Chapter 208 (2/2)

David threw Ferdinand a cold glance, not paying him any heed, and simply turning to leave after having said his piece. He was clearly not willing to waste any more time squabbling.

For the past fifteen days before the Regional Selection, he had made too many preparations and had paid too much of a price just so that he could do Fang Xingjian in.

‘Fang Xingjian… This time around, no one will be able to save you.’

Someone next to them introduced David to Ferdinand. Laughing coldly, Ferdinand looked at David with a sly smile.

Thereafter, all the examinees waited at the entrance for about twenty minutes before the door of the Regional Academy slowly opened. All the examinees went up to register with their Knight medallion and Knight attire before entering the academy, ready for the examination.

The examination would be held over four days, one stage each day. For the next four days, the examinees not only had to take the examination in the Regional Academy, but they would also had to live there.

Lilia stood outside, looking at the long queue, and said, “There’s so many people participating in the Regional Selection this year.”

“Of course,” Ferdinand said. “The prizes this year are too astonishing and they’ve dragged everyone out. I think the total is over five hundred participating Knights this year. That’s almost a third of the students in all twelve academies of the Great Western Region.”

He then smiled and said, “Let’s go to the stands.”

In order to encourage the development of martial arts, and at the same time keeping it fair, all four stages of the Regional Selection were open to the public.

Naturally, it also had a cost. Each seat was five gold, thus denying the possibility of any commoners attending. The audience was essentially only aristocrats.

Fang Xingjian took his number and followed the signs to a large training ground, waiting for all the other examinees to arrive. He looked at the stands, from where Lilia, Anthony and the others were waving at him.

Finally, after a total of five hundred and twelve examinees had arrived, the main examiner, Governor Devitt, walked in. The people following behind him included a man who seemed to be getting on in his years, and who was walking as if his eyes were closed. He was the Commissioner of Education, Luke.

There was also the capable-looking Department Head of Education, Yaris, who was about forty years old.

And finally, there was the middle-aged Deputy Governor Armstrong, who had a face covered in scars.

These were the four examinees for this Regional Selection, with Governor Devitt as the main examiner. Although they were all influential characters, they still had to personally supervise and allocate scores during the Regional Selection. This went to show how strict the Empire was with the Grand Selections, and how highly regarded this event was.

Each Regional Selection was a very important reflection of their political achievements.

On another side, twelve Knights were working together to move a giant metal pillar into the training grounds.

With a loud bang, the metal pillar was thrown down to the floor, causing a slight earthquake.

However, after the pillar was smashed onto the surface, it did not bounce up in the least, but simply entered three inches deep into the ground. This showed how heavy it was, as well as how dense and strong it was.

Seeing this, the countenances of many Knights turned grim.

The next moment, Governor Devitt slowly said, “Then, we are officially starting this year’s Regional Selection. I won’t say much. Let the first stage, Slashing the Heavenly Pillar, begin! Examinee number one, please step forward.”