Xiao Wu, Second Binding Target

"Teacher, I'm sure you're better than that Master Meng. Lin Qi was blind and didn't realize he was passing up such an excellent teacher as you."

Tang San, who had been taken away by Yu Xiaogang, noticed the gloomy look on Yu Xiaogang's face and offered a word of comfort.

"Good child, I only intended to train one student anyway." Yu Xiaogang's expression improved somewhat.

Although he had missed out on Lin Qi, an Innate Full Soul Power talent, he still had Tang San, who also possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

"Although you and Lin Qi both have Innate Full Soul Power, your upper limit is far higher than his. The further Twin Martial Souls progress, the faster they grow, and they are stronger than ordinary Soul Masters as well."

Tang San nodded firmly, completely convinced by Yu Xiaogang's words.

Meanwhile, Master Meng brought Lin Qi into the Bamboo Forest behind the academy.

"Little Qi, you have Innate Full Soul Power and can immediately add a Soul Ring. Tonight, I'll prepare a medicinal bath for you to improve your physical condition and mental strength, allowing you to absorb a higher-level Soul Ring."

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Qi had originally planned to search Nuoding City for Whale Rubber himself, but since Master Meng was providing a medicinal bath, there was no need for him to look for it on his own.

Whale Rubber could only improve a Soul Master's physical condition, while the medicinal bath prepared by Master Meng could even strengthen one's mental power.

Master Meng nodded with a smile.

"You may live here from now on, or you can stay in the academy dormitories."

The Bamboo Forest was quiet and secluded, perfect for cultivating in peace.

With such a nice place available, Lin Qi naturally could not be bothered to squeeze into a dormitory with a bunch of children.

Nuoding Academy was truly outrageous. It only had seven large dormitories in total.

One was the Work-Study Dormitory for students of all grades, while each of the other dormitories was assigned to a single grade.

How was this a school dormitory? Even a prison would not be this cramped.

Master Meng stayed behind in the Bamboo House to prepare Lin Qi's medicinal bath, while Lin Qi went alone to register.

When he arrived at the Academic Affairs Office, a pretty little girl with a long Scorpion Braid was registering.

There was no need to say more. With such an obvious feature, Lin Qi recognized at a glance that she was not human.

"My name is Xiao Wu. Wu as in dancing."

"You don't have a surname?" the teacher at the Academic Affairs Office asked.

"No. My name is just Xiao Wu."

The teacher did not ask further. It was not unusual for country children to have only a simple name.

Just as he was about to ask the next child for their name, he spotted Lin Qi entering.

"Lin Qi, you're finally here. The Dean has already explained everything, so you don't need to register. The school dormitories are rather crowded, and the Dean said we could arrange a room just for you."

Lin Qi did not know whether the Dean was taking such good care of him because of Master Meng or because Su Yuntao had put in a word for him.

Not having to slowly fill out registration information suited Lin Qi perfectly.

"There's no need to arrange a private room for me. Since I don't need to register, I'll be leaving first."

"Alright." The teacher beamed.

"Who's that guy?"

"Even the city lord's son wouldn't get this kind of treatment, would he?"

Several children waiting in line felt sour when they saw how well the teacher treated Lin Qi, and they became extremely curious about his identity.

The teacher tapped on the desk.

"Next."

"He has Innate Full Soul Power and limitless prospects. If any of you had Innate Full Soul Power too, the academy would give you the same treatment."

"Gasp—"

As soon as those words were spoken, the office erupted into an even greater commotion.

"Innate Full Soul Power? Someone actually has Innate Full Soul Power?"

"My Innate Soul Power is only rank two. Doesn't that mean he can absorb his first Soul Ring already?"

At that moment, they no longer envied Lin Qi's treatment. Instead, they envied his talent even more.

"Hey, your name is Lin Qi, right?"

Outside the office, Xiao Wu and Lin Qi came out one after the other.

For some reason, Xiao Wu felt that Lin Qi gave off an incredibly reassuring aura.

Being beside Lin Qi felt just like being in the Star Dou Great Forest—completely relaxed and at ease.

[Map expanded to Nuoding City. A bindable Suppression Target has been detected. Bind?]

At that moment, the system notification sounded.

Hmm? Would expanding the map grant new binding targets?

Then why had Yu Xiaogang failed to trigger a binding before? Yu Xiaogang must have been too weak.

"Hey, you haven't answered me yet. My name is Xiao Wu. Wu as in dancing."

If anyone else had ignored her like that, Xiao Wu would definitely have gotten angry.

But before Lin Qi, all her temper vanished. Instead, she worried that he might form a bad impression of her.

Bind.

Lin Qi muttered inwardly. Xiao Wu's background was certainly not comparable to Tang San's.

But perhaps her identity as a Soul Beast could bring Lin Qi different gains.

"That's right. My name is Lin Qi."

Having received an answer, Xiao Wu's face immediately broke into a smile.

"My name is—"

"No need to introduce yourself a third time. I know your name is Xiao Wu." Lin Qi cut her off.

Xiao Wu smiled sheepishly.

"I heard the teacher inside say that you have Innate Full Soul Power. You're really amazing."

This was the first time Xiao Wu had taken the initiative to approach a human, and she did not know what to say.

Lin Qi had already heard the system confirm that the binding had succeeded, but no new reward had been activated.

Still, that was not surprising. Xiao Wu had not yet displayed any background.

As they went downstairs, Xiao Wu kept making conversation, trying to draw Lin Qi's attention.

"Lin Qi, which dormitory do you live in? Can I share a dormitory with you?"

Even though Lin Qi was rather indifferent, Xiao Wu continued talking without pause.

Could this be the ability of Blessing of All Living Things possessed by a Body of Fortune?

Otherwise, this angry Rabbit should not have been so easy to talk to.

"I don't live in the dormitories. I'm staying in the Bamboo Forest Cabin behind the academy."

"Bamboo Forest Cabin? It already sounds much better than the Work-Study Dormitory."

Xiao Wu's eyes immediately lit up.

It sounded wonderful. Compared to the Work-Study Dormitory, she preferred a place close to nature like the Bamboo Forest Cabin, especially since Lin Qi lived there too.

Xiao Wu pinched the corner of her clothes.

She had only just entered human society, but she knew that money was needed for everything in the human world.

She dearly wanted to move into the Bamboo Forest Cabin with Lin Qi, but being penniless, she could not bring herself to say it.

Tang San, who had come out of the Work-Study Dormitory with the other work-study students, was preparing to head to the cafeteria for a meal.

When he saw Lin Qi, he had intended to pretend not to notice him.

Then he saw Xiao Wu beside Lin Qi.

"What a beautiful girl."

One of the work-study students voiced Tang San's thoughts.

For some reason, the moment he saw this girl, Tang San's heart began to stir inexplicably.

But when he saw Xiao Wu standing so close to Lin Qi and constantly trying to get closer to him, Tang San felt terribly stifled.

Tang San, who had originally planned to go around Lin Qi, walked over as if possessed.

"You live in the Work-Study Dormitory too? We're all work-study students. If you don't know the way, I can take you there."

Hearing Xiao Wu say that she also lived in the Work-Study Dormitory, Tang San was overjoyed, feeling that heaven itself was helping him.

Just as Xiao Wu was wondering how to bring it up with Lin Qi, she turned her head and saw an utterly ordinary face.

"No need."