Back at the front desk office, the staff member processed Bai Wushang''s S-rank qualification confirmation with utmost speed.
"There''s just one small issue I need to discuss with you. Although the academy has set four resource tiers for new students, because the number of S-rank students is extremely scarce, the dormitory resources are only divided into A, B, and C tiers. No separate dorms were built specifically for S-rank freshmen...""In principle, S-rank freshmen live in A-rank dorms. However, the number of enrolling students this year far exceeds previous years, and the A-rank dorms were all assigned this morning, with none remaining... Right now, I can only assign you to a B-rank dorm and give you a little extra compensation. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Yes, no problem," Bai Wushang nodded.
"Alright, Student Bai, congratulations again on becoming an S-rank freshman of our academy. This is your identity wrist device. It binds all your basic information and serves as your access pass and key for entering and leaving the academy. Please keep it safe."
Bai Wushang reached out and took it. It was a black circular chip with a very technological feel, two centimeters in diameter and no more than two millimeters thick, as thin as a metal sheet.
"Place it flat on your left wrist. It will automatically adhere to your skin and won''t fall off even during strenuous exercise."
Bai Wushang did as instructed. For a moment, his wrist felt a faint tingling, numb sensation, like a weak electric current passing through.When he looked again, the black chip was already firmly attached to his skin. Shaking his arm vigorously didn''t dislodge it in the slightest.Even when Bai Wushang stood still, the black chip would automatically change to a color similar to his skin tone. Without careful inspection, one couldn''t tell there was anything on his wrist.
"Has technology become this advanced already?" Bai Wushang muttered to himself, examining it repeatedly with fascination.
The staff member smiled proudly. "Don''t underestimate its small size. It incorporates hundreds of functions, including communication, maps, portable keys, data transfer and storage, a coin shop, and more. Everyone in the academy has one. Just a light tap can display a holographic projection screen..."
Under the staff member''s patient guidance, Bai Wushang spent over ten minutes mastering the basic functions of the wrist device. He instantly felt like a door to a new world had opened, and couldn''t help but praise it:"This wrist device is really great! All practical functions, and so easy to operate..."
"Yes, we are also very grateful to the inventor of the wrist device. She brought tremendous changes to our work and lives!"The staff member sighed with emotion for a moment, then became serious again:"Student Bai, today''s schedule for new students is just awakening soul power and confirming everyone''s corresponding resource tier. There''s nothing much scheduled for the afternoon. You can go directly back to your dorm to rest now. At six o''clock this evening, the academy will send out the next notice. Please check and confirm it promptly."
Before parting, the staff member walked Bai Wushang to the door and reminded him: "Student Bai, the academy campus is very large. Before you have a suitable beast companion for transportation, it''s recommended you take the academy''s guide cars. With your S-rank freshman privilege, it''s even completely free."
"Understood, thank you."
After bidding farewell to the staff member, Bai Wushang walked out the door and was nearly blinded by the dazzling sun.It was around two or three in the afternoon, the sun burning fiercely. It was hot and stuffy outside, yet the paths were still crowded with people and beasts – young men and women looking vibrant, and beasts of all shapes and sizes.
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"Is the long-awaited academy life starting just like this?"Looking at this beautiful scene, a smile touched the corners of Bai Wushang''s mouth, and his mood became as bright as the sun.
Clearing his mind, Bai Wushang basked惬意 (qièyì - comfortably/contentedly) in the sun for two or three minutes before opening his wrist device to check his information.
[Name: Bai Wushang][Student ID: 20210115][Qualification Certification: S-Rank Freshman][Dorm Address: District 11 - B-Rank - Building 477 - Room 101]...
Somewhat clumsily, he entered the dorm address into the wrist device. The map showed the distance was a full thirty-two kilometers – shockingly far indeed!Scrolling down to the submenu, Bai Wushang found the "Guide Car" section. Dozens of different models immediately popped up for him to choose from.He casually selected the fastest single-person model. With a "ding" sound, the screen displayed the prominent message: "Calling, please remain stationary and wait."
"Beep—Beep!"A few minutes later, a fully enclosed black car, less than two meters long and shaped like a bullet head, slowly stopped in front of Bai Wushang.The car was empty, the latest model featuring intelligent autonomous driving – convenient and fast.
Holding his wrist device up to the sensor on the outside of the guide car to verify his identity, the car door automatically swung upwards. Bai Wushang ducked inside and fastened the safety belt as instructed.Before boarding, Bai Wushang had wondered how these fully automated guide cars ensured safety. If they went fast, weren''t they worried about colliding with other moving objects?
It wasn''t long before Bai Wushang understood. On the surface roads, the guide car moved slowly at a constant speed, avoiding obstacles with 100% certainty. Only when it entered a dedicated underground tunnel did the speed max out, racing wildly, making him exclaim with excitement.
About ten minutes later, the guide car returned to the surface, driving smoothly among rows of low-rise buildings with similar styles, finally stopping in front of a specific building.Bai Wushang spotted the sign with the number 477 at a glance, knowing he had arrived. As the guide car''s electronic prompt sounded, he unhurriedly pushed the door open and got out.
Unlike the retro-style buildings made of bricks and tiles he had envisioned, these dormitory buildings were constructed with metal plates and metal bricks, looking more like small fortresses – secure and solid, yet distinctive.Each building was about thirty meters high but only had five floors, with four units per floor, meaning one building could house twenty students.
Using his wrist device, Bai Wushang passed through the main entrance of the corridor and his own dorm room door, finally stepping into his new home.He took a quick look around. It was a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-bathroom layout, with a total area exceeding one hundred square meters. The decoration style was simple yet not plain, and all basic furnishings were provided.Notably, the indoor ceiling height was over five meters, likely a comprehensive design consideration for students whose beast companions might be large.
"This is just a B-rank dorm? What kind of luxurious setup must the A-rank dorms be?"Bai Wushang muttered this complaint silently, but overall, he was quite satisfied – it was spacious enough, functional enough, quiet, and elegant.
Lowering his head, he focused his attention on Milky Way. Bai Wushang was surprised to find that the little creature had fallen asleep again, nestled against his chest, its small mouth slightly open, drooling a little, lost in some sweet dream.
"Could it be that, although the little one is a mutant, it still inherited the nocturnal habits of Moon Rabbits, so it gets sleepy easily during the day and spends most of its time dreaming?"Bai Wushang mused while gently placing the little one onto the soft bed, giving her small ears a gentle squeeze on the way.
Leaving the bedroom, Bai Wushang headed straight for the washroom without hesitation.After two days of travel and activity, he already smelled a bit. Even if Milky Way didn''t mind, Bai Wushang himself could hardly stand it anymore.
After showering, he comfortably took an afternoon nap抱着 (bào zhe - holding/cuddling) Milky Way. When he woke up, he felt truly refreshed and invigorated, the fatigue of the past two days completely swept away.
"Dong dong dong!"Just as Bai Wushang was planning to delve deeper into the functions of his wrist device, a rapid knocking sound suddenly came from the door.