Chapter 8

A certain young man was on the roof of a building watching stars. Mo Fan has been cultivating like an obsessed man, and he hasn't paid attention to his surroundings. Throughout many years of his past life, he had forgotten the feeling of Bo City. It was familiar. It made Mo Fan question if he was still alive or if he was just dreaming.

It was the clearest night ever. For the past week, it has been non-stop raining. For Bo City, it was the sign of spring turning into summer. Mo Fan could feel the icy cold wind rushing through the air. It gave Mo Fan goosebumps, but it felt close. It was like Mu Ningxue, even though she has a cold and icy aura, she does have caring and kind feelings behind it. Mo Fan felt like he should try to take this life slower and enjoy many different things. 'If only Xinxia and Ningxue were here.'

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Change of POV. (HYDRO Check!!! Make sure to be hydrated. Do you know that every 60 seconds passes in Africa, 1 liter of water is used. JK)

The next day, it was the Annual Magic Exam. For many people, it was the biggest nightmare that they will try to survive through. This is because most people are nervous about their grades in Magic Assessment, and if they achieved the worst grade, they would be expelled from the school which would stop their road to becoming a mage.

Also, the reality that society respects only the strong puts more pressure on them. Every Magic High School's system worked like this: if you were not suited to study Magic, then you would be expelled early, giving them another way so they wouldn't continue to waste their time in the borderless Magic sea. But for a small part of people, it was the perfect opportunity to show the difference between a genius from a rich family and an average student.

But I, Mu Bai, will pass this test with flying colors as they called it. Today is going to be known as my day to take off as a supreme mage. Defend my number 1 spot and show off my glory.

I walked out of his room wearing a white collared t-shirt with plum embroidery and ironed trousers. Although nothing grandeur, I need to be my best for my performance instead of relying on my status.

I walked towards the main living room where Mu He, my uncle/foster dad, was waiting for me.

"Mu Bai, you have to show off today. You have to know that our Mu Family will distribute a few cultivation resources to some of the young disciples. The distribution will be based on each one's strength. If you are strong, you get more resources. Also, work hard for this branch of the family. Make the main family realize that there is someone unique." Mu He admonished.

'Of course, I need to show off my everything today. Even with my uncle's high standing in Mu Family and also the Supervisor of Tian Lan High School, I need to make sure to earn face and prestige for the family.' I thought.

"Uncle, please don't worry!" I said with the utmost confidence. "Also, I have heard that Mu Ningxue might show up today. Is that true?" I whispered.

"Yeah, today is a very important day for Tian Lan Magic High. It just so happens that Mu Ningxue started her summer break early from the Empire Institution. I discussed with the Family Head and had her, the flag of Bo City, come to Tian Lan Magic High to give you guys a lecture, take a look at the annual examinations this year, and have her evaluate the quality of the students," Mu He praised.

I am filled with excitement upon hearing the information, and I wanted to capture her attention.

Mu He continued. "Don't worry; when it's your turn, I will have her watch with the Family Head. You just have to make sure to impress both of them. If you can capture their attention, I bet you will be given a Stardust Magic Tool for a few months, then you can surpass against your peers!"

Even more attractive news appeared, I immediately thought of obtaining both Mu Ningxue and Stardust Magic Tool. My eyes radiated like a light bulb. "Star…tardust Magic Tool?Really?"

"For us, we are divided between the rest by investing money into young magicians in hopes of a bright future; thus, if you can stand out within the family, you have a chance to receive a Stardust Magic Tool." Mu He said.

"Uncle, I…I will do my best to show off!" I puffed his chest in excitement.

Stardust Magic Tool is one of the best tools for mages to get stronger. It not only helps with increased speed of cultivation but also ensures the wearer to be able to cultivate longer. A normal mage can cultivate 5 hours per day which leaves 19 hours left for rest, studying, and eating, but with the Stardust Magic Tool, the mage can cultivate longer and restore fatigue from cultivating too long.

To many people, it was a heavenly item that they would try to yearn for. The effects wouldn't be much in a day or two, but it will show the difference in a month. There are also different types of Stardust Magic Tool, and it can increase more or less depending on the grade of the Magic Tool, but it was a precious item in any mage's eyes.

"Uncle, you mentioned the Elite Class students would have the opportunity to use the Stardust Magic Tool; is this true?" Mu Bai asked with excitement.

