The large playground of Tianlan Magic High School.
Today's large playground was a bit different from its usual state. On the stage, pillars had been set up with round black stones fixed to them. Namely, black star-sensing stones—tools for evaluating students.
The annual evaluation is very simple, just like the magic awakening. When students place their palm on the star-sensing stone, the examiners can judge the student's enhancement results by the brightness of the stone's glow.
"The radiance of the stardust reflects the level of magic energy in your stardust! Class 8 students, it's time to demonstrate the results of your hard work this year. Let your stardust shine!" Xue Musheng, our homeroom teacher, spoke enthusiastically to us at that moment.
Soon, three examiners took their seats at the judging area for our sector of the grounds. They settled in one by one, while over a thousand students in Tianlan Magic High School uniforms stood majestically on the training grounds, grouped by classes.
Before the evaluation began, the principal naturally stepped forward and gave a boring speech. Though it seemed boring to few of those present, they just hadn't heard Director Xiao from Mingzhu University—that guy really knows how to play with words and rile up a crowd.
When it was my uncle Mu He's turn, as school chairman, he didn't talk much about banal things. After standard encouragements, he transitioned to boasting:
"Today is a special day, so we've invited the most outstanding young sorceress in Bo City. She was directly admitted to the Imperial University at age 15! Let's applaud to welcome this magic genius—Mu Ning Xue, who was supposed to study in your class but has already transferred to university!"
As soon as his voice faded, my cousin—Mu Ning Xue—ascended the podium.
Today, she wore a long silvery-white dress patterned with snowflakes, and shawls were scattered through her long snow-colored hair. Her skin was purer than a baby's.
Especially exquisite was her refined face, like a carved work of art, flawless, without the slightest blemish. Even just standing calmly on stage with a cold expression, she remained the center of attention for most.
He Yu from our class went first for evaluation, but Mu Ning Xue didn't even glance at her and went with her father to watch other classes perform.
(Mu Zhuoyun)
"Mr. Mu, look, this is one of our most outstanding students, Xu Zhaoting," Director Zhu began fawning before Mu Zhuoyun. Well, what else? The school won't sponsor itself.
"Ning Xue, take a look."
"Yes, Father," Mu Ning Xue shifted her gaze to the lightning mage.
Ascending the stage and seeing the goddess watching him, the young mage straightened up, touched the stone, and tried to squeeze out all his potential.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
The judges gave scores. On the judges' suggestion to demonstrate magic, the guy agreed and earned three "C" ratings.
Mu Zhuoyun turned a questioning gaze to his daughter. After thinking a bit, she replied:
"For Bo City, not bad, but by Imperial University standards, very average," Mu Ning Xue tactfully said that the guy wouldn't pass evaluation at her school.
"…," Director Zhu didn't know what to reply to that.
"Brother, it's almost time for Mu Bai's evaluation; maybe we should go watch? I heard that five months ago, he could already use magic," Mu He filled the awkward silence.
The Mu family head turned his gaze to his daughter.
"Let's watch," interest flickered in Mu Ning Xue's eyes, for even by Imperial University standards, this was monstrous genius level.
The group began slowly moving toward the eighth class's evaluation area.
When the balding middle-aged examiner saw the approaching group of big shots, he drew the right conclusions. Skipping several names on the list, he shouted:
"Next, Mu Bai!"
I nodded and went up to the platform.
Placing my hand on the stone, I focused and channeled ice-element stardust magic energy into it.
A sky-blue light blazed brightly from the stone, nearly blinding the examiners and the students in the front row.
"This… second tier!?" The examiners faltered and even jumped from their seats.
"Is this even possible!?"
"In my experience, this hasn't happened…"
Mu Zhuoyun turned a stunned gaze to his daughter and asked:
"You're on the second tier now too, right?"
"Five or six months until the third…" Mu Ning Xue said in a slightly low and disbelieving voice. "Even at the Imperial University, he'd be considered a top genius," she finally gave her assessment.
While disbelieving whispers loud and soft spread among the students, I turned to the examiners:
"Can you give scores?" I asked in a casual tone, as if I hadn't just set a school record for speed to second-tier beginner level.
Exchanging glances, the examiners finally gave their verdict amid the crowd's exclamations:
"S+!"
"S+!"
"S!"
The other two examiners gave the last one strange looks:
"Ahem, +, S+, I just coughed," the elderly mage justified.
"Will you take the magic release evaluation?" one of them asked me with some respect.
I nodded and released the second-tier beginner-level ice element—Hardening—in just over a second. The same as the first-tier "Freeze," but with a stronger freezing effect and higher ice durability. The training dummy was half-covered in ice immediately.
Eh, the ice element has no flashy ways to destroy targets at beginner level, unless I demonstrate enhanced spells, which I won't. I already have plans for my official talent and won't do increased star control, which is useless at high levels, or boost me high on China's best talents list.
"S+!"
"S+!"
"S…+!" The third examiner caved to his peers again; I think I know who's boss in his family.
Descending the stage and receiving tons of admiration from classmates, I waited for the iconic scene I'd watched from the front row in my past life too.
Unlike canon, Mo Fan didn't go right after me; I didn't plant a mini surprise under his evaluation stone. Five people passed, and finally he was called.
"Next, Mo Fan!"
As expected, without my pranks, three "S" for stone brightness and three "A" for release.
Then, the family invitation from Mu Zhuoyun and a very rude personal refusal from Mo Fan.
Now Mu Ning Xue would step in to defend her father, Mu He would push the fight with Yu An, and then…
"Father, Uncle, let cousin Mu Bai defend our family honor, since you don't want me to. No need to involve the family heir; cousin will suffice," Mu Ning Xue blurted out in one breath.
From anyone, anyone, but not from you did I expect such a setup, little sis…