A total of about two hundred students passed. The passing score was three hundred, which is quite a lot actually. Besides me, Chen Qi, and Xu Zhao Ting, there were other familiar names on the list of admitted students. Bai Feng was thirty-third with four hundred and sixty-seven points. I remembered him, checking my notebook. He was one of the guys who used to bully Mo Fan; their first meeting was during the resource tournament held two months after the start of classes. Then he lost decisively and almost died when Mo Fan, for some reason, used mid-level magic on him. If not for the teacher, it would have ended badly. And this fool started arguing with the judge and trying to continue the fight, although considering his place in the ranking, he is quite smart, or perhaps it was all paid for?
After that meeting, he repeatedly tried to hinder Mo Fan, but to no avail, and soon, after an incident during practice with the imperial university, he disappeared from the narrative forever. Given his abilities, both mental and magical, he might have died in one of the oceanic race's attacks on Shanghai, or sometime else. He should only be feared because of the Bai family's influence in Shanghai, but considering the canon, it can be assumed that he doesn't have much power there and the family will only intervene for him in extreme cases.
Another familiar name was Shen He, in seventy-eighth place, immediately after Xu Zhao Ting. I didn't remember any information about him at all; perhaps he appeared once, and it's impossible for even me to remember such a character. Most likely, he was one of Bai Feng's lackeys there too, so he shouldn't be feared much either. Although, considering what Xu Zhao Ting did, and the fact that he surpassed Shen He, there might be unexpected attacks on him. However, I don't think the Bai family will deal with it personally, so there's no need to be afraid.
The last familiar name was Zhang Lu Lu; of course, her result was not as impressive, but she also passed to the practical exam, taking one hundred and eighteenth place and scoring three hundred and seventy-one points. I had no doubt she would pass, although judging by Xu Zhao Ting's reaction, he was slightly worried. After we found out the results, he said he was busy and left. I guessed, no, I was sure what he was busy with, but I could only be happy for him. It seemed that the trauma left on his soul by the tragedy of Bo City was too deep to be replaced by ordinary friendship. Let's hope he can participate in my plans.
As for me, I did what I usually do; I didn't have any particular business. One could say that these exams, which were a serious test for everyone, were a vacation for me. I worked much harder with my master, both mentally and physically. The next day, the practical exam was scheduled. Mingzhu University had several arenas, one large one, which was probably intended for group training battles of students. The resource tournament for the first-year students would also be held there.
We were led to one of the smaller arenas, where at most four people could fight simultaneously. In the center, a rather large podium was set up, on which stood three teachers; two more were brought here with us. Also, on the podium was a measuring stone, familiar to me, only more powerful; it wouldn't break even from the energy of a mid-level second-stage mage, and it could be used repeatedly. Besides the stone, near the very edge of the platform were targets; apparently, they would be used to test release.
Of course, such an exam could be considered quite foolish and intended only for first-year students. However, it was the fastest and simplest way to determine the strength of incoming students. Anyway, by the end of the year, everyone who hasn't reached the mid-level will be eliminated, and then there will be monthly assessments through duels, including the senior courses. We were explained the rules of the exam. Everyone took the exam according to the results of the theoretical exam, so I was first.
"Please, place your hand on the stone and direct the maximum amount of your lightning element energy into it," said one of the teachers administering the exam. I obediently placed my hand, but directed far from all my energy, only the amount that a third-stage beginner mage could have. The stone glowed with a bright purple light, and a small energy ring emerged from it. "Grade B, quite good, considering the results of the theoretical exam. Please proceed to release."
"Alright," I said, standing opposite the target and beginning to construct the star path of lightning wrath. Of course, it formed even faster than instantly; one could say it was ready for use as soon as I turned around. But I deliberately delayed it for about a second, simulating the construction of the star path. Lightning flashed, and the target it was directed at shattered into pieces. It was probably made of a special material, otherwise, from my lightning, although it was quite significantly weakened, it would have turned into dust.
"Grade B-, excellent," said the teacher, entering the data into the form. "Next, Chen Qi."
"Not bad, when did you reach the third stage?" Xu Zhao Ting asked when I stepped off the podium.
"I finally managed to break through yesterday," I replied with a slight smile, watching Chen Qi approach the stone.
"I see, now you'll definitely be admitted," Xu Zhao Ting said confidently. He himself wasn't particularly worried about the practical exam, as he was a mid-level mage. Chen Qi placed his hand on the stone; it also glowed with a purple light, but he had two rings, one like mine, and the second slightly smaller.
"Grade B+, excellent result," said the same teacher. "Now, please release." After these words, Chen Qi turned and created the star path of lightning wrath in less than a second. I watched him closely and realized that he hid most of his strength and deliberately slowed down the construction of the star path. Lightning flashed, and another target shattered into pieces. "Grade B+, excellent result," the teacher proclaimed. "Next..."
