Volume 1: Bo'an Awakening & The Calamity Storm
Chapter 11
The Annual Examination Begins
A biting northerly gale swept down from the rugged expanse of Cang Lei Ridge, bringing with it bone-chilling cold that howled across the moss-covered rooftops of Bo’an City. Yet within the central plaza of Feng Lan Magic High School, the atmosphere was suffocatingly sweltering, simmering like a glowing furnace stoked to full fury.
Over a thousand students and parents packed the tiered amphitheater to the brim. Hurried footsteps, restless murmurs, and ragged, anxious breaths fused into a dense wall of sound that pressed heavily against the eardrums. For the senior students assembled here today, this morning was the day their fates would be judged.
In this world, magical prowess dictated everything. Those endowed with talent would continue striding down the illustrious path of a Mage, laying claim to supreme status and abundant resources. Those found lacking would be brushed aside without hesitation, relegated to impoverished regular classes, their lives doomed to stagnate at the very bottom of society.
In the heart of the plaza stood an elevated combat arena paved with mirror-sheened black granite. Atop the raised platform stood ten ancient Roman-style pillars, each supporting a watermelon-sized translucent crystal sphere: a Star-Sensing Stone. This exorbitantly priced mineral possessed the miraculous capacity to resonate flawlessly with a human’s Sea of Consciousness. With just two palms pressed against its glassy surface, the brilliance of one’s Star Dust and the exact tally of tamed Star Particles would be immediately laid bare. Not a single person could falsify even half a fraction of their strength.
Amidst the assembly of Experimental Class 1, Zhang Hu shifted restlessly on his feet. His pudgy frame swayed anxiously back and forth, coarse, calloused hands wringing together in unending tension. Beads of cold sweat seeped from his brow, trickling down the creases of his chubby cheeks.
“Brother Feng... I’m shaking,” Fatty Hu stammered, gulping audibly as he leaned in close to Lin Feng’s ear. “I meditated for three straight hours last night, and the second particle was obeying me like a charm. But the minute I laid eyes on those magic stones, my heart started hammering like a village war drum...”
Beside him, Lin Feng remained as tranquil as the surface of a slumbering lake. He reached up and gently adjusted the grey woolen scarf wrapped snugly around his neck—the warm gift Xiao Mo had stayed up late into the night knitting for him. The cozy warmth of the yarn, harmonizing with the pure, soothing current radiating from the Primordial Dragon Pendant nestled against his chest, washed over him with total serenity.
“Don’t psych yourself out,” Lin Feng said softly, patting his friend’s shoulder with grounded composure. “Once a Star Particle settles into place, it belongs to you. The more you panic, the more chaotic the mana circulating through your pathways becomes, and the stone won’t reveal your true brilliance. Keep hold of the feeling you found last night: steady as the earth, mind unmoving.”
Lin Feng’s concise reassurance felt like a cool splash of mountain water poured straight over Fatty Hu’s sweltering panic. Taking a long, steady breath, the chubby youth regained his footing and nodded hard. “Right! I’ll listen to you!”
A few paces away, Li Peng stood in an impeccably pressed uniform, a gleaming silver crest pinned proudly upon his chest. Crossing his arms, he curled his lip in a cold sneer.
“Zhang Hu, clinging to that destitute beggar won’t save your skin. You’ve sat dead last in the Experimental Class for four months straight. Today, you’d better brace yourself to be dumped into Regular Class 8 to rub shoulders with the delinquents!”
He cut his eyes toward Lin Feng, his mouth twisting with biting mockery. “And that goes for you too, Lin Feng. So what if you awakened Fire? Without the coin to buy Magic Crystals to nourish your Sea of Consciousness, do you think flapping your lips can bridge the chasm of resources? Just wait until you step onto that stage. Let’s see if you can even ignite three inches of light!”
Lin Feng didn’t even deign to spare him a glance. When dealing with opportunistic shrimps whose only skill was groveling to the strong, parting one’s lips was a waste of breath. He stood tall and straight, his gaze fixed on the rostrums ahead as if Li Peng were nothing more than empty air. That icy, total disregard turned Li Peng’s complexion a furious shade of purple, and he huffed in bitter resentment before whirling away.
BOOM——!
A thunderous blast from the mana cannon atop the northern watchtower shattered the sky, signaling that the appointed hour had arrived! The entire plaza fell dead silent in a fraction of a second, thousands of pairs of eyes turning as one toward the grand honorary dais.
At the center of the dais, Principal Qin stepped forward to the marble railing. The elderly master was draped in a deep crimson robe trimmed with woven gold thread—the unmistakable insignia of a peak Mid-tier Mage. Flanking him stood distinguished proctors from the Magic Association and the Cang Lei Ridge Military Zone. In the pavilion wings, a representative of the prestigious Ling clan leisurely sipped piping hot tea, his haughty gaze sweeping sovereignly across the gathered multitude.
