Chapter 53: First Class

Ben was still browsing through the academy’s information when he suddenly received a notification on his student identification card.

[New Notification]

[Notice: Student Orientation]

[All newly admitted students are required to attend the introductory orientation session.]

[Location: First-Year Student Lecture Hall]

[Starting Time: 2 Hours]

[Attendance: Mandatory]

Ben looked at the notification.

’So the first class is starting in two hours?’

He opened the attached schedule.

It contained information about the upcoming classes, orientation sessions, and other activities planned for newly admitted students.

The first session was titled Introduction to Jupiter Academy.

It wasn’t a regular academic class. Instead, it was an introductory session designed to help new students understand the academy’s structure, rules, facilities, and cultivation system.

Still, it was listed as their first class, and attendance was mandatory.

Ben didn’t intend to miss it.

He had only just joined Jupiter Academy. There was no reason to skip the first session, especially when it might contain useful information.

He closed the resource catalogue and looked at the time again.

’Two hours. I have enough time.’

He decided to check the rest of his schedule.

The first week was mostly dedicated to orientation and introductory lessons. Regular classes would begin afterward, and students would receive their individual timetables based on their chosen courses and cultivation paths.

There were also several assessment sessions scheduled during the first month.

Ben found that interesting.

The academy didn’t simply teach students and leave them to cultivate on their own. It regularly evaluated their progress and provided opportunities to improve.

He continued reading until he received another notification.

[Student Schedule Updated]

[First Session: Introduction to Jupiter Academy]

[Location: First-Year Lecture Hall, Building A]

[Time: 2 Hours]

[Please arrive at least ten minutes before the session begins.]

Ben put away the information device.

Before leaving, he glanced toward the sofa.

Morbius was still lying there with his eyes closed, while Lumi had almost finished absorbing the Celestial Crystals.

"Are you two coming with me?" Ben asked.

Morbius opened one eye.

"Why would I?"

"Just asking."

"Then my answer is no. I have no interest in listening to some human instructor explain things I already know."

Ben shrugged.

"Suit yourself."

He looked toward Lumi.

The little White Slime immediately moved closer to him.

Ben smiled and gently patted her.

"You’re staying here too. I’ll bring you something later."

Lumi wobbled slightly, seemingly understanding his words.

Ben returned her to his familiar space before looking at Morbius again.

"Don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone."

Morbius snorted.

"Do you think I’m a child?"

Ben gave him a look.

Considering Morbius’s personality, he wasn’t entirely confident about leaving him alone.

Still, the mansion had a security system, and Morbius was intelligent enough not to cause unnecessary trouble.

Ben left the cultivation room and headed toward the entrance.

Before stepping outside, he checked his student identification card once more. The map showed the route to the First-Year Lecture Hall.

It was located in the central academic district, not too far from the residential area.

He activated the mansion’s automated security system and left.

The eastern residential district was quite lively.

Several students were walking along the roads, while small autonomous vehicles transported people and supplies between different buildings.

Ben noticed that most of the students he passed were wearing academy uniforms.

Some were walking in groups, discussing their entrance examination results, while others were heading toward different facilities.

He checked the map and followed the designated route.

After walking for around fifteen minutes, he arrived at the central academic district.

The buildings here were considerably larger than those in the residential area. Several enormous structures stood side by side, each displaying its department name.

Ben could see the Training Department, Research Department, and Technique Library from where he stood.

There were also several large lecture halls.

He continued walking until he reached Building A.

A holographic sign above the entrance displayed:

[Jupiter Academy]

[First-Year Student Lecture Hall]

Ben entered the building.

The interior was spacious, with several corridors leading to different lecture rooms. A holographic display near the entrance showed the schedules for the day’s sessions.

He checked his information device.

[Lecture Hall: A-01]

[Floor: 3]

He followed the directions and soon arrived at a large hall.

Several students were already gathering outside.

Some were familiar faces from the entrance examination, while others appeared to have been admitted through different examination sites.

Ben recognized a few of the top-ranked candidates.

Marcus Veyron was standing near the entrance, talking with two other students. When he noticed Ben, he briefly raised his hand in greeting.

Ben nodded in response before entering the hall.

The lecture room was enormous.

Rows of seats were arranged in a semicircular formation, facing a large stage at the front. A massive holographic screen occupied the wall behind the stage.

There were enough seats to accommodate several hundred students.

Ben glanced around and chose a seat near the middle.

He wasn’t particularly interested in sitting at the front, but he also didn’t want to sit too far away.

After settling down, he looked around.

Many students were talking among themselves.

Some were discussing their examination rankings, while others were comparing their abilities and cultivation levels.

A few seemed to have already formed small groups.

Ben didn’t pay much attention to them.

Instead, he opened his information device and checked the academy’s schedule again.

The orientation session was expected to last around two hours.

