Standing before the ten young magicians, five middle-aged men were watching. One of them, the headmaster Song He, stepped forward and smiled at the group. "I'm proud to see you all emerge as the top magicians from so many prestigious schools. You will now represent the nation in competing against other top contenders from around the world. We could hold a grand ceremony to send you off for this journey, but I would prefer to save that celebration for when you return with honors. Then, we will make it a thousand times grander because you will have become the pride of our nation."
As Song He was speaking, a sudden chill filled the air.
"Strange, why did it suddenly get cold? Is the temperature dropping?"
"Isn't that Mu Ningxue?"
"She's been listed as a substitute. There are even rumors that she might be completely excluded, but that depends on the decision of the higher-ups."
As soon as everyone felt the chill, they noticed the woman approaching from afar. With skin like snow and bones of ice, her silver hair flowing, and beauty unmatched, even Mo Fan couldn't deny that Mu Ningxue's appearance was always breathtaking.
However, as much as he might be captivated, he reminded himself that getting involved with someone as cold as her would be like licking ice—it would only leave him with a frozen tongue.
Yet, despite this rational thought, the sight of her brought back a familiar, tempting warmth within him. The flame in his heart, which had calmed down for the past few days, suddenly started to ignite again.
Among the ten selected magicians was Mu Tingying from the Mu clan. Upon seeing Mu Ningxue, she immediately snapped, her anger evident. "Mu Ningxue, are you in the wrong place? This ceremony is for the main team members. You're just a substitute, and it's not even certain if you'll stay on the team."
Mu Tingying was from the same Mu family but had been pushed into the spotlight after Mu Ningxue's family fell from favor. She despised Mu Ningxue because, despite her current status, she had always lived in Mu Ningxue's shadow for many years. Now, with things finally turning in her favor, Mu Tingying was eager to flaunt her superiority.
However, Mu Ningxue paid her no mind and walked past her without a word. Mu Tingying was furious but couldn't muster enough authority to back up her anger.
The five instructors were also surprised to see Mu Ningxue. They knew about her situation—it was an unfortunate case of guilt by association. But even they had no power to overturn the consequences of what had happened in the Ancient Capital. If not for Mo Fan's intervention, over a million citizens could have perished during that disaster. Though no one had died, the lingering resentment was immense.
"I know I've been blacklisted, and I understand why. I'm not here to complain. I'm here for one reason—to prove myself," Mu Ningxue declared firmly, her eyes locking onto the five instructors as she spoke each word with determination.
Song He sighed, looking at her with a trace of regret. "Prove yourself? Ningxue, I understand this situation is deeply unfair to you. But the crimes committed by the Black Vatican were atrocious. We excluded you from the competition to protect you. The catastrophe in the Ancient Capital—"
Mu Ningxue knew Song He meant well, but she wasn't ready to back down. "That's why I need you to reassess me. I hope my bow can erase your doubts about me!"
With that, she moved toward the center of the arena. The instructors exchanged puzzled glances as she took her position, but soon the atmosphere changed.
The ice element began to gather around her. Her silver hair danced in the wind, and her elegant long skirt swirled gracefully around her body. She looked ethereal, like a goddess of ice, perfectly attuned to her element. Her natural affinity with ice magic and the way she seemed to merge with the cold left the five national-level instructors awestruck. Even the official team members couldn't help but stare, captivated by her graceful presence.
But Mu Ningxue wasn't just showing off her beauty. As all eyes were fixed on her, a bow of ice materialized in her hands. It was a simple bow at first—no string, no arrow. Yet, as she drew the bow, the surrounding ice element converged upon it.
A cold wind stirred. "Whoosh..."
"Crack, crack..."
An icy arrow formed on the bowstring.
With a sharp twang, she released the arrow. Her silver hair whipped around her face, momentarily concealing her stunning features. The ice arrow shot forward with a terrifying speed, creating a blizzard as it tore through the air, enveloping the vast arena in a swirling snowstorm.
"Boom!"
The arrow pierced the magical barrier above the arena, exploding high in the sky. The force of the arrow caused half of the arena to freeze over. The ground was blanketed in thick ice, glittering under the sunlight. It was a breathtakingly beautiful yet intimidating display of power.
Everyone was silent, stunned by the sheer magnitude of her ice magic. They finally understood what Mu Ningxue meant by "proving herself." Her strength was undeniable.
"I want to compete, even if it's just as a substitute," Mu Ningxue said softly, her breath visible in the cold air. She then crushed the icy bow in her hand into powder.
Releasing that arrow had drained her significantly. It had taken a heavy toll on her, but she knew she had to show her full power to convince the instructors. Otherwise, she might not even be considered for a substitute position.
The five instructors remained speechless for a long while, still reeling from the sight of the half-frozen arena. Mu Ningxue's arrow had deeply impressed them. They exchanged glances, clearly reconsidering their stance.
"This kind of power… it's remarkable," said Feng Li, one of the instructors. "We will submit a request to keep your position as a substitute. You can join the others in the upcoming international trials."
The five national-level instructors were committed to fairness. Their goal was singular: to win the highest honor in the global university competition. Though the competition was meant to be between young magicians, each nation invested heavily in it, with the stakes involving major resource allocations.
The competition was no child's game, and Mu Ningxue's overwhelming ice magic had undoubtedly earned her another chance. Whether she would succeed was up to her, but at least now, she had secured the opportunity she desperately sought.
(End of Chapter)