Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil.

Just as they were pondering this, the referee's instructions came from the center of the field, officially beginning the second round of selections for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

The first to be selected are the batters. This position requires wizards to have extremely high comprehensive abilities. They need to have enough strength to swing the bat accurately and knock away the wandering ball, as well as extremely high accuracy to avoid injuring teammates. They also need to be vigilant at all times to deal with the sudden attacks of the wandering ball.

More than ten students who had signed up for the batsman selection walked one by one to the flying broomsticks on one side of the court, each choosing a broomstick that suited them, and then mounted it.

Staff members came forward and hung a colorful balloon around each person's neck. The balloons were fully inflated and swayed gently, making them particularly eye-catching.

Subsequently, the contestants were divided into two groups of two, with the selection rules being simple yet rigorous.

While protecting the balloon on their chest from being popped throughout the game, they also need to promptly knock away any wandering balls that appear on the field. Only the person who persists to the end can obtain a batting spot.

"Luckily we made it in time, we didn't miss the crucial part!" A cheerful male voice came from behind, with a hint of urgency. Puni turned around and saw a tall boy in a Gryffindor Quidditch uniform walking quickly towards him, holding a writing tablet and a quill pen in his hand. It was Oliver Wood.

Sitting next to Penny, Cho Chang saw Wood and asked with a puzzled look, "Wood, what are you doing at our Ravenclaw Quidditch Selection Tournament? This isn't Gryffindor's training ground."

Wood stopped and placed his writing tablet on the railing of the stands. His gaze inadvertently swept over Puni, his eyes slightly unfocused, but he said casually, "Nothing, just came to check on things. After all, I'm the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Knowing more about the selection process of other houses can help me prepare for the upcoming matches."

"Oh? I think you're here to gather intelligence, aren't you?" Cho Chang couldn't help but smile, his eyes crinkling. "I've heard Roger mention you. He said you're a complete Quidditch fanatic, completely devoted to Quidditch, and even willing to give everything for it."

Upon hearing this, Wood immediately straightened his back, a hint of pride on his face: "It is my honor to contribute to Quidditch, and I have never felt that it is a loss."

His eyes held a passion for Quidditch, a passion so intense that it was immediately apparent.

As the two were talking, the batting selection in the center of the field had entered a heated phase.

Puni's gaze returned to the arena, carefully observing the performance of each contestant. He gradually realized that becoming a qualified batter required not only skill but also courage, and even considerable risk.

The released ball, driven by an intense offensive drive, hurtled through the air at incredible speed. If the selectors failed to swing their bats in time to knock it away, the ball would slam into their chests.

Several contestants reacted a little too slowly and failed to dodge the wandering ball in time. They were hit hard in the chest, lost their balance, and fell straight off the flying broom.

They crashed heavily onto the hard court, their mouths not only hitting the ground and bleeding from the corners of their mouths, but some even broke their teeth. They curled up on the ground in pain, their faces full of agony. Their miserable appearance could not be described with the word "tragic".

After this unexpected incident, the sidelines became somewhat turbulent, and many of the students participating in the selection process showed fear on their faces, their original fighting spirit gradually dissipating.

Before long, several people made excuses, saying they had to take the injured classmate to the school hospital, and slunk away from the field, completely giving up on the selection process.

Watching the fleeing figures, Wood frowned and muttered in a low voice, "So, Ravenclaw students are just too precious. They can't even withstand the slightest setback, and they don't even dare to take this kind of risk. How are they supposed to play Quidditch?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that Qiu Zhang was turning to look at him with a hint of displeasure in his eyes. He quickly tried to smooth things over, which eased the tension considerably.

"Of course, not everyone is like that. There are still some who are brave." Wood said, pointing to the two boys who were still persisting in the center of the field. He commented objectively, "Look at those two lads. They reacted quickly, their swings were powerful enough, and they were quite agile. They just lacked some practical experience and need to continue to hone their skills. Given time, they should be able to become good hitters."

