Nuoding City's Morning

Nuoding City's morning was damp with dew. The sky had only just begun to lighten when the door to Dorm 301 on the top floor of the East Building opened.

Jiang Zhen was dressed in a light-blue Jing Suit and prepared to head out to buy some daily necessities.

The corridor was quiet when he stepped out. Only the early-rising work-study students were cleaning.

Jiang Zhen went around the Administration Building and left the academy through a side door. The breakfast stalls outside were already steaming. An old man selling soy milk stirred the pot with a long ladle, sending its fragrance drifting far away.

He bought two meat buns and a bowl of soy milk, eating as he walked while scanning the shops along the street. The Cloth Shop had not opened yet, the pharmacy had just removed its shutters, and the daily necessities store was already lit.

When he entered the daily necessities store, he found the owner was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. Seeing Jiang Zhen's clean short shirt and trousers, which made him look unlike an ordinary person, she warmly welcomed him. "Young master, what would you like to buy? Soap for washing up, or a cloth for wiping your face?"

"I want one bar of soap, two fine cloth towels, and a Cotton Meditation Cushion. The softer, the better."

Jiang Zhen stated what he needed. He lightly touched his Storage Ring, and several Gold Soul Coins landed on the counter.

"Keep the change."

The woman's eyes lit up, and she hurried to fetch the goods. The Cotton Meditation Cushion had just been made and still carried the scent of sunlight. The soap was Osmanthus Flavor, wrapped in oiled paper. The fine cloth towels were light gray and soft, perfect for wiping away sweat.

Jiang Zhen stored everything in his Storage Ring and walked back to the academy.

After returning to the academy, he walked along the school path, looking at several students who were sweeping up fallen leaves.

A figure suddenly flashed through Jiang Zhen's mind—Zhao Hu, also known as Iron Egg!

Three months ago, when they had awakened their Martial Souls in Xi Nan Village, that sturdy boy had awakened an Iron Sword Martial Spirit and possessed only Innate Level One Soul Power.

According to Su Yuntao's arrangements, Iron Egg should have come to Nuoding Academy as a work-study student as well. Jiang Zhen had simply left three months early and had never thought of him.

We are from the same village. He is the only child in the village with Soul Power, after all. I should go take a look.

With that thought, Jiang Zhen turned and headed toward the academy's communal dormitories.

The work-study students' communal dormitories at Nuoding Academy were on the western side of the campus. They consisted of several rows of low brick buildings, their walls mottled and the wooden window frames somewhat warped.

When Jiang Zhen reached Dorm 7 at the very back, he happened to see a sturdy boy carrying a Wooden Basin outside. It was filled with freshly washed clothes, his sleeves rolled high, and several faint scratches marked his arms.

It was Zhao Hu!

Three months without seeing him had made Iron Egg seem even darker-skinned. He was still wearing the coarse cloth clothes he had brought from Xi Nan Village, washed until they had faded white, with a hole torn in one cuff.

When Zhao Hu saw Jiang Zhen, he froze for a moment. He clearly did not recognize that the blue-haired, green-eyed, neatly dressed youth before him was Jiang Zhen from his village.

"Tiger?" Jiang Zhen spoke first, his voice calm.

The Wooden Basin in Zhao Hu's hands wobbled, spilling several drops of water. He widened his eyes. "Jiang... Brother Jiang Zhen? What are you doing here? You came to Nuoding Academy too?"

He remembered that Jiang Zhen had possessed Innate Full Soul Power and had even been praised by Su Yuntao. Afterward, Jiang Zhen had left on his own, so Zhao Hu had assumed he would attend a better academy. He had never expected to encounter him here.

"Yes, I enrolled yesterday." Jiang Zhen glanced at the scratches on his arm, then looked into the dormitory. Miscellaneous items were piled on the bed, stagnant water covered the floor, and the air carried a musty smell. "You live here?"

Zhao Hu lowered his head and gripped the rim of the basin awkwardly. "Yes. All the work-study students live here... Every day, we have to Chop Wood for the kitchen and clean the training grounds in exchange for food."

His voice grew softer. "Besides, my Soul Power is low..."

Jiang Zhen understood. Innate Level One Soul Power, an ordinary Iron Sword Martial Spirit, and the life of a work-study student as described in the original story...

"Come with me." Jiang Zhen turned and walked out of the dormitory. Zhao Hu froze, then quickly set down the Wooden Basin and followed.

The two walked beneath the shade of a tree beside the dormitory. Jiang Zhen pulled a small Cloth Bag from his clothes and handed it to Iron Egg. "There are ten Gold Soul Coins inside. Take them."

