"What mission?"
Hearing the headmaster's question, Qin Chen looked puzzled.
"In a few days, our school is going to hold a friendly graduation match with Zhenbei Academy next door."
"This is a very valuable practical exchange experience, and it plays a huge role in improving one's strength. I intend to give one of these slots to you."
The headmaster said in his usual gentle tone.
Hearing this, Qin Chen felt somewhat flattered.
Shouldn't a valuable exchange slot like this be reserved for geniuses?
He had only cleared a Calamity Level dungeon once, yet he managed to catch the headmaster's eye.
Could his talent have been discovered?
Behind the headmaster, the dean of instruction and two academy professors also wore expressions of utter surprise.
Although Qin Chen had soloed a Calamity Level dungeon and indeed possessed strength and talent, the authenticity of the feat was still questionable and had not been verified.
Yet the headmaster had rushed to give such a precious exchange slot to Qin Chen just like that.
Wasn't this a bit too hasty?
"Headmaster! I..."
Before Qin Chen could finish, he saw the headmaster reach out with lightning speed and clap a hand onto his shoulder, cutting him off.
"Student Qin Chen, I believe you can do it. I hope you'll work hard and give it your all."
"Uh... Alright then."
Qin Chen could only nod helplessly.
"Mhm."
Only then did the headmaster nod in deep admiration, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curling upward.
A wave of excitement welled up inside him. He had finally succeeded in tricking Qin Chen, which meant he no longer had to rack his brains trying to figure out which students to send.
Over the past few days, he had felt like he was losing a mountain of hair over this matter.
From now on, he could happily eat, sleep, and slack off again.
Besides, winning this inter-academy exchange match was now a 100% certainty.
The rules were best three out of five.
And on his side, they had Su Li, Lin Yi, and now an extra Qin Chen.
Winning this match was practically guaranteed.
It would also wipe away the disgrace of last year's defeat.
He still vividly remembered the smug expression on the face of Zhenbei Academy's headmaster during an administrators' meeting after they lost the last match.
Everything he lost last time, he was going to take back this time!
When the surrounding onlookers heard that the headmaster had directly designated Qin Chen to participate in the academy exchange match a few days from now, an immediate uproar broke out.
This was currently the academy's most important competition. Because Jidi Academy had lost to Zhenbei Academy in the previous installment, it had resulted in all the teachers and students of Jidi Academy losing face.
That was why everyone had been putting in every ounce of effort this year, simply wanting to win back their lost pride in the upcoming bouts.
And the opportunity to actually step onto the stage was something every single student desperately craved.
Not only could it boost one's strength, but it would also have a massive impact on one's personal reputation and the upcoming national college entrance exams.
Representatives from major universities would be attending the match together to watch.
If someone put on a brilliant performance, there was a very high probability they would be recruited into a top university on a special scholarship.
This was the ultimate dream of every student nearing graduation.
At this thought, all the surrounding students who had originally just been watching the spectacle felt as though they had bitten into a lemon. They cast extremely complicated expressions and gazes filled with envy and jealousy toward Qin Chen.
They wished so badly that the person participating in the match could be themselves.
So what if he soloed a Calamity Level dungeon? They could do that too... Uh, well, okay, they really couldn't do that.
At that moment, a sense of frustration welled up inside everyone. Was this the despair that geniuses brought to ordinary people?
Doing the impossible.
Why wasn't it them who were the geniuses?
They could be geniuses too; they could also participate in match trials.
In the crowd, Zhou Tianqi watched Qin Chen chatting and laughing with the headmaster. His face was filled with utter blankness, which quickly morphed into overwhelming jealousy.
Why did it turn out like this?
Wasn't Qin Chen already washed up? How could he possibly stand back up?
A trash Mage class, with no family resources to back him up—why was he so strong?
He had thought he could use this situation to step all over the other guy and snatch back everything he had previously lost.
Yet things were not playing out as he had predicted; he had actually lost.
And besides...
Why was Qin Chen the one picked by the headmaster to represent the academy in the inter-academy exchange match?
Why wasn't this person him? He was clearly so talented, and he had even awakened a hidden class; his potential and future were bright beyond measure.
He was countless times better than Qin Chen that trash Mage.
Why couldn't the academy leaders see his hard work?
He was unwilling to accept this!
Yet at this moment, no one present paid any attention to Zhou Tianqi's antics like a clown acting up—or perhaps they did notice, but simply didn't care.
Because weaklings were not worth paying attention to.
Plain and simple, Qin Chen, this rising new star, had performed far too brilliantly.
He had captured everyone's gaze, directly eclipsing the light emitted by all the other, dimmer stars.
At this moment, everyone's eyes and attention were entirely on Qin Chen.
Meanwhile, Qin Chen was still conversing with the headmaster and several academy professors.
"Mhm, Student Qin Chen, I have high hopes for you. I hope you will continue to work hard and push yourself. Not only must you shine in this academy exchange match, but you must also strive to test into a top university in the upcoming college entrance exams!"
Qin Chen hastily nodded. Seeing the headmaster and the academy leaders acting so warm and enthusiastic, he really wasn't quite used to it.
"Student Qin Chen, I suddenly remembered—it seems you don't have a mentor yet, do you?"
The headmaster suddenly recalled and asked.
"Yes, Headmaster, what's wrong?" Qin Chen raised his chin in confusion, not understanding why the headmaster was suddenly asking about this.
"Ahem, since that's the case, how about I become your mentor? What do you think?"
The headmaster hurriedly faked a cough and asked in a low voice.
"Uh..." Qin Chen was frozen stiff in an instant.
The headmaster wanted to be his mentor?
At this, the dean of instruction and the two academy professors standing behind the headmaster instantly changed their expressions, cursing the headmaster inwardly for being utterly shameless.
To think he would actually drop his dignity to poach a student!
You have to understand that being a mentor was normally the job of grade-level teachers.
Of course, for students with exceptional aptitude and talent, academy directors and other higher-ups would sometimes personally instruct them.
Because a student was a reflection of a teacher's face; if a student performed well and brilliantly, the mentor naturally looked extremely good, giving them something to brag about when going out for drinks with colleagues and friends.
Therefore, talented students were naturally welcomed and fought over by teachers.
And Qin Chen had actually soloed a Calamity Level dungeon, breaking the academy record. With his talent and strength right there, he was quite simply a one-in-a-million peerless genius.
How could a seed like this not be deeply adored?
The moment they thought Qin Chen was about to be snatched away by the headmaster, the two academy professors could no longer hold back. They hurriedly stepped forward and shoved the headmaster aside.
"Student Qin Chen, you must be very careful when choosing your mentor. After all, this concerns your future and the college entrance exams."
"Why don't you consider us instead?"