Clang!! Clang!!
The deep, resonant sound of a copper bell rang out, pulling Leilin Farell from his deep slumber.
He opened his eyes. A slant of morning light streamed through the window, falling directly on his boots.
"Morning already?" Leilin got up, quickly freshened up, and went outside.
"Good morning!"
"Morning, Leilin!" Beilu greeted him, yawning repeatedly, his eyes ringed with dark circles.
"The environment here is truly awful! There are even fleas and mildew stains on the quilt. Good heavens! I can't stay here another minute!" Complaints like this echoed frequently.
These apprentices all came from noble families, accustomed to comfortable lives. Now they couldn't handle even a little hardship.
Nearly everyone was suffering from insomnia, with deep, dark circles under their eyes.
Leilin had been a bit restless the first half of the night, but he'd managed to fall asleep later. He felt much more refreshed than the others now and even had the energy to wander around.
The entire camp seemed to be in motion. Many people were dismantling their tents, and the ground was littered with discarded trash.
Leilin walked quietly, his thoughts churning. "Every year at this time, batches of apprentices risk death to come here and begin the path of a wizard. My journey will also start here!"
"Gather up! Gather up! Everyone assemble by your academy and follow your instructor! Don't wander off!" A white-bearded old man bellowed from the center of the camp.
Using some unknown spell, his voice echoed across the entire camp, sharp and grating on the ears.
"Even louder than a megaphone back in my previous life!" Leilin rubbed his tormented ears and hurried back to the Black Bone Forest Academy camp.
"Hey! Leilin, you're back? Kreweir was just looking for you," Beilu said.
During their time together, Leilin had only managed to match names with faces. He was closest with Beilu.
"Sorry! I wandered too far in the camp and lost track of time. What does Kreweir need?" Apology showed on Leilin's face.
"It's nothing! Instructor Duolote had him count the people. Just tell him when you see him. He's quite pleased with himself right now!" Beilu shook his head.
"Alright. How are we leaving? By ship?" Leilin gazed at the distant blue expanse of the sea. It stretched endlessly, with no sign of any large vessels.
"There aren't even any ships. And judging from the geography, this clearly isn't a good harbor," Leilin thought, a touch of doubt in his mind.
"I suppose? But getting to the other continent will probably take another half a year!" Beilu scratched his head.
"Transportation back in ancient times was too slow. It took about a year just to reach the academy. That time can't be wasted—it needs to be used well!"
Leilin touched the cowhide pouch at his waist, where the three Magic Stones he'd taken from Olin rested, lost in thought.
"By ship? What a naive thought!" A cold, mocking voice cut in.
"Jiamen?" Leilin looked at the male apprentice in the black robe approaching.
"This is the Sea of Death. Any random fish that comes out from here could kill a Knight! There are also many giant beasts, even ancient creatures. They detest human ships and often whip up storms. Taking a ship from here is seeking death!"
"A fish that can kill a Knight?" Leilin's eyes widened. He was still only a Preliminary Knight, not an official one. If what Jiamen said was true, falling into the sea would mean certain death.
Subconsciously, Leilin brought up his physical stats.
"Leilin Farell. Strength: 1.9. Agility: 1.9. Constitution: 1.9. Status: Healthy"
On the Death Prairie, Leilin had taken some wolf meat for research and joyously discovered that the eyeballs of the Scavenging Wolves contained a substance highly beneficial for cultivating the Knight's Breathing Technique. He had collected many on the spot.
Thanks to the contribution of those Scavenging Wolves, his current stats had reached the limit for a Preliminary Knight.
According to the Chip's calculations, all stats reaching 2.0 meant an average physical ability over twice that of a normal adult—the threshold for a Preliminary Knight. Only by awakening one's own Life Energy could one surpass this number.
He clenched his fist, feeling the powerful strength rolling in his palm.
"If I had my Cross Sword now, I'm confident I could hold off a squad of militia! A Knight, whose strength is even greater than mine, can't even compare to a single fish in the Sea of Death?"
Leilin felt a flicker of doubt. "Maybe Jiamen exaggerated, but that the Sea of Death holds immense danger that even wizards can't traverse freely is a fact!"
"Chip! Can you scan the surrounding sea area?"
*Ding!* Excessive radiation sources in the immediate vicinity of the subject, chaotic unidentified force fields causing interference. Unable to scan! The Chip displayed a reminder.
"Radiation sources? Unidentified force fields?" Leilin glanced at Duolote not far away, understanding dawning.
"On our original continent, wizards were few, and various radiation force fields didn't pose much of an issue. The Chip's scanning range could even reach twenty miles. But inside this camp, surrounded by apprentices and official wizards, the interference is too great. The Chip's scanning function is also restricted!"
"What's the precise scanning range now?" Leilin's expression grew solemn.
*Ding!* Precise scanning range: Within 300 meters of the subject! Fuzzy scanning range: Within 1000 meters! The Chip reported back.
"Phew..." Leilin let out a long breath. "Good enough. That distance is sufficient for danger warnings. But once we reach another continent or the academy, this reconnaissance range will probably shrink even further!"