C46 Victory

"Nanny Sunn saw it! Miss Tiange has truly grown up..." Nanny Sunn cried, tears streaming down her face.

Feng Qing didn't cry, but his eyes were red. He knew all too well how neglectful he'd been of his daughter over the years, and he couldn't even discern where her skills came from.

On the viewing platform, many military officers couldn't help but congratulate Feng Qing, saying, "With a daughter like this, what more could a father ask for?"

Just as Feng Tiange was about to leave the ring, following the rules, a figure suddenly plummeted toward her.

"Battle over!"

Feng Tiange swiftly reached out to catch and steady the figure. Looking up, she saw Ruxuan on the platform, arrogantly declaring victory.

The man beside her couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood. Feng Tiange noticed his left arm was broken, his cheek was swollen, and his eyes were blackened.

"Some country bumpkin dares to dream of entering the Imperial Academy? Ha!" Ruxuan spat at the man as she jumped down from the platform.

"You!"

The man, in pain, wanted to argue, but Feng Tiange stopped him. "If a dog bites you, do you bite back? If you don't want to be crippled, get to the clinic and have that arm set."

The man glared at Ruxuan but ultimately listened to Feng Tiange.

As the man left, Feng Tiange turned to go. She still had to make it to the second round of the written exam.

"Hold on!" Just as she was about to step forward, Tiange was blocked by Ruxuan. "Tiange, don't think you're all that. You only beat me because you got lucky with an easy opponent! If I had faced that guy, I would have had him begging for mercy in no time."

"Good dogs don't block the path," Tiange replied coolly, her eyes as cold as ice. She could have just said, "Move," but she couldn't stand Ruxuan's attitude toward the less privileged students. The martial arts exam was supposed to be about skill, not humiliating others with broken arms and bruised egos.

Ruxuan, taken aback by Tiange's harsh words, rolled up her sleeves, ready to charge.

"If you dare make a move, I'll make sure you regret it," Tiange said softly, her eyes like cracks in a frozen lake, chilling to the core. Ruxuan was stunned by the coldness in her voice, and as Tiange brushed past her, a shiver ran down her spine, leaving her in a cold sweat.

After leaving the Martial Academy, Tiange quickly changed into her exam attire and headed to the Wenn Mansion.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Chu, who usually avoided any fuss, was surprisingly energetic. Seeing her granddaughter leave the Martial Academy, she eagerly grabbed Nanny Sunn and followed, her steps as swift as the wind.

The scene brought back memories for many veterans in the audience, as they suddenly realized the connection. Tiange was the granddaughter of the Empress Dowager, so it was no surprise she excelled.

The second exam at Wenn Mansion was about to begin. Whether the 130 candidates could advance depended on whether the instructor at the entrance showed their exam tokens. With a token, they could enter; without it, they were out of luck.

"Eldest Miss Feng..." Rong Qi greeted Tiange with a relieved smile as she approached. Just as he was about to pull out her exam token, a gust of wind swept by, and she was gone. Rong Qi was stunned—how confident she must be!

Tiange's entry into the exam hall brought indescribable joy to Empress Dowager Chu. Her excitement was so palpable that even Beiming Yuan was affected, and Dugu Rou glanced more than once in Tiange's direction.

The bell rang, and seventy candidates took their seats again. As it rang once more, they opened their sealed papers and began answering the questions.

In the audience, people started to notice Tiange. After all, she had completed the first exam in less than half an hour, yet she still advanced to the second round, proving her exceptional abilities.

The second exam was more challenging than the first, focusing on essays and classics. It required more than just reading comprehension; candidates needed to demonstrate their own insights and creativity.

"Finished!" Tiange announced after another half hour. She stood up and left the exam hall according to protocol, unconcerned with the reactions of others. Her only focus was on who her opponent would be in the next martial arts competition.

Inside the hall, more eyes followed Tiange's retreating figure. Most believed she wouldn't have another chance to return, but a few were intrigued, eager to see what she'd do next.

Empress Dowager Chu and Feng Qing were truly busy. Rong Qi was too...

The first round of the Martial Academy's exams concluded predictably, with sixty-five candidates advancing. This meant one candidate would get a bye in the second round, automatically advancing to the third. It seemed unfair, but those were the rules.

"Aren't you tired?" At the entrance, Tiange glanced coldly at Rong Qi, her voice devoid of warmth.

"Not as much as you," Rong Qi replied sincerely. "Who do you think will get the bye this round?"

Tiange didn't stop as she headed to the exam hall. "Ruxuan."

Rong Qi was momentarily surprised, jogging to catch up. "How did you guess it was her?"

Tiange, with a look that seemed to question how Rong Qi had survived this long with such naivety, reminded him, "Think about the relationship between this year's examiners and Xie Jin!"

Before Rong Qi could respond, Tiange had already entered the exam hall.

"Ye Qinghua versus Xia Jingyan, Tiange versus Xing Ning, Jun Wushang versus Fang Tuo..."

As Tiange predicted, the one who got the bye was indeed Ruxuan.

Compared to her last opponent, Tiange found herself liking the man in front of her. At least in Xing Ning's eyes, she saw respect rather than disdain.

"Fight!" the examiner commanded with a booming voice.

Tiange held her sword horizontally in a gesture of courtesy. "Please."

"My apologies," Xing Ning said as he drew his sword, his movements not overly aggressive, as if allowing Tiange some leeway.

In just a few breaths, Tiange countered, suddenly lifting her right foot and lunging forward. Her wooden sword shot toward Xing Ning's chest like a bolt of lightning.

Feeling the immense force of her sword's energy, Xing Ning's expression changed. He had underestimated her!

Fortunately, Xing Ning managed to block her attack just in time, using his wooden sword to shield his chest.

The friction between his feet and the ground was intense, and with just one strike, Xing Ning was forced back several feet, nearly falling off the platform.

Tiange's momentum was relentless, her black examination attire billowing with the force.

Just as Xing Ning was on the brink of despair, Tiange suddenly withdrew her attack.

She had spared him!

Xing Ning was taken aback, raising his sword to launch a fierce and powerful attack with all his might.

Tiange remained still, as calm as a placid lake, watching the incoming strike without making a move.

From the viewing platform, Empress Dowager Chu and Feng Qing stood up, instinctively holding their breath, their hearts in their throats.

‘Clang—’

Tiange suddenly lunged, her sword tip aiming straight for the midsection of Xing Ning's blade, sharply flicking it upward! Without enough force and precision, Tiange's move could have easily missed, leaving her vulnerable to her opponent.

However, at that moment, Xing Ning's sword intent faltered. He struggled to press forward but couldn't control the wooden sword's upward trajectory!

‘Bang—’

Without warning, Tiange abandoned her sword, her body moving like lightning toward Xing Ning. Her palm struck his chest with a force like a fierce wind.

Xing Ning was sent flying backward, but just before he fell off the platform, Tiange caught him. "The match is over."

Tiange had won.