John was about to leave and go to his room to meditate. He didn't really plan to exercise much anymore as his seal system was finished and he felt he had good control of his body now.

But he was stopped by someone.

"They stole half my magic stones earlier."

"Ok?"

He wasn't going to give back the magic stones that he had won from his little fight.

Soon four people had surrounded him. They weren't looking for a fight. They just wanted him to return the magic stones stolen from them.

"If you guys want your magic stones back. Take them from the guys who stole them from you. I haven't taken anything from you. These are my magic stones."

Soon he was told all sorts of stories, like how someone's father sacrificed themselves to acquire some magic stones. How their family had spent everything they had to give them a chance to become a wizard. The more John listened... the more he didn't care.

He got so annoyed by the sob stories that he just decided to give them the magic stones to shut them up.

"Fuck it. How many did they steal from you? How many from you?"

Soon John was down to 25 magic stones

He gave 15 to Oliver.

"My debt has been paid off."

He then felt the chain around his soul disappear.

"Good. If it was greedy, I would've had to kill the avatar of a supreme being!"

While John was meditating in his room. He heard a knock on his door.

"Come in."

It was someone unfamiliar to John. Well, they should have been unfamiliar. The truth was John's spiritual sense extended out in a radius of 1000 meters. He knew everyone on the ship. He might not know their names, but he could recognize them.

John had thought about sealing his spiritual sense. But since it didn't really inconvenience him, he left it alone. More information about his environment was never a bad thing. His mind could handle the information. He also didn't constantly have his spiritual sense running. He just would occasionally use it.

It was quite a powerful ability.

The person that walked into John's room was someone who had been watching his battle earlier in a corner of the ship.

"I saw your fight. Who is your teacher? That isn't how knights fight."

John spoke:

"What's it to you?"

"Fair enough. My curiosity was just killing me. I have no bad intentions."

John pretended to be mysterious.

"Even I don't know the name of my teacher. When I was younger, I helped an old beggar on the street by giving him a silver coin. He tapped my head with his finger knocking me out. When I woke up I was in the wilderness. He was nearby meditating under a waterfall. He asked if I wanted to inherit his dao."

"Dao?"

"Yes. That's right. I may not know his name as he died before telling me. But I do know his technique. It is a form of martial arts. Called 'Refining Cauldron Body'."

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"Martial arts... what is that?"

"It is many ancient fighting styles. A branch of 'Refining Cauldron Body' is 'Elementary Skin Refinement Technique', this style of martial arts is special, because not only can it be used for fighting. Its stances can be used for meditation."

John began to demonstrate the forms of the technique. Some of what he said was lies, but like all good lies. It had real truths mixed in.

When John was balancing on a single finger. Xavier couldn't help but gasp.

"How strong are you? To be able to support your entire weight on a single finger..."

"It's just cheap tricks. I've been stronger then average since I was a kid."

"I see..."

Xavier held out his hand.

"I am Xavier Muun. My talent is 4."

John shook hands with him.

"Lucas Aternaz. Talent is 3."

"If you don't mind. Since we have nothing to do, would you teach me the forms for your technique?"

John had already taught the basics to a few people in this world. What's the harm in teaching another?

"I'll teach you all the forms for a magic stone."

"Deal!"

John began to teach Xavier skin refinement. He found out that this guy's physique actually was pretty good! Within a week, he had reached iron level.

"Your talent in body refinement is monstrous!"

What John didn't know, was that Xavier was already a grand knight! Someone who had ignited his life force.

Xavier was now able to support his entire body while balancing on two fingers.

John praised him.

"I have taught others. But you are the first one to grasp the essence of it so quickly!"

"To be honest. This is an incredibly foreign technique. It doesn't match any of the knight training I've learned. I'd say 1 magic stone was a steal!"

John now had 11 magic stones.

John spent the rest of the trip sparring with Xavier. He made for a good training partner.

----------------------------------------

Xavier took a deep breath while covered in sweat.

John didn't even look tired.

"Do you not tire!? I concede!"

"I'm just warming up!"

"I concede!"

Xavier passed out.

Like this, John made a friend.

Soon, Oliver had recruited 22 people. They had arrived at the academy.

The academy had an entire campus.

But there was something unique about this academy.

Instead of having a shield or security. They had a rather unique form of security.

The entire campus, except for inside of buildings. Everything was powered by a formation to be constantly on fire.

This fire was blue and covered the entire campus.

There was a single building at the front of the campus that lacked the fire.

Oliver spoke:

"Follow me, you'll need a quasi magic artifact to be able to not burn to death."

Oliver led them into the registration building.

They lined up outside and went in one at a time. Soon it was John's turn.

"Name and talent!"

"Lucas Aternaz! 3."

"Age?"

"16."

"Which one recruited you?"

"Oliver."

"Do you have the tuition?"

"Yes."

John handed over 10 magic stones. Leaving himself with a single one.

"Good. Here are your robes. You only get three. They are quasi magic artifacts. The flames around the campus will move out of your way as long as you are wearing them."

"Don't be a fool and try to go outside without your robes. You'll die a horrible death!"

"Got it."

"Your recruiter will show you to the gym, cafeteria, library, and restrooms. You can sign up for classes by spending magic stones. Here is your identification card. It is required to open up your room."

John was handed a card with the number 114 on it.

"We also have a few different restaurants if you have the magic stones for something a bit more expensive. The tuition makes all meals from the cafeteria free."

"Excellent. I have a question. Do you guys restrict the library time, or have levels hidden?"

"Why the hell would we do that?"

"So you're saying... I can just go in and read books?"

"That is the point of a library..."

"Are you sure there aren't restrictions?"

"It is open 24/7..."

"Is this heaven?"

"No."

John was quite happy and felt that his magic stones were well spent. He walked into the restroom for this building and changed into his robes. It was completely black besides a blue fire design on it.

He threw his old clothes away.

He then walked out of the building and stood in a group with Oliver as he waited for the other students to get registered.

"I expected them to do a background check or something. Can any person join as long as they have the tuition?"

"Well, you were specifically recruited by me. So you obviously have talent. They are always sending out acolytes to recruit people. The pay isn't bad. You may do it in the future."

"I'll pass..."

John didn't feel like going around to a whole bunch of towns again to recruit people. That would be quite boring. He wanted to read books!

Soon John was shown where the cafeteria and library were at. The general restrooms. The whorehouse. He was shown the different classrooms around campus. He was then shown to his room.

Now you may ask why the academy had a whorehouse. But John didn't know, and he didn't care.

John went to register for classes.

The only thing he could afford was the basic introduction to magic.

So be bought it.

"Let us see what magic system we are working with here."

His timing was also perfect, as this class would be starting in an hour!

He decided to go to the gym and test the equipment for this hour.

He planned to go to the library after the class.