Chapter 85 - 77: Level 3 Star Badge Rating
The Sharp-eared Female Apprentice, Nasha, stared at the template for several seconds before picking up her Ink Tube Pen and writing a line in the initial review comments section:
"The paper’s derivation process involves solving complex systems of Divination equations. The solving method is suspected of using a highly innovative technique.
"Reviewing this method is highly difficult, and an initial opinion cannot be provided in the short term. Therefore, I request the early intervention of a High Level reviewer."
Nasha sighed as she finished writing.
The phrase "highly innovative" was her genuine opinion of the paper’s method for solving the systems of equations.
The problem was that pairing this phrase with the word "suspected" looked utterly ridiculous.
But the Female Apprentice had no other choice.
She suddenly recalled the advice a Wizard from the Rose Council had once shared:
"When you review papers, you might encounter some that are particularly difficult.
"Although the Witch Spirit is extremely methodical and the papers it assigns for initial review are generally within your capabilities—it would never give a Third Level Apprentice’s paper to a Second Level Apprentice for review.
"But exceptions always exist.
"In very rare cases, an Apprentice might have a flash of Spiritual Light and write a paper that surpasses their own level. This has happened more than once.
"In other situations, you might come across a paper written by a true genius of Divination.
"Such geniuses may indeed have formed fewer Spirit Rings than you, but their grasp of the Knowledge of Divination is so vast it would make you feel ashamed."
Nasha remembered someone in the audience letting out a soft laugh at the time.
Now, sitting here and facing this paper, she felt only a profound sense of helplessness.
"For these two types of papers, if you cannot understand the derivation process even after trying your utmost, you should stop.
"Why make things difficult for yourselves, right?
"In such a situation, you can simply write the phrase ’an initial opinion cannot be provided in the short term’ in the initial review section.
"Of course, unless it’s absolutely necessary, I advise against doing so.
"Because every time you write that phrase, the Wizard in charge of the next stage of review will lower their assessment of your abilities slightly."
Nasha sighed again. ’I didn’t want to write that sentence either, but I truly don’t understand it.’
In fact, the Female Apprentice had indeed tried.
When Mo Ning had started solving the systems of Divination equations on his draft paper, she had followed every step with intense concentration.
Unfortunately, out of the first ten steps of the derivation, there were one or two she couldn’t understand.
As the derivation continued, the parts she couldn’t understand multiplied, until it was like walking into a thick fog.
So, after just ten minutes, she decisively gave up completely.
Just as the Lord Wizard had said, why make things difficult for herself?
Now the Female Apprentice finally understood the reason. This was a new theory Mo Ning had created—the Highway Bridge Technique.
Nasha soon thought of the bright side, a smile appearing on her pretty face. "My mentor is in charge of the final review. She’s well aware of Mo Ning’s level, so she definitely won’t hold this against me."
The hand holding the Ink Tube Pen twitched as she began to fill in the results of the Casting verification:
"Experimental verification shows that the Effect of the improved Witchcraft [Wind Chasing Needle] significantly exceeds expectations and has high practical value."
The phrase "significantly exceeds expectations" was the highest rating in the standard four-tier evaluation system.
The phrase "has high practical value" was the third-highest rating.
A metal needle that could make an acute-angle turn after being shot had truly left a deep impression on the Female Apprentice.
She felt that if the [Wind Chasing Needle] weren’t merely a Sub-zero Level Trick, which severely held it back, getting the highest rating would have been no problem at all.
Just now, Nasha had specifically looked up some information.
There was no shortage of Witchcraft capable of "changing direction mid-air." The most typical example was a Level Zero Witchcraft—[Zigzag Flying Disc Skill].
The Flying Disc controlled by this Witchcraft could make continuous Right Angle Turns mid-air after being thrown, its flight path resembling a zigzag line.
But these were all at least Level Zero Witchcraft, requiring a formed Spirit Ring to be cast and a Magic Pool for fuel.
Yet the [Wind Chasing Needle] was just a Sub-zero Level Trick, and it could achieve something only a Level Zero Witchcraft could. Nasha found this incredibly impressive.
For the final conclusion of the initial review, the Female Apprentice wrote a line without any hesitation:
"Overall Evaluation: Star Badge Third Level."
An instant later, three exquisite crests silently materialized in the initial review section.
Nasha put down her Ink Tube Pen, her heart filled with emotion.
Star Badge Third Level represented—Zhuoyue.
This was no small evaluation.
Across the entire academy, all Third Level Apprentices had only two ultimate dreams.
The first was to form a fourth Spirit Ring, commonly known as the "Wizard’s Ring"—this signified a qualitative leap from Apprentice to Wizard, meaning an extended lifespan, a surge in power, and a change in status.
The second was to write a thesis paper and receive a "Star Badge Third Level" evaluation.
It was no exaggeration to say that any Apprentice who received a Star Badge Third Level evaluation even once could boast about it to other Apprentices for the rest of their life.
When they gathered to chat, they could even speak a little louder than everyone else.
Nasha muttered under her breath, "A Star Badge Second Level for his first thesis, and a Star Badge Third Level for his second... This kid is a monster."
"Witch Spirit!"
The Female Apprentice cleared her throat, her voice echoing softly in the Observation Room. "The preliminary review of the paper is complete. You can take it away!"
A mechanical voice immediately responded:
[Preliminary review confirmed. Executing academic paper transfer protocol—]