Chapter 17: Examination Drama
[SKIP THE CHAPTER IF YOU READ THE NOVEL, ITS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T]
(The below chapter can be considered only to be translation by me of the original chapter, Damons pov or mention isn't present just original chapter. I don't want to just skip it all in a line or so, so just translated the event as direct)
"Ice Spread!"
Without hesitation, Mu Bai shouted, showcasing his hard-earned skills.
After getting an S grade for his Stardust it's about time for him to showcase his magic under the eyes of judges and special guests.
His eyes changed as he activated his Magic, and the audience quickly noticed frost spreading over the puppet's body. The ice covered the puppet entirely, making it look like it was coated in a layer of frosted lacquer. It was impressive and cold enough to chill the entire exam grounds.
Creak~
The Ice Spread didn't stop with the puppet; it began to cover the floor of the exam grounds.
Students from other classes with Ice element skills had performed the activation exam, but none matched Mu Bai's imposing display. The other students recoiled, fearing the ice might reach them.
The directors and examiners remained composed but their eyes glinted with approval. Mu Bai's Ice Spread demonstrated proficiency equivalent to a member of the Magic Association. A student who had only awakened a year ago and could use Ice element skills at this level was extremely rare.
"Not bad." Mu Zhuoyun's evaluation was as indifferent as ever.
Mu Bai, nervous, shifted his gaze towards Mu Ningxue. To his dismay, she wasn't watching him; her attention was fixed on someone else—Mo Fan!
Scoundrel! SCOUNDREL!
Why was she looking at him? What's so interesting about a guy covered in trash? Why wasn't she admiring my remarkable skill?
Mu Bai's face twisted with frustration. On the most crucial day of his life, he wished for Mu Ningxue's attention but instead, she focused on Mo Fan, a mere clown. Why waste time on him?
"I will make you suffer!" Mu Bai's face darkened with heavy resentment as he left the exam grounds.
"Your marks are outstanding: S for stardust and B for activation!" the examiner announced.
Even top students usually receive C or D grades on this test. The only other student with a B was the Lightning element user, Xu Zhaoting!
With such a grade, Mu Bai was rightly considered the best in school.
...
"Next, Mo Fan!"
As Mu Bai basked in his glory, it was finally Mo Fan's turn.
Mo Fan found the situation suspicious. Why was he scheduled right after Mu Bai? Was this a setup?
However, he didn't let it bother him. Different situations required different responses. He knew he had to act.
...
"Are you alright?" Mu He asked quietly as Mu Bai walked over.
"I did as you instructed," Mu Bai replied with a sinister edge.
"I'm doing this for Mo Jiaxing. By expelling his son, I'll relieve him from the worry of a son who doesn't belong in magic. It's better this way," Mu He said.
Mu He and Mu Bai had a plan to deal with Mo Fan.
Before the exam, Mu He had used his position as school director to orchestrate things. The bald examiner was one of his people, so he arranged the order of the examinees accordingly.
As Mu Bai completed his exam, Mo Fan was next. After Mo Fan's exam, it would be time for a break and grade announcements. During this brief period, they could sabotage Mo Fan. For instance, when Mu Bai placed his hand on the Star Appraisal Stone, a Black Stone could be slipped in. This stone absorbed part of the energy, dimming the Star Appraisal Stone's radiance and potentially lowering Mo Fan's grade from a C to a D.
No one cared about making Mo Fan look worse. Expelling him would benefit both the school and his family.
Mu Bai's smile was now grotesquely triumphant.
How will you handle this, Mo Fan?
...
"Mo Fan, that name sounds familiar," Mu Zhuoyun said slowly.
"Big Brother, he's the son of Madam's driver," Mu He reminded him.
Mu Zhuoyun's icy demeanor softened momentarily.
He had noticed Mo Fan but was puzzled by the timing of his and Mu Bai's exams. He glanced at Mu Ningxue, who remained emotionless, as if evaluating the mediocre students before her.
Mu Zhuoyun's satisfaction grew.
"Let's see what happens. He's part of our Mu Family, at least technically," Mu Zhuoyun said indifferently.
Mu Zhuoyun believed that a driver's son couldn't amount to much and letting Mu Ningxue watch would be a lesson. Such people were common in Bo City and would fade away eventually. He didn't want Mo Fan to remain a blemish on his daughter's life.
