A Present

The simple office in the freshman teaching building was near Freshman Class One's classroom.

Bai Cai entered the office first, with Huo Yuhao following close behind. The office was tastefully furnished. Several pots of thriving pothos hung against the plain white walls, lesson plans were neatly arranged on the desk, and white steam curled from a single-handled enamel cup decorated with flowers and birds beside the black pen holder.

All in all, Zhou Yi's aged appearance and stern demeanor didn't match the office's fresh style. The setup of a stuffy old woman paired with the taste of a married teacher was extremely bizarre.

"Bai Cai, given your circumstances, the academy has decided to give you a special Soul Tool." Zhou Yi sat upright in her chair and handed Bai Cai a square black box about half a foot long, wide, and tall.

Bai Cai took the black box in both hands and asked, "May I open it?"

"Of course." Zhou Yi nodded. "There's a ring inside. Check the instructions for its specific effects. Remember, don't take it off unless you absolutely have to."

"Also, Teacher Lin Yun specifically asked me to pass along a present to you." Zhou Yi swept her hand over her wrist, took hold of a white jade bottle, and handed it to Bai Cai.

"Two Mystic Water Pills." Zhou Yi's lips moved slightly as she secretly transmitted her voice. "These pills are worth ten thousand gold. They can purge impurities from your body, open your meridians, and improve your talent."

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

"All right, Bai Cai, you can go back now." Zhou Yi waved her hand, then turned to Huo Yuhao with an amused expression. "Your Martial Soul..."

After passing through Shrek Plaza and along the path beside Sea God Lake, Bai Cai returned to the dormitory.

He pushed open the dormitory door. Wang Dong was sitting cross-legged on the soft bed, practicing Calm Mind. Bai Cai sat on his own bed, with the black box and white jade bottle beside his pillow.

Wang Dong opened her big pink-and-blue eyes, got out of bed, and walked over to Bai Cai. Curiously, she asked, "What's that?"

"None of your business." Bai Cai opened the black box himself. A beautiful Blue Ring rested on velvet cloth.

"Who gave it to you?" Wang Dong pressed on, reaching to Snatch it. "Let me see!"

Caught off guard, Bai Cai let Wang Dong take the ring. He hadn't expected her to be so overbearing. His expression turned cold. "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 began organizing his belongings.

"What do you mean?" Wang Dong was at a loss. "What are you talking about?"

Ignoring Wang Dong, Bai Cai tidied his bed and rolled up his bedding. Aside from Huo Yuhao, no one was willing to put up with 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's voice was calm. "Let's go to the office together and ask to change roommates."

"I'm not going!" Wang Dong said petulantly.

"Let's go to the office together." Bai Cai put on the ring and said expressionlessly, "Or I'll go by myself."

"No!" Wang Dong quickly locked the dormitory door, stopping Bai Cai from leaving.

"Physical training this afternoon." Bai Cai sat on the bed and read the Soul Tool's instructions.

Wang Dong fell silent. If she changed dormitories, she would definitely have a falling-out with her new roommate, and there was a very high chance her true gender would be exposed.

Bai Cai touched the ring and sent Soul Power into it to open its storage space, putting away the white jade bottle. The Blue Ring's main function was to disguise Soul Rings. It could simulate the color and aura of Hundred-Year Soul Rings and Thousand-Year Soul Rings, and it came with one cubic meter of storage space.

"Let's have a Soul Fight," Wang Dong suddenly proposed. "If you win, I'll help you get a Second Soul Ring or Third Soul Ring that meets your requirements. If I win, we'll let bygones be bygones, and from now on, we'll be friends."

Wang Dong didn't know Bai Cai's exact Soul Power, but she was certain his Soul Power Level was a little lower than hers. On top of that, his physical fitness was weaker, so she was sure she could win.

"I swear on my Martial Soul." Wang Dong raised her right hand and said earnestly, "I'll do my best to keep my promise. I won't secretly take Payback."

So after I beat you up, we'll be friends from then on, right?

Unless you were the hot-blooded hero of a manga, no normal person would do something as stupid as making friends with their fists.

Bai Cai touched the ring and said nonchalantly, "What's your Soul Power Level?"

"Level twenty-two. My Martial Soul is the Light Goddess Butterfly." Wang Dong answered without hesitation.

"I have one fewer Soul Ring than you." Bai Cai's smile seemed to hold some hidden meaning. "Normally, no one would agree to have a Soul Fight with you."

"I won't use my Second Soul Ring." Afraid Bai Cai might refuse, Wang Dong said carefully, "I won't use my ability to fly, either. Is that okay?"

"Fine." Bai Cai clenched his fist. So she liked making friends with her fists, did she? Today, he'd let her taste the sting of a friendship-breaking punch.

Wang Dong gave him a brilliant smile, like a spring breeze sweeping over the land and bringing all things back to life.

In the Soul Battle Area, Wang Dong paid the fee for the arena on their behalf.

"Wang Dong, level twenty-two Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul: Light Goddess Butterfly."

The dazzling butterfly wings spread gracefully. The colors at the tips of the forewings shifted from deep blue to azure, then to pale blue.

The surface of the wings resembled a string of brilliant halos set into a blue sky, or white waves surging over a deep-blue ocean. Their colors and patterns were intricate and gorgeous, tinged with violet-blue. At one moment they were deep blue, the next azure, then pale blue, as if studded with precious jewels, glittering and captivating.

The Light Goddess Butterfly possessed Wang Dong. Her Yellow Soul Ring and purple Soul Ring moved in rhythm with the dazzling wings, one on either side. Wang Dong's nerves were taut, and she was in excellent fighting condition.

"Bai Cai, level twenty Control-Type Battle Spirit Master. Martial Soul: Ralts."

Ralts appeared in an instant, perched on Bai Cai's left shoulder. Its blue hair covered its face, and a yellow ring of light encircled its head.

Wang Dong was surprised.

Yellow? Wasn't it supposed to be pink?

"Wang Dong is subject to additional restrictions: she may not use her Second Soul Ring or rise more than three feet off the ground. Otherwise, she'll lose. All other rules are the same as in an ordinary Soul Fight." The referee announced the terms to everyone present.

"The Soul Fight begins!" the referee shouted.

The Light Goddess Butterfly beat its dazzling wings, and Wang Dong launched the first attack. Even with her Second Soul Ring forbidden, she was still confident.

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

A torrent of tangible mental power burst forth, and the Light Goddess Butterfly's wings were bound by Confusion, unable to move.

Only six feet from Bai Cai, Wang Dong was forced to stop her charge.

"First Soul Skill, Wing Blade!"

The Yellow Soul Ring flashed. The Light Goddess Butterfly's forewings turned completely azure, and clusters of golden patterns appeared. Golden light spread outward, forming a golden edge three inches wide around the rims of the forewings, razor-sharp.

Wang Dong's toes touched the ground as she spun her wings, cutting through the viscous Confusion and struggling forward. Wing Blade was not only exceptionally sharp, it also increased the strength of her wings. As Confusion tightened around them, the wings' tiny scales began to fall away, and they showed signs of breaking free.

"Wang Dong, you've lost. First Soul Skill, Imprison."