Show of Force? First Meeting with Xiao Wu

Before the Seventh Dormitory of Nuoding Academy.

Lin Yuan did not go in immediately.

"The Seventh Dormitory, a mixed-gender dormitory for work-study students."

"I have to say, the dean of Nuoding Academy must have something wrong with his head."

"To save that little bit of funding, he did not even care about basic separation between boys and girls? Or was this deliberately meant to help certain people cultivate feelings?"

Lin Yuan shook his head and reached out to push open the creaking wooden door.

One had to know that in this world, due to the existence of Soul Rings, boys and girls were considered adults upon graduating from Sixth Grade.

The instant the door opened a crack!

Whoosh!

A forceful wind came rushing towards him!

A huge fist wrapped in not particularly powerful Soul Power shot straight at Lin Yuan's face.

A sneak attack?

Or a show of force?

Lin Yuan did not even activate his Double Pupils. In his eyes, this kind of attack was as slow as an old lady doing tai chi.

"Too slow. Too weak."

Lin Yuan remained expressionless and merely shifted his body slightly to the left.

The fist brushed past the tips of his hair.

Then Lin Yuan's right hand shot out like lightning, accurately gripping the other party's wrist. He twisted his waist and swept a foot under him.

Using the attacker's force against him, an over-the-shoulder throw!

Smooth and seamless, completed in one motion!

"Go!"

Boom!

A dull sound shook the entire dormitory.

The tall figure who had launched the sneak attack was slammed viciously onto the hard floor by Lin Yuan like a tattered sack.

Dust flew everywhere!

"Cough, cough..."

The person on the ground curled into a ball in pain and did not recover for a long while.

A deathly silence followed.

The Seventh Dormitory Members, who had originally been waiting to laugh at the newcomer, all stood there with their mouths wide open, their eyes nearly popping out.

"Woah... Woah?!"

"The boss got taken down instantly?"

"Wang Sheng boss is a Level Nine Soul Master! He was actually defeated in a single move?"

Lin Yuan patted away dust that did not exist on his hands. Looking down at Wang Sheng on the ground, he then swept his gaze across the stunned work-study students around him.

There was not the slightest trace of pride in his eyes, only deep disdain.

"So this was the Seventh Dormitory's welcome ceremony?"

"Ambushing a freshman who just enrolled?"

"Is this how you welcome a new roommate?"

Lin Yuan's voice carried no warmth, yet everyone present felt an inexplicable chill.

He truly could not muster the slightest interest in this childish game of playing house.

If not for wanting to see that so-called Pure and Jade-like Buddha Tang and Hundred Thousand Year Rogue Rabbit, he would have applied to change dormitories long ago.

Even if he had to pay for a private room himself, it would still be better than cramming in with this bunch of little brats.

As for money?

The system's beginner gift pack had given him One Thousand Gold Soul Coins, so it would definitely be enough.

Besides, could he not go to Spirit Hall to collect his subsidy soon?

One Gold Soul Coin a month!

There was no reason not to take free money.

In any case, the money came from the Two Great Empires. Spirit Hall was merely distributing it on their behalf.

Then again, without Spirit Hall, the Two Great Empires most likely would not have been able to provide subsidies for ordinary Soul Masters.

At this moment, Wang Sheng on the ground finally caught his breath. Clutching his chest, he staggered to his feet.

He looked at Lin Yuan with some fear in his eyes, yet still forced himself to say,

"Sorry, this is a unique rule of our Seventh Dormitory."

"Every newcomer has to spar with the Dorm Leader."

"The winner becomes the new Dorm Leader."

Wang Sheng gritted his teeth and explained, "Don't blame us for being harsh. It is because us work-study students are often bullied by those noble students at the academy."

"If we do not unite, if we do not choose the strongest person to lead us, we simply cannot survive in this academy!"

Hearing that impassioned speech, Lin Yuan nearly laughed aloud.

"Bullied? So you take it out on your own people?"

Lin Yuan glanced at him, his tone dripping with mockery.

"I have no interest in being some Child King. Whoever wants the position can have it."

"But I have something to say to all of you."

