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On the other side of the dorm, Wang Sheng had just been thoroughly beaten by Tang San. Now he lay on the ground, struggling to get up. He was battered and exhausted. Despite his injuries, there was no resentment in his eyes. Instead, he looked relieved.
"Tang San," he said, "I can't beat you. I doubt Wang Li could either. From now on, you're the boss of Dorm Seven."
Tang San's expression remained calm. He replied quietly, "I didn't want to fight you. And I don't want to be the boss of Dorm Seven either."
Wang Sheng's face turned serious, though the bruises made him look a bit comical. A hint of grievance and anger touched his voice. "Tang San, this has always been the rule of Dorm Seven. We work-study students are the poorest, the weakest, and the lowest in Nuoding Academy. The teachers look down on us, but at least they treat us fairly. However, the self-funded students—the ones from noble backgrounds—they always like to pick on us for fun."
Wang Sheng paused and took a deep breath. "They have powerful backgrounds," he continued. "Sometimes the teachers scold them, but they never really punish them. To avoid being bullied, we work-study students have always stuck together. The strongest among us becomes the boss. Everyone respects the boss, but the boss is also responsible for protecting all of us."
As he spoke, a look of helplessness crossed Wang Sheng's face.
Tang San frowned. He hadn't expected to find so much trouble in such a small academy. He didn't want to get too involved with others. But he knew that being alone would only make him an easy target.
He nodded. "If someone bullies us, I won't stand by and do nothing. But don't call me boss. I'm not used to it."
At this moment, Wang Li's attention was no longer on Wang Sheng and Tang San. He kept glancing at the dormitory door. He was clearly waiting for someone.
Sure enough, not long after, a girl with striking scorpion braids walked into the dormitory. Her eyes swept over everyone as she entered. She asked playfully, "Is this Dorm Seven?"
Wang Li took a deep breath. His eyes flickered with anticipation. Tang San arrived first, he thought. And now Xiao Wu is here. The gears of fate have truly begun to turn...
As soon as Xiao Wu spoke, everyone in the dormitory looked over.
A faint blush appeared on Tang San's face. He turned to Wang Sheng and asked in disbelief, "Aren't the dorms separated by gender?"
Wang Sheng gave him a strange look. "We're all work-study students," he replied. "And we're all just kids. The academy doesn't make any special arrangements for us."
After that Wang Sheng said excitedly, "You're the boss now. Go on, show her the rules and who's in charge."
Tang San hesitated. He thought he was supposed to be rough with this girl, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
While the boys were still hesitating, Xiao Wu had already walked up. She smiled sweetly at everyone. "Hello! My name is Xiao Wu. Can you please not block my way?"
Seeing Xiao Wu approach, Tang San—prompted by Wang Sheng—decided to go through with it. Unlike his fight with Wang Sheng, he only intended to spar lightly.
"My name is Tang San," he said. "Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, level 10 Soul Master. I'm... the dorm leader here. According to the rules of Dorm Seven, newcomers have to show their Martial Soul's strength."
Xiao Wu glanced at Wang Sheng behind Tang San, then at Wang Li standing to the side. She noticed the bruises on their faces and immediately understood what "showing strength" meant. Instead of looking afraid, she seemed delighted.
"Alright," she said cheerfully. "Then I won't hold back!"
She set aside her school uniform and announced, "Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Rabbit, level 10 Soul Master!"
Just as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu sprang into action. Her right leg snapped upward. Her toes aimed straight for Tang San's chin with surprising speed and precision.
Tang San was caught off guard by her agility. He barely had time to react. Instinctively, he sidestepped and caught her ankle with one hand. He tried to use her momentum to push her back, holding back his strength to avoid hurting her.
However, Xiao Wu was far stronger and quicker than he expected. Instead of retreating, she pressed forward. In one fluid motion, she twisted her body. She used her leg as a lever to hook around Tang San and flip him neatly over her shoulder.
Xiao Wu landed lightly on her feet, perfectly balanced. Tang San, however, crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. The entire dormitory fell silent for a moment. Everyone stared in awe at Xiao Wu's effortless victory.
They were all stunned. They had thought Tang San was the strongest among them. But Xiao Wu was even more formidable. Where did this monster come from?
Wang Li was still replaying the battle in his mind. He felt a bit frustrated. If I'd known I was going to travel through time, he thought, I would have learned some real fighting techniques. Now, facing talents like Tang San and Xiao Wu, his only real advantage was his mysterious panel.
Tang San got up, staring at Xiao Wu. "You said you're a level 10 Soul Master. Are you also innately full of soul power?"
Xiao Wu wanted to keep fighting. But when she heard this, she laughed sweetly. "Yes. Do you still want to fight?"
Tang San shook his head. He raised his hand and released his Martial Soul. A plant appeared in his palm.
"This is my Martial Soul," he said helplessly. "It's restrained by yours, so I definitely can't beat you. From now on, you'll be the boss of this dormitory—and the boss of all of us."
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with interest. But she frowned slightly and said, "Since I'm the boss, my first order is that no one is allowed to call me 'boss.' It makes me sound old. You have to call me Xiao Wu."
Everyone remembered Xiao Wu's earlier display of strength. No one dared object. They all shouted, "Xiao Wu!"
By now, Wang Sheng was completely convinced. Last year, there hadn't been any new students. But this year, there were two with innate full soul power. The only thing that puzzled him was, "Are Martial Souls like Blue Silver Grass really this powerful now? One has level 3 soul power, and another has level 10."
He wasn't alone in his doubts. Everyone else was surprised too. All eyes turned to Wang Li.
Wang Li met their gazes. He raised his right hand and summoned his Martial Soul. A plant—thicker and taller than ordinary Blue Silver Grass—appeared in his palm.
He said deliberately, "This is my Martial Soul, Mutated Blue Silver Grass!"
People in this world weren't always quick to question things. Since Wang Li's Spirit Hall certificate said "Mutated Blue Silver Grass," he might as well use that to his advantage.
No matter what changes happened to his Blue Silver Grass in the future, he could always just call it a mutation.
With the way people here revered Martial Souls, everything would make sense. Even if he became a Soul Master in a few months or a Soul Grandmaster in 6 years, as long as he mentioned "mutation," it would be accepted.
At that moment, Xiao Wu glanced first at Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, then at Wang Li's. As if she'd discovered something incredible, she exclaimed, "Your Blue Silver Grass is huge! It's several times bigger than Tang San's!"
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