...
Meanwhile, Mo Fan was oblivious to their schemes.
He approached the Star Appraisal Stone and placed his hand on it.
"I'm actually grateful he's here. He might lower the standards so I won't look too bad," a student remarked.
"Third Brother, I got a D too. We can leave together," said his classmate, Xiao Bing.
"Whether he even gets a D is uncertain."
"Yeah, his progress seems minimal."
Zhoumin, a Fire Element student from the same class, watched Mo Fan closely. A person with greater Fire Element talent than her being expelled seemed a waste, but she loathed Mo Fan for not improving himself.
"There's light, there's light…"
"The radiance seems weak, even weaker than a D grade."
The Star Appraisal Stone emitted a faint light, barely escaping. However, there was a stronger inner light, obscured by a shadow.
"This isn't right."
"That light… it doesn't seem to be a D!"
"Really? Grade C?" Xiao Bing stared in disbelief. Mo Fan's radiance was at least a C grade.
Leaving the school together was now uncertain. The trust from one failure to another seemed fragile.
"Is it C?"
"No, that's not right. The radiance is still slowly spreading."
The examiners were baffled. The other students had completed their tests quickly, but this student's radiance started weakly, then grew from D to C, and continued strengthening even after reaching a C grade.
"B! This is definitely a B!!"
"Holy cow, a comeback! The so-called failure is making a comeback!!"
"That must be a mistake. I only received a B; how could this guy possibly get a B?" Huang Feifeng, another Fire element user, was on the verge of tears.
Zhoumin received an A, and Da Niu got a B. Among the four Fire element students, only Huang Feifeng had received a C. How was he supposed to win Mrs. Tangyue's favor now?
Xue Musheng's eyes lit up. As the homeroom teacher, his biggest fear was having someone in his class drag down the average. He had hoped Mo Fan would avoid public expulsion and not impact the class average negatively. If this "Great Buddha" didn't fail, then he could lower the average as much as he wanted!
Xue Musheng never imagined this kid would suddenly score a B!
The average grade of the class was roughly B-. Mo Fan's unexpected B raised the average, a dream scenario for Xue Musheng.
The buzz was louder than when Mu Bai had performed. Mu Bai was known for his excellent grades, while Mo Fan was infamous as the lowest of the low.
The sudden rise of the dreg to a B was shocking to many!
"How is this possible… how is this possible!" Mu Bai was in disbelief.
His uncle, Mu He, was equally stunned.
What kind of situation was this? That kid got a B??
Mu He had placed the Black Stone carefully. Its strong absorption should have turned a C into a D. How did Mo Fan manage a B?
Was this guy hiding his strength, only to reveal it at the last moment for a B?
C was a passing grade; B was quite good!
No one expected that a failure who was supposed to be expelled after three years would suddenly turn into a good student.
"Mhm, this grade was well within expectations," Mu Zhuoyun said coldly, with an air of mockery.
His daughter nearly taken by this kid? He would have been ridiculed by everyone.
"Alright, let's move on to the next class." Mu Zhuoyun wanted to shift attention away from this kid, so he spoke to the crowd.
"Big Brother, what about Mu Bai…" Mu He tried to continue.
Mu He was dissatisfied. The plan was for Mu Bai to showcase his skills and gain the Family Head's favor while Mo Fan faced a disastrous end. Neither outcome was achieved, and he was unwilling to let it slide.
"Oh, give them a bit more during the New Year to show encouragement," Mu Zhuoyun said dismissively.
Mu Bai was stunned.
What was this 'extra New Year's charity'? He wanted attention, support from the Mu Family, the Stardust Magic Tool, and the extensive cultivation resources for direct descendants!
"This… Big Brother, I think…" Mu He was about to speak further when another voice interrupted.
"That's wrong, this radiance is incorrect!"
A soft, seductive voice spoke up.
"Mrs. Tangyue, what objections do you have regarding our decision? The exam results are decided by the examiners. Even if we wanted to object…" Xue Musheng began.
Xue Musheng was actually very satisfied with the grade. He even suspected a malfunction in the Star Appraisal Stone. How else could Mo Fan have received a B?
