The morning of the final examination arrived with rare clarity. Sunlight spilled across the frost covered sports field, melting into thin streams of mist. The entire first year division of Bo City Magic High moved toward the assembly area, their robes stirring gently in the cold air.
For most students, this was the moment they had been preparing for all year.
For others, especially the hidden monsters within the crowd, it was simply the beginning.
The school instructors stood on the raised platform. Behind them sat several unfamiliar figures: members of the school board, a few elite families, and even a representative from the main city. Their presence alone caused whispers to ripple through the students.
Among them, leaning elegantly with a composed expression, was Lu Mei.
Wind brushed the loose strands of her hair like she was part of the breeze.
To others, she was simply an advanced student observing the exam.
To Lu Jun, she was the silent measure of everything he had become.
He caught her eye briefly. She nodded once. That was enough.
Xu Mang lingered at the back, arms crossed, as if none of this mattered.
Mo Fan arrived late as usual, drawing a few irritated glances.
Mu Bai smirked.
Yu Ang observed coldly.
Everything looked normal.
Everything felt normal.
It was only the instructors who sensed an odd pressure in the air, a faint heaviness they could not explain.
Instructor Xue Musheng Steps Forward
He cleared his throat and addressed the crowd.
"Students, today is the culmination of your first year. The final examination is not just a test of strength but of your ability to apply magic responsibly, decisively, and under pressure."
Students straightened.
Whispers died instantly.
"The exam will be divided into three parts."
"One: Basic Casting Assessment."
A murmur rose. Everyone knew this already.
"Two: Stardust Control and Stability Assessment."
"Three: Combat Evaluation."
Excitement and nerves rippled through the students.
The combat exam was the most anticipated event.
Xue Musheng raised a hand and the field fell silent again.
"Furthermore, due to recent approval from the city committee, the exam will include an observer evaluation."
He nodded politely toward the lineup of watching elites.
That was when they appeared.
The Arrival of Mu Ningxue
Four steps echoed as she descended from the seating area.
The air seemed to chill by instinct.
Not from magic, but from presence.
A girl with snow pale skin, long silver hair that shimmered like cold moonlight, and eyes that carried a calm frost stepped beside the instructors.
Mu Ningxue.
Her reputation had reached the school far before her arrival.
She was a prodigy from one of Bo City's most influential families, already unmatched at her level.
The students instinctively parted around her like water around an iceberg.
Yu Ang straightened immediately.
Mu Bai's eyes brightened with envy.
Even Lu Mei's expression turned more attentive.
Lu Jun watched quietly but without awe.
Xu Mang didn't even look.
Mo Fan simply blinked. "Huh. Pretty girl."
The contrast in reactions only intensified the tension.
The Silent Pressure
As Mu Ningxue took her place, the magical atmosphere of the entire field shifted.
Those with weaker cultivation felt their stardust tremble slightly, unable to withstand her natural presence.
Several students gasped softly.
Xue Musheng's voice remained calm.
"Do not be nervous. Lady Ningxue is here only to observe."
But that reassurance barely helped.
If anything, it made the pressure worse.
Mu Ningxue stood still, her gaze passing over the crowd light, cold, and almost uninterested.
Until, very briefly, her eyes paused.
Not on Mu Bai.
Not on any of the "top ranked" talents the school boasted about.
Her gaze passed over Lu Jun, lingered for a fraction of a second—almost as if she sensed something—but then moved on.
She also paused for an instant when her eyes brushed Xu Mang, who gave no reaction at all.
Mo Fan yawned, drawing a few annoyed looks, and Mu Ningxue seemed faintly surprised by his indifference before dismissing it.
No one knew what she had sensed.
But it caused several elites in the stands to narrow their eyes.
Something was off in this generation of Bo City students.
The Examination Begins
Xue Musheng raised both hands.
"All students, prepare yourselves. The exam starts now."
The symbols of the assessment formation lit up around the field.
The barrier hummed to life.
Teachers took their positions behind the designated platforms.
Students dispersed to their examination routes.
Tension crystallized into anticipation.
For most of the school, this was the battle for ranking.
For Mu Bai, this was their chance to stand in the spotlight.
But in the shadows of the crowd stood three quiet storms:
Lu Jun, whose dual stardust hummed with newly forged brilliance.
Xu Mang, who carried the Terrifying power of lightning and a frost crown of a Warrior beast in his spiritual world.
Mo Fan, who hid an entire lightning stardust under the calm glow of fire.
