Chapter 114: Results
Chapter 114: Results
Hatchling Eagle Star.
Space Center.
Fang Xing stepped out of a hovering limousine, pulling a suitcase and donning a pair of sunglasses.
"Young Fang, your future shines bright ahead!"
Teacher Lanfei bid farewell with a cheerful smile.
Now that the entrance exams were over, she no longer had the obligation to accompany Fang Xing, and she felt a sense of relief.
However, thinking about those tasks, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
"Thank you, Teacher..."
Fang Xing took a step forward and leaned close to Lanfei's ear, as if about to give her a farewell kiss.
Instead, he whispered, loud enough for only Lanfei to hear, "Teacher, you wouldn't want your secret to be exposed, would you..."
Watching Lanfei's shocked and flustered expression, which she quickly masked, Fang Xing couldn't help but feel amused. He laughed heartily a few times before striding through the security checkpoint.
'How... How does he know?'
Lanfei stared at Fang Xing's departing figure, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief.
As the only space station on Hatchling Eagle Star, security here was extremely tight, with powerful experts always on guard even in the waiting lounge.
Fang Xing passed through security and entered the waiting hall, appearing rather relaxed.
He had only teased Lanfei lightly, not wanting her to feel too proud of herself for spying on him.
'Perhaps... I could turn her into my spy?'
'No, I don't need to... As long as she keeps my secret, all I ask is that she gives me a subtle reminder at a crucial moment in the future.'
He found a place to sit down and prepared to get a drink.
"Boss! Boss, over here!"
A middle-aged man with a bushy beard enthusiastically waved, drawing curious glances from those around him.
However, in this interstellar age, it was common for people to undergo gene therapy to extend their lifespan, so much so that it was now normal for youthful-looking individuals to be addressed as uncles, aunts, or even grandparents.
"Song Jin Gang, you're here too," Fang Xing remarked as he approached the man, his eyes reflecting a sense of wonder at the overly mature face of his peer.
"Yeah, Boss. How did you do on the exams?" Song Jin Gang asked, sounding a bit dejected. "I checked my answers, and it looks like I'll get 950 points for the liberal arts portion. I was a bit unlucky during the martial arts assessment—I was knocked out at the fourth gate, so I only got 99 points there. That brings my total to 899 points."
"So, a total of 1849 points. That should easily clear the cutoff for first-rate universities... Wait, didn't you also have bonus points for your ability?" Fang Xing inquired, his interest piqued.
"Oh, right. My 'Adamantine Body' is a top-tier ability, so I should get at least 50 or 100 bonus points, right?" Song Jin Gang replied proudly.
"That's quite a significant boost," Fang Xing commented, slightly taken aback.
"These bonus points don't count towards the total score, though," Song Jin Gang explained. "They're determined by each university during the school exams. For example, a university specializing in abilities might give me more bonus points to encourage me to join their ability department. If it's a university like Blue Star University, though, 50 points would probably be the maximum."
A hint of anxiety crept into Song Jin Gang's voice as he continued, "I wonder what the cutoff is for the super first-rate universities this year... I hope Blue Star University doesn't set it at 1900; that would be devastating."
Only those who met the university's cutoff score would be eligible to take the school exams.
Fang Xing's decision to wait here reflected his confidence in his own performance.
As for Song Jin Gang, he had a safety net and was merely hoping for something better.
"Speaking of which, Boss... Have your results come out yet?" Song Jin Gang asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Actually, I left in a hurry because I figured my scores were pretty good, and I wanted to avoid any potential trouble," Fang Xing admitted candidly.
His performance on the entrance exams might be a bit startling, so it was better to make a quick getaway to Blue Star.
After all, such matters were trivial on Blue Star.
"They haven't been released yet, but I think it should be soon..." Fang Xing speculated. "In this interstellar age, grading is incredibly efficient, so they might just be finalizing the rankings now."
"Oh? What did you get for the martial arts portion?" Song Jin Gang asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Having already reached the Fourth Realm and possessing the renowned Adamantine Body, which was notoriously difficult to breach in terms of defense, he wondered...
"1044..." Fang Xing revealed without hesitation. After all, it was pointless to keep it a secret—soon enough, those who should know and even those who shouldn't would become aware of it.
"Whoa... Pretend I didn't ask," Song Jin Gang said, suddenly turning meek. He sat down and quietly surfed the web.
"Hehe... You call yourself an examinee, yet you don't even know that the martial arts portion is out of 1000 points?" Fang Xing teased.
The conversation between Fang Xing and Song Jin Gang, though not whispered, caught the attention of a stylish young couple sitting across from them.
The man snickered and turned to Song Jin Gang, "Quite an old fellow pretending to be an examinee, aren't you?"
"I'm not pretending... Well, I'm not an old man," Song Jin Gang mumbled in response.
However, the fashionable young woman beside him, who had been browsing her phone, suddenly spoke up, "The exam results are out. The top scorer on Hatchling Eagle Star is someone named Fang Xing, with a total score of... 2030?"
