Xia Yan, with a bulging denim backpack on his back, wearing a 15-yuan t-shirt and 35-yuan denim shorts, wearing a pair of Hui Li shoes, stood outside the north gate of Sihe University.

He had a bank card in his pocket with 10,000 yuan in it, 3,000 yuan of which had been collected from his townsfolk, and the remaining 7,000 yuan was given by his master.

He was orphaned at birth when his mother died due to complications during childbirth. On the eve of his college entrance exam, his father, who was working at a construction site in Rongdu, was sent back home in critical condition. The construction company only granted a mere 100,000 yuan for medical expenses.

After a month-long struggle on the sickbed, his father also passed away. The 100,000 yuan, along with the scant savings at home, had already been completely used up.

In addition, there was a tightly-knotted non-woven fabric bag in the backpack, which contained twenty blank seal stones. This was also given by his master. However, these stones are not good stuff like Shoushan stone or Qingtian stone. They are just ordinary seal stones worth just over twenty yuan each.

"If you're short of money, carve a couple of seals to sell. You are very skillful, already surpassing me, earning enough to feed yourself is no problem. Also, the owner of Songxian Bridge Jigu Zhai, Yao Shigu, is my junior brother. You can reach out to him if you need help. There's another person you should find when you have time, I once saved his life. If you find him, ask him if his words still count."

"What did he say?"

"He said he'd marry his daughter to my apprentice."

"...."

Xia Yan began learning carving from his master at the age of eight. Ten years had passed, and his master's hair had turned completely white, and he had become quite talkative. Yesterday, he held Xia Yan for a chitchat that lasted four to five hours.

There were people at the train station to welcome newcomers, but Xia Yan bought a map and took the bus by himself. It was his first time in a big city, so naturally, he had to take a good look around. At the age of eighteen, he didn't need anyone's guidance.

All of Xia Yan's clothes, shoes, and backpack added up to just about 100 yuan. Apart from beggars, no one on the street was dressed more shabbily than him. In addition to this, his dark skin clearly showed he was a country boy.

However, his appearance was not bad. Standing at 1.8 meters tall, he was fairly handsome, and his dark skin added an extra bit of masculinity to him. Around his neck, hung a glossy, black quail egg-sized skull tied with a red string.

This skull was exquisitely carved and it was the only highlight on Xia Yan. However, while most men wear Guanyin, women wear Buddha, or they wear a cross, he wore a skull, giving off a strong non-mainstream vibe, reminiscent of a young man obsessed with gangster films.

Right now, Xia Yan was definitely the most eye-catching figure outside the north gate, with passing students looking at him in mockery.

"Rongdu is so big, there are so many people! That girl is wearing such cool clothes, her shorts can’t even cover her buttocks…That man… No, is he a man or a woman?" Xia Yan seemed oblivious to the surrounding gaze, observing the individuals coming and going with interest, discovering many fresh novelties he had never seen before.

After a while, Xia Yan wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and entered the campus.

"Excuse me, where should the freshman of the history department register?"

"Turn right over there, and you'll see it."

"Thank you!"

Half an hour later, Xia Yan finished the registration process. After paying the tuition and accommodation fees, only three thousand were left from the ten thousand in his account.

After purchasing bedding, sheets and necessities of life, spending another three hundred, Xia Yan felt his heart was bleeding.

Xia Yan was not a beauty, so naturally, no one was vying to help him carry the luggage to his dormitory. He had to go by himself.

In Boys' Dormitory three building, room 402, Xia Yan was the first to move in. He found a broken broom and a rag and cleaned up. Half an hour later, the kennel-like dormitory was finally habitable.

The dormitory conditions were quite good, after all, it's the best university in Sihe Province, adequately funded, the hardware was good.

Four-person room, beds on top, desks below. Each person has a not-so-small wardrobe, you buy your own lock. A small balcony next to the toilet, it has a sink on it.

