VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Mui Nujiao seemed to be making an effort for the Main Campus Examination. Her desire to enter the Main Campus was clear, and she had been practicing relentlessly. It was no easy task to stand out, but with the stakes this high, being average wouldn't cut it. Only those with an outstanding performance had any hope of passing through the gateway to the Main Campus.

Light himself knew this all too well. He had a target on his back—too many enemies waiting for the perfect opportunity to see him fall. As the Main Campus Examination drew near, he could feel the weight of their expectations. The pressure was immense. The test awaiting him would undoubtedly be harsher, crueler than anything others might face. The Black Vatican, always lurking in the shadows, could make a move at any time, further complicating his already perilous journey.

---

"I am very gratified. From the day of the Rookie Competition until now, I've seen the growth of many people," Dean Xiao began at the general assembly, his voice resonating with pride yet underscored with a serious undertone.

"I remember not too long ago, there were many who regarded the Main Campus Examination as a devil lingering over our Azure Campus. It overshadowed you, haunted you, and it pushed you to cultivate tirelessly in preparation."

The entire assembly was quiet, hanging on every word as the beloved dean spoke.

"This was not wrong. Whether you heard it from others, experienced it yourself, or learned about the Main Campus from some other source, none of it was exaggerated. The reality of what awaits will be even more cruel than you've imagined!"

Dean Xiao's tone shifted, growing darker. His usual benevolent demeanor gave way to something much more daunting. The students, many of whom had looked up to him, could sense the change, and a palpable tension gripped the room.

"The Main Campus is the final destination for your youthful cultivation. It's a place where you'll test everything you've learned and where you will face your most challenging obstacles. Beyond the Main Campus lies the real world—ruthless, unforgiving, and indifferent to your suffering. The real development of your magic happens beyond this station. No matter how wronged, unfairly treated, or oppressed you feel, no one will sympathize with the weak!"

The harshness of his words shocked many in attendance. Dean Xiao, who had always shown kindness toward the students, now appeared like a Magic Demon Coach, concerned only with strength and results.

"Any students who have yet to reach the Intermediate level do not have the qualifications to undertake the Main Campus Examination," Dean Xiao declared with finality. "Those who remain in the Azure Campus can only stay for three years. In that time, you've had the privilege of enjoying the resources and benefits of being students of the Pearl Institute. But if you fail to break into the Intermediate level within those three years, do not consider yourselves students of this institution any longer."

His words reverberated like thunder in the students' minds. For some, this was the reality check they dreaded.

"Those who haven't reached the Intermediate level, leave now. This is not your battleground!" Dean Xiao commanded.

A silence fell over the hall as several students, their faces heavy with defeat, stood and left. For those who remained, a sense of pride and determination filled the void.

"To those who have stayed," Dean Xiao continued, his voice softer but still commanding, "congratulations on being admitted to the Main Campus area."

There were about a thousand students left, a number larger than many had anticipated, but it made sense. Reaching the Intermediate level and actually being able to unleash Intermediate Magic were two entirely different things.

"If there's no examination, then how do we determine the top 10?" someone called out from the crowd. "I heard the one who gets first place will be allowed to enter the Three Step Pagoda! The second and third places could obtain Magic Tools! And the fourth through tenth places would receive other rewards!"

Dean Xiao smirked as the murmurs grew louder. "A few days ago, we received information about a Shadow Beast that the government used for taming. Due to problems with its supervision, it has escaped. The Shadow Beast possesses some unique Shadow Elemental abilities, and it can hide exceptionally well in the night. Your task is simple: catch the Shadow Beast alive and return it to the government. This will be your placement examination for the Main Campus."

A wave of excitement swept through the thousand students. A real hunt. This was the kind of challenge many had trained for, but it also came with immense risks.

"The group or individual who captures the Shadow Beast and delivers it to the school's Beast Cage will receive the reward. If a single person completes the task, the reward is theirs alone. If a group—limited to five—does so, the reward will be divided among them. The prize for success? Entry into the Three Step Pagoda!" Dean Xiao announced.

