Chapter 4

A small white defensive rune floated slowly in the air, enveloped in a glowing orb.

Xu Jintang excitedly clasped it in her palm, feeling the energy coursing within. “Brother Long, I did it! I’ve created a defensive rune.”

The Ice Soul Dragon had been watching her closely. Seeing her truly succeed, it showed a hint of surprise. “Not bad.”

Though Xu Jintang didn’t know how many attempts other rune masters might need to succeed, she felt that managing it on her very first try surely made her a genius.

She toyed with the defensive rune in her hand. “Brother Long, do you think I’m a genius?”

The Ice Soul Dragon remained calm. “Youngsters must avoid arrogance and impatience.”

Xu Jintang snorted coldly and retracted the rune symbol into her spatial storage.

But he was right—she couldn’t let a small success like this inflate her pride. One had to stay humble.

She calmed her emotions.

After resting well, Xu Jintang pressed on and quickly crafted four more defensive runes in a row.

With each carving, her proficiency increased. The first rune took nearly three hours, but by the fifth, she finished in just one hour.

The Ice Soul Dragon didn’t watch her practice continuously.

After witnessing her great progress, a look of satisfaction appeared in its eyes.

Though unfamiliar with the workings of human rune masters, the fact that Xu Jintang had reduced her carving time by two hours after only five attempts was, in his experience, the mark of a prodigy.

“I’m so tired.” Xu Jintang slumped over the desk, utterly exhausted, unwilling to move even a finger.

The Ice Soul Dragon said, “Your spiritual energy has reached its limit. You should rest. Also, your Scale ability seems to have grown stronger.”

“I suspect it’s because you just crafted the rune, which enhanced its energy.”

Hearing this, Xu Jintang immediately sat up and curiously activated her ability, attempting to summon the Scale’s manifestation.

But after considerable effort, the Scale form still did not appear.

“Brother Long, what’s going on this time?”

The Ice Soul Dragon explained, “It’s possible that this ability is too powerful. Your current strength isn’t enough to fully trigger its manifestation.”

Xu Jintang was puzzled. “There are abilities like that?”

The Ice Soul Dragon answered honestly, “If I don’t cooperate actively, you can’t summon me. Your current strength isn’t sufficient to fully control both my and your Domain Ice abilities.”

Xu Jintang: “...”

So having an ability that’s too strong isn’t necessarily a blessing.

Still, this Scale ability made her increasingly curious.

The next morning, the academy resumed classes as usual.

Xu Jintang, sporting dark circles under her eyes, entered the classroom and slumped onto her desk as soon as she sat down, trying to catch some sleep.

Last night, her hands had been itching after her spiritual energy recovered, and she stayed up late crafting several healing runes before finally falling asleep. Now, she was unbearably drowsy.

“Xu Jintang, answer this question.” Jiang Lu on the podium frowned as he called her out.

Just as she was about to drift off, Xu Jintang suddenly lifted her head and sat up. “Here!”

The surrounding classmates burst into laughter.

Jiang Lu’s brows furrowed even tighter.

He had high hopes for Xu Jintang. Though she had only awakened an auxiliary ability yesterday, he still believed she could get into a good military academy and graduate successfully.

But seeing her sleeping through the very first class today with a resigned look angered him.

“Forget it,” Jiang Lu waved his hand. “Come to my office after class.”

Awakened, Xu Jintang awkwardly rubbed her nose. “Okay.”

For the rest of the lesson, Xu Jintang dared not sleep again. But the drowsiness was relentless. She forced herself to keep her eyes wide open, but soon her eyelids began to droop, and her head sagged, looking half-asleep.

“Class dismissed. Xu Jintang, come with me.” Jiang Lu’s stern voice reached her ears.

Nearly dozing off, Xu Jintang immediately snapped awake, stood upright, and looked resolute. “Yes!”

In the teacher’s office at Dawnlight Academy,

Jiang Lu wore a disappointed expression as he looked at Xu Jintang. “I know Song Tianqi’s awakening of the Vermilion Bird Order may have been a blow to you. But life moves forward. Your ability, though auxiliary, isn’t bad and is a rare domain-type. As you advance to the second and third tiers, your ability will evolve and grow stronger with you.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

Xu Jintang quickly nodded. “I do! I won’t be defeated just because Song Tianqi awakened a rare ability! I’ll keep working hard, prepare well, and aim for a good ranking in the All-Star Domain Academy Unified Exam!”

