Chapter 142 - 139: Xisha Area

Chapter 142: Chapter 139: Xisha Area

The Comprehensive Department, according to information available online, covered a wide range of subjects. Apart from combat, its scope generally included, but was not limited to, the three major branches: Medical, Support, and Soul Beast.

In other words, the Comprehensive Department was a blend of the other three branches, excluding the Arms Department. While students weren’t expected to be as proficient as those specializing in a single branch, a fundamental understanding of each was required.

’When I was applying to the Comprehensive Department, I had already thought it through,’ Li Heng mused. ’Besides being a main combatant, I could also provide support, heal, and occasionally gather intel on enemies.’

’Isn’t that just another type of "support" role?’

’Aside from the tanky types, support roles usually don’t charge to the front lines during a fight. It’s relatively "safer" than other departments, which was the main reason I applied.’

However, since Wen Ruyan had now asked the question, Li Heng thought for a moment before tactfully expressing his view that the Comprehensive Department leaned toward a support role.

After Li Heng answered, Wen Ruyan asked a few other students, whose responses were more or less in line with the descriptions found online.

After several students had answered, the smile vanished from Wen Ruyan’s face. She spoke with great solemnity, "Everyone, remember this: while the Comprehensive Department may not be the primary combat force, our mission is even more critical. In battles both inside and outside Dungeons, it’s the Comprehensive Department that actually makes the greatest contribution. And when we’re dealing with Breaking-Boundary creatures, our department is the very first line of defense!"

Wen Ruyan’s words silenced the crowd of students. The color drained from some of their faces, especially when she mentioned "Breaking-Boundary creatures."

After all, Breaking-Boundary creatures were synonymous with disaster!

"Alright! I just wanted to give you a reality check, but don’t get too tense. Life at Meteor University is actually quite relaxed. Now... I’ll show you around the campus!"

Wen Ruyan had first made the atmosphere heavy, only to then tell everyone to relax. The students didn’t know what to make of it, but they were still interested in seeing the sights of the Meteor University campus.

After all, in a way, Meteor University could be considered an ancient walled city.

Walking from the open ground into the city proper required passing through a gate. However, this gate was much smaller than Meteor University’s main entrance. The walls within the city were also not as high as the outer ones, serving merely as partitions.

Stone bricks, wooden houses, small banners hanging from storefronts... from the ground up, the buildings showed no trace of modern elements. Along the way, they saw many people dressed in historical-style clothing.

’Those who looked to be around our age are probably fellow students or upperclassmen. As for the slightly older-looking ones, I’m guessing they’re likely faculty members,’ Li Heng thought.

However, as they passed a few mature-looking individuals, Wen Ruyan mentioned that they weren’t faculty, but "graduate students"!

Soul Energy Universities, just like regular ones, offered graduate programs. However, Wen Ruyan didn’t elaborate on the details.

As Wen Ruyan led them, it wasn’t just the freshmen who were looking around. The upperclassmen were watching them, too, occasionally whispering amongst themselves.

In addition to the basic facilities, the historical-style streets had vendors selling various items: steamed buns, fruits, weapons, and other miscellaneous goods. Li Heng’s gaze swept over them; everything was related to soul energy, with prices ranging from high to low.

What left the deepest impression on Li Heng was a fruit vendor. He had never seen any of the fruits on display before. Some were labeled as rare, and their prices in academic credits were quite high.

The Comprehensive Department’s dormitories were in the western part of the city. They were a series of buildings resembling traditional courtyard houses. According to Wen Ruyan, each of these dorms could house five to eight people.

Before military training, dorms would be assigned based on the rankings from the Dungeon college entrance exam. The housing is co-ed; there are no separate dorms for men and women.

At this, most of the boys shared a knowing smile. Some of the girls said they didn’t mind, while a few others just grumbled a little.

After the first military training, students who have formed teams can submit an application to be housed in the same dorm. Couples can also apply and may be assigned to a single dorm, pending approval.

The Comprehensive Department has plenty of dorms. Even after this year’s freshmen move in, there will still be vacancies. These are available for students who submit an application for special arrangements.

Dorm assignments are based on the All-Federation rankings. Typically, it starts with eight people to a courtyard house, and they come fully furnished.

"Each courtyard is well-maintained, so you don’t need to worry too much about sanitation. As for meals, you can either cook for yourselves or buy food from the street vendors. Your other option is the public cafeteria. For the first three months, meals there are free for freshmen. After that, you’ll have to pay with academic credits."

"You all must be tired today. Go get settled in and rest. Wait for an official announcement from the university. The military training schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, but I’ll let you know the moment it is."

After Wen Ruyan had finished arranging all the students except for Li Heng and given them some final instructions, she turned to him.

"Li Heng, you won’t be staying here. You have a single room. Come with me."

Li Heng nodded. This was part of the arrangement he’d made with Lu Shengming: a premium, single-person, vintage-style dorm. It was necessary, considering he would be grinding Dungeons.

Following Wen Ruyan’s lead, Li Heng walked for another ten minutes or so until they arrived in a new area.

This area was different from the more common, vintage-style buildings he had seen earlier. There were no courtyard-style houses here either.

"I don’t know what this area’s original name was, but it was later given a more pleasant one: Xisha. You could say the Xisha Area is the heart of our Comprehensive Department."

Following Wen Ruyan’s unhurried pace, Li Heng saw several upperclassmen dressed just like him in white robes or long gowns, all made of silk brocade.

When these upperclassmen saw Li Heng was also wearing a white robe, they all stopped what they were doing to look at him.

"So this is the new junior joining Xisha this year? He has such fair, smooth skin!"

"Don’t scare him off. But he really is fair-skinned. No calluses on his hands, either. They’re quite nice to look at."

...

He could hear them whispering. At first, Li Heng was a little pleased by the compliments, but when he realized that the ones commenting on his face and "nice hands" were men, his expression shifted slightly.

His pace inexplicably quickened.

"Hello, Teacher Wen! Is this the new junior?"

While some were content to whisper, a few more outgoing students, seeing a new junior had entered the Xisha Area, boldly walked over, their eyes darting toward Li Heng.

"Hello, seniors. My name is Li Heng! I look forward to getting to know you all!"

’I can’t just stand here and be stared at like a monkey in a zoo,’ Li Heng thought. So, he took the initiative and responded with a broad, friendly smile. After all, the female seniors who approached were genuinely beautiful!