Beyond the magnificent gate was an even more magnificent auditorium.
Zheng Qing held his breath and looked around.
It was a huge auditorium.
It was difficult to describe it with concrete concepts; Zheng Qing could only feel that the auditorium was extremely large.
The center of the auditorium was empty, with no structures.
The iron-grey floor looked sturdy and beautiful, giving a sense of security. Intersecting silver-white lines were embedded in the floor, interspersed with hollowed-out characters, forming a mysterious and grand pattern.
The pattern looked like a formation, and Zheng Qing examined it carefully.
Above the auditorium was a black, desolate darkness like the night sky. Large orbs of light, as big as buckets, floated slowly along mysterious trajectories, bringing a gentle starlight to the entire hall. The ethereal celestial music, coming from an unknown source, further enhanced the extraordinary and refined atmosphere.
Hundreds of dark giant pillars stood in a circle around the hall, each pillar adorned with a lifelike, fierce-looking monstrous beast.
Between the giant pillars were grey stone railings.
On the walls behind the railings, there were occasionally one or two unique arched doorways. These archways sat quietly, their mottled marks telling of their long history and rich experiences.
On the walls between the archways were huge murals.
Zheng Qing followed the crowd, turned right at the entrance, and strolled along the corridor, looking at the connected murals.
They depicted the history of Wizards.
Most of the murals on the first floor depicted the history of Wizards' interactions with Baiding:
Starting from the time of primitive, raw-eating savages, Wizards comprehended Heaven and Earth and provided relief to all living things;
Later, as the White Dings World continued to develop, their attitudes towards Wizards varied:
Some were panicked, avoiding them like snakes and scorpions, and confronting them angrily;
Some were reverent, worshipping them as gods, prostrating themselves;
Some were curious, engaging in question-and-answer, at ease.
Further on, Wizards went into hiding, rising and falling amidst the vastness, causing sighs of lament; interspersed within were Great Wizards casting spells, saving common people, battling fierce beasts, resisting the great power of Nature, a grand history, continuous and endless, making one yearn for it.
After circling once, the murals disappeared at the staircase leading to the second floor.
Zheng Qing, still wanting more, peered into the deep stairwell, and a chilly aura swept past him.
He shivered and quickly pulled his head back.
The new students who had finished viewing the murals were scattered in a circle, standing in the corridor on the first floor between the pillars. Zheng Qing noticed that the new students from the four Academies were now mixed together, no longer clearly separated as before.
Only Xiao Xiao and Li Meng remained beside him in red robes.
Older students, at some unknown point, appeared in the corridors of the second, third, and higher floors. They stood quietly behind the railings, looking respectfully towards the center of the hall.
“New students, new students, gather in the center of the hall.” A loud voice resounded in the auditorium.
The tall Wizard with silver hair draped over his shoulders stood silently in the center of the hall, holding his spell book.
A chubby Male Wizard in black robes stood beside him, frantically flipping through his spell book with sweat on his brow, repeatedly shouting in a loud voice, “New students, new students, gather in front of me! No need to line up by Academy! Just gather together!”
The new students hesitated and walked into the hall.
The condescending gazes of the older students and the silent gaze of the silver-haired Wizard were full of pressure, making them feel somewhat uneasy.
The large orbs of light at the top of the hall seemed to sense a mysterious summons, converging towards the center along various trajectories.
As more and more light orbs gathered, the center of the auditorium seemed to be bathed in daylight.
The new students stood trembling in the daylight.
The entire hall was silent.
The silver-haired old man slowly began to speak:
“You may call me Professor Charles. Given the special circumstances today, you are permitted to be excused from more ceremonies. The new student orientation will be delayed. Later, your supervising Professors will notify you. You may briefly tour the campus and then rest as soon as possible.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the new students in front of him, seemingly waiting for differing opinions.
The auditorium was silent, and Zheng Qing felt that several people around him were even holding their breath.
The old man nodded kindly and continued:
“Next, I will outline a few requirements for your conduct at the University.”
“Firstly, the University prohibits all forms of violence, whether physical or ideological. Therefore, you had best master more ways of solving problems besides violent conflict. Regardless of who it is, drawing a spell book against someone means a warning from the University and academic credits deducted.”
“Secondly, your accommodation has been arranged by the University. For other daily living knowledge, the University will arrange for second-year older students to provide you with appropriate guidance. Later, the older students will take you to further understand the University.”
Professor Charles extended his index finger and pointed to the older students on the second floor.
“Finally, you must understand that the beginning of your University life signifies the beginning of your independent and autonomous existence. I hope everyone can be responsible for their own actions and uphold the honor of the University, your Academy, and yourselves. The University is already aware of what happened on the special flight today, and I personally express great admiration for the excellent performance of several new students in the dining hall.”
As he spoke, Professor Charles’s gaze swept over the new students again, pausing intentionally for a few moments.
Zheng Qing felt that Xiao Xiao next to him seemed to be trying hard to straighten his chest and compose his expression, but his short stature made his effort seem less impressive.
He couldn't help but secretly smile.
Professor Charles nodded slightly and continued to speak slowly:
“For your animal companions, the University provides dedicated facilities. I do not wish to hear Professors or School Workers complain about them entering classrooms, dormitories, or even laboratories without permission.”
“For your daily necessities, older students will guide you through each item. I also do not wish for any new students to be unclear on how to use their ID cards after the start of the semester.”
“There is a path to the mountain of books, and no end to the sea of learning.”
“From here, begin your independent, glorious, and arduous University life!”
After the simple instructions, Professor Charles floated away, leaving only the chubby Male Wizard with the bewildered new students.
“This Professor Charles seems very formidable,” Zheng Qing whispered to Xiao Xiao.
“First Deputy Chairman of the First University Professor Joint Conference, Deputy Dean of Alpha Academy, Great Wizard Charles,” Xiao Xiao said, frowning thoughtfully, “but according to the usual procedure, this new student welcome ceremony should be presided over by one of the two Vice-Principals.”
“Didn't that Curly-haired Wizard on the plane say something big was happening at First University recently?” Li Meng waved her hand indifferently, “Perhaps those important figures are busy with the big event.”
Xiao Xiao seemed to be lost in thought.
Zheng Qing looked up. The older students on the third and fourth floors around the hall also left as Professor Charles departed. They debated quietly and intensely, entering the arched doorways in the corridors and disappearing.
Meanwhile, some of the older students on the second floor came down the stairs and joined the new student group in the hall. Zheng Qing understood that they were likely the ‘new student guides’ Professor Charles had just mentioned.
The new students once again fell into a buzzing clamor.
The chubby Male Wizard in black robes flipped through the roster, loudly assigning tasks.
Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao were assigned to an older student with a ponytail.
Li Meng was taken away by a tall female student.
Before leaving, she reluctantly petted Poseidon for a while and even put a light blue vest on him—which made the originally adorable fox look rather silly.
Zheng Qing decided that as soon as the girl was out of sight, he would immediately take off the vest from Poseidon.
