I just became a mage, and my skills have become supernatural? What the heck?

[Fireball Technique] Extremely annoyed: What was that kid's look about? Was he looking down on me?

[Fireball Spell] Irritable and restless: I hate people like this who look down on others. Their fire element is barely noticeable, like a matchstick. What are they trying to prove?

"Alright, little fire, don't rush, you'll have your chance to make a move."

Lin Mo thought to himself slowly.

"According to the rules of the major exam in previous years, the first stage is usually a single trial, but in the second stage, there is usually a PVP confrontation. However, the specific rules are slightly different every year."

Upon hearing this, flames erupted all over 'Fireball'.

[Fireball Technique] rubbing its hands together in anticipation: That's wonderful! My greatsword has been itching for a good strike!

[Earth Shield Spell, in a weak tone: Huh? Fighting against other humans? Humans are much fiercer than wild monsters, Master, how about we skip the second phase?]

Before Lin Mo could even speak, Fireball instantly bristled at these words.

[The Fireball spell burst forth, pointing a flame at the Earth Shield spell and yelling: Shut up! You spineless coward! You've utterly disgraced the entire skill community!]

[Earth Shield Technique, looking aggrieved: I was only thinking about my master's safety... That Zhao Yu looks so fierce...]

It looks like the two skills are about to start arguing again.

Lin Mo had to play the peacemaker once again.

"Alright, alright, Little Fire, control your temper. You're all good brothers, you should love and support each other, understand?"

"And you, Xiao Tu."

Lin Mo's tone became slightly stern, "If Zhao Yu can break through your defenses right now, I'll change my name to Lin Mo's and say, 'What are you afraid of?'"

After Lin Mo's instruction, the two skills finally settled down.

Just then.

"Quiet down, all of you!"

A majestic voice resounded throughout the square.

Everyone looked up and saw a burly figure appear on the high platform directly above the square.

"That's... Zhang Tiejun, the deputy commander of the Jianghai City Defense Force, known as the 'Iron-Walled Lion'!"

Someone recognized the person and exclaimed in surprise in a low voice.

Zhang Tiejun remained expressionless, his voice booming:

"I am Zhang Tiejun, the chief examiner for this major exam."

"I'm not going to waste any more words. Now that you're standing here, put away your frivolous thoughts!"

"This is an examination hall, and also a battlefield! In the future, you will face monsters and the abyss. If you don't even have this much seriousness, you might as well go home and drink your milk!"

The lecture made many students shrink back and become nervous.

Seeing this, Zhang Tiejun nodded slightly and said loudly:

"Now, let's announce the rules for the major exam!"

"This major test is divided into two stages."

Phase One: The Trial Tower!

As soon as he finished speaking, the ground in the center of the square shook violently.

Several black towers, each tens of meters high, slowly rose from the ground.

"The Trial Tower has a total of thirty floors, and each floor will spawn different types and strengths of monsters."

"The rules are simple: clear one level and you get 100 points. Final rankings will be based on points, with those having the same number of points ranked higher by the time taken to clear the level!"

"After the first stage, the top 200 candidates will be eligible to enter the second stage!"

Upon hearing the number "top 200", a collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

There were tens of thousands of candidates in Jianghai City this year, but only two hundred could advance to the next round. The elimination rate was simply brutal.

Zhang Tiejun ignored the commotion below and continued:

"As for the second stage, the two hundred candidates who advance will be randomly teleported to the 'Misty Wasteland'."

"There, a high-level wind mage will unleash a storm outside. The storm's radius will shrink over time. Do not attempt to touch the storm, or you will be torn apart."

"In the second phase, killing a regular monster will earn you 10 points, and killing an elite monster will earn you 20 points."

At this point, Zhang Tiejun paused, and a chilling aura suddenly rose within him:

"Of course, besides monsters, you have another fastest way to gain points... defeat other examinees!"

"Defeat a candidate and you will directly plunder all the points they possess!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Plunder all the points?

This means that no matter how many monsters you kill in the early stages, if you get tricked by someone in the end, you've done all the work for someone else!

