Era of Mist

Two hours and twenty minutes into the exam, in the first-year elite Class 3, Electric Old Jia sat at the teacher’s desk, his pen flying across the paper. His expression was serious, his focus absolute. He was treating this exam with the utmost gravity, having started at the exact same time as the students when the bell rang. He wanted to see for himself just what secrets were hidden within this test.

After more than two hours of intense work, Old Jia was gradually beginning to understand. In terms of question design, this test was truly exceptional. The paper wasn’t just difficult and long; the problems, with their clear layers and distinct difficulty gradients, were in themselves a pedagogical art form.

Furthermore, the number of questions, their focus, and the specific points they tested all varied at each difficulty level. Old Jia was a man who truly understood mathematics, his fundamentals exceptionally solid. It was precisely because of his high skill level that he could so keenly appreciate the cleverness woven into the paper.

Sighing, he realized that such a long, continuous struggle was a bit much for a man his age. He looked up and pinched the bridge of his nose, amused to find that many students in the classroom were doing the exact same thing.

’Looks like everyone feels the same way,’ he thought. ’This test really is a tough one.’

It was easy to get a decent score; none of these elite students would have a problem with that. But getting a high score? That was a different story entirely.

The sheer volume of sustained, stable, and precise calculations required not only computational ability but also an exceptionally high and resilient level of focus. It demanded a steady mindset, one that wouldn’t grow arrogant or rash when faced with a mountain of questions. It even demanded the physical stamina and endurance to persevere on the long trek to the finish line.

Besides, possessing all those traits didn’t guarantee a high score. After all, without regular high-intensity, high-volume training, it was highly unlikely a student could adapt to this kind of test on their first try.

Therefore, any student who could actually manage a high score on this test—say, over 350 points—would be proven outstanding in every respect. More importantly, it would demonstrate that they were incredibly hardworking and diligent, someone who never let themselves slack off.

Such a student would be a true, undisputed elite anywhere. Having worked on the test this far, Old Jia had to admit that Principal Liu was truly skilled at designing exams.

’Just look at them,’ he thought, ’the students in this class are all fired up like boilers. These little rascals usually have their noses in the air, but they rarely get a chance to use their full strength. This time, we’ll really be able to tell the mules from the horses.’

As for a perfect score...

Old Jia mulled it over, his eyes scanning his classroom for a long time before settling on a few students in the third row. He looked from one end to the other, silently shaking his head as his gaze passed over each of them. Finally, his eyes landed on the student in the very middle of the third row: the prodigy from the provincial governor’s family.

The other renowned geniuses, even the grade’s top ten, would probably have a hard time. Across the entire first-year grade, if anyone had a chance at a perfect score, it was this student. Old Jia observed him closely and saw that he was still the picture of calm composure, as if a test of this difficulty wasn’t even worth batting an eye at.

One question after another, he proceeded at a steady, unhurried pace. His progress was even a little slower than the students beside him; he didn’t seem to stand out. But his expression was serene, completely free of anxiety or fatigue, his eyes still clear and focused. This told Old Jia that the boy was meticulously conserving his mental and physical energy, pacing himself and building up strength for a final sprint.

’Such a commanding presence. There are few in the entire school who can compare. That rigorous solemnity, that resounding strength, that aura of absolute self-certainty, never wavering or hesitating in a single action or word... Among all the people I’ve seen, there’s truly no one else... no one... Is there really no one else?’

’Really? No one?’

An image suddenly flashed through Old Jia’s mind: a tall, sturdy figure with a face like raw iron.

Old Jia quickly shook his head. ’The two of them do have some similarities, but it’s a shame. A trash-tier class like first-year Class 28 could never cultivate such a promising seedling.’

’I wonder how that silent Stone is doing right now,’ he mused. ’Is he crying in frustration over the difficulty? Has he been forced to turn in his paper early and leave?’

Two hours and forty-five minutes into the exam, in first-year Class 28, only two people remained in the entire classroom. Everyone else had already retreated more than an hour ago, leaving just Shi Tiexin and Zhao Qingmiao.

In truth, Zhao Qingmiao hadn’t been able to solve anything for a long time. But he secretly glanced at Shi Tiexin in the back row and decided he had to learn from his big bro. ’Even if I don’t know how, I have to stick it out to the end—the homeroom teacher, Teacher Chu, is right up front! Persevering until the very end will definitely leave a good impression on her. It’s always good to get some face time, right?’

Zhao Qingmiao squirmed in his seat as if he were covered in fleas.

’I’ll persevere!’

’I’ll persevere!’

’I’ll per... perse... I can’t persevere anymore! I have to pee!’

At the two-hour-and-fifty-minute mark, Zhao Qingmiao finally bolted from the room. Now, besides Shi Tiexin, only the proctor, Teacher Chu, remained in the classroom. She had put down her own copy of the test more than half an hour ago, letting out a long sigh. She had given up. ’I can’t solve these. I really can’t,’ she’d thought. After taking a trip to the restroom and returning, she found Shi Tiexin was still working on the test.

He was unhurried and unruffled, and his progress seemed decent.

Teacher Chu couldn’t help but curl her lip in disdain. ’Give me a break. Who is he trying to fool? I know you dropped down from an elite class. I know you were once the entrance exam’s Champion Scholar. But so what? Forget you, even the students who are still in the elite classes are probably helpless against these final questions.’

’Dragging this out until now, are you trying to show off how capable you are? It’s just an act, puffing yourself up to look important! If you can’t do the problems, just leave them blank or bubble in random answers and turn the test in. Give us all a break. Did you really think pretending to persevere until the very end would make me look at you in a new light?’

’You want to start your weekend, and so do I!’

’I’ve been out of patience for a while now!’

Just as she was thinking this, Shi Tiexin’s pen suddenly stopped.

He stared intently at the test paper in his hands, and Teacher Chu had no idea what he was thinking. He sat there, motionless, for a full two minutes before suddenly standing up. He placed his test booklet on the teacher’s desk, turned, and left without a single word. His retreating back seemed to carry a hint of displeasure.

Teacher Chu casually flipped through Shi Tiexin’s test paper and saw that every single question had been filled in. ’Heh! Just as I thought. He must have just guessed!’ she sneered internally. ’Even if your handwriting is neat, it’s impossible to actually finish this entire paper! Since you were just guessing anyway, you should have just done this earlier. Such a waste of my time.’

While Teacher Chu collected the papers inside, Shi Tiexin walked out of the classroom. Looking at the bright sunshine outside, he sighed in resignation.

’Forget it. I’m done with math for now.’

’Time to switch gears and start studying something else,’ he thought. ’I’ve hit a wall with math.’