Chapter 1 The Demon Academy Music Classroom

Inside the grand theater's music classroom at the Demon Academy, an immersive concert was underway.

At the center of the stage, a demon with blue flames flickering above his head sang with fervent passion. His figure was sharply defined by the spotlights, and his roaring voice was both loud and wild, like a bellow from the deepest pits of hell. Every note pulsed with the power of death rock.

The expressions on the judges' faces showed seriousness and engagement. They either frowned or closed their eyes, listening intently to the singer's voice.

As the lights dimmed, the entire hall plunged into darkness. Then, the stage erupted with shifting light and shadow, and the singing exploded from the silence, reaching the climax of the performance. Magic erupted in a burst of light and fire, instantly illuminating the entire stage, and many students in the back rows erupted in shouts that echoed throughout the theater.

Lan Qi couldn't help but feel that the Demon Academy was trying out some very new teaching methods.

But the more bizarre it was, the more eerie this Difficulty Level 2 seemed.

According to Bachelor, it was definitely several times more difficult than the Demon Magic Written Exam he'd just taken at Difficulty Level 1.

Lan Qi scanned the entire grand theater music classroom.

The four music instructors sitting in front of the stage, who seemed to be the judges, looked like they held high positions, but their magical power wasn't very strong. On the other hand, the teacher standing behind the curtain, who seemed to be the host, exuded terrifying magical fluctuations.

The host teacher seemed to be the controller of this classroom and the maintainer of the rules, and his well-fitting clothes and accessories seemed to indicate that his position in this Demon Academy was even higher than the dragon demon and owl demon in the previous exam room.

Sure enough.

Lan Qi, Hyperion, and Bachelor, sitting in the audience, quickly received exam guides delivered by assistant familiars resembling small black eyeballs with wings, sent by the host teacher.

The brown-covered booklet read:

[Demon World Music: Graduation Exam and Performance]

[Location: G24 Corridor, Theater Granted by the Demon King]

"Another exam?"

Lan Qi opened the booklet and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Recently, it's near the end of the semester, so there will be more graduation exam-type courses."

Bachelor stammered from the side.

This was the first time he had been brought into a Difficulty Level 2 classroom.

He was completely intimidated as soon as he entered.

During this period, entering any classroom might result in encountering an exam.

But in order to pay the required 5 credit coins per day, he had to take the exam even if he had to bite the bullet. Failure to pay the credit coins still resulted in execution.

Only those students who usually had a large surplus of credit coins could have a relatively easy time during this exam season.

"We're already here."

Lan Qi nodded, then read the guide to this course.

The booklet was very thin and he finished reading it in a minute or two.

The rules were actually very simple.

Students who arrived in the classroom could freely choose when to take the exam—

That is, to perform a Demon World music performance on stage:

[Assessment Requirements: Your music needs to be recognized by at least two music instructors.]

[The performance time is limited to 2 minutes. Each specially invited music instructor has sworn to the Demon King that they will strictly and fairly judge the performance from their own area of expertise based on musical faith.]

[Note: Students watching the performance must not use any magic. Only during the performance on stage can they use any magic that helps the performance effect. It is strictly forbidden to use offensive magic to harm the music instructors under the stage.]

[Those who violate the rules will be directly obliterated by the Demon Eye. Those who do not meet the conditions will be executed on the spot. Those who do not take the exam at the end will also be executed. Those who meet the assessment requirements can leave the exam room at the end of the class.]

The explanation further stated that whether one took the exam first or last, they could not leave the venue midway. Students needed to provide feedback and basic interaction as audience members throughout the performance.

Because in addition to being a graduation exam, this was also a Demon World public performance, and the most important element of liveliness could not be lost.

Lan Qi could notice that a huge Demon Eye was suspended at the top of the classroom, seemingly watching the entire classroom and transmitting the scene to other places.

"Lan Qi, are you good at music?"

Hyperion had already finished reading the booklet at this time and placed it flat on her lap. She turned her head and looked at Lan Qi, asking.

Since Lan Qi had chosen this classroom, he must have had some confidence.

As for her, although she had been cultivated in artistic accomplishment since she was a child, she couldn't be called proficient.

"My music is so-so, but as long as it involves art, there are some things in common."

Lan Qi crossed his arms and stared at the performance on the stage, as if pondering.

Music cannot be practiced overnight. Unless there are operational errors in the Shadow World, there will be no unsolvable situations. Therefore, this exam should not be purely an examination of the challenger's artistic accomplishment, but should also have a secret way to pass.

Of course, sometimes, if the challenger is too talented, it is possible to complete a speedrun without following the mechanics.

For example, in the Demon Magic Written Exam he'd just taken, if some cheat was really able to write the exam paper directly, then naturally they could swagger out of the exam room.

"Then I'll watch you."

Hyperion nodded. Since Lan Qi had no special instructions, she would just protect him when he needed help.

However, she didn't expect Lan Qi to be so confident in art at first.

"It's over, it's over..."

Bachelor's face turned pale when he finished reading the contents of the guide.

He now regretted his greed in following Lan Qi into this Level 2 classroom.

Judging from Lan Qi's calm expression, there might be a way to pass, but this kind of solo performance couldn't possibly help him pass!

"Calm down first. You still have to lead the way for us, so we'll cover you."

Lan Qi patted Bachelor on the shoulder to stop him from panicking.

Bachelor nodded sharply upon hearing this.

The last bit of peace of mind in his heart relied on the Radiant Demon daddy beside him.

Then Lan Qi looked at the stage and the figures of the four instructors.

He didn't know yet how difficult it was to gain the approval of the music instructors.

Just now, the performance of the student they saw when they entered the classroom ended, and it entered the judging announcement stage.

While waiting for the result, Lan Qi and Hyperion exchanged glances.

"What do you think?"

"It's pretty good."

They actually both felt that this music performance was, judging fairly, of extremely high level.

At least this student gained the approval of Lan Qi and Hyperion.

However.

On the four large seats facing the stage.

Only one instructor's facial expression hinted at satisfaction with this performance. The other three's expressions were as solemn as iron.

"I think it's okay."

"I don't really approve."

"No."

"Too bad."

So, in the silent judgment, the host teacher raised his hand to show his unique coldness and decisiveness. The next moment, the demon student's body bloomed like a blood flower, and the corpse crashed to the stage, a patch of wet crimson spreading beneath his feet, as if an impromptu carnival had suddenly ended!