The new exchange plan ignited a wave of enthusiasm throughout the academy.
Many students began forming groups, planning to explore and go on expeditions. Not only would this help them strengthen their abilities, but they could also earn scores through these adventures.
If they acquired any valuable items, there was no need to sell them to outside shops. They could directly go to the academy’s logistics department to exchange the items for either mana stones or scores.
As a result, Rose, after only a few days of rest, informed Daniel that she and a few friends were heading out again.
“Father, we’re planning to return to the borderlands,” Rose said. “There are still spell beasts that haven’t been dealt with, and I want to bring back more of those unfortunate children.”
“Don’t worry, Green will be coming with us.”
Daniel didn’t stop her.
He handed her several crystals.
“Instant-cast magic amulets,” Daniel explained. “For you and your friends. Keep them with you at all times. If you encounter danger, they will warn you and protect you from a fatal attack.”
“Yes, Father.” Rose happily left.
This time, they would be facing a true adventure without the protection of teachers.
Daniel wasn’t too concerned.
The magic amulets he gave to Rose contained a trace of his mind power, allowing him to sense Rose’s location at all times.
After sending his daughter off, Daniel began organizing the various magical books he had purchased earlier.
After two major shopping sprees, he had accumulated dozens of magic books.
This gave Daniel a deeper understanding of the world’s magical system.
Long ago, the first people to awaken magical abilities did so by accidentally obtaining various magical items, such as consuming magical herbs or mana crystals, which granted them special powers.
These people intermarried to ensure that their children were born with powers that surpassed ordinary humans.
At that time, families were the most powerful forces, monopolizing all magical items.
Later, ordinary people, unwilling to be oppressed, sought new paths.
Some awakened through battles with spell beasts.
Others befriended more peaceful spell beasts and learned their methods of gaining strength.
This marked the discovery of absorbing natural energy from the air.
This breakthrough shattered the family monopolies, leading humanity into an era of rapid development. Various classes and abilities emerged, and humanity’s greatest gift—creativity—flourished.
The invention of magic arrays, alchemy, and mana-powered items gradually made humans the dominant force on the continent, while spell beasts were forced to retreat to remote corners.
This was the history of how human power developed on the continent.
“Fascinating, but with obvious flaws,” Daniel concluded. “Due to multiple awakenings and innovations, there are far too many ways to enhance one’s power!”
For an ordinary person to find the perfect method for themselves, it would take a great deal of time and money.
Even academy students, after going through talent testing, still had a chance of choosing an unsuitable method of enhancement.
“Hmm… I could create a foundational manual that anyone could use,” Daniel suddenly had an idea. “It doesn’t need to be extremely powerful, but it should be accessible to anyone—no matter their age or condition—without side effects.”
“It would be like a universal key to unlock the door. Once they open that door, the path they choose would still be up to them.”
“This way, the continent’s overall combat power would increase, and we’d fully enter an era of high magic—chaotic, but more interesting.”
This idea was far ahead of its time in this world, something no one had ever conceived before.
But Daniel came from Earth.
To him, creating a universal foundational system was like promoting literacy for the masses.
People need to be able to read before they can dive into more books and gain more knowledge.
“Let’s create a prototype first.”
Daniel began working.
The mana core engraved in the heart would be the power source, while the foundational texts would extend from it! Each person’s internal mana pattern was different and complex, but the common point for all humans was that they shared the same basic organs.
The heart was the core, extending to the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—these four pillars. From there, it spread to the gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder, and triple burner, and then to the blood vessels.
Even if someone was born without or later lost an organ, it wouldn’t affect the system too much.
Mana would form a virtual extension in place of the missing organ, allowing it to function as intended.
“As long as the heart is still beating and you can breathe, you can continuously absorb natural energy from the environment,” a new training manual began to take shape in Daniel’s mind. “It’s gentle but reliable! And if mana stones are used, the process will speed up.”
He kept refining his calculations.
Whenever he found an error in the text, he corrected it.
Whenever he found a connection that wouldn’t work, he fixed it.
Whenever there were unnecessary, redundant paths, he streamlined them.
And so, Daniel became fully immersed in the process.
He closed his eyes, and if it weren’t for the faint aura of power surrounding him, one might think he was asleep.
This state of deep focus lasted for fifty days.
During that time, Daniel never left his room.
When Vice Headmaster Aldric tried to visit him, he was blown back by a gust of wind before he could even get close.
Realizing that Daniel had entered a state where he couldn’t be disturbed, Aldric hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on Daniel’s door and placed magical dummies as guards to ensure no one interrupted him.
Even when Rose returned from her adventure and wanted to see Daniel, she couldn’t get in.
Another thirty days passed.
Finally, Daniel opened his eyes.
“It’s done.” A transparent diamond-shaped crystal floated in front of him, emitting a faint silver glow, as if a magic array were spinning within it. “I didn’t expect it to take so long.”
Inside the crystal was a brand-new training manual.
This was something entirely unprecedented.
Daniel’s creation was revolutionary. Not only could it actively absorb natural energy, but it could also passively draw energy from magic arrays, spell beast cores, and even the scattered power of other humans.
As long as someone had the access rights granted by Daniel, they could copy the manual from the crystal.
Anyone, no matter their gender or age, could use it.
Although the results would vary from person to person, it truly allowed everyone to train.
“Now it needs a good name.” Daniel pondered for a moment. “I’ll call it Genesis.”
He had a feeling that his creation would gradually change the entire continent.
It might even give rise to a new world.
News of Daniel emerging from his room quickly spread throughout the academy.
In addition to the concerned students rushing over to greet him, several teachers came as well. After confirming that Daniel was in good health, Rowan and Isolde began reporting recent events.
“Daniel, there haven’t been any major incidents lately.”
“What about the spell beasts at the border?”
“The spell beasts seem to have calmed down. Our academy’s students have gone on several expeditions, and perhaps because of that, both the Moonstone family and House Windwhisper sent out people as well. Most of the larger spell beasts have been eliminated.”
“However, some students still remain at the border, wanting to hone their skills. Just as you instructed, they’ve established strong friendships with the local residents.”
Daniel nodded.
The Moonstone family and House Windwhisper were too slow to act.
By now, the border towns revered only Crossbridge Academy, greatly expanding the academy’s sphere of influence.
The students of Crossbridge were sincere and dedicated, unlike the old hands from the two other families. They brought their own food and supplies, saving many people, and even took in many children, bringing them back to Crossbridge Academy.
This gave rise to the notion in those border towns that “joining Crossbridge Academy is an honor.”
In short, the academy’s influence at the border had completely overshadowed the other factions.
“And what about the people joining us?” Daniel asked. “My requirement is that character comes first.”
“Yes, we’ve conducted various assessments,” Rowan replied. “Over five hundred free mages and knights applied to join, and after the assessments, one hundred fifty passed.”
Daniel nodded. “Once we’re sure of their character, have them start with one or two simple tasks. After identifying their strengths, allow them access to the Treasure Vault exchange system.”
This would provide newcomers with more motivation and loyalty to the academy.
Even if someone’s strength wasn’t up to par, that was only temporary.
Daniel knew that with all the resources he controlled, as long as there were enough people, he could produce an army of experts.