The final investigation results were clear and the evidence was solid. It was revealed that Kaman's follower had given him contaminated food, causing him to faint in the examination hall. Furthermore, Du Chen and Aliza had not left their tent the previous night, as confirmed by the night watch priests.
Given the supreme authority and prestige of the Holy Church, the candidates easily believed the investigation report.
In fact, the Level 2 Dou Qi did not have the ability to prevent all illnesses, and cases of food poisoning among Orange-robe warriors had occurred before.
Of course, there were also those who didn't believe the report. Kaman's father, the chief examiner for the Lanning faction in this examination, Wideno, was one of them. But when he requested an appeal, Ferdinand glared at him and said, "Wideno, are you questioning the credibility of the Holy Church!?"
The Minister of Rites obediently closed his mouth. As the chief examiner, he was relatively powerless and only had the right to assist the Holy Church in the early planning and during the examination. He had no control over scoring and rulings.
Poor young Master Kaman received a big zero in the first round of the martial arts competition. Due to the severity of his poisoning, he had to withdraw from the examination and wait to take it again next year.
Du Chen successfully advanced to the second round.
The second round took place a day later, but it didn't matter who his opponent was. Du Chen didn't even bother to remember the opponent's name because the guy had already been bought off by the Holy Church and would willingly surrender.
His excuse was, "I am a practitioner of Fire Dou Qi and Sigru is my faith. I will never engage in combat with the descendant of the Holy Radiance Fighter God!"
In the third round, Du Chen's opponent had been crippled in the previous round and came with a crutch. Young Master Francis didn't hesitate to kick and break his crutch, then advanced to the next round!
In the fourth round, his opponent was an infatuated girl from Saint John City. After Du Chen smiled at her, she happily jumped off the stage and went to brag to her girlfriends, saying, "Hey, Francis smiled at me! Oh my goodness, my appearance can rival Princess Yuna!"
Watching the infatuated girl's figure disappear, Du Chen couldn't help but feel speechless. Although this was a scripted act arranged by Ferdinand, it was just too fake, wasn't it?
Fortunately, Du Chen later learned that the girl was known for being infatuated not only during the examination but also in her daily life. Her infatuation was famous! So those candidates who knew her had no objections to Du Chen's advancement in this round.
In the fifth round, his opponent had an urgent matter at home and had to withdraw from the examination. Du Chen advanced!
In the sixth round, well, there was a bye spot for this round, so no need to mention who got it.
By the seventh round, Du Chen had "fallen ill" due to Aliza, the silly child, giving him contaminated food. However, he didn't suffer as much as Kaman and managed to recover in time before the seventh group's examination ended.
This "poisoning" incident was intentionally arranged by Du Chen himself. After all, he had a reputation as a waste. If someone like him were to come in first place, the candidates would surely revolt. Moreover, making it through six rounds of martial arts competition was already quite exaggerated. Using this method to send Du Chen to first place... rational cheaters would never do such a thing!
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In the end, the first place in the seventh group was taken by Sem, a gnome. On the tenth day of the examination, he competed against the first place from the other nineteen groups for the final championship but unfortunately lost. The person who defeated him was Du Chen's second brother, Charlie.
On the eleventh day, all the candidates gathered once again in the Saint Bowen Square in front of the Vern Palace, listening to the examiners announce the scores and the candidates who would enter the Saint John Cathedral.
Compared to when they entered, there were hundreds fewer candidates, and most of them were injured.
However, there were still over three thousand people crowded on the Saint Bowen Square.
Du Chen rode on Aliza's neck, struggling to find his older brother, and wiped the sweat off his forehead as he asked, "Brother, you didn't intentionally lose to a beauty this time, right?"
"Oh, my dear little brother, you're not dead! It's truly wonderful!" Steve hugged Du Chen and warmly greeted him, "It seems like you've given up, don't worry, when we get home, I'll bear the brunt of Father's anger for you!"
Du Chen smiled.
Steve continued, "Ah, it's a pity. I didn't encounter any beauties. They were all damn men. Hehe, I won't show mercy then. I came in second place in Group Four!" He then expressed some concern, "But this year's written test is quite difficult. I'm afraid it will hold me back here!"
"Is it really difficult?" Du Chen didn't realize.
"How is it not difficult? In my examination room, over twenty people didn't finish! Take the seventh question, it actually asked who the attendant was when Pope Samma ascended to the throne five hundred years ago! Damn it, why didn't they ask me what color Pope Samma's underwear was?"
At this moment, the gates of the Vern Palace opened, and Wideno walked out with a grim face, holding a scroll in his hand.
"The results are out, let's not talk for now!" Steve nervously looked at Wideno.
When Steve heard his score of seventy-five, he excitedly shouted, "I did it, I must have passed!" He picked up Du Chen and kept spinning around to vent his excitement.
"Francis Saint Sigru Kain, one hundred points!"
Wow!
Steve was so shocked that he accidentally threw Du Chen to the ground. "Ancestors above, dear little brother, you, you actually got a perfect score!?"
Du Chen innocently got up, dusted off his clothes, and helplessly said, "There's nothing I can do. Those questions were too easy!"
"Uh, my martial examination passed six rounds, although I didn't use any martial skills and only scored six points each time. But when added together, it's thirty-six points. With the full score in the written test and the blessing from the Pope, I should... hehe, have a total of one hundred and sixty-six points!" He recounted his 'good luck' and laughed, "During the seventh round, I didn't believe that the good luck would continue, so I pretended to be sick and withdrew!"
"Ah!" Steve sighed, "My brother, you are likely the first person in history who doesn't fight but still managed to enter the Divine Fighting Academy!"
"But there's still one more round, right? There's still the final examination inside the Saint John Cathedral. I might not be able to get that perfect score!"
"The final round generally doesn't test martial prowess. It mainly assesses the character of the candidates. My dear brother, even your rogue older brother has confidence in passing. What are you afraid of?"
Du Chen could only smile bitterly.
...
As expected, the three Saint Kein brothers all entered the Saint John Cathedral.
Du Chen didn't know how the other candidates were taking the final round of the examination. When he entered a small room, there were seven or eight priests sitting inside, as well as two heavily armored warriors. Father Ferdinand was also there.
They sat around a round table, chatting leisurely.
Ferdinand greeted Du Chen to sit beside the round table and smiled, "Gentlemen, this is the child protected by our mysterious friend. Except for not being able to cultivate Dou Qi, everything about him is perfect!"
"Not bad! Tender and juicy!" A bearded warrior next to Ferdinand sized up Du Chen.
Ferdinand introduced, "This is Mars, the Divine Fighter who specially came from the Holy See. He is also the head of the six guardians under the Pope, with the same authority as the Father!"
That's the Pope's top enforcer, Du Chen thought maliciously, "Respected Mars, it's an honor to meet you!"
"Hmm, no need for pleasantries." Mars's temperament matched his appearance, rough and straightforward. "Francis, there's something I want to discuss with you!"
Du Chen's heart tightened. The Holy Church had spared no effort to help him and gave him great benefits. It was time to repay them.