Xiao Wu's Generosity

Meanwhile, at Nuoding Academy, Dormitory Seven.

When Tang San pushed open the dormitory doors, he was greeted by pairs of eyes filled with astonishment and admiration. He intentionally did not restrain the soul power fluctuations of his newly attained level twelve; although his bones still ached faintly, he held his back straighter than ever before.

This was truly a case of the downtrodden peasant rising up to sing!

"Tang San! You're finally back!" Wang Sheng was the first to leap over, his gaze landing on the small, pitch-black hammer in Tang San's left hand that radiated a chilling aura. In particular, the vibrant yellow soul ring caused Wang Sheng to gasp in shock.

"Heavens! Your first soul ring is already at the century level?" Wang Sheng's eyes turned red with envy. "Brother San, you've truly turned your life around! By the way, did you know? As long as your first soul ring is yellow, you can officially register as a formal Spirit Master at the Martial Soul Hall in the city. From now on, you'll receive a monthly reward of one Gold Soul Coin from the empire!"

"Martial Soul Hall? Why would there be a Martial Soul Hall in the city?" Tang San was somewhat confused. In Douluo Continent, humanity was primarily divided into three factions: the Heaven Dou Empire in the north, the Star Luo Empire in the south, and the Martial Soul Hall sandwiched between them.

"Martial Soul Hall is a general term. Every major city in Douluo Continent has a branch, but the one I'm referring to is specifically the Nuoding City branch. The Martial Soul Hall is divided into five ranks, from lowest to highest: Martial Soul Branch, Martial Soul Sub-hall, Martial Soul Main Hall, Martial Soul Sacred Hall, and the Pope's Palace in Martial Soul City. Above that, there is the legendary Worship Hall; legend has it that only those with the strength of a Titled Douluo are qualified to enter." Wang Sheng explained methodically. He had learned this in class; it was normal for Tang San, being young, not to know.

"I see. But is there really a Gold Soul Coin?" Tang San's eyelids twitched, and his grip on the hammer handle tightened.

A single Gold Soul Coin was equivalent to one thousand Copper Soul Coins. For a work-study student who only received twenty copper coins a day, it would take a full fifty days of eating and drinking nothing to save that much. For him now, this wasn't just money; it was the cornerstone for the rise of his Tang Sect hidden weapons.

"That's right!" Wang Sheng said excitedly. "With this money, our meals as work-study students will improve significantly. Brother San, from now on, you're our god of wealth!"

Tang San nodded slightly, appearing indifferent on the surface, but internally he was already calculating rapidly: one Gold Soul Coin, after deducting meal expenses, would be enough to go to the blacksmith shop to buy some high-quality refined iron and raw materials for high-tension springs. If he saved for a few more months, he might even be able to craft the Godly Zhuge Crossbow that had been shelved due to a lack of materials.

More importantly... he could save the remaining money. When he returned to the village during the holidays, he could bring back a few jars of the best strong liquor in the city for his alcoholic father.

"Gu Tian... do you think you can suppress me just because you have a background?" Tang San looked at the apartment building outside the window, his lips curling upward. "Once my hidden weapons are complete and my Clear Sky Hammer gains more soul rings, you will know what true despair is."

After leaving Dormitory Seven, Tang San learned that Gu Tian and Gu Yue had not yet returned, and a plan immediately formed in his mind. He felt this was a perfect opportunity; since he was temporarily thwarted in terms of force, he would completely dismantle Xiao Wu's psychological defenses through emotion.

Just think, if Xiao Wu knew that Gu Tian was cheating on her with someone else behind her back, what would she think? Xiao Wu would probably come running to him in tears, apologizing and acting spoiled, saying things like, "Brother San, I didn't know that Gu Ran was that kind of person! I was blind; can I come back to your side? I'll do anything you want."

He snuck to the base of the high-end apartment building where Gu Tian lived, climbed the stairs to the door, and after organizing what he would say, he knocked.

Na'er opened the door. She was wearing a pink dress, her long silver hair draped over her waist. Seeing that it was Tang San, her pale purple eyes instantly dimmed, and she stared at him fixedly, her gaze like she was looking at a disgusting fly.

"Uh, it's Junior Sister Na'er." Tang San scratched his head. "Can I see Xiao Wu? I want to tell her a few things, just a few words!"

"No!" Na'er pouted and released a ripple of space energy, hoping to drive Tang San away.

Tang San was forced back a step by the sudden spatial fluctuation, feeling secretly alarmed. But he quickly steadied himself and shouted loudly through the door into the room:

"Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu, are you there? I have something important to tell you!"

His tone carried a hint of feigned sympathy and anger: "Xiao Wu! You've been deceived by Gu Tian! While we were in the Soul Hunting Forest, he hooked up with a girl named Meng Yiran, who is the granddaughter of the Peerless Dragon and Snake couple. To please her, Gu Tian didn't even hesitate to let the teacher and me leave first. They are currently alone together in the depths of the forest, fooling around! You need to wake up!"

In his view, any girl in the middle of a passionate romance would instantly collapse upon hearing such news.

"Are you done?" Na'er frowned slightly and waved her small hand. "So noisy. Space Repulsion."

Before Tang San could see Xiao Wu's reaction, he felt the space around him fluctuate. His vision instantly distorted, and the next second, he found himself in the middle of a flower bed outside the apartment building, landing squarely on his backside in the dirt.

"Bastard!" Tang San stood up in a disheveled state, brushed the dust off his body, and glared hatefully at the floor above. "Xiao Wu, I've told you the truth; see for yourself what you want to do!"

After Tang San left, Na'er looked worriedly at Xiao Wu, who was sitting by the window in a daze. If she had known, she wouldn't have opened the door, or she should have teleported him away the moment she saw him.

It was truly a weasel wishing a chicken a Happy New Year—no good intentions!

"Sister Xiao Wu, don't listen to that bad guy's nonsense. Brother Gu