Breakthrough While Sleeping
Oh Sobang ascended the dueling platform with a swaggering stride. He was brimming with confidence. Upon reaching the stage, he offered a respectful bow to the proctors before placing his palm firmly against the Mystic Measurement Stone.
A moment later, a roar of cheers erupted from the crowd surrounding the platform. The pale red light within the stone had surged instantaneously, soaring past the third marker. Without losing momentum, the light continued its ascent, blowing past the fourth marker as well.
The crimson glow eventually slowed after passing the 4.5 mark, finally coming to a halt at 4.7. It held that position for the duration of ten breaths.
2nd Year, Class 1: Oh Sobang
Mystic Energy Grade: 4.7
Even the proctor’s voice trembled slightly as he announced the score. Oh Sobang’s performance was a record-breaking feat. In the history of the 3rd Academy, no second-year student had ever achieved a Grade 4.7.
"Hahahaha!" Cho Heun, the Grade Dean, burst into a boisterous laugh. "Brother Cheong-hyeon, what do you think of that student? Does he meet your standards?" he asked boastfully.
Lee Cheong-hyeon gave a slight nod. "Yes, he is quite decent."
Cho Heun’s smile widened even further. For a man like Lee Cheong-hyeon to call a student 'decent' was already a massive compliment. Cho Heun felt that the 3rd Academy had finally reclaimed its dignity. He walked over to Oh Sobang and patted him on the shoulder.
"Well done. You didn't disappoint me. Keep up the hard work."
Oh Sobang was practically glowing with triumph. As he descended from the platform, he caught Bukjin’s eye and sneered. "Well? Do you finally see the gap between us now?"
Bukjin nodded simply. "I see it clearly."
"Haha, I'm glad you understand. Now, drop those useless delusions of yours and get ready to be my slave! You absolute worm," Oh Sobang growled in a low, threatening voice.
Bukjin didn't bother to reply, which only made Oh Sobang feel more superior.
2nd Year, Class 2: Mok Simwol! Please ascend the platform!
Oh Sobang turned to Mok Simwol, who was standing nearby, and gave her an encouraging smile. "Junior Mok, do your best! Have confidence! I'm sure you'll get a great score!"
Mok Simwol ignored him and walked toward the stage. Her steps were heavy with purpose. I've waited for this day. I'm going to set a record that will remain in the history of the 3rd Academy forever. All my efforts until now were for this moment of glory... Today, I am the protagonist!
Her long hair fluttered behind her as she ascended the stairs, a vision of cold beauty that captivated the audience.
"Begin," the proctor said softly.
Mok Simwol placed her slender, white hand on the Mystic Measurement Stone. Immediately, the pale red light surged, blasting past Grade 3. It didn't slow down for a second, climbing with incredible speed until it surpassed Grade 4. And then...
CRACK!
The rising crimson light suddenly burst through the jade pillar, scattering into the air. The measurement stone was riddled with cracks, its top shattered, completely rendered useless.
The proctor stood frozen in shock. The students watching from below were equally bewildered. Cho Heun was so startled that he practically leaped out of his seat, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Th-this is... a Mystic Explosion!"
Even Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been watching the proceedings with an indifferent expression, showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The stone used for this exam was a 4th-rank Mystic Measurement Stone. In short, it had the capacity to measure Mystic Energy up to Grade 5. Yet, this beautiful young girl had just overloaded it.
What did this mean? It meant her Mystic Energy cultivation had already surpassed Grade 4 and reached Grade 5. She was only fourteen years old. To be at Grade 5 at that age was a level of talent that would be hailed as a genius even in the 1st or 2nd Academies.
Lee Cheong-hyeon never imagined such a student would emerge from the 3rd Academy, which was known for having a much lower average level than the others.
"What is that student's name?" Lee Cheong-hyeon asked.
Cho Heun, snapping out of his daze, replied with a jubilant expression. "That is Mok Simwol. She is the jewel of our 3rd Academy. Hahaha! What do you think? Didn't I tell you I wouldn't disappoint?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon nodded. "She is certainly unexpected. Bring me her records; I wish to see them."
He was genuinely curious about her. After reviewing the documents, he confirmed that Mok Simwol was indeed a student educated entirely at the 3rd Academy. She was fourteen, and there were no signs of forgery or tampering in her records.
After a moment, Lee Cheong-hyeon nodded in satisfaction. "Impressive. Her results are worthy of being called a genius even in the top academies. While it might be difficult to compare her to the absolute top talents of the province, with this level, she has a high chance of participating in the upcoming Academic & Martial Arts Competition."
Coming from Lee Cheong-hyeon, this was an exceptionally high evaluation.
