Main Chapter: Surpassing Expectations.

At the end of the weak Class 1-A was gathered in the Field of Tempering, behind the Qing Ruo Academy.

As the ten students stood waiting, Mou Lin, showed up with a yawn. His hair was filled with pink petals, but his bearing and stride remained steady. With a snap, he summoned the ten training dummies.

Only three of his students were able to recognize how high-level that action was.

Standing beside the training dummies he shook off the sleepiness like it was a cloak. But the petals in his hair kept him from looking anything but silly. And some of the students were laughing but no one pointed it out.

"You guys seem pretty confident. Well, then there is no need to give you prep time. Hmmm, how about we go from oldest to youngest?"

"Fine by me, Teach."

Ming Xie stepped forward and a sudden gust of cold blew her white spiky hair about. The grey clouds were heavy with rain and it was more than a little windy, but no one minded it too much.

Bracing herself, Ming Xie did the 5 hand signs neither quick nor slow. Then using her left arm as a brace, a beam of Moon Fire flew from her fingertip crashing into the chest of the dummy. Cascading over it and setting it ablaze. Lasting for around 45 seconds before fading away. Leaving a lightly scorched target.

"Sorry, my aim kinda sucks."

Ming Xie said her hand holding her hair back again.

"It is fine changing your posture like that is a sign of creativity. Though as it is slower and more obvious use it only as a training brace."

"Hey Teacher, how many points would you give that?"

"Points, huh."

Though it was Lou Jian who asked, Mou Lin, checked Ming Xie's expression to see if she was against it.

"Yeah, out of a 100."

"Hmmm, about 71. That mark is based on five things. Control, activation speed, power, duration, and efficiency. Your control was only passable; 12 marks. You need to work on keeping a firmer focus. Your activation speed was good; 15 marks. With practice, you will be even better. Your power was also good 14 marks. However, it suffered from your waning focus. Just like the duration and efficiency of your spell would. But even then, I would give you 15 marks for both of those.

Though 71 might not seem like that a high mark. I'm evaluating based on the standing measure of your end of year exam. The fact that you've come so far will both surprised and please the Elders and Lord Ruo."

"Seriously? Wasn't it expected for us to learn a spell at the end of the week?"

"Not entirely it was expected for you to learn one spell. And what was expected by the end of the week was a spell that would puff out a few seconds after."

Those who had been feeling slightly anxious were relieved and Lou Jian even laughed a little.

"It seems all of you have more than met the expectation. So, feel free to crush it and I will look about getting you guys some better rewards. Well, how good those will be, depending on how much you guys crush it."

Hearing this Ming Xie gave a smirk and without any go ahead. Did 8 hand signs much faster than before. Then outstretched her hand and a translucent amethyst circle appeared, just a little bigger than her hand.

Slowly, it wrapped around her outstretched hand and then she charged forth and sunk her hand into the dummy. All the way up to her wrist. The spell faded away and with a bright grin, she turned to her classmates most of whom were shocked, and to Mou Lin who had an eyebrow raised.

"Whoa, that was pretty cool Ming Xie."

"Thanks, Jion, wanna have a meal with me sometime."

"No, he doesn't!"

While Hou Dun laughed at Hou Xiang who had just screamed out. Lou Jian thought for a bit and was about to respond but Hou Xiang glared him into silence.

Seeing that her "prey" had a guard dog. Ming Xie turned her attention to Mou Lin.

"So, Teach, was I pretty cool?"

"Mm, it suits you. If you reach a bottleneck with that variant, I will help you out."

With those words, Ming Xie returned to stand by her classmates.

"Hou Dun, are you fine with being next?"

"Sure, but I don't have anything flashy to show."

Stepping forward he made 5 hand signs and an amethyst dot appeared in front of him and stretched out into the translucent shield and appearance of the typical Still Pond Art.

Placing his middle finger on his thumb. Mou Lin flicked and a bolt of air shot out and struck Hou Dun's barrier. It absorbed the impact without a single change and then disappeared.

