The Last Gentleman-Chapter 136: Testing Difficulty

Chapter 136: Testing Difficulty

An annual test personally conducted by the headmaster was an extremely rare event.

The test content immediately made the new gentlemen present reveal troubled expressions, even shattering the confidence they had built up in the early stages of the test.

The most unexpected part was that the test targeted their weakest attributes.

Since gentlemanly training typically focuses on developing a single core attribute, someone like Dagobert—a strength-based gentleman—would have dedicated 70–80% of his efforts to training his strength while completely neglecting his lowest attribute, [Intelligence].

Similarly, a gentleman with a staff and a naturally frail body would have no idea how to complete a test that required strength.

However, a few gentlemen, after carefully analyzing the principal’s words, managed to identify the key points and potential breakthroughs within the test.

Yi Chen also quickly grasped the true nature of the test:

"The *Mind Space*—a direct reflection of one’s spirit.

Even though this test targets our weakest attributes, if an individual has enough perseverance and unwavering willpower, they might achieve a breakthrough on a mental level within the Mind Space—reaching a state impossible to attain in the real world.

In a way, this test is an alternative form of [Inner Potential] evaluation. No wonder Professor Chamberson suggested I participate. A purely mental test like this can indeed be seen as a unique form of training.

That said, my Coordination and Perception attributes are both at [3]… I wonder which one will be tested? Hopefully, it’s Perception—Edmund’s firearm mainly relies on that attribute.

Plus, my relic, the Black Umbilical Cord, is also connected to Perception."

As Yi Chen pondered, three students had already been called forward.

The headmaster slowly raised her hand, extending her pale, slender fingers to gently touch the students' foreheads.

The moment they were touched, their eyes lost focus and gradually closed.

Their bodies were instantly enveloped in a celestial glow, causing them to float into the air.

The height of their floating reflected their depth of consciousness—some barely hovered half a meter above the ground, while others drifted above the crowd.

However, under the principal’s control, these depth variations did not significantly affect the test. As long as a student could find the "exit" within the Mind Space set by the headmaster, they would awaken normally.

Three minutes passed quickly.

Yet, only *one* of the three gentlemen awoke successfully.

Two had failed.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Normally, the annual assessment had a pass rate exceeding 80%, primarily designed to weed out those who slacked off and refused to improve.

After all, most newcomers to Zion Academy were highly motivated for at least their first two years, pushing themselves to break past their limits.

However, these two failing students were also hardworking. They had spent the entire year improving themselves, taking on missions of appropriate difficulty in the Gentleman’s Hall, and had even faced life-and-death situations.

Yet, they still failed the principal’s test.

At that moment, a gentle and soothing voice came from behind the Weeping Mask. Just the sound of it alone was enough to comfort the shaken students.

“It is unfortunate. You were unable to confront your weakest self on a mental level, and I could not perceive any hidden potential within you.

Due to the academy’s current financial constraints and limited resources, we will be terminating your training early.

You may choose to stay at the academy at your own expense or leave immediately after the test… Personally, I recommend the latter.”

Silence filled the room.

The two failing students wanted to protest.

But the Weeping Mask radiated an indescribable terror—the moment they locked eyes with it, their *souls trembled*… Their words of defiance were strangled in their throats, rendering them unable to even breathe.

Their faces turned blue from suffocation as they hastily retreated to their seats, gradually regaining their composure.

Seated in the last row, Yi Chen couldn’t quite understand what had just happened.

"This headmaster… is she really this strict?

No wonder Little Grape has been hiding…"

Just then, Yi Chen felt a strange poking sensation at his waist.

Looking down, he was startled to see a severed finger lightly poking him, slowly crawling up his clothes.

The finger belonged to Zed, yet Zed himself remained motionless, staring ahead as if nothing had happened.

The finger, like a worm, slithered up to Yi Chen’s ear, pressing against his eardrum to whisper:

"Don’t let that old woman’s appearance fool you! She’s extremely dangerous.

