A cool droplet of sweat dribbles down my forehead and lands on the ground as I complete my fourth weighted pushup underneath the shade of the dense area of trees in the school grounds.
Summer has transitioned into autumn, a fact accentuated by the colorful falling leaves in the groves of trees. Several other students dozens of meters away are also practicing their magic, peering into their Spiritual Worlds to manipulate their Stardusts and wrestle with their stars. Their meditation requires their full concentration, and some even have their eyes shut.
We may be handling meditation the same way, but where my methods stray from the others' is in the discipline of control. Most students still remain seated in one location to place all of their attention on their stars, but there have been a myriad of instances in the forest when I've needed to come up with ideas while moving and evading. Running, calisthenics, and practicing strikes with my limbs or weapons have become second nature and no longer require any of my attention.
Therefore, I'm able to keep up my physicality while practicing control, and in the future I'll be able to cast spells while dodging attacks, whereas most Basic and Intermediate Mages must choose between evasion and drawing a Star Path or Star Pattern. Like Mu Zhouyun, he was powerless to avoid my sword while casting an Intermediate Water spell.
After 3 months, I've already controlled 4 stars and will likely get the fifth in another week or so. At this rate, I'll be able to cast Illuminate: Cleanse by winter, although that's hardly an important objective because the spell merely functions to purify things. Still, I'm easily outpacing the others: their flimsy resolutions are no match for my iron will hammered into shape by pain and trauma, tempered by patience.
…
…
I flick my eyes over the gouges in the bark, each cut twice as deep as the ones an Average Soldier would leave. This is the right trail.
Even after awakening my Element, I can't afford to blunder into a fight with something far stronger than myself. The added strength and speed in my limbs merely offer a slightly larger margin for error. Warriors would tear me to shreds.
I advance with spear in hand, shortsword at my hip. The underbrush is scattered with broken branches and churned soil, signs of something heavy and relentless moving through here.
Then I hear it. A low, grating rasp, like rocks grinding together.
I duck behind a tree and part the foliage.
The beast is waiting in the clearing: a wolf-like body clad in dark, bony plates, each one ridged like jagged armor. Its claws gouge lines into the dirt with every step, and its eyes glow with the pale gleam of instinctive hostility. An Advancing Soldier.
It sniffs the air and instantly locks onto me.
I dart from cover, spear leveled at its torso. The monster lunges, and its plated shoulder collides with my thrust. Sparks scatter as bone deflects steel. The impact surges through my arms, but my body holds steady; two years ago I would have crumpled.
I spring back just in time for its claws to scythe through the space where I stood. Bark explodes from a tree behind me.
It lunges again. I feint left, then roll to the right, scraping my spear's tip across the gaps in its armor. Blood sprays from the shallow cut. It howls, enraged, and whips its tail—bone spikes fwip through the air, reaching me in an instant.
One clips my forearm, tearing a thin line of blood, but I ignore the brief searing heat and focus on anticipating its next movements by watching its muscles. The beast crouches, preparing to launch forward. Its legs bunch like coiled springs. I match its timing, running forward instead of away.
I duck underneath, and its jaws snap inches from my face, hot breath flooding my nose. I drive the spear upward, angling for the softer underside of its throat. The weapon slides past the plates and punches deep into muscle.
It thrashes wildly. The shaft bends under the strain. I release the spear before it snaps and draw my shortsword. The beast rears, trying to shake free the weapon buried in its neck, and exposes its belly.
I step in and carve the sword across its abdomen. Flesh tears, and hot blood pours onto the dirt. It collapses, choking, dragging the spear deeper into itself as it convulses.
I end its misery by extracting the spear and ramming it into its skull.
When the spasms end, I exhale and wipe my blade on its hide. My arms ache, and my forearm stings where the spike grazed me, but nothing feels broken.
I cut free the beast's fangs and claws, sawing carefully around the plated armor to pry loose what I can. The materials will fetch a good price.
Once I've filled my knapsack, I sling my weapons back into place and leave the clearing, heading back home. One Advancing Soldier is quite enough for the weekend, especially because I was practicing control during that entire fight. My forehead throbs. I'm mentally exhausted.
