Dining Hall

"At the normal recovery rate for sixth-level talent... I needed to rest for an hour first." Benjamin calculated inwardly.

However, resting did not mean there was nothing else he could do.

He glanced at the simple yet fully equipped facilities in the dormitory, then lowered his eyes to the Basic Alchemy Manual on the table and the box of alchemical tools.

Since he was going to play the part of a diligent alchemy apprentice, meditation alone was not enough.

Benjamin took out the admissions handbook Clark had included in the wooden box and began reading it carefully.

The handbook introduced the Academy's basic structure, course arrangements, point system, public facilities, and several rules and regulations that required attention.

Benjamin also learned the importance of points—they were the only currency for exchanging higher-level knowledge, rarer materials, renting laboratories, and even receiving guidance from instructors.

"Renting a laboratory..." Benjamin fell into thought as he looked at that entry.

Though he did not know much yet, Benjamin roughly understood that what wizards valued most in this world was knowledge.

At the same time, wizards in this world were extremely stingy with knowledge.

After all, in this world, knowledge could truly be turned into power.

"In that case... places like laboratories probably wouldn't have any surveillance equipment, would they?"

The more highly they valued and guarded knowledge, the tighter laboratory security would be. After all, if someone discovered covert surveillance installed inside, it would provoke the entire wizard community of the Academy.

"To have enough private space, it seemed I needed to find a way to obtain a laboratory of my own."

The freshman handbook did mention that points could be used to rent a private laboratory long-term, though it did not specify how many points were needed. Still, it was obvious the number would not be small.

That meant he had to add earning points to his list of most important upcoming tasks.

He soon finished the freshman handbook. Checking the time, Benjamin picked up the thick Basic Alchemy Manual again and began carefully reading it while he waited for his Spirit Sea to recover.

The manual was extraordinarily detailed, covering everything from basic material classification and property identification to various fundamental alchemical principles, formulas, and experimental procedures.

The writing was obscure, the formulas complicated, and many of the concepts were things he had never encountered before.

Fortunately, with a cheat like the Great Dao Library, he had become highly skilled at learning over the years. Before long, Benjamin was immersed in the contents of the manual.

And so, Benjamin studied the Basic Alchemy Manual between cultivation sessions, then continued attempting meditation once his "condition recovered." However, every time, he would use his spiritual power to "accidentally" draw one critical stroke crooked, precisely creating a "failure."

With each failure, he appropriately showed a little pain, such as furrowing his brows or trembling slightly.

After repeating this three times, evening had arrived.

"I was getting a little hungry. I could go take a look at the dining hall." Benjamin's thoughts stirred.

Going to the dining hall would not only solve his dinner problem, but also let him observe the conditions of the other new apprentices, helping him further adjust his "act."

With a plan in mind, he put away the Meditation Method and handbook, straightened his clothes, and left the room.

After leaving the dormitory building, Benjamin followed the route marked in the admissions handbook toward the apprentice dining hall.

The Alchemy Department dormitories were relatively independent, but the dining hall was shared by apprentices from the entire Academy.

Along the way, he saw quite a few young figures who looked weary but still had curiosity in their eyes. Most had just finished their own introductory attempts and were heading off to satisfy their hunger.

The closer he got to the dining hall, the more complex the scents in the air became—no longer the smell of reagents and metal, but the aromas of all kinds of cooking.

He held his apprentice badge up to the Detection Array before the entrance. When he pushed open the dining hall doors, the sight before him gave Benjamin a small shock.

Rather than a dining hall, this place looked more like a luxurious restaurant.

The enormous space was filled with neatly arranged dining tables. The floor was smooth and spotless, and there was not a trace of cooking smoke in the air, only the enticing aroma of food.

The central serving counters were packed with a dazzling assortment of food: unknown Magic Beast meat roasted golden and glistening with fat, fragrant mushroom soups, brightly colored fruit salads, and even things that looked like desserts or pastries.

Most importantly, the food here... was actually free!

As long as one was an apprentice, they could take as much of this visibly expensive food as they wanted.

Only the special section on one side of the serving counters contained ingredients or Magic Potions that were rare even in the Wizard World and possessed special energy effects. Those required points to purchase.

"Tsk, as expected of a wizard Academy that controlled the resources of an entire plane... its basic benefits were quite generous." Benjamin sighed inwardly.

For many apprentices from poor families, this free and abundant food was itself an enormous fortune.

Sufficient nutrition could also help them better cultivate their spiritual power and recover physically.

It was quite appealing even to Benjamin. After all, Refining Essence into Qi consumed his own blood vitality and physical energy. It was no exaggeration to say that Benjamin himself had an enormous appetite.

He casually picked up a tray and walked past the serving counters.

Benjamin did not rush to take any food. Instead, he discreetly observed the other apprentices in the dining hall.

Judging from the excitement and curiosity in their eyes, most of them were unfamiliar faces who had only enrolled today. They sat in groups of two or three, talking quietly.

With his sharp senses, Benjamin could clearly distinguish their spiritual fluctuations and physical conditions.

"That one with the pale face has somewhat chaotic spiritual fluctuations... looks like he failed meditation many times."

"That one clutching his head with a pained expression must have suffered quite a serious backlash. It seemed entering the basics really wasn't so easy for newcomers."

"But those few sitting in the corner, rosy-faced and full of spirit... they either had very high talent or solid foundations. They weren't affected much. Had they already gotten started?"

He quickly sketched a simple "freshman condition distribution chart" in his mind.

Those apprentices with lower talent levels had clearly suffered quite a bit during their first attempts at meditation.

Even the apprentices with fifth- or sixth-level talent mostly seemed somewhat tired.

Only a small number of people looked exceptionally well.

Benjamin's gaze settled on a corner of the dining hall, where several young men and women with extraordinary bearing sat.

They were clearly the geniuses detected today. Even after what had likely been equally difficult introductions to meditation, they appeared entirely at ease.

A few apprentices with admiring expressions gathered around them, conversing in low voices.

He did not approach them. Instead, he headed toward a relatively quiet area, casually took some roasted meat and vegetable salad, and piled his tray full.

Just as he found an empty seat and sat down to enjoy dinner, a voice suddenly rang out beside him.

"Hello! Are you a new Alchemy Department apprentice? Me too!"