Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 371 - 017. Open the book! It’s beneficial!

Chapter 371: 017. Open the book! It’s beneficial!

Public Flying Carpets are an extremely convenient mode of transportation. A few magic circles added to a blanket, and an assembly line can produce hundreds of thousands of them in a day. They can fly above most terrain obstacles and reach speeds of up to 190 kilometers per hour. Aside from their low carrying capacity, allowing only for passengers and not for goods, they are virtually flawless.

If anything had to be criticized, it would be the lack of seats. People lie, sit, or stand in various positions. However, with the wind-blocking magic array in place, the awkward postures of the passengers are not much of an issue.

From the beginning, the civilization on the Magic Side had taken the initiative in information and transportation. However, their industrialization and urbanization progressed much slower than that of the technology side of civilization.

Li Aozi and the others were headed to a testing site in Orlan City, which wasn’t close by. The Flying Carpet leisurely made its way and, having departed in the morning, they arrived only in the afternoon. The young students gazed in wonder at the bustling city, utterly enchanted by the traffic and the myriad of items in the chain magic stores.

Unlike the rural Spellcasters, who were mostly Wild Mages, residents working and living in the city had generally received compulsory education and had noticeably better manners and sanitary conditions.

However, for Li Aozi, a third-tier city like Orlan was simply beneath his notice.

The reason was simple: the urban construction of the civilization on the Magic Side was largely centered around Mage Towers, expanding outward in concentric rings to build various satellite cities, and one could even see patterns similar to urban-rural integration areas: a few Magic Workshops with dormitories and streets nearby, that’s considered a city district.

This was a drawback of magic civilization; fully automating and intellectualizing the city with magic would take a Star Cluster Level civilization to achieve.

Nevertheless, thanks to the slow progress in urbanization, there’s one aspect that magic civilization has that technology civilization could never catch up with.

Li Aozi and his companions got off the Flying Carpet, where the Aid Study Society members had already booked a hotel in advance. To save on expenses, the group sat down on the grass and took out their own food, starting a cheerful lunch with both chatter and laughter.

Orlan City, or any Magic City for that matter, had a vast amount of green space, with rolling hills, forests, wetlands, and swamps that could all be considered scenic spots. With the sparse human-made structures, everywhere one went was like a tourist spot, enriched with moist, fresh air and the wildlife and birds that could be seen everywhere, creating a delightfully serene atmosphere.

The comfort level in Magic Cities was very high. Coming from Azure Star, Li Aozi even felt like he was in heaven, with pleasant temperatures and a leisurely pace that truly made it hard to focus on studying.

During the meal, some interesting episodes occurred.

Li Aozi noticed the people from his village appeared incredulous as they saw his popularity among the others.

"Just now, the people from Blue Chrysanthemum Village were telling me that Leo is a big bad guy, and we should see it clearly."

Cadfy even teased while munching on a fruit pie:

"Look at that, even someone as outstanding as Leo can be envied. No one is exempt."

"Exactly," a girl giggled, "That Luther guy too, acting all advisory and earnestly saying, ’Don’t trust Leo, he’s a bully!’—giggle, do they think we’re blind?"

"Right, right, Leo is so nice, handsome and strong, with good looks and a great physique, even men would like him. Anyone who slanders Leo must be jealous."

"Probably because he gave Vick a scolding earlier. They mistook Leo’s forthrightness for rudeness, right?"

"Leo would never be a bad guy."

Li Aozi kept his expression unchanged, laughing while quietly eating.

With the image of a bully firmly impressed on the people of Blue Chrysanthemum Village, and having gone through the exam, he could now show a different side to these strangers.

Leo could stand to behave a little better, after all, he still needed to use this persona for many things.

For example, this challenge that had just been triggered:

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[You have triggered a Career Task—— "Youthful and Charming School Days"]

[Type]: Career Achievement

[Time Limit]: Lifetime

[Mission Difficulty]: E

[Introduction]:

"The Tanas People hold a peculiar sentiment; they have an average lifespan of three hundred years, yet always feel that their days are numbered. They are especially sensitive to the sadness of parting and the sorrows of the seasons."

"Student, this is your best era, the last time you will step into a relatively pure realm. I hope you don’t let timidity and reclusiveness deprive this time of its color."

I hope you will look back on this time with regret but also with sentiment.

[Settlement Conditions]:

A. Enter a higher educational institution and establish a student-led group with no less than 25 members, lasting at least one term.

Reward: Specialty——[Perpetual Vanguard]

B. During this period, organize at least two gatherings and persuade two members of equal level to join your team.

Reward: Any attribute +20%

C. Lead your group members to collectively participate in Main Quest actions, no fewer than 10 times.

Reward: [Racial Potential Optimization]

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This task isn’t particularly difficult, and although the reward is decent, it doesn’t seem like much due to the time it drags on.