"What?! Isn't the total score out of 2,000?"
The young man widened his eyes in shock.
At that moment, Fang Xing was also checking his messages:
[Examinee Fang Xing, ID: 4JD7WJ50HBW6]
[Liberal Arts Total: 986, Martial Arts Total: 1,044]
[Total Gaokao Score: 2030]
[Rank: First in Hatchling Eagle Star, First in Black Mountain Galaxy... Seventh in Blue Star Federation!]
...
"Boss, you're indeed the first, and seventh in the Federation. Wow..."
Song Jin Gang couldn't help but feel envious. "You can go to any super first-rate university you want."
"There are actually six people ahead of me?"
Fang Xing was slightly surprised. 'Is it because they did better in the liberal arts, or is there some kind of special bonus points involved?'
As for martial arts?
That was basically not worth considering; he had already achieved the limit of his peers.
"The difference between the first and second place is huge. The second place has a total score of 1849, almost 200 points behind..."
The couple across from them joined in the discussion. "This year's Gaokao has produced a true genius... Hey, why does the second-place examinee look so old? Haha..."
They glanced at the profile picture on the screen and then at Song Jin Gang, their laughter abruptly stifled.
"Go ahead and laugh... I'm used to it," Song Jin Gang muttered in response.
"Are you really Fang Xing? Can I have your autograph?"
The fashionable young woman, who had been looking at the sunglasses-clad Fang Xing, hesitated before handing over a small piece of paper.
"Of course."
Fang Xing quickly signed his name, returned the paper, and then asked Song Jin Gang, "Now that I'm considered one of the top human talents, do you think any followers of the evil gods will come after me? Just in case I become a big threat to them in the future?"
Song Jin Gang rolled his eyes, at a loss for words: "Geniuses aren't that valuable. Gaokao happens every year, and there's a new top scorer each time. Besides, you're not even the first; you're seventh. Moreover, no matter how talented you are, can you really grow to rival the extradimensional evil gods?"
"The followers of the evil gods are truly concerned about those with exceptional talent in scientific research... the kind of person who can single-handedly advance an entire field of research."
In other words, even if Fang Xing became a Martial Saint or Martial God in the future...
His influence on the greater scheme of things would still be limited.
"You make a lot of sense. That puts my mind at ease."
Fang Xing heaved a sigh of relief.
Song Jin Gang rolled his eyes. "Boss, do you know where we are? This is the Space Center... There are only a handful of places on Hatchling Eagle Star with higher security clearance, and as for Blue Star, there's no need to mention it. It's the homeland of all humanity; even the extradimensional evil gods themselves may not be able to run rampant there..."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Fang Xing nodded in agreement.
Just then, their communicators started buzzing incessantly, indicating that the announcement of the Gaokao results had caused quite a stir throughout Hatchling Eagle Star.
Yu Cai High School.
"Hahaha..."
Lu Guangming laughed heartily. "I'd like to see who would dare say that my students aren't good enough... This isn't just a ranking within Hatchling Eagle Star, but first place in Black Mountain! Seventh in the Federation!"
"It's all thanks to your excellent leadership, Principal," Xia Long said, standing beside him with a smile.
However, Lu Guangming said, "After this, I might be forced to take another step up the ladder... Xia Long, do you want my position? Most high schools are more or less the same anyway."
"Principal, please spare me," Xia Long pleaded. "I can handle disciplining those kids, but dealing with piles of paperwork is a real hassle. Besides... I want to apply for a treatment pod from the Source Sea level. If all goes well, I plan to return to the battlefield!"
Xia Long's face was resolute as he spoke, his mind seemingly made up.
"You... Sigh..."
Lu Guangming let out a sigh and blew on the steam rising from his thermos. "Why bother? In life, sometimes it's best not to be too stubborn. Look at me, even though I'm a Martial Golden Core cultivator, I'm content being the principal of a small high school."
Xia Long rolled his eyes at Lu Guangming's words. 'Are you just slacking off? Have you given up on yourself...?'
...
"Qingqing... What was your score?"
In a high-rise apartment.
Two middle-aged couples looked at their daughter, their faces filled with anxiety.
"A total of 1499... There's no hope," Ouyang Qingqing said, her eyes already welling up with tears.
The university entrance score for the Federation was usually around 1600 points, and with this result, she had no chance.
To put it bluntly, she didn't even have the qualifications to take the entrance exams for specific schools!
"Don't worry, my dear daughter. Your father has already taken care of everything. We'll go to the logistics department first... It's only for ten years." The middle-aged man tried to comfort his daughter, while the woman beside him had tears in her eyes.
The Federal military service lasted for ten years! It was a harsh reality for every adult, especially for biomechanics!
...
Huihuang Jiang Manor.
"2030, first in Hatchling Eagle, first in Black Mountain..."