Feeling pretty confident Hou Dun asked.

"So, Sir Lin, how would you mark me?"

"Out of the same 100 about… 94."

Hearing that and the congratulations from his classmate. Hou Dun couldn't stop smiling.

"19 for control, 18 for activation speed, 19 for durability, 20 for duration and 18 for efficiency. Honestly speaking you did great, Hou Dun. You can take pride in that."

"This is thanks to Sir Lin."

"Me, I just answered a few questions and talked a bit."

Hou Dun bowed but Mou Lin merely waved it off. It was unspoken knowledge in Class 1-A, that you could message Mou Lin at any time. And get a response in under a minute.

Having focused on mastering only one spell. Hou Dun had no other to show so he stepped back.

"Hou Xiang, ready?"

Mou Lin asked turning his gaze to the younger sibling, who nodded in response.

Stepping forward Hou Xiang closed her eyes and psyched herself up. Then she turned a firm gaze to Mou Lin.

"Sir Lin, can we get to request a reward if we do really well?"

"Hmmm, if its nothing too outrageous. Then I will make sure you get it."

Hou Dun gave his sister a glare but ultimately said nothing.

Hou Xiang released a breath and then performed 5 hand signs. Slower than both Hou Dun and Ming Xie a Still Pond appeared. It was a bit smaller than Hou Dun's and a lot less clear. However, its appearance was firm.

Doing the same gesture as before. Mou Lin flicked air at Hou Dun's barrier and it barely resisted before fading away.

"Sir Lin?"

"62, 14 control, 12 activation speed, 11 durability, 15 duration and 11 in efficiency."

Maybe in another class, Hou Xiang would be mocked but her current classmates either didn't care, believed she had more or did not have a mocking nature.

Hearing her results Hou Xiang gritted her teeth and then performed 5 hand signs.

Then fired a bolt of moon fire from her fingertip. It cascaded over the dummy directly in front of her and then after around 45 seconds, it faded away. Revealing a barely burnt dummy.

"Sir Lin?"

Hou Xiang asked all while biting her lips and clenched her fist. She knew without hearing it, her results weren't that good, but she wanted to hear it.

"62, 12 for control, 14 for activation speed, 11 for power, 15 for duration and 10 for efficiency."

Hou Xiang gave a helpless laugh at her similar result and then moved to do a third spell.

7 slow hand signs and then she sped-off and the image of her appeared. By the time it fully settled she was by the training dummy.

The cold wind blew across the field once more and Hou Xiang lowered her head. She felt ashamed and stupid. Not having the heart to ask Mou Lin for that final result, that was even worse. She tried to calm her heart and stop her eyes from stinging.

But it wasn't working, and she felt like she was choking.

Then a hand fell on her head and she found her voice.

"Sir Lin, I know my results are subpar but since I can perform all three spells. Will-will you hear my request?"

Looking up at the man who was ruffling her hair, she asked with a bit of hope.

"Even if you had done just one spell with those results, I would have listened to your request. It has only been two weeks, but you guys have been able to perform at a level on par with an end of year student. I am honestly more than impressed with what I have seen."

Hearing his words Hou Xiang mood improved immensely.

"Then Sir Lin can you-…"

"Xiang! If you're going to make a fool of yourself then at least do so in private."

Xiang turned to glare at her brother but instead of saying anything else just bit her lip.

"Dun?"

"It's a family matter, Jian."

Hou Dun's voice was cold, but it wasn't enough to dissuade Lou Jian. As the tension rose between the two, a soft tapping broke their focus.

"Ah, Hou Xiang it will be your birthday in a few months, right? Hmm, I think I can guess what you want then. I will speak to your father about it."

At Mou Lin's words, Hou Xiang thanked Mou Lin profusely. While Hou Dun had a complicated expression before finally relenting.

"Seung Do, ready?"

With a nod, Seung Do stepped forward and performed a slightly different moon fire spell.

The spell gathered at his fingertip then fired out breaking into five smaller lines and struck; the head, throat, chest, and lungs on the target dummy.