Chapter 50: Academy

The three continued toward the eastern residential district.

As they approached, Ben noticed that the buildings in this area were quite different from the rest of the academy. Most of the structures were surrounded by gardens, artificial lakes, and private training grounds. The roads were also much wider, with small energy-powered vehicles moving between the residences.

Unlike the standard student dormitories, this place looked more like a residential community for wealthy families.

A large gate stood at the entrance. Several academy staff members were stationed nearby, checking the identification cards of incoming students.

One of them noticed Amanda and approached.

"Are you here to help a newly admitted student settle into the advanced residential area?"

Amanda nodded and pointed toward Ben.

"He ranked fifth in the entrance examination. We’re here to check his assigned residence."

The staff member looked at Ben.

"Student identification, please."

Ben handed over his card.

The staff member scanned it, and a holographic display appeared.

[Student: Ben Parker]

[Entrance Examination Rank: 5]

[Residential Qualification: Advanced]

[Accommodation: Top Ten Residence]

[Status: Available]

The staff member nodded.

"Everything is in order. Please follow me. I’ll take you to your assigned residence and explain the accommodation arrangements."

Ben followed him through the gate.

As soon as they entered, he noticed how spacious the residential district was. There were several separate sections, each containing large houses surrounded by gardens. Some residences even had private swimming pools and training areas.

Maya looked around with interest.

"This area is quite nice. I didn’t expect the academy to provide such good accommodation to new students."

Amanda smiled.

"Students in the advanced residential area are usually among the academy’s most talented newcomers. The academy provides them with better living conditions so they can focus on their cultivation."

Ben glanced at the surrounding residences.

"Are all these houses assigned to students?"

"Yes," the staff member answered. "However, the accommodation arrangements are different depending on a student’s rank and privileges."

He continued walking while explaining.

"The advanced residential area is divided into several sections. Most students receive private villas, while the top ten candidates in the entrance examination are assigned something special."

Ben became curious.

"Something special?"

The staff member smiled.

"You’ll understand when we arrive."

They continued along the main road for several minutes before reaching a separate section of the residential district.

Unlike the other areas, this section had a large entrance with a security barrier. A sign beside it displayed the words:

[Top Ten Residential Zone]

Ben looked at the sign.

The staff member scanned his identification card, and the barrier opened.

"Only the ten highest-ranked candidates in the entrance examination can access this section. Each of you has been assigned a private mansion."

"A mansion?" Maya repeated.

"That’s right."

The staff member nodded.

"These residences are considerably larger than the standard villas. Each has its own garden, private training grounds, energy-gathering formation, and several other facilities."

Ben looked through the entrance.

The road ahead was lined with large mansions, each separated by considerable distance. They were surrounded by trees and landscaped gardens, providing plenty of privacy.

The staff member pointed toward the buildings.

"These ten mansions are reserved for the top ten candidates. Each residence has already been assigned according to your examination ranking."

Ben looked at the houses.

They were much larger than he had expected. Each one had several floors, a spacious courtyard, and a private entrance.

Maya looked at him.

"It seems you’ve received quite a good reward."

Ben shrugged.

"I suppose so."

The staff member led them farther inside.

"Your residence is the fifth mansion."

They stopped in front of a large building surrounded by a tall wall and a garden. A small artificial pond was located near the entrance, while several trees provided shade around the courtyard.

The mansion itself had a modern design, with large windows and several balconies. It looked more like a private luxury residence than student accommodation.

The staff member handed Ben a small device.

"This is your residential access key. However, your student identification card can also be used to unlock the entrance."

Ben scanned his card.

A blue light passed over the entrance gate, and it slowly opened.

[Residential Access Granted]

[Residence: Top Ten Mansion No. 5]

[Assigned Student: Ben Parker]

[Ownership Status: Temporary]

Ben stepped inside.

The courtyard was spacious, with a paved pathway leading toward the main entrance. There was also a small training area on one side and a garden on the other.

Maya entered behind him and looked around.

"This is practically a private estate."

Amanda examined the surroundings.

"The energy density here is also quite good. There’s a gathering formation installed beneath the residence."

Ben could feel it too.