"Hahahaha!" Cho Heun laughed even louder. Flushed with excitement, he shouted, "To receive such praise from Brother Cheong-hyeon, the man they call the 'Iron Mask' of the Education Committee... This is wonderful! Quick, bring out a 5th-rank Mystic Measurement Stone! Let us see exactly what Mok Simwol’s grade is!"
The proctors moved quickly to comply. It was the first time in the history of the second-year exams that a 4th-rank stone had been destroyed. After a brief delay, a 5th-rank stone was installed on the platform.
"Now, Simwol. Relax and clear your mind. Start when you are ready," Cho Heun said, his eyes warm and doting, looking at her as if she were his own beloved daughter.
Mok Simwol remained perfectly calm. She placed her palm on the 5th-rank stone. The crimson light began its rapid ascent once more. Under the watchful eyes of the entire academy, the light climbed past the Grade 5 marker and finally settled at 5.3.
Ten breaths passed.
2nd Year, Class 2: Mok Simwol
Mystic Energy Grade: 5.3
The proctor’s voice rang across the platform, followed by a thunderous explosion of cheers. Every student wore a look of disbelief. They were in awe that a peer of the same age possessed such monstrous talent.
Oh Sobang stood frozen, his face blank with shock. As he looked at Mok Simwol, who radiated an overwhelming presence on the stage, he felt an inexplicable sense of irritation. He had been so proud of his 4.7. He hadn't doubted for a second that he would be the top student. But the moment Mok Simwol stepped up, she had utterly eclipsed him.
That cold-blooded girl. She usually acts so unassuming and calls me 'Senior,' but the moment it matters, she jumps out and steals all my glory. Oh Sobang’s face contorted with bitterness.
Mok Simwol descended from the platform and returned to her spot. She didn't even glance at Oh Sobang. Instead, she looked directly at Bukjin.
"Do you finally understand why you and I can never be together? Even if you got a perfect score on the written exam, it changes nothing. The written test is just a triviality. This world is governed by the law of the jungle. Even if you were still the son of the prestigious Jeon-cheon-hu Manor instead of a disgraced family, you would still be beneath my level. As you are now, you are simply nothing."
Mok Simwol spoke with a lofty, detached expression. Bukjin, however, looked like he couldn't even be bothered to deal with her.
Just then...
Next, 2nd Year, Class 9: Im Bukjin! Please ascend the platform!
Bukjin let out a thin smile and walked past Mok Simwol, ignoring her entirely. He stepped onto the platform and moved toward the 5th-rank stone to place his hand on it. However, the proctor stepped in his way with a look of pure contempt.
"You use this one," the proctor said, pointing toward a newly replaced 4th-rank stone.
The students below erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha! That delinquent actually dared to try the 5th-rank stone! Does he think he's on the same level as Junior Mok?"
"He doesn't even know his place!"
"I guess getting a perfect score on the written test made him think he owns the world!"
"Does he really think he's qualified to use a 5th-rank stone?"
Mockery and ridicule rained down from the audience. With an expressionless face, Bukjin walked over to the 4th-rank stone and placed his palm upon it. The very instant the crimson light appeared—
BOOM!
Smoke billowed from the stone. Before anyone could even process what was happening, the brand-new measurement stone had instantly disintegrated.
A Mystic Explosion. The new 4th-rank stone had been blown apart by Bukjin in a heartbeat.
The laughter from the students vanished instantly. Cho Heun once again shot up from his seat. Even the Special Inspector, Lee Cheong-hyeon, was visibly shaken. Below the stage, Oh Sobang looked as if he had seen a ghost. Mok Simwol’s face froze into a mask of cold shock.
The entire venue fell into a silence so profound it felt as if sound itself had been erased from the world. Bukjin looked at the proctor who had directed him to the 4th-rank stone and spoke calmly.
"Sir, may I use the 5th-rank stone now?"
The proctor, finally snapping out of his stupor, looked toward Cho Heun. The Dean struggled to regain his composure. He walked toward the center of the platform where Bukjin stood. Looking the boy over with a trembling gaze, he asked in a shaky voice:
"Y-you... are you saying you've already surpassed Grade 4? When did you achieve this breakthrough?"
"Hmm, I think it happened last night while I was sleeping... I'm not entirely sure myself."
Bukjin was telling the truth; he didn't know exactly when his Mystic Energy had surpassed Grade 4.
[Intermediate Mystic Energy Condensation]
The app didn't display a specific grade or send out notifications. For the past two days, Bukjin’s smartphone had been running apps constantly, to the point where it was practically overloaded. He had no way of knowing his exact level. He had intended to use this exam as an opportunity to gauge his own strength.
"You're talking nonsense again... A breakthrough while sleeping? Fine. My jaw will only ache if I keep talking to you. Just hurry up and measure yourself with the 5th-rank stone."
Cho Heun urged him forward, looking as if he had realized that further conversation with Bukjin was utterly futile.