…
…
It's the last day of the semester, and the fussy seventh star finally submitted to my will. On the way over to pick up Xinxia, I decide to attempt activation. The 7 stars form a regular heptagon in the Stardust, conjuring countless rays of light that coalesce around my arms, waiting for a target to cleanse.
[Nope. Doesn't feel any different than how a novice Basic Light Mage would have casted Illuminate: Cleanse.]
I was hoping for something awry, an anomaly of sorts. An abnormally fast cast time, a strangely powerful Cleanse, any signs that the Cleanse's properties differ from the norm. These would be an indicator of an Innate Talent that affects my Light spells, but unfortunately, it seems I did not obtain one when I awakened. And there's only one opportunity to receive an Innate Talent: the first awakening.
Disappointment wells up within me, but I continue strolling towards Lingyun Middle School. Lack of an Innate Talent just means I'm one of the overwhelming majority of unlucky Mages, and it's not like we need one in order to advance to the Intermediate stage or even further.
I'll forego fighting Soldier-class beasts for now; I've accumulated enough resources. I already treated Li Wei to a meal when I returned his weapons, and he pointed me to a hidden gem of a smithy where I acquired two short swords and a spear for 300,000 yuan, each capable of cutting through even the toughest Soldier-class muscles. My savings were still a staggering 600,000 yuan before purchasing a luxurious car for 300,000, but regardless, the number has skyrocketed since two Advancing Soldiers in a row had rare bones in their skeletons, and the materials salvaged from the 12 kills accounted for a tidy sum as well. 300,000 yuan in my account right now is no small amount of money.
I only averaged one kill of an Advancing Soldier every two weekends: learning their moves on the first day and a 50/50 chance of defeating them on the second. They are no joke to deal with; a single misstep results in unsightly slashes and broken bones. In comparison to the boar, their acceleration is heightened, their agility and ability to turn on a dime is enhanced, their visual and auditory senses are improved.
The physique enhancement provided by becoming a Basic Mage was barely enough to perceive their motions at a precision beyond merely seeing a blur in the air, or else I'd be in a lot worse shape after a tussle with one. Even then, Xinxia nearly cried upon uncovering a particularly nasty gash extending from my left shoulder down to my right hip, so I've made sure to keep my wounds better hidden from then on.
…
…
Winter break flew by. I'm heading into my first course after homeroom, Practical Magic. Listless expressions decorate the countenances of every boy in the room. Swiveling my head to see what's caught their attention, I direct my gaze at the teacher's desk. Sitting there is not the usual frail old man, but rather a mature, beautiful woman with an outrageous figure.
Right after the bulk of students finish filing in, she stands up.
"Good morning class, the teacher for your Practical Magic class has fallen ill and is currently at home recuperating. From today on, I will be in charge of everyone's Practical Magic classes. My name is Tang Yue!"
"We'll begin with a discussion on magic activation. Please open your books to page 156…"
…
…
After the useless theoretical lesson, we walk to the school grounds and assemble in a semicircle around Tang Yue and a nearby wooden dummy.
Tang Yue maintains an extremely straight posture, calmly standing there. "You have to meditate, be tranquil, and concentrate. Even if I am speaking to you right now, my mentality is wholeheartedly concentrated on the Fire Element Neb– Stardust within my Spiritual World."
A sudden fluctuation appears on her pear blossom hair. There's not a single thread of wind in the field; her hair is scattering around due to the sheer intensity of the magic she's unleashing.
"Control, at this moment, you need to call out so your stars can obey your commands! Don't overdo things by trying to silent cast to begin with; it'll hamper your growth. Exclaiming the name of the spell drastically improves your chances of forming the Star Path."
[Only if you have very little mental fortitude.]
"Remember, after you've finished the arrangement of the stars, you can't relax your thoughts. You must immediately focus on the position of your activation!"
"Fire Burst: Burning Bones!"
