Chapter 23: Only My Unique Method Chapter 23: High Score

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Monday.

Children who have just finished the weekend are always in the most painful state. The boys still miss their warm blankets and yesterday's games, while the girls complain that the time for picking outfits was too short.

This is also the day when monsters are easiest to spot; one misapplied stroke can turn purple eyeshadow into lipstick — of course, the reverse, purple lipstick turning into eyeshadow, is also possible.

Amidst the chaotic revelry, the senior year is the most fervent, especially the students of Jiangning Middle School. Here, those with ability and connections have long since secured spots at certain schools; those with intelligence and drive have also more or less locked in their positions.

The rest are the most painful group — they refuse to give up, yet are helplessly abandoned by teachers and given up on by the school. Every time they see their mock exam results, they unhesitatingly scatter their pain throughout the entire class. As the College Entrance Examination draws near, this pain grows ever more intense.

When Chen Yi walked into the classroom, it was precisely the moment of concentrated outbreak of pain. Looking around, pairs of red eyes were all staring at him.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yi walked over to Luo Xiaoshan's side, set down his empty bookbag, looking slightly surprised.

His mood was relaxed, naturally different from everyone else's.

Luo Xiaoshan puffed out his cheeks, staring at him dumbfounded, and after a long moment said: "You — even if you have some method, some high-tech, don't go verifying it in a mock exam. Now look, you've become the target of everyone's arrows."

"What target of everyone's arrows?" Chen Yi was completely clueless.

Luo Xiaoshan shifted his bulky frame, looking left and right seriously, then said: "You're kidding, right? Hiding it this deep?"

Chen Yi shrugged and said: "I know something happened, but I can't guess what."

"Look at the score sheet at the back of the classroom." Luo Xiaoshan half-believed, half-doubted.

Chen Yi walked over silently; wherever he passed, man and beast alike made way, like an elephant with thirty-four teeth.

On the bulletin board on the wall were the top 20 scores from this mock exam; the two large characters "Chen Yi" were actually hanging high in first place.

They couldn't not be in first place — a 720 total, and he actually managed to get 641 points.

641 points — it sounds like a myth, even at Jiangning Middle School.

Aristocratic scions are originally the darlings of the school; such dramatic improvement attracted countless gazes. Wang Dong secretly ran to the teachers' office to re-check, then stayed sulking at the back of the classroom. His score was even better than last time, yet only 610 points. Without evidence, no matter how fair a teacher, they wouldn't — and wouldn't want to — question Chen Yi's score.

This number not only far exceeded his classmates' expectations, it even far exceeded Chen Yi's own expectations, naturally making him extremely delighted.

The final mock exam often matches the difficulty of the College Entrance Examination; it is the most important indicative test before the exam. Scoring 641 in this test meant he had stepped onto the last plank of the single-log bridge.

Wang Dong ran over like a stray dog, stood behind him, gazed up at the bulletin board, and said with feigned calm: "You know? Chen Yi, no matter what means you used..."

"Scram."

Chen Yi still wore a faint smile, didn't even look back, like a well-fed old cat dealing with a scrawny mouse.

That offhand contempt made Wang Dong feel heavy shame.

However, just as he fantasized about retaliating, a truly massive body lifted him up entirely and placed him in another spot.

Wang Dong, like a statue, was hoisted and set down by Luo Xiaoshan-brand crane.

In that brief ten seconds, everyone seemed a bit slow to react.

In a flash, unrestrained laughter erupted.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and quietly returned to his seat.

Luo Xiaoshan shot a provocative glance at Wang Dong, then came over to Chen Yi and asked in a low voice: "How did you do it?"

Chen Yi shrugged — what else could he say?

Miscalculated the Intelligence Scroll's amplification extent? Used the Scroll to review courses too many times? Or was too invested during the exam?

A few familiar classmates gathered around, chatting with grins; they didn't care who got 641 — they never had to fight for that narrow single-log bridge to begin with.

Someone joked: "This way we'll definitely meet at Jiangning University."

Another half-joked: "Brother Chen will have an easier time picking a major than us."

Yet another sprawled casually: "A Yi, are you sure you can pass the real College Entrance Exam?" The implication was naturally suspicion about the score's authenticity.

Still another couldn't wait to talk scores and instead invited: "We said we'd go learn golf this weekend — anyone coming along?"

Listening to their conversation, Chen Yi gradually spaced out...

The old him was just like his classmates — didn't care whether he could score 640, didn't care whether he could really get into Jiangning University on his own ability — that belonged to the realm of "success brings joy, failure brings no dejection."

But now, everything is different.

Su Zhaoxiong entered the classroom accompanied by the bell, pulling two large exam papers from his chest like a panda hiding bamboo, and said: "This class, we'll analyze the mock exam."

Chen Yi smiled at Luo Xiaoshan and relaxedly flipped open the paper.

