177: Chapter 177 The Principal
He was dressed in deep green robes, with multiple rings adorning his fingers.
With just one glance, Lin Fan could tell that this elderly man was a Fifth-Order Mage.
Another Fifth-Order Mage!
He was secretly curious about who this old man was and why he would appear in the Longwei Magic Academy's viewing area.
Just as Lin Fan settled into his seat, he heard the old man's voice.
"Is it him?"
"It is indeed."
The Vice Principal responded.
"Hey, you there, the black-haired kid."
The old man called out.
Knowing the man was calling him, Lin Fan turned his head to look.
He saw the old man grinning, revealing a full set of teeth.
"Hehe, I know you're surprised. No need to be shocked; I am the Principal of Longwei Magic Academy."
The old man laughed casually, as if it were no big deal.
However, these words left all the students present utterly stunned. They all turned to look at the old man, and Lin Fan was no exception.
This was the Academy Principal?
One must know that many students had never seen the Principal in person since they enrolled; they only knew the Vice Principal.
"Hehe, I know you're all very surprised."
"It's only natural. I'm away all year round, and academy affairs have always been left to the Vice Principal to manage."
The Principal explained with a smile that he usually only returned to the school during major competitions and would leave shortly after.
"Lin Fan, I've heard quite a lot about you. I'm looking forward to your performance."
The Principal said with high spirits.
With the academy making it into the second round, he was in an excellent mood.
"Hmph, what kind of ability can a First-Order Mage have?"
Yang Yong, who was off to the side, let out a cold snort.
"Yang Yong, shut up."
The Principal turned toward Yang Yong, his tone icy.
Everyone: "..."
The Principal had actually scolded Yang Yong so severely; everyone was aghast, unable to believe it.
Yang Yong's mouth twitched, his face turning beet red from extreme embarrassment.
He wanted to talk back, but whether in terms of strength or status, he did not dare to be disrespectful to this old man.
But the Principal didn't seem finished; he looked at Yang Yong again and rebuked him sternly:
"I heard that this student was treated coldly during his time at the academy due to special circumstances, yet now, it is he who is saving face for the academy in the competition."
"Since he has achieved such results, shouldn't you be a bit kinder to him?"
"As a teacher, how can you disparage a student like this?"
"I am very disappointed."
Yang Yong trembled all over, fuming with rage, yet he could only force himself to endure it.
The other party was the Principal and a Fifth-Order Mage; he could only swallow his anger and turn his head away.
Everyone in the Longwei Magic Academy viewing area watched in silence as the Principal lectured Yang Yong.
Lin Fan was also quite surprised; he hadn't expected the Principal to be so decisive.
He liked this Principal!
After being scolded by the Principal, Yang Yong didn't say another word, only glaring fiercely at Lin Fan.
The Principal gave Lin Fan a few more words of advice and encouragement, and also encouraged Luo Zhongheng and the others participating in the team matches.
Soon, the arena was packed to capacity. Two referees stepped onto the field, and a floating crystal ball appeared, projecting today's match schedule.
Lin Fan saw that his duel with Su Linlin was scheduled as the seventh match, taking place in the afternoon.
The schedule projection remained in the air for over a minute before vanishing.
Immediately after, the names of the two academies for the first duel emerged.
[Chichao Magic Academy VS Jingyue Magic Academy]
As the academy names finished projecting, the contestants from both schools had already stepped onto the field.
The contestant from Chichao Academy was a woman with short brown hair.
The opponent from Jingyue Academy was a youth of medium build.
The two stood on opposite sides of the field, quietly waiting for the referee to announce the start, their expressions solemn and their gazes locked onto each other.
In the second round of the tournament's individual matches, the winner would receive 20 points; no one could afford to lose.
Especially since one of the academies had already lost the first team match.
"Start!"
A referee announced loudly, and the match officially began.
At the beginning of the match, neither side charged immediately; instead, they both retreated simultaneously to create distance.
At the same time.
Powerful magic power erupted from both of them... they were both Tier 2 Mages!
Magic power flowed around them as both simultaneously summoned stars of their respective elements.
The youth was wind-element, summoning yellow stars;
The woman was fire-element, with blazing red stars appearing around her.
After summoning the stars, neither immediately connected their Star Maps to cast Spells.
The youth pressed his palms together, and the necklace around his neck suddenly burst with a soft light.
The next moment.
A ball of white light flew out from the necklace and landed in the youth's right palm, condensing into a slender shape.
Ultimately, it transformed into a curved-blade black dagger.
A Magic Item!
Seeing the dagger, the audience was in an uproar, and Lin Fan was also somewhat surprised.
This dagger looked very much like the weapons used by assassins in Xuanhuan novels.
It also suited the style of a Wind-element Mage.
The youth gripped the dagger, gave it a flourish, and kept his gaze fixed on his opponent.
The woman was clearly prepared as well.
A flash of golden light passed around her and wrapped around her left wrist, turning into a Golden Bracelet engraved with glowing patterns.
Lin Fan didn't know what function this bracelet served.
Since he couldn't put on the omniscient mask for appraisal, he could only watch the match to see its effects.
The tournament did not forbid the use of Magic Items. Seeing the two items, the referee did not intervene, merely standing ready to step in if the situation spiraled out of control.
Once both had equipped their Magic Items, the match officially entered the engagement phase.
The yellow stars above the youth's head flickered and began to connect rapidly, completing the Star Map in less than two seconds!
"Swift Step!"
The youth gave a low shout.
His feet were instantly covered by a pair of yellow magical boots that extended up to his calves.
Having cast the speed-enhancing Spell, the youth immediately charged.
Whoosh!
His speed was astonishingly fast.
Leaving trails of afterimages behind him, he moved in a zigzag pattern across the field, rapidly closing in on his opponent.
Many in the audience couldn't keep up with the youth's movement speed; even fellow Tier 2 Mages found him somewhat difficult to track.
His opponent was the same, but the woman did not panic, calmly connecting her Star Map.
Just as she began to condense the Star Map, the bracelet on her wrist shimmered slightly, and the Star Map connection speed suddenly accelerated!
With the Star Map forming in less than a second, the woman spoke calmly:
"Fireball Technique!"
As she spoke, the bracelet glowed again.
What flew out from the Star Map was not a single fireball, but three massive fireballs, whistling out one after another.
A sharp light flashed in Lin Fan's eyes as he instantly understood the function of the woman's bracelet...
It increased casting speed and amplified Spell power!
This was an extremely precious item, its effect comparable to his own Spatial Vortex!
The three fireballs were larger than those of an ordinary mage, and faster too!
Arranged horizontally, the fireballs flew toward the charging wind-element youth, exploding violently a few meters in front of him.
Boom!
A towering wall of fire rose in the center of the field.
But the next moment, a figure charged straight through the fire wall.
The youth used his dagger to cleave right through the fire wall, continuing his charge toward the woman.
But after releasing the fireballs, the fire-element woman had already shifted her position, appearing fifteen meters away.
The ten red stars above her head connected rapidly.