Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 20: 1 Version Ahead
SPLASH~
Water streamed from the wolf-head faucet, releasing clouds of warm steam.
While waiting for the cup to fill, Mo Ning glanced out the window.
He noticed a faint, strange white streak standing tall deep within the mist.
The streak was faint and blurry, yet remarkably steadfast; no matter how the mist roiled, it remained motionless.
Mo Ning blinked, a sudden realization dawning on him. ’I know what that is... it must be a waterfall!’
That white streak was clearly a plunging cascade.
The low rumbling must be the roar of the waterfall crashing to the ground.
And the vast white mist was the water vapor it kicked up.
Just then, the cup was about eighty percent full.
The wolf’s mouth snapped shut instantly and perfectly, requiring no input from him.
Mo Ning didn’t bother to drink, his eyes wide as he observed the waterfall.
After a good while, he managed to make out a few features:
A giant cliff stretched across the distance.
A silver Giant Dragon plummeted from the clifftop.
The waterfall plunged over a kilometer by his estimation, crashing into a massive lake at the base of the cliff.
It was this immense drop and massive volume of water that generated the sky-blotting mist, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
Mo Ning stood before the window, his heart filled with amazement.
Compared to this magnificent cascade, the so-called "world-famous" waterfalls from his past life were nothing more than creeks.
Only a Transmigrator would have the chance to see such a wondrous sight.
He raised the cup and gulped down a large mouthful of warm water, alleviating the thirst from having slept for a whole day.
At that moment, the cool sensation of the Guiding Ring came unexpectedly as several messages flooded into his mind.
The first:
Today is the last day of the newcomer orientation period. Starting tomorrow, newcomer courses will be officially scheduled.
Mo Ning was not surprised by this.
Back at Lakefront Manor, all the newcomers knew the academy had granted them a two-day adjustment period to prepare for what was to come.
Starting from the third day, the newcomers would face high-intensity studies.
The second:
The recreational areas "Bright Mirror Lake," "Cold Pine Forest," and "Wind Chime Garden" are now officially open with no time restrictions. The entrance is located in the small plaza of the dormitory area. You may enter at any time.
This news was also expected.
It was said that exquisite Witchcraft maintained each recreational area. They had been meticulously designed by the academy, with scenery that was truly breathtaking.
The name "Wind Chime Garden" was mentioned with particular frequency.
It was said that the garden was filled with a type of Spiritual Plant called the "Blue Ribbon Wind Chime." When they felt a certain amount of wind, they would produce a pleasant sound, just like real wind chimes.
When the wind was strong, the chimes of the entire garden would rise and fall, like a grand symphony.
One could imagine that many newcomers would be drawn by its reputation to visit.
But Mo Ning was unmoved.
Sleeping all day yesterday had already thrown his plans into disarray, much to his annoyance.
Today, not a single second could be wasted.
The third:
The newcomer store is now officially open, with no time restrictions. The entrance is located to the northwest of the Mysterious Secret Hall of the Quiet Forest. You can go there to purchase necessary items.
For the other newcomers, this was undoubtedly the most attractive news.
Some special items that nobles from various Kingdoms usually found hard to buy were available in large quantities at the newcomer store.
But Mo Ning just gave it a cursory glance and swiped the message away.
As far as he knew, the newcomer store mostly sold ordinary items—clothing, stationery, and daily necessities.
There were only a few hundred Spiritual Items, and almost all of them were the lowest-grade stuff, exclusively for newcomers.
The Calming Ointment he received as an extra reward from yesterday’s first assessment was a "high-end" item for Apprentices. Even Third Level Apprentices could use it, and the newcomer store didn’t supply it at all.
He possessed Dawa’s Grocery List. This palm-sized brass frame contained tens of thousands of items.
In comparison, the selection in the newcomer store was pitifully small.
So he had no desire to go take a look either.
Mo Ning picked up his toothbrush, thinking to himself, ’It’s like I’m a whole version ahead.’
「Five minutes later.」
The hour hand pointed to six in the morning.
The cafeteria was open.
Having finished washing up, Mo Ning pushed open the door and left his apartment.
Looking down the hallway, he immediately saw faces filled with excitement.
Various discussions drifted over, echoing softly in the morning breeze:
"I heard they’re selling Calming Oil in the store! I’m going to buy a bottle later!"
"What’s Calming Oil for?"
"It has a certain amount of Spiritual Power. If you rub it on your forehead, it helps you concentrate. It’s a great help for practicing the Basic Meditation Technique."
"Then we’ve got to go check it out!"
Mo Ning watched the three figures disappear into the entrance of the Secluded Path, sighing inwardly.
Only after obtaining Dawa’s Grocery List did Mo Ning truly see how stingy the academy was with its newcomers.
Based on the experiences of past newcomers, at least half of them would be unable to form a Spirit Ring after two years and would ultimately be ruthlessly expelled from the academy.
If the academy were willing to allocate a few more resources and make a Gentle and effective Magic Potion like Calming Ointment available to all newcomers...
Then wouldn’t more people succeed in forming their first Spirit Ring?
The answer was self-evident.
