High School of Demon Hunting-Chapter 2287 - 508: Final Exams (Part 2)

Zheng Qing entered the exam hall with a Fortune Bun in his mouth.

This bun, with a superstition-based filling and blood-red skin, is a must-have snack for most students of Jiuyou Academy before entering an exam hall. From a mystical classical perspective, it is a wizard’s blessing for a better future; however, from the standpoint of modern magic theory, consuming these buns offers no more advantage than having a smear of Wenqu Star Ash on one’s forehead.

Because Zhang Ji Xin took a mysticism elective this year, his exposure to such superstitious-based traditional foods as influenced the young scholarship student, diminishing its allure.

Before this exam, he didn’t even eat six on a plate but merely nibbled one in significance.

Of course, the bigger reason was that he woke up late and didn’t have time to finish a whole plate.

The exam for curse studies was in the teaching building, with classrooms assigned randomly, and each student had to find it based on the room number displayed on their student card. Zheng Qing’s exam room was West 306, the same classroom he used last year for Philosophy of Magic. In the exam room, all desks and chairs were spaced apart, drawers facing front, exuding an ancient yet clumsy anti-cheat aura from top to bottom.

The invigilators, as usual, consisted of three people—a teaching assistant, a researcher, and a gray-robed janitor. Zheng Qing had heard that some exam rooms even had lecturers and professors invigilating, but he had never encountered one.

Confirm identity.

Submit unrelated items.

Unseal the exam paper.

Less than three minutes before the start of the exam, exam papers that resembled miniature white magic carpets had already floated to the sides of each candidate. Zheng Qing strained his eyes to glimpse a few questions, trying to gain a slight advantage, but no matter how much he squinted, he couldn’t see a word.

"The exam begins!"

The teaching assistant on the podium opened the law book, causing the floating exam papers to clatter down in front of the candidates, and the entire exam room atmosphere suddenly grew tense, as if the air had temporarily ceased flowing.

"2009-2010 Academic Year First Semester Midterm Exam Second Year Curse Studies (Compulsory)"

"Important Notes——"

"Exam Duration——"

"Please adhere to exam discipline and strictly avoid cheating!" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Zheng Qing deftly flipped past the familiar nonsense and focused on the first question——List two Guardian Magic spells and write out the accurate spell formula (5 points); briefly describe the similarities and differences between the two Guardian Magic spells (3 points); list at least one offensive spell capable of breaking the Guardian Magic spells you listed and write out the accurate spell formula (3 points).

"Hiss."

Zheng Qing inhaled slightly, realizing that the second-year midterm exam posed a notable difficulty increase compared to the first year. Of course, it was still within an acceptable range.

As he read through the questions, his mind conjured spells he had used during his hunts—’Restricting South Mountain, Maintaining Rock-like Firmness’, forming a pale yellow mountain virtual shadow around the wizard, capable of blocking most offensive magic; ’Wind and Rain Expelled, Rodent Goes’, capable of expanding a Protective Barrier to resist large-scale weather magic or expel birds and beasts, suitable for temporary camps and stealth.

The young scholarship student’s face showed a confident smile, and he grabbed the anti-cheat feather pen provided by the school, dipped it in ink, and began writing down the answers quickly.

The entire exam went smoothly for Zheng Qing. Except for slight hesitation on the last question involving the ’flying curse’ and ’flying communication curse’, he had encountered almost all other written exam content during hunts.

After the written exam, the practical test of curse studies was scheduled for the following week—a customary practice, as unexpected situations invariably arose each year during practical exams, with the inevitable occurrence of student injuries. To prevent such injuries from affecting exam results, the school scheduled all subjects’ written exams in the first week, with practical exams arranged after all the written exams concluded.

Throughout the nineteenth week, the entire Jiuyou Academy was in a state of anxious busyness, with exams occurring in every time slot and every classroom. Zheng Qing noticed a distinct disparity between the number of examinees and the total number of students within the academy.

"That’s because many students apply for subjects exceeding the syllabus requirements," Xiao Xiao casually explained upon noticing the young scholarship student’s puzzlement. "Some are trying to graduate early, some are after a second degree, and others simply love to learn, wanting to acquire more magic knowledge... So, while you are testing one subject, others are testing three to five, naturally making the crowd seem larger."

Although ’exalted’ as a scholarship student, Zheng Qing found it hard to comprehend the mindset of the latter group.

Unable to fathom it, he wouldn’t burden his mind during such a crucial time, and thus continued reviewing his Potion Making notes.

"Speaking of exams, did someone see you and Jiang Yu arguing at noon?" The fat wizard, the most well-informed in the dorm, suddenly removed the Fat Cat covering his face, filled with gossip, "Why were you two arguing? Was it because of Poseidon or Su Councilor?"

Arguing?

Zheng Qing looked bewildered, pausing for quite a while before understanding.

"Nonsense, it was just a discussion that got a bit loud!" His face turned slightly red, his voice involuntarily louder, seemingly to make everyone in the dorm hear clearly: "Wasn’t there a magical zoology exam this morning? Our answers on the seven-star ladybug weren’t quite the same..."

"How was it different?" Doctor Xiao was very interested in the details.

Zheng Qing, barely holding back his small temper, recalled: "The question required an analysis of the seven-star ladybug’s meaning in classical magic theory and its effect in Magic Rituals... For the latter, our answers were somewhat similar, placing the seven-star ladybug at a Magic Circuit node to carry misfortune and curse backlash, maintaining the ritual operation. This effect is similar to snake oil in Potion Making. For the former meaning, I wrote that the seven stars of the ladybug represent ’life’s seven sufferings’, while Jiang Yu wrote that the seven-star ladybug symbolizes the Holy Mother Maria in a red robe, with seven stars symbolizing seven sorrows and joys... I felt that as a student of Jiuyou Academy, there shouldn’t be excessive mentions of elements related to Atlas in the answers, and she thought I was unreasonable... Am I unreasonable? Let everyone judge!"

"That’s still arguing, isn’t it." The fat wizard muttered softly, receiving a glare from the young scholarship student, who then decisively clammed up and looked at Xiao Xiao.

Doctor Xiao leisurely pushed his glasses, looking at Zheng Qing, "You said the seven stars represent seven sufferings, which seven sufferings?"

"Birth, aging, sickness, death, meeting what you hate, parting from what you love, not getting what you want!" Zheng Qing answered without hesitation.

"Where did your seven sufferings come from?" The doctor continued questioning.

Zheng Qing was about to answer when he suddenly paused.

He heard the fat wizard mockingly cough beside him: "Buddha said, life’s eight sufferings... You not only used Atlas’s elements but also left one out... Truly ridiculous."