Douluo Continent: I ushered in this era

The four chatted as they ate, and soon the conversation turned to the upcoming final exams for first graders.

"Chu Ci, the academy's final exams are very difficult. They will comprehensively assess all your qualities, so you need to be prepared," Ya Li said gently.

"Yes, I've been prepared for this for a while. I've heard from some upperclassmen that the final exams are... special." Chu Ci recalled Shrek Academy's final exams, paused for a moment, and then gave his assessment.

"This is a unique test that Shrek Academy has developed over a long history, so it's naturally very special," Yun Ming said with considerable pride.

Hearing Yun Ming's words, Chu Ci couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Special" is not a compliment.

Seeing Chu Ci's reaction, Yun Ming immediately said sarcastically, "Oh, it seems our peerless genius Chu Ci has a unique understanding of final exams. Come on, tell me, what do you mean by 'unique'?"

Ever since Na'er showed unusual intimacy with Chu Ci, Yun Ming has been constantly picking on him. This time, Chu Ci wasn't going to tolerate him anymore and spoke up.

"Looking for trouble and disrupting society, Shrek Academy is the only one that would let the final exam do something like this."

Yun Ming slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "What did you say, brat!"

Ya Li quickly pulled Yun Ming aside, but her expression didn't look good after Chu Ci finished speaking.

After a few movements on the Chu Ci wristband, a screen was projected onto the wristband, displaying various data.

Looking at the data, Chu Ci said, "According to statistics, every year around this time, groups of thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys and girls will wantonly attack passing Soul Masters, provoke law enforcement officers, and even cause disturbances at military bases, seriously disrupting social order."

"Seniors, where do you think this group of bandit-like teenagers came from?"

As she spoke, Chu Ci enlarged this part of the data and showed it to Yun Ming and Ya Li.

This time it was Yun Ming and Ya Li's turn to feel awkward. Yun Ming coughed lightly and said, "After the final exams, our academy will send someone to explain the situation to the affected Soul Masters and apologize."

"Ha," Chu Ci couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, "If you were slapped by someone for no reason, and that person apologized to you, would you forgive that person?"

"The reason why those affected Soul Masters didn't pursue the matter is simply because Shrek Academy is strong and they can't afford to offend them."

"So, to be honest, our final exams are really nothing to be proud of. I certainly don't feel any pride or honor in this kind of exam format."

"Teacher, does our academy really conduct this kind of assessment?" Na'er pouted and asked softly.

Yun Ming remained silent, unsure how to respond, because Shrek Academy students genuinely did this kind of thing every year.

Moreover, Yun Ming was feeling extremely aggrieved and couldn't refute Chu Ci's lecture at all. He couldn't very well reprimand Chu Ci for accusing Shrek Academy of disrupting the Federation and bullying the weak; that would be truly shameless.

At the same time, he began to doubt whether Shrek Academy's final exams were actually correct.

Shrek Academy has always taken it upon itself to maintain peace and stability on the Douluo Continent, but its actions during the final exams seem to have deviated from its original intention.

An eerie silence fell over the dinner table. Everyone except Na'er was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and the atmosphere at the table gradually became somber.

After finishing dinner, Chu Ci was about to get up and leave when Ya Li suddenly called him back.

"Is there something you need, Your Majesty the Holy Spirit?" Chu Ci stopped and asked, puzzled.

Ya Li gestured for Chu Ci to sit on the sofa in the living room, and then said gently, "Chu Ci, I agree with the problems you raised about the final exams."

"You agree with what I said?" Chu Ci raised an eyebrow. He had originally prepared himself to be kicked out of Shrek Academy, but he didn't expect Ya Li to express her agreement with him.

Yali nodded slightly and continued, "Shrek Academy has been using this kind of final exam for a long time, so long that people subconsciously think it's right. Otherwise, why would it have been in place for so long?"

"But what you said today made me realize that there are many problems with the final assessment."

"Chu Ci, you were the first to discover the problem with the final exam, so I'd like to ask you what suggestions you have for improving the final exam."