As soon as the meeting ended, Light made his way back to his room, wasting no time. He knew that preparation was key. Opening his computer, he began researching everything he could find about the Shadow Beast. He knew it would be fast, elusive, and incredibly dangerous. Finding this creature wouldn't be easy, and if he wasn't prepared, it could cost him his life.

The Main Campus Examination wasn't just a simple test. If it didn't take place, it would only alert the Black Vatican that the authorities were on guard. The stakes were high. Everyone involved had to play their part, even if it meant risking everything.

---

"Monkey, you're currently in the Army, right?" Light called Zhang Xiaohou's number, eager to hear a familiar voice amidst all the tension.

"Yeah, Brother Light! Let me tell you, I'm doing really well here! I'm—"

"Did you apply to the central section on your own?" Light interrupted, feeling a bit surprised at his friend's progress.

"Yeah, you can learn a lot from here. But Brother Light, do you need something?" Zhang Xiaohou asked, his excitement palpable.

Light smiled at the familiar enthusiasm. After their separation in Bo City, Zhang Xiaohou had taken a different path, choosing to enter the Army, while Light had gone to Shanghai. It was clear that both paths had their challenges.

"I need information on one of the domesticated beasts in the Army—the Shadow Beast," Light explained.

As expected, Zhang Xiaohou was quick to respond. By that afternoon, he had sent over everything Light needed to know about the elusive creature.

"Brother Light, if you ever find yourself near the central section, come visit! I miss you!" Zhang Xiaohou said before they hung up.

Zhang Xiaohou's information was invaluable. According to the materials, the Shadow Beast had a peculiar craving for beef. It ate massive amounts, up to half a buffalo daily. This would be a key piece of information in tracking it.

---

Not long after, Light arrived at a local police station. With his high-tier Hunter identity, he commanded a level of respect akin to that of an officer. As he approached, a female officer greeted him with a bright smile.

"Mr. Hunter, the reports you requested have been organized. Most of them are trivial matters, things like petty thefts or damage to meat storages," she explained.

"Thank you. Also, if you receive any more reports about meat being stolen or destroyed, please notify me immediately," Light instructed, handing her his contact information.

"Of course!" she responded enthusiastically.

As he continued his investigation, Light recalled the materials Zhang Xiaohou had provided. The Shadow Beast's tail was known to shed hair that emitted a faint fluorescent glow. The lost hair would eventually disintegrate into dust after seven days, making it a crucial clue for anyone trying to track the creature.

Light's search led him to over twenty beef storage facilities, one after the other. Finally, at a poorly maintained storage site, he found what he was looking for—a single glowing hair, nearly turned to dust.

"The hair has almost disintegrated… It must have been here recently," Light muttered.

While the clue gave him an idea of where the Shadow Beast had been, it didn't pinpoint its current location. Still, it was progress. But why stop at tracking it down when he could simply steal it from under everyone's noses?

---

Meanwhile, not long after Light left the beef storage facility, another team arrived. Shen Mingxiao, one of the more reputable figures within the school, had used his connections in the Hunter Union to track down the same clues.

"Brothers, could it be that a real Magical Beast appeared? Someone else has already been here!" a worker said nervously.

Shen Mingxiao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Someone got here before us?"

Luo Song, his companion, frowned. "We'll need to hurry. If someone else finds it first, we'll lose out on the reward."

"Don't worry," Shen Mingxiao declared confidently. "The Shadow Beast can only be ours!"

---

Light had barely reached his apartment when his phone rang.

"Mr. Hunter, this is the officer from earlier. I've just received a tip—there's a vendor in Xu Jiang'an who's been involved in stealing a large quantity of beef. You might want to check it out," she reported.

"Got it. I'll head there now. Thanks, I owe you one," Light replied.

---

A man with a mask covering half his face stood in a dimly lit parking lot, his cold expression barely visible beneath the shadows. A dark creature crouched beside him, its long claws wrapped around the neck of the female police officer. Her face was pale, drenched in sweat, as she struggled to breathe.

"You've done well," the man said, his voice low and dangerous. "I won't kill you this time."

The creature released her, and she fell to the ground, gasping for air. The man turned to leave, the dark creature following closely behind.