Chapter 249: Extraordinary Detection
“The enrollment bonus can be exchanged for the resources you need on the first floor of the Academic Affairs Office. This is the standalone dormitory arranged for you. Your information has already been recorded. Since you are a specially admitted student, you will enter the Inner Court’s First-Year Special Admissions Class. In a moment, go to the second floor for an extraordinary ability assessment. After that, every time you advance in rank, you can receive credits and rewards.”
The stern teacher flipped through the documents in her hands, speaking continuously:
“Remember to read the Student Handbook. In the Inner Court, everything must follow the academy’s rules. Also, you have the qualification to participate in the Lost Lands selection. The selection will take place before winter. There isn’t much time left—make sure you prepare well.”
“You may use this week to familiarize yourself with the Light Institute and make up for any missed coursework. Starting next Monday, you must attend classes on time. Absences and tardiness will result in credit deductions.”
At this point, her tone paused slightly.
“Credits are very important.”
“That’s all. Take your things. You may leave.”
Xu Zhi was somewhat surprised. Was it really that simple?
After stepping out of the office, Ke Yi seemed to notice her confusion and smiled. “Faster than you expected, right?”
“Everything is very convenient inside the Light Institute. You might think enrollment was just pressing a handprint, but the moment you did that, a great deal of your information was already recorded across the institute’s systems. That’s why you don’t need to go through any additional procedures.”
“Alright, I’ll take you to the testing area on the second floor.”
As they walked, Ke Yi introduced the building:
“Each floor of the Academic Affairs Office serves a different function. The third floor handles student status management. The first floor is a general services area—consultation, exchanges, and so on. The second floor is responsible for extraordinary ability assessments. The fourth floor manages comprehensive affairs, like scheduling and handling unexpected campus incidents. The fifth floor stores archives—students are generally not permitted to access the fifth floor or above.”
Soon, the three arrived at the second floor. Compared to the rows of offices on the third floor, there were far fewer rooms here. As soon as they exited the elevator, they were greeted by a relatively open area.
Seeing Xu Zhi and the others, a staff member immediately approached.
“Here for an extraordinary assessment?”
Ke Yi nodded. “A newly transferred special-admission student. Please conduct her evaluation.”
“Alright, please follow me.”
Xu Zhi wasn’t particularly worried about the test. From the condition set by [Gods Heavy Industries]—that she draw her extraordinary circuit—she had already inferred that others likely couldn’t directly see another person’s extraordinary circuit unless they possessed something like her high-level [Eye of Secrets].
And abilities of that sort were clearly extremely rare. Otherwise, why would an organization as massive as [Gods Heavy Industries] need her to draw the circuit herself? They could simply have found an excuse to glance at it.
As long as no one could directly see through her circuit, Xu Zhi wasn’t afraid of a standard extraordinary assessment. After all, she was now a genuine and thoroughly authentic [Lamp]-attribute extraordinary.
She obediently maneuvered her wheelchair behind the guide, who led her toward a sealed room.
“The room ahead is used to test extraordinary attributes and affinity for those attributes,” the guide explained.
“Circuits engraved inside the room can detect attributes. When you enter, whichever color the circuits illuminate will represent your attribute. At the same time, the circuits are capable of confirming your current rank.”
“Once the attribute is confirmed, the extraordinary energy inside the room will gradually be drained. The process is slow. Please try your best to continue absorbing extraordinary energy.”
“We will determine the stage at which you are no longer able to extract extraordinary energy from your surroundings. This will serve as an important standard for judging your affinity.”
Xu Zhi nodded. That was easy to understand. Even among extraordinary individuals of the same rank, efficiency in extracting energy from the air would differ. That could indeed serve as one measure of affinity.
“After that, the extraordinary energy in the air will be completely drained. The room’s circuits will switch to another configuration, which will begin drawing the extraordinary power from your body. Please do not panic. It will stop after emptying your internal energy. The sensation may be uncomfortable, but you must endure it. Try not to resist, as resistance will only make it more unpleasant.”
“Once you are emptied, the room will immediately refill with extraordinary energy. In such a state, extraordinary individuals instinctively begin absorbing surrounding energy to replenish themselves. Please absorb at your maximum efficiency until you reach saturation. Your absorption speed and efficiency during this phase will also serve as important standards in judging your affinity.”
The guide did not explicitly mention that a subject’s performance after being completely drained would also be evaluated. However, that part was not used to judge affinity—it was categorized under “talent.” The better one performed during that stage, the higher their innate extraordinary talent rating, and the higher their implicit evaluation within the academy.
“That concludes the tests conducted in this room. Are you ready? If so, you may enter.”
This room? So there was another one afterward?
Xu Zhi nodded with interest. The guide pressed a button beside the door. It slid open, and she wheeled herself inside.
From the moment Xu Zhi entered the Light Institute, her every move had been monitored. Someone had been assigned specifically to track her footage. Seeing that she was about to undergo testing, they immediately submitted the live feed to the person who had instructed them.
Xu Zhi was well aware that several people—more than just one or two—were likely watching her results at that very moment.
As she entered, the door closed behind her. The surroundings darkened. Then she heard a beep.
[Beep.]
A mechanical voice sounded:
“Test begins.”
Suddenly, Xu Zhi sensed that the once “empty” room had filled with extraordinary energy. When she began absorbing it, she faintly felt some kind of connection with the walls. Moments later, the previously pitch-black walls emitted a faint pale-yellow glow. As she absorbed more of the [Lamp]-attribute energy in the room, the glow steadily grew brighter.
The first process did not last long. When the engraved circuits on the walls reached a certain brightness, Xu Zhi felt as though she were being “scanned.” A notification tone followed.
[First assessment complete.]
[Examined extraordinary attribute: Lamp]
[Extraordinary rank: Level Four — Proficient]
What did that mean?
Xu Zhi didn’t quite understand this ranking classification. She didn’t hide the confusion and curiosity on her face. But obviously, no one would answer her now.
Soon, the notification sounded again.
[Beep.]
[Second assessment begins.]