It would cover the academy’s history, departments, facilities, student regulations, ranking system, and other important information.

There would also be a question-and-answer session at the end.

Ben decided to pay attention.

Although he could learn most of this information from the academy’s database, hearing the explanations directly might help him understand how things worked in practice.

A few minutes later, someone took the seat beside him.

"Ben Parker, right?"

Ben turned his head.

A young man with short brown hair was looking at him.

Ben recognized him as Daniel Reed, the participant he had helped during the Survival Trial.

"Daniel?"

Daniel smiled.

"Glad you remember me."

"Of course. How are you feeling?"

"Much better. The academy’s medical department treated my injuries after the examination. I was discharged yesterday."

Ben nodded.

"That’s good."

Daniel glanced at the empty seats around them.

"I didn’t expect to see you here. I heard you were ranked fifth."

"That’s right."

"That’s impressive. I barely managed to enter the top fifty."

Daniel smiled awkwardly.

Ben shook his head.

"You did well enough to get admitted. That’s what matters."

Daniel nodded.

"True. Anyway, thanks again for helping me during the Survival Trial. I probably wouldn’t have passed without you."

"It wasn’t a big deal."

"It was to me."

Before Ben could reply, the lights in the lecture hall dimmed slightly.

The conversations gradually stopped as a middle-aged man walked onto the stage.

He wore the standard Jupiter Academy instructor uniform, and a small badge on his chest identified him as a senior instructor.

He stood in front of the holographic screen and looked across the hall.

"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Jupiter Academy."

His voice carried clearly throughout the room.

"I’m Instructor Howard. I’ll be responsible for conducting today’s introductory session."

He raised his hand.

The holographic screen behind him lit up.

[Jupiter Academy]

[Established: 3,200 Years Ago]

[Main Campus: Jupiter]

[Affiliated Campuses: Multiple Planetary Regions]

[Student Population: Classified]

Instructor Howard looked at the students.

"Some of you may already know a great deal about this academy, while others might have only heard about it through your families or instructors. Regardless of your background, I suggest paying attention."

He paused.

"From today onward, you are students of Jupiter Academy. Your future opportunities will depend heavily on how you make use of the resources available here."

Ben focused on the screen.

The instructor began explaining the academy’s history, its organizational structure, and the different departments.

He also explained that Jupiter Academy was not simply an educational institution.

It was a massive organization that provided cultivation resources, training facilities, research opportunities, and access to various missions across different planets.

Students could develop their strength, learn new techniques, conduct research, and even participate in expeditions.

The academy also maintained connections with numerous families, organizations, and other powerful forces throughout the region.

"However," Instructor Howard continued, "you should not assume that being admitted here guarantees success."

The screen changed.

[Student Development]

[1. Cultivation]

[2. Combat Training]

[3. Knowledge and Research]

[4. Missions and Exploration]

[5. Contributions and Achievements]

"Your cultivation is important, but it isn’t the only factor that determines your future. A student who only focuses on increasing their realm while ignoring their other abilities may eventually find themselves at a disadvantage."

He looked across the hall.

"Jupiter Academy provides opportunities for all kinds of students. Whether you specialize in combat, research, alchemy, formations, or another field, you will find resources that can help you improve."

Ben listened carefully.

This was useful information.

He had initially planned to focus mainly on cultivation and combat, but the academy seemed to offer considerably more opportunities.

He might be able to learn alchemy, formations, or other useful skills as well.

Instructor Howard continued explaining the different departments.

The Training Department handled combat instruction and provided access to various training grounds.

The Technique Library contained cultivation methods, combat techniques, and other knowledge.

The Resource Department managed cultivation materials, rare treasures, and exchange services.

The Research Department focused on studying abilities, energy systems, artifacts, and other advanced subjects.

The Mission Hall organized assignments and expeditions for students.

Finally, the Medical Department provided treatment and recovery services.

Each department had its own requirements, and some of the advanced facilities were restricted based on cultivation level, student rank, or contribution points.

Ben made a mental note to explore them later.

The instructor then moved on to the academy’s student ranking system.

"Now, let’s discuss something many of you are probably interested in."

The screen displayed a ranking list.

[Student Ranking System]

[Evaluation Period: Three Months]

[Ranking Factors:]

[Combat Performance]

[Mission Completion]

[Academy Contributions]

[Academic Performance]

[Special Achievements]

"As you already know, the academy evaluates its students every three months. Your performance during this period will determine your position in the rankings."

He paused before continuing.

"The top-ranked students receive additional privileges, including access to better cultivation facilities, special training programs, and rare resources."

Ben glanced at the list.

It was similar to what he had read earlier.

However, the instructor provided more details about how the ranking worked.

"Your entrance examination ranking will grant you certain initial privileges, but it will not guarantee your position in the regular student rankings. Once the first evaluation period begins, everyone will compete under the same general rules."

He looked toward the students.