Back home, Chen Mu was also overjoyed; she left the Board of Directors early and specially came home to cook.

Father Chen Congyu showed nothing on the surface, but even before 7 o'clock he got off work and came home, legs crossed, watching TV news.

This was something he often used to do, but not something he often did recently.

At this moment Chen Yi especially felt the preciousness of family.

Before the meal, Lady Fang Manyi even flipped through Chen Yi's exam paper back and forth twice, finally confirming: "No cheating, right?"

"How can you think like that?" Chen Yi shook his head vigorously.

"You also need to learn to consider all possibilities. You're almost a university student — don't be stupidly naive." Chen Mu spoke soothingly, patting her son: "If you wanted to trick us into being happy, you didn't need such a high score. Your grandpa has mentioned many times about passing down a scholarly tradition; this weekend we'll go over together and let everyone be happy."

Mothers always easily believe their sons.

Chen Yi froze, revealing a bitter smile. The so-called "everyone" — besides their own family of five — also included the paternal uncles, brothers, and cousins of the same generation; truly a huge extended family.

To show off a single mock exam score?

Seems a bit of a waste.

Not to mention at a time like this.

Seeing his mother's serious look, he could only nod in agreement.

In the evening, Chen Yi, fully prepared, once again headed to the Holy Qiao Empire.

The howling Subway carried a whole large bag of Xuan Paper — a full fifty sheets exceeding Level 6, worth 300,000 Gold Coins just by themselves — making Timothy and the others' eyes go straight.

Even in the notes of the predecessor Mages, there seemed to be very few instances of seeing so many deep Green Crystal and even yellow Scroll Papers at once; as for the younger Mages, they could only drool.

"Total: 570,000 Gold Coins. Chen Master." Timothy felt not the slightest heartache over the expensive outlay; in fact, even if he truly had to produce 570,000 Gold Coins, he would welcome it with a smiling face.

With these Scroll Materials, from which Grand Mage's hand could one not extract hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins?

Chen Yi replenished some Scrolls as usual, and then, while considering whether to replenish all Potions, spotted the word "Rare" in a very inconspicuous line on the Crystal Screen.

He could not be certain whether such a line had existed before, but the sole Scroll description listed within it made one's heart throb:

Level 4 Skill Copy Scroll: Grants the user a 160% chance to temporarily copy a definite range of the target's skills through touch and Incantation, time limit 180 Minutes, effect 100%... Price 500,000 Gold Coins.

No Level 1 Scroll, no Level 2 Scroll... only the Level 4 kind.

However, aside from the Level restriction and the requirement of 500,000 Gold Coins being slightly high, this skill's uses are simply surprisingly extensive — it not only does not restrict what kind of skill, it can even raise the skill level.

Use it on Pavarotti, and within 180 Minutes you will shock Vienna; use it on Yang Guan-yi, and within 3 hours you can make the Chef of Bird's Nest Porridge cook abalone; use it on Ronaldo, and you alone can defeat a team...

"I want this Level 4 Skill Copy Scroll." Chen Yi's tone was firm; he spoke and clicked on the Crystal Screen.

This was the First Time he could purchase a Level 4 Scroll, and moreover it was marked with the words "Rare".

The Crystal Screen rapidly fed back his Choice, while simultaneously the several Grand Mages looked at each other in shock. Quite a few among them did not even know of the existence of Skill Copy Scrolls.

Timothy blanked for a moment, then immediately said: "Chen Master, we do indeed have one Skill Copy Scroll, but it came from the Sepoga Grand Duchy's spoils and has not undergone rigorous Self-Criticism. You know, Magic Scrolls are extremely complex, especially Scrolls we are unfamiliar with — whether they contain hidden traps is hard to predict..."

Chen Yi did not let him finish, waving his hand and laughing: "No matter. Since you dare not use it, just give it to me to use."

He continued operating on the Crystal Screen, canceling the several Scrolls selected earlier.

Compared to the gentlemen of the Holy Qiao Empire, he clearly trusted this silent Subway more.

Timothy could only agree, then bowed and said: "Master, for many people without Magic Power, forced use of a Level 4 Scroll will consume enormous Energy. If possible, it is best to first supplement with 5 or more bottles of Level 3 Energy Recovery Potion, and supplement once more after use, to minimize the sleep time."

"How long will the sleep last?"

"Because of the Crystal Screen's Restriction, without Level 4 Energy Recovery Potion, about three hours after using the Scroll you will continuously sleep for 48 hours or more, and for 5 days or even longer afterward, the effect of using the Scroll will decline."

Chen Yi felt Relieved and said indifferently: "As long as that period isn't too long, it's fine."

"It won't be too long." Timothy laughed heartily; to him, using a captured Level 4 Scroll to exchange for many High-level Scroll Materials was the most profitable deal. Of course, if it could happen after they carefully researched the Scroll, that would be even better.