What Li Aozi values is the reward for Settlement Condition A—[Perpetual Vanguard]. Currently, his Aid Study Society has been established for 3 hours and has 27 members.

After entering university, he will further expand the membership of the Aid Study Society.

Whether a civilization is developed or not can be judged by its ability to mobilize and effectively use its potential.

In the feudal era, the power of the Emperor could never reach the common people at the very bottom, but in cosmic civilizations, as long as those at the top are willing, they can mobilize the entire civilization as efficiently as a machine.

Although the Aid Study Society has just been established, it has already shown some advantages.

Those students who face the challenge alone must take care of hotel bookings themselves, scout the examination venues, leaving them much less time for review.

Luther, who carries three large backpacks, is okay because he has taken the test three times and is relatively experienced. But for most students, it’s their first time, and they’re unfamiliar with the place. Plus, considering the vast greenery of the magic city, there’s a sense of tension as if on an outdoor adventure.

Li Aozi has no such concerns.

The two initiators of the Aid Study Society, Cadfy and Miti—one is socially phobic, and the other is extroverted. Through their inquiries and knack for networking, they resolved many issues quickly and efficiently.

With the addition of other members of the Aid Study Society, they almost didn’t waste time on unnecessary matters. Shortly after dinner, they all gathered at the hotel, grouping together to discuss and review topics.

Anyone who has taken an exam knows: revising on one’s own and being supervised while revising are completely different situations. Many perspectives are only realized under supervision.

Even Li Aozi couldn’t escape convention. He thrived on a pure brute-force approach to studying. Although he had a profound understanding of the principles, when it came to examination, his performance fell short.

When they began to exchange and support one another, the efficiency in spotting issues skyrocketed. This was particularly true for the Magic Aptitude Test, which encompassed a staggering 3500 objective questions, 600 subjective questions, and 12 experimental questions. An individual could easily overlook their weaknesses.

There’s always strength in numbers, especially for something like the Aid Study Society, which with Li Aozi’s [Charm], felt compelled to belong and to stand out among the group.

Surrounded by the group, individuals would compare themselves with others secretly. If someone considered skipping out but saw their peers studiously buried in their books, they would feel embarrassed and lower their heads to study. Sometimes, it wasn’t about genuine concentration but mimicking others just to fit in with the atmosphere.

They also had breaks when someone would remind them to rest, to stretch, or to chat, alleviating the pressure before the exam quickly.

The more familiar people became with each other, the more relaxed they got, no longer hiding their true selves. In the group, feeling empathic and supported, they felt at ease. They started taking initiative in collective tasks, such as taking turns to fetch water, order meals, and cleaning.

Li Aozi also noticed several examinees who stood out in their studies and interactions. He deliberately communicated more with them, took the opportunity to enter battle mode, and checked their attributes, confirming that a few of them were certainly university material.

"I still need to groom some core members for my smuggling business; I can’t do without these people."

Talent from higher education institutions would always be sought after.

After dinner, the members of the Aid Study Society finally returned to their rooms for targeted review of the areas they had previously neglected.

Soon, the night passed, and it was time for the formal examination.

One thing worth mentioning: the night before the exam, a girl developed a high fever due to extreme anxiety. Fortunately, she was part of the Aid Study Society and was taken to the hospital in time. After receiving treatment spells and medication, she was able to participate in the test normally.

This incident further enhanced the fondness candidates held for the Aid Study Society.

The first day of the examination officially began.

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For Luther, the first day in Orlan City did not start off on a friendly note.

Due to immense pressure, compounded by Leo becoming the center of attention like a celebrity surrounded by adoring fans, he felt bitter.

"Just you wait and see, a villain who’s never read a few pages of a book will return to the village crestfallen, and it will be good enough if he doesn’t submit a blank test. I couldn’t care less about this little affair."

But the more he said he didn’t care, the more frequently he recalled being deliberately ostracized and bullied by Leo during this period.

"What did I do wrong? Why does he single me out? I absolutely can’t let that guy surpass me!"

Li Aozi was so outstanding, and with his powerful [Charm], every movement and behavior attracted onlookers who couldn’t take their eyes off him, leaving a lasting echo in their minds long after.

The less Luther wanted to think about Leo, the more the image of ’Leo’ persisted in his mind, making him more restless and unable to settle down to study. He eventually flung his book aside and decided to sleep off his irritation.

As a result, he had a nightmare in which Leo returned to the village as a triumphant official Magician, stunning everyone. The girls who used to follow and admire him now looked up to Leo, that scoundrel...

Since the Aid Study Society members shared information, they were all very clear about the location of each person’s examination site and managed to avoid peak hours, arriving at the venue early.

The first day’s tests included the Spellcasters qualification test, and only after Li Aozi started the physical examination did Luther hurriedly make his way there.