51: Chapter 0051 Final Exam

The wooden box was lined with soft velvet, and the bullets lay inside like a litter of sleeping little beasts:

The Luminous Rounds shimmered with a faint golden-red glow...

The Mithril casings of the Shotgun Shells flashed with cold light...

The metal shells of the Flame Rounds carried residual warmth...

The dark red patterns on the Armor-Piercing Rounds resembled congealed blood...

The blue stripes of the Stun Rounds flickered faintly in the darkness.

He touched the lid of the wooden box, a slight smile forming on his lips.

These bullets were no ordinary weapons; they were the mysterious net woven by his Mechanical Alchemy.

Each one concealed the power of nature, fragments of Souls, and his own obsession with power.

When the barrel of the winds kiss howled, these sleeping beasts would awaken, tearing open enemy defenses and igniting dark corners in their own way.

Although these bullets were only Low-Rank Zero Ring, when combined with the firearm, their destructive power already reached the level of Intermediate Zero Ring.

"winds kiss + Rune Bullet"—this far exceeded the destructive energy level of most Zero Ring Sorceries.

However, firearms had their weakness: once crafted to a certain level, their ceiling was fixed.

Sorceries, on the other hand, would improve as Li Size's rank and Mental Energy increased.

Take the Ice Arrow Spell, for example. Although its basic energy level was only 1.

By the time Li Size's Mental Energy reached 5.0 and he advanced to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, this Zero-Ring Sorcery, boosted by Mental Energy and the Meditation Method, would surpass the damage of the "winds kiss."

At that point, the "winds kiss" should be discarded in favor of a stronger firearm, but Sorcery would never become obsolete.

By now, the sky was completely dark, but Li Size felt a slight excitement, having just successfully crafted his first Sorcery Item.

Li Size gripped the gun, aiming it at the special target prepared in the Laboratory...

A slight vibration came from the gun body, like some living thing responding to his will.

He pulled the trigger, hearing only a 'boom'.

It wasn't the sound of an ordinary gunshot, but the sound of a storm tearing through the air!

The bullet flew out trailing a cyan-blue vortex, striking the target. The Magic Monster energy particles inside scattered like exploding fireworks into countless points of light.

In the center of the target, a scorched hole remained.

It was the trace of flame, and the cavity walls were still emitting faint green smoke.

"Perfect."

Li Size smiled, his fingers tracing the runes on the gun body, feeling the power boiling within.

"Oh! Husband, you truly are a Genius!"

"Your firearm has already reached the Intermediate Zero Ring level!"

Felina was deeply astonished.

She had been an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice for many years, and her Sorcery was only around that level of power.

Yet Li Size had only been a Wizard Apprentice for less than two months!

This Mechanical Alchemy was practically a bug for a talented person like Li Size, allowing him to unleash terrifying power.

Felina snuggled tightly into Li Size's embrace and suddenly brought up a matter:

"Husband, the year-end exam is in three days. This is a provincial unified exam, and there's no way to be exempted."

The accumulated snow in Gray Mist Mountain Town had completely melted, revealing humus laced with faint purple residue. The tips of the small grass blades were condensed with the lingering chill of an unreleased curse.

When the Spring Wood Spirit particles awakened, these wild grasses would draw on the earth's vitality, breaking through the frozen soil to grow wildly.

This was the Reincarnation where vegetation and Demonic Energy intertwined...

For Academy Apprentices, various exams were also a form of tormenting Reincarnation bound within the ocean of Sorcery.

Felina had used her connections to exempt Li Size from the monthly and quarterly exams organized by the Academy.

But the final exam was unavoidable.

To survey the progress of Wizard Apprentice's knowledge mastery across the province's lower-tier academies, the Monte Province Department of Education launched a unified exam at the end of every semester.

The exam covered three parts: Rune Analysis, Potion Formulation, and Practical Combat Casting.

This was also an opportunity to capture shining Geniuses and channel resources from the Secret Vaults.

This exam could not be waived.