A dazzling scarlet red Star Path emerges around Tang Yue's body before it quickly condenses onto her outstretched left arm. A violent, fiery red glow of energy quickly enlarges to the size of a volleyball.
With all of her might, she tosses it at the dummy, accurately penetrating the body of the puppet.
"Gone?"
"How come nothing happened?"
"It hit the target though."
Within the confusion, Tang Yue slowly turns around and faces all 75 students, the corner of her mouth upturned in a smirk.
Suddenly, a shocking scarlet flame bursts forth from within the puppet, quickly growing to devour the whole dummy into ash in mere seconds. The gaudy scarlet light reflects in Mrs. Tang Yue's beautiful pear blossom hair.
"Now that was real magic!" a few students cheer.
"Your homeroom teacher has already spoken to me about the importance of the Annual Examination. First, if you don't meet the requirements, then you'll be asked to leave the school. Second, they'll divide you into different classes based on your grades. If you're placed in the Elite class, then you'll obtain certain benefits that will give you an advantage on the Magic University exams. Thus, this school semester, everyone should have no reason to not put in their utmost effort," Tang Yue announces to everyone.
"Ms. Tang Yue, will you be teaching the Elite class?" A male student asks.
"Yes, if everything goes according to the plans, I will be assigned to be the Practical Magic teacher for the Elite class after I've finished teaching you all this semester," Tang Yue slightly nods her head.
"Oh right, when any of you are able to control seven stars, then you can come and find me in private. I will take some time off of my schedule to teach you some more," Tang Yue continues.
She could have cast 5 Burning Bones and receive less enthusiasm than the squabble currently erupting. That one statement was more effective at stirring up their motivation than her entire demonstration.
…
…
I remain in her classroom after my peers have all filed out. She hesitantly glances at me.
"Can I help you?"
"Ms. Tang Yue, I'm disappointed. You recommended that anyone who had control of all 7 stars find you in private, yet you can't deduce that that's precisely why I'm here?"
"If this is some kind of prank, I advise you to leave now."
Blazing streaks of yellow light condense onto my arms, far more refined and tight than my initial usage of the spell at the start of winter break a few weeks ago. Illuminate: Cleanse!
Her jaw drops, crumbling her image of an assured, mature teacher.
"I stuck around to ask what exactly you'd be teaching."
Dumbfounded, she scrambles for something to say. "Before that, how is it possible you can already cast the Basic Light spell? I thought all of you awakened in September, and it's only February now." She slowly begins backing away to the door.
[Huh? Oh, I see.]
"Why are you nervous, Mrs. Tang Yue? I can assure you, I achieved this purely through painstaking effort. 5 months may seem like an abnormally brief period to go from 0 to 7 controlled stars, but it's doable if your will has been honed enough to beat down the rowdy ones and you're patient enough to handle the fussy ones. I'm sure I'm not the only anomaly in this regard, though they may indeed be rare."
"All other anomalies I know of have practiced dark arts to advance so quickly. I'm afraid I'll have to report you as a possible member of the Black Vatican."
My easy smile vanishes immediately, alarming her enough to begin constructing a Star Pattern. Fiery elements whirl around the entire room, whipping up a crescendo of heat. Not wanting to find out how strong her Intermediate spell is, I begin lambasting her.
"Quit it, you have no reason to panic. Do you see black formations constructing around me, summoning waves of Dark Beasts? Do you hear eerie laughter from the void? Any Black Vatican member would have revealed these glaring signs upon seeing your Star Pattern begin to form. Is it so out of the realm of possibility that I have superb will and patience?"
She wavers, then immediately frowns.
"How are you, a young student, aware of their general methods of assault if you aren't one of them?"
I roll my eyes. "I'm beginning to think coming here was a waste of my time. What if, I don't know, I've been attacked by them before!"
She glares at me. "How utterly disrespectful!"
Ah, perhaps I haven't improved as much as I thought. Xinxia will scold me for that jibe. Regardless, staying here increasingly seems like an affront to my intelligence, so I stride to the exit.
[In any case, she's not an ordinary teacher if she's familiar with the Black Vatican's basic moves… is she really just here to teach, or is that a cover?]
