Chapter 52: Resources II

Ben opened the resource selection catalogue and began browsing through the available options.

Since he had secured fifth place, he was entitled to select one Epic-rank resource. However, the academy also had a vast collection of other materials that could be exchanged using Academy Credits.

He wasn’t in a hurry to make his choice.

Instead, he carefully examined the descriptions of different resources, paying particular attention to their origins, properties, and potential effects.

There were quite a few interesting options, but most of them were focused on improving cultivation, strengthening the body, or increasing the efficiency of energy absorption.

Although those resources were useful, they weren’t exactly what he wanted.

’I’m looking for something that can awaken a unique sub-ability under White Ruination of Decay.’

Ben continued browsing for a while before realizing something.

The resources listed in the catalogue were only a small part of what the academy had to offer.

There were other ways to obtain rare materials without spending large amounts of Celestial Stones or Academy Credits.

One of them was the academy’s Secret Realms.

Ben opened the relevant section of the information device.

[Secret Realm Exploration]

[Available Secret Realms]

[1. Verdant Ancient Forest]

[2. Sunken Ruins]

[3. Crystal Cavern]

[4. Abyssal Battlefield]

[5. Forgotten Beast Territory]

[Additional Secret Realms: Restricted]

Ben became interested.

Unlike ordinary resource departments, which mainly provided materials in exchange for credits, secret realms allowed students to explore and collect resources themselves.

Of course, they weren’t entirely free. Each realm had its own entry requirements, and some required students to spend Academy Credits to obtain an exploration permit.

However, the cost was generally lower than purchasing rare resources directly from the academy.

More importantly, the resources found inside weren’t limited to the items listed in the academy’s catalogue.

There was always a chance of discovering something unusual.

’This might be a better option.’

Ben began examining the information about each secret realm.

The Verdant Ancient Forest contained numerous plant-type resources, ancient trees, and special fruits. Some of them possessed healing and regeneration properties, while others could strengthen the body or improve one’s affinity with nature.

The Sunken Ruins were remnants of an ancient civilization. They contained abandoned laboratories, ancient artifacts, and various materials left behind by their former inhabitants.

The Crystal Cavern was filled with different types of energy crystals. Some were ordinary cultivation resources, while others possessed unique properties that could influence a cultivator’s innate ability.

The Abyssal Battlefield was considerably more dangerous. It was an ancient battlefield where powerful creatures and cultivators had once fought. Remnants of their energy and various rare materials could still be found there.

Finally, the Forgotten Beast Territory was a secret realm inhabited by numerous unusual creatures. Their blood, bones, cores, and other body parts could be collected as resources.

Ben examined the descriptions carefully.

Each realm had its own advantages.

However, he wasn’t interested in ordinary cultivation materials.

He wanted something that could interact with White Ruination of Decay and potentially awaken an unusual sub-ability.

’The Crystal Cavern and Abyssal Battlefield might be worth exploring.’

He continued scrolling.

A separate section caught his attention.

[Secret Realm Exploration Rules]

[1. Students may enter available secret realms after obtaining the required exploration permit.]

[2. Each secret realm has a designated exploration period.]

[3. Resources collected during exploration belong to the participating students unless otherwise specified.]

[4. Certain areas contain restricted zones that require additional authorization.]

[5. Students must follow the safety regulations of each secret realm.]

Ben read through the rules.

The academy also provided maps and basic information about the dangers inside each realm. However, the information wasn’t always complete, especially when it came to undiscovered areas.

That made exploration more interesting.

’So I can spend a relatively small number of credits to enter a realm and collect whatever resources I find.’

He glanced at his student account.

He currently had 3,000 Academy Credits.

That wasn’t a particularly large amount, but it was enough to obtain several basic exploration permits.

He could also use the Celestial Stones he had received as rewards to purchase additional supplies.

Ben continued examining the available secret realms.

There were several other options, including smaller realms that were accessible to newly admitted students. Some were designed specifically for beginners, while others required a minimum cultivation level.

He found that the academy had categorized them according to their danger levels.

