Exposure

"Of course it was true." Professor Li smiled and nodded lightly.

"And even among second-tier talents, this was quite good. You were just a little short of reaching the threshold for first-tier."

He quickly added another sentence.

"Thank you, Professor." Huo Ling nodded.

"What is your Spirit Realm's Blessing?" Professor Li suddenly asked from the side.

"Huh?"

Huo Ling did his best to maintain an innocent, bewildered expression.

Before returning, Huo Ling had recalled the news reports and various books and materials he had read.

Spirit Realm's Blessings were bestowed by the consciousness of the Spirit Realm. Such blessings could not simply be given away at will, nor could they be taken by force.

Even the recipients themselves could not reveal the information within those inheritances before fully mastering them. This was a restriction imposed by the will of the Spirit Realm.

So after returning, he had been hesitating over whether to find a chance to reveal that he had received a Spirit Realm's Blessing, thereby raising his own value.

Now that Professor Li had asked, Huo Ling immediately realized this was a good opportunity.

"Don't worry. No one can take away a Spirit Realm's Blessing." Professor Li looked at the expressionless Huo Ling, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.

"Spirit Realm's Blessings are granted by the will of the Spirit Realm. Whether it is a weapon or an inheritance, only the blessed recipient can use it. Rest assured, student."

"A weapon-type blessing is less useful in someone else's hands than a fire poker. As for inheritances, even more so. Aside from the blessed recipient, no one else can read them. Even you yourself cannot reveal the contents of the inheritance at your current stage."

So Huo Ling nodded lightly and admitted it.

If word got out that he possessed a Spirit Realm's Blessing, someone would surely take notice of him. From the very beginning, he would receive support in terms of resources.

He had only been hesitating all along. Now that Professor Li had exposed it, it happened to help Huo Ling make up his mind.

Huo Ling asked curiously, "Professor Li, how did you know I received a Spirit Realm's Blessing?"

Professor Li raised the test report in his hand. "One of the records in your examination showed traces of a high-level will having once been on you. According to the records, that is a sign of having received a Spirit Realm's Blessing."

So that was it! Huo Ling understood.

He had not expected the examination to be so thorough—it had practically turned his underwear inside out.

"Can you briefly describe the blessing you received? I'll record it in your file, which will make it easier for you to win the favor of higher universities afterward." Professor Li asked with a smile.

"The Spirit Realm's Blessing I received is a mage inheritance. It includes a silver-tier meditation method and several zero-tier spells."

After thinking briefly, Huo Ling still concealed some information. A gold-tier meditation method was a little too eye-catching; silver-tier was just right.

Receiving the blessing of an inheritance would earn him extra points at university, but becoming too famous could be too much of a good thing. That did not suit Huo Ling's personality.

"A silver-tier meditation method? Not bad!" Professor Li could not help praising him lavishly.

"You're quite fortunate. Although there doesn't seem to be much of a spell inheritance, this one silver-tier meditation method alone has already made you a huge profit!"

"You should know that even at first-tier universities, cultivating a silver-tier meditation method requires paying no small price."

Hearing that, Huo Ling did not explain. He knew that his spellbook was quite thick, and more spells should be unlocked later on.

"Student Huo, are you interested in coming to Southern Heaven University?" Professor Li changed the subject and began recruiting him.

Southern Heaven University was located in Southern Heaven Province. Stone Creek County, where Huo Ling lived, was also under Southern Heaven Province's jurisdiction.

Southern Heaven University was one of the first-tier universities. There were only ten first-tier universities in the entire country.

In Great Xia, universities were divided into four tiers: first, second, third, and fourth. There were thirty-six second-tier universities and one hundred and eight third-tier universities.

As for fourth-tier institutions, they were vocational and technical colleges. They were for students from regular classes and those who had failed to awaken.

Southern Heaven University was also a very good choice among first-tier universities. Before awakening, it had been Huo Ling's goal to apply there.

But after the awakening ended, he was no longer in a hurry. With his second-tier spellcaster aptitude plus the added advantage of Spirit Realm's Blessing, he presumed he could easily apply to whichever university he wanted.

At that point, it would depend on which school offered the better terms.

He had heard plenty of stories around the county about older students with exceptional aptitudes.

To attract talented students into applying to their schools, some universities offered all kinds of benefits and subsidies.

Professor Li had not offered any terms yet, so there was no rush. Besides, one always had to shop around.

Thinking this, Huo Ling said, "Professor Li, I can't make this decision on my own. I need to go home and discuss it with my parents."

"Mm, that's only right." Professor Li nodded understandingly. Then, after organizing the documents, he placed them in a file bag and sealed it.

"All right, Student Huo. Your examination is over. You can go wait in the hall for your homeroom teacher to pick you up."

"Okay. Thank you for your trouble, Professor Li."

Huo Ling rose to his feet, gave a slight bow in thanks, then turned and left.

"Huo Ling! Over here!"

After waiting in the hall for several minutes, his homeroom teacher arrived at the examination hall. The moment he entered, he called out to Huo Ling.

"Teacher."

"How was it? You weren't hurt, were you? Did the awakening succeed?" His homeroom teacher patted Huo Ling's shoulder and asked anxiously.

"I wasn't hurt. The teachers here protected me very well. And my awakening succeeded—I have second-tier spellcaster aptitude!"

Warmth rose in Huo Ling's heart as he answered.

"Good, good! I knew you could do it, kid!"

Upon hearing this, the homeroom teacher patted Huo Ling's shoulder even harder, his voice full of delight.

Though he himself was an ordinary person, he was exceptionally happy that his student had obtained good aptitude.

Not to mention that a student like this would bring him considerable benefits as well. A promotion and a raise were right before his eyes.

Then, his homeroom teacher led Huo Ling toward the lodging area.

Along the way, Huo Ling asked curiously, "Teacher, do you know what happened in the examination room next to mine?"

His homeroom teacher glanced at him, then said quietly, "Don't spread this around. I'm only telling you because you saw it yourself."

"The student next door was from First High School. This time, he was parasitized by a wraith in the Spirit Realm. It was discovered during the examination. You know what happened afterward—the wraith was killed, and he had already died while being parasitized."

"So that was it. Don't worry, Teacher. I won't spread it around." Huo Ling nodded.

Soon, his homeroom teacher led Huo Ling to the front of a dormitory building. This ten-story dormitory was now packed full of students.

Several of the high-rise buildings nearby were all dormitories, filled with students who had returned from the Spirit Realm.

If you encounter advertisements asking, "Are you a real person?" there is no need to pay attention to them. Just close them; do not scan any codes or send text messages.