The celestial energy in the area was noticeably denser than outside. It wasn’t comparable to a dedicated cultivation chamber, but it was certainly better than an ordinary residence.

The staff member opened the main entrance.

"Please come inside. I’ll show you the facilities."

Ben followed him into the mansion.

The first floor had a spacious living room, a dining area, a kitchen, and several guest rooms. There was also a separate room equipped with various entertainment systems.

The second floor contained several bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There was also a study room and a small indoor cultivation room.

The staff member explained the functions of each area while leading them through the building.

"The mansion has an automated maintenance system. You can control the lighting, temperature, security, and other basic functions through your student account."

He pointed toward a panel on the wall.

"The kitchen is fully equipped, and the storage system can preserve food and cultivation resources. You can also purchase additional household services using Academy Credits."

Ben nodded as he listened.

They continued toward the back of the mansion.

There was a private training ground behind the building, surrounded by a reinforced energy barrier.

"This training area can withstand attacks up to the Silver Realm without sustaining significant damage. However, if you intend to conduct more destructive experiments, I recommend using the academy’s specialized training facilities."

Ben examined the area.

It was large enough for him to practice his swordsmanship and movement techniques.

There was also a separate room connected to the training ground.

"That room contains a basic combat simulation system. You can adjust the difficulty and select different opponents to practice against. More advanced simulation programs can be purchased through the academy."

Ben was interested.

Having a private training area would save him quite a bit of time.

He could practice whenever he wanted without needing to visit the public training grounds.

The staff member then led them back inside and showed them the cultivation room.

It was a relatively small room with a circular formation engraved into the floor.

"This room uses an energy-gathering formation to increase the concentration of Celestial Energy. Its efficiency is suitable for students in the Bronze and Silver Realms. If you need something stronger, you can exchange Academy Credits for access to advanced cultivation chambers."

Amanda nodded.

"That’s quite useful."

The staff member continued explaining the remaining facilities, including the security system, storage room, and communication network.

After completing the tour, he returned to the living room.

"That covers the main facilities. You can find additional information in your student account."

Ben looked around.

He was quite satisfied with the residence.

It was spacious, had a private training area, and even included a cultivation room. There was little reason to complain.

However, the staff member hadn’t finished explaining everything.

"There’s one more important thing you should know about these residences."

Ben looked at him.

"What is it?"

The staff member brought up another holographic screen.

"Although these mansions are assigned to the top ten candidates, the accommodation is not permanent."

A new set of information appeared.

[Top Ten Residential Privileges]

[Residence: Top Ten Mansion]

[Assignment Period: Three Months]

[Evaluation: Entrance Examination Ranking]

[Renewal Condition: Maintain Top Ten Position]

The staff member explained.

"These ten mansions are reserved for the academy’s most outstanding newcomers. However, the academy evaluates student rankings every three months."

He pointed toward the screen.

"At the end of each evaluation period, the students occupying these residences will be ranked again. Those who remain within the top ten will retain their current accommodation. Those who fall outside the top ten will lose their privileges."

Maya raised an eyebrow.

"So they have to compete for their residences?"

"That’s correct."

The staff member nodded.

"Of course, students who lose their positions won’t be left without accommodation. They will be transferred to the advanced residential area and assigned standard private villas according to their new rankings."

He continued.

"On the other hand, students who improve their rankings can obtain better accommodation. For example, someone ranked outside the top ten can challenge for a position and take over one of these mansions if they achieve a qualifying rank."

Ben looked at the screen.

"So the assignments can change every three months."

"Exactly. The academy wants students to remain competitive. These privileges are not permanent rewards for a single achievement. You must continue demonstrating your abilities to keep them."

Ben nodded.

He didn’t have any objections.

In fact, he found the arrangement reasonable.

The academy was providing valuable resources and accommodation to its most talented students. It made sense that they would have to maintain their performance to keep those benefits.

Amanda added, "You should also remember that the top ten positions aren’t the only way to obtain better accommodation. Senior students have their own ranking system and other methods of earning privileges."

The staff member nodded.

"That’s right. Once the new students complete their initial evaluation period, they will be integrated into the academy’s regular ranking system."

He looked toward Ben.

