The moment before, the three roommates, who had been seriously discussing the insurmountable gap in talent, were also stunned, frozen in place.
The others were even more excited and couldn’t contain their emotions.
Some of them, who were still unaware of Xu Yin’s identity, asked, “Who is this person?”
“It’s Xu Yin! He’s from the Xu family, and he’s You Yuan’s cousin!”
The Imperial Court’s Illusionist Qualification Exam, although referred to as an exam, actually felt more like a competitive event. The original intention of allowing spectators was to bring the public’s scrutiny, and over time, this atmosphere became a tradition.
This atmosphere does add pressure to the candidates, but at the same time, once a candidate performs exceptionally, their name is quickly remembered by the public.
“Xu Yin? Why haven’t I heard of him before?”
“He has always been the one with the worst talent among the younger generation of the Xu family. How did he suddenly become so impressive?”
“This isn’t even a matter of being impressive or not. Don’t you remember? Even the master said it was impossible to reach an S-level with this kind of simulator! To achieve an S-level, it must be—”
“It must be that the illusionist’s energy disorder is completely neutralized!!”
But until now, which illusionist has been able to reach that level?
Yet now—
In the exam hall, in front of the handsome young man, there was indeed a towering tree, magnificently growing.
Everyone was deeply shocked!
Xu Yin.
This young man’s name was Xu Yin.
What exactly had he done?
Some candidates reacted quickly and rushed over to check the base of Xu Yin’s machine, the main unit of the simulator. They spoke in disbelief, “Could there be a problem with the machine? Could it be a bug?”
Other candidates also regained their composure, their expressions varied.
“Yeah, right. Shouldn’t the examiners check it first?”
“We still need to ensure fairness, right…”
They forced a smile.
As they said this, the crowd of onlookers also began to calm down a little.
Indeed, a young illusionist with extremely poor talent, who had always been looked down upon, suddenly exploded to the divine S-level. When compared to the possibility of a malfunction with the simulator itself, the latter seemed to be the more likely explanation.
Everyone exchanged glances, unsure which outcome they were hoping for. In the end, they could only awkwardly shift their gaze back to the exam hall, waiting for the examiners’ actions.
Xu Yin calmly glanced at Mr. Lu.
Mr. Lu, snapping out of his shock, understood the meaning behind Xu Yin’s gaze. After a moment of thought, he called over the technicians and, together, they quickly entered the exam hall.
The murmurs grew louder.
The candidates clustered together in pairs, whispering to each other, casting looks at Xu Yin that ranged from scrutinizing, hostile, and astonished to doubtful.
You Yuan was uncertain.
Perhaps because Xu Yin had recently outperformed him so many times, he was almost certain that the machine wasn’t faulty.
Xu Yin had spent so much time earlier performing adjustments, and now, remaining so composed, You Yuan knew that this guy had definitely mastered some new skill. Once this skill was made public, it would likely cause a storm across the entire empire.
You Yuan gritted his teeth.
…He had snapped!
What skill was it, what skill, what skill? He desperately wanted to know, damn it!
And as he had expected, just a few minutes later, the technician stood up after completing the check and calmly announced the result: “The machine is functioning normally. There are no malfunctions.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent once again.
If the machine wasn’t faulty, it meant that—
This towering tree in front of them was indeed the result of Xu Yin’s energy adjustment!
With this revelation, everyone gasped, and their eyes simultaneously turned toward the handsome young man in the exam hall.
Xu Yin could almost be considered the only S-level illusionist in the entire empire at this moment!!
Were they witnessing the birth of a monster?!
In an instant, the onlookers’ gazes turned feverish, and the competitors, who were also candidates, gritted their teeth.
Mr. Lu moved his lips, his elderly voice slightly hoarse: “Xu Yin, did you… create a new method for adjusting the illusionist’s energy channels?”
Everyone knew that with conventional methods, it was absolutely impossible to completely calm the chaotic energy of an illusionist.
Xu Yin smiled. “Mm, it was actually inspired by someone.”
Ahead of him, Silver Wolf paused slightly.
The second prince had chosen a path that went entirely against his older brother and all his family, a path that grew further apart with every step.
But in doing so, he had illuminated an entirely new realm, one that branched out into countless possibilities.
How should one evaluate something like this?
Xu Yin sighed softly, shook his head, and decided not to think about it any longer.
At the front, Jun Yuzhou, who had vaguely understood what was happening, wore a complicated expression.
*
Xu Yin’s S-level achievement had caused a stir in the entire exam hall, the excitement lingering long after.
Since the candidates entered, he hadn’t attracted much attention.
