookers were utterly shocked, and only one thought occupied their minds—

Where did this come from? Is this still the Wenwu Pagoda?

Is this still the same Martial Arts Tower that has baffled countless cultivators?!
Those cultivators who had once conquered the Wenwu Tower had mixed feelings. If it were really that simple, what were they back then?
Some even wondered if the academy was helping Gu Fangchen cheat.

However, they also knew that if the academy was determined to have Gu Fangchen become a teacher, they could simply exempt her from this trial, so why make it so obvious?
Soon, after about twenty breaths, the lights on both sides of the fifth floor lit up simultaneously!
At the same time, clouds gathered above the Wenwu Pagoda, and a wisp of auspicious five-colored cloud descended!
"Wow... that's literary style?!"

Those practitioners looked up, and they were all dumbfounded.

So what if you're trying to pass the level? At most, you're just lucky. All the questions you encounter are obscure facts, which Gu Fangchen, being knowledgeable, happens to know.

But literary style is different!

This means that he may have encountered creative challenges during the challenge.

It could be any kind of poetry, lyrics, or prose... but in any case, his work is absolutely a masterpiece unlike anything seen before, which is why it could cause extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth and a decline in literary atmosphere!

What that demonic cultivator could do at the Qionglin Banquet back then, Gu Fangchen can do now too!
I originally thought that the demonic cultivator was just using this as an excuse, but I didn't expect that he was really imitating Gu Fangchen.

Moreover, Gu Fangchen herself is currently taking the martial arts test at the same time.

This means that he not only passed the martial arts test in twenty breaths, but also composed poems and essays that were capable of causing extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth.

Is this a human being?!

In that short time, everyone below looked up at the layers of light on the tower, their expressions as if they were dreaming.

If I'm not dreaming, how could such a thing possibly happen?
Everyone held their breath, watching the tower with trepidation, fearing that it would light up again in just a few seconds.

Fortunately, after thirty breaths, there was still no movement from the sixth floor.

"Once you reach the fifth level, you'll qualify for the academy... Shouldn't we stop here?"

"Indeed, after so long without any movement, it's time to stop here."

The man muttered to himself, then noticed the strange looks he was getting from the people around him. He immediately realized what a foolish thing he had said and gave an awkward laugh.

It’s crazy…

In the past, people who tried to pass the level might still be on the second level after thirty breaths!

Now, thanks to this pervert, it feels like thirty breaths is a long time... Damn it, he's just too perverted!

Those who had previously mocked Gu Fangchen were now covering their faces and sneaking away amidst the chaos.

"Om-"

About forty breaths passed.

The sixth floor lit up again, symbolizing Gu Fangchen's further progress.

Ning Caiyong stood at the bow of the boat, her slender hand on her chest. Even though Gu Fangchen was not in any danger at this moment, her heart was pounding with nervousness, but at the same time, she felt relieved and proud.

Back then, Gu Yuye made it to the eighth floor...

Chen'er retraced his steps, but became even stronger than him.

Moreover, it's not just a little bit stronger, it's overwhelmingly strong!

……

Gu Fangchen passed through the sixth level in just twenty-five breaths.

The extra time was because we lingered a little longer on the fifth floor.

When he walked to the corridor on the fifth floor, he suddenly felt a pang of heart palpitation, and his eyelids twitched so hard that he felt a chill run down his spine.

So he quickly looked out the window and his lips twitched.

A red umbrella suddenly appeared in the crowd below.

Scholars in Jiangnan are fond of elegance and prefer simple clothes. Most of the cultivators who gather under the Wenwu Pagoda are dressed in black and white, without any particularly eye-catching clothes.

This red umbrella, however, was quite eye-catching.

But the people around seemed oblivious, still gossiping amongst themselves, not even sparing a glance at the red umbrella.

The moment Gu Fangchen looked down, the red umbrella was lifted, revealing a delicate and fair-skinned young girl's face.

But what doesn't match this delicate face are those abyss-like eyes and that chillingly cold expression!

Gu Fangchen was very familiar with this face and these eyes.

Not long ago, he even impersonated the other party to create the identity of the "Love" Dao Master for himself.

Yi'er...

Or rather, "the Lord of the Four Phases" Lü Fuyi!

She was dressed in a blood-red dress, hovering in mid-air, holding a red umbrella in her hand, looking extremely eerie.

If you add a black mask, then you'll look like the game's boss, the Four-Phase Lord.

I wonder if it was because my impersonation made too much noise that it attracted her here as well.

However, since the "Robbery of the Sea of ​​Calamity" is still on him, he is not afraid of her coming to seek revenge, since she can't kill him anyway.

Gu Fangchen was about to smile and tease this "Four Phases Calamity Master" a little more.

But then, his expression froze, and his eyes looked as if he had seen a ghost.

—He really did see a ghost.

Right behind Lü Fuyi, a more familiar figure in cyan suddenly appeared!
This figure, resembling a fairy from a cold palace, appeared silently, without even the "Four-Phase Tribulation Master" noticing it.

Her green skirt trailed on the ground, and her bare feet trod on the ground where shimmering blue flowers began to bloom.

Her face was as cold as ice, and her gaze toward Gu Fangchen was filled with murderous intent!
Gu Fangchen felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but swallow.

He took a deep breath.

It's bound to happen...

After trying every possible way to keep the Ancestral Master trapped in the Netherworld for several days, she finally came back!
I can't get rid of this one... I'm outta here!
Hurry up... the people from the academy should have arrived by now.

Whether or not his life can be saved depends on the academy's capabilities!
Without hesitation, Gu Fangchen turned around and continued her journey through the challenges, or rather... her escape!

Lu Fuyi below: "...?"

What's going on... Wasn't this guy arrogant before because he had the "Sea of ​​Calamity Wheel" and wasn't afraid of me at all?

Why are you suddenly acting like a mouse in the presence of a cat?
The "Four Phases Calamity Master" frowned, feeling something was off.

Suddenly, she felt a cold wind sweep past her, bringing a chill that went straight to her heart.

Her pupils contracted, and she turned her head, but saw no one...

……

High above the Wenwu Pagoda, three great scholars looked down at the illuminated pagoda from the gathering clouds.

These three great scholars were the same ones who had discussed matters on the back hill of the academy earlier.

Liu Wenqing, the head of Wenhua Academy.

Dugu Yu, the head of the Jingshi Academy.

In addition, there was Lu Mingyuan, the "Sage of the Heart," who served as the acting dean during the "Confucian Sage's" seclusion.

Lu Mingyuan looked at the extraordinary phenomenon of talent in the sky and said calmly:

"This kid does have some skill... what a pity."

"Today is his death day!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Currently behind schedule (1/4)

Damn, I glanced at the page before writing this chapter and it was only 3 chapters short. After I finish this, it will become 4...

(End of this chapter)