Principal Qin tapped his finger against an amplification stone, and his deep, booming voice washed over every corner of the plaza:
“Students! Today’s Mid-Year Annual Examination is designed to rigorously evaluate the meditative foundation you have built during these four months following your Awakening. Each of you will take the stage one by one, placing both hands upon a Star-Sensing Stone to measure the luminosity of your Star Dust and determine the precise number of Star Particles you have successfully brought under your command!”
He paused for a measured beat before declaring the grading tiers in a ringing cadence:
“The grading criteria are structured into five distinct tiers:
“Tier D: Dim, lifeless Star Dust, unable to master even a single Star Particle. Any student falling into this bracket will be immediately demoted to the Regular Classes!
“Tier C: One Star Particle tamed. Standard passing grade!
“Tier B: Firm mastery over two Star Particles with a stable Star Dust. Rated Good, securing your continued placement within the Experimental Classes!
“Tier A: Mastery over three or more Star Particles! Highly distinguished, earning an official magic stone scholarship!
“And above all, should any student achieve Tier S—commanding four or more Star Particles, or approaching the threshold of completing a full Star Path—the academy shall bestow an unprecedented reward: exclusive access to the Underground Meditation Chamber of Feng Lan High School for one entire month!”
The entire plaza erupted like a boiling cauldron! The Underground Meditation Chamber lay anchored deep within the bedrock, where the ambient mana density was three times that of the outside world; meditating there for a single day was equivalent to three days of grueling cultivation at home! In the foremost row of Experimental Class 1, Ling Bai tilted his chin upward, the corner of his mouth curving into an arrogant smirk of absolute certainty.
“Order! The Annual Examination officially begins! Proctors, call the roster!”
All ten stone pedestals flared with a pale azure glow in unison. The first batch of ten students ascended the stone steps with trembling knees, enveloped in an atmosphere of suffocating suspense.
At Pedestal 5, a male student from Regular Class 3 trembled violently as he pressed his clammy, sweat-slicked palms against the Star-Sensing Stone. Three agonizing seconds ticked past. The sphere produced nothing more than a faint, sickly greenish spark—dim as a dying firefly trapped in a torrential downpour—before snuffing out completely. Not a single stellar mote consented to halt within his grasp.
The proctor tapped his stylus against the ledger without emotion. “Li Qiang, Wind Element. Dim Star Dust, zero Star Particles commanded. Evaluation: Tier D! Demoted to the Unrestricted Class!”
“No... Instructor, please, let me try again!” The boy fell to his knees in a desperate wail, but two armored spellguards promptly hauled him away by the arms. The chilling sight sent shivers down the spines of the hundreds of students watching below. The realm of magic was merciless to the extreme; without mana, one was condemned to remain a nameless speck forever!
One after another, dozens of students took their turns on the pedestals, the overwhelming majority receiving nothing better than Tier D or Tier C-. Weary, sorrowful sighs from parents rippled endlessly through the stands, weighing down the arena like lead.
Then, the loudspeakers crackled with crisp authority: “Experimental Class 1! Pedestal 3: Zhang Hu!”
A sudden buzz swept through the ranks. Several youths from wealthy families snickered openly: “Haha, it’s the fat lard’s turn! Tier D for sure this time!”
Fatty Hu’s bulky frame stiffened. Lin Feng gave his broad shoulder a firm squeeze. “Step up. Show them what your perseverance is made of.”
The unwavering conviction in Lin Feng’s eyes sparked a surge of courage through Fatty Hu’s heart. Gritting his teeth, he took heavy, determined strides up toward Pedestal 3. Standing before the crystal sphere, Fatty Hu shut his eyes tight, recalling Lin Feng’s instructions: Breathe deep, sink into the dantian... The earth endures all, solid and vast...
Once his mind had settled into absolute stillness, Fatty Hu pressed his thick, fleshy palms firmly onto the stone!
One second...
Two seconds passed...
The sphere remained dark and unresponsive, eliciting a derisive sneer from Li Peng beneath the stage.
Yet in the very next heartbeat, a deep, resonant hum—resembling muffled thunder rumbling within the depths of the earth—vibrated outward!
BOOM!
A burst of thick, rich ocher-gold radiance carrying an aura of steadfast solidity erupted from the core of the sphere, brilliantly illuminating Fatty Hu’s sweat-streaked visage! Inside the radiant corona, two Earth Element Star Particles orbited in flawless harmony, bound together as firmly as ancient monoliths! What was more, right along the outer rim, a third Star Particle flickered in and out of luminescence, pulsing vividly with each intake of his breath!
Two fully mastered! A third already stirring on the cusp of awakening!
The proctor’s eyes shot wide open, his quill freezing midair. The surrounding bleachers went dead silent, and the sneer plastered across Li Peng’s face instantly calcified.
Raising his voice into the broadcast microphone, the proctor announced: “Zhang Hu, Earth Element! Stable Star Dust, pure and robust mana! Two Star Particles firmly controlled, with the third particle reaching thirty percent progress! Evaluation: Tier B! Meets full qualifications to remain in the Experimental Class!”
