Of course, Chen Qi didn’t enter the tavern just to eat and drink for free. That would be too simple-minded.

Everyone knew taverns were crowded, chaotic places—and perfect for gathering intel.

His top priority now was collecting information about cracks near Damarro Town and aiming to become a Transcendent as soon as possible!

The moment he stepped into the tavern, a wave of cheap alcohol stench rushed at him.

Inside, the place was packed—every single table was taken.

Luckily, there was still a seat near the bar.

Chen Qi sat down at the front and picked up a bottle of warm wine, taking a swig.

Warmth spread through his body instantly.

Nice!

Even though this watered-down wine couldn’t hold a candle to Earth’s happy cola, at the moment, it was already a pretty decent treat.

As for grilled meat? That had been snatched up already.

Fortunately, there were still plenty of peanuts.

Chen Qi cracked open some peanuts while eyeing the lively crowd.

Fueled by booze, people were rambling on:

“Hey hey hey, did you hear? A star reporter from the White Dove Times captured footage of the Four Pirate Emperors in action!

Over five hundred ships racing across the sea!

It’s a massive operation—they’re searching for that legendary treasure!”

“Treasure? What’s that got to do with us country folks? Bro, better read the Witch Times.

That affair scandal involving the countess? Her thigh in that photo? Mwah—divine!”

“Boss! Congrats on your daughter coming back early from the Royal University!

Who needs to buy a house in Moonstone City anymore—you can go straight to the capital!”

Chen Qi’s attention quickly locked onto the center of the tavern crowd—

The tavern owner, and his precious daughter.

The reason everything was free tonight was because the tavern owner’s daughter had returned early from the Shell Kingdom’s Royal University to take a post in Damarro.

Wait—Royal University!?

Chen Qi’s heart skipped a beat.

In the New Sun World, universities or academies were strongholds of Transcendents.

They offered students access to resources unimaginable for ordinary people and rigorous strength-based assessments.

Anyone affiliated with an academy was guaranteed to have serious skills.

Since every player started as a Spirit Awakener, academy starts were widely regarded as the best possible openers.

And the Royal University of the Shell Kingdom was the most prestigious school in the entire nation!

Every year, it produced god-tier talents across the globe—

The Royal Seven Freaks, the Imperial Capital's Triumvirate…

Many unforgettable NPCs hailed from this university.

Of course, in a remote town like this, producing one Transcendent who got into the Royal University could transform a family’s fortune and social class.

No wonder the tavern owner was so generous with his celebration.

Chen Qi munched his peanuts excitedly, continuing to observe.

People were gathered around the tavern owner, heaping praise and envy on him.

Meanwhile, his daughter stood silently behind him, saying nothing.

Chen Qi peeked at her through the crowd.

She had silver-white hair, wore a mage hat, and was dressed in a plain white apprentice robe.

A textbook young mage apprentice.

Tapping into the original owner's memories, Chen Qi recalled—

She was about his age, a genuine prodigy.

At five, she had already shown incredible talent, dragging around a wooden staff twice her size, waddling on tiny legs, practicing spells on rocks.

Later, with the help of a benefactor, she’d successfully gotten into the School of Books at the Royal University.

She should be around sixteen this year.

Wait… she looked familiar…

Chen Qi frowned. She seemed like a relatively well-known character on the game forums too.

At that moment, an impatient man pushed through the crowd and spoke in a strong voice:

“Everyone, mind giving me a moment? I’d like to speak with our new instructor.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but his round belly and luxurious gold-embroidered suit screamed high status.

Chen Qi took a second to recall—

That man was none other than Mayor Damarro, the highest-ranking figure in Damarro Town!

He controlled the town’s most valuable asset: the Crack Mine, and managed just about everything else in town.

He was the richest and most powerful man on the island.

Basically, the island’s feudal lord.

Though wealthy, Mayor Damarro was famously stingy.

After blowing half his fortune in his youth, he became obsessed with building a powerful family.

So he’d spent big money and effort to marry a strong but unattractive wife.

The crowd respectfully parted when the mayor spoke.

Most people knew to give him face.

The tavern owner’s daughter blinked her blue eyes in confusion as she looked at him:

“?”

Clearly, this guy was here for her—the star student.

A sixteen-year-old Transcendent graduate from the Royal University—her future easily outshone that of Mayor Damarro.

Chen Qi thought quietly to himself.

The mayor stepped forward, awkwardly stooping, then realizing how silly he looked, raised his head back up.

He seemed to be pushed by two conflicting forces. Finally, under the impatient gazes of the crowd, he forced a smile:

“Little An—no, I should call you Instructor of Damarro Town now. From now on, I’ll be entrusting the town’s young people to you…

Do you remember me? I’m Mayor Damarro. I helped out quite a bit with your father’s tavern when it was being built.

I have two kids—a son and a daughter. They’re both of age to take the academy exams. They’ve even reached Tier 1 Transcendents.

Both of them did well, passed the initial screening… but failed in the first round…”

Failed the first round? Chen Qi frowned like an old man on a subway.

As a strategy guide creator, he’d helped plenty of players prep for academy openings.

To get into a Transcendent academy, you had to pass five exams.

The first round? Just a basic written test.

Failing the first round and you call them “gifted”? Get real.

Mayor Damarro paused, then added:

“I still think they’ve got potential. With enough effort, reaching Tier 3 isn’t impossible.

An, you came from the Royal University—do you know of any way to get them in too?”

She graduated from there, not founded the university... Chen Qi mentally rolled his eyes.

From her appearance, the tavern owner’s daughter seemed quiet and a little air-headed.

“Ah?”

Faced with such a request, her already blank expression turned even more robotic—like a lagging android.

Her head tilted, scanning the room.

Then, all of a sudden, her blue eyes met Chen Qi’s.

Why are you looking at me!?

Chen Qi froze mid–peanut-crack, stunned.

The wine and peanuts at the bar were free, right...?

Wait a sec.

Why is everyone suddenly staring at me!?

No time to think.

In the very next moment, the tavern owner's daughter picked up her staff, moved with feline agility, and instantly appeared right in front of Chen Qi.

The distance between them shrank rapidly—now just a hand’s breadth apart.

A powerful aura pressed down on him.

“???”

The sudden move made Chen Qi visibly nervous.

She tilted her head and leaned in, like a greedy merchant examining a precious artifact.

Sniff, sniff, sniff—

She inhaled, then exclaimed excitedly:

“Blood… and seawater… and the scent of a Spirit Awakener.”