For those who were just a step away, this little bit of help could be the Boundary Line between success and failure.
But the academy just stuffed a crude spiritual potion like Calming Oil into the newcomer store.
In the eyes of most Apprentices, this stuff didn’t even qualify to be called a Magic Potion.
So it was certain—the academy deliberately raised the threshold for becoming an Apprentice.
Using limited resources to pass numerous assessments and successfully form the first Spirit Ring—this was what constituted a qualified Apprentice in the academy’s eyes.
This system could screen for more exceptional newcomers while also avoiding wasting resources on "duds."
Thinking this, Mo Ning roughly understood the mentality of the academy’s administration.
He walked out of the hallway, and as soon as his feet stepped onto the small plaza, he saw a path on his left.
The path was paved with uniformly sized cobblestones, gray and white, winding its way into the depths of a sparse forest.
Many newcomers were gathered at the entrance to the cobblestone path, craning their necks to look around.
Some, unable to restrain themselves, had already stepped onto the path, heading into the depths of the forest in groups of two and three.
This was clearly the entrance to the recreational area.
Mo Ning glanced at the noisy crowd and shook his head inwardly.
’The Guiding Ring calls this a "recreational area," but do you all really think this is a place for rest and relaxation?’
’Didn’t Goblin Fodder blocking the cafeteria entrance yesterday and using the Goblin Shocking Skill wake you up?’
’The academy needs newcomers who strive to become Apprentices, newcomers who seriously study Divination.’
’Not a single inch of academy land is meant for leisure!’
Mo Ning averted his gaze, not looking any longer.
He quickened his pace and stepped onto the Secluded Forest Path, the clamor behind him vanishing abruptly.
He planned to eat at the cafeteria first, then return to his apartment to continue studying.
Today was going to be a busy day.
*****
The deep night was like a giant beast that had swallowed the entire world into its belly.
WHOOSH—
The night wind swept by.
The burning campfire was stirred by the wind, dancing wildly.
The surroundings were an empty wilderness.
As far as the eye could see, there were only rolling barren hills and sparse shrubs.
In the distance lay an even deeper darkness.
Mo Ning stood by the campfire, his eyes fixed on the darkness in the distance.
The firelight danced in his eyes, reflecting his slightly constricted pupils.
Two seconds later...
THUD! THUD!
Hurried, heavy footsteps came from the darkness.
They were followed by a heart-pounding wheezing.
HUUFF—PUFF—
The breathing was heavy and ragged, carrying the rank stench characteristic of a beast.
The two sounds intertwined, like two heavy hammers striking Mo Ning’s heart again and again.
The hairs on his body stood on end in an instant.
It felt as if he had been targeted by a hungry beast, about to be torn to shreds at any second.
Mo Ning quickly reached for a small pouch on his belt, pulled out a little paper packet, and forcefully scattered its contents.
At the same time, he raised his left hand, and his fingertip suddenly lit up.
This was the Sub-zero Level Trick—Flash.
The paper packet broke open in mid-air, and a large amount of transparent powder scattered like billowing fine dust.
His fingertip erupted with an abnormally bright, intense light.
BOOM—
The powder reacted to the intense light, instantly igniting and releasing a light ten times more dazzling than before!
In that instant, the entire wilderness was completely illuminated.
Mo Ning had already closed his eyes in time, but he could still feel the piercing, white-hot light through his eyelids.
More than ten meters away, in a thicket strewn with scattered rocks, a hulking, dark monster had just charged out.
This thing was over three meters tall, standing there like a small, moving mountain. Its lower jaw was extremely prominent, and two exposed fangs protruded from the corners of its mouth, constantly dripping with thick saliva.
In its right hand, it held a thick wooden club. The bone of some unknown beast was lashed to one end, creating a visually oppressive weapon.
The monster was struck by the sudden light and let out a muffled grunt. Its two huge eyes squeezed shut, and tears even seeped from the corners.
Shimmering Powder combined with Flash was a common tactic for Low Level Apprentices.
When illuminated by intense light, this powder burns violently, erupting with an even more blinding light that can temporarily blind an opponent.
After a second, the intense light had mostly dissipated.
Mo Ning snapped his eyes open to look at the monster. With just one glance, sheer horror flashed in his pupils.
He saw that the monster’s eyes were emitting a faint yellow glow.
Mo Ning instantly realized that this monster possessed a powerful self-healing talent, allowing it to repair damaged organs in an extremely short time.
In other words—its eyes were rapidly recovering!
Mo Ning didn’t have time to do anything.
The monster had already opened its eyes.
ROAR—!
It opened its massive, blood-red maw and let out an earth-shattering roar!
The sound was like a physical hammer, slamming viciously into Mo Ning.
He felt his entire body go rigid, instantly losing control of his limbs.
The monster charged forward with great strides.
Its three-meter-tall body was like a moving hill, each step making the ground tremble.
It raised the thick wooden club and swung it down heavily.
WHOOSH—
The club tore through the air, letting out a sharp whistle.
Just as the club was about to strike his head—
The entire world instantly froze.
The wind stopped.
The firelight froze.
A line of text appeared in the frozen world: "Simulation complete."