Looking at the candidates below with their varied expressions, Zhang Tiejun said coldly:

"Don't worry about anyone getting killed."

"All candidates taking the major exam will be granted a 'soul protection' status."

"When you suffer fatal damage, the protection will be forcibly activated, protecting you until the end of the assessment, but that also means you will be eliminated."

"Now, everyone, please enter the Trial Tower in order of your admission ticket number!"

"The big exam begins!"

Lin Mo listened calmly to the specific rules for this year's major exam, without showing any particular expression.

It's nothing more than fighting monsters and fighting people.

He casually pulled out a bag of fire element snacks and started queuing to enter the Trial Tower.

……

……

Monitoring and command center, VIP monitoring room on the second floor.

The decor here is extremely luxurious, and there are even dedicated staff to serve tea and water.

Xu Wenchang sat on the sofa in the center, with Lin Tianhao and his wife and Zhao Lei on either side. Although the atmosphere seemed harmonious, there were undercurrents beneath the surface.

"here we go."

Lin Tianhao sat up straight as he watched the candidates entering the examination hall on the big screen.

He turned to a technical adjutant behind him and gave him an instruction.

With the adjutant's actions, the view inside the trial tower where Lin Mo was located was zoomed out to the maximum, almost filling the entire screen.

On the screen, Lin Mo is sitting cross-legged on the ground, holding snacks in his hand.

"..."

"..."

"Your son... is quite relaxed, huh?"

Xu Wenchang blurted it out.

Lin Tianhao's face flushed slightly, and he coughed awkwardly.

"Ahem... well, Old Xu, I'm just a guy with a good mindset. It's like... remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapses in front of you."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Xu Wenchang laughed loudly, "What a remarkable composure in the face of a collapsing mountain! Most young people these days are too tense. It's rare to see someone so interesting."

Zhao Lei, who was standing to the side, found these words particularly grating.

Still feeling relaxed, still remaining calm even when Mount Tai collapses before you—that's what you call hopeless, utterly hopeless!

Zhao Lei snorted coldly and said to another adjutant:

"Bring up Zhao Yu's footage as well."

"Yes, Commander Zhao."

Soon, Zhao Yu's image was also brought up and placed in the center of the screen along with Lin Mo's image.

In the image, Zhao Yu is holding a staff, his expression solemn, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

This style of art is the complete opposite of Lin Mo's.

Zhao Lei pointed at the screen and said meaningfully:

"Old Xu, look at this, this is the attitude we should have for a big exam."

"Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. This is the quality of an excellent professional: never let your guard down, even when facing a weak enemy."

At this point, Zhao Lei glanced at Lin Tianhao and said sarcastically:

"Unlike some people who treat the examination room like a playground, this kind of attitude will cause them great losses when they go to the real battlefield."

Lin Tianhao was displeased upon hearing this and immediately retorted:

"Zhao Lei, stop making a mountain out of a molehill."

"He has to act like he's facing a formidable enemy when fighting just a few mobs. Isn't that tiring? Anyone who didn't know better would think he was fighting an abyss boss."

"My son's skill is called effortless mastery; you know nothing!"

After saying this, Zhao Lei glared at Lin Tianhao, "Effortless? Hmph, I think it's just being a lazy bum!"

"So what if you're a slacker? Want to see who beats the game faster?"

Lin Tianhao looked resentful.

Seeing that the two old classmates were about to start arguing again, Xu Wenchang quickly stepped in to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright, you're in your fifties or sixties, don't act like a child."

"Take a look, everyone."

Xu Wenchang glanced back and forth between the two screens and said with a smile:

"One is a prodigy with extraordinary talent, who can handle anything with ease."

"One is an excellent student with solid basic skills and a rigorous attitude."

"Each has its own merits. Let's continue watching. The trial tower hasn't even started yet; the best is yet to come."

"snort!"

Lin Tianhao and Zhao Lei both snorted coldly and ignored each other.

However, although Xu Wenchang said that, his gaze lingered more on Lin Mo.

After all these years, this was the first time he had ever seen a student so "relaxed" under the nose of the Dragon Order Class admissions officer.