After the selection process, the two second-year students that Wood had mentioned were indeed the ones who ultimately won the batting spots: one named Jason Samuels and the other named Duncan Ingleby.

Although the two looked a little tired and had minor abrasions, they couldn't hide their joy. They high-fived each other and accepted congratulations from their classmates.

“You guessed very accurately,” Puni laughed.

Wood nodded. "No matter which house the selection is from, no matter which position the player is in, nothing related to Quidditch escapes my eyes, including you, of course."

"Me?" Puni looked puzzled and said, "I just came to watch the fun. This selection shouldn't have anything to do with me, right?"

Wood shook his head seriously, looking at Puni with a determined gaze: "I happened to see your flying skills last night. To be honest, it's like you were born to fly. You're a natural at Quidditch!"

"It's incredible that you can use that antique flying broom to achieve such amazing speed and agility."

At this point, Wood lowered his voice slightly and asked Penny, "Penny, are you interested in transferring to Gryffindor? If you're willing, I can risk my life to apply to Professor McGonagall and make sure you can transfer smoothly. I can even get you directly into our Gryffindor Quidditch team and become one of our core players!"

Puni shook her head and refused almost without hesitation: "Thank you for your kindness, but I am very happy in Ravenclaw. I can do what I like every day, study magic, and read books. I like the learning atmosphere and my classmates here, so I will not transfer."

Chapter 66 Rules are rigid, but people are flexible! (Bonus chapter, please continue reading)

"That's such a pity!" Wood's voice was filled with regret as he sighed softly. He didn't try to persuade him any further and turned his attention back to the center of the court. He picked up his whiteboard and began to evaluate and record the other students who had participated in the Seeker selection.

The selection of Seekers tests a person’s speed and keen observation. Only those who are fast enough can catch up with the fast and hard-to-detect Golden Snitch, and only those who are keen enough can quickly find the Golden Snitch’s trail in the complex arena.

Just then, a gentle voice came from the side: "Mr. Puni, so you've been here. I've been looking for you for quite a while."

Puni turned his head and saw Professor Flitwick, the headmaster of Ravenclaw, walking briskly toward them on his short legs, accompanied by Professor McGonagall, who was wearing a green robe and had a serious expression.

Upon seeing Professor McGonagall, Wood's eyes flickered instantly, and his expression became somewhat unnatural.

Is Professor McGonagall here to take me back for training?

Did they know I came to Ravenclaw to gather intelligence and come specifically to criticize me?

He sighed softly, a wry smile on his face, and muttered to himself, "Professor McGonagall, you're too fair. You're as strict as can be for us Gryffindor students. Could you spare some of your overflowing fairness for Professor Snape? At least let him be a little more lenient with our potions assignments."

Professor Flitwick, a man of small stature, walked up to Puni in the blink of an eye, a kind smile on his face, and said warmly, "Professor McGonagall just told me that you performed exceptionally well in flight class, with an extremely high talent for flying, far surpassing that of other freshmen your age. I'd like to ask you if you'd be interested in participating in our Ravenclaw Quidditch selections?"

Puni paused for a moment, then asked, "Professor Flitwick, I remember the notice board clearly stated that Quidditch selections require students in their second year or above to participate. I'm still a freshman, so I shouldn't qualify, right?"

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible!"

Professor Flitwick said with a smile, expressing his appreciation for Puni, "We added this rule because we felt that new students need time to adapt to the castle environment and become familiar with the courses when they first join Hogwarts, and we were worried that the selection process would affect your studies and adaptation."

“But you don’t have that problem at all.” Professor Flitwick paused, then continued, his eyes affirming. “Whether it’s your performance in class or your homework, you’ve done an outstanding job, even surpassing some older students. Professor McGonagall and I have both noticed and appreciated this. Therefore, we unanimously believe that you are fully qualified to participate in this selection!”

Listening to Professor Flitwick's earnest words, Puni slowly nodded: "Since Professor Flitwick recognizes me so much and is willing to give me this opportunity, I am naturally willing to give it a try and live up to your and Professor McGonagall's expectations."

