We girls gathered and left the house at 9:30. Welcome ceremony started at 10:30, so we had time.
Walking arm-in-arm with Ai Tutu, we discussed today's summoning department event.
"Tutu, Dzao Dzao, don't tell anyone about my strength, or it'll be hard to get good resources from the university. Teachers don't know my full power and think I'm strongest in green campus but couldn't hold against a big crowd. Let it stay that way." I gave them pointers.
I wasn't worried about them spilling. Mu Nujiao was calm and quiet, no other friends but Ai Tutu. And Tutu just wanted to see shocked faces, so she'd stay mum. On the flip side, any sharp observer would spot something off from her anticipating face.
Reaching the auditorium, we split. Girls went to plant element faculty spot, I to summoning faculty area.
The auditorium was huge. Everywhere you looked, spectator seats rose gradually so all ten thousand could comfortably watch arena fights or hear Director Xiao's speech from his tribune on the cleared high section.
The arena was a box of magically reinforced tempered glass, 150 by 150 meters. Height 25 meters. Flying summons wouldn't have advantage here.
Finally reaching summoning faculty spot, I faced the dean's angry eyes and six smirking pairs from my classmates.
"Hi everyone, I'm Mu Bai." Hey, etiquette never killed anyone – might as well greet.
"What hi!? Why weren't you at yesterday's faculty meeting? We discussed arena order and got to know each other. Now you'll go last – maybe won't even get a turn." The dean hissed angrily. His badge said surname Qin.
He said the last with vindictive tone. Good luck to him. I knew that special admission fatty noticed our good ties with Mo Fan. Probably, like canon, he'd go out to trash my classmates and vent.
Even if not, nothing stopped me yelling insults at the crowd. For Three-Step Tower cultivation, I could play rat a bit.
As dean, missing my reaction, geared to chew me out again, Director Xiao took the tribune and all hushed, ready to listen.
Tapping the mic and clearing throat, the director spoke:
"Before the welcome speech, one thing." His soft gaze turned stern, tone harsher.
"If you just want to be a mage respected for status and live relaxed, you came to wrong place!" Scanning the hall, he continued.
"A Mingzhu graduate must have power to change the world and be a hero taking humanity's protection mission!
"If you just want comfort, I'll personally give you diploma now and you can start that life early! Don't take spots from real mages!" He stared at the crowd.
I thought his words right. If mages didn't defend cities or grow stronger, monsters would wipe humanity.
People here weren't planet rulers like my first life. We were just one species among many – not the strongest.
If mages shirked human survival responsibility, we'd go extinct. Though even mages' efforts wouldn't stop human extermination cycles...
Anyway, instead of brooding, lift my mood. As Director Xiao prepared to continue, satisfied with effect, I raised hand and yelled:
"And with the diploma, extra resources? Like Three-Step Tower cultivation days. Otherwise, besides useless paper, no gain. Why graduate early if I get nothing? Staying here, even not topping faculty in main campus, I'd get plenty resources." My tone dripped sincere outrage.
Whispers spread, Director Xiao's brow twitched. Clearing throat, he replied:
"No, we won't give resources to those leaving at my invitation." His tone made it clear even a hedgehog would get I'd get bricked if pushing. Mage Half-Sealing like him could conjure one. Especially with earth element.
Clearing throat again, director swiftly dropped the odd topic, refocusing young mages on main event:
"Today, show your skills battling summoning freshmen – meet today's seven main heroes!" Director Xiao gestured our group; Dean Qin paraded us around arena for all to see.
Then led us to seats near one arena entrance. Guys prepped, already set order. I just sat in comfy chair, ready to enjoy show.
"You might think unfair spotlighting one faculty's freshmen as today's heroes." Director Xiao continued to crowd.
"But it's your chance to shine by beating them!" He rallied envious freshmen from other faculties.
"Summoning department needs 100 wins today to keep yearly resources. And only seven of them! Your chance to show and stop their win streak!" After that, huge freshman crowd surged to arena entrance.
Teachers formed them into proper queue. Their faces showed habit – happened yearly. Older students watched newbies with knowing smiles – they'd done same before.
"Meet first summoning fighter – Hai Dafu!" Remaining students applauded the short plump boy with brown hair.
Seeing two freshmen by opposite entrance argue who fights first, Hai Dafu smirked arrogantly and boomed:
"One more, one less – no difference! Send both!"
The show begins.