The next six months passed hastily, and now it had been a full year since everyone had awakened their magic. Many students could finally release spells properly. Mo Fan made his way toward the principal's office, his mind occupied with thoughts about the upcoming examination.
Two months ago, he had reached Level 2 in his Fire Element and was now focusing on his Lightning Element, hoping to advance it as well. During the past half-year, he had participated in numerous demon hunts and earned nearly a million yuan. With that money, he had purchased a pair of Magic Boots capable of releasing Level 2 Wind Magic—Wind Path: Flash Step. He had also obtained a Servant-Level Soul Essence, which upgraded Little Loach to a Mortal-Grade Stardust Magic Tool.
Now, Mo Fan could finally begin hunting demons solo.
As he thought about all this, he found himself in front of the principal's office. He knocked.
"Come in," a voice replied from inside.
He pushed open the door. Upon seeing him, the principal raised his eyebrows. "Mo Fan, why are you here?"
"Principal, I've come to ask about the examination."
"Oh? What do you want to know?"
"I've reached Level 2," Mo Fan said calmly.
"Really? That's impressive. Most children from noble clans are only reaching that level now at your age." The principal's eyes lit up with excitement.
"So... should I release Level 1 or Level 2 magic during the exam?" Mo Fan asked.
The principal chuckled. "Mo Fan, release whatever you want. As long as I'm here, no one will bother you."
"One more thing, Principal..."
"Yes?"
"Can I participate in the battle for the Underground Holy Spring next year, if possible?"
"Well, if you can reach Level 3 before the end of your sophomore year, you can give it a try."
"Thanks, Principal." With that, Mo Fan left the room, his mind made up. He would cultivate his Fire Element to Level 3 before the end of the second year and fight for the opportunity to enter the Underground Holy Spring, aiming to break through to Mid-Tier Mage in one go.
The examination wasn't conducted through written tests in classrooms. Although there were Magic Theory tests, their points didn't weigh much. The most crucial part was the annual practical examination.
It was essentially an assessment of the students' cultivation progress over the past year, followed by a redistribution of classes based on performance.
Mo Fan was the last to arrive at the training grounds. Usually, this place was where students attended practical classes, but today it had a completely different setup. Aside from the examiners' desk, arranged in a half-circle, the most striking feature was the Star Appraisal Stone.
The Star Appraisal Stone looked like a large, smooth black cobblestone, roughly the size of a watermelon. It sat on a raised stone pillar at the very front of the grounds. It was the key apparatus of today's test.
The exam was simple—just like the Awakening Ceremony. Students would place their hand on the Star Appraisal Stone, which would reveal their cultivation level based on the radiance it emitted.
This was no less important than a high school board exam—it determined their future. Whether they continued studying with better resources or got cut from the path of a mage depended on this very moment.
"Remember what I've told you before," said Xue Musheng, their homeroom teacher. "The intensity of radiance from your Stardust represents the strength of your magical cultivation. Students of the Eighth Class, the time to showcase your year's efforts has come. Let your stardust shine!"
"Mr. Xue... I'm sorry. I might be expelled," a girl said tearfully.
It was Zuo Heyu, her nervous voice trembling as she wiped at her eyes. Her small, sorrowful figure drew sympathy from the surrounding students.
"Don't say that. You've always worked hard. Have faith in yourself."
"But I'm stupid… Even though I meditate every day, my stardust still feels so weak."
"Don't be afraid," said Lu Jianhua, the dorm head of Mo Fan's dorm. He patted his chest. "Even if you don't pass, there's me. As long as we have one Mage in the family, we'll be fine!"
"Pfft! You don't even know if you'll pass."
"Are you kidding? Just wait till I put my hand on that stone—it'll blind all your titanium-alloy dog eyes!" Lu Jianhua grinned proudly.
Before long, three strict-looking examiners arrived—disciplinary teachers that students normally feared.
"Quiet!" Xue Musheng barked. "This year's exam will be observed by several school supervisors. Give it your best!"
The assessment would cover thirty classes of freshmen. The 1,500 students of Tian Lan Magic High stood in a formation, dressed in their school uniforms—a stunning sight.
Before it began, the principal delivered his annual speech. Then, the school supervisors stepped forward.
One of them was Mu He. He took the stage and launched into an impassioned speech, describing the glorious path of a Magician.
In the crowd, Mo Fan stood with folded arms, a cold smile forming on his lips.
"Mu He… Who would have thought this man would become the head of the Blue Deacons under Salan? The Black Vatican hides well—too well. They go unnoticed until it's too late. Unlike others," he thought, stealing a glance at Tang Yue nearby.
"Today is a very special day," Mu He declared. "Because we've invited the most distinguished female Magician of Bo City. When she was just 15, the Empire Magic Institute made an exception to recruit her. I'm sure many of you know her name... That's right—it's Mu Ningxue! Let us welcome her!"
The moment her name was spoken, a ripple of excitement ran through the crowd.
"Heavens, it's Mu Ningxue! I heard she froze the ground when she awakened her Ice Element."
"I heard she mastered Ice Scatter in just eight months!"
"Eight months?! I've been here for a whole year and can only control five stars…"
"She's also beautiful. A genius and a beauty—she's the pride of Bo City!"
The training grounds buzzed with admiration and envy. Clearly, Mu Ningxue was a legend in their eyes.
"Brother Fan, Brother Fan—it's Little Princess! She really came to our school!" Zhang Xiaohou practically shook Mo Fan's sleeve in excitement.
Mo Fan looked at the stage. Mu Ningxue stood gracefully, her white hair swaying slightly in the breeze.
"I have to admit, she's beautiful… but white hair only looks good in anime and comics. In real life, it's just weird. Whatever. None of this has anything to do with me. She's a walking trouble magnet."
He looked away, calm and focused.
"What's it got to do with me?" he muttered. "Let's just focus on the exam… and not cause any trouble."