Amid a roar, the entire ship surged toward space.
Star Sea Academy is truly built in space.
In fact, it's not just Star Sea Academy; Sky Dome Academy has constructed a massive floating island in the air, Return to the Abyss Academy lies beneath the deep sea, and Rock Solid Academy is underground.
None of these top-ranked Professional Academies are honestly built on the ground.
If you don't add a bit of personality, how can you prove your uniqueness?
Jing Yuan and his companions were standing right next to the ship's porthole; Lu Li, experiencing her first departure from Azure Star, stood excitedly at the window, watching the scenery change.
The towering buildings outside kept shrinking in view until they pierced the clouds, and the outside turned into a hazy white.
After breaking through the clouds, the ground disappeared, and after another violent tremor, the ship burst out of the atmosphere.
After the previous incident, this time every student hurried to grab whatever they could as soon as they felt the tremor.
Falling and losing face is a minor issue; getting injured would be much worse.
That brother just now is still covering his crotch, his face full of despair.
The ship moves swiftly; from lift‑off to exiting the atmosphere into space takes less than eight minutes.
Beyond the porthole, the last sliver of daylight was swallowed, leaving only profound darkness like a curtain, speckled with twinkling luminescence—beautiful and dreamy.
Leaning at the porthole, that splendid view could not be compared to gazing at the night sky from Azure Star.
Countless stars resembled spilled diamond boxes, scattering across a black velvet, while the brilliant Milky Way in the middle stretched like a radiant ribbon of floating light, glittering with dazzling sheen.
Without the atmosphere's obstruction and interference, everything seemed within reach, as if a simple stretch could touch it.
At this moment, not only Lu Li, but other students also crowded to the porthole to watch the view.
Because space by the porthole was limited, many students squeezed together, some even being pressed from all sides until they were suspended off the ground.
Throughout the cabin, only Jing Yuan's group had room, yet no one dared to push toward them, whether noble heirs or commoner children.
"Click."
The doors connecting the cabin to other compartments opened, and a squad of intelligent robots pushed a food cart inside.
At the rear, several robots carried a table one and a half meters long and half a meter wide.
After the robots entered, two welcome teachers also came in.
The robots moved deftly, and soon a long row of tables filled the cabin's center, laden with various delicacies and drinks, some at room temperature, others chilled.
"From here to Star Sea Academy is a full day and a half's journey, and during that time you can fully enjoy this period of freedom."
"Food and drinks are at your leisure; a dedicated robot will clean up the leftovers, and if you need more, you can ask the robot waiting nearby to bring more."
"According to our academy's rules, there is only an opening ceremony, no welcome party; this one here counts as a make‑up for you."
When everything was set, Wu Lei finally spoke slowly.
The meaning is simple: this meal here serves as their welcome party.
"Then, teacher, could we have some music?"
As Wu Lei's voice faded, a student raised a hand and said.
Judging by his attire, he is a noble-born youth.
"Of course."
Wu Lei's words faded, and a melodious tune rang through the cabin.
"Miss, may I invite you to dance?"
With the music playing, a young gentleman from a noble family approached a fellow noble lady, stepping lightly and extending his hand in a very gentlemanly invitation.
"Certainly."
The Girl gently placed her hand on the boy's, and they moved to the open space that opened up, dancing a duet.
Soon, more pairs held hands and came to the center of the "dance floor", some dancing elegantly, while noble youths raised their glasses and watched.
The commoner youths naturally wanted to join, not to be outshone by the snobbish nobles.
Unfortunately, most commoner youths couldn't dance at all; only a few knew how, and the dances they learned in classes were no match for the professionally trained nobles.
They can't just crowd together and sway like clubbers under the music, can they?
Then there's no need to compete; just laugh the opponents to death.
Forget it, let's avoid their sharpness for now.
Every skill has its strengths and weaknesses; there's no need to compare your weak points with others' strong points.
Moreover, they're not going to Star Sea Academy to compete in dancing; in the end, strength speaks.
Noble youths and commoner youths once again split into two clearly distinct camps.
Among the nobles, some danced while others raised glasses and chatted.
The commoners headed straight to the tables, eating heartily.
Such "rude" behavior naturally drew a chorus of eye‑rolls from the nobles.
But they didn't care; why pretend? If they don't eat now, they'll wait for leftovers later.
"Xiao Li, are you hungry?"
Gu Xiao turned to look at Lu Li, checking the time; it was already noon.
"A little."
Lu Li rubbed her stomach, eyeing the table full of delicacies, and indeed felt a bit hungry.
Gu Xiao: "Then let's go get some food."
"Hmm," Lu Li nodded.
"I'll go with you."
Just as Gu Xiao and Lu Li were about to head for the food, Xiao Bai called out to them.
Beside Xiao Bai, a sleek silver‑metal door bristling with technology suddenly appeared.
The door opened, and a robot stepped out.
This is a feature of Xiao Bai's Professional Mechanical Master; inside the metal door lies a massive mechanical factory.
It can produce all kinds of robots and weapons, and once Xiao Bai's cultivation improves, a wave of his hand will summon an army of machines.
Members of the Xiao Family across generations are known as the Mechanical Catastrophe.
Moreover, as his cultivation rises and the factory upgrades, he can even forge mech warships.
The robots emerging from the factory are servant-type.
It first set down a table and seven chairs, with suction cups beneath to prevent sliding.
"What would you like to eat?"
"You know our tastes; just take whatever you see."
"Alright, when I bring it back, don't say you didn't want it; otherwise I'll stuff it into you piece by piece."
After asking the preferences of Jing Yuan and the three others, Xiao Bai led the robot to help Gu Xiao and Lu Li select dishes.