"The Annual Examination will now officially begin!"
All thirty classes in the school commenced their assessments simultaneously.
The process was simple yet nerve-wracking. Each student had to place their hand on the Star Appraisal Stone while being watched by everyone, including the examiners. Once in position, the examinee would enter a meditative state. The Star Appraisal Stone would then emit a glow that mirrored the brightness of the student's Stardust, revealing their cultivation level.
Each student was given three attempts, with only the brightest attempt counted as the final result.
Naturally, the more focused the student, the more accurate and radiant the display would be.
The order was randomized. The first to step up happened to be He Yu, already standing at the front of the class.
The timid girl looked as if she might faint under all the attention. Her expression was filled with anxiety as she walked toward the stone, trembling like a startled rabbit.
"You may begin," the bald examiner said coolly.
"Good luck, He Yu! Your teacher and classmates believe in you," said Xue Musheng, her homeroom teacher.
He Yu gave a small nod, closed her eyes, and gently placed her hands on the massive stone.
The entire class went silent. Every gaze locked onto the shy girl taking the first test, the air tense with anticipation.
Mo Fan, watching her closely, noticed a shift in her demeanor. Although still nervous, her expression had become calm and serious—like a quiet lake hiding its depth.
A faint glow emerged from the dark surface of the Star Appraisal Stone—like the first light of dawn. As He Yu focused, the radiance steadily intensified, illuminating the area around her.
"A!"
"A!"
"A!"
The three examiners announced the result in unison.
"Classmate, it's complete. Your final result is an A," the bald examiner confirmed with a stoic expression.
He Yu opened her eyes, stunned. "Re… really? I got an A?!"
Although it was a bit odd for someone to shout excitedly about getting an A in such a high-strung environment, no one could deny that her result was surprising.
"Wait, what?! An A? Isn't that the requirement for getting into the Elite Class?"
"I'm speechless. Before the test, she was crying like her life was over. We all thought she was going to fail, and now she pulls out an A?!"
"Total scammer. Classic magic nerd pretending to be a wreck. I'm never trusting her again."
Homeroom teacher Xue Musheng's face twitched slightly. Though he'd been misled by her anxious display, he couldn't help but feel proud. The first test-taker scoring an A was a great start for their class.
"Would you like to attempt another try?" the bald examiner asked.
"I've only connected six stars so far… I'll pass," He Yu replied honestly, shaking her head.
"Very well. Your class placement will be determined using your current result and teacher evaluations."
"Thank you, teacher," she replied with a grateful bow.
After He Yu, students went up one after another. Next came Zhang Xiaohuo. Despite being nervous and slightly fumbling during his magic release, he managed to earn an impressive A+.
Most students from the eight classes received B or C grades. Very few could attain an A, let alone an A+.
Soon, it was Xu Zhaoting's turn. Dressed neatly in his school uniform, he stood confidently in the center of the training grounds.
Taking a deep breath, he calmly steadied himself under the watchful eyes of students and teachers.
He raised his hand and began the incantation with dramatic flair.
"Heed my command—
The first of the Elements—
Lightning!
Strike of Lightning!"
A surge of violet arcs burst forth, forming a thunderous serpent that lashed through the air, crackling as it whipped the surroundings.
The bolt smashed into the human-shaped puppet with terrifying force. In a flash of searing light, the puppet disintegrated, leaving behind nothing but blackened ash. Burn marks scorched the floor, a reminder of the sheer destructive power of the strike.
Mo Fan blinked in disbelief.
"This guy's a whole theater act. If he gives that much of a monologue in front of a demon, he'll be dead before he even finishes the first line. What's with all this 'the first of the elements' stuff? So cringe. Total showoff."
After that dazzling display, it was Mu Bai's turn.
He stepped forward with purpose, his eyes glinting with ambition. This was his moment—to shine before his family and, more importantly, before Mu Ningxue.
He calmly placed his hand on the Star Appraisal Stone, suppressing his excitement through sheer willpower.
In moments, a thick, white glow spread from the stone. Cold air swirled outward like a freezing gust, strong enough that even Mu Bai could feel it on his skin.
Everyone fell into stunned silence.
Even students who had previously scored A were left in awe. Zhou Min's radiance paled next to this icy brilliance.
"S!"
"S!"
"S!"
The three examiners announced the rare, perfect grade without hesitation.
"Three S's! That's the highest possible evaluation!"
"Didn't Xu Zhaoting only get two S's and one A earlier?" a teacher whispered.
"That means Mu Bai's stardust is superior!" exclaimed Mu He, unable to contain his pride.
Even Xue Musheng was stunned. Was Mu Bai hiding his real strength all along?
"The talent of a noble family member really is different... I didn't expect three full S-ranks!"
Mu Bai stepped confidently toward the Activation Test zone.
He closed his eyes and began chanting softly.
With practiced skill, he connected the seven Ice Element stars into a Star Path.
"Ice Spread!"
Frost shot forward and enveloped the puppet. In seconds, it was frozen solid, like it had been lacquered in frost. But it didn't stop there—the ice began to creep along the exam floor, forcing nearby students to instinctively step back.
Even the directors' expressions changed. Though composed, their eyes reflected admiration.
This wasn't some beginner's display—it was a proficient-level Ice Element spell, the kind recognized by the Magic Association for formal combat.
"Your performance is excellent," the examiner finally said.
"Your Stardust grade is S, and your Activation grade is B."