Gift

The simple office of the freshman teaching building is located near the classroom for Freshman Class One.

Bai Cai entered the office first, with Huo Yuhao following closely behind. The office was elegantly furnished; several thriving pothos plants hung against the plain white walls, lesson plans were neatly arranged on the desk, and a floral-patterned glazed enamel mug beside a black pen holder emitted a faint wisp of white steam.

All in all, Zhou Yi's aged appearance and stern temperament did not match the office's fresh style. The combination of a stuffy old crone's persona with the refined taste of a married woman was extremely bizarre.

"Bai Cai, considering your situation, the academy has decided to gift you a special Soul Tool." Zhou Yi sat upright in her chair and handed Bai Cai a square black box about half a foot in length, width, and height.

Taking the box with both hands, Bai Cai asked, "May I open it?"

"Of course." Zhou Yi nodded. "Inside is a ring. You can check the instructions for its specific effects yourself. Remember, unless it is an absolute last resort, do not take the ring off."

"Also, Teacher Lin Yun specifically entrusted me to pass a gift on to you." Zhou Yi flicked her wrist, grasped a white jade bottle, and handed it to Bai Cai.

"Two Mystic Water Pills." Zhou Yi's lips moved slightly as she sent a secret voice transmission: "These pills are worth ten thousand gold. They can purge impurities from your body, clear your meridians, and improve your talent."

Bai Cai gripped the jade bottle and bowed solemnly. "Please thank Teacher Lin for me."

"Alright, Bai Cai, you may return now." Zhou Yi waved her hand, then turned to face Huo Yuhao, saying with interest: "As for your martial soul..."

Passing through Shrek Square and the path along the shore of Sea God Lake, Bai Cai returned to the dormitory.

Pushing open the door, Wang Dong was sitting cross-legged on the soft bed in meditation. Bai Cai sat on his own bed, the black box and white jade bottle placed beside his pillow.

Wang Dong opened his large, powder-blue eyes, got off the bed, and walked over to Bai Cai, asking curiously, "What is this?"

"None of your business." Bai Cai opened the black box on his own, revealing a beautiful blue ring set against velvet fabric.

"Who gave this to you?" Wang Dong was relentless, reaching out to snatch it. "Let me see!"

Caught off guard, the ring was snatched away by Wang Dong. Bai Cai had not expected Wang Dong to be so overbearing and said coldly, "Give it back."

"No." Wang Dong put on the ring and slowly backed away.

"I hope you and your new roommate get along well." Bai Cai put away the jade bottle and tidied his personal belongings.

"What do you mean?" Wang Dong said, flustered. "What are you talking about?"

Ignoring Wang Dong, Bai Cai packed up his bed and rolled up the bedding. Aside from Huo Yuhao, no one was willing to endure Wang Dong's behavior.

Wang Dong hurriedly took off the ring and grabbed Bai Cai's hand. "I'm sorry."

"Teacher Zhou should still be there," Bai Cai said flatly. "Let's go to the office together and apply for a roommate change."

"I'm not going!" Wang Dong said, sulking.

"We are going to the office," Bai Cai said, putting on the ring with an expressionless face. "Or, I will go to the office by myself."

"No!" Wang Dong rushed to lock the dormitory door from the inside, preventing Bai Cai from leaving.

"Physical training is this afternoon." Bai Cai sat on the bed and flipped through the Soul Tool's manual.

Wang Dong remained silent. If he changed dorms, he would definitely have conflicts with a new roommate, and there was a high probability his true gender would be exposed.

Bai Cai touched the ring, channeled his soul power to open the storage space, and put away the white jade bottle. The main function of the blue ring was to disguise soul rings; it could simulate the color and aura of century-old and millennium-old soul rings, and it came with one cubic meter of storage space.

"Let's have a soul duel." Wang Dong suddenly proposed. "If you win, I will help you obtain a second or third soul ring that meets your requirements. If I win, everything from the past is wiped clean, and we will be friends from now on."

Wang Dong did not know Bai Cai's exact soul power, but Bai Cai's soul power level was definitely lower than his own, and with his weaker physical constitution, he was certain he would win.

"I swear by my martial soul." Wang Dong raised his right hand and said seriously, "I will definitely do my best to fulfill my promise and will not seek revenge in secret."

After taking this beating, we'll be friends, right?

Unless one was the protagonist of a hot-blooded manga, no normal person would ever do something as stupid as making friends through fisticuffs.

Bai Cai touched the ring and said nonchalantly, "What is your soul power level?"

"Level 22, martial soul: Goddess of Light Butterfly," Wang Dong said without hesitation.

"I have one fewer soul ring than you." Bai Cai smiled faintly. "Under normal circumstances, no one would agree to duel you."

"I won't use my second soul ring," Wang Dong said cautiously, fearing Bai Cai would refuse. "And I won't use my flight ability. Is that okay?"

"Fine." Bai Cai clenched his fists. So you like making friends with your fists, do you? Today, I'll let you taste the flavor of a 'Friendship-Breaking Fist'.

Wang Dong responded with a brilliant smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze, as if all things were coming back to life.

In the Soul Duel Zone, Wang Dong paid the venue fee on their behalf.

"Wang Dong, Level 22 Assault System Battle Soul Master, martial soul: Goddess of Light Butterfly."

The gorgeous butterfly wings spread out gracefully, the colors at the tips of the forewings shifting constantly between deep blue, azure, and light blue.

The surface of the wings looked like a string of bright halos embedded in a blue sky, or white foam rising on a vast blue sea. The colors and patterns were complex and magnificent, appearing purplish-blue. At times deep blue, at times azure, at times light blue, they looked like expensive jewelry, shimmering and incredibly charming.

With the Goddess of Light Butterfly possessed, yellow and purple soul rings followed the rhythm of the gorgeous wings, one on the left and one on the right. Wang Dong tensed his nerves, his combat state at its peak.

"Bai Cai, Level 20 Control System Battle Soul Master, martial soul: Ralts."

Ralts suddenly appeared, sitting on Bai Cai's left shoulder. Its blue hair covered its face, and a yellow halo circled the top of its head.

Wang Dong was stunned.

Yellow? Isn't it supposed to be pink?

"Contestant Wang Dong is subject to additional restrictions: the use of the second soul ring is prohibited, and she must not hover more than three feet off the ground; otherwise, she will be disqualified. All other rules remain the same as a standard soul duel," the referee announced the requirements to the public.

"The soul duel begins!" the referee shouted.

The Goddess of Light Butterfly flapped its resplendent wings as Wang Dong seized the initiative; even with her second soul ring restricted, she remained confident.

"Ralts, Confusion." Bai Cai couldn't be bothered to dodge.

A tangible surge of mental power erupted, binding the wings of the Goddess of Light Butterfly and rendering them immobile.

Just six feet away from Bai Cai, Wang Dong was forced to halt her charge.

"First soul skill, Wing Blade!"

A yellow soul ring flickered as the forewings of the Goddess of Light Butterfly turned a deep azure. Clusters of golden light patterns emerged, spreading outward until a three-inch-wide golden edge formed along the perimeter of the wings, appearing exceptionally sharp.

Wang Dong tapped her toes against the ground and spun her wings, slicing through the viscous mental energy to advance with difficulty. The Wing Blade was not only incredibly sharp but also reinforced the structural integrity of her wings; as the fine scales of her wings shed under the tightening pressure of the mental energy, she began to faintly break free from the restraint.

"Wang Dong, you've lost. First soul skill, Imprison."