Only then did Jiang Lu relax. “Good to hear.”

The All-Star Domain Academy Unified Exam was somewhat like the college entrance exam on Blue Star.

She still had one year before graduation. If she wished to continue into a military academy for advanced studies, she had to take this joint exam.

The final rankings would determine which military academy a student could attend.

Top scorers could choose from the five major military academies, even the First Military Academy.

Those with average scores could only pick from secondary academies.

Each military academy offered different majors and departments, and some lucky students with slightly lower scores could still enter top academies as transfer students.

Additionally, a group of prodigies who had exceptional talent from the moment they awakened their abilities would receive special admissions, bypassing the exam entirely.

A smile spread across Xu Jintang’s face, showing her small tiger-like teeth. “Teacher, I have something I want to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

She considered her words carefully. “Do you know of an ability whose manifestation is a Scale? I stayed up last night studying and happened to find a brief explanation in a book, but it didn’t say much. I thought since you’re so knowledgeable, you might know.”

Jiang Lu raised his eyebrows in surprise. “No wonder you looked so tired in class. But staying up late isn’t good; you should study during the day instead.”

“As for an ability with a Scale manifestation, I haven’t heard of it. Which book did you see it in?” He looked curious.

Xu Jintang hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “I can’t quite remember. Never mind, it probably wasn’t important.”

Jiang Lu nodded. “Alright. You’ve grasped the theoretical knowledge well; now focus more on practical combat. The winter break is coming, and the school plans to conduct some unified combat training during that time. If you have the chance, join your classmates. It’ll benefit you.”

Just as Xu Jintang was about to agree, the Ice Soul Dragon’s voice echoed in her mind: “Your academy’s training is dull. I’ll take you to Blizzard Forest for real combat practice during the break. Your strength will improve faster.”

She immediately retracted her words, smiling to decline politely. “Teacher, I have other plans for the winter break.”

Jiang Lu’s expression grew slightly serious, about to stress more, when the class bell rang.

Xu Jintang quickly said, “Teacher, don’t worry. I’ll bring back a good result in the unified exam! I have to get back to class now.”

With that, she vanished.

Jiang Lu shook his head helplessly.

The second class was combat practice.

Teacher Huang Binhan stood solemnly before the students, hands behind his back. “There’s one year left before the All-Star Domain Academy Unified Exam. Yesterday, you all awakened your abilities. In the upcoming combat classes, I’ll gradually teach you how to apply your abilities in battle.”

“Teacher, I have a question.” A boy in the line suddenly raised his hand with a smile.

Huang Binhan turned to him. “What is it?”

Xu Jintang also looked up.

The boy was Xu Bohan, who had awakened the Hardening ability yesterday. When activated, his entire body would be instantly encased in impenetrable metal, greatly enhancing both offense and defense.

Overall, his ability was excellent with vast potential.

Many teachers had high hopes for him after yesterday.

Xu Bohan glanced sideways at Xu Jintang, face serious. “Our combat class captain has always been the strongest. But yesterday, Xu Jintang only awakened an auxiliary ability. Shouldn’t we replace her as class captain now?”

Since Xu Jintang shocked everyone a year ago by turning in a blank exam and suddenly rising to prominence, she had consistently overshadowed him.

During the last combat class captain selection, he lost to her and was stripped of the position.

He had silently endured and worked to improve.

He had been watching Xu Jintang closely since the awakening.

She did not disappoint—despite the high expectations, she only got a mediocre auxiliary ability.

He knew his chance had come.

Today, he intended to defeat Xu Jintang openly before the whole class and reclaim his honor.

“You want to challenge Xu Jintang?” Huang Binhan raised his brow.

Their combat class did have such a rule to encourage healthy competition, so he didn’t mind his students’ ambition.

Xu Bohan nodded firmly and stepped forward. “Exactly.”

Interest flickered in Huang Binhan’s eyes as he looked at Xu Jintang. “What do you think?”

Xu Jintang glanced at Xu Bohan.

Being an adult now, she naturally didn’t take the fifteen-year-old boy seriously.

Kids his age were always so cocky.

But she did want to spar.

Brother Long said she had been completely transformed, but to understand exactly how she had improved, she needed real combat.

She stretched her wrists and looked at Xu Bohan eagerly. “Sure, let’s spar.”

It would also let her test just how much the Dragon Bone and Dragon Blood had altered her body.