Five Admissions Examinations
After countless attempts, Ning Xi finally succeeded in harmonizing Camo.
Her mental power was so overwhelming that she condensed and compressed the energy within the material almost instantly upon touching it. The intense energy fluctuations were too much for the already fragile material to withstand, instantly turning it to ashes.
Ning Xi gradually reduced the amount of mental energy input, and finally found a suitable limit.
As soon as she unleashed her mental energy, the mixture of carbomer and ink fluctuated violently, like boiling water, bubbling up and evaporating rapidly. Soon, only a thin layer of carbomer remained in the glass dish, and she immediately stopped channeling her mental energy.
After being blended, the card ink completely loses its original black color, turning into a translucent pale gold, resembling high-quality amber. Its energy is evenly balanced, abundant, and stable, making it a superior material for card making.
Ning Xi was still a little worried, since the card illustrations indicated that the ink for blending energy cards should be an opaque brown. However, she had run out of materials and could only try this ink first.
Ning Xi focused intently as she filled the card-making pen with ink, cut and laid out the card, and made the first stroke.
After that, her drawing speed began to increase.
As mental energy flowed in, the card nodes lit up one by one, and the strokes became increasingly fluid and smooth; card patterns overlapped, and the graphic array gradually took shape. After a standard circular card pattern was completed, the card was successfully made.
No, this card is overflowing with energy!
In my mental perception, the card's energy field was expanding dramatically, yet it still couldn't absorb all of Camo's energy. The energy surged and collided, as if the card would explode at any moment!
She blew up Camo, and now she's going to blow up the cards. Is she destined to be associated with explosions?
Without a second thought, Ning Xi continued to draw, countless patterns appearing without any prompting, forming another array based solely on instinct. The newly formed array absorbed most of the excess energy, leaving only a small portion to dissipate into the air.
call……
It's finally finished.
This is a white card with gold patterns. The patterns are smooth and rounded, shimmering in the sunlight; it's very visually appealing. Ning Xi held it in her hand, admiring it immensely.
It's really beautiful.
Upon careful sensing, it does indeed possess the basic functions of an energy card.
Ning Xi felt relieved.
...
After confirming the function of the [Energy Card] with Yu Xiangyin, Ning Xi became increasingly confident in her exam preparation. She ordered a box of nutritional supplements online, intending to minimize mealtimes and focus solely on her studies.
The patrol team members, who had been lying in wait in the resettlement housing area, were preparing to cause trouble for Ning Xi in order to curry favor with Luo Xian: ...
No, does she really never go out?
When Luo Xian learned about this, he called to ask about the progress. The two looked at each other blankly: "She doesn't go out at all."
"Doesn't she ever go out to eat?" Luo Xian asked. "How can she resist? There's a whole street of food stalls right outside her door!"
"She doesn't even come downstairs to pick up her takeout! I heard that the people upstairs go clubbing every night, but she puts up with it and never goes out to complain!"
"What about the materials for making the cards? She can't possibly not make the cards, can she?"
“Well… Boss, Polar Star Chain’s robots have special privileges; they can enter residential areas and deliver goods to your door.”
Luo Xian: "..."
"Forget it, you guys stop squatting and focus on your training." He sighed. "There are other people who need to do this."
Thinking of the important figure who had given him the instructions, Luo Xian's smile gradually twisted.
Haha, Ning Xi, even the heavens don't want you to enter the academy!
...
A few days later, the enrollment season for the Card Making Department of Mingxin College arrived.
Hundreds and thousands of test takers, carrying large and small bags, arrived at Sanshisan Star, only to find—
"Actually, the conditions here aren't that bad."
"I thought all the planets in the border regions were like the ones in the video, all gray and gloomy, with ruins everywhere."
The person who said this was quickly met with eye-rolls from the local test-takers. However, everyone's attention was soon drawn to someone else.
"Look, it's Luo Qing'an!"
"I heard that he raised his mental strength from B+ to A- at the age of sixteen, making him the undisputed number one among us examinees!"
"My God, with this level of mental strength, why bother coming to our card-making department?"
"Hmm... I heard he has some health problems and can't fight, so he can only come to the card-making department."
A handsome young man named Luo Qing'an smiled as he passed through the crowd and entered the academy. As a talented scion of a prominent family, he had already registered through special channels and did not need to wait in line.
Ning Xi, who also used special channels, was not so lucky.
Although she had Murong Xixiu's guarantee, she was still young and her reputation didn't carry much weight. Ning Xi made several trips before finally completing all the formalities and gaining the qualification to register.
At this moment, she was moving along with the long procession under the scorching sun.
"Next. Ning Xi...right?" The examiner wiped the sweat from his forehead and said a phrase Ning Xi knew all too well, "I'm sorry."
"What's the problem this time?" Ning Xi couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Someone has reported you as a member of an interstellar smuggling organization, and you need to provide proof."
"Report it to the school?" Ning Xi almost laughed. "Why didn't he report it to the police station?"
"This student should report the teacher."
A man in a patrol uniform walked in, and Ning Xi felt a headache coming on: "Luo Xian, it's you again."
Unlike Ning Xi, who was covered in sweat and looked disheveled, Luo Xian was refreshed and composed: "I don't understand what this examinee is saying. I'm just fulfilling my duties as a patrolman."
"The registration period is almost over, you'd better hurry up and get the paperwork done."
