Preparing for the Exam

Ivan had never forgotten that humiliating moment, but to his fury, Po Kong had no recollection of him at all and hadn't even recognized who he was. This only served to make him even more enraged.

However, on second thought, he knew he couldn't possibly defeat the other man. Ivan could only swallow his pride and turn back to Po Kong.

“Then what is a Swordsman like you doing at a mage’s test? Don’t tell me you’re planning on magic-martial dual cultivation!”

“Of course not. I’m here with my friend. A little test like this is a walk in the park for him, right, Little Star?” Po Kong said, proudly patting Starlight on the shoulder. He looked as smug as if he were the one taking the exam.

Ivan gave a light huff and looked at the silent Starlight. Although he knew it was wrong to judge by appearances, the black-haired youth before him, who looked only slightly older than himself, truly didn't have the air of a mage.

“You? You’re really a mage? Where are your robes? Your staff? You didn’t just come here like this, did you? This is far too unprofessional!” Ivan questioned.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned a jade staff with a massive gemstone embedded in its head from his storage space. From the ripples of power flowing through the staff, it was clear that it was no ordinary item.

Seeing him take out a weapon from storage space, Starlight couldn't help but take a few extra looks. He thought to himself that this magic was quite convenient and that he needed to learn it quickly.

In Ivan’s eyes, however, he assumed Starlight’s envious gaze was due to the exquisite staff in his hand. Feeling a surge of pride, he said with a smile.

“How is it? My staff is pretty good, right? I should still advise you to be prepared; it’ll be our turn for the test in a moment! If you lack confidence, I can lend my weapon to you... but you have to make that guy apologize to me!”

Starlight looked at Po Kong with some helplessness, grumbling inwardly: Why are you dragging me into your grudge? On the surface, however, he still politely declined Ivan’s proposal.

“Forget it, I don’t need it. As for the matter between you and Po Kong, you should settle that yourselves!”

“Fine! You’ve got spine. Just don't blame me for not warning you if you fail later!”

Seeing that Starlight was unappreciative, Ivan didn't linger. He turned and led his group of attendants away from the four.

Only then did Po Kong clap his hands and say, “I remember now... if I’m not mistaken, that guy should be the Third or Fourth Prince of the current royal family!”

“You’re a bit late to the party, aren’t you?” Moen finally couldn't help but speak up, her tone filled with exasperation.

The person had already walked far away, and only then did he fully remember who it was. If Ivan had heard those words, he probably would have coughed up blood from anger.

However, Ivan’s reminder made Moen think of something. She turned to Starlight and said, “Um... without a staff, will it affect your results? Do you want to borrow mine?”

As she spoke, she also summoned a wooden short staff from her storage space and handed it to Starlight.

Starlight instinctively took the brown short staff. Having his first contact with a staff, he only felt that it was somewhat heavy. The short staff also emitted a pleasant floral scent that made one feel at ease.

But after a second thought, he handed the staff back. He had already discussed this test with Noah through their soul link.

According to Noah, a test of this level was mere child’s play for him. If he wanted to quickly catch the school’s attention, he only needed to cause a bit of a stir during this exam. As for the actual score, was it really that important?

Since the testing grounds were divided into multiple areas, the crowd in front of Starlight was thinning rapidly. Some people walked out of the grounds with smiles on their faces, while others looked utterly dejected.

Unsurprisingly, Ivan Leon passed the exam smoothly. As he walked out of the exam hall, he even gave the group a provocative nod.

“Starlight-White, please come forward! It’s your turn.”

Soon, Starlight heard his name being called. Po Kong patted him on the back and gave him a thumbs-up. Moen and the others also sent him encouraging looks.

Immediately, he entered Area 4 behind the examiners along with three others in his batch.

The academy’s standard testing grounds were indoor buildings about a hundred meters across. In the center of the area stood a pile of targets made of an unknown material.

After walking into the grounds, Starlight stood in a line with the three youths of similar age, quietly waiting for the examiner’s instructions.

In fact, the testing method was very simple and concise. Within a limited time, each candidate had to destroy a corresponding number of targets based on their age.

For someone like Starlight, who was sixteen, he only needed to destroy six or more to be considered passing.

Starlight was arranged to be third in line for the test, which gave him a chance to observe the performance of his peers and gauge his own strength level.

After all, since leaving the valley, he hadn't seen many mages properly, and even those he had seen were adventurers in their thirties or forties.

At this moment, the first candidate—a freckled, slightly shy youth—stepped forward. He took out a staff from his storage space and began to chant a spell in a low voice.

After a short period of chanting, Starlight was dumbfounded to see that after all that effort, the youth had only summoned a few small firebirds.

The fist-sized firebirds circled the youth once before flying toward the targets in the center of the field. After several explosions, one of the targets shattered, and a satisfied smile appeared on the youth’s face.

In the end, the youth successfully destroyed seven targets within the allotted time, thus completing the test requirements.

“No way? That’s it???”

Only now did Starlight finally understand why Noah had said this test was child’s play for him.

At this moment, what he was thinking about was no longer the number of targets to destroy, but how to precisely cast his magic to ensure he didn't damage the testing facility itself.

The second to step up was a petite girl who specialized in manipulating wind elements.

However, the wind blades she released were clearly lacking in power in Starlight’s eyes, and her control was also a bit clumsy. When the wind blades hit the targets, they could only leave deep scratches on the surface without causing any substantial damage.

As a result, the girl could only helplessly accept reality, put away her staff, and retreat in dejection.

Subsequently, the examiner’s gaze fell upon Starlight as he stepped forward. Seeing that he had yet to take out a staff, the examiner kindly reminded him, “Starlight-White, sixteen years old, right? You can take out your staff. We’re ready to begin.”