"That's right; since this is a Magic school, naturally, there are also some few cultivation resources. However, the resources are very limited. I will pull a couple of strings and let you use the Stardust Magic Tool for longer than the rest. Try to treasure every moment with the tool, because it will be necessary for you to enter the Core Discipline." Mu He sincerely said to Mu Bai.

I nodded seriously and gave out a cold smile. 'Looks like everyone has to be plowed out of the way. I have the enormous Mu Family behind me; no one can stop me!'

"Oh right, how's the situation with that kid called Mo Fan?" Mu He inadvertently thought of this as if he thought of a beggar he didn't want to give money to. He asked without thinking, as though he had nothing to do.

"His cultivation is barely mediocre, but he should be able to cast magic. I think he just got lucky by his talent in controlling stars." I loathed Mo Fan ever since they were little. Everyone followed him as if he was a celebrity, even Mu Ningxue blindly mixed with him.

I was filled with anger. 'He was just a wild monkey, trying to hop from one mountain to another. Now that his family status has been shown in the school, he lacks everything.'

"Hmpf! Looks like Mo Jiaxing's choice in sending his garbage son to the school wasn't a bad choice, but we will help Mo Fan out, and we will make sure that he gets expelled. I will make sure that a loser will know what it means to be a loser. " Mu He lit a cigarette and closed his eyes. He hated poor and desperate people.

Mu He handed a small and black stone to me.

"What is this Uncle?" I asked.

~

I arrived at the front of the school with Zhan Kunsan while thinking about the stone in my pocket. The atmosphere was filled with both regret and nervousness, but I remained composed and ready. However, as I reached the gate, my face turned into a smirk at two people waiting.

It was Mo Fan and his little monkey.

"Well, well. Look who we have here? Are you guys greeting us before going to fail…" Zhan Kunsan was about to finish his sentence.

Mo Fan cut me off. "Come on man, why do you have to say that? It gets kind of boring every time that I hear it. Also, Mu Bai's outfit is looking nice," Mo Fan put his hand on my shoulder.

Weirded out and slightly pleasing to be complimented by his #1 enemy, I raised my eyebrow, surprised by his action. "Are you trying to butter me up? I am not that easy, no matter what exam result you get, you need to be responsible for it."

"Come on man. Throw me a bone, we are acquaintances," Mo Fan wrapped his right arm around my left side. "Look, how about today, we don't fight." (AN: Throw me a bone means asking to do a small favor.)

"What are you trying to do…" I tried to shake off his arm. I feel a sudden grab around my wrist.

"Uuu, what is this? Nice watch you got here! Did you get it from your foster dad?" Mo Fan buttered me up again.

I shook off his grab, annoyed. "What are you trying to do? What do you want? Just get to the question."

"Alright, alright," Mo Fan backed away. "How about this? We have a bet on our exam results; whoever gets a better score wins. The winner gets a deal that they must do, and of course, you can negotiate the terms. No strings attached." Mo Fan offered his hand with a slightly wicked smile.

'Hmm, amazing idea! Mo Fan, I have to thank you for digging your own grave. You will never beat against the black stone.' I thought. I extended my hand and shook his hand. "Deal. No chickening out."

"No chickening out." Mo Fan responded.

Meanwhile, Zhan Kunsan and Xiaohou really felt left out as background characters. Seeing an opportunity, Zhan Kunsan chimed in. "Hey Mo Fan, you better prepare a grave right now. A backdoor student would never win against a straight-A student, especially with the backing of Mu Family. It is just a weak, stray dog trying to compete with a top of the class dog"

"Ayoo, who let you disturb.." Xiaohou was about to battle it out against Zhan Kunsan, but Mo Fan pushed him away into the school, smiling back at the two of us.

Watching both of them walk into the school, I readied my spirit to destroy Mo Fan. "All right, let's finish them," I told Kunsan with total confidence. We then both walked in.

Today, the grounds were set up clearly for test-taking. The stage had a Star Appraisal Stone floating on the pillar in the front. In the back, there was a puppet set up a few meters away for the students to cast magic, and everyone was able to observe anyone. Although the test was supposed to only contain the measurement of the students' cultivation, the optional test can propel the best students into the Elite Class.

The Star Appraisal Stone is a black cobblestone, and it was slightly smaller than a volleyball. It was today's main event. The Star Appraisal Stone measures one's cultivation, and students only had to put their hands on the stone and focus. The stone will lighten up depending on the student's ability. The examiners on the stage will announce the results as they determine the brightness from the orb.