[Secret Realm Classification]

[Low Danger: Suitable for Bronze Realm students]

[Moderate Danger: Suitable for Silver Realm students]

[High Danger: Suitable for Gold Realm students]

[Extreme Danger: Special Authorization Required]

Ben nodded.

Since he was currently in the Silver Realm, he had access to more exploration opportunities than most newly admitted students.

However, he didn’t intend to enter a dangerous realm without understanding it first.

He opened the detailed descriptions of the Crystal Cavern and the Abyssal Battlefield.

The Crystal Cavern contained several rare minerals, including crystals with spatial, elemental, and spiritual properties. Some of them could potentially awaken special abilities when absorbed during a breakthrough.

The Abyssal Battlefield, on the other hand, contained remnants of ancient powers. There were reports of materials that could influence the laws of destruction, death, corrosion, and decay.

Ben’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Materials related to destruction and decay...’

That was exactly the kind of thing he wanted.

White Ruination of Decay was an extremely versatile innate ability, but he had only explored a fraction of its potential.

The Ruination Beasts and Ruination Dimensions were already powerful sub-abilities. However, he wanted to develop other aspects of his innate ability as well.

For example, something related to the decay of energy, the destruction of souls, or the erosion of laws.

A suitable resource might allow him to awaken an ability in one of those areas.

Of course, there was no guarantee.

Even if a resource possessed properties related to decay or destruction, it didn’t necessarily mean that he would awaken the exact ability he wanted. The final result depended on how his innate ability interacted with the material.

Still, exploring these secret realms seemed like a much better option than blindly purchasing resources from the catalogue.

Ben leaned back slightly.

’I’ll need to look into the Abyssal Battlefield more carefully.’

He opened its detailed information.

A holographic map appeared, showing several regions within the secret realm.

There were ruined fortresses, abandoned battlefields, underground passages, and areas where the energy of ancient battles remained particularly dense.

The academy had marked several known resource locations on the map, but there were also large unexplored sections.

Ben studied the information for a while.

Then he noticed another detail.

[Exploration Permit: 500 Academy Credits]

[Recommended Cultivation: Silver Realm]

[Maximum Exploration Period: 7 Days]

[Entry Restrictions: Limited to 50 Students per Exploration Session]

Five hundred credits.

It was affordable.

Compared to purchasing a rare resource directly, the cost was considerably lower.

However, the Abyssal Battlefield was not the only interesting option.

Ben returned to the previous page and checked the Crystal Cavern.

[Exploration Permit: 300 Academy Credits]

[Recommended Cultivation: Bronze Realm]

[Maximum Exploration Period: 5 Days]

[Entry Restrictions: Limited to 100 Students per Exploration Session]

The Crystal Cavern was cheaper and considerably safer.

However, the Abyssal Battlefield seemed more suitable for his needs.

’I’ll decide after checking the other realms.’

Ben continued browsing through the available information.

He was particularly interested in the secret realms that contained unusual resources rather than those focused on ordinary cultivation materials.

As he went through the list, he found several more possibilities.

One secret realm contained the remains of ancient spiritual creatures. Another was filled with poisonous plants and strange organisms that had adapted to extremely corrosive environments.

There was even a small realm where the laws of time behaved differently from those in the outside world.

Ben’s interest increased.

Jupiter Academy had far more resources and opportunities than he had initially expected.

He glanced at the time displayed on his information device.

He had already spent quite a while browsing through the catalogue.

Morbius was still lying on the sofa, apparently asleep, while Lumi continued absorbing the Celestial Crystals.

Ben closed the resource catalogue and opened the academy’s secret realm section again.

’There’s no need to rush. I’ll first understand the available options and then decide where to go.’

He still had his Epic-rank Resource Selection to use.

Perhaps he could find something suitable through the secret realms first. If he failed to find anything useful, he could always return to the resource department and choose from the available rewards.

For now, he wanted to explore the opportunities Jupiter Academy had to offer.

After all, he had only just arrived.

There was no reason to limit himself to the resources displayed in a catalogue when an entire collection of secret realms was waiting to be explored.