Seeing Puni agree, Professor Flitwick's smile widened, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons. He immediately grabbed Puni's wrist and said with light steps, "Great! Puni, come with me. I'll take you to them right now, explain the situation to the core members of the team, and let you join the Chaser selection directly, saving you from those tedious screening processes."

Standing to the side, Qiu Zhang watched Puni's figure with a relieved smile on her face. She waved to Puni and made a fist-pumping gesture of encouragement: "Puni, good luck! I believe in your flying talent. You will definitely perform well and be selected!"

“Actually, you have quite a bit of talent too,” Puni said with a smile.

Marcos and Roger, who were not far away, immediately stood up from their seats, looking at Puni with eager eyes, trying their best to convey support and encouragement through their gazes.

However, with Qiu Zhang standing right next to them, the two were too embarrassed to make any exaggerated movements. They could only blink and nod restrainedly, cheering for Puni in the most subtle way.

"Puni! Keep going! We believe in you!"

"You must perform well!"

Several crisp cheers rang out in succession. Puni turned his head and saw that on the other side of the field, there were quite a few students wearing yellow Hufflepuff robes.

He knew perfectly well that Hufflepuff students were always keen on all sorts of anecdotes and loved to join in the fun. No matter which house's event it was, as long as there was something exciting to see, they would always be there first. Naturally, the Ravenclaw Quidditch selection had also attracted their attention.

At this moment, the selection of the chasers in the center of the court is about to begin.

The person in charge of selecting the chasers is busy arranging the selection process.

Professor Flitwick pulled Puni along and quickly walked to the rest area by the pitch, where a tall, strong boy was sitting. He was wearing a Ravenclaw Quidditch team uniform, looked calm, and was holding a thick review book in his hand, carefully flipping through it.

He is Ethel Winson, the captain and goalkeeper of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and is now a seventh-grade student.

As a seventh-grader, Ethel faces the crucial NEWT exam, which is vital to his future development. Time is extremely tight, and he simply doesn't have much energy to devote to managing the Quidditch team.

Therefore, starting from this academic year, he took the initiative to hand over most of the team's daily affairs to the vice-captain, while he took advantage of the gaps in the selection process to study and review, striving to achieve excellent results in the exams.

Seeing Professor Flitwick approaching with Puni, Ethel put down her study materials, looked up, and her gaze inadvertently swept over Wood not far away. Seeing Wood's unpleasant and depressed expression, she couldn't help but smile.

He stood up, extended his large palm, and gently patted Puni's shoulder. The force in his palm was steady and powerful: "Professor Flitwick just told me that your flying talent is outstanding, far surpassing that of freshmen of the same age, and even better than some senior students?"

"In that case, hurry up and choose a flying broomstick, get on it, and let me see your strength with my own eyes, and see if you are really as powerful as Professor Flitwick said."

Puni felt the strength on his shoulder, nodded slightly, his face showing no fear, calm and firm: "Yes, Captain Ethel, I will not let you and Professor Flitwick down."

His eyes shone with confidence; he was absolutely certain of his abilities when it came to flying, and he remained calm and composed even when facing the scrutiny of the team captain.

With you joining us, this year is definitely Ravenclaw's most promising year yet! (Chapter 67)

Hearing their conversation, the students around them gathered around, watching Puni and whispering amongst themselves.

Qiu Zhang stood at the front of the crowd, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Marcos and Roger were also among the crowd, cheering for Puni.

Wood, who was not far away, watched this scene with a grim expression, but he couldn't help being curious and wanted to see just how powerful Puni was that Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall valued him so much.

Professor Flitwick stood to the side, a pleased smile on his face, and waved to Puni: "Puni, don't be nervous, just perform normally. Your talent is enough to help you stand out."

Ethel nodded and added, "Don't feel pressured, just act like you do in your usual flight lessons. I just want to see your true level."

Puni nodded and turned to walk toward the flying broomsticks on the side of the field.

