Lanqi's Fire Safety Awareness

Sunlight filtered through the green leaves and fell upon the stone steps of the Sage Institute Ancient Tower Library.

Only a few early risers hurried past on the nearby road beneath the morning light.

"So, what would challenging the Shadow World be like if I joined a team?"

Lanchi showed no urgency to agree to joining any team. He simply continued chatting naturally with Vivian.

Since first-year students were not allowed to challenge the Shadow World alone, Lanchi could not participate in matchmaking by himself.

After entering the Void Gate, the Shadow World would automatically match challengers with an appropriate difficulty based on their combined tier levels.

When a team was not at full capacity, it would often also be matched with challengers who had entered through Void Gates from various parts of the world.

"There'll be Silver Tier second- and third-year students taking you through the Shadow World. With your comprehension, you should quickly become familiar with and adapt to actual combat in the Shadow World."

Vivian answered Lanchi's question.

When they saw the Sage Institute's landmark library, they knew they had entered the area belonging to the Sage Institute.

Gold Tier registered challengers were found almost exclusively among third-year students, and none of them were below Tier 5.

Putting aside whether that was reasonable, such challengers were, according to the regulations, unable to team up with the Tier 2 Lanchi.

The Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association stipulated that, for the safety of all challengers, challengers whose tier levels differed by more than two were forbidden from forming teams to drastically raise the difficulty.

Thus, even if he joined a team, at most, a veteran Silver Tier upperclassman at Tier 4 would lead and guide Lanchi.

"So I basically just need to follow orders and provide support properly?"

"The answer is yes."

"Please let me think about it a little longer."

Lanchi's answer was very tactful.

But Vivian knew that he meant to refuse.

The rewards for clearing a Shadow World were often related to the achievements obtained throughout the entire Shadow World, as well as one's final individual evaluation.

If someone coasted through a Shadow World, the rewards would actually not be very substantial, and the Promotion Points awarded to challengers by the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association after its review would not be high either.

But generally speaking, new challengers were already lucky if they could clear it safely.

Let alone obtaining an extremely high individual evaluation during the clearance assessment—unless the Human Emperor descended and went on a rampage in the Shadow World.

Vivian reconsidered.

"Could it be that you want to command personally?"

She asked with some uncertainty.

Lanchi shouldn't be that arrogant, right?

Even if a team's command center was sometimes handled by a support-position member, they absolutely would not let a newcomer do the commanding.

After all, the Shadow World was a challenge in which the entire team wagered their lives!

"That's not it. I'm not very good at commanding a lot of people."

Lanchi hurriedly denied it.

"You must be cautious when challenging the Shadow World. It's far more dangerous than you imagine! Especially for a newcomer like you, don't overestimate yourself. Learn and observe carefully first."

Vivian advised him sternly. She had a feeling that Lanchi was completely unaware of how dangerous the Shadow World was.

"If, after considering everything, you think our team is pretty good, you can come straight to me. There are also teams that are powerful but have terrible character. You need to be careful."

Vivian was not in a hurry to recruit Lanchi. She merely said this.

After all, Lanchi would have many teams to compare and choose from. She did not want him to settle for joining theirs.

Before they knew it, Lanchi and Vivian had arrived at a towering red-brick building resembling a manor hotel.

"Alright, thank you, Princess Vivian."

Lanchi smiled as he thanked her and passed through the automatically revolving glass doors of the Sage Institute Dormitory Building.

It seemed that some people at the school were already interested in him. Whether or not he joined a team, his Shadow World challenge would attract considerable attention.

According to regulations, registered challengers participating in a real Shadow World had to carry the official Shadow World Recording Program Magic Card from the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association.

It could record the challenger's entire situation and the information they encountered while challenging in the Shadow World. It was also the most important basis for many research groups when reviewing and analyzing Shadow World intelligence.

At the same time, only after carrying it could the Shadow World Management Association calculate Promotion Points for registered challengers after the Shadow World ended.

Most importantly, the Shadow World Recording Program possessed a Live Broadcast function similar to the one installed in the Artificial Shadow World Activation Terminal!

For example, Iketerite Academy was an official partner institution of the Shadow World Management Association. The Magic Engineering Institute's on-campus publicity department could broadcast certain student challenges that had considerable teaching value or attracted widespread attention live on the Magic Screens throughout the school.

As long as Lanchi's level of attention was high enough, he might well be caught by the Magic Engineering Institute's faculty!

