Translator: AnubisTL
"Based on the recovery rate of a normal sixth-tier talent... I need to rest for an hour first," Jieming calculated mentally.
Though he needed to rest, he wasn't entirely idle.
He glanced around the dormitory's simple but complete furnishings, then looked down at the Basic Alchemy Manual and the box of alchemy tools on the table.
If he was going to play the part of a diligent alchemy apprentice, meditation alone wouldn't suffice.
Jieming retrieved the academy handbook Mentor Clark had included in the wooden box and began reading it carefully.
The handbook outlined the academy's basic structure, curriculum, merit point system, public facilities, and important rules and regulations.
Jieming quickly grasped the importance of merit points—they were the sole currency for accessing advanced knowledge, rare materials, laboratory rentals, and even mentorship from instructors.
"Laboratory rentals..." Jieming stared at this entry, lost in thought.
Though his understanding was still limited, Jieming had gleaned that knowledge was the most valued asset among wizards in this world.
At the same time, wizards here were notoriously stingy with their knowledge.
After all, in this world, knowledge truly translated into power.
"If that's the case... there probably aren't any surveillance systems in the laboratories, right?"
The more highly knowledge is valued and guarded, the stricter the security measures in the laboratories become. After all, if anyone were to discover hidden surveillance devices, they would incur the wrath of the entire wizard community within the academy.
"To secure sufficient privacy, it seems I'll need to find a way to obtain my own laboratory."
The freshman handbook mentioned that private laboratories could be rented long-term using merit points, but it didn't specify the exact cost. Considering the circumstances, it was clear the price would be substantial.
This meant that earning merit points would now be added to Jieming's list of primary tasks.
After quickly finishing the handbook, Jieming glanced at the time. While waiting for his mental sea to recover, he picked up the thick Basic Alchemy Manual and began studying it meticulously.
The manual was incredibly detailed, covering everything from basic material classification and property identification to fundamental alchemy principles, formulas, and experimental procedures.
The text was obscure, the formulas complex, and many concepts were entirely new to him.
Fortunately, with the Great Dao Library Pavilion as his cheat, Jieming had become exceptionally adept at learning over the years. Before long, he was completely absorbed in the manual's contents.
Thus, Jieming studied the Basic Alchemy Manual during breaks from his cultivation. After "recovering his condition," he would resume his meditation attempts, but each time he would "accidentally" misdraw a stroke in a crucial area using his mental power, precisely engineering a "failure."
With each failure, he would appropriately display some discomfort, such as frowning or trembling slightly.
After repeating this three times, it was already evening.
"Perfect, I'm getting a bit hungry. I should check out the cafeteria," Jieming thought to himself.
Going to the cafeteria would not only solve his dinner problem but also allow him to observe the other new apprentices' conditions, which would help him further refine his "performance" strategy.
With this plan in mind, Jieming put away his meditation technique and the manual, straightened his clothes, and left his room.
Leaving the dormitory building, Jieming followed the route marked in the academy's entrance handbook to the Apprentice Cafeteria.
The alchemy dormitory building was relatively isolated, but the cafeteria was shared by all apprentices in the academy.
Along the way, he saw many young figures with tired faces but eyes still burning with curiosity. Most of them had just finished their own introductory attempts and were heading to satisfy their hunger.
The closer he got to the cafeteria, the more complex the aromas in the air became—no longer just the scent of reagents and metals, but the savory fragrances of various dishes.
Jieming held his apprentice badge over the Detection Array at the entrance, pushed open the cafeteria doors, and was momentarily stunned by the sight before him.
This was less a cafeteria and more a luxurious restaurant.
Within the vast space, dining tables were arranged in an orderly manner. The floor gleamed with cleanliness, and the air was free of any greasy fumes, filled only with the enticing aroma of food.
The central buffet table overflowed with a dazzling array of dishes: golden-brown roasted meats from unknown Magical Beasts, glistening with savory juices; fragrant mushroom soups; vibrant fruit salads; and even what appeared to be desserts and pastries.
Most importantly, the food here was... completely free!
Any apprentice could freely partake of these seemingly expensive dishes.
Only in a special section along one side of the buffet were rare ingredients and magic potions—items considered scarce even in the Wizard World—displayed. These items, imbued with special energy effects, required merit points for purchase.
"Tsk, as expected of a wizard academy that controls the resources of an entire plane... Their basic benefits are certainly generous," Jieming mused inwardly.
For many apprentices from impoverished families, this free and abundant food was a treasure in itself.
Adequate nutrition also aided their mental power cultivation and physical recovery.
Even for Jieming, the prospect was immensely appealing. After all, refining essence into qi consumed his own vital energy and physical reserves. To put it bluntly, Jieming was a prodigious glutton.
He casually picked up a tray and strolled past the dining counter.
Instead of immediately selecting food, Jieming subtly observed the other apprentices in the cafeteria.
Judging by their excited and curious gazes, most were fresh-faced newcomers who had just enrolled today. They sat in small groups, conversing in hushed tones.
Thanks to his keen perception, Jieming could clearly discern their mental fluctuations and physical conditions.
"That pale-faced one with the erratic mental power... must have failed meditation countless times."
"The one clutching his head in agony... probably suffered a severe backlash. It seems mastering the basics isn't as simple as it looks for newcomers."
"But those few sitting in the corner, with rosy complexions and vibrant spirits... either possess exceptional innate talent or have a solid foundation. They've barely been affected and might have already grasped the fundamentals?"
He swiftly sketched a mental map of the newcomers' conditions.
The apprentices with lower-tier innate talent had clearly struggled during their first attempt at meditation.
Even those with fifth-tier or sixth-tier talent mostly looked somewhat exhausted.
Only a handful of individuals radiated exceptional vitality.
Jieming's gaze drifted to a corner of the cafeteria where several young men and women with extraordinary auras sat.
These were undoubtedly the geniuses identified during today's talent assessment. Despite having likely endured the same arduous initiation into meditation, they appeared completely at ease.
A group of admiring apprentices surrounded them, whispering among themselves.
Instead of approaching them, Jieming headed to a quieter area and casually piled his tray high with roasted meat and vegetable salad.
Just as he found an empty seat and settled down to enjoy his dinner, a voice suddenly rang in his ear.
"Hello! You're a new alchemy apprentice, right? Me too!"
(End of the Chapter)
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