The journey from Holy Spirit Village to Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy was uneventful, a silent stretch of road that allowed Lin Feng to solidify his plans. He was a Level 13 Spirit Master with a terrifyingly powerful but disguised White Soul Ring and a fully operational Fusion Phoenix Martial Soul, while technically still only six years old.
Lin Feng arrived in Nuoding City a full day ahead of the usual schedule, knowing that Tang San and Old Jack would arrive the next morning. He knew the Academy was crowded and the resources limited, especially the dormitories. His first objective was to establish an immediate, visible superiority.
He entered the Academy's registration office, which was staffed by a tired, middle-aged teacher. Lin Feng didn't rely on charm; he relied on resources. Using the small amount of fused gold he created by fusing common copper with the 'Concept of Wealth' (a subtle, low-level fusion), he presented a large, dazzling coin and requested the single most luxurious room available—the one usually reserved for wealthy noble children.
When the teacher hesitated, Lin Feng performed a quick, silent fusion: he fused a piece of his basic Soul Master badge with the 'Concept of Irrefutable Authority,' and presented it again. The teacher, suddenly overwhelmed by the illusion of importance emanating from the boy, quickly acquiesced, assigning Lin Feng the best private room in the entire dormitory complex. Lin Feng secured his base, establishing himself as a figure of immediate, if confusing, wealth and authority. He also used a low-grade fused item to further reinforce the White Soul Ring disguise, ensuring its stability against casual observation.
Tang San's Arrival and the Tense Stare
The next morning, Lin Feng was settled, his room pristine and private. He waited near the dormitory entrance. Soon, the familiar sight appeared: Old Jack, his face etched with pride and worry, walking alongside Tang San.
Tang San, now seven and focused on his Mysterious Heaven Skill, carried himself with a quiet confidence. He still wore the humble clothes of the village, a sharp contrast to the few well-dressed nobles already milling about. As Tang San and Old Jack approached the dormitory, they spotted Lin Feng, leaning casually against the entrance wall.
Tang San paused, instantly recognizing the boy who had failed so spectacularly at the Awakening Ceremony. However, something was profoundly different. Lin Feng's aura was cold, focused, and deep—far beyond the negligible spiritual presence of a supposed Level 0 Master. Tang San, with his unique perception skills, sensed a danger he couldn't name, a profound spiritual weight beneath the façade of a young boy.
The confrontation was direct and icy. Old Jack smiled tentatively at Lin Feng, happy to see a familiar face.
"Lin Feng! You made it. Are you… settling in well?" Old Jack asked.
Lin Feng ignored the elder, his eyes locked solely on Tang San. "Settling in fine. Though I hear the dormitory rooms are cramped. Good thing I secured a place worthy of my status. I suppose the peasants will have to fight over the common bunks."
Tang San's eyes narrowed, his protective instincts for Old Jack and his own dignity flaring. "Arrogance does not equal strength, Lin Feng."
"Ah, but it does, Tang San. Especially when backed by proof," Lin Feng countered smoothly. With lightning speed, he performed a subtle, terrifying fusion: he fused a tiny fragment of his own skin with a piece of highly concentrated, low-grade paralyzing poison he had created on the journey. In a move that looked like a clumsy stumble, Lin Feng's hand grazed Tang San's wrist.
The fused poison was minuscule, but potent. It bypassed Tang San's external Mysterious Jade Hand defense, causing a sharp, burning pain that forced Tang San to immediately focus his internal Mysterious Heaven Skill energy to neutralize the foreign substance.
Public Humiliation and Establishing Rivalry
The poison was neutralized in seconds, but the damage was done. Tang San staggered slightly, his face flashing with shock and confusion. He knew, instinctively, that the attack had come from Lin Feng and that it was deadly serious. He was forced to expend precious internal energy to heal, an act that felt profoundly destabilizing.
Lin Feng pressed his advantage, his voice low and mocking. "Careful, peasant. You look weak. Perhaps your so-called 'secret arts' are not as potent as you think, if a simple scratch can drain your focus."
Old Jack and the nearby students were confused, seeing only a brief, awkward stumble. But Tang San understood the meaning: Lin Feng had attacked him with an unseen, unique power and had knowledge of his most closely guarded secret (Mysterious Heaven Skill).
"You will regret that," Tang San hissed, his eyes burning with controlled fury.
Lin Feng merely shrugged, a chilling smile playing on his lips. "We shall see. I suggest you focus on finding a bed, Tang San. I am here to dominate, and you are merely an obstacle."
Lin Feng then dismissed the encounter, walking back into the dormitory. He had successfully achieved his first goals: establishing himself as Tang San's superior, showing his willingness to use underhanded tactics, and unnerving the hero with knowledge of his hidden cultivation. The relationship was set—not of friendly rivals, but of bitter, powerful enemies. Tang San was left standing alone, his first day at the academy ruined by the Fusion Phoenix he was utterly unprepared to face.