The first round of selection for the Chaser officially began. Puni stood in the center of the court, looking at the open space in front of him with a calm expression.

Just as he had anticipated, this part was easy and stress-free for him.

He flipped himself onto the flying broomstick that had been prepared beforehand, and with a gentle push off the ground, the broomstick carried him slowly into the air, hovering steadily in mid-air without the slightest sway.

He then began to demonstrate his flying skills, hovering motionless as if he were one with the broom.

When weaving through obstacles, the movements are smooth and fluid, flexibly avoiding virtual obstacles in the air, and the direction is controlled with precision down to the millimeter.

Even the extremely difficult inverted flight can be completed with ease. He grips the broom handle tightly with both hands, hangs upside down with his hair hanging down, yet still maintains his balance. He can even move slowly by using the inverted posture. The whole set of movements is smooth and fluid, without the slightest hint of awkwardness.

Everyone present was amazed by his flying skills, and the originally noisy stadium gradually quieted down.

A moment later, Puni controlled the broom and slowly descended, landing steadily on his feet. His face showed no signs of fatigue, and he remained calm.

Ethel strode forward, his face beaming with undisguised excitement and admiration. He exclaimed, "In all my years coaching this team, this is the first time I've ever seen someone fly this old flying broom so skillfully! Your flying talent is truly one in a million!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, unconsciously rubbing his hands together: "With you joining us, this year is definitely Ravenclaw's most promising year yet! By the way, have you thought about which position you want to stay in? No matter which one you choose, I will fully support you."

Upon hearing this, Puni paused slightly.

"I'd like to try the Chaser, is that okay?"

“Of course, no problem!” Ethel nodded immediately without hesitation, his smile widening. “Don’t even mention being the Chaser, I’d even step aside if you wanted to be captain! I’m going to make you our Chaser no matter what. With you on the team, our chances of winning the championship will double!”

As captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, Ethel always harbored a dream of winning the championship.

However, over the years, the team has suffered a severe loss of talent. Talented players either graduate or transfer to other colleges, resulting in Ravenclaw's Quidditch record being consistently unsatisfactory, hovering at the bottom of the four teams, that is, fourth place.

The Quidditch Cup at Hogwarts only has teams from four houses competing. Fourth place may sound better than last place, but in reality, it's not much different from finishing last.

Ravenclaw has always been symbolized by the sky and eagles, and the school uniforms also use the blue and silver of the eagle, symbolizing freedom and power. However, their Quidditch results have always been at the bottom, which makes every Ravenclaw student feel somewhat ashamed, and Ethel is particularly resentful about it.

Puni's appearance was like a ray of light, illuminating the hope in Ethel's heart.

Especially after witnessing Puni's superb flying skills, the soon-to-graduate captain finally saw the possibility of the team winning the championship before leaving. The excitement and anticipation in his heart were indescribable.

Suppressing his excitement, Ethel turned and quickly found the vice-captain who was organizing the selection list, and asked eagerly, "Byrne, have you found a suitable candidate for the Chaser?"

Upon hearing this, Byrne stopped what he was doing, turned to the side and pulled over a second-year student of average build, and said frankly, "I found one, named Jeremy Stretton. His reaction speed and passing accuracy are pretty good. With a little training, he should be able to play in a game."

He paused, then frowned, and added, "However, our team needs two chasers. We've only found Jeremy as a suitable candidate so far. For the other one, we need to go through the shortlist again. We need to get the team together before we can start training."

“No need to look anymore!” Ethel unconsciously raised her voice, reached out and pulled Puni over to the side, and said to Byrne, “Come on, get to know Puni! This is a genius freshman personally recommended by Professor Flitwick. His flying skills are impeccable. I have already helped him pass the first round of selection. His strength is definitely not a problem.”

"Really?" Byrne looked surprised and stared at Puni, scrutinizing him carefully before asking doubtfully, "Puni... I vaguely remember that name. You're a freshman this year, right? It's not common for a freshman to pass the first round of the Chaser's selection and even get a recommendation from Professor Flitwick."