Zhao Hu hurriedly waved his hands in fright. "Brother Jiang Zhen, I can't take this! It's too much, I..." Ten Gold Soul Coins would be enough to buy him several new outfits in Nuoding City and eat good meals for a long time.

"Take it." Jiang Zhen shoved the Cloth Bag into his hands, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"We are from the same village. Helping you is only right. You don't need to repay me. Buy some good food to build up your body, and get a new outfit. Don't keep wearing torn clothes."

He paused, then added, "The work-study chores take up too much time and affect your cultivation. I'll take you to see the Director and get you moved to another dormitory so you can be exempted from your work-study duties."

"Change dormitories? Be exempted from the chores?" Zhao Hu's eyes widened until they were round. He could hardly believe his ears. He had heard that only Noble students or talented students could live in good dormitories without doing odd jobs.

Jiang Zhen did not explain further. He led Zhao Hu toward the Administration Building.

On the way, they encountered several work-study students. Seeing Jiang Zhen dressed neatly and accompanied by Zhao Hu, they looked at him with curiosity, but none dared approach. The faint chill surrounding Jiang Zhen made them somewhat afraid.

When Jiang Zhen entered the Director's Office again, the Director was drinking tea. The moment he saw Jiang Zhen, he set down his teacup and plastered on a smile. "Student Jiang Zhen, what brings you here today?"

Seeing Zhao Hu behind Jiang Zhen, he asked, "And this is?"

"Director, greetings. This is my younger brother from the same village, Zhao Hu. He is a work-study student of this year's intake." Jiang Zhen pulled Zhao Hu forward and got straight to the point. "Director, he is currently staying in Dorm 7. There are too many chores, leaving him no time to cultivate. Could you move him to a Quad Room and exempt him from his work-study duties?"

The smile on the Director's face faded slightly. He rubbed his fingers together, his tone troubled. "Student Jiang Zhen, the Rules are difficult to break... All work-study students have to do odd jobs, and Quad Rooms are reserved for those Noble students. With his Innate Level One Soul Power..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Zhen pulled a small Cloth Bag from his clothes and placed it on the table. The mouth hung open, revealing fifty Gold Soul Coins glittering inside. "Director, please accept this Token of Appreciation. My younger brother is an honest boy. He only wants more time to cultivate. That shouldn't count as breaking the Rules, should it?"

Fifty Gold Soul Coins! The Director's eyes went perfectly straight. He picked up the Cloth Bag and weighed it in his hand. It was heavy.

He immediately stuffed the Cloth Bag into a drawer, and every trace of difficulty vanished from his face. He slapped the table. "Consider it done! They are all promising youths from Xi Nan Village, so of course they deserve special care! Zhao Hu, right? I'll handle the Procedures for you right away. Room 102 in a Quad Room still has an empty bed. It has excellent lighting, and you'll be living with several talented students. Your work-study duties are exempted as well. From now on, you won't need to help in the kitchen or clean the training grounds. Just focus on cultivating!"

He swiftly found Iron Egg's enrollment records. In the "Accommodation" column, he changed it to "Room 102, Quad Room," then stamped an "Exempt" seal after "Work-Study Duties." He handed it to Iron Egg. "Take this. You can change dormitories now. Just find the Dorm Manager and register."

Iron Egg accepted the records with trembling hands. He bowed deeply to the Director, then turned to Jiang Zhen and bowed just as deeply. "Brother Jiang Zhen, thank you... I'll definitely cultivate hard from now on and won't let you down!"

"You don't need to thank me. Just cultivate hard." Jiang Zhen patted him on the shoulder. "Spend more time training your Soul Power each day. Even with Innate Level One Soul Power, you can slowly catch up to others if you keep working at it."

He did not say much more. After all, Iron Egg's talent was limited. Helping him resolve his living conditions had already fulfilled their bond as fellow villagers. What came next would depend on Iron Egg himself.

After leaving the Administration Building, Iron Egg ran excitedly toward the Quad Room with his records in hand. After a few steps, he turned around and waved at Jiang Zhen. "Brother Jiang Zhen, can I come find you for advice about cultivation in the future?"

"Sure. I'm in Dorm 301 in the East Building. Just don't come too late." Jiang Zhen nodded. Only after watching Iron Egg run off did he turn and head back to his own dormitory.

After returning to Dorm 301, Jiang Zhen placed the newly bought Cotton Meditation Cushion on the balcony. He then took out an Intermediate Body Tempering Pill, poured one into his mouth, sat down cross-legged, and began circulating the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art."

He continued cultivating...