"That means even someone who ranked first in the entrance examination can fall behind if they fail to maintain their progress."

Ben nodded slightly.

That was reasonable.

He had already learned that his mansion was only guaranteed for three months.

After that, he would need to maintain a position within the top ten to keep it.

Instructor Howard continued explaining the importance of Academy Credits.

Students could earn them through missions, contributions, competitions, and other activities. They could then exchange those credits for resources, techniques, and access to special facilities.

He also explained that certain privileges could only be obtained through student ranking or special achievements.

The session continued with an explanation of academy regulations.

Students were prohibited from causing serious harm to other students, stealing resources, damaging academy property, or interfering with official examinations and missions.

However, the academy did allow competition.

Students could challenge one another, participate in approved duels, and compete for rankings and rewards.

The important distinction was that all such activities had to follow the academy’s rules.

Ben listened without interruption.

There was still plenty of information he needed to learn, but this introductory session was giving him a useful overview.

After explaining the regulations, Instructor Howard moved on to the upcoming academic schedule.

"Your regular classes will begin next week. During the remaining days of this week, you will attend introductory sessions and complete the initial student assessments."

The screen changed again.

[First-Year Student Schedule]

[Orientation Sessions]

[Initial Cultivation Assessment]

[Ability Evaluation]

[Course Selection]

[Academic Registration]

Instructor Howard explained that the assessments would help the academy understand each student’s current abilities and recommend suitable courses.

Students would also be allowed to select additional subjects depending on their interests and qualifications.

Ben became particularly interested in the course selection.

He wanted to learn more than just combat techniques.

Alchemy, formations, artifact creation, and other subjects could be useful to him in the future.

’I’ll have to check the available courses once registration opens.’

He continued listening as Instructor Howard explained the remaining details.

By the time the first hour had passed, Ben had gained a much clearer understanding of how Jupiter Academy operated.

However, the instructor wasn’t finished yet.

He moved on to explain the academy’s secret realms and exploration programs.

"Some of you may have already checked the information available through your student accounts. However, I want to emphasize that entering a secret realm without proper preparation is extremely dangerous."

The screen displayed several images of different secret realms.

"The academy maintains numerous exploration zones. Some are designed for beginners, while others contain dangers that even experienced cultivators must approach carefully."

Ben paid close attention.

This was particularly relevant to his plans.

Instructor Howard explained that students needed to obtain the appropriate permits before entering most secret realms. Some exploration sessions were organized by the academy, while others could be accessed individually.

He also warned that students should never assume the information provided in the database covered every possible danger.

"An exploration permit grants you permission to enter. It does not guarantee your safety."

A few students chuckled at the remark.

Instructor Howard smiled faintly.

"Remember that."

He then moved on to the final section of the presentation.

After another twenty minutes, he closed the main presentation and looked across the hall.

"That concludes the introductory lecture. Before we finish, I’ll allow some time for questions."

Several students immediately raised their hands.

Ben remained seated, listening to the questions and answers.

One student asked about the ranking system, while another wanted to know how to obtain access to advanced cultivation facilities.

A third asked whether students could accept missions immediately after admission.

Instructor Howard answered each question in turn.

Eventually, Ben decided to ask something himself.

He raised his hand.

Instructor Howard noticed him.

"Yes, student. Go ahead."

Ben stood up.

"I’d like to know whether newly admitted students can select courses from different departments or if we’re restricted to subjects related to our innate abilities."

Instructor Howard nodded.

"That’s a good question."

He brought up another screen.

"Students are free to select courses from different departments as long as they meet the required qualifications. Your innate ability may influence the recommendations provided by the academy, but it does not restrict your choices."

Ben nodded.

"Thank you."

He sat down.

That was exactly what he wanted to hear.

He could study different subjects without being restricted to a single path.

After answering a few more questions, Instructor Howard announced the end of the session.

"Your next orientation session will be announced through your student accounts. Make sure to check your notifications regularly. You are now free to leave."

The lights returned to normal.

Students began standing up and leaving the lecture hall.

Ben picked up his information device and checked his schedule.

[Orientation Session: Completed]

[Attendance: Confirmed]

[Next Scheduled Activity: Initial Student Assessment]

He put the device away.

His first class at Jupiter Academy was finally over.

Although it had mostly been an introductory lecture, he had learned quite a bit about the academy’s structure and opportunities.

Daniel approached him as they left the hall.

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

Ben glanced at the time.

"I’ll probably visit the resource department and look into my reward selection."

Daniel nodded.

"That sounds good. I’m thinking of checking out the training facilities."

They exchanged a few more words before going their separate ways.

Ben stepped outside the building and opened the academy map.

There were still plenty of places he wanted to explore.

But first, he needed to decide which resource would be most useful for his next breakthrough.

He glanced toward the central district.

’Let’s see what the resource department has to offer.’