"Since you ranked fifth, your current residence will remain assigned to you for the next three months. After that, your position will determine whether you retain it."

"Understood."

The staff member smiled.

"Then I’ll leave you to settle in. If you encounter any problems with the residence, you can contact the residential management department through your student account."

He bowed slightly before leaving.

After the door closed, Maya walked toward one of the large windows.

She looked at the garden outside.

"Not bad. You managed to get yourself a mansion on your first day."

Ben sat down on the sofa.

"I only need to stay within the top ten to keep it."

"That’s easier said than done," Amanda remarked. "The other candidates won’t remain idle for three months. They’ll be using the academy’s resources to improve as quickly as possible."

Ben nodded.

He was already aware of that.

Adrian Valcrest, Serena Frost, Kael Draven, and the others were all talented individuals. Their families could also provide them with considerable resources.

However, Ben wasn’t particularly worried.

He had his own advantages.

The system, his White Ruination ability, and the resources he had accumulated gave him plenty of room to grow.

As long as he continued improving, maintaining a high position shouldn’t be too difficult.

Maya turned away from the window.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Ben took out his student identification card and examined the information displayed on it.

"I want to understand how the academy’s ranking system works and take a look at the available resources."

Amanda nodded.

"That’s a good idea. You should also visit the resource department and check the options available for your Epic-rank Resource Selection."

Ben remembered the reward he had received.

He hadn’t chosen it yet.

"Can I choose it immediately?"

"Yes. Your admission registration is complete, so you can visit the resource department whenever you want. However, I suggest checking the academy’s available facilities first. You might find something worth spending your Academy Credits on."

Ben agreed.

He had three thousand Academy Credits. Although it wasn’t an enormous amount compared to what the academy’s older students possessed, it was still a useful starting point.

He opened the information device and began browsing through the academy’s facilities.

Several categories appeared.

[Academy Facilities]

[1. Training Department]

[2. Resource Department]

[3. Technique Library]

[4. Mission Hall]

[5. Research Department]

[6. Medical Department]

[7. Student Ranking System]

Ben opened the student ranking section.

A brief explanation appeared.

[Student Ranking System]

[Evaluation Period: Three Months]

[Ranking Criteria: Overall Performance]

[Main Evaluation Categories:]

[Combat Strength]

[Mission Completion]

[Contribution Points]

[Academic Performance]

[Special Achievements]

Ben read through the information carefully.

Unlike the entrance examination, the academy’s regular ranking system wasn’t based solely on combat ability.

Students could earn points through missions, research, contributions, and other activities. Their overall performance would determine their positions.

’So I don’t necessarily need to fight everyone to maintain my ranking.’

That was convenient.

He could focus on whatever activities provided the best rewards and advancement opportunities.

Ben continued browsing.

He also found information about the mission hall, where students could accept assignments and earn Academy Credits, Celestial Stones, and other resources.

There were missions ranging from simple collection tasks to dangerous combat assignments.

Some even involved leaving Jupiter and exploring nearby planets.

Ben became interested.

He had always wanted to explore the wider universe, and Jupiter Academy seemed to provide plenty of opportunities.

However, he decided not to rush into anything.

He still needed to settle in, understand the academy’s rules, and collect his remaining rewards.

Amanda glanced at the information device in his hands.

"You should take some time to rest today. The entrance examination was quite demanding, and you have plenty of time to explore the academy."

Ben looked up.

"Are you leaving?"

Amanda nodded.

"Yes. Maya and I have some things to take care of before returning. We’ll visit you again later."

Maya walked over.

"Don’t forget to contact me if you need anything."

Ben smiled.

"I won’t."

After exchanging a few more words, Amanda and Maya left the mansion.

Ben watched them leave before closing the entrance.

He was finally alone in his new residence.

He walked through the mansion once more, familiarizing himself with the rooms and facilities. Then he entered the cultivation room and examined the energy-gathering formation.

The formation was functioning properly.

Ben sat down in the center and took out his student identification card.

There were several things he wanted to check.

First, his student account.

Second, the academy’s available resources.

And finally, the Epic-rank Resource Selection he had received for securing fifth place.

He opened the resource department’s catalogue.

A large list of resources appeared on the screen.

Ben began reading through the available options.