Chapter 96 Changes to the Final Exam

"My suggestion?" Chu Ci frowned slightly. "Shouldn't this be a matter for your college's higher-ups to discuss? Why are you asking for my suggestion?"

Yali smiled helplessly and said, "Because I think the most likely outcome they'll reach is that there won't be any problems with the final exams, and no changes are needed."

"Chu Ci, you are good at breaking conventions, so I hope to get your advice on this matter."

"Furthermore, if your suggestion really improves the final exam results, I'll consider it a favor I owe you."

Ya Li's courage is truly remarkable! She used the favor of the continent's number one healing-type Soul Master just to get a feasible suggestion to improve the final exam.

Chu Ci exclaimed, "Shrek Academy is truly blessed to have His Holiness the Holy Spirit."

“This is not a blessing. Making every part of Shrek Academy better and better is the lifelong ideal of every Shrek student.” Yali said calmly, then winked playfully at Chu Ci, “It’s just that maybe the direction I’m pursuing is correct.”

Chu Ci chuckled, clapped his hands, and said, "Since you've offered such good terms, senior, I won't hold back anymore. I do have an idea."

"What are your thoughts?" Yali chimed in at the opportune moment.

"Kick the gym!"

"Shrek Academy informed the Spirit Pagoda that Tang Sect, the Temple of War, and other major forces, as well as various academies in the Federation, and that first-year students from Shrek Academy had come to challenge them."

"In this way, during the final exam, we won't have to cause trouble on the streets or disturb public order, and we can find the most suitable opponent."

"Because of those powerful forces, there are many carefully nurtured geniuses in the advanced academies, including quite a few who are thirteen or fourteen years old. They can bring us the greatest pressure and are the most suitable whetstone for us."

After listening to Chu Ci's idea, Ya Li fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, Yali finally said, "Your idea is good, but will the academy really accept our challenge from those forces?"

"Why not accept the challenge? Losing to the top academy on the mainland is only natural and there's nothing wrong with it. It can even be used to motivate our own students."

"Winning, needless to say, would bring glory to our ancestors."

"From my perspective, accepting Shrek Academy's challenge is more beneficial than harmful."

After thinking for a long time, Yali sighed and said, "I understand. I will carefully consider your suggestion. You should go back to the outer courtyard first."

Chu Ci got up to say goodbye, and Na'er followed to see him off.

"Alright, I'll leave Na'er here. I'm going back now," Chu Ci said, standing by the Sea God Lake.

"Also, I won't be at the academy during the final exams in a couple of days, so I won't be able to come and keep you company, Na'er."

"It's okay, brother. Na'er will also be taking the final exam that my teacher assigned me," Na'er said with a smile.

……

Time passed day by day, and before they knew it, their first semester at Shrek Academy was coming to an end.

"The first semester is coming to an end, and the final exams you've all been looking forward to are just around the corner." Shen Yi's smiling words made all the students in the class sit up straight instinctively.

"According to the rules, five people will be eliminated in the first semester's final exam. So, everyone should work hard in the final exam, otherwise, you may be one of those eliminated."

Upon hearing this, the students in the class all changed their expressions slightly, and those with weaker cultivation levels turned pale.

"If you want to enter the inner academy in the future, you will need to get enough exam scores."

Shen Yi's repeated words made more and more trainees look serious.

"Now, I will announce the final exam method. You will have a total of fifteen days for the final exam. During these fifteen days, you will need to travel to Mingdu. Along the way, you will need to pass through at least ten cities, including Mingdu. In each city, you will need to visit the local Spirit Pagoda, the Temple of War, and other forces, as well as various academies to challenge them."

After listening, Chu Ci raised an eyebrow, surprised that the academy had actually taken his opinion into account.

Some students looked puzzled; this was different from previous final exams!

"The stronger and more numerous the opponents you defeat during the challenge, the higher your score will be. However, if you fail to win, you will lose some points. You don't need to worry about how your scores are calculated during the competition; the academy's teachers will be secretly following you. But they will never intervene."