The average scores of each academy, as well as the rankings of the top thousand apprentices in the province, were directly linked to the allocation quotas of Magic Crystals, Wizard Tomes, and Formation Blueprints from the provincial Secret Vault.

Furthermore, Monte Province, Gele City, and the Academy all offered extra rewards to students ranking high.

In the past, these were things Li Size dared not even dream of, but now, for him, it was merely a dimensional strike from an apprentice who had mastered mysterious power looking down upon Mortals.

Still, only a fool would refuse free prizes.

Li Size held Felina, walking along as he asked:

"What are the Academy's rewards this year?"

Felina was very clear about this, having just attended the relevant meeting:

"Ranks 50 to 100 can receive ten Silver Coins.

Ranks 20 to 50 get 20 Silver Coins.

Ranks 10 to 20 get 30 Silver Coins.

Ranks 3 to 10 get 50 Silver Coins.

Third place is rewarded with 10 portions each of the 'Inferior Attribute Potion'.

Second place is rewarded with the 'Flame Ring' engraved with flowing scarlet fire patterns, which can invoke the 2.5-level Flame Arrow Spell three times daily.

First place is rewarded with the permanent agility potion 'swift spirit', which seals the wind spirit essence in a bottle, allowing the consumer's Soul to resonate with the Wind Element and permanently increase the Agility attribute by 0.5."

Li Size pouted upon hearing this:

"Except for the first-place reward, the rest are rather lackluster."

Felina stuck out her tongue, helpless:

"There's nothing to be done. Gray Mist Mountain Town is remote, and the Academy's resources are insufficient. The students' poor performance has formed a vicious cycle."

Li Size was silent. He had already decided to take first place in this Academy exam!

He wasn't interested in the 0.5 Agility value; to him now, it was just equivalent to 20 Gold Coins.

What mattered was that he could use the Pay-to-Win Analysis secret art to decipher the rune mysteries within the potion and obtain the secret formula for the 'swift spirit'.

A formula that could permanently increase attributes was priceless.

Moreover, it was virtually impossible for anyone to sell such a formula; it was extremely difficult to acquire under normal circumstances.

Permanent attribute potions, even the lowest tier ones, could fetch 30 to 40 gold coins embedded with magic crystals on the black market, while their actual cost was extremely low.

Li Size pondered for a moment and then asked Felina:

"What are the rewards from Gele City and Monte Province?"

Felina recalled for a moment:

"Gele City's rewards are decent, much more reliable than the Academy's.

Ranks 500 to 1000 get 50 Silver Coins, Ranks 100 to 500 get 1 Gold Coin.

Ranks 10 to 100 can receive Protection Pendants engraved with the Resistance Enhancement rune, capable of activating a Sorcery Barrier five times daily.

Ranks 3 to 10 can receive Scroll Models capable of constructing a stable consciousness space: the Basic Meditation Method scroll.

Third place receives a Model Scroll condensing the rune model for the Lesser Healing Spell; second place receives the Model Scroll for the Thorn Vine; first place receives both, plus an additional Model Scroll for Resistance Enhancement."

Li Size's entire body's Demonic Energy trembled slightly, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"Gele City's rewards are surprisingly generous—"

The top ten directly receive the Basic Meditation Method scroll; this is a massive advantage before the advancement exam!

The Sorcery Model scrolls for ranks 1-3 are models for learning rare Zero-Ring Sorcery runes, which cannot be measured by ordinary prices.

For example, for the 'Resistance Enhancement' Sorcery, Li Size knew that only top-tier merit points from the Police Department, Military, and Secret Intelligence Bureau could exchange for it.

If he could secure first place, he would acquire all three!

Felina encouraged Li Size upon hearing this:

"My husband can definitely get first place in Gele City!"

"The rewards this year are higher than in the past, possibly related to the current situation.

Monte Province's rewards are also quite good.

Ranks 500 to 1000 receive one Gold Coin, Ranks 100 to 500 receive three, and the top 100 are granted admission notices to the Monte Higher Academy.

The top ten receive a pass permit plus a seven-day resource Secret Realm exploration token.

Third place additionally receives the permanent attribute secret medicine 'brain in a vat' which can permanently increase the Mental Energy attribute value by 0.5.