Chen Qi calmly descended from the platform and stood a little to the side with an impassive expression. The next few didn't show particularly great results; their grades were mostly C+ or B-, and there were even those who almost failed completely, getting C-, and this in the first thirty! One must delve so deeply into theory and completely forget about practice, because without proper magical power, learning magic is impossible.
"Bai Cang Feng!" said the teacher, and a rather handsome and elegant young man ascended the podium; the girls even held their breath upon seeing him. This guy, though not very interesting to me, I was curious to know where his immense self-esteem came from. He placed his hand on the stone, and a strong purple color poured out of it, and four rings of equal size emerged from the stone, which crossed, forming a rather cheerful star. "Grade A+, as expected from a descendant of the Bai family."
"Wow, he's not only handsome but also strong!" exclaimed one of the girls next to us.
"He's number thirty-three, so he's also quite smart!" another girl supported. "All those above him are just bookworms; they'll be useless in a real fight."
"However, the first two showed good results," a third girl said timidly, but no one paid attention to her words. I, on the other hand, sharply turned my head at her words. Chen Qi did the same; it seemed that his assumptions also included that everyone would praise Bai Feng, conveniently forgetting about us.
This girl had long purple hair; if it was their natural color, it meant a lot. Usually, magic doesn't manifest on a person's body, except in special cases when mages' power is very unusual. I couldn't have imagined that there would be so many hidden talents in Mingzhu that were completely forgotten in the original. Although it's still possible that this is all due to the changes that my appearance caused, or I could have ended up in a very similar world, but with some changes that will lead to huge changes in the future. The girl's face was very beautiful, her figure slender, and her chest was of essentially perfect size; she would definitely have caught the eyes of all the guys if she had come out on the podium. So she's not in the top thirty, I wonder.
"Now, proceed to release," said the teacher, and Bai Feng, turning around, instantly destroyed his target. "Grade A+, very worthy for a member of the Bai family," said the teacher, and Bai Feng, bowing, descended from the podium. "Next, Wu Niu."
As soon as the teacher said this, the same purple-haired girl began to ascend the podium, so she was thirty-fourth, a quite decent result, especially considering that before that, there were indeed mostly good theorists, but not very good practitioners. She ascended the podium slightly unsteadily; it seemed she was nervous, but for some reason, I thought shyness was just a trait of her character. However, she placed her hand on the stone quite confidently and, gathering her thoughts. It glowed with a bright purple color, and three rings appeared, and a fourth tried to form but couldn't.
"Grade A," the teacher said confidently. "Excellent result, now release," he added. The girl nodded shyly, sighed, turned to the targets, and destroyed hers only slightly slower than Bai Feng. "Grade A, well done, next..."
The girl descended, now completely calm, but there was no pride in her; she was simply satisfied with herself, as if she had achieved what she wanted and was quite content with it. I clearly felt that she showed slightly less of her abilities than she actually had, which made me even more interested. So many interesting figures gathered in one place; it's very intriguing, the academic year promises to be fun.
"Well done, Wu Niu, you are a worthy daughter of the Wu family," said Shen He, standing next to Bai Feng. "If you want, my Shen family can offer you and your family help, if, of course, you agree."
"No, thank you, I'll manage myself. My family is indeed going through hard times, but it will cope with them itself, no need to worry," she said confidently and with a slight smile.
"Well, as you wish, the main thing is that things don't get worse," Shen He smiled broadly, and the girl bit her lip and stood in her previous place with a look of deep thought. All this time, Chen Qi and I were closely watching her; I wonder what he will do, and I need to gather information about influential and less influential families in Shanghai; it will definitely be fun.
Then, ordinary mages followed again; there was nothing unusual, standard grades, the average became B-. No one else besides these two managed to get at least A-, well, I think Chen Qi and I were both capable of getting A+, but it wasn't part of our plans. Soon, it was Xu Zhao Ting's turn; although I didn't think anything unusual would happen, the probability of it was there, as Bai Feng and Shen He certainly didn't fall in love with him and looked at him like wolves at their prey.
"Place your hand on the stone," said the teacher, smiling slightly at Zhao Ting. He certainly couldn't miss the glances of the couple of rich brats. Zhao Ting himself saw them too, and with the same friendly smile with which he asked them to leave during the theoretical exam, he placed his hand on the measuring stone, which glowed with a bright purple light, and four large rings appeared, which, in size, density, and thickness, surpassed those of Bai Feng, and there was also another one, which was already similar to what he had. "Excellent! Incredible! Grade S! No, even S+!" the teacher said unexpectedly for everyone. And a sour expression appeared on the faces of Bai Feng and Shen He.
"This can't be true! This kid clearly cheated!" Shen He's indignant voice was heard a few moments later.