Arriving at the university, I headed to the dean's office, where the interview was taking place. Applicants were invited in strict order of ranking, compiled from the results of two exams. I was in tenth place, Chen Qi was in ninth; in the end, he still surpassed me. However, I didn't care about that. Ahead of us, in third place, was Wu Niu, who had already entered the office by the time I arrived. Xu Zhaotin was first on the list, immediately followed by Bai Cangfeng, but they had both already been enrolled, so they didn't need to come. After Wu Niu was Shen He, he was fifth.
"Hello," Chen Qi said, approaching me and leaning against the wall. His voice, as always, was pleasant and would lull the vigilance of ordinary people. "You turned out to be quite strong after all."
"You're no slouch either," I replied calmly. "However, I think you could confidently aim for S. You are clearly stronger than Bai Feng."
"Oh, you noticed," he smirked. "I'm not so foolish as to show everyone my strength. In the new campus, as far as I know, they give few resources for development, so it's only worth standing out in the main things. And extra attention in the first year can make my life very difficult," Chen Qi said, shrugging. "By the way, you yourself hid a huge part of your strength. From what I feel, I can assume that you are close to breaking through to the intermediate level, if not already broken through. You hide too well to determine your level precisely. I think even Professor Li couldn't determine your true strength."
"As you said, it won't be very convenient if everyone knows what I can do," I smiled. "So what do you want? You're clearly not a simpleton from a rich family, nor a naive genius from a village."
"Ha, just like your friend, right?" Chen Qi smirked. "I hope you explained everything and what not to do?"
"Quite so, so what do you want?" I said, slightly annoyed, losing patience in the conversation with him.
"You could say, I'm testing the waters," he replied coolly.
"Mmm... I see, are you planning something special at the university?" I asked with the air of an expert.
"And you're not? Of all those who passed the interview, only you interested me," Chen Qi answered honestly. "You seem to stand above, stand above everyone who is suitable here. I can't explain my feelings. But I'll tell you that I have a talent for seeing the true essence of people just by their appearance; most people are like an open book to me. I can tell you everything about almost any passerby. But you! You are special, even talking to you, I can't understand you, I can't reach you. You are like not a human at all, but something else, more perfect, understand?"
"Ha, sounds like some kind of nonsense," I smirked, noting that this guy's observation skills were quite good. "Go on and say it's because of special eyes."
"Hmm... In some ways, you're right," Chen Qi replied thoughtfully. "Purple eyes are a special mark of our lineage; they can appear if a member of our lineage awakens the lightning element, and a couple of other conditions coincide, which are unknown to anyone. So this ability is very rare."
"So you decided to just say that I hid part of my strength, and after that you decided that I am someone special?" I asked, smiling slightly. "I haven't heard a greater stupidity, it's a slightly funny joke, of course, but you could have started the conversation with something else."
"It's not a joke, it's my assumption, I decided to tell you about it," Chen Qi shrugged. "Or do you want to say that I'm wrong about something?"
"No, of course, I hid part of my abilities during the test, but not much, so calm down. As for me surpassing others, I'm just a crammer and a nerd who likes to uncover the secrets of magic," I said, smiling. "As for you, you don't look like someone who just wants to study; you're clearly planning something and think I might hinder you somehow. And with your flattering speeches, you want to lull my vigilance."
"You are indeed a very extraordinary person, Jiaxing Yun. I hope we become friends," he said, smiling, stepping away from the wall and extending his hand to me.
"I don't hide that either," I smiled, extending my hand in return. "I also hope we will be friends, but if you want to pull off something big, let me know."
"Is that a threat? Do you really think you can stop me?" Chen Qi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course not, it's just that maybe it will be so interesting that I'll want to participate," I said, smiling.
"As you wish," Chen Qi shrugged. "I'll think about your offer." After these words, he left.
A long time of waiting in line stretched out. How I hate just waiting, maybe I should have shown a little more of my strength to be ahead in line? Finally, my turn came and I was called into the office. It was quite spacious. Opposite the door stood a sturdy oak table, behind which sat the owner of the office, Professor Li. In front of the oak table, there was a longer table; together they formed a "T" shape. On both sides of this table sat Professor Bai and Teacher Qin Kun. There was a pile of papers on both tables, and the three teachers were sorting through them, carefully examining them. The office also had many cabinets with books and various magazines and folders, and to the left of the door was a small table with a rather soft green sofa.
"Hello," I said politely, bowing slightly.
"Sit down," Professor Li said, pointing to a seat opposite him. When I sat down, the questions were quite standard. Why and for what purpose I entered Minzhu, what I want to achieve, a little about my views, and other banalities. "You really haven't reached the intermediate level?" Professor Li asked unexpectedly.
"What makes you say that, Professor?" I smiled, but I was prepared for such a question. After all, I can't perfectly hide the fact that I'm suppressing my strength, and Professor Li must be at least a high-level mage, as I don't feel his cultivation level.