Certainly, he was exceptionally good-looking, and when he first appeared, many people had secretly glanced at him. But this place was driven by strength, and the focus of most people soon shifted to the more famous illusionists.
Until now—
He had drawn the entire crowd’s attention back with his own abilities.
Soon, many people began to inquire about Xu Yin, and a few girls in the crowd jumped up in excitement.
If only they were allowed to bring terminals into the venue, there would probably be a flurry of “clicks” as people took photos right now!
At the front, the Silver Wolf glanced at Xu Yin with a mixture of complexity and quiet pride… but soon began to scan the surroundings warily. Suddenly, he became restless, and the wolf-like tension in him grew.
After being stunned by Xu Yin, Mr. Lu struggled to regain his composure. He waved his hand and led his group back to the front— the exam procedure couldn’t be delayed. No matter how curious they were about Xu Yin’s “new method,” they’d have to wait until the next round of the exam to address it.
Back at the front, Mr. Lu glanced at the Silver Wolf, who had stood up, and cleared his throat softly, lowering his voice to remind him, “Your Highness, stay calm!”
Silver Wolf: “…………”
On the sidelines, Xu Yin shot the Silver Wolf a glance, a playful smirk on his face.
Silver Wolf’s ears flattened against his head, and he obediently sat back down.
Unlike the excited crowd, the atmosphere in the exam hall was quite delicate. But regardless of what the candidates were thinking, the exam proceeded to the next stage.
A group of illusionists was invited in.
This academy was the top illusionist school in the Kingdom, and there were often illusionists in the surrounding area who experienced minor ailments. To save on doctor’s bills, they would sometimes come to the academy for a consultation.
Today, after communicating with these illusionists, the exam committee had invited them into the exam hall.
The illusionists were all in beast or plant forms, though it was clear that some were quite elderly.
There were over fifty illusionists in total, more than the number of candidates still in the exam hall. This round of assessment had four main criteria: the number of illusionists the candidates treated, the effectiveness of the treatment, the severity of the illnesses treated, and certain other specific details.
In the end, the exam committee would consider all factors and select ten candidates to move forward.
“This round is going to be competitive…”
“Look, some people have already teamed up!”
The exam hadn’t even started, and some candidates exchanged glances, silently confirming their intention to team up.
However, it was clear that no one wanted to ally with Xu Yin.
They deliberately left him out, occasionally casting looks at him filled with barely concealed hostility.
The onlookers noticed this, and their expressions became quite subtle.
It was understandable that Xu Yin’s impressive performance would lead to him being alienated and even disliked by the other candidates, but if he were truly excluded and ganged up on, this round would be much more difficult for him…
—But the reality was completely the opposite!
As the exam began, those who had teamed up with the intention of ganging up on Xu Yin were left dumbfounded!
—The candidates might try to grab the illusionists, but the illusionists also had the right to choose whom they wanted to be treated by!
Most of these illusionists were ordinary residents from the nearby community, unfamiliar with the reputations of illusionists in the field. So, if they were to choose someone, it would be based purely on their first impression.
And as for “first impression“… well, it all came down to looks!
Not only did the illusionists consider who looked good, but they also noticed which candidates had fierce expressions and which ones appeared more gentle. The patients were keenly aware of these details as well.
As a result, the candidates quickly realized that their alliances had amounted to nothing, and to their shock, many of the illusionists had actually started lining up at Xu Yin’s side!
This left them fuming in frustration.
Xu Yin, noticing the growing number of patients, quickly calculated the remaining time for the exam. Without hesitation, he addressed the illusionists at the back of the line, saying, “You can go see other illusionists if you’d like. I may not have enough time for everyone.”
The illusionists at the back of the line hesitated, glancing at the other candidates…
Time was ticking away, leaving no room for waste. As a result, the candidates had no choice but to grit their teeth and, despite their reluctance, muster the courage to go to Xu Yin’s side and politely ask the illusionists to transfer to their side…
“Auntie, let me help you. Trust me, I’ll definitely take good care of you!”
“But… this…”
“Grandpa, why don’t you come over to my side? Let me try helping you, okay?”
“But… Can you really do it?”
“Of course, I can. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you!”
Xu Yin didn’t even raise an eyebrow, but the illusionists, who were usually admired by others, felt embarrassed, as if they had lost face. Although they wore forced smiles, their expressions were anything but pleasant.
At the front, Mr. Lu shook his head.
The rules for this assessment were quite lenient, leaving a lot of room for candidates to maneuver.
But because there was so much leeway, standing out required skill and ability.
Candidates could form alliances and isolate others, but patients could also choose the illusionist they preferred based on their own judgment.
