I, a cultivator, have ended up in the wizarding world.

Chapter 9 Canteen
"Based on the normal recovery speed of a level six talent... I need to rest for an hour now," Jemin thought to himself.

However, even though it's time to rest, there are still things you can do.

He glanced at the simple but complete facilities in the dormitory, then looked down at the "Basic Alchemy Manual" and the box of alchemy tools on the table.

Since one is to play the role of a diligent alchemical apprentice, meditation alone is not enough.

Jemin took out the admission handbook that his mentor, Clark, had included in the wooden box and began to read it carefully.

The handbook introduces the college's basic structure, curriculum, credit system, public facilities, and some rules and regulations that need attention.

Jemin also realized the importance of points—it was the only currency for exchanging higher-level knowledge, rarer materials, renting laboratories, and even receiving mentorship.

“Rent a laboratory…” Jemin looked at this option and fell into deep thought.

Although he doesn't know much about it now, Jemin has a general idea that the wizards in this world value knowledge the most.

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

After all, in this world, knowledge can truly be transformed into power.

"In that case... labs probably don't have any monitoring facilities, right?"

The more one values ​​and hoards knowledge, the higher the security of the laboratory will be. After all, if any surveillance equipment secretly installed inside is discovered, it will anger the entire wizarding community of the academy.

"In order to have enough privacy, it seems I need to find a way to get my own laboratory."

The freshman handbook does mention that you can use points to rent a private lab long-term, but it doesn't specify how many points are needed. However, you can imagine that it won't be a small number.

This means that earning credits will be added to the most important task going forward.

After quickly finishing the freshman handbook and glancing at the time, while "waiting for his mental sea to recover," Jemin picked up the heavy "Basic Alchemy Handbook" and began to carefully read it.

The manual is extremely detailed, covering everything from the most basic material classification and property identification to various fundamental alchemical principles, formulas, and experimental procedures.

The text was obscure, the formulas were complex, and many of the concepts were unfamiliar to him.

Fortunately, he had the advantage of having the Great Dao Book Pavilion, which made him very good at learning over the years. Before long, Jemin was immersed in the contents of the manual.

In this way, during breaks from his practice, Jemin would study the basic alchemy manual and try to meditate again after his "state had recovered." However, each time he would "accidentally" draw a crooked stroke in a key area with his mental energy, precisely creating a "failure."

Each time he failed, he would appropriately show some pain, such as frowning or trembling slightly.

This was repeated three times, and by then it was already evening.

"I'm a little hungry, so I might as well go check out the cafeteria," Jemin thought to himself.

Going to the canteen not only solves the dinner problem, but also allows him to observe the condition of other new apprentices, which helps him further adjust his "role-playing" strategy.

Having made up his mind, Jemin put away the meditation method and manual, straightened his clothes, and left the room.

Leaving the dormitory building, Jemin headed to the apprentice canteen following the route marked in the student handbook.

The alchemy dormitories are relatively independent, but the canteen is shared by all the apprentices in the academy.

Along the way, he saw many young figures who looked tired but still had curiosity in their eyes. Most of them had just finished their introductory attempts and were heading to satisfy their appetites.

The closer he got to the cafeteria, the more complex the smells became—no longer the smell of reagents and metal, but the aromas of various dishes. He shone his apprentice badge on the detection array in front of the gate, pushed open the cafeteria door, and was slightly taken aback by the sight before him.

This place is less of a cafeteria and more of a luxury restaurant.

In the vast space, dining tables were arranged in a staggered manner, the floor was smooth and clean, and there was not a trace of oil smoke in the air, only the tempting aroma of food.

The central dining table was laden with a dazzling array of food: golden-brown, juicy meat from an unknown monster, enticing mushroom soup, brightly colored fruit salad, and even some things that looked like desserts or pastries.

Most importantly, the food here... is actually free!
As long as you are an apprentice, you can freely take these foods that look quite expensive.

Only in a special area on one side of the dining table are there some rare ingredients or potions that are considered rare even in the wizarding world, containing special energy effects. These need to be purchased with points.

"Tsk, no wonder it's a wizarding academy that controls the resources of an entire plane... their basic benefits are quite generous." Jemin sighed inwardly.

For many apprentices from impoverished families, this free and plentiful food was a great treasure in itself.

Sufficient nutrition can also help them better cultivate their mental strength and recover their physical health.

Even for Jemin, it was quite attractive, since refining essence into qi consumed his own blood and energy. It's no exaggeration to say that Jemin himself was a super glutton.

He picked up a tray and walked past the food counter.

Instead of rushing to get his food, Jemin subtly observed the other apprentices in the canteen.

Judging from the excited and curious looks in their eyes, most of them were new faces who had just enrolled that day. They sat together in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones.

With his keen senses, Jemin could clearly distinguish their mental fluctuations and physical states.

"This person is pale and has somewhat disordered mental energy fluctuations... It seems they have failed at meditation many times."

"The one clutching his head and looking like he's in pain must have suffered a serious backlash. It seems that getting started isn't so easy for a newcomer."

"However, these few sitting in the corner, with rosy complexions and full of energy... are either highly talented or have a solid foundation, and haven't been affected much. Have they already mastered the basics?"

He quickly sketched out a simple "distribution map of newborn states" in his mind.

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

Even apprentices with level five or six talents mostly seemed somewhat tired.

Only a few people had excellent complexions.

Jemin's gaze fell on a corner of the cafeteria, where several young men and women who looked extraordinary were sitting.

They were clearly the geniuses identified today, performing with ease even after just going through what could have been an equally difficult introductory meditation course.

These men were surrounded by apprentices with adoring expressions, who were whispering among themselves.

Instead of going over there, he walked to a relatively quiet area and casually picked up some grilled meat and vegetable salad to fill the tray.

Just as he found an empty seat and was about to enjoy his dinner, a voice suddenly rang in his ear.

"Hello! Are you a new alchemy apprentice? Me too!"

(End of this chapter)