By the time dusk arrived, Slade finally stopped scanning and analyzing.
Although his scanning speed was astonishing, he had still covered only a tiny portion of the enormous library.
This place contained knowledge accumulated over countless years.
A true ocean of knowledge.
There was still an unimaginably long road ahead of him.
But Slade wasn't impatient.
One day…
He intended to become a living library himself.
After leaving the Bone Repository, Slade first decided to visit his inexpensive mentor in an attempt to strengthen their relationship.
Unfortunately, when he arrived outside Gregor's laboratory, he discovered a crooked wooden sign hanging on the door.
DO NOT DISTURB
Left with no other choice, Slade reluctantly headed toward the apprentice dormitories.
Even a top-tier genius like him was assigned shared housing as a first-year apprentice.
Still, Slade had already made up his mind.
If his roommate proved troublesome or if their habits conflicted too much
He would simply move into Gregor's laboratory instead.
Not only would it be safer, but it would also provide more opportunities to build a stronger connection with his mentor.
Following a silent guiding puppet, Slade passed through corridors wrapped in pale white vines before finally arriving at the apprentice residential district.
His assigned dormitory was located within a residential building known as the Bone Nest.
When Slade pushed open the wooden door engraved with crude protective runes, a stale gust of air rushed out to greet him.
The smell carried traces of mildew, old dust, and the faint corrosive scent of negative energy.
The room itself was tiny and barren.
Two stone beds draped with gray curtains.
Two rough wooden desks.
One battered storage cabinet.
The only illumination came from a low-grade soul crystal embedded in the wall, emitting a dim green glow that made the entire room resemble a crypt more than a dormitory.
Slade clicked his tongue internally.
Sleeping in a place like this every night…
It would be a miracle not to develop nightmares.
This academy was enormous, yet every corner of it looked equally miserable.
Did none of these wizards know how to enjoy life?
Why does everyone here insist on living like ascetics?
At that moment, Slade noticed someone already seated cross-legged on the stone bed near the window.
The figure appeared to be attempting meditation.
The moment the door opened, the boy immediately opened his eyes in alarm.
He looked one or two years older than Slade.
His appearance was ordinary, but his complexion carried an unhealthy pallor. Several areas of exposed skin had already begun showing signs of decay from prolonged exposure to negative energy.
His eyes were filled with caution and exhaustion, making it obvious that life in Bone Spire had not been treating him kindly.
The faded gray apprentice robe he wore suggested his background was far from wealthy.
"You're… the new roommate?"
The boy's voice sounded slightly hoarse.
"Yes. Slade."
Slade gave a simple introduction before walking toward the empty stone bed and placing down his few belongings.
"My name's Kevin."
The moment he heard Slade's name, Kevin's expression softened slightly.
A trace of goodwill appeared in his tone.
"I arrived three days before you."
"I heard that this year there's a monster-level genius who rejected two chief mentors and chose… well… a very unusual one."
"I honestly didn't expect it to be you."
"And definitely not as my roommate."
Slade merely smiled faintly without responding.
Kevin seemed to realize he had spoken too much and awkwardly fell silent, though the curiosity in his eyes remained obvious.
He could clearly sense the stable fluctuations coming from Slade's already-condensed Mental Core.
That realization filled him with both envy and bitterness.
No wonder he was considered a top genius.
Kevin himself had yet to even touch the threshold of meditation…
Meanwhile, Slade had already successfully condensed his Mental Core.
After tidying his side of the room, Slade casually sat down on the stone bed.
The surface was rock hard.
Sleeping on it for an entire night would probably leave his back aching and his legs cramped.
Clearly, the academy had no intention of allowing apprentices to live comfortably.
Comfort bred complacency.
Fine.
Meditation it is.
From his belongings, Slade took out the standard meal distributed by the academy cafeteria:
Boiled beans.
Half a piece of roasted meat.
And a bottle of water.
Compared to the high-quality meals he had eaten aboard the ship, the difference was enormous.
Yet even this lowest-grade living standard cost ten contribution points every month.
Of course, if one desired a better lifestyle
That was simple.
As long as you possessed enough contribution points, Bone Spire could provide practically anything.
Noticing Slade chewing on the dry black bread, Kevin quickly pulled out a sealed metal can and awkwardly offered it over.
"Slade… this is honey grapefruit water."
"Want to try some?"
Slade glanced briefly at the drink in Kevin's hand but made no move to accept it.
"Thanks, but water is enough for me."
He casually lifted his own water bottle in refusal.
In this dark and dangerous environment, vigilance toward others was essential.
Especially when it came to things entering your body.
Never touch them casually.
Kevin's hand froze awkwardly in midair before he quietly withdrew it, looking slightly embarrassed.
After finishing his meal, Slade sat cross-legged atop the stone bed and entered meditation.
Meanwhile, Kevin attempted to resume meditating on the opposite bed.
But only moments later, he sensed something strange.
Large amounts of negative energy were rapidly gathering within the room.
Opening his eyes in confusion, he saw Slade sitting motionless in meditation as streams of dark energy continuously flowed toward him.
Kevin stared blankly.
So this…
Was the difference between geniuses and ordinary people?
The gap felt almost hopeless.
"…How despairing."
Kevin let out a bitter sigh.
He tried to calm himself and re-enter meditation,
But no matter how hard he tried, he could no longer recover the state of focus he had earlier.