The Canglang Empire was the weakest of the four duchies, and it was rare for more than one person to be admitted to Lien School each year.
The elderly man tested the magic circle and then announced, “The magic circle is functioning properly. Come forward one by one for the test. First, Milo.”
After speaking, he glanced in the direction of the Ye family, his gaze lingering on Ye Jin and Ye Shaohua.
Ye Jin’s spiritual energy fluctuations were strong, and he believed she would likely pass the test.
As for Ye Shaohua, the elderly man narrowed his eyes. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite grasp. Even the dean of Lien School couldn’t give him this kind of feeling. In all his years, only one person had ever made him feel this way.
Lost in thought, the elderly man withdrew his gaze thoughtfully.
A noble youth with silver eyes nervously stepped into the center of the magic circle.
The magic circle emitted a faint blue light.
“D-level spiritual power, apprentice wind mage. Disqualified. Next.”
“E-level spiritual power, apprentice earth mage. Disqualified. Next.”
“C-level spiritual power, apprentice wind mage. Disqualified. Next.”
“…”
Out of the first twenty candidates, not a single one passed. The nobles in attendance grew increasingly disheartened.
“C-level spiritual power, Level 1 water mage, age 17. Meets the minimum standard. Congratulations, you are now a member of Lien School,” the elderly man said, his tone slightly warmer as he addressed the plainly dressed youth.
The young man’s face flushed with excitement as he was led aside by a Lien School student to complete his registration.
The next dozen or so candidates also failed to meet the requirements.
“A-level spiritual power, Level 1 fire mage. Qualified!” The elderly man’s eyes lit up as he saw the dazzling red light emanating from the magic circle. He couldn’t hide his excitement. “Your name is Ye Jin, correct? Excellent. Go over there to register.”
The entire hall erupted in chatter at the elderly man’s announcement.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward Ye Jin.
Even the ministers of the Canglang Empire were thrilled. They had expected at best a C-level spiritual power candidate, but to their surprise, an A-level spiritual power candidate had emerged, and she was already a Level 1 mage.
One of the ministers excitedly used a communication magic scroll to inform the ruler of the Canglang Duchy.
Ye Jin, feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze, wore a proud expression.
“Brother Gu Hong, is what the teacher said true?” she asked, recalling something. “Does Lien School really have someone with S-level spiritual power?”
Gu Hong’s eyes flickered with a hint of wariness. “Yes, she’s the daughter of the Mage Guild’s leader. She inherited both thunder and water magic from her parents. In just two years at the school, she’s already a Level 4 mage. She’ll be the second student in Lien School’s history to graduate in less than five years.”
Ye Jin was captivated by Gu Hong’s description and clenched her fists, vowing silently that she wouldn’t fall short of that S-level prodigy.
“You reached Level 1 mage in just one year,” Gu Hong said, ruffling her hair with a smile. “With A-level spiritual power, you’re undoubtedly the top candidate in this year’s admissions.”
Ye Shaohua was a few places behind Ye Jin.
The Grand Elder’s gaze was deep and unreadable as he watched her.
The Second Elder, who was on better terms with Duke Ye, had nearly died in the Magical Beast Mountains years ago and had been carried back to safety by Duke Ye.
“Clan Leader, did you bring Shaohua here because you’re confident she’ll pass?” the Second Elder asked. Although he didn’t know the identity of Ye Shaohua’s mother, he had been present at her birth.
Her mother had been able to cast a Level 5 forbidden spell immediately after giving birth, so her spiritual power couldn’t have been lower than B-level.
With such strong parents, how could Ye Shaohua possibly have F-level spiritual power?
Yet, that was the reality, and the Second Elder couldn’t help but feel regretful.
Duke Ye shook his head. “I just brought her along for the experience.”
Although he said this, he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. A 16-year-old Level 1 ice mage with F-level spiritual power—perhaps she could still meet Lien School’s admission standards?
On the other side, the elderly man finished testing another candidate and announced indifferently, “Next.”
Ye Shaohua put away the fifth-tier magic core she had been fiddling with and walked through the crowd to the center of the magic circle.
Some of the nobles from Cangyun City recognized her and sneered. “She’s here with F-level spiritual power? Is she dreaming?”
They all knew about the once-high-and-mighty young lady who had been revealed to have F-level spiritual power during her coming-of-age ceremony. Most of them looked down on her.
Ye Jin was equally shocked to see Ye Shaohua here, her expression one of disbelief.
“Don’t pay her any mind,” the Grand Elder said, having known from his past life that Ye Shaohua was unreliable. As long as they clung to Ye Jin and Gu Hong, the Ye family would be safe. “She’s just refusing to accept reality.”
He glanced in Ye Shaohua’s direction, his expression dark. If Ye Shaohua caused trouble this time, he would make sure she regretted it.
“Close your eyes,” the elderly man said, his tone slightly gentler when he saw it was Ye Shaohua, whom he had been curious about earlier. “The magic circle will automatically deactivate when it’s too much for you.”
He then chanted an incantation, and the magic circle activated.
Ye Shaohua felt an overwhelming spiritual energy pressing down on her mental sea, growing stronger and stronger.
What she didn’t know was that as soon as she stepped into the circle, it emitted a brilliant white light, shifting from red to deep purple, surrounded by swirling vortices of white, blue, green, and yellow.
The elderly man’s expression shifted from pleased to stunned, and finally to complete disbelief.
After what felt like an eternity, the magic circle gradually dimmed.
The elderly man swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and announced in a trembling voice, “S-level spiritual power. Ice, wind, and earth triple-element mage!”
The moment he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in gasps. The looks directed at Ye Shaohua were filled with awe and fear at the sheer magnitude of her spiritual power.
The smile on Ye Jin’s face froze in place.