The ten days of tense and fulfilling preparation flew by in the blink of an eye.
The second monthly exam arrived right on schedule.
The first event was the Realm assessment, which best reflected one’s family heritage and personal diligence.
The test results were quickly released. Unsurprisingly, Lin Xuewei, relying on the solid foundation built with Spiritual Qi from the Cold Pool Jade Marrow and aided by her family’s Pills, once again took first place in the Realm assessment by a considerable margin.
The total amount and purity of her Spiritual Power remained preeminent among the new students.
Chu Bai placed third, right behind Tao Mingzhi. This result was neither good nor bad, yet it made many who were paying attention to him secretly shake their heads, believing that he was ultimately still lacking in foundation.
However, when the second assessment—the Magic Technique assessment—began, everyone was about to witness a shocking upset.
On the day of the monthly exam, the atmosphere in the Magic Technique examination hall was more tense than ever before.
This was no longer a simple Martial Arts Arena. Instead, dozens of independent assessment areas had been set up, each equipped with a peculiar Array device that emitted a faint Spiritual Light.
When Instructor Jii Yu announced the rules for this Magic Technique assessment, the entire hall fell silent.
"This Magic Technique assessment is designed to test your fine control over your Magical Power and Magic Techniques. It is divided into two rounds."
Instructor Jii Yu’s voice echoed through the examination hall. Her gaze swept over every student, carrying a hint of scrutiny and anticipation.
"The first round is called ’Needle Through the Ring.’"
"You must control a ’needle’ formed from your own Magical Power to pass through nine moving Jade Rings of varying sizes within a set time. The smaller and faster the Jade Ring, the higher your score. The number of Jade Rings you pass through and your speed will determine your score for this round."
"The second round is called ’Flowers Bloom from Skillful Hands.’"
"You must use a Magic Technique—pay attention, you cannot make any physical contact with the material—to carve an extremely fragile Water Cloud Spirit Crystal into the shape of a lotus flower.
The more petals, and the more complete and lifelike the carving, the higher your score.
The Water Cloud Spirit Crystal is formed from condensed water vapor and has an extremely unstable structure. The slightest mistake will cause it to shatter. This tests the finesse of your power output and your ultimate control."
As soon as the rules were announced, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
The assessment began immediately.
Tao Mingzhi, who had placed first in the Magic Technique assessment during the last monthly exam, went up first.
He was clearly full of confidence for this assessment, eager to defend his honor.
In the first round, "Needle Through the Ring," he used his dominant Magical Power to form a stable fire needle. Relying on his immense Magical Power to propel it, he managed to accurately pass through all nine Jade Rings, achieving an outstanding score.
However, when Lin Xuewei took the stage, the crowd learned what true finesse was.
The Ice Needle she formed was both stable and agile, zipping through the air as if it were alive. It passed through all nine Jade Rings with ease, nearly thirty percent faster than Tao Mingzhi!
In the second round, "Flowers Bloom from Skillful Hands," she demonstrated true Mastery of her Cold Ice Technique.
Using cold air as her blade, she carefully sculpted the Water Cloud Spirit Crystal, ultimately carving a lifelike, seven-petaled Ice Lotus.
The Ice Lotus was crystal clear, its veins distinct, looking just like a real flower as it emitted a faint, chilly aura in the sunlight.
"Lin Xuewei, ’A’ grade in both rounds!" Instructor Jii Yu announced, a satisfied smile on her face.
This score surpassed Tao Mingzhi’s, putting her temporarily in first place!
The audience burst into applause and exclamations of praise. Everyone believed that first place in this Magic Technique assessment was sure to go to Lin Xuewei.
Tao Mingzhi’s expression turned ugly. He hadn’t expected that after a month of bitter training, he would still be surpassed by this favored daughter of heaven.
"Next, Chu Bai!"
Under the crowd’s focused gaze, Chu Bai walked calmly into the assessment area.
"First round, ’Needle Through the Ring’!"
He didn’t form just a single Magic Needle like the others. Instead, he spread his five fingers slightly, and with a mere thought, instantly formed three Spirit Water Needles imbued with Spiral Force!
These three Water Needles didn’t attack in a straight line. Instead, like living sprites, they took three different, uncanny paths, simultaneously weaving between the nine moving Jade Rings.
The sight was like three nimble hummingbirds dancing gracefully among a field of flowers.
They separated one moment and converged the next. Every evasion and pass was executed with the utmost precision and speed!
The audience was instantly rendered speechless.
Under everyone’s disbelieving gazes, the three Water Needles passed through the last Jade Ring at almost the exact same time!
And the time taken was only seventy percent of Lin Xuewei’s!
"My heavens... Controlling three needles at once?! Is the strength of his Divine Sense monstrous?!"
"How did he do that? And that speed... that precision... It’s completely overwhelming!"
Instructor Jii Yu’s eyes shone brightly. She exchanged a glance with Zhou Changkong, and both saw the shock and joy in each other’s eyes.
When the first round ended, Chu Bai, unsurprisingly, received a rating of ’A-plus’.
"Second round, ’Flowers Bloom from Skillful Hands’!"
Chu Bai didn’t choose any offensive Magic Technique.
He extended his hands, hovering his fingertips over the Water Cloud Spirit Crystal. Then, with a slight stir of the Guiyuan Technique’s Magical Power in his body, he activated the Formless Cloud Hand.
He slowly brought his palms together, and an invisible force, barely perceptible to the naked eye, instantly enveloped the Water Cloud Spirit Crystal.
Then, countless, even finer, hair-like threads of Magical Power extended from his palms, performing a dazzlingly intricate carving on the Spirit Crystal.
Under his control, the fragile Water Cloud Spirit Crystal seemed to come to life.
It spun slowly, enveloped in the formless force. Every cut from the threads of Magical Power was perfect, neither causing the slightest crack nor failing to precisely strip away the excess material.
When he pulled back his hands, a complete, twelve-petaled lotus formed of Magical Power appeared before everyone, sparkling and crystal clear!
Each petal of the lotus was as thin as a cicada’s wing, its veins clear. It even seemed to be gently unfurling, as if it were a living thing! Its vitality and liveliness far surpassed the Ice Lotus that Lin Xuewei had carved earlier.
"This... this is beyond carving. It’s simply miraculous!"
"Twelve petals! My god! I thought seven was the limit!"
The hall erupted once more, the applause like a tidal wave. This time, it was filled with heartfelt astonishment and admiration.
Instructor Jii Yu shot to her feet, her gaze toward Chu Bai filled with unconcealable approval and admiration.
"Chu Bai! A-plus in both rounds, a perfect score!"
"Magic Technique assessment—First place!"
Lin Xuewei stared at Chu Bai’s creation, a look of defeat and confusion appearing in her beautiful eyes for the first time. The fine control she was so proud of seemed so pale and insignificant before her classmate.
Tao Mingzhi, however, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with unwillingness to concede.
’Such a fast rate of improvement!’
’Not long ago in Magic Technique class, Chu Bai was merely on par with me... until he reached Mastery and completely surpassed me.’
’And now, he’s ahead by this much!’

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