Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Wen Jing followed the navigation to find the free dormitory area. The environment certainly wasn't as good as rented houses, but they were single rooms, not shared dorms.

She was surprised to find that the dorm supervisor in the duty room was actually an Awakener.

But considering the Awakener Academy also served as an Awakener activity center on the planet, it wasn't too strange.

The dorm manager was a woman with a mature air. After hearing Wen Jing's identity number, she skillfully tapped on a smart terminal and then instructed her:

"The dorm you've been assigned to is Room 2023 in Building 1, which is this building next door."

"Two rules for living here: no fighting, no bringing people to stay overnight. Also, if you damage any facilities, you'll pay full compensation."

Wen Jing raised her hand: "I also wanted to ask about my smart terminal..."

"A drone will drop it off at your dorm soon. Everything you buy at school from now on will be delivered the same way. Better wait till next month to ask anything else—I won't be on duty then." The dorm manager spoke quickly, eyes never leaving the smart terminal.

"...Okay." Clearly, she was over being on duty.

Leaving the duty room, Wen Jing climbed 20 flights without pausing for breath and arrived at her dorm.

Opening the door, she saw a square, wide-open room, about twenty-plus square meters.

White walls, white floors, prison-style furniture (desk and bed), and a separate bathroom. Only the most basic facilities, nothing more.

Compared to the fancy villas only the top ten students got to live in, it was pretty rough.

Wen Jing shook her head, walked over, and sat on the bed. Just as she was about to keep browsing the student handbook, she heard the doorbell ring.

Opening the door, she saw a metal sphere hovering in the air.

Upon seeing Wen Jing, the drone had already completed its identity scan. Its shell split open like an egg, revealing the package inside.

"The smart terminal has arrived!"

Wen Jing excitedly took the package and brought it inside to open it. Inside, besides a square piece of metal, there was also a set of Zherang Academy uniforms.

The uniform was slim-fit and perfectly her size. The main color was black, with streamlined red accents, matching Zherang Academy's style.

She felt the material—special and durable. The tag said it was self-cleaning.

No wonder this was Awakener-exclusive; it served as both a school uniform and everyday combat gear.

Then Wen Jing put the uniform down and pressed her finger onto the square metal. The next moment, a translucent screen appeared in her vision:

"Adjustable terminal appearance..."

"You have selected appearance 3"

The square metal flowed like liquid and quickly transformed into a bracelet shape.

Wen Jing took off her old communicator, which she'd used for years, and put on the bracelet-shaped smart terminal.

With that action, the metal softened again and fully conformed to her skin.

Retinal display, pupil tracking... all basic stuff. Compared to her old communicator that could only do holographic projection, it was like comparing an old brick phone to a smartphone.

More importantly, back on the School District Star, the principal had told Wen Jing that these smart terminals were Awakener-only. No matter how rich, non-Awakeners could only buy knockoff versions. Only Awakener terminals had special functions and permissions.

"User: Wen Jing"

"Identity Number: 9407691"

"Compatibility: 1% (updatable)"

"Wild Body Grade: F"

"Enrollment: Zherang Academy - Small Frame Wild Body Major - Year 1 - Winter Term"

...

"Credits: 620"

"Points: 20"

After identity verification, a full set of personal info popped up in front of Wen Jing.

Seeing 'Points' again, she quickly opened the student handbook to find out what they were for.

From the conversation between Dean Bai and Old Xie, it seemed 20 points were way more valuable than 2 million Credits, and 2 million Credits was nearly half her life loan!

The student handbook was packed with info, but well-organized. As she read, Wen Jing gradually understood.

Awakener Academies were all about grades—'grades' meant 'strength'.

But unlike the school district, grades here weren't based on test scores, but on course credits.

First, as a 'basic attribute' of Awakeners, for every 1% of compatibility, you earned 1 course credit.

Every new student started with a base score of 1 course credit upon enrollment.

When their compatibility improved, they could hit the testing center anytime to update it.

Wen Jing checked her current ranking:

"Course Credits: 1"

"Class Ranking: 1"

"Year Ranking: -"

"New students don't have a year ranking. As for class ranking... it seems to be based on unified exam scores," she figured.

Besides improving compatibility, attending classes could also earn course credits. Finishing a course gave you the course credits tied to it.

So it seemed like just showing up to class would boost your grades? Of course not.

Wen Jing glanced at the course schedule and was floored.

Out of all the courses she could take, only two required public classes were free. All others were electives, each with a little shopping cart icon, meaning they cost points.

And you couldn't buy them with Credits—nope, it was the 'Points' Dean Bai had specifically warned her about.