The words “Tier B” rang out across the entirety of the plaza! Fatty Hu snapped his eyes open. The instant he laid eyes on his score, he practically bounced off the stone floor, pumping both fists skyward and roaring with sheer delight: “Hahaha! I did it! Tier B!”
He stampeded down the stairs like a runaway boulder and threw his arms around Lin Feng in an ecstatic bear hug. “Brother Feng! Tier B! You really are my savior!” In the distance, their homeroom teacher, Instructor Kang Mu, let out a deep breath of relief, an amazed smile touching his lips.
Li Peng stood off to the side, his expression dark as thunder as he ground his teeth: “Just blind luck! A blind dog stumbling onto a dead sparrow! Let me show you what true clan pedigree looks like!”
Right then, the announcement boomed over the speakers: “Next student from Experimental Class 1: Li Peng!”
Regaining his haughty poise, Li Peng strutted up to Pedestal 2. Casting a provocative sneer down at the crowd, he pressed both palms against the Star-Sensing Stone.
Whoosh——!
A frosty plume of pale azure mist billowed into the air! An icy blue brilliance flared to life, noticeably more luminous than Fatty Hu’s previous display. Within the depths of the crystal sphere, two azure Star Particles danced with supple agility, while a third had already coalesced to more than half its full form!
The crowd below erupted in appreciative gasps. The proctor nodded and announced: “Li Peng, Ice Element! Sharp, incisive frost energy! Two Star Particles mastered to perfection, third particle at fifty percent manifestation! Evaluation: Tier B+!”
Tier B+! The highest score achieved since the start of the entire examination!
Li Peng paraded down from the pedestal, chin raised high, and planted himself directly in front of Lin Feng and Fatty Hu. Lowering his voice, he hissed venomously: “See the difference now, you country bumpkins? My clan spent tens of thousands of magic coins purchasing Magic Crystals for my cultivation—something the penniless son of a lowly chauffeur couldn’t even dream of in his wildest fantasies! Just wait until you go up there and score a pathetic Tier D. You’d better pack your wretched trash and get the hell out of Feng Lan High!”
Zhang Hu flushed with outrage and opened his mouth to shout back, but Lin Feng raised an arm to block him. Looking squarely into the arrogant face before him, Lin Feng’s eyes remained utterly undisturbed by so much as a ripple. He tossed out a nonchalant remark:
“A Tier B+ might be the highest summit you’ll ever reach in this lifetime. But to me... it’s not even fit to carry my shoes.”
“What did you say?!” Li Peng shook with fury, green veins throbbing violently across his temples. “You dare say I’m not fit to carry your shoes?! What right does a worthless pauper like you have to—”
“Silence across the grounds!”
A commanding voice charged with immense magical pressure descended from the central rostrum, slicing through Li Peng’s vitriol like a cleaver! The Chief Proctor from the Magic Association himself had risen to his feet, projecting his voice until it boomed across the vault of heaven:
“Next student from Experimental Class 1... Ling Bai!”
The moment the two words “Ling Bai” were uttered, the entire plaza seemed to sway! Thousands of spectators in the stands surged to their feet at once, the clamor of the noble scions detonating like rolling thunder:
“Young Master Ling Bai is taking the stage!”
“The number one Ice genius of the entire grade! The prodigy groomed by the full resources of the Ling clan!”
“Word has it that half a month ago, the young master had already brought three Star Particles under absolute control!”
“It’s guaranteed Tier A—maybe even Tier S! If the Underground Meditation Chamber doesn’t belong to Ling Bai this year, who else could possibly claim it?!”
Upon the honorary rostrum, the Ling clan representative smiled with smug gratification. Stroking his goatee, he offered a subtle nod to Principal Qin, silently asserting his family’s unassailable preeminence.
From the front row of Experimental Class 1, a silhouette slowly stepped forward. Ling Bai was dressed in an opulent snow-white magic suit, draped with a majestic blue fur-trimmed mantle. He walked with measured, unhurried grace, radiating the overbearing composure and innate aristocracy of an elite bloodline.
Yet as he passed Lin Feng’s formation, Ling Bai’s stride came to an abrupt pause. Tilting his head, his ash-grey eyes cast a frigid, disdainful glare downward at Lin Feng—like a monarch perched atop a mountain looking down upon rotten weeds in the abyss below.
Ling Bai’s lips curved ever so slightly, and an icy whisper laden with knife-sharp hostility drifted forth: “Lin Feng, keep your eyes wide open and watch closely. The gulf between you and me... is an eternal, unbridgeable boundary dividing the lofty clouds from the filth on the ground.”
Leaving no room for a reply, Ling Bai turned cleanly on his heel and strode with supreme confidence toward Central Pedestal 1—home to the most exquisitely calibrated Star-Sensing Stone in the entire academy!
Beneath his boots, wisps of frosty white mist condensed into crystalline snowflakes that swirled gracefully around the hem of his robe. The entire plaza held its breath! Thousands of pairs of eyes locked onto the proud back of the Ling clan’s young master!
An earth-shattering exhibition of three mastered Star Particles... was about to ignite!