Xia Yan was very satisfied with the conditions of the dormitory. You should know, his high school dormitory was an eight-person room, without a toilet, or a faucet. Each floor has two public restrooms, you need to line up downstairs to fetch water for a shower, and there was a strong smell of urine in the corridors.

No one to compete with, Xia Yan decisively chose the bed near the balcony. No need to open the door in the middle of the night, good ventilation, and could see the girls' dormitory right across, really the best position.

Tossed his bag into the wardrobe, went into the bathroom for a cold shower, changed into clean clothes, Xia Yan climbed onto the bed, listening to the hustle and bustle from the corridor and next door, his eyes closed, his mind gradually calmed down. It didn't take long for him to enter a remarkable state: meditation.

Two months ago, a fireball flew from the sky and hit Xia Yan's head. This fireball was the only remaining soul fire of a necromancer from another world, the fire contained all the necromancer's memories but lacked the necromancer consciousness.

This soul flame had ignited Xia Yan's own soul flame, pouring all its information into him before extinguishing itself.

In the two months before the start of school, Xia Yan's mind had already constructed a throne and a magic tower made of blue flames. He is now the most basic magic apprentice, capable of spell-casting.

There are currently more than seven billion people on earth. Every day, millions die. The cumulative total is a terrifying figure!

This is the golden age of Necromancers.

A key slides into a lock, turns, and the door opens.

Xia Yan opens his eyes, and two streaks of blue flame glimpse in his iris, vanishing in a flash.

"Hey! Someone is here. Tell me, buddy, why keep the door closed during the daytime? You're not practicing your Qilin Arm, are you?" The incoming person is a tall guy with a northern accent, muscled, about 1.9 meters tall with an undoubtedly perfect body. His face, however, isn't as pleasing. Even though his facial structure and features were attractive, the blemishes marring his visage destroyed the aesthetics.

"I was sleeping," said Xia Yan as he hopped down from his bed, "Xia Yan, from Sihe region."

"Zhao Qiang, from Jing City."

Both being youths, they quickly acquainted themselves with each other. After settling his belongings, Zhao Qiang went to take a refreshing shower. The sweltering heat of the lingering summer was too harsh, particularly in the southwest where the weather was hot and humid, making them perpetually feel sticky. Not showering was out of the question.

With someone else around, Xia Yan found it difficult to continue meditating. Spotting Zhao Qiang's laptop on the table, he asked, "Zhao Qiang, can the laptop connect to the internet?"

"Sure, I have an internet card. Also, we need to buy a wireless router so that we can use the school's internet!" yelled Zhao Qiang from the bathroom.

"I will use your laptop." said Xia Yan.

"Feel free, but remember, there's a hidden folder in the D drive which has study materials. If you want to check it out then go ahead, it's 300 GB, you know what I mean!" Zhao Qiang chuckled mischievously from the bathroom.

Wiping cold sweat off his forehead, Xia Yan mumbled to himself, "300 GB... No wonder his face is full of pimples!"

This incident alone demonstrates that Zhao Qiang has a straightforward personality. Most people wouldn't want others to touch their computer, let alone a stranger they've known for just five minutes.

Zhao Qiang was using an Apple laptop, which is worth at least ten or eight grand. While waiting for the laptop to boot, Xia Yan thought about buying a computer for himself. But remembering the meager two thousand left in his card, his confidence wavered.

Maybe he should heed his master’s advice - earn money through his crafts.

Xia Yan had no immediate intention of seeking a mentorship. His master hadn't mentioned his senior fellow disciple in ten years, which implies there must be some issues between them. Knowing this, why should he subject himself to the will of others?

As for seeking the other person, Xia Yan hadn't given it a thought. The marriage arranged casually fifteen years ago? What a joke. He’d be lucky to not get kicked out. Moreover, if the guy's daughter turned out to be hideous and insisted on marrying him, wouldn't he be at a loss?

He has a craft that can make a living, and he's not afraid to travel the world with it.