"Wait! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that. Since you can already cast the Basic spell and don't need more theoretical knowledge, I don't have much to offer aside from lending you something… Actually, hold on, I'm free this weekend. Perhaps an excursion to the mountainous wilderness north of the city will prove beneficial to you?"
The irony causes my lips to twitch. "I'm not too interested in spending more time in the wild. If you really want to help, I know that the school will lend a Stardust Magic Tool for students in the Elite Class to share. Do you happen to have a spare one that I can exclusively use?"
Her face brightens. "Yes, of course! I'll even gift it to you; an excellent grassroots Magician like you deserves at least this much assistance."
Stardust Magic Tools are items that enhance the efficiency with which one slowly brightens their Stardust over time. They're split into Common-grade, Spirit-grade, and Soul-grade, providing a 2x, 4x, and 8x boost to the meditation speeds for Stardusts!
Furthermore, there's Nebula Magic Tools and Galaxy Magic Tools that brighten Nebulas and Galaxies. They're made by infusing Soul Essences into small, compatible stones, requiring several secret materials in the process. Soldier Soul Essences produce Stardust Magic Tools, Warriors for Nebulas, Commanders for Galaxies, and so on. These are also split into the same Common, Spirit, and Soul grades.
To keep the stones secure, they're encased with a durable cover, to which a necklace is usually attached so that one can keep it around their neck 24/7. Such a necklace is precisely what Tang Yue places into my palm.
[Wonderful.]
…
…
Currently in my room at home, I've retrieved her Common-grade Stardust Magic Tool she just had lying around. How filthy rich is she? I put it around my neck, ready to begin meditating, but I'm interrupted by a vibration on my chest. It's the black ring pendant.
I ignore the sensation and form a probe with my Will, launching it into the Stardust Magic Tool to leave a spiritual imprint inside. However, when I retract the probe and begin meditating, I don't feel any difference. Aren't I supposed to feel a nourishment of spiritual energy and significantly decreased Spiritual Force drain? Wait, I'm starting to sense something along those lines. Perhaps the mark just took a bit to take effect.
No. The Common-grade Stardust Magic Tool isn't doing a damn thing. All the comforting spiritual energy I'm receiving is coming from the black ring. Was my mother's keepsake a Stardust Magic Tool as well? Then why did it stay quiet and only begin making a fuss when it clanged against Tang Yue's Tool…oh. No wonder. Ostensibly, my heirloom treasure has devoured the energy contained within the Tool, and it has turned into a Stardust Magic Tool of its own!
Incredible. My cultivation should skyrocket with the help of my black ring. Perhaps it's time I gave it a name; it has helped me immensely over the years, after all. I stare at it, barely making out the head of a black Chinese dragon with its own tail in its mouth.
[Nyx it is.]
I feel Nyx thrum in protest, but it's too late. The perfect name, really; it feels like any black female dragon could be called Nyx.
…
…
Months later, June has arrived. It's already the end of the term. The 1500 students in my year are gathered on the school grounds, forming a sea of bodies divided into 20 classes. Each block of 75 students faces a stone pillar with a floating black Star Appraisal Stone above it. Around 10 meters behind each of the Star Appraisal Stones is a long table curved in an arc, seating 3 examiners selected from the roster of disciplinary teachers. All the way to the left of the examination area, there's an empty raised platform.
Wait, someone's walking up the stairs to stand on it. I believe that's Mu He, the uncle of Mu Bai and relative of Mu Zhuoyun. Speaking of the latter, he's standing next to the principal: the school council is to the students' right.
Mu He begins a long and boring speech, drolling on about how bright our futures are as young Magicians; I can tell he's already lost the attention of half the crowd. He recovers by finishing with something unexpected, though.
"Today is an extremely special day, because we have invited the most distinguished female Magician of the Bo City. When she was 15 years old, the Imperial College made an exception and recruited her early. I'm sure many of you have already heard of her legacy…That's right; she is Mu Ningxue! Please, let us all warmly welcome her, who should be in the same year as you but is a magic genius who has already been promoted to university!" Mu He loudly exclaims.