"Also, before you leave, all your storage soul tools, communication soul tools, and all your personal resources and money will be left behind. You will leave with nothing and proceed on your own. Remember, you only have fifteen days. If you complete the mission and return within fifteen days, you will pass. If you fail to complete the mission and return within fifteen days, no matter who you are, you will fail."

"The assessment can be conducted in groups, but a maximum of seven people," Shen Yi said before leaving.

Chu Ci, Gu Yue, Tang Wulin and their friends exchanged glances, understood each other perfectly, and formed a small group of seven.

The next morning would be the time for them to set off and begin their exams.

director's office.

"Have the final exams been assigned?" Old Cai asked Shen Yi with a smile.

Shen Yi nodded. "It's all set up."

Cai Yue'er said, "This year's freshmen will face far greater pressure in their final exams than previous years, because they are representing Shrek Academy to challenge other forces and the academy's outstanding geniuses. This year's freshmen will likely suffer considerable setbacks."

Cai Yue'er stood by the window gazing into the distance, her thoughts drifting back to the day before.

During the meeting of the foreign language department, Ya Li recounted Chu Ci's suggestions and expressed her desire to improve the final exams.

Most of the elders and high-ranking members of the outer court looked indignant, while Cai Yue'er, the dean of the outer court, had an unpredictable expression.

Seeing this, Yali frowned slightly, just when she thought the meeting would end without any results.

Wu Changkong spoke coldly, "I agree with His Holiness the Holy Spirit's proposed method of improvement."

"Senior brother," Shen Yi exclaimed in surprise, and hurriedly tugged at Wu Changkong's sleeve. "The elders all disagree, why are you going against the grain?"

But they couldn't stop him. Wu Changkong stood up and said coldly, "The major powers of the Federation and the various academies have no shortage of outstanding geniuses of similar age to the first-year students. Only by fighting against them can we bring the greatest pressure to the first-year students and gain more benefits."

“But this challenge was initiated by Shrek Academy. The students represent Shrek Academy, and if they lose, it will damage Shrek Academy’s reputation,” Shen Yi said.

Ya Li suddenly spoke up: "Teacher Shen, do you really have so little confidence in the students you teach, thinking they will lose?"

Chapter 97: Dealing with the Thugs (The two chapters were posted in reverse order)

There are six criminals in carriage number five and three in carriage number four, making a total of nine criminals.

Among the nine thugs, only one was a Soul Master, and the detector observed that his Soul Power fluctuations were at the level of a Three-Ring Soul Venerable.

Carriages six through ten have been separated from the first five carriages, likely an action taken by the train conductor to protect passengers in the latter five carriages.

Inside carriage number five, a criminal has taken an ordinary person hostage, and the train conductor and security captain are negotiating with him.

After discussing with the others, Chu Ci launched a rescue operation.

Inside carriage number five, the gang leader was threatening the train conductor, Mo Lan, demanding that they quickly agree to his conditions.

Suddenly, several screams rang out from carriage number four. The leader of the gangsters' pupils constricted, because he recognized the voices as those of his comrades.

A gust of wind whistled in the ears of the gang leader, making his hair stand on end. He subconsciously activated his soul power, and three hundred-year soul rings rose from his feet.

But Chu Ci appeared beside him, and with a "crack," the gang leader's neck was instantly snapped by Chu Ci.

Seeing their leader killed instantly, another thug hurriedly pressed the detonator in his hand, but nothing happened, not even a spark of the bomb.

The soul-guided bombs planted by the thugs had already been easily dismantled by Chu Ci.

Immediately afterwards, the thug was slit in the throat by Ye Xinglan, who was right behind Chu Ci.

The remaining four thugs in carriage number five were also quickly dealt with by Tang Wulin and his men.

In the blink of an eye, all nine thugs were subdued. Mo Lan's eyes showed gratitude, and she was about to step forward to thank Chu Ci and the others.