Chapter 49: A Prodigy’s Spark

‘I don’t quite understand,’ Meilin thought, ‘but since I don’t, I’ll just follow the example of those who came before me.’

With that thought, she pressed her small hand onto the crystal pillar.

She then focused her attention, silently pondering, imagining what it would be like to possess such power…

****

*Ding…*

A faint, crisp sound, audible only to her, echoed in the air.

She felt a cool wisp of energy surge from the crystal pillar into her body, circulating once through her veins.

‘What is this?’ she wondered, a hint of surprise in her expression, unsure of what had just happened.

The energy was incredibly swift, flowing through her in mere moments before exiting her body and returning to the crystal pillar, where it ignited the runes within, burning with a brilliant glow.

The runes on the testing crystal pillar immediately began to illuminate, section by section, climbing with astonishing speed.

It ultimately surpassed the three-fifths mark achieved by the orange-haired noble youth earlier, rocketing upwards, nearly reaching the pillar’s apex.

The entire crystal pillar was illuminated by a staggering ninety percent!

The examiner, who was responsible for testing magical talent, gaped, his face a mask of disbelief.

“This magical power… this talent… what—what is this!?” he stammered.

His voice trembled, revealing such a loss of composure for the first time since the morning’s tests began.

He gazed at young Meilin, his eyes no longer holding the detached professionalism they had moments before.

His gaze was fervent, fixed on Meilin as if she were an unparalleled treasure. He quickly rose, stepping before her, and looked down with an almost greedy intensity at her young figure.

Even as he watched the illuminated pillar, no one found the examiner’s lapse in composure inappropriate. After all, ten years prior, the Imperial Grand Princess herself had only lit eighty percent of the pillar during her magic test, and the best score today had only reached sixty percent.

It was clear just how astonishing Meilin’s ninety percent truly was. Not only the examiner, but everyone present was so astounded by her talent that they could have fit an egg in their gaping mouths.

A genius! This was truly a genius! Everyone understood the immense implications of such extraordinary talent.

“Whose child is this? Why is she wearing the Pharmacist Guild’s robes?” someone exclaimed, noticing the incongruous attire Meilin wore.

“Good heavens, this child belongs to the Pharmacist Guild? How could such a talented child be wasted on those smelly pharmacists? She must join our Magic Temple!”

A clamor of discussion erupted, with some even approaching the testing pillar, directly asking young Meilin, “Child, what is your name? Who is your master? And do you have any intentions of being adopted? Oh, right! I am Du Ao, the Royal Capital’s Chief Guard, and this lollipop is for you!”

As he spoke, the middle-aged man pulled an unopened lollipop from his pocket.

Young Meilin remained silent, though a slight twitch at the corner of her eye betrayed her reaction.

“Grandpa! Didn’t you say that lollipop was for me?!” a seven or eight-year-old girl beside him cried out, seeing the exchange.

“Weiwei! Du Ao! You’re utterly shameless! Learn from me!” Another person stepped forward, bowing slightly to young Meilin. “Beautiful young lady, might I inquire if you are betrothed?”

“Damn it! *You’re* the truly shameless one!”

“Pedophile, get lost!”

The crowd roared curses at him.

Ruolin and Dailu stood by, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.

“Dailu, how much did you light up during your test back then?” Ruolin asked.

“Sixty percent,” Dailu replied blankly. “And you?”

“Only half…”

Lu Yuan frowned, turning to Ruolin beside him. “Do they act like this every year?”

‘No! It wasn’t like this in previous years!’ Ruolin raged internally. ‘Even when the Grand Princess caused a stir, it wasn’t this exaggerated!’

She realized that this master and disciple pair were both monsters! Standing next to them, she felt utterly insignificant, like dust.

Lu Yuan crushed her in pharmacology, and Meilin crushed her in magical talent.

Was a talented young beauty not allowed to thrive anymore?

Compared to twelve-year-old Meilin, she felt like a useless old aunt.

Before the testing tower, the examiner held young Meilin’s hand, his gaze serious. “Young lady! Are you interested in joining my Magic Temple? To become a noble mage? By joining us, countless senior mages will become your teachers, and you are destined to walk a glorious path in the magical arts!”

“I…” Young Meilin was flustered by the fervent, almost obsessive crowd, so nervous she was on the verge of tears.

“Um, I…” She bit her lip. Though her voice was timid, she still managed to declare loudly, “I already have a master!”

At her words, the crowd erupted.

“Damn it! Who is it?! I’ll kill him!”

“My master is… Lei Yin, a core pharmacist from the Pharmacist Guild’s Northern Branch in Usutal City!” Young Meilin announced the name with an expression of unwavering pride.