"Instead of wasting your time on this pointless infighting and complaining here about nobles bullying you, why not spend that time meditating and cultivating!"

Wang Sheng froze, seemingly unable to understand.

Lin Yuan gave a Cold Smile and pointed at Wang Sheng's nose.

"Wang Sheng, right? Since you are the Dorm Leader, you should be in Sixth Grade, right?"

"If you can be this 'leader,' your Innate Soul Power should not be that low, right? At least Level Two or Three."

"And what happened? After six years, you have only cultivated to Level Nine? You do not even have a Soul Ring?"

"Tell me, was that because nobles bullied you?"

"It was because you are lazy!"

"Let me ask everyone here one question. Other than attending classes, how much time do you spend meditating every day?"

"Can any of you meditate for two shichen every day? Can any of you train your body without fail, rain or shine?"

Lin Yuan's words were like loud slaps across every person's face in the Seventh Dormitory.

Everyone lowered their heads, their faces flushed red with shame.

Most of their time had indeed been spent fooling around or complaining about unfairness.

"Do not use talent as an excuse."

"In this world, talent determines your upper limit, but effort determines your lower limit."

"With how lazy all of you are, forget nobles—even I look down on you."

Having said that, Lin Yuan could not be bothered to look at them again. Carrying his luggage, he walked toward an empty bed at the far end.

As for taking six years to reach only Level Nine, there was no need to say what that meant.

Huo Yuhao had Innate Soul Power of Level One, yet he had already reached Level Ten Soul Power at Eleven Years Old.

Were Huo Yuhao's circumstances back then not far harsher than those of these work-study students?

Since they were being oppressed, why did they not cultivate even harder, cultivate until they dropped dead?

Just then.

The wooden door of the Seventh Dormitory was pushed open again.

"Excuse me, is this the Seventh Dormitory?"

A crisp voice rang out. Then, two figures entered one after the other.

Lin Yuan paused slightly in the middle of making his bed and turned to look.

Well, speak of the devil.

On the left was an utterly ordinary-looking young man. He wore Coarse Cloth Clothes Full of Patches, and although his gaze appeared gentle, it actually carried an aloof coldness that kept others at a distance.

Tang San!

Beside him, on the right, was a pretty little girl.

Her delicate little face was slightly chubby with Baby Fat, her large eyes watery and bright. Most eye-catching of all were the pair of fluffy Rabbit Ear Decorations on her head.

Her long Black Hair was tied into a Scorpion braid that hung past her buttocks, and she held half an unfinished carrot in her hand.

Xiao Wu!

He had not expected Xiao Wu to appear at virtually the same time as Tang San this time.

A guess immediately arose in Lin Yuan's heart. There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that Xiao Wu possessed a Diary Copy.

When he had arrived, the end of the First Diary Entry had contained the words "Rogue Rabbit," specifically to test Xiao Wu's reaction.

He did not directly use the Binding Function on Xiao Wu. Instead, he decided to test her once more.

With a thought, a Black Diary visible only to him appeared.

[Looking at those iconic Rabbit ears, this little girl before me should be Xiao Wu, right?]

[But she is still Too Small right now and has not grown into herself at all. Fortunately, I am not a Pedophile.]

[I wonder whether a Butterfly Effect caused by my appearance is at work. In the Original Work, Xiao Wu should have arrived a little later than Tang San.]

[Yet now, the two of them actually appeared at the same time.]

[Sigh, with these two here, they will probably have to compete for the position of Seventh Dormitory Dorm Leader again. But I truly have no interest in this childish game of Playing house.]

[How about letting Tang San and Xiao Wu compete? After all, Xiao Wu is already used to being the big sister in the Star Dou Great Forest.]

As the final period fell.

Xiao Wu, who had just stepped through the Seventh Dormitory's door, suddenly stiffened. Her previously light steps froze in place.

Somewhere in the dark, she sensed new content appearing in the Diary Copy within her mind.

Xiao Wu instinctively read its contents.

The next second, her little face, which had originally held a trace of curiosity and Arrogant and spoiled pride, instantly became an extraordinary sight!