[... Huh?]
I rub my eyes, but she's still there: a beautiful figure quietly standing there like a proud lotus in the snow. The snow white, skin-tight dress embraces her elegant form: she looks like an ice fairy in a girl's body, whether it's her temperament, attire, or her natural, graceful, long silver hair.
This is Mu Ningxue? Even her bones are emitting a noble pride. It's been less than 2 years since the Mu Clan whisked her away to Imperial Magic School, yet she's unrecognizable. Where is the enchanting girl wearing cute clothes and accessories, dessert foodie, polite yet sweet, calm yet merciless? No, she's still calm and merciless, but by all appearances, everything else is gone.
[What happened? What has she been through?]
I'm lost in thought as the examiners start calling students up to get tested.
The test's procedure is fairly straightforward. All you have to do is place your hand on the Star Appraisal Stone while everyone, including the examiners, watches. Then, you focus on entering a meditative state, and at that moment, the Star Appraisal Stone emits the same radiance as your Stardust. The examiners will then assess your level of cultivation based on the radiance.
Every student has three attempts, and the examiners grade only the brightest radiance of the three. Naturally, the deeper the meditative state, the more the Star Appraisal Stone will accurately display the splendor of the student's Stardust.
The order of the examinees from each class is random. The first examinee happens to be a weeping girl, classmate He Yu, who was already standing at the front.
She looks as if she might keel over from fright as she walks to the front of the Star Appraisal Stone under everyone's gaze.
"You may begin," the bald examiner says.
"Good luck He Yu! Your teacher and your fellow classmates believe in you," Xue Musheng encourages.
Her cheeks are turning red, but she manages to place her small hands on the massive Star Appraisal Stone. Her temperament immediately shifts from nervous to calm as she enters a meditative state. The black Star Appraisal Stone emits some radiance from within, gradually filling the surroundings.
"A-!"
"A-!"
"A-!"
"Student, it's done. Your final result is an A-." the bald examiner expressionlessly says.
He Yu opens her eyes in disbelief, before she exclaims, "Re… really? I got an A-?"
"Do you want to take the extended exam?" the bald examiner inquires, looking at her.
She shakes her head in haste. "I've only grasped six stars so far, so I'll let it be."
"Alright. We'll use the evaluations from your other teachers to decide which class you'll be placed in," the bald examiner ushers her away.
"Thank you, teacher." He Yu happily walks back to our class.
"Next, Zhang Xiaohou," the examiner announces the name. Zhang Xiaohou stiffens, evidently not thinking it would be his turn so soon. I reassure him, "Just relax and focus. You'll be fine."
Closing his eyes, Zhang Xiaohou adjusts his breathing and slowly begins meditation. The radiance emitted from the Star Appraisal Stone flickers; it follows Zhang Xiaohou's breath as it brightens and dims, a clear sign of nerves. Still, he manages to make the radiance stabilize. The green colored radiance from the Wind Element quickly covers the surroundings of the Star Appraisal Stone, superior to He Yu's.
"A!"
"A!"
"A!"
"Final results, A!"
Xue Musheng and Tang Yue, the two teachers, reveal a slight smile as they nod their heads, their eyes full of praise. This outcome was to be expected; they had long since seen Zhang Xiaohou's excellence.
"Teacher, I'd like to attempt the next test."
"Are you sure?" the examiner asks, a bit surprised.
"I know that the higher you place in the rankings during the Annual Examination, the longer you will get to use the Stardust Magic Tool. Thus, I'd like to take the activation test."
The examination consists of two parts, testing meditation and activation. Cultivation level and grasp over your stars. How many spells you can cast and whether you can cast them at all.
The first part is the Stardust test; a C grade guarantees continued education at the school. The second part is the activation test, where even the lowest grade is still not achievable by over 90% of the freshman class; apparently, 9 months isn't enough to exert control over all 7 stars.
Anyways, Zhang Xiaohou's activation test doesn't go smoothly, unable to form a Star Path due to nerves. Still, the examiners see that he's indeed capable of casting Wind Trail, so they inform him that they'll add some points to his performance when determining the overall ranking.