Watching Ning Xi's hurried departure, Luo Xian smiled.
According to that person's inside information, the registration deadline today is noon, not 6 PM. Ning Xi will definitely be too late with this trip.
Although he didn't think Ning Xi could get into Mingxin Academy, the thought of this woman who knew his dark past still being stuck at the 33rd level made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Ning Xi must leave the Thirty-Three Stars.
Ning Xi went to obtain a "certificate that she is not a suspect in the database".
She had no prior identity information and could not obtain a certificate of no criminal record. As a last resort, she used her appearance and DNA to match the wanted criminal database to prove that she was not a fugitive.
After receiving her certificate, Ning Xi was notified that due to dangerous weather expected in the afternoon, the registration deadline had been moved up to noon today.
It was already eleven o'clock. The police station was not close to Mingxin Academy, and nearby traffic was blocked off. Except for hovercars with special passes, no other vehicles could drive in.
Ning Xi sighed, took out a card, and put it into the card reader.
This card reader was bought for her with money borrowed from Yu Xiangyin. It's a very rare model on the market, and it can soften mental energy. When Ning Xi uses this card reader, the wear and tear on the cards from her mental energy is greatly reduced, from 40% to 20%.
In other words, a regular E-rank card will become useless after she uses it five times.
Ning Xi couldn't afford to consume cards at this rate. However, today's situation was special, and she couldn't worry about wear and tear.
With the Speed Card activated, Ning Xi ran back to the academy as fast as the wind.
"Teacher, are there any problems with the materials?"
The reviewer nodded: "You're the last one, go ahead and fill out the form."
Luo Xian remained at his patrol post when Ning Xi gave him a sweet smile. His expression instantly darkened, and he mouthed to Ning Xi, "Just you wait."
The entrance exams officially began the next day.
Before the candidates even entered the examination hall, the live streaming cameras were already set up, and the live stream chat was flooded with comments.
Why is so much attention on the card maker assessment? Wasn't the card maker profession supposed to be a dead end?
Is the person upstairs an S-class genius? The higher-ups look down on card makers, but we still need their cards.
Why is the procedure different this time?
"Mental strength test?"
The candidates were all surprised to hear this result, after all, their mental strength levels had already been reported to the academy.
Unbeknownst to them, the comments section was buzzing with discussion.
[I heard it's because of one person. Her mental strength talent was extremely high, almost causing a bidding war among three top academies, including Mingxin Academy. But unfortunately, her mental strength trait was very poor, practically useless. Mingxin Academy probably added a mental strength testing process to avoid this situation.]
The Card Making Department doesn't restrict students' mental strength level, since they have many theoretical branches, and even students with a mental strength of D level can learn it. So the students weren't afraid when they heard this news.
Who do you think has the strongest willpower this year?
[Luo Qing'an, it can't be anyone else. Card-making has its limitations; people with high mental strength are at a disadvantage in this field.]
Just then, Luo Qing'an finished his mental strength test. His mental strength bar was far above A- and was almost approaching A.
Luo Qing'an's mental strength has improved again.
[Isn't he capable of breaking through to S-rank? Wouldn't it be a waste for him to be in the card-making department?]
[Fun fact: Many A+ and S- rank card makers don't have natural cards; they need card makers.]
I really need to get along with him...
Seeing the effect she wanted, a faint smile appeared on Luo Qing'an's pale face.
But the next moment, his smile froze.
[S-rank!]
Who is this Ning Xi? She has S-level mental strength!
Is she even stronger than Luo Qing'an?
"Qing'an, this is the person I told you about."
Behind Luo Qing'an, Luo Xian took off his patrol uniform, looking every bit the patient senior student.
"S-rank [Domineering] trait mental power?" Luo Qing'an turned her head and looked at him.
"Yes, it's a pity I couldn't stop her." Luo Xian looked disappointed.
“It’s alright.” Luo Qing’an blinked. “Card making is a discipline that requires gradual learning. Without long-term practice, even the highest level of mental strength is useless.”
His words were captured on camera and uploaded to the live stream. The chat, which had just been educated on the meaning of "domineering" traits, immediately echoed his sentiments.
That's right. Card making isn't really a subject that solely relies on talent.
Despite her high mental strength, it's still uncertain whether she'll pass the exam.
After the mental strength test, there is a theoretical assessment; a score of 60 is required to pass.
But don't think it's that easy. After the four-hour exam, the candidates were all dejected, some even feeling utterly hopeless.
"Oh no! I don't know how to do at least half of the questions..."
"Didn't you say that there wouldn't usually be any diagram drawing questions on the exam? So what are the drawing questions this time?"
"This year's difficulty is at least one-third higher than last year's. What's going on? Isn't it said that the School of Mind is struggling to recruit enough students and has been lowering its admission standards?"
"Perhaps they also realized that recruiting a bunch of useless students and then expelling them was a bit like performance art."
Who are you calling trash?
The two candidates then started fighting.
Ning Xi didn't stay long; she was exhausted and eager to go to the cafeteria with Yu Xiangyin for a meal. She wasn't a student yet and couldn't eat in the cafeteria on her own.
The exam covered a wide range of knowledge, but the depth was limited, basically staying at the memorization stage, with not many questions requiring understanding.
Therefore, when Yu Xiangyin asked her how she did on the exam, she just smiled and said, "I'd say at least 80 points."
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