Similarly, when there weren’t many patients to treat, some candidates used the soothing abilities typical of illusionists, calmly guiding the unexamined patients to their own stations with a gentle attitude.
Others, however, twisted their faces into scowls, pushing patients away, providing only the most perfunctory treatments, and leaving most of the follow-up care to the court illusionists.
When personal pride takes precedence over everything else, how could they ever become good illusionists?
Mr. Lu glanced at the others observing the exam, many of whom were jotting down notes. It was clear that several were already frowning.
Some candidates truly had no idea that every action they took was being scrutinized as part of the assessment.
…
Although Xu Yin used a special energy flow method with the simulation machine in the first round, this technique had not been officially recognized, so he would not directly apply it to the patients.
He focused and calmed his mind, guiding the energy channels of each illusionist who came to seek treatment.
Even without the aid of the special energy flow, his treatment results were the most obvious in the entire hall.
The onlookers were once again filled with excitement: “Look!”
By now, the candidates who had received patients had already treated one or two, and these candidates were among the best illusionists, so their treatment results were quite noticeable.
Under their hands, drooping grass had come back to life, lush and green; hamsters with dull fur had regained their vitality, and birds that had been hanging their heads finally perked up and fluttered their wings…
However, on Xu Yin’s side, after his treatment, a pot of grass blossomed with vibrant, multicolored flowers???
A weak little kitten not only became more spirited, but its fur also grew shiny and glossy, and most astonishingly, its fur volume seemed to have doubled???
The kitten itself couldn’t believe it, turning its head in shock to look at its fluffy, thick coat, excitedly meowing and circling around Xu Yin!
Some illusionists at the back of the line, who had struggled with hair loss for years, were stunned. Then their eyes widened—what? They had only chosen based on looks, and yet the treatment was this effective? It could even help with hair growth?!
“Ah, hurry up! It’s almost our turn! We want hair growth too!”
The onlookers gasped in astonishment.
What? Xu Yin actually helped someone grow hair?!
Hair loss wasn’t just a problem for one or two people—it was a common issue! A nationwide affliction! A deep abyss of despair for countless young men and women! It was a problem that even many professional doctors found difficult to solve!
And yet, Xu Yin—he was actually helping them regrow their hair—right on the spot!
Instantly, the entire scene stirred with excitement. Many of the spectators, who were touching their own thinning hair, looked enviously at the illusionists being treated by Xu Yin. They wished they could rush into his line and take their place!
Could the other candidates miss the changes happening on the scene?
Watching Xu Yin instantly double the fur volume of one beast-shaped illusionist after another, they were stunned—was this healing, or some kind of magic? How could hair grow like that? What was he doing? They wanted to know! They wanted to regrow their own hair too, damn it!!!
You Yuan’s composure shattered again. He couldn’t help but keep glancing at Xu Yin’s side while distractedly guiding energy for his patient. As a result, his pig-shaped illusionist suddenly… went berserk!
The black pig suddenly threw its head back with a loud scream, then its eyes bulged, glaring fiercely, before it lunged at You Yuan with a terrifying growl—
“Ah!” You Yuan jumped back in shock, screaming as he hurriedly dodged!
Many onlookers turned pale!
—This kind of situation did happen occasionally, where illusionists thought they had a mild issue and didn’t need to visit a major hospital, but then they came to the school’s clinic and, during treatment, suddenly fell into an energy surge!
To prevent such incidents, the exam organizers had already made preparations.
The palace guards on either side reacted immediately, rushing forward at the first sign of danger.
However, as You Yuan flipped backward in a panic, his first instinct was to scream, “Damn it, Xu Yin, help!”
Xu Yin had just finished guiding the energy for a patient when he turned and saw the black pig illusionist soaring into the air, charging directly at You Yuan—
He was closer to You Yuan, getting there a step ahead of the palace guards. With a swift movement, Xu Yin raised his hand and, amidst the gasps and screams of the crowd, firmly pressed against the pig’s belly, using his force to redirect the pig’s forward momentum, sending it crashing to the ground. Then, with forceful precision, he restrained the beast, guiding its energy through its veins in a quick, controlled motion.
The black pig, which had been wildly thrashing just moments ago, suddenly paused. Its eyes softened, and the violent struggle ceased, as if it had woken up from a dream.
Xu Yin let go, and the pig, now calm, seemed embarrassed. It stamped its little hooves in apology, lowered its head toward Yu Yuan, who was still on the ground, and gave a silent gesture of remorse.
You Yuan… You Yuan scrambled up from the floor, still shaken.
Then he met Xu Yin’s gaze—an amused, almost mocking smile.
You Yuan: “…………”
Damn it, why did he instinctively call out Xu Yin’s name? How embarrassing!!
