Chapter 253: Still First Place
“…So the entrance test was actually this simple?”
The girl’s voice sounded like she was talking to herself. In the surveillance feed, the room was completely silent. Even the lights seemed to hesitate for a moment before turning on.
Then the results were announced inside the room.
[Congratulations, Student Xu Zhi. Testing complete. Results will now be announced:]
[Based on your performance during the test:
Your Comprehensive Extraordinary Test rating: Excellent
Current Academy Ranking for this category: No.1]
[Congratulations. As you ranked first in the Comprehensive Extraordinary Test, you will receive an additional 100 credits per month.]
“First again?” Xu Zhi’s tone carried a faint, slightly exaggerated hint of surprise—but if one listened carefully, the pride in her voice was unmistakable.
Clearly, the surprise was fake. The pride was real.
She hadn’t even tried very hard to conceal it.
Yet in the eyes of others, the small trace of pride Xu Zhi revealed could already be considered “modest.”
[00:45]
That result. That time.
It was like a thunderbolt crashing down upon the heads of every Light Institute teacher watching Xu Zhi’s test.
“…Is our test really that simple?”
Someone voiced a soul-searching question.
“Fun fact: The average completion time for this test over the years is 47 minutes. Before this, the fastest record was 14 minutes and 6 seconds.”
“And that record was set by a student with the ‘Qi’ attribute.”
The person spoke heavily, almost word by word, staring blankly at the screen displaying [00:45].
“…Am I still dreaming?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Forty-five seconds. Isn’t that a system bug?”
“Didn’t we ask that same question during the previous test?”
“Could she have specifically studied circuit-related knowledge before?”
“Are you brain-damaged? Did you forget she has amnesia? Even if she studied it before, she shouldn’t remember anything now!”
“With talent like this, it’s enough for us to make an exception!” the hot-tempered old man stood up immediately and looked around. “What do you all think?”
“Is that even a question?”
“We’re not blind!”
“Nor are we idiots.”
“Raise her student file to the highest classification. From this moment on, she will be considered a true student of our Light Institute. I ask that all of you teach her with care and do your best to ensure her heart also belongs to the Institute.”
The principal, seated in the center, made the final decision.
“No matter who she was before or why she came to Lian City, that no longer matters. The Light Institute does not belong to Lian City anyway. We will accept her and protect her. As long as she has sufficient ability, perhaps one day, when she grows strong enough, she may even guide us in return.”
“As long as she stands with us.”
After the principal finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent.
When they first heard his last two sentences, most people instinctively thought—
How could a child possibly guide us?!
But when they considered Xu Zhi’s almost unnatural, even monstrous talent, they couldn’t help but feel—
Perhaps that day was not impossible.
A super genius of the [Lamp] attribute. As long as she was properly protected and guided, sooner or later she would grow into a powerful leader. And the Light Institute had the closest connection to the [Lamp] attribute. In time, she would surely become one of its pillars.
Moreover, extraordinary users of the [Lamp] attribute were almost always pure-minded individuals due to the nature of their attribute. As long as they were not corrupted or disturbed, their character would not go astray.
And Xu Zhi had amnesia.
Without a past to influence her, she was now a brand-new [Lamp]. As long as they showed her goodwill and acceptance, provided guidance and support, turning Xu Zhi into one of their own—a true member of the Light Institute—should not be difficult.
“Then some of our previous plans regarding her must be adjusted. Other factions are certainly still watching her. But the Lamp attribute cannot possibly have any connection to the long-vanished Cup. We don’t know why the Cup suddenly reappeared, but it has nothing to do with a student of the Light Institute.”
“Agreed. Has anything been traced regarding the blade sent to Gods Heavy Industries?”
Although decisions had been made, certain matters still required attention.
“No.” The principal shook his head.
“Gods Heavy Industries reported that their tracing of the blade revealed only one conclusion.” He lifted his aged yet sharp eyes.
“That blade is rootless.”
As soon as he finished speaking, expressions of shock spread across the room.
“Rootless? How is that possible?!”
“This just became troublesome…”
“Not necessarily. For that person in the Council, this might even be good news.”
A rootless object meant no one could prove the item originated from Lian City.
There were fewer than ten people in the top-floor conference room. These were the power holders of the Light Institute in Lian City. Naturally, they were aware of what had happened in the lower districts.
“If it’s rootless, then it has even less to do with Xu Zhi. That’s indeed good news!” the hot-tempered old man happily slapped the table.
“Indeed. That puts us more at ease.”
As for the blade’s true origin—they cared, but… not that much.
Not compared to Xu Zhi.
“I will remain at the academy for a few more days before returning to the top level. From now on, any matters concerning Xu Zhi must be reported to me immediately.”
The principal spoke slowly while watching the surveillance feed of the girl being pushed toward the final test.
“Don’t worry, Principal. What could possibly happen inside the academy?”
Unless Xu Zhi deliberately sought death herself, who would dare do anything to such a treasure within the Light Institute?
The old man was brimming with confidence. Although the principal also possessed the [Lamp] attribute, he stayed on the top level year-round and had no time to personally teach Xu Zhi. But the old man’s daughter was a teacher at the Institute—
Wasn’t that a perfect advantage?
The old man was already secretly planning, the more he looked at Xu Zhi, the more pleased he felt.
Excellent. Excellent indeed.
Such monstrous talent—yet upon learning she ranked first in two categories, she remained calm and composed.
What? That tiny bit of pride in her tone earlier?
That was nothing!
That was simply the basic arrogance a genius ought to possess!
Xu Zhi was already far more modest than many other gifted students. Such character! Such temperament! Worthy of the [Lamp] attribute—excellent, truly excellent!
“She’s about to take the final test. If nothing unexpected happens, she’ll likely rank near the top again.”
Someone watched as Xu Zhi stood before the door to the last test, unable to hide the anticipation in their voice.
Who wouldn’t be excited?
A once-in-an-era genius had appeared right before their eyes. They had personally witnessed her reveal talent beyond ordinary limits. They had discovered her together—and even had the chance to be the first to build a connection with her.
With all previous test results rated Excellent, the final test could hardly turn out poorly. Gifted extraordinary users always displayed their “forward-thinking nature” in that assessment.
Without a doubt, Xu Zhi would be no exception.
is that a flag?