First University’s academic plan lists hundreds of valid courses, each catering to different student groups and varying in difficulty.
Some courses are only for specific races, such as "Blood Clan Emblem Studies" and "Werewolf Totem Studies"; besides the corresponding races, only a few Wizards with unique interests would study these courses.
Some courses are highly specialized, such as "Probability Theory and Divination Analysis" and "Functional Analysis of Dimensional Transition"; at First University, only Researchers at the Registered Wizard level or above have the opportunity to access these profound theories.
Some courses require no prior knowledge, such as "Philosophy of Magic" and "spell book Maintenance"; even Baiding can easily understand most of the content in these courses, with only slight differences in comprehension.
There are also some courses that require students to have a certain foundation.
For example, Talisman Studies.
Talisman Studies is a widely applicable foundational subject.
If Astronomy is the writing of Wizards, then Talisman Studies is the formula summarized by Wizards.
Wizards discovered long ago that certain fixed magic patterns and symbol combinations could trigger special magical effects. Through the unremitting efforts and research of generations of Wizards, they continuously optimized and solidified these combinations, eventually passing them down to form Talismans.
Every Talisman embodies the wisdom of Wizards.
Advanced courses derived from Talisman Studies include not only Astronomy, magic patterns, Formation, and Alchemy, among many other subjects, but also influence different Wizard academic factions such as the Dimension Faction and the Stream of Thought.
It can be said that if one’s Talisman Studies is not good, one cannot be considered a qualified Wizard.
Zheng Qing took out his writing tools from a gray cloth bag: a tortoise-shell inkstone, pine-scented ink stick, purple-bristle brush, and yellow Talisman paper.
He lightly swept the small snake coiled on the tortoise’s back with the brush, and the snake impatiently opened its mouth and spit out a puddle of clear water.
The clear water flowed into the inkwell.
Zheng Qing picked up the ink stone, dipped it in the snake’s saliva, and steadily ground out a circle of ink in a clockwise direction.
The ink was slightly shaky.
He stopped, gripped the purple-bristle brush, and began to take deep breaths.
For Zheng Qing, exams were not an unfamiliar word.
From childhood to adulthood, monthly exams, annual exams, comprehensive exams, junior high entrance exams, college entrance exams—a small exam every three days, a major exam every ten days—he had no idea how many exams he had been through.
But he had never truly faced a Wizard’s exam before.
That inexplicable exam in his dream was too illusory, always giving him a sense of unreality.
From receiving the admission letter to anxiously sleeping on the six-poster bed in dormitory 301, this unsettling feeling had always accompanied him. It seemed as if everything he saw and experienced lacked some necessary support, like a reflection in a mirror, a dream of a floating life.
It wasn’t until he heard the words “exam” just now that he had a sudden realization.
The unease in his heart came from the unknown.
Even though many people had given him thorough explanations, Zheng Qing still couldn’t understand why he was admitted, didn’t know why the University admitted him, and even more, didn’t know what he should do in the future.
Whether it was the interviewer Thomas, or the senior Nicholas; or Xiao Xiao, Li Meng, and others; in front of other people, the unease in Zheng Qing’s heart would always be suppressed by various novelties.
And this impending exam, however, released his unease in a rough yet familiar way.
What if he failed?
Zheng Qing gripped the white-tipped purple-bristle brush in his hand tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Can he do it?
Did the University really make a mistake?
What if, after the test paper was distributed, he couldn’t even recognize the words and ended up submitting a blank sheet? Would he be expelled from the University?
Would the University send people home by plane?
Would they throw people out of the sky?
Chaotic thoughts spun like a carousel in his mind.
A tense atmosphere permeated the classroom.
Many people were quickly flipping through their textbooks, their lips moving, trying to make a last-ditch effort before the test papers landed in their hands.
“It’s all up to you!”
“Please!”
His companions around him patted Zheng Qing’s shoulder, looking as if to say, “You are our anchor.”
Zheng Qing kept a straight face, neatly arranging the paper and inkstone in front of him, trying his best to conceal his unease.
“Don’t be nervous, everyone, this is just a small diagnostic test.”
Lecturer Zhang on the podium seemed to sense the thick atmosphere of unease in the classroom and smiled brightly:
“This test is a simple review of your current Talisman foundation, to help me establish an appropriate syllabus and plan subsequent courses.”
“Also, it’s for class division. Students’ progress and levels are not consistent, so the content taught will also vary. I have already applied to the University for your Charm and Talisman class to return to a small-class model. At that time, students of different levels will be assigned to corresponding classes.”
“The diagnostic test will not affect your final assessment. Of course, students who perform exceptionally well will receive reward credits within my authority.”
On the podium, Instructor Zhang pulled a stack of test papers from her handbag while comforting the silent students.
Then she tapped the stack of test papers with the spine of the pink-blue spell book in her hand.
A gentle breeze swept through, and the test papers, like white feathers, floated lightly in the air, drifting towards the students’ seats.
“Before the official start of the exam, I want to emphasize one more time.”
“Cheating is strictly prohibited!”
“Violating exam rules will result in expulsion from the classroom.”
“This behavior will not benefit you in any way; please pay attention.”
Zheng Qing looked around, taking a deep breath.
In the distance, Liu Feifei, Jiang Yu, Tang Dun, and others had already begun to write furiously, their brushes flying.
Xin Fatty in front of him was looking down at the test paper, his right hand raised to his ear, a pencil deftly twirling between his short, thick fingers.
Zhang Jixin was cracking his knuckles beside him, muttering to himself, looking as if he was about to go crazy.
And Xiao Xiao had finally put away his black hardcover notebook.
“Talisman Studies is a subject that heavily emphasizes fundamentals. The extent to which everyone has studied before University varies, which will lead to differences in learning pace. Therefore, we need to conduct a diagnostic test to see what level of instruction everyone can accept, which will help us formulate suitable study plans for everyone.”
On the podium, Instructor Zhang was still unhurriedly giving her pre-exam announcement, her gentle voice exceptionally clear in the quiet classroom.
Zheng Qing had just noticed that this Instructor’s voice was very pleasant.
He looked up, and a floating white paper blocked his view.
The test paper had already reached the last row.
He took the paper, taking a deep breath.
In the distance, Lecturer Zhang’s soft, melodious voice seemed to drift further and further away from him:
“Exam scores will not be announced, but they will affect your course arrangements, so write as much as you can.”
“You should know that Talisman Studies is the foundation of many subjects. An excellent Talisman foundation will allow you to better experience the true essence of magic than others during your University life.”
