Chapter 268: Metaphysics Class
Most of the potion course was still focused on theory. Practical components wouldn’t begin until around next semester. This semester’s primary goal was to familiarize students with the properties and characteristics of most foundational extraordinary materials—what absolutely could not be fused together, what had excellent compatibility, and several common foundational formulas.
Simply put, the first half of the semester relied heavily on rote memorization to build a foundation. For Xu Zhi, this was almost laughably easy.
A single extraordinary plant required memorizing vast amounts of information—its appearance, traits, what effects it produced when paired with certain materials, which substances it repelled, appropriate timing, and dosage. Things that gave ordinary students headaches only required Xu Zhi to glance over them a few extra times before committing them entirely to memory.
Potion studies were broad and required extensive memorization, yet their grade weight was relatively low. As a result, students were noticeably more distracted in this class compared to others.
The reason for the low grading weight was simple: potion-making was not a talent every extraordinary individual possessed. Students only needed to grasp basic knowledge and master some “common sense.” If someone demonstrated genuine talent in this area, they would then be specially cultivated. After all, potion-making represented wealth.
No student with aptitude in this field would refuse to delve deeper. Even extraordinary individuals—no, precisely because they were extraordinary individuals—had an even greater need for money than ordinary people.
So although the grade weight was small, potion class remained popular. Everyone wanted to test whether they had the talent, and everyone needed the foundational knowledge.
On the podium, the teacher projected an extraordinary plant and began explaining its detailed information. Xu Zhi listened while flipping through her textbook, committing everything to memory. With her current mental strength, multitasking posed no difficulty. As she skimmed, she noticed something.
Most extraordinary plants nowadays were cultivated artificially from seeds brought back from the Lost Lands.
In other words, the real world produced very few “native” extraordinary plants.
The same applied to extraordinary creatures. Most had either escaped from the Lost Lands, been infected and assimilated by it, or been captured and bred artificially. Truly native extraordinary lifeforms were rare.
This had also been mentioned in history textbooks.
Most high-quality attribute cores were obtained through hunting in the Lost Lands. Many precious extraordinary materials could only be acquired by entering them.
It seemed that the Lost Lands were the true source of all things extraordinary. No wonder their entry quotas were so highly coveted.
Potion class passed quickly for Xu Zhi. The teacher did not test her, only gifting her a set of equipment before class as a gesture of goodwill. Xu Zhi felt a slight regret at earning no credits from this lesson—but what came next was the class she had been eagerly anticipating: Metaphysics.
Of course, “Metaphysics” was what Xu Zhi privately called it.
Having prepared herself mentally during the break, she handled her classmates’ attempts at conversation far more smoothly this time while walking to the next classroom.
She had realized something about herself: when survival pressure was high, her acting skills and patience were abundant. But when the environment relaxed and the sense of crisis diminished, her true nature tended to surface more easily.
That wasn’t good. She needed to maintain the act more convincingly.
With that thought in mind, she kept a gentle smile and responded politely—if somewhat neutrally—to the circle of classmates surrounding her. They were extremely curious about her, chattering endlessly, asking about everything.
She also noticed that the girl she had previously frightened with her impatience was walking behind them, casting her a subtle look.
That look seemed to complain silently: Why were you so impatient and fierce only with me?
Xu Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly and pretended not to see it.
What could she do? Bad timing. She had simply caught her at her least patient moment.
The second classroom was located at the very top level. When Xu Zhi arrived, she discovered it was… open-air?
How novel. Were they really going to stargaze?
This time, when she casually chose a seat, several classmates who had just chatted with her and found her “approachable” sat nearby.
They looked at her with admiration and envy. Though they continued chattering, whenever Xu Zhi caught those gazes, she felt perhaps enduring it a little longer wasn’t so bad.
The break between the first and second classes was short. Soon, the lesson began. This time, the teacher was finally an elderly man.
Sometimes, an extraordinary individual’s strength could be judged by appearance—though only under specific circumstances. For example, a teacher employed at the Light Institute who appeared elderly must have lived through long years. His strength would undoubtedly be formidable.
Was the Metaphysics teacher actually the strongest of them all?
Before entering the classroom, the elderly teacher had already noticed Xu Zhi at the center of attention.
The special recruitment class was known for its uniqueness. Each student admitted carried considerable pride. None submitted easily to others, nor were they inclined to form factions. At most, two or three would stick together. A scene like this was unprecedented.
And the one they surrounded was a new face. That must be Xu Zhi.
He was not surprised.
It was inevitable.
Humans were drawn to strength. Extraordinary individuals, in particular, possessed this tendency to an extreme degree. Beyond that—
As he stepped into the classroom, he looked toward Xu Zhi’s direction. “It seems you’ve all become somewhat acquainted with our new classmate.”
“It’s rare to see you gathered around a single person.”
At his words, expressions shifted subtly across the room.
He continued, “This is not a bad thing. You should remember what I said in the very first lesson.”
“The more powerful an extraordinary individual is, the brighter their star-fortune and the broader their destined path. Contact with such a person will, to some extent, influence your own.”
The strong naturally attracted followers—even if only through gazes or increased attention.
And clearly, on the very first day this extraordinarily talented new student transferred into the class, that inevitable “attraction” had already begun to reveal its charm.
