20. Signs of the Awakening of the Accompanying Spirit

“Student Ning Xuan, this won’t take long at all. It’s just a simple test of your mental control abilities, only a few minutes,” Teacher Zhao said earnestly as he looked at her.

“Well… let’s go then!” Since he was a teacher who had taught her before, and Teacher Zhao insisted, Ning Xuan reluctantly agreed.

She followed Teacher Zhao to the testing room, where a dozen or so teachers from various departments were already waiting. Actually, this test was usually administered at the end of the second year of high school. It was a standard assessment to determine if students could advance to the third year. Most students entering their third year started using alchemy furnaces, but without refined mental control abilities, they couldn’t operate them.

Just like the last time she had her mental power measured, Ning Xuan donned a helmet-like device again. Once on, a virtual screen appeared before her. When the countdown ended, an image of a vast starry sky emerged. The first task was to connect identical stars with lines—a test similar to a connect-the-dots game, which intrigued Ning Xuan. She quickly found and linked the matching stars. The next challenge was akin to a high-speed racing game: controlling a flying vehicle through various aerial environments, dodging obstacles, and re-routing in response to sudden changes. Reaching the finish line would complete the task. The third task resembled a fishing game, where she used a mental thread as a fishing rod to catch all the virtual fish in a simulated pond.

Ning Xuan expected many questions but was surprised when the third task ended the test. On the virtual screen, a message popped up: “All tasks passed. Time used: 2 minutes.”

She removed the helmet, and Teacher Zhao entered with a complex expression. He said there was one more test. Ning Xuan put the helmet back on and continued.

As Ning Xuan took the second test, all the senior alchemy department teachers outside were in an uproar.

“Dean Wang, even if her mental control is strong, she’s only rated D-level, with a score of 56. Asking her to take a C-level test is too harsh. It could damage her confidence or even harm her mental sea!” said a refined-looking middle-aged man.

“D-level tests, completed perfectly within two minutes, are not even guaranteed by third-year students with B-level mental power. There’s no way her mental power score is only 56; it must be at least five or six hundred by now!” Dean Wang said firmly. He didn’t doubt the record but suspected that Ning Xuan’s mental power had rapidly increased during this period.

“Look, Dean Wang! She’s already on the third question without any mistakes!” another teacher exclaimed excitedly.

“Quiet! Don’t let her hear!” The group immediately hushed, all eyes glued to the virtual screen, growing more excited by the moment.

Dean Wang was right; her mental power score was at least five or six hundred, possibly even higher. There was no way it was below one hundred!

Teacher Zhao watched this scene with mixed feelings—pride because she was his student, and sadness because he knew soon she wouldn’t be.

Ning Xuan’s mental control was more than sufficient for using the alchemy furnace. Such a talented student would surely be snatched up by one of the senior teachers in the third year.

The C-level test consisted of seven questions. The final one was quite complex, with a chaotic pattern that made Ning Xuan pause for a moment.

When the virtual screen displayed “All tasks completed in 10 minutes,” disbelief spread across everyone’s faces.

“Why not let her try the B-level test?” someone suggested.

“No, that’s too dangerous. Let’s retest her mental power score first to see exactly where she stands,” another teacher replied.

“Yes, yes, yes. It’s late today. I will accompany Ning Xuan for the tests tomorrow. Dean Wang, don’t worry—I’ll report the results to you immediately,” Teacher Zhao quickly assured.

Ning Xuan removed the helmet and left the testing room. “May I go now, teachers?” she asked, feeling restless. For some reason, she was unusually hungry, and a strange agitation coursed through her body.

“Yes, Ning Xuan. Remember to come to school tomorrow!” Dean Wang said with a smile.

As she walked out, her steps faltered slightly. Chen Nan noticed her pale face and hurried over to support her. “Master, what’s wrong?” he asked anxiously. He had wanted to accompany Ning Xuan inside but was stopped by her. He thought everything would be fine at school, but seeing her like this, what had they done to her?

“Is there a flying vehicle? Take me back as fast as possible!” Ning Xuan felt as if her blood was boiling, heating up unbearably.

Though she had never experienced this before, during her initial mental power test, the staff had mentioned that after awakening mental power, an accompanying spirit would awaken within a year. During this time, she needed to stay in a safe environment, get enough sleep, and maintain proper nutrition. So she had researched the general conditions of spirit awakening and the signs that appear beforehand.

According to what she found, the first year after mental power awakening is a period of rapid natural growth. Most people awaken their accompanying spirit within six to nine months. Before the spirit awakens, mental power naturally grows at its fastest rate.

The signs of imminent spirit awakening include blood boiling, increased appetite, and restlessness—all of which matched Ning Xuan’s current sensations perfectly.

Sitting in the flying vehicle driven by Chen Nan, Ning Xuan felt her body temperature rising and her heartbeat pounding as if it would burst out of her chest. Her hands trembled, palms burning like fire. She sensed every cell inside her screaming for destruction, envisioning the world she could destroy.

She exhaled deeply as something within her stirred and seeped into her bloodstream. She activated the “Clear Heart Technique.” Her body, which had never responded before, suddenly reacted. Ning Xuan sensed a peculiar energy, like spiritual aura, breaking free from her blood and merging with the faint meridians within her body.

Under her control, this energy struggled forward through the barely visible meridians, inching toward the peak. Unfortunately, the energy was too scant and soon dissipated. However, the meridians that had been faint moments ago now seemed a little brighter.

This slight change did nothing to ease Ning Xuan’s current plight. Her blood still boiled as if it might set her ablaze. Something seemed desperate to break free from her body and return to the world.

“Master, are you alright? We’ve arrived!” Chen Nan’s voice sounded distant and hazy, but Ning Xuan knew he was right beside her.