Human-shaped Library

Staring at the vast collection of books, Lynn couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.

If he had to touch them one by one, how long would that take?

His consciousness immediately sank into the [Memory Library] in his mind as he tested another function—issuing commands.

[Command: Scan and record all unprotected textual and image information within visible range.]

This was also a function upgraded after advancing to a Wizard Apprentice, though it could only issue "scan" or "analysis" commands.

The current analysis function could not only analyze books, but also things around him such as Wizard Arrays, restrictions, and so on.

If it upgraded again, perhaps it could even analyze an enemy's Wizardry—he could cosplay a Sharingan for fun.

Silently, the interface transformed into an invisible scanner. The contents of tens of thousands of books on the shelves poured into his Memory Library like a tide.

This ordinary knowledge wasn't particularly difficult, so the scanning speed was also fast.

He only needed to walk slowly past row after row of bookshelves. Wherever his eyes fell, knowledge was already etched into his soul.

The pleasure brought by this nearly predatory way of learning surpassed even the improvement of his strength.

Lynn was like a dry sponge thrown into an ocean of knowledge, crazily absorbing the fundamental laws of this world.

However, when he headed deeper into the library, things changed.

The books, scrolls, and knowledge sealed within crystals that emitted powerful energy fluctuations were all covered in complex halos of light.

They themselves were locks formed from precise Witchcraft Models.

[Command: Analyze the restrictions on the book.]

[High-level knowledge restriction detected... Beginning analysis...]

[Estimated analysis time: Unknown (related to target complexity and host mental power)]

The interface gave its feedback, but the progress bar advanced at an almost imperceptible speed.

Clearly, this restriction was extremely profound. With his mental power, he had no idea how long it would take to crack it completely.

Lynn wasn't discouraged. His mental power would continue to grow, so he made analyzing these restrictions a long-term task.

Every bit of progress meant his understanding of Bone Spire's Wizardry system had deepened by another degree.

Fortunately, the restrictions on this floor all used the same set. Once he analyzed one of them, the rest would unravel on their own.

The passage to the upper levels was protected by another Wizard Array. With his current Nameplate, he couldn't pass through yet.

The only problem now was that he couldn't scan the restrictions on the books into the library and leave them analyzing in the background.

He had to remain beside the restriction for the analysis to proceed normally. If he left midway, the analysis would enter a paused state.

And his current Nameplate wasn't enough to let him borrow this "advanced" knowledge. He needed to be at least a Second-rank Wizard Apprentice before he could borrow it using Contribution Points.

When the sky gradually darkened, Lynn stopped scanning and analyzing.

Although his scanning speed was fast, it covered only a tiny fraction of the entire library.

This place contained knowledge accumulated over countless years. It truly was an ocean of knowledge.

There was still plenty of time. One day, he would become a Human-shaped Library.

After leaving the Bone Vault, Lynn first went to visit his nominal mentor, intending to build their relationship.

Instead, a "Do Not Disturb" sign hung prominently from the doorframe of his laboratory.

Left with no choice, Lynn returned to the dormitory first.

The freshmen dormitories were double rooms, and even a top genius like him was no exception.

Lynn considered moving into his mentor's laboratory if his roommate's personality or schedule proved unbearable. It would be safer there, and he could also spend more time building rapport with his mentor.

Following the guiding puppet, Lynn passed through corridors tangled with pale vines and arrived at the Apprentice residential area.

His dormitory was located in a building called the Bone Lair.

Pushing open the wooden door engraved with simple protective runes, he was met by an odor mixed with mildew, old dust, and faint negative energy.

The room wasn't large, and its furnishings were crude.

There were two stone beds draped in gray curtains, two rough wooden desks, and a storage cabinet.

The only source of light came from a low-quality Soul Stone embedded in the wall, emitting a dim green glow that made the entire room look like a tomb.

Damn... Sleeping in a place like this, it'd be hard not to have nightmares at night.

Such a huge Academy, and it's all this ghostly? Are there no Wizards who know how to enjoy life?

Isn't the point of cultivation to rise above others and enjoy the benefits that come with a higher status? Why does everyone insist on being an ascetic?

At that moment, a figure sat cross-legged on the stone bed by the window, seemingly attempting to meditate.

Hearing the door open, he immediately opened his eyes and looked over warily.

He was a youth who appeared one or two years older than Lynn. His features were ordinary, his complexion an unhealthy pale, and parts of his flesh had begun to rot under the corrosion of negative energy.

The youth's eyes were filled with vigilance and a trace of barely concealed exhaustion. Clearly, he hadn't been having an easy time lately.

He wore a faded gray Apprentice robe, suggesting that his family circumstances weren't particularly well-off.

"You're... the new roommate?"

The youth spoke, his voice somewhat dry.

"Yes. I'm Lynn." Lynn gave a brief introduction, walked over to the empty stone bed, and set down the meager luggage he had received.

"My name is Kevin."

Upon hearing Lynn's name, the youth's tone softened somewhat, carrying a hint of goodwill.

"I arrived three days before you. I heard there was a genius with exceptional talent among this year's students, who turned down two chiefs and chose a... well... special mentor. I didn't expect it to be you, and that you'd become my roommate."

Lynn smiled noncommittally and didn't respond.

Kevin seemed to realize he had said too much. He awkwardly shut his mouth, though the curiosity in his eyes didn't lessen.

He could sense the already stable fluctuations of Lynn's Mental Core, which made him both envious and somewhat ashamed of himself.

As expected of a top genius. I haven't even touched the threshold of a meditation method, yet he's already successfully condensed a Mental Core.

Lynn arranged his stone bed before sitting down heavily on it.

Hard as a rock. After one night, my back will ache, my legs will cramp, and I'll be sore all over.

Clearly, the Academy had no intention of letting its Apprentices get too comfortable. Comfort made people lax.

Fine. Better meditate instead.

He took out the black bread, boiled beans, and half a piece of roasted meat he had picked up from the Academy cafeteria. Together with some water, that counted as a meal.

Compared to the "high-end" food he had enjoyed aboard the ship, it was inferior in every way.

Yet even this lowest-grade meal, along with other living expenses, required ten Contribution Points per month paid to the Academy.

Want a "high-quality" life? No problem!

As long as you had enough Contribution Points, they could even serve you dragon whip.

Seeing Lynn chewing on hard black bread, Kevin hurriedly offered him a sealed can of drink as if trying to curry favor.

"Student Lynn, this is the honey pomelo water I received. Why don't you try it and see how it tastes?"

Lynn glanced at the drink can in Kevin's hand but didn't take it.

"Thanks, but water is fine for me."

Lynn raised the clear water in his hand and refused directly.

In this dark world, he still needed to remain sufficiently wary of others.

Especially anything meant for consumption. He couldn't touch it.

Kevin's outstretched hand hung awkwardly in midair before he withdrew it sheepishly.

After eating, Lynn directly sat cross-legged on the stone bed and entered a meditative state.

Kevin, who was attempting to meditate on the other bed, felt a large amount of negative energy continuously gathering.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that Lynn was absorbing it through meditation.

So this was what genius meant?

So this was the gap between them?

It really was... despairing...

Kevin sighed. He wanted to try meditating again, but he couldn't recapture the feeling from before no matter what he did.