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The dormitory assigned by the academy had no roommates, offering each student their own private space. In addition to basic areas like the bathroom and kitchen, there was an empty room left for personal customization.
There were rumors that some upperclassmen deliberately delayed graduation to enjoy the dormitory for a longer time… At first, Viya didn’t believe this claim, but after seeing it with her own eyes, she realized the description was already quite understated.
Without exaggeration, purchasing a bedroom like this in the central ring would cost at least two hundred gold coins.
And the average annual net income for a normal family? Just eight gold coins.
Rich people… Viya eyed the pristine white bed covetously. She resolved that once she regained control of her body, she would experience what it felt like to roll around in money.
To help new students better understand the campus, a detachable map hung on the wall, providing detailed explanations of different areas. Even someone directionally challenged could easily comprehend it.
After interacting with the map, a notification popped up in the upper-right corner of the screen:
World Map Updated.
Lin Qi opened the map, and previously dimmed areas lit up entirely. The academy’s structure was displayed in stunning 3D clarity before him.
At the same time, the main quest refreshed. Four scattered golden markers pulsed on the map.
"Gain a deeper understanding of the academy?"
Lin Qi read aloud the task requirement.
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A massive stone sculpture stood at the center of the academy. Its edges were carved with grass and flowers, while four radiant morning stars adorned the inner side. Through the sculptor's masterful craftsmanship, they seemed to move as if orbiting the laureate at the center.
In the southern part of Rothesia Academy, the training ground "Star of Dawn" was known both as a crucible that forged the strong and as the “Path of Suffering..”
Students joked that Ascenders who hadn’t endured hardship here were incomplete.
On the right side, Helena, the swordsmanship club president, was conducting her daily training, swinging her massive sword at a straw dummy.
Though the dummy appeared fragile, under her relentless assault, it only swayed slightly without showing any damage—not even a single strand of straw fell off.
As a training target provided by the alchemy club, they described it thus: “It feels like wheat straw, looks like wheat straw, and cuts like wheat straw—but it has absolutely nothing to do with wheat straw.”
The sound of slicing air echoed across the training ground. Upon closer inspection, one would notice all the students here wielded bladed weapons.
This wasn’t because the training ground was exclusively for swords; even Rothesia, rich as it was, wouldn’t build separate facilities for every weapon. It was simply that no one used anything else.
In the face of Ascenders’ overwhelming physical prowess, the concept of weapon counters still existed but had minimal impact. When strength differences were negligible, aesthetics became the priority.
Thus, a peculiar trend quietly formed within the academy: either students followed the mainstream and learned established swordsmanship systems, or they experimented with niche weapons—like attaching chainsaws to axes. Such individuals rarely came to the training grounds.
“Morning, President,” a passing man greeted Helena.
Helena gave a slight nod before resuming her intense practice.
She disliked socializing and paid little attention to external information. Since returning to school, she had spent almost all her time in the training ground, diligently honing her skills.
Huff… After swinging her sword repeatedly, Helena finally stopped, steadying her breathing.
She understood that overtraining not only yielded no results but also burdened the body. Moderate, consistent exercise was the key.
At this moment, a figure entered through the gate. Unlike others clad in armor, she wore casual clothing, standing out starkly among the fully equipped students.
“Hmm?” Helena tilted her head in confusion but quickly recalled: “Ah, I almost forgot—it’s the day new students arrive.”
She wiped sweat from her face with a nearby towel and walked toward the newcomer, ready to introduce them to the training ground.
Since this place had become the so-called “Sword Training Ground,” as president of the swordsmanship club, she had taken on the role of half-manager. Every time new students arrived, she personally handled introductions.
But for some reason, this year, no one had shown up until now, causing her to forget about it entirely.
She couldn’t help but worry about the quality of this year’s freshmen.
“Hello,” Helena said briefly. “Would you like me to give you a tour?”
She believed that anyone truly determined to grow stronger wouldn’t waste time chatting. Direct communication suited this training ground best.
“Yes,” Viya replied.
A guide presenting herself—Lin Qi naturally accepted.
“Are you an Ascender?” Helena asked.
Not everyone on this training ground was an Ascender. Some ordinary students, unwilling to spend heavily on artificial rituals to enter the Void Domain, sought opportunities here instead.
After all, the sole criterion for entering the Void Domain independently was “spiritual perception.” Whether improving physical fitness or refining swordsmanship, both effectively enhanced spiritual perception.
She asked upfront because training intensity differed between Ascenders and non-Ascenders. Ordinary people using Ascender-grade equipment risked injury.
“Yes,” Viya answered.
“Good.” Helena nodded approvingly. “If you’re a freshman, I recommend focusing on improving your physical condition first. Once you gain experience in the second term, you can target specific practices.”
She walked to a straw dummy. Unlike the others, this one had six arms, each holding a wooden sword.
“This is the most fundamental training project. Simply swing your sword continuously, and the dummy will counterattack. Focus on defense.”
Her explanation sounded simple, but those nearby who heard it exchanged odd glances, suppressing laughter.
Basic didn’t mean easy. Indeed, this project required no threshold—no mastery of force or precision needed. Even children could last two seconds wielding a sword.
However, only those who’d tried it knew how challenging it truly was. It tested the challenger’s stamina, endurance, and reflexes immensely.
You had to strike first, and the dummy would use that force as a baseline. If subsequent strikes fell below 80% of the initial force, it counted as failure.
While maintaining consistent power, you also had to predict which arm the dummy would swing and block accordingly.
Thus, even seasoned users avoided such devices.
“Mm,” Viya nodded. She approached the pile of wooden swords, casually picked one up, and returned to face the dummy.
“You should wear armor. If you fail to block the dummy’s blows, it’ll hurt,” Helena advised.
“Does it cost money?” Viya asked.
“…” Helena hesitated, struggling to respond: “Not too much.”
“Then forget it,” Viya declined.
“I’ve warned you enough,” Helena said, giving her a long look. She’d seen many beginners disdain the training armor for being ugly, only to realize its importance after experiencing the pain of being struck by wooden swords.
Viya held the wooden sword in her left hand, allowing it to hang naturally—a stance that made Helena frown. To her, this position was riddled with vulnerabilities.
Clearly a novice… She lowered her gaze, sighing inwardly.
Thud—the wooden sword pierced into the dummy, emitting a crisp sound of collision. Unbeknownst to Helena, Viya had already shifted her posture and thrust the sword in.
So fast?
In reality, Viya’s movements weren’t particularly swift—they carried a leisurely smoothness. Yet this seamless, uniform pace left observers momentarily dazzled.
This is a skilled practitioner!
Helena retracted her earlier dismissal and began observing intently.
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