C31 He Spoke Boldly and Confidently

Two seconds later, the first group's bell chimed.

"Alright! Let's have Student Clive answer this question."

Clive rose to his feet, brimming with confidence. Raised in a family steeped in magic, he was well-versed in the fundamentals. His head was crammed with knowledge.

"The answer is straightforward. Instructor Solina deftly used Ice Magic to cool the boiling water rapidly, demonstrating the importance of using magic both concisely and swiftly! My answer is complete!"

His peers in the first group regarded him with admiration, some even giving him a thumbs-up.

Solina, however, was far from pleased with such an answer, yet she couldn't outright say he was wrong. They were, after all, just children, with limited understanding.

"Five seconds. If no one offers a differing view, Clive earns an extra point."

Here, a point equated to academic credits, a perk for the newcomers.

"Five, four, three, two, one."

A smile flickered across Instructor Solina's face as she watched the countdown. It was this youngster's turn.

"Mr. Zhang, your thoughts, please."

All eyes turned to Zhang Xing, while Clive glared at him resentfully.

He touched his chest reflexively. His wounds had healed, but the memory of the pain lingered.

He had been puzzled when Zhang Xing arrived unscathed. Hadn't those two intermediate students blocked his way?

He was on the verge of gaining a credit, but Zhang Xing had challenged him in the final second. It infuriated him.

But what could you, a child from a poor family, possibly know about theory? What could you say that would be any different?

As these thoughts crossed Clive's mind, his face twisted into a sneer.

Then, as Zhang Xing calmly presented his perspective, everyone, teachers and students alike, were taken aback.

"Instructor Solina aimed to assess our understanding of the fundamental principles underlying magic. Student Clive's response, while not incorrect, lacked depth. It was clear to all that Ice Magic was at play."

The students' gazes shifted back to Clive, confirming the obvious. They all recognized the use of Ice Magic; they simply hadn't dared to speak up first.

Clive's anger was palpable, his complexion turning a deep shade of crimson.

Zhang Xing lifted his little hand and pointed skyward with his index finger.

"My understanding is of the Sano Phantom Study!"

"What is Sano Phantom Study?"

"The magic elements we commonly refer to are Sano, and Sano is the magic elements."

"You can look it up in the books. It's on page 365, line 19."

Zhang Xing cleared his throat, prompting a round of soft laughter from Instructor Solina and the panelists. The child certainly had the poise of an adult!

"Magic elements are neither matter nor energy."

"Yet, they exist in the air, within each and every one of us."

"So, how does Ice Magic rapidly cool boiling water?"

"That delves into the rules of magic. And that brings me to another term: the guiding medium."

"You'll find the explanation of the guiding medium on page 366, line 46."

"It's the guiding medium that allows Sano to constitute energy and matter, giving rise to the various magic skills."

"The energy in boiling water may seem quite high, but it's actually less than the energy of the ice system within the guiding medium. Thus, the thermal energy is engulfed by the ice energy, causing the temperature to instantly reach saturation."

"My answer is complete!"