Chapter 141: Anomalies During Testing

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When the crystal orb shattered just now, the examiner was completely stunned, unable to react in time. Perhaps due to the intense tension, he slipped into a sensation akin to bullet time—though it was of no use. Instead, he could only watch helplessly as shards of crystal scattered and flew toward him. If even one fragment pierced his eye, the damage to his vision could be severe. He was deeply grateful to Wang Chen, who now held his injured hand, anxious and flustered.

This level of testing had rarely seen such dramatic incidents. The education committee had never anticipated any accidents at this stage, so there were no medical personnel stationed nearby. Now, with Wang Chen’s injury, they had to call in medical aid from the nearest team.

Wang Chen raised his palm to inspect it and smiled, “No need to find a doctor for me. Just get me a pair of tweezers—I’ll remove the shards myself.” The examiner looked worried and asked, “Are you sure that will work?” Wang Chen reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’m a Life Shaman. I can handle my own wounds.”

Seeing Wang Chen so determined, the staff bustling around him could only respect his wishes. Soon, the requested tool was brought over. Swiftly, Wang Chen picked out the shards from his palm, which began to radiate with life energy. “Life’s Tribute!” he intoned.

A wave of azure healing energy brewed on his palm, spreading along the lines of his hand as the wound slowly healed. “There, all better. Let’s continue the test.” Wang Chen returned the tweezers to the staff and smiled at the examiner. Every move he made was faithfully captured by the cameras and broadcast to all present.

…

On the raised platform, Ouyang Lan’s face was etched with concern. “Is it really okay now? Shouldn’t we contact the medical team just in case?” Yu Jiazhen stroked his beard with a smile and remarked, “When the orb exploded, that boy instinctively used his palm to shield others. That shows his good character. His earlier tardiness was probably due to unforeseen circumstances—not his fault.”

Zhu Jingjun remained silent, but the slight softening of his expression revealed his quiet approval of Wang Chen. The head of the organization gazed at Wang Chen’s face on the screen, pondering for a moment before suddenly exclaiming, “Oh, I remember now—it’s this boy.”

The three looked at the leader with curiosity.

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The leader explained, “The principal of Luzhou No.1 High School, Ouyang Yue, mentioned that for over two consecutive years, the top student in their grade has been the same person.” He continued, “I heard this while inspecting the school and even saw the student’s photo on their honor roll.”

He pointed at the screen. “That student is Wang Chen—the very boy we’re watching. No.1 High School is the best in Luzhou, so he’s probably the top student in the entire city.” Ouyang Lan smiled, “So he’s a top scholar after all.”

“Exactly. Nowadays, many students think studying isn’t necessary since their real breakthrough comes with their career awakening,” Yu Jiazhen said. “But I always believe education is crucial. It takes effort to develop a person’s well-rounded qualities.” He added, “With such excellent grades, Wang Chen’s knowledge and insights will surely nourish his future career path.”

Though Zhu Jingjun said nothing, it was clear he was gradually warming to Wang Chen.

…

A new crystal orb was placed on the testing platform. The examiner asked gently, “Can you continue testing with your hand, or would you prefer to use the other one?” Wang Chen showed his open palm to indicate no problem, then placed it on the orb.

After a moment, he lifted his hand. The examiner, about to record the results, cast a puzzled glance at Wang Chen. The latter smiled wryly, “Teacher, this orb is still trembling. I think it’s going to shatter too.”

“Really?” The examiner checked and found the orb indeed trembled. Unconvinced, he called for all the spare orbs and asked Wang Chen to try each one. In the end, none of the orbs were usable for Wang Chen.

“Could it be that your level exceeds 27?” the examiner asked with doubt. Then he shook his head, dismissing the thought. “No, it’s probably a problem with this batch of orbs. We should contact the manufacturer.”

Seeing this, Wang Chen smiled and said no more, leaving the matter in their hands.

…

Back on the raised platform, the leader frowned. “Are all these orbs defective? What about the levels recorded for previous students—are they still valid?” He was deeply troubled. This was the grand university competition; retesting would be a big deal.

His secretary whispered in his ear, “Why not cross-check the students’ levels on their career panels? If the orb’s reading matches the panel, then the previous data can be trusted.”

“That would confirm whether the problem is isolated to this candidate alone, allowing us to treat him as a special case.” The leader nodded. “Arrange that.”

“Why can’t it be that Wang Chen simply exceeded the orb’s level limit?” Ouyang Lan asked.

“Because he’s only a Life Shaman. Lu Shiyu is an Ice Queen and has royal-level support; she barely reached level 24,” Zhu Jingjun replied coldly.

At that moment, Elder Yu interjected, “In my opinion, whether Wang Chen’s level is recorded or not doesn’t matter much. The level test isn’t as important as the actual combat test that follows.” He continued, “The level test can be faked, but the practical battles are far harder to manipulate.”

“That’s the rule,” Zhu Jingjun said sternly. “The crystal orb test exists to prevent candidates from tampering with their career panels.”

“Heh, I’ve heard another version,” Yu Jiazhen smiled. “Apparently, the orb manufacturer has powerful backing. They keep using the orbs to ensure profits.”

“...” Zhu Jingjun was momentarily speechless.

The leader, sensing the awkward atmosphere, seemed to struggle internally. Then the secretary returned and whispered something in his ear.

Suddenly reassured, the leader quickly smoothed things over. “Wang Chen is a unique case—perhaps his constitution doesn’t sync with the orb. The education committee has decided not to record his level for now and will focus mainly on his combat performance.”

He smiled and said, “Teachers, there’s no need to worry any longer. The issue is temporarily resolved.”

Ouyang Lan nodded, “That’s good.”

Yu Jiazhen and Zhu Jingjun fell silent.

…

Meanwhile, Wang Chen learned of how the Luzhou Education Committee was handling his special situation. He chuckled silently. No one really cared what level a Life Shaman was. Wang Chen was pleased—this meant he could keep a low profile.

Now was not the time for him to stand out.