"Academy Algorithm Basic Edition (Mandatory), +3 Course Credits"

"Primordial Introduction (Mandatory), +1 Course Credit"

Compared to the scraps from mandatory courses, the paid electives handed out way more course credits.

"Secret Technique: Energy Amplification Technique [Energy Amplification Technique] (Elective), +50 Credits, Price 10 Points"

"Combat Skill: Level 1 Energy Shield (Elective), +10 Credits, Price 5 Points"

"Combat Skill: Weapon Infusion (Elective), +5 Credits, Price 5 Points"

...

Wen Jing also saw in the list the ability Tyno used when teaching everyone the algorithm on the spaceship.

"Secret Technique: Mental Imprinting [Mental Imprinting] (Elective), +50 Credits, Price 50 Points"

Considering the credits you can earn from these courses, the points spent aren't 'equivalent.'

After all, buying a course costs points, but earning credits requires verification—confirming mastery of the skill.

It's likely that those seemingly 'cost-effective' courses aren't that easy to earn credits from.

Following the course's shopping cart icon, Wen Jing absentmindedly opened a shopping website titled 'Points Mall.'

Here, she saw many more items, anything an Awakener could possibly need was available.

"Rapid Algorithm Flagship Edition, Limited Time Offer, 998 Points"

"Heat Radiation-type Ability compatibility up to 80%! Flame Blade exclusive tutorial video, 45 Points."

"Suitable for Awakeners of at least F-Grade, starting at 400 Points."

"Ether Medium Bulk 500g/1 Point"

"Blood Orchid, treats all Wild Body injuries below C-Grade, starting bid 6500 Points."

...

Whether it's various algorithms, exclusive tutorial videos sold by Awakeners, rare resources from the Primeval, or auxiliary materials—everything is for sale, purchasable only with points, not even with credits.

Wen Jing also saw a window to exchange points for credits: 1 point could be exchanged for 100,000 credits, but there was no reverse channel to exchange credits for points.

Fortunately, Dean Bai had advised her to choose points—some would surely exchange points for credits, but it would definitely be a seller's market, at a premium.

Shaking her head, she closed the tempting mall and began checking ways to earn points.

Aside from trading, the most direct way to earn points was to increase credits.

After enrollment, every thirty days, each class settles its rankings, with the top three students in credits receiving point rewards.

Every hundred and twenty days, each grade holds a Grade Ranking Tournament, awarding credits and points based on their performance, with the top ten earning the most points.

Mid-year, the most significant event is the 'Academy League,' gathering students from three academies. Achieving good rankings there earns massive credits and points, enough to create a huge gap.

Why are winter-born students at a disadvantage? Why do conglomerates rarely have children in winter? Because winter-born students only have half a year to grow before the league, competing against students who have studied several quarters longer.

Seeing this, she recalled the six-month promise mentioned by ■■■ on the spaceship, realizing it referred to this league.

"So I'm basically going in circles now!"

Wen Jing couldn't help but complain.

The nearest class ranking settlement was thirty days away. To earn the top-three point rewards, she first needed credits.

To get credits, she needed to earn points to buy elective courses.

"Is there any other way to earn credits?"

Soon, the student handbook gives her the answer—challenge the Trial Tower.

The Trial Tower was a cutting-edge technology exclusive to the Awakener Academy.

What ordinary people use for entertainment is called virtual space, but the Trial Tower is a more advanced 'virtual reality environment.'

Battling inside it doesn't affect the real body—ordinary virtual space can do that too. But what makes Virtual Reality special is its ability to sync an Awakener's energy, allowing Awakeners to use various combat skills and secret techniques.

Conversely, it can also simulate opponents of the same level, making it a great place to measure an Awakener's overall strength.

Each person can challenge the Trial Tower three times a month, with the highest score recorded for credits.

Additionally, enemies in the Tower update monthly, so memorizing strategies won't guarantee credits.

"Interesting." Wen Jing's eyes lit up.

With three attempts available, she decided to try now.

The Trial Tower couldn't be accessed through a smart terminal; it required going to a special location with specific equipment. Without delay, she changed into her new uniform and left.

Ten minutes later, Wen Jing arrived at the 'Trial Tower Center' via navigation—a futuristic, elliptical building.

Zherang Academy was vast, with many wide open spaces, but here, people came and went, with numerous entrances and exits, making it quite lively.

As soon as she entered the hall, all eyes were on her.

Especially her fellow freshmen, who after a moment of shock quickly opened their smart terminals and frantically sent messages— Wen Jing has come to challenge the Trial Tower!