None of them showed even a sliver of pressure.
The final exam had begun.
And Bo City had no idea what kind of monsters were taking the test with them.
The Basic Casting platforms lit up one by one as the students formed lines. Even the normally lazy boys straightened their robes once they saw the instructors watching with cold eyes. The first round was simple: cast your awakening element cleanly and consistently.
Yet the tension clinging to the air made even simple spells feel like a mountain.
Mo Bai stepped forward first, drawing murmurs of admiration. His ice stardust shimmered with the arrogant confidence of someone who believed the exam was already his.
His casting was clean, powerful, precise.
A perfect demonstration.
The elites nodded in agreement.
Next came the core students of Class One. Many performed above average, earning polite acknowledgment from the higher ups.
Then the flow continued through the normal students. A few trembled out of fear. A few failed to fully activate their stars. Xue Musheng sighed more than once.
Mo Fan's Turn
When Mo Fan's name was called, the crowd split into two types of whispers.
"Is he still just Novice Two Star?"
"His fire is strong, but he is reckless."
"He skipped classes almost as much as that Xu Mang guy."
Mo Fan rubbed the back of his head and stepped forward lazily.
He lifted his hand.
One star lit.
Then a second.
Then a third.
All three stabilized smoothly into a fiery diagram.
Fire burst forward with a roaring flare.
Not overwhelming.
Not explosive.
Not intimidating.
Just enough.
Enough for the teachers to believe he was the strongest among the "normal" class.
Enough for the elites to nod in approval.
Enough to avoid suspicion.
Mu Ningxue watched him with faint interest for a moment, then turned away.
Lu Jun's Turn
When Lu Jun stepped forward, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
He did not release the true sharpness of his Metal. He did not unleash the full fluid strength of his Water.
Instead, he simply drew his stars calmly.
Smooth lines.
Perfect transitions.
Zero instability.
His casting was so refined that Instructor Xue lifted his eyebrows slightly.
"Excellent control," he commented out loud.
Mo Bai frowned.
That meant Lu Jun's score now exceeded his own in technique.
Lu Mei watched her little brother quietly, expressing no surprise at his performance. She knew the truth that no one else did.
Xu Mang's Turn
"Xu Mang, Class Seven!"
Students whispered again.
"The guy who barely comes to class?""He is probably going to embarrass himself."
Xu Mang walked forward without hurry. Lazily, even.
But the moment he raised his hand, the atmosphere stilled.
Lightning stars appeared in a perfect arc.
No shaking.
No hesitation.
No wasted energy.
The formation ignited in a crisp silver glow.
Even Mu Ningxue's expression shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing in recognition.
This was not the control of a delinquent.
This was the control of someone who trained under pressure far beyond what Bo City could provide.
Instructor Xue was stunned.
"Huh… This… this is not something an average student can do. His lightning is extremely stable."
Lu Mei's gaze flickered momentarily toward Xu Mang, almost as if she sensed something beneath the surface.
Xu Mang stepped back without saying a word.
The First Test Results
The first round concluded with the screen listing the top performers.
Lu Jun – Excellent
Mo Bai – Excellent
Xu Mang – Excellent
Mo Fan – Above Average
Mo Fan clicked his tongue. "Above average? That is insulting."
Xu Mang leaned in just enough.
"You hid your breakthough. What did you expect, a gold medal?"
Mo Fan grinned. "True."
Lu Jun only smiled toward his sister, who gave him a small approving nod.
The second round began shortly after.
Chapter Twenty Five: The Weight of Stardust
The Stardust Control test was harsher. Students needed to compress their element, maintain stability, and restrain leakage. Those who lacked discipline were immediately exposed.
Once again, Lu Jun set the standard.
His Metal stardust compressed into a blade so sharp even the teachers felt a faint sting. His Water layered smoothly over it, forming a dual element control that stunned the observers.
The board of directors whispered among themselves.
"Such stability at this age… astonishing."
Xu Mang stood beside him, causing two instructors to exchange surprised expressions.
His lightning did not explode.
It did not crack wildly.
It flowed—smooth, pure, refined.
Lightning that obeyed.
Lightning that responded instantly.
Lightning that had clearly been honed under life threatening conditions.
Mo Fan kept his fire "slightly unstable," just as he planned.
He even pretended to sweat a little.
Xue Musheng believed it completely.
Mu Ningxue watched silently.
Her eyes lingered on the three boys longer than before.
For the first time, she looked… thoughtful.