I don't want to be publicly executed.

Lanchi felt conflicted. The Hidden Flame of Winter from his second-round assessment last time did not seem to have received a very good response.

As he was thinking, fresh air blew toward him, accompanied by a burst of light music.

After entering the Sage Institute Dormitory Building, he could see luxurious platinum chandeliers hanging in the lobby like bright stars, illuminating the entire space.

There were sofas and coffee tables in the first-floor lobby for students to sit down and rest at any time. Even though it was still morning, students were already drinking tea or chatting on the sofas. They looked relaxed and happy.

They did not pay much attention to Lanchi and Vivian. To them, new students moving in these days was already a common occurrence.

Lanchi and Vivian crossed the antique carpet covering the floor and arrived at the reception desk in the lobby.

The administrator also looked up at them.

"Are you moving into the dormitory starting today?"

The administrator wore an Iketerite Academy work badge and asked Lanchi and Vivian with a smile.

"Yes."

"The boys' dormitory is in the left wing, the girls' dormitory is in the right wing, and the building behind us is the cafeteria. Rooms are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. You two are the earliest students to register for the boys' and girls' dormitories, so you may choose whichever rooms you like. There are currently vacancies on every floor."

The administrator smiled as he explained. Since the graduating third-year students had all moved out earlier, the dormitories they had occupied were now vacant as well.

"Then I'll choose the second floor. See you later."

Vivian made her decision immediately.

She then took the key handed over by the administrator and turned to leave.

"Goodbye."

Lanchi waved.

He felt that Princess Vivian looked proud and sharp, but she was not difficult to talk to. When responding to others, she was genuinely sincere.

After some hesitation, Lanchi also felt that the second floor of the boys' dormitory was a good choice.

It was convenient to go up and down, and unlike the first floor, it was neither damp nor noisy from people coming and going.

"As an additional note, besides the lobby, there are also a few rooms on the first floor. However, since the first floor has never been popular, the school later connected and rebuilt its rooms in pairs to deal with the long-term vacancies. As a result, the dormitory rooms on the first floor are twice as large as those on the other floors."

The administrator spoke somewhat helplessly.

The princess had just demanded the second floor decisively before he even had a chance to recommend anything, and he had not dared to pester her.

He really had no idea how this black-haired, green-eyed boy could remain so calm and composed in front of the princess.

"In that case, I'll live on the first floor."

Lanchi answered agreeably.

He felt that the dormitory administrator seemed to really hope someone would live on the first floor.

"Alright, here's the key to Dorm 101."

The administrator smiled and handed Lanchi a silver key engraved with a spell formation.

Although he recommended the first-floor rooms like this every year, they were not necessarily taken.

The administrator was quite happy that the first student of the year had chosen the first floor.

"Thank you. May I ask where the fire-safety equipment is?"

After taking the key, Lanchi politely asked.

"!?"

Although the administrator knew that Lanchi had asked a perfectly healthy question,

it was his first time encountering a student whose first question upon moving into the dormitory was about fire safety.

It somehow made him inexplicably afraid!

For a moment, silence descended before and behind the reception desk on the first floor of the Sage Institute Dormitory Building.

The administrator sized up Lanchi.

Lanchi tilted his head, his eyes innocent and puzzled.

"Ahem."

The administrator soon gave a light cough.

This student looked as though he embodied gentleness, kindness, courtesy, and humility. He should not possibly be a dangerous person.

"Of course, student. Our school places great importance on student safety. Fire prevention is undoubtedly one of the priorities. The entire dormitory building fully complies with and implements all of the fire-safety regulations and construction standards of the Hutton Kingdom..."

Out of professional duty, the administrator began explaining the dormitory building's emergency exits and the locations of its fire-safety equipment to Lanchi.

Lanchi listened with great seriousness, nodding from time to time.

This made the administrator even more frightened...

"Student, perhaps my question is a little offensive, but you haven't brought any dangerous items with you, have you?"

After finishing his detailed explanation, the administrator asked another question.

"No, please rest assured."

Lanchi confidently guaranteed it.

Hearing this, the administrator thought that made sense.

The dormitory building was equipped with the Magic Engineering Institute's latest automatic security-check equipment. Flammable and explosive items could not be brought into the dormitory building at all.

After saying goodbye to the administrator, Lanchi happily took his key and went to look for his room.

He had tried not to bring too much luggage from the South Wantina Border Territory. He had planned to buy everything after moving into the dormitory in the royal capital.