Second place is replaced by a ten-year customization right for a wizard tool belonging to a formal Alchemist.

First place additionally receives the ancient secret Legacy Meditation Method, 'Stingy', whose effect is yet unknown!"

Li Size's fingertip stroked Felina's faintly glowing hair...

He whispered in disbelief:

"Monte Province is actually willing to bring out such a hidden treasure?"

"A special Meditation Method is a Secret Vault-level Legacy.

What exactly are they planning?"

"The rewards for the top three are so luxurious—this scale is simply unbelievable!

Heavens!

The top hundred only receive the Higher Academy admission notice; Monte Province is calculating this very precisely!"

As Li Size's fingertip circulated Demonic Energy, he applied slight pressure...

A soft moan, trembling with Demonic Energy, escaped Felina's throat. Seeing the Demonic Light flickering in Li Size's eyes, she confirmed:

"These are indeed Monte Province's rewards, truly generous!"

Li Size pursed his lips, kissing the faintly glowing skin on her back, feeling the resonance between their Mental Energy and bodies as he guessed:

"Since Monte Province is like this, I wonder how astonishing the rewards in other major provinces are!

Wouldn't the chosen prodigies who receive these rewards have wings added to a tiger during the advancement exam?"

Felina's body trembled slightly with their resonance, her eyes filled with moisture, panting softly:

"My husband is a Genius who controls Demonic Energy...

He will definitely be the strongest!

The national top scholar position will surely be yours."

"You have such confidence in your husband?"

Felina did not reply...

She slightly raised her head, her eyes full of love, fanaticism, and worship:

"Of course!"

About two hours later, the silver moon hourglass outside finished dripping its last grain of sand, and the pale golden halo of the sun spread a ripple on the carpet...

(Censored Again)

Li Size's fingertip traced Felina's faintly glowing long hair.

The residual vibrations of the Mental Energy, filled with desire and excitement from their recent intimacy, still lingered on her hair. He whispered and asked:

"Wife, do you know the content of this year's final exam?"

A silver-bell-like light laugh escaped Felina's lips. Her jade-like fingers, carrying faint blue Mental Energy ripples, pointed towards Li Size's forehead, teasingly saying:

"Husband, you still want to cheat, haha!"

Li Size grasped her wrist, which carried a slight coolness of Demonic Energy:

"It's good to know the general content so I can be prepared."

Stardust scattered from Felina's hair as she shook her head, saying softly:

"Well, the final exams of previous years have always been extremely confidential. There are only three public frameworks:

Common Sense Theory, Practical Operation, and Combat, each accounting for 100 points.

The specific assessment content for each year is sealed by the province using the 'Seal of Oblivion,' making leakage absolutely impossible.

Last year's Practical Operation tested the identification and purification of Alchemic Materials disguised by the 'Shape-Shifting Charm'.

Combat involved fighting against Demonic Energy-enhanced Red Flame Army Puppets in a simulated illusionary realm.

The exam questions for each year are only revealed to the examinees in the form of glowing runes on the exam day... after the supervising instructor unlocks the Restriction with the 'Key of True Words.'"

Afterward, Felina condensed a ball of pale golden light in her fingertips. Within the light, the vague outlines of previous years' exam questions appeared as she detailed the question setups and results recorded by Demonic Energy to Li Size.

Since this final exam was a screening for all Wizard Apprentices in Monte Province, the difficulty gradient was extremely skewed, regulated by the Secret Arts.

The questions progressed layer by layer, from the Mortal level to those touching upon the mysterious Domain.

The apprentices from Gray Mist Mountain Town's lower-tier Academy consistently had dismal results in previous years.

The average score displayed on the Demonic Energy Scoring Crystal was only 140 points; the light on that crystal was as dim as a dying candle flame.

Even the top few seed apprentices in the Academy barely reached around 220 points on the scoring crystal, just touching the threshold of the mysterious assessment.

Approximately every three to five years, one or two lucky names would appear in glowing runes on the honor rolls of Gele City or Monte Province.