Volume One: Emerging Glory Chapter 107: Failing the Examination
“Hmm?”
Wang Jue paused his finger hovering over the mouse, his eyes suddenly brightening.
The exam results page had finally refreshed!
“Phew... now it’s just a matter of luck.”
Anxiously, Wang Jue quickly entered his name, ID number, and exam registration number into the webpage, then clicked the ‘Search’ button.
Flash!
The screen flickered slightly before a table appeared.
Candidate: Wang Jue
Gender: Male
ID Number: 760126323205201314
Exam Registration Number: 265354729
Liberal Arts: 231
Science: 232
Martial Arts: 236
Total Score: 699
Minimum Admission Score for Top 100 Schools: 700
“699, and the cutoff for the Top 100 is 700?”
A wave of indescribable frustration washed over Wang Jue. “My liberal arts and science scores are fine, but martial arts...”
Just one point short!
Just because of this single point, he missed the chance to enter a top 100 martial arts school.
More than nine years of hard study and rigorous training had culminated in this result.
“Did I fail?”
Wang Jue’s eyes brimmed with a deep sense of loss and frustration. “But my strength now is far beyond what it was before the exam. Not getting into the Top 100 isn't the end of the world.”
“Azure Star isn’t Earth; exams here don’t dictate one’s future. Whether I get into the Top 100 or not doesn’t really matter. If anything, I could become an adventurer. I already passed the adventurer’s qualification test. Rather than following the conventional path in the Top 100 schools, it might be better to hunt star beasts.”
“Missing the cutoff by one point is frustrating, but it’s not unbearable. This world still respects strength above all. Just because I didn’t get into the Top 100 doesn’t mean I’m weaker than those students. It’s just bad luck...”
Wang Jue was adaptable. Although this result was a heavy blow, his talent and cultivation had just made another breakthrough, filling him with unwavering confidence.
After all, the status of a student in a top 100 school paled in comparison to that of an adventurer!
While the students admitted to the Top 100 undoubtedly possessed great talent, that didn’t mean there weren’t talented individuals among adventurers as well.
Moreover, whether in terms of strength or experience, the elite students in ivory towers could not compare to adventurers who lived on the edge, constantly fighting for survival.
“Click!”
Wang Jue opened the door and stepped into the living room.
His parents, Wang Jianbin and Liu Wenjing, along with his younger sister Wang Xiaoyu, all turned to look at him, their eyes filled with expectation.
His mother, Liu Wenjing, immediately stood and approached Wang Jue. “Xiao Jue, this exam isn’t your fault. Ultimately, it’s our responsibility as parents. If only we could have given you better talent.”
“Brother, you’re not too discouraged, are you?” Wang Xiaoyu came up beside him, worry evident in her eyes.
Earlier, while Wang Jue checked his results, his parents and sister had also checked through his father’s laptop and discovered he missed the Top 100 admission by just one point.
Though disappointed, their greater concern was for Wang Jue’s state of mind—they feared he might lose heart.
No one understood better than they did how hard Wang Jue had worked for more than nine years, training every day despite limited talent, all for the chance to enter a top martial arts school.
“This won’t break me,” Wang Jue forced a smile. “Mom, Dad, it’s really not a big deal if I don’t get in. I don’t have to go to school no matter what. Honestly, I should be grateful for failing.”
“Grateful?”
“Grateful?”
“Grateful?”
Wang Jianbin, Liu Wenjing, and Wang Xiaoyu were all stunned.
An exam like this was a defining moment in life. Now Wang Jue not only failed but was saying he was thankful?
“That’s right,” Wang Jue nodded. “Mom, Dad, have you thought about whether we could even afford the exorbitant tuition if I did get into the Top 100?”
“...”
His mother fell silent, her expression darkening.
“We can’t, can we?”
Seeing their disappointed faces, regret flashed in Wang Jue’s eyes, but he smiled faintly. “Our family isn’t wealthy. If I’d gotten in, it would have just been a burden. And who says school is the only path in life?”
“Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you yet. Yesterday, I took the adventurer’s qualification test. The results just came out today—I passed!”
“What?”
Wang Jianbin, Liu Wenjing, and Wang Xiaoyu exchanged glances.
Wang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but ask, “Brother, is this for real?”
“Of course it’s real,” Wang Jue said confidently. “Once you pass the qualification, you can apply for the combat test. I’m very confident in my combat ability!”
Adventurers!
His family was stunned by the news.
What did this mean?
It meant joining the most revered and privileged group in human society—adventurers.
It meant wealth, prestige, and a lofty social status.
Once an adventurer, the benefits to one’s family far exceeded those of being a top-tier student.
“We’re going to have an adventurer in the family?”