Including his card-making tools and so on.

If the dormitory could be as spacious as possible, it would be ideal to set aside an area inside as a studio and Card Making Workshop.

That was also one of the reasons he had leaned toward choosing the first floor.

Besides, failure always ran through the entire process of card making. That was card making.

Talia now already mocked Lanchi as a "Card Blasting Master."

So if he practiced card making in the dormitory, the first floor should be the safest, right?

Lanchi thought.

After walking only a few steps, he found Dorm 101 in the corridor beside the lobby.

He inserted the key into the lock and turned it. With a crisp click, the solid wooden door opened, revealing the entrance hall. A large European-style classical coat rack and shoe cabinet provided convenient storage for coats and shoes.

The entire entrance hall was simple, practical, and elegant. After passing through it, Lanchi arrived at the spacious living room that served as the dormitory's main area.

The living room contained a comfortable sofa, a matching coffee table, and a Magic Screen fixed to the wall.

The cushions and blanket on the sofa were all in warm colors. A retro floor lamp stood to one side, while sunlight shone upon the various brown wooden furnishings, making the entire space soft and cozy.

It did not take Lanchi long to understand the layout of his new home. The living room connected to four spaces: one bedroom with its own bathroom, one balcony, one study, and one mostly empty room that looked like a giant storage room. It could probably be freely renovated and arranged according to a student's needs.

The room was somewhat too large, but if the space were too cramped, it would presumably also invite complaints from students.

As he was thinking, someone knocked on the door of Lanchi's dormitory.

He went over and opened the door, only to discover that it was a staff member from the Student Service Center, delivering the luggage Lanchi had stored there.

Next came the unpacking.

The organizing went very smoothly. By noon, the place was more or less arranged.

The furniture was complete, and the storage space was ample and well planned. That was the most satisfying part.

Lanchi sat on the sofa, leisurely flipping through the Southern Continent Card Maker Association Registration Charter while waiting for lunchtime.

This was Lanchi's first step toward becoming a Card Making Master renowned throughout the world.

The minimum requirement for taking the registered Card Maker examination was Tier 3, along with the ability to produce three types of Magic Cards, including Summoning Cards, Spell Cards, and Equipment Cards.

Lanchi still needed to hone his card-making skills for a while longer.

He also needed to raise himself to Tier 3 as quickly as possible.

Then he could try taking the Card Maker examination at the Ikelite branch of the Southern Continent Card Maker Association in the royal capital.

Only after becoming a registered Card Maker and obtaining certification could he receive patent protection.

He could also avoid many cumbersome appraisal and guarantee procedures as well as some fees, and sell his cards efficiently under his own name on the official trading platform of the Card Maker Association.

"I got the Iron Tier Registered Challenger qualification directly without taking the Shadow World exam. I wonder if I can start at a higher level in the Card Maker assessment..."

Lanchi murmured as he flipped through the pages of the book in his hands.

The registered Card Maker examination was also known as the ranking examination.

Its levels likewise followed the similar seven grades of the Shadow World Management Association: Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Magic Crystal, and Grandmaster.

The registered examination determined a Card Maker's initial grade according to their potential.

Generally speaking, being able to pass and receive an Iron ranking was already something to celebrate. Of course, there were also Card Makers with extraordinary potential who performed exceptionally well and were directly ranked Copper or Silver.

Silver Tier Card Makers were already extremely impressive.

It was even said that there were very few Gold Tier Card Makers at this school, while throughout the entire Southern Continent, Gold Tier Card Makers were far rarer than Gold Tier challengers.

"Sigh, my craftsmanship is still too unstable."

With a sigh, Lanchi closed the book in his hands.

Although he had once independently produced the two Purple Rare Magic Cards Basic Etiquette and Friendly Exchange,

over the past few months, he had only managed to make those two cards and a small number of Tier 1 Blue Precious cards.

All the other Error Correction series Magic Cards had been bought from the association. Fortunately, those cards were sold at the base price and were not expensive.

"No matter what, I should go explore a real Shadow World first! I can't even take the Card Maker examination before reaching Tier 3."

Lanchi had always been optimistic and never worried about matters beyond tomorrow.

As the saying went, enjoy the wine today while you can—tomorrow is another day!

Becoming a Card Making Master could not be accomplished overnight.

For now, there was only one thing he needed to know—

His brand-new campus life at Iketerite Academy was about to begin!