"This room is not bad, just a bit spacious…"
Zhang Chen looked around and then went up to the attic.
The area here was the same as downstairs, but the roof was a bit irregular.
He pushed open the door and found a large platform outside, perfect for enjoying the view.
"I like this open-air space; it's a bit similar to my manor's, just smaller!"
Zhang Chen said with satisfaction.
"Living alone in such a large room is truly too extravagant!"
Mushroom of the Underworld remarked.
"Yes, it is indeed a bit empty. For now, it's fine. It's just a temporary place to stay!"
Zhang Chen stood on the terrace and gazed into the distance.
He saw a luxurious and imposing hotel in the distance, bearing the emblem of the Academy for Specialized Study of Supernatural Abilities.
Zhang Chen looked intently, and the tiny windows, like sesame seeds several kilometers away, instantly became clearly visible.
Borrowing Zhang Chen's sight, the Mushroom of the Underworld also saw the scenery within the windows.
"Good heavens, carpet! This bed looks very comfortable and high-class, and there's a game console too?!"
"Wait, is this a student dormitory? It's even more luxurious than the faculty dormitories! This is outrageous!"
The Mushroom of the Underworld exclaimed in surprise.
"Hmm, this is probably what that old dormitory supervisor mentioned earlier, the favoritism the world's administrators show towards ability users, which has fostered their spoiled nature."
"You can tell from the accommodations. That window earlier was on a high floor, and there are also lower floors."
"If I'm not mistaken, the higher the floor, the more luxurious the room, which signifies a student's stronger talent."
"Conversely, no matter which year you are in, if your talent is insufficient, you will be placed on the lower floors."
"It really is a snobbish school. No wonder so many teaching assistants got into trouble, yet not a single student received even the slightest punishment."
"It seems it's time to give these fragile little children a proper lesson."
Zhang Chen "conjured" a bottle of drink from his ring and gulped it down.
"Yes, let these fragile fellows know how powerful the Master is!"
The Mushroom of the Underworld said, flattering him from the side.
Zhang Chen's gaze was fixed on the distant hotel, and he remained silent. He could sense an energy that did not belong to this world, similar to the energy of creation and destruction, and also somewhat similar to the energy of the time meteor, yet distinct.
Given how weak all energies in this world were, Zhang Chen found it remarkable enough to sense the existence of this special energy.
As for distinguishing the differences, it would require sufficient energy data.
Moreover, this energy was resonating with the powers of creation and destruction within Zhang Chen, as well as the power of time, causing Zhang Chen's own energy to become involuntarily active.
"The time meteor guided me here; there must be a reason!"
"As the saying goes, haste makes waste. Since this energy is not so easily captured..."
"Then I'll quietly be a teaching assistant and search for the source of this energy."
Zhang Chen murmured to himself.
The next morning, after finishing his ablutions, Zhang Chen headed to the East Campus as required by the teaching schedule.
The teaching methods at the Academy for Specialized Study of Supernatural Abilities were entirely different from ordinary schools.
Most students in regular schools spent their time in classrooms learning theoretical knowledge, with occasional laboratory courses to deepen their understanding of what they had learned.
However, the Academy for Specialized Study of Supernatural Abilities advocated practice.
Many abilities could only be mastered through constant practice.
Sometimes, a trick could be explained in just one or two sentences, but mastering that trick might take weeks, months, or even longer of practice.
Class Seven's practice ground was located in the East Campus.
There was a stretch of forest with monsters pre-placed by the academy to enhance students' practical combat experience and improve their ability proficiency.
It was currently Practice Month, and for the entire month, students from the class would be conducting field exercises there.
When Zhang Chen arrived, a man in teacher's attire was staring blankly at a stone monument at the entrance of the camp.
The stone monument was inscribed with: Freshman Class Seven Ability User Camp.
Below it, written in green monster blood, was: Trespassers will die!
"Hello, you must be the substitute teacher, Teacher Qin!"
Zhang Chen greeted him proactively.
"You must be Assistant Zhang!"
Upon seeing Zhang Chen, the otherwise dull-eyed Teacher Qin's eyes flickered with a hint of joy, and a ridiculously wide smile involuntarily spread across his lips, as if he were about to burst into laughter.
"Yes, I'm here to take over your duties and be responsible for the safety of these students for the next half month!"
Zhang Chen stated.
"You're responsible for their safety? Hahaha, Assistant Zhang, you're quite amusing!"
"These guys don't need any safety supervision because they themselves are more terrifying than monsters!"
"We are the ones who need to worry about safety, Assistant Zhang. You must take good care of yourself! If you encounter danger, you can take leave to recuperate!"
"What if you were to resign... or something unexpected happened... then I would have to substitute again... I don't want any more interaction with these guys!"
Teacher Qin said nervously, glancing around as he spoke.
It was as if something unseen was staring at him.
"Uh... anyway, thank you for your hard work!"
"Also, this is my first time being a teaching assistant, and I don't know much. Are there any particular things I should be aware of?"
Zhang Chen asked proactively.
"Thank goodness you asked, let me tell you!"
"Do you know why I've been able to substitute for so long without any incidents?"
Teacher Qin asked back proudly.
"I... I don't know. I hope you can enlighten me!"
Zhang Chen asked humbly.
"It's very simple; the principle is on this stone monument!"
"As long as we don't enter the camp, they won't actively provoke us."
"These guys want freedom and unrestraint, while we want to complete our course assignments peacefully."
"This way, everyone is happy, wouldn't that be great?"
Teacher Qin shared his insights smugly.
"So... you mean... you haven't entered this camp at all for the past half month? You've just been standing at this entrance?"
Zhang Chen found this utterly preposterous!
"No, no, you can't say that. I came to the camp to greet them on the first day of class."
"Then I was kicked out, so strictly speaking, I wasn't outside the entire half month!"
Teacher Qin corrected him with apparent "precision."
"Alright, thank you for your advice. I know what to do!"
Zhang Chen politely thanked Teacher Qin and then slowly walked into the camp entrance.
"Hey, didn't you listen to what I said? Don't go in!"
"It's over, it's over. It looks like I'll have to endure another half month here!"
Teacher Qin's face was filled with pain and helplessness.