Gu Yun looked at the screen, her finger hovering over the communicator but ultimately pulling back.
"Xiao Yun, why don't you give him a call to congratulate him?"
"Aunt Gu came over with a sweet treat in hand, her gentle features softening into a benevolent smile. 'I knew Little Fang was extraordinary, but it seems he's even more remarkable than we thought... Your father barely scraped by in his exams, but this young man is in a league of his own.'
'Never mind, he's probably very busy now. I'll wait,' Gu Yun replied.
Gu Yun jumped down from the window. 'I'm going to practice my knife skills some more...'
'Eat your dessert before you go practice,' Aunt Gu said, looking in her daughter's direction with an indulgent smile.
...
Inside a luxurious car, Lanfei was on a call with Yin Huanzhen. 'That's the situation. Fang Xing has chosen to leave Hatchling Eagle Star and head directly to Blue Star, which shows his confidence in his exam results.'
'Alright then...' Yin Huanzhen replied, still focused on his game. 'I guess that's that.'
'It's a shame Fang Xing will never know what he missed out on because of his refusal,' Lanfei said, adjusting her glasses as she recalled their final farewell.
'He... He knows,' she thought to herself. 'Should I inform him if Yin Huanzhen plans to take revenge? Was that his intention all along?'
'Hmm? The Gaokao results are out,' Yin Huanzhen suddenly said, setting down his game and adopting a solemn expression. He glanced at the screen a few times, as if he had seen something amusing. 'Do you want to know my score?'
'Your talent is unparalleled in the galaxy, young master,' Lanfei quickly replied.
'I only got 2,000 points...' Yin Huanzhen waved his hand dismissively. 'But look at Fang Xing... He scored a total of 2,030. No wonder he didn't accept the recruitment offer. He's a genius among geniuses, and we didn't offer him enough. I really regret it now...'
'What?!' Lanfei exclaimed, shocked.
She wouldn't have been surprised if Fang Xing had scored very well or even topped Hatchling Eagle Star.
But to surpass Yin Huanzhen? That was unimaginable.
...
In the vastness of space, two spaceships drifted in solitude.
Liu Wei stood by the transparent window, gazing at the direction of Hatchling Eagle Star.
'Are you feeling homesick?' The genius asked as he handed Liu Wei a cup of coffee.
They were currently traveling aboard a spaceship toward a planet controlled by the rebels, taking the most remote routes to avoid the Blue Star Federation and unable to use wormholes.
The long journey through the desolate universe could easily drive one insane.
Many rebel members chose to enter hibernation pods and sleep through the trip.
Liu Wei was one of the few who could endure the monotony, practicing martial arts daily and enduring the bland nutritional meals provided on the ship.
He took a sip of the coffee. 'Once upon a time, I desperately wanted to escape that place. I saw it as a cage, a shackle that confined my body and soul. But now that I've left, I find myself missing it.'
'You admit it! You admit it!' The genius exclaimed in delight, then spoke into his headset, 'Ten thousand stellar dollars, you bunch of millipedes, don't you dare try to weasel out of it...'
'How dare you gamble with me?!' Liu Wei grabbed the genius by the collar. 'You still owe me for the last time!'
'Wait, I'm a non-combatant, so don't be so rough,' the genius said, raising his hands in surrender. 'I have something good to show you!'
'What is it?' Liu Wei asked, suspicious.
'Ah... The monotonous and unchanging travel can make one lose track of time. Guess what? The Gaokao results are out,' the genius said, winking. 'Don't you want to take a look?'
Liu Wei's hand began to tremble as he took the screen.
Gaokao! That had been his dream.
In his youth, he had thought that as long as he could get into any university, he would be content.
But reality had dealt him a different hand...
One could say that reality was often stranger than fiction because fiction required logic, but reality needed no such thing!
'If I hadn't left, I would have been in the same graduating class as him,' Liu Wei said.
'I wonder what score I would have gotten. Would it have been above 1,600?'
As he scrolled through the messages, he froze. 'Fang Xing's total score... 2,030? First in Hatchling Eagle Star, first in the Black Mountain Galaxy, and seventh in the Blue Star Federation? With these results, he can get into any top-tier university, right?'
'Definitely. That guy is amazing,' the genius said, nodding vigorously. 'Our instructor really missed the mark. If we had known, we should have prioritized recruiting him...'
Liu Wei sighed. Scenes from their days of working together flashed before his eyes. 'Congratulations, Ah Xing.'
He turned and strode toward the training room. 'I'm doubling my training load today!'
...
At the Space Center, Fang Xing and Song Jin Gang finally boarded their spaceship without any incident, as Song Jin Gang's prediction of trouble failed to materialize.
A sleek, disk-shaped spaceship ignited its engines and lifted off, soon leaving the atmosphere of Hatchling Eagle Star behind.
Fang Xing took one last look at the gray-blue planet, watching as it diminished in size until it vanished from view...
(End of Chapter)"
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