Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Points Must Be Spent Wisely
Marsh quickly understood that points were more valuable than gold coins.
The costs for dormitories were set as follows:
A four-person dormitory cost 500 points per month.
A two-person dormitory cost 1,000 points per month.
A single dormitory cost 2,000 points per month.
However, for those who didn't have points, they could still pay with gold coins—but the exchange rate was harsh.
A four-person dormitory would cost 50,000 gold coins per month, and a single dormitory would cost 200,000 gold coins.
It was clear that these accommodations were far from cheap.
At the moment, Marsh only had a few hundred gold coins to his name. Each point could be exchanged for 100 gold coins, but gold coins couldn't be exchanged for points. If anyone tried to do so, they would face severe consequences.
Bai Yiyuan had told Marsh that in Xia Jing Academy, most transactions could be done with points, and gold coins were merely a means to convert into points, which was a much smaller portion of the overall system. There were many things in the academy that could only be bought with points. As such, points became the most important currency in the school.
Gold coins had limited use and were only accepted where points couldn't be used. If one could save points, it was highly recommended to do so.
From what he'd gathered, Marsh understood that points were a precious commodity here. He didn't have much at the moment, but he'd have to learn how to manage them wisely.
Jiang Tao, who had been explaining all of this to Marsh, was a student at Xia Jing Academy who had been admitted two years ago. He worked as an administrator in the residential area, responsible for handling small tasks while earning points in return.
From their conversation, Marsh understood that points were not easy to accumulate. Jiang Tao had even admitted that, despite working hard, he had earned fewer than 10,000 points since joining the academy—less than a fraction of Marsh's current balance.
"Student Marsh," Jiang Tao said, his tone polite and respectful, likely due to Bai Yiyuan's influence. "I know you just finished the big exam, so you must have a lot of points right now."
Marsh nodded but didn't show any sign of arrogance. Jiang Tao paused before adding, "Still, I would advise you to save as many points as you can. There will be plenty of places where you'll need them later."
Marsh could sense the importance of saving points for future needs, but he still didn't have much gold to spare, and living with others wasn't his preference.
"I want a single dormitory," Marsh declared firmly.
Jiang Tao looked at Marsh for a moment, a bit surprised. "Are you sure?"
Marsh nodded again.
Jiang Tao sighed, shaking his head. "You're quite the extravagant one, aren't you? If you don't save wisely, you'll regret it when you realize just how hard it is to earn points here."
His sigh sounded as if he had a personal story to tell, but he didn't elaborate. Instead, he led Marsh into the residential area, entering Building 8 and heading straight to the second floor.
"Building 8 is where the single dormitories are located," Jiang Tao explained. "Except for Rooms 206, 208, and 209, which are already occupied, the rest are available. You can choose whichever you prefer."
Marsh scanned the rooms along the hall before pointing to the nearest one. "Let's go with this one."
"Room 201," Jiang Tao said, "Please give me your ID card so I can register it for you."
Marsh handed over his ID card, which was then swiped through a device. Jiang Tao entered Marsh's fingerprint, and the system processed the registration.
A beep sounded, and Marsh's points balance was displayed on the machine.
Jiang Tao's eyes widened in surprise as he read the screen.
"How do you have so many points?" he gasped.
The balance displayed was 133,605 points. After deducting the 1,000 points for the dormitory, Marsh still had a staggering 133,605 points remaining.
Marsh gave a simple explanation. "Reward points."
Jiang Tao stared at him with awe, his expression shifting. "No wonder you're able to afford a single dormitory. I've barely earned 10,000 points since I arrived here, and yet you have over 130,000!"
"That's quite impressive," Jiang Tao murmured, clearly amazed.
"Alright, then," he said after a moment, "Room 201 in Building 8 will be your dormitory now. No one can enter without your permission. And no one else can rent it out until you return the lease."
"Feel free to rest here," Jiang Tao added. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me."
Marsh nodded, but before Jiang Tao could leave, Marsh asked a question. "Senior, have you ever heard of Lin Mohan?"
Jiang Tao paused, thinking. "Lin Mohan?" he muttered. "Sorry, I haven't heard of him."
"Is Lin Mohan related to you? With your name being Marsh, he could be a relative."
"There are so many people in Xia Jing Academy, so it's normal not to have heard of him. You could try asking the Academic Affairs Office tomorrow," Jiang Tao suggested.
Before leaving, Jiang Tao remembered one more thing. "Oh, by the way, don't forget to get a communicator tomorrow. Without it, it'll be really inconvenient to contact anyone."
After Jiang Tao left, Marsh closed the door to his new dormitory. The small, single room was neat and simply furnished. It was surprisingly clean and cozy.
Marsh sat on the bed and began to meditate, focusing on recovering his mental energy.
Early the next morning, there was a knock at the door. Marsh opened it with curiosity.
To his surprise, standing outside was Ning Yiyi, looking as cheerful as ever. "What's the matter? Don't recognize me anymore?" she teased.
Marsh smiled softly. "I recognize you."
Ning Yiyi giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Come on, let's grab breakfast. I'll show you around Xia Jing Academy afterward."
They headed to the school cafeteria, which was buzzing with activity as students came in for breakfast.
Ning Yiyi quickly grabbed a large plate of food, and Marsh followed suit, though he noticed that Ning Yiyi's appetite hadn't changed one bit. She piled her plate high with food.
When it was time to pay, Marsh took out his ID card. "I'll pay," he said.
Ning Yiyi giggled but didn't protest.
A beep echoed as 5 points were deducted from Marsh's account.
Ning Yiyi raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Wait, you're paying with points? You can use gold coins here. Where gold coins are accepted, there's no need to waste points."
Marsh replied quietly, "I don't have any gold coins."
Ning Yiyi slapped her forehead in realization. "Oh! If you don't have gold coins, just say so! I have plenty of gold coins myself. Don't waste your points. Points are hard to earn."
Marsh smiled faintly. "It's fine."
Ning Yiyi laughed. "It's only 5 points, but still, remember—never use points where gold coins can be used in the future. Spend points wisely!"
Marsh nodded, taking her advice to heart.
As they sat down to eat, Marsh began to think about how he could best manage his points. Perhaps he could visit the exchange later to sell some materials and weapons he had acquired recently. It would be a good way to earn some extra gold coins.
Thinking of this, Marsh conjured a gem in his palm, his mind already turning over possible ways to turn it into something valuable.
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