After her introduction, the class proceeded exactly as it did in the original timeline. Tang Yue led the students to the training grounds to demonstrate the Fire element's second-tier spell: Fire Burst: Burning Bones. The sheer power and precision of the flames immediately captivated the class, leaving the students—especially the boys—utterly infatuated with both the magic and the teacher.
"Alright," Tang Yue said, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Which of you have awakened the Fire element? Step forward."
A small group of students moved to the front. Among them were Mo Fan and me. Although I possessed several elements, I had registered myself strictly as a Fire mage at school. It was my most destructive element, and more importantly, I wasn't ready to let the world know the full extent of my magical depth just yet.
As expected, the moment I stepped forward, her eyes locked onto mine. Tang Yue might have played the role of an unassuming teacher in the original series, but she was here on a mission. As an investigator, she would have briefed herself on the power players in Bo City—and the Li Family was a name that couldn't be ignored since they came from Bo City.
"Li Yuzi," she began, her voice carrying a hint of challenge. "Since you awakened your magic a year earlier than your classmates, why don't you give us a demonstration? Show them what the Fire element is truly capable of."
The training ground erupted into a restless murmur. Every student turned to look at me, their faces a mix of awe and envy. They were desperate to see the strength of the top student—and to finally see just how wide the gap was between them.
I caught Mo Fan's gaze as I walked past him. He was looking at me with a clear tint of envy—after all, I had just stolen his spotlight. I offered no words, simply stepping forward with a calm nod to Teacher Tang Yue. Taking my position at a measured distance from the practice dummy, I felt the eyes of the entire class boring into my back.
---
I took a deep breath, centering my mind. To the students behind me, I was just a talented peer; to Tang Yue, I was a curiosity from a powerful family. I couldn't reveal my Intermediate-level stardust, nor the fact that I could manifest a Level 3 **Fire Burst** with a flick of my wrist. I had to make this look "natural"—the peak of what a Basic-level student could achieve.
Inside my mental sea, the fiery red stars aligned instantly. I didn't need the usual time to connect them, but I purposefully slowed my pace, feigning the concentration of a beginner.
"Fire Burst!" I called out, my voice steady.
A ball of intense, concentrated crimson flames erupted from my palm. Unlike the flickering, unstable fires of the other students, mine flew with the speed of a projectile, striking the dummy dead center.
*BOOM!*
The impact wasn't just a burn; it was an explosion. The shockwave sent a cloud of soot and heat back toward the front row, and the dummy—reinforced with protective enchantments—was charred black instantly, its surface glowing a molten red.
Silence fell over the training ground.
Tang Yue's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze shifting from the smoldering dummy back to me. She wasn't just impressed; she was calculating. A normal student might have hit the target, but I had hit it with a level of thermal density that bordered on a breakthrough.
"Good control," she said, her voice calm but her eyes sharp. "Your foundation is much deeper than I expected, Li Yuzi."
Nearby, Zhou Min was staring at me. As a natural overachiever who lived and breathed hard work, her gaze was sharp with a new kind of fire. She wasn't just impressed; she was looking at me like I was a mountain she intended to climb. (Don't take it wrong way.🤔)
'She's as competitive as the original story described,' I thought, keeping my expression neutral.
Tang Yue turned back to the crowd, her tone shifting to something more professional. "Your homeroom teacher has already stressed the importance of the upcoming Annual Examination. It is a crossroads for all of you. First, if you fail to meet the minimum requirements, you will be expelled immediately. Second, your grades will determine your placement. Those who make it into the Elite Class will receive resources and benefits that will give you a massive advantage in the Magic University entrance exams. Therefore, this semester, none of you have an excuse to give anything less than your utmost effort."
"Mrs. Tang Yue, will you be teaching the Elite Class?" a male student blurted out, his eyes hopeful.
"Yes, if everything goes according to plan, I will be assigned as the Practical Magic instructor for the Elite Class once I've finished my time here," Tang Yue replied with a slight, knowing nod.
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Teacher! I—Huang Feifeng—will definitely do my best!" one student shouted, nearly tripping over his own words.
"Mrs. Tang Yue, I'll follow you to the Elite Class no matter what!" another added, his face flushed with determination.
Tang Yue maintained a gentle, graceful smile. It was clear her first lesson had been a resounding success; she had the entire class motivated and hanging on her every word.
"Oh, one more thing," Tang Yue continued, her voice dropping to a more personal tone. "When any of you manage to control all seven stars, come find me in private. I will set aside time from my schedule to give you some one-on-one guidance."
The "private" part sent another wave of excitement through the boys in the class, but I knew the truth. This was her way of scouting for talent.
The Magic Tribunal is one of the most proactive organizations in China, second only to the Military. Because they are constantly stretched thin, they are always hunting for fresh blood. Bringing a talented recruit into the fold doesn't just help the organization; it earns the scout significant merit and benefits. As Tang Yue spoke those final words about "one-on-one guidance," her eyes lingered on me, Mo Fan, and Zhang Hou. She was already marking her targets.
Once the class dismissed, the three of us headed back to the dorms. The silence of the walk allowed my mind to wander toward the horizon. The annual assessment at the end of the year wouldn't just be a test for the students—it was the scheduled trigger for the events related to Black Vatican's "Bo City Disaster."
*I need to keep a tighter watch on the city's movements,* I thought.
Knowing the future was a powerful weapon, but it was also a dangerous one. My presence alone had already created ripples—Mo Fan still had his house, and his cultivation was far ahead of schedule. There was no guarantee that the Black Vatican wouldn't adapt. If my interventions forced their hand, the "Blood Alert" event might unfold differently, or even sooner, than I remembered.
I couldn't afford a single moment of carelessness.
Reaching my room, I pushed the thoughts of the looming catastrophe aside and sat down on my bed. I needed more raw power to handle the variables. Closing my eyes, I focused entirely on my mental sea, reaching out to the silver stardust of my Space element. It was time to push. I wouldn't stop until I broke through the barrier to Intermediate Level 1.
To Be Continue.....