Because of her presence, no one in this academy dares to break the Gentleman’s Code. Even Zion’s higher-ups need her approval to interfere with the academy’s affairs.

At that time, when she led a group of chief surgeons in hunting me down, she was just short of cracking open my skull to clean her mask with my brain matter.

When it's your turn later, be sure to mind your manners. Since you entered while sleeping, the headmaster has definitely taken note of it, and there's a high chance she'll specifically target you.

Moreover, because of my personal reasons, she might even transfer her hatred for me onto you."

Hearing Zed's words, Yi Chen's face twisted into a grimace, but in the end, he swallowed his complaints.

For Yi Chen, it didn’t really matter. As long as he gave his best in the test, that was enough. If he was truly targeted and failed to pass, he would just pay his own way through school.

With no more thoughts on the matter, he continued watching the other students' tests.

As batch after batch of students stepped forward, the passing rate remained below 50%.

Meanwhile, Yi Chen’s name had yet to be called, as if they intended to leave him for last.

"Edmund, Juliana, Dagobert."

The familiar trio was called up together by the principal, making Yi Chen break into a nervous sweat.

The principal seemed to notice something different about them, softly commenting:

"Hmm~ There aren’t too many impurities in your gazes, and your records are impressive. You’ve worked hard and have considerable talent... Let me see how you perform."

She touched their foreheads, and the three of them floated up.

Edmund and Dagobert’s weak points were both [Intelligence], while Juliana’s weak point was [Perception].

As the seconds ticked by, Yi Chen silently counted in his mind, hoping that at least one of them would awaken early.

"57, 58, 59!"

Just as he reached that moment—

Juliana, who was floating several meters in the air, suddenly opened her eyes and plummeted downward.

Since she was still in the recovery phase and could barely walk, a fall like this could cause further injury...

Yi Chen instinctively stepped over his desk, preparing to leap and catch her midair.

But before he could, Zed grabbed his wrist and forcibly stopped him.

*Buzz!*

Juliana didn’t crash to the ground. Instead, just before she landed, she hovered in midair and began floating toward the principal.

"You are the first student to awaken within one minute!

It seems that you used your physical injuries as an opportunity for deep mental training. Very impressive! Here is your reward."

The black wings behind the principal trembled slightly, and a single feather drifted down.

It slowly landed on Juliana’s thigh before transforming into tiny starry specks, which seeped into her skin.

"Your recovery requires both perseverance and an opportunity. I have given you the *opportunity*... The rest will depend on your own perseverance."

The principal then gently patted her head with satisfaction.

Before long, Edmund and Dagobert also passed the test and landed safely.

As the three returned to their seats, they each glanced at Yi Chen—Edmund even discreetly flashed him an "OK" gesture.

The test continued.

There were 40 students in total, and with each test conducted in groups of three, there was one person left.

"William Behrens."

As Yi Chen's name was called, the Weeping Mask turned its gaze toward him, and the headmaster watched him intently as he walked from the last row to the podium.

Without a single word, she suddenly jabbed her finger at Yi Chen’s forehead!

*Buzz!*

The sensation of his consciousness being pulled away was all too familiar to Yi Chen. He focused on stabilizing himself as he fell into it.

When he reopened his eyes—

What lay before him was a corridor inside an art gallery.

The walls were lined with eerie paintings of various styles, hung at irregular heights. At the corners, white candles of different sizes flickered.

Outside the windows, rain poured down in torrents.

*Pitter-patter!* Raindrops pounded heavily against the glass, producing an unsettling noise. Some of the impacts even left faint cracks.

*Flash!*

A sudden bolt of lightning illuminated the outside for a split second.

The bright light revealed multiple ghostly silhouettes outside the window.

They were using their fingers in coordination with the falling raindrops, tapping against the glass in a disturbingly rhythmic manner.