"When you took the exam, it seemed to me that you were intentionally hiding your strength," he said, smiling slightly. Professor Bai and Teacher Qin Kun had surprised expressions on their faces; they clearly hadn't noticed anything in my test. After all, they were at most at the third stage in one element.
"You probably noticed a slight instability in my lightning element, as I recently made a breakthrough to the third stage," I continued to smile innocently. I had prepared an answer to this question in advance, checking everything in the books.
"I see. I think we should tell you that studying at Minzhu is very difficult, and we have very strict requirements for our students. So, if you have only just broken through to the third stage, are you sure you can keep up with everyone?" Professor Bai asked politely. "Although you have high scores in the theoretical part, at Minzhu, as in most universities, practical skills are more valued."
"I think I can handle it," I replied confidently, this question was also not unexpected. "I just turned nineteen recently, so I think this is a good result for my age. In a year or two, I will definitely reach the intermediate level, and maybe even sooner if I can manage it."
"You say that so confidently, as if breaking through to the intermediate level is nothing," Teacher Qin Kun intervened in the conversation.
"I just believe in my strength and will put all my efforts into achieving this goal," I replied confidently.
"Where does your confidence come from?" Professor Bai asked dryly, and they are still trying to get answers from me, it's fun, though a little annoying, but oh well.
"I know my strength, and I also think that the teachers at Minzhu will be able to help me develop faster. Although I know the theory well, it will never replace personal experience," I replied confidently and firmly, creating the impression of a maximally serious person.
"Alright, let's end it here," Professor Li said, placing a stack of papers on the table. "You will be enrolled in the advanced class. I ask you to come on August thirtieth for a meeting."
"Excuse me, Professor Li, can we allow a mage who has just reached the third stage of the initial level to enter the advanced class?" Professor Bai asked, slightly indignant.
"Professor Bai, we all clearly remember the situation that happened two days ago; you also doubted a student's abilities, and he had to participate in a duel with your nephew. Don't you think it's time to trust my intuition for now?" Professor Li asked politely, but with a slight threat in his voice.
"I think you are right, Professor," Professor Bai almost mumbled, it looked quite amusing.
"I didn't doubt it," Professor Li concluded dryly, then added, addressing me. "Only those who showed good results in both theory and practice can enter the advanced class. The minimum practice score to get into this class is B+, but I will still take into account that you recently broke through to a new stage and the stone might have shown your result slightly incorrectly. And also considering that you are first in the theoretical exam, I will take a risk and personally place you in the advanced class," he said calmly, with a slight pressure in his voice. "I hope I don't need to say that you are expected to give 150% and justify my expectations?"
"Of course, Professor Li," I bowed slightly. Naturally, I didn't expect to deceive a high-level mage with ordinary lies, but I was also confident that he would doubt my words and still decide to admit me to the university in the advanced class. What is such an advanced class? I think everything is clear from the name; only geniuses get there, who by the end of the year reach the intermediate level. Given Xu Zhaotin's rather direct nature, I was sure he would show his full strength and get into the advanced class. It could be said that it was obvious. Well, and Chen Qi and Wu Niu will also undoubtedly get into the advanced class, and I don't plan to deprive myself of fun.
However, it's worth noting that Chen Qi chose a more confident way to get into the advanced class than I did. Since he immediately showed the minimum abilities required for admission there. But unlike him, I will attract less attention, as I will be at the end of the list, but at the same time, I have attracted the attention of the university's top brass, whose support I need. Initially, I will be a very smart guy who was admitted to the advanced class with a slightly lower score than required. But at the competition for resources, I plan to shine and show part of my strength. Namely, to show my skills and prove to everyone that even a beginner-level mage can compare to a servant-level monster.
Thanks to this, Director Xiao will definitely pay attention to me, and a ticket to the competition at the Imperial University will be practically won. It will only remain to work correctly on the final exam, and the job is done. The interview ended there, I received my admission certificate, a university access card, and its badge, which determined my cultivation level. I learned how to deceive such badges first thing, so it was a trifle for me.
After the interview, I headed home, calling Xu Zhaotin along the way, informing him that I had also been admitted to the advanced class, which surprised him greatly. But he still said that he expected no less from me; it seems he has the impression that I am much stronger than him, but he doesn't see and cannot understand how much stronger I am. Mo Fan, upon learning that we were both admitted to the advanced class, started lamenting that there is no such thing in the summoning faculty. For which he received a good scolding from Zhao Tin, who reproached him for choosing his faculty himself.
Tomorrow, Mo Fan was scheduled to appear at the university and show his summoned beast. It can be said that I waited for this event almost all week. So first I, and then Xu Zhaotin, persuaded him to take us with him. To which he, of course, reluctantly, but agreed. Tomorrow should be a fun day.