Zhang Xiaohou walks out of the testing ground with his head low. Surprisingly, Mrs. Tang Yue pats Zhang Xiaohou's shoulder, "Don't feel discouraged. You will definitely be able to enter the Elite Class with your grades."
"Teacher, I thought I was good at control, but who would've thought that a little nervousness would ruin the channeling. How are you able to accomplish the magic activation so easily?"
"Naturally it's from practicing. Other than that, the state of your heart is also crucial. Not only does a qualified Magician need to have a solid foundation, but they also need to have a mentality that won't waver if they encounter trouble."
Now that is something that can't be understated. Most Basic Mages, jubilant after having cast a spell for the first time, fail to align even one star when faced with a magical beast capable of quite literally dismantling them within seconds.
"Next, Huang Feifeng."
"B!"
"Teacher, I should receive an A! I should be given an A!!!"
"If you make more noise, we'll cancel your results."
"Next, Luo Si."
"C!"
…
…
The students of class 8 undergo their examinations, one by one. The majority of the students get B and C, with a few A's strewn here and there.
"Look, the people of the school council are almost here."
"They are at the seventh class's exam grounds… The one taking the test is that Lightning Element guy."
"Xu Zhaoting, that is firmly the number one guy in the entire school."
"That's not certain. I heard Mu Bai's cultivation is also very high!"
[Xu Zhaoting? He had better not mess this up, he's the only Lightning Mage in the entire year.]
"Heed my command! The king of the Elements, Lightning! Lightning Strike!"
My lips tug upwards. The first time he cast the spell in front of us, we all nearly broke down laughing at his ridiculous chant.
[He doesn't need it anymore, but I guess he just wants to ensure the test goes well.]
He raises his hand. The purple Lightning arc surges forward and violently descends upon the human-shaped puppet, now trembling from the impact. Whip prints appear all over its body from lashes of electricity, until it explodes entirely, turning into a pile of black dust.
[Okay, I'm jealous.]
What I wouldn't give for something so useful against Soldier-class beasts. If I had Lightning to paralyze the Advancing Soldiers, I doubt I'd suffer a lick of damage even if I charged in without observing how they fight.
He receives a B for his activation and an S for his Stardust.
…
…
Mu Bai is up. As he places his hand on the Star Appraisal Stone, a white and dense icy wave quickly spreads out from the Star Appraisal Stone, covering the surroundings. Even the audience is affected, feeling the drop in temperature.
"S!"
"S!"
"S!"
Mu Bai has already fixed his gaze onto the human-shaped puppet, skillfully connecting the Ice Element stars to form a heptagonal Star Path.
"Ice Spread!"
Onlookers are taken aback as they witness a layer of frost gradually enveloping the puppet's body. The ice spreads swiftly, coating the puppet with an exquisite layer of frozen lacquer. A moderate chill lingers in the air.
"Your performance is remarkable. Your Stardust receives an S, and your activation grade is a B!" the examiner informs him of his final results.
"Yang Jianyu!"
I walk up to the black stone, placing my right hand on its cool surface. Within one breath, I sink into thoughtlessness, focusing only on each speck of dust, each swirl of particles, each star's revolution, the neon yellow color, how the brightness contrasts with the darkness of the void surrounding it…
The stone shines with such ferocity that most of the onlookers are forced to shield their eyes. A blinding sea of yellow rays emerges in a vast radius around me.
"... SS!!"
"SS!"
"SS!"
Gobsmacked, the bald examiner shakily signals me to attempt the activation test. I comply, swiftly aligning my stars into a regular heptagon. Countless streaks of light coalesce into a huge disc, which blasts a dazzling pillar of light into the sky—Illuminate: Flare!
"S!"
"S!"
"S!"
"Your Stardust score is an SS, and your activation score is an S. Congratulations!" The principal himself announces my results. I glance at Mu Ningxue to gauge her reaction, just in time to see the last vestiges of shock vanish from her face.
[Perhaps she isn't completely frozen over just yet.]