C66 Zhang Xing Is in Primary Class

Emperor Keith concluded his stirring speech and declared the commencement of the grand tournament. Sixty elite students from the primary magic classes of the Six Houses were set to face off, their fates determined by the draw of lots.

In the first round, half would be eliminated, leaving thirty to continue the process of elimination through another draw, narrowing the field to fifteen, and then to seven. One would receive a bye, while the remaining six would vie for the top three spots. Among them, the victor would battle for first place, and the two who fell short would compete for third.

The martial arts institute followed the same format for its competition. The contests of the Eastern Devil Martial Academy and the Western Institute of Martial Arts were held in close proximity, allowing all spectators to witness both.

Zhang Xing breezed through the initial rounds, and upon breaking into the top seven, he caught the eye of the other academies. The senior officials and emperors of the Empire were taken aback as they reviewed his profile.

Zhang Xing was a newcomer at St. Roland's Magic Academy, having enrolled just two months prior, and he was a mere six years old!

The presidents of the other five houses cast disapproving looks at the smug Jie Ge.

"President Jager, this boy's talent is impressive," one remarked. "Despite his tender age, he has an abundance of combat experience and a poised demeanor. He's a promising prospect indeed."

"Which family does he belong to?" inquired President Narsen of the Devil Martial Academy, his tone tinged with envy.

"Zhang Xing is not of any particular family; he's an orphan with a rather unfortunate background," Jie Ge replied.

Narsen nodded, his curiosity satisfied, yet a spark of intrigue flickered in his eyes, hinting at a brewing idea. The other seasoned leaders also began to scheme, each contemplating how they might acquire Zhang Xing for themselves.

The competition had now determined the top three contenders. The one with the bye joined them in the struggle for advancement.

Zhang Xing faced a formidable freshman from the Fiery Devil Martial Academy. The opponent was strong but fell to Zhang Xing in a single move.

Another victorious student was eager to challenge Zhang Xing, unleashing high-level magic with a barrage of Consecutive Fireballs right from the start.

His skills were futile; they hadn't even grazed the hem of Zhang Xing's garment.

The student had depleted all his magicule and conceded defeat.

"Holy Roland Academy of Magic and Martial Arts, primary class student Zhang Xing secures first place in the individual competition!"

The announcement by a court mage presiding over the event captured the attention of the entire audience.

Zhang Xing joyfully rejoined his team, greeted by the glowing eyes and envious expressions of his peers.

A million gold coins plus a magical artifact!

Teddy was seething with anger. With Zhang Xing's combat prowess, he was a shoo-in for first place in the primary class. He deserved to be in the advanced class.

President Jager insisted that magic must be learned systematically, from the ground up, without reaching for the unattainable.

They couldn't allow Zhang Xing to skip levels just because of his superior combat abilities; it was against protocol.

Even if Zhang Xing were to advance, he would need to pass a rigorous exam, a matter to be addressed after the competition.

President Jager had his strategy. Zhang Xing was indeed going to advance, but not to the advanced class—rather, he would go straight to the graduation exams.

Yet, Zhang Xing was too young to join the military after graduation.

He planned to send Zhang Xing to a more prestigious school for further education, where he would study not only advanced magic but also military and governmental theory.

The Heavenly Star Empire had only one such institution—the Royal Military Academy.

The Royal Military Academy produced either military commanders or court officials.

His intentions were noble, but Zhang Xing's humble origins posed a problem; the Royal Military Academy's first enrollment criterion was a certain social standing.

Only aristocratic offspring of Viscount rank or higher could register for the entrance exams.

As the head of the Magic Guild and the Devil Martial Academy, he had no authority to bestow noble titles upon his students.

Since Ogukis ascended to the throne, he had centralized all such powers, and despite the nobility's grievances, none dared to challenge him.

Ogukis ruled with an iron fist, and any dissent was met with swift and lethal retribution.