Wang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but shout excitedly. “Haha, brother, I really admire you! Can we have roast duck for dinner to celebrate?”
“Sure, sure!”
Wang Jianbin, usually a serious man, enthusiastically patted Wang Jue’s shoulder. “Being an adventurer beats being a Top 100 student any day.”
On Azure Star, adventurers were deeply respected and admired.
Seeing his family so happy, Wang Jue chuckled. “Mom, Dad, I haven’t even taken the combat test yet, so don’t get too excited.”
“If you really become a sixteen-year-old adventurer, that would be amazing!”
Wang Xiaoyu exclaimed excitedly. “Let’s see who dares to look down on us now!”
“Xiao Jue, your mother believes you will become an adventurer,” Liu Wenjing said proudly.
Wang Jue smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll work hard.”
The adventurer combat test was notoriously difficult.
Initially, Wang Jue thought passing the qualification test meant he was officially an adventurer. But after researching more, he realized he was only a candidate—more accurately, a “pre-adventurer.”
He was not yet a true adventurer.
Every year, countless people passed the qualification, but only a tiny fraction cleared the combat test.
If one in a hundred passed the qualification (1%), only one in ten thousand could pass the combat exam (0.01%).
To become an adventurer, one had to be either a genius or incredibly strong.
The high status of adventurers was earned through risking their lives.
In any world, to obtain something valuable, one must pay a price.
...
“Mom, Dad, I’m heading to the Martial Arts Association. I might not be back for lunch.”
After finishing a large bowl of porridge and three pancakes, Wang Jue stood up. “Wait for good news. As soon as I pass the test, I’ll call you.”
His mother smiled and glanced at his father. “Honey, did you hear that? Keep your phone with you so our son can reach you anytime.”
“Of course I will,” Wang Jianbin replied with a chuckle.
“Alright, I’m off.”
Wang Jue winked at his sister Wang Xiaoyu.
Usually mischievous and often teasing Wang Jue, Xiaoyu now gave him a thumbs-up with a grin. “Go get ’em, brother!”
...
Soon, Wang Jue arrived at the Martial Arts Association.
He had left home around seven, and by the time he reached his destination, it was nearly half past nine.
“Huh, I’ve been here a few times before. I thought this was just the staff area, but it turns out this is the Ziyuan Residential District, where only adventurers are allowed to live?”
Walking through the Martial Arts Association, Luo Feng reached the gate of a quiet neighborhood called Ziyuan District, located just behind the association.
“Sir, this is Ziyuan District. Unauthorized persons are not allowed to approach.”
At the gate stood a line of ten armed guards.
Judging by their uniforms, they weren’t part of the Security Zone’s Third Squad but probably affiliated with the Martial Arts Association.
One of them shouted at Wang Jue, “Sir, please step back. If you enter the yellow zone, we have the authority to shoot you on sight!”
“Good grief...”
Wang Jue sighed internally. “Do they have to make it sound as intimidating as those military zones back on Earth?”
Ziyuan District was the Martial Arts Association’s main base in Peaceful Town!
It was also the residential area for adventurers and their families.
“As far as I know, only adventurers and their families live here! Even the Security Zone’s Third Squad has no right to enter without permission.”
Wang Jue was impressed and then stood at the gate, announcing, “I’m here to take the adventurer combat test.”
The Martial Arts Association held the combat test on the tenth of every month.
“Oh? Young man, you’re quite early—before ten o’clock.”
An elderly man with graying hair stepped out from a guard’s rest room holding a handheld computer. “Taking the combat test at such a young age, your future looks bright. Please show me your ID and adventurer qualification.”
“Here you go.” Wang Jue handed over his ID and qualification certificate.
“Beep beep!”
The devices scanned his documents, and the screen displayed information.
“Huh... sixteen years old?”
The old man looked surprised, smiling warmly. “You’re brave to take the combat test at sixteen. Good luck; I hope you pass today.”
“Thank you for your kind words,” Wang Jue replied.
The old man waved his hand. “Your identity is verified. Let him in.”
“Sir, I will take you to the testing site. Please don’t wander around after entering the district!”
The electric gate slid open automatically, and a soldier holding an assault rifle stepped forward, walking beside Wang Jue. The soldier grinned and said, “You’re only authorized to enter the testing grounds, not the residential area for warriors’ families. If you violate this, even if I don’t intervene, my brothers patrolling the neighborhood will.”
“Understood,” Wang Jue smiled and nodded promptly.
Better to be cautious than to get into trouble for no reason.
“Tsk tsk, the Martial Arts Association spares no expense! These are all standalone villas.”
On the way, Wang Jue looked around and noticed, aside from a building resembling the Martial Arts Association’s hall in the center, the rest were orderly arranged villas, complete with rock gardens, ponds, and lawns between them.