"Mrs. Tangyue, please let this go. If there's a real problem, I, as the homeroom teacher, might be compromised!"
"Teachers can't object to examiners' assessments, but they can raise concerns about accidents during the examination. We can also check the testing equipment to ensure accuracy," Mrs. Tangyue stated.
At this point, a school director discreetly shook his head at Mrs. Tangyue. The Principal subtly signaled her as well.
It wasn't that the school director was unaware of the potential trick, but he didn't want unnecessary trouble with so many school directors present.
The result seemed normal. It was a grade a common student should receive.
"Why do you have an objection, honorable teacher?" Mu Zhuoyun asked, intrigued.
Mrs. Tangyue walked onto the examination ground, her brow furrowed.
She closed her eyes, appearing to be a Magician preparing to cast a spell.
Those familiar with Magic knew she was expanding her senses into the stone.
...
Mrs. Tangyue's actions caused Mu Bai and Mu He to panic.
After Mo Fan's exam, there was supposed to be a break and the announcement of the most outstanding student. During this time, the bald examiner would have removed the Dark Stone without suspicion. Everything was going smoothly until this teacher discovered the issue.
"Mrs. Tangyue, how can you disregard the examination rules? If I were you, I'd leave the examination grounds immediately!" Mu He shouted, trying to intimidate her with his authority.
Mrs. Tangyue remained unfazed, focusing intently on the Star Appraisal Stone.
"The Star Appraisal Stone is faulty. This examination must be redone." Her sharp gaze fixed on the examiner.
The bald examiner was at a loss, looking to Mu He for guidance. Mu He appeared embarrassed and confused.
"What are you shocked about? Go investigate immediately! We must ensure an impartial examination environment. If there's a problem, it must be fixed," the Principal said with authority.
The three examiners promptly inspected the stone and soon discovered the hidden Dark Stone.
"That's strange. We inspected this before. How did this Black Stone end up here?" another examiner wondered.
Every student's examination was rechecked. When Mu Bai finished, the bald examiner was the one who inspected it.
Now, the bald examiner was genuinely frightened. Covering up for someone framing others during an examination was a serious offense.
"How is it?" the Principal asked the three examiners.
Before they could report the discovery of the Dark Stone, Mu He interjected, "Since there's an issue, why don't we have him retake the test? Director Wang, go to the storage room and get another Star Appraisal Stone. It's a useful tool, but it's fragile and can malfunction after interference. I appreciate Mrs. Tangyue identifying the issue so quickly; you've really covered for our mistake."
Mu He's quick thinking deflected attention from the real issue. The examiners couldn't report the true problem now.
Mrs. Tangyue's brow furrowed, sensing Mu He's manipulation. She knew publicizing this would be problematic and could affect the students. It might be best to let it go.
"Alright, redo the test."
"Redo the test!"
"Student Mo Fan, there were some issues with the Star Appraisal Stone. Your previous grade is invalid. We'll give you another chance," the bald examiner announced with hopeful urgency.
Mo Fan regarded the situation with bemusement. If they wanted to play games, he was prepared to wait.
"Great, take the test again. Even if you end up with a D, how could you possibly get a B? Third Brother, we'll leave the school gracefully," Lu Xiaobing said eagerly.
The heavens hadn't abandoned Lu Xiaobing. He was relieved Mrs. Tangyue discovered the problem. Just as he predicted, Mo Fan, who had worse luck than him, was back to being unlucky.
"Mrs. Tangyue, why bother? Giving the student another chance isn't necessarily beneficial," Xue Musheng said with a mix of frustration and amusement.
It was clear the Star Appraisal Stone had malfunctioned, which was a blow to Xue Musheng.
The penalty that hadn't been given out in three years was about to land on a student from his class!
"Haha, Huang Feifeng at the bottom is a relief. Mrs. Tangyue, you're a hero. I truly admire you," Huang Feifeng said, feeling relieved.
Mu Bai's entourage was also ecstatic.
"I almost had a heart attack. I thought this dreg was making a comeback. Even I, Zhao Kunsan, only got a B!" Zhao Kunsan said.
"Good, good. Mu Bai, this broken Star Appraisal Stone almost let the kid through. Mrs. Tangyue, you're more like the lover of my dreams," Zhao Kunsan continued, wiping his sweat. "Why the long face, Mu Bai? Didn't they say his B was due to the stone's malfunction? Don't worry, he'll be out soon."
"Shut up, you're annoying!" Mu Bai snapped, his mood sour.
Zhao Kunsan fell silent, unsure of what he'd done to upset his master.
...
The exams for other classes were mostly over. With issues in the eighth class's exam, many gathered around, including top students from other classes.
Mo Fan became the center of attention.
"Alright, Mo Fan, you can retake the exam. Mrs. Tangyue, you've inspected it, so there shouldn't be any problems this time, right?" the bald examiner asked with a sycophantic smile.
"No, there shouldn't be," Mrs. Tangyue replied, her dark eyes betraying little friendliness.
Mo Fan stood before the Star Appraisal Stone again. This time, he felt no cold emanation from it.
So, it was Mu Bai's fault!
Mo Fan smirked. Thanks to Mrs. Tangyue's timely intervention, he wouldn't be reduced to a mere pawn in front of the school directors.
Mo Fan closed his eyes and placed his hands on the Star Appraisal Stone. His Stardust energy warmed the previously cold stone.
The radiance intensified, its scarlet light blazing from within. This time, the radiance wasn't suppressed and spread around the Star Appraisal Stone, even spilling out!
"This… this radiance!!!"
The first to react was Mu Zhuoyun, his eyes widening in shock. The Principal, Vice-Principal, Disciplinary teachers, and School Directors all stared in astonishment.
"The radiance is overflowing!" Xue Musheng was dumbfounded. After years of teaching, he recognized the significance of overflowing radiance.
In the entire school, only Mu Bai had achieved this state before. It wasn't just the brightness; Mo Fan's Fire radiance overflowed even more than Mu Bai's Ice radiance!
Damn!!!
The surrounding students and those from the eighth class were stunned.
Overflowing radiance! A student once deemed a weakling had achieved overflowing radiance!
"S…S?"
"It's an S… it really seems to be an S."
"Should we inspect it again?"
The bald Director Wang and the other examiners were in disbelief. Classmates who expected Mo Fan to be expelled were equally stunned.
This was no illusion. How could his cultivation reach such a level?
"It's an illusion! It has to be an illusion!"
"I refuse to believe it! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT!!" Xiaobing, a water element student, was wailing in disbelief.
How could Mo Fan, who was supposed to leave with them, become a Divine student? This made Xiaobing question his own worth. If Mo Fan could become a Divine student, what did that say about him?
Mu Ningxue, usually composed, was also visibly affected. Even she hadn't expected this outcome.
For someone like Mo Fan, who lacked special talent or family resources, a B was already impressive. But achieving overflowing radiance in Fire was a level beyond even Mu Bai, who had family support.
Mu Ningxue felt a warmth akin to the overflowing radiance from Mo Fan's Fire element.
"That's truly astonishing. I nearly overlooked a more remarkable student," a school director remarked in awe.
"That's right. We can't imagine the disaster if we had only given him a B and missed out on such a prominent Magician."
"Better late than never! Mrs. Tangyue, we're truly grateful for your keen observation!"
Mrs. Tangyue received the praise with a small smile, but she was equally surprised. She had always considered Zhoumin the top Fire elemental student in her class. To her astonishment, Mo Fan was even more exceptional. His calm demeanor and dedication to his craft were traits of a true Magician.
Everyone was shock but their shock was nothing compared to Mu Bai's defeated look. His face was twisted into a distorted grimace, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.
The sight was humiliating, especially for his lackey, Zhao Kunsan, who rubbed his eyes repeatedly. The overflowing radiance before him obliterated his earlier arrogance, leaving him looking foolish and out of place among the crowd.
"S!"
"S!"
"S!"
The highest score in school was an S, and everyone recognized that Mo Fan's magical capabilities with Stardust were likely superior to Mu Bai's.
"Mo Fan, do you wish to continue with the exam?"
"Naturally!" Mo Fan replied with a confident smile.
He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
If the world hadn't changed, he might have reached this level during high school. Still, the outcome was favorable!
Mo Fan was eager to test his activation. After all, many people were cultivating tirelessly just to shine brightly in front of others.
"Fire Burst!"
Mo Fan's entire presence shifted. With the incantation spoken, he exuded a self-assured aura.
A blazing heat spread from him, scorching the air and enveloping the crowd. The Fire Star Path activated around his body as he finished arranging the stars.
Scarlet flames surged from Mo Fan's half-clenched hand, behaving like an eager, restless beast.
"Go!"
As he waved his hand, the flames streaked across the exam grounds like a vibrant scarlet streak. They hit the human-shaped puppet directly.
"Burn!"
With a raised hand, the fire erupted from inside the puppet's body, becoming increasingly fierce. Within seconds, the puppet was completely engulfed in the raging flames.
The reflected light danced on Mo Fan's face as he smiled confidently, his control over the Fire Burst evident.
...
As Mo Fan finished, he turned around. Every observer was dumbfounded.
Teachers, students, directors—everyone was still reeling from Mo Fan's S grade in the previous exam. Then they witnessed his flawless casting of Fire Burst.
There was no hesitation, no forced moves. The speed and smoothness of his casting exceeded even Mu Bai's.
The Fire element's primary spell was more violent than the Ice element, resulting in a more intense reaction compared to Mu Bai's Ice Spread. Mo Fan's impressive performance and the boundless power of his Fire aura were breathtaking.
"Give your marks," Mo Fan said, addressing the astonished examiners with ease.
"A!"
"B!"
"A!"
The grades for the casting test were quickly announced, balantly showing biases.
As anticipated, Mo Fan's results surpassed Mu Bai's.
Mu Bai was seething with anger, feeling as if he might have a heart attack. If this continued, he might literally stop breathing!
This was not how things were supposed to go!
Both of Mo Fan's scores were higher than Mu Bai's!
"Is this really the Mo Fan we know??"
"This is the most astounding turnaround in history. Becoming a Divine student in an instant—it's blinding!" Xu Qinglin said.
Xue Musheng grinned widely.
He didn't care about the rivalry between Mo Fan and Mu Bai. His class now had a student with the highest S grade and top activation test scores. If things went well, he might end up at the top of the school.
From last place to first—nothing could be more shocking. It was like a dream.
Besides being number one, Mu Bai would likely secure second place. This would boost Xue Musheng's standing significantly!
"As expected of the Mu Family. Brother Mu Zhuoyun, your Magician Organization has truly been enlightened. If I'm not mistaken, Mo Fan is the son of the driver at your manor. Being in a prestigious family must be incredible, even unconsciously fostering a remarkable student in Bo City!" Deng Kai from the Hunter's Union said.
Mu Zhuoyun glanced at Deng Kai.
Deng Kai, a high-ranking member of the Hunter's Union and a director at Tian Lan Magic High, was the most influential school director.
As Deng Kai praised Mo Fan, other directors sighed in admiration.
"It's impressive. A driver's son is already this exceptional, almost matching the carefully nurtured magic seedlings!"
Mu Zhuoyun was gradually coming to terms with the shock. He hadn't anticipated Mo Fan's abilities. Hearing praise from his peers made him feel elated.
With his mood improving, Mu Zhuoyun considered the potential of this talented individual. Mu Ningxue had carried the family's banner for years, but the direct and branch disciples needed family support to consolidate their power.
The Mu Family lacked Fire elemental Magicians. Though Mo Fan had caused him frustration in the past, he was young and inexperienced. It was time to give him a chance to serve the Mu Family.
He wouldn't approach Mu Ningxue but could send Mo Fan to his eldest son, Mu Jiangming, to develop him into a notable Fire element henchman. It was a plan worth considering.
A talented individual needed to be recruited!
Mu Zhuoyun stroked his beard, pleased. After seeing Mo Fan leave the examination ground, he called out, "Mo Fan, come here."
Mo Fan looked at Mu Zhuoyun, unsure of his intentions.
Hesitating, Mo Fan approached the directors, glancing briefly at Mu Ningxue.
Damn, it's been years. How come she looks so… beautiful!
Mu Zhuoyun snorted.
Mu Ningxue averted her gaze.
Mo Fan followed suit.
"You called?" Mo Fan asked, meeting Mu Zhuoyun's imposing figure.
To others, Mu Zhuoyun exuded regal authority, making them hesitant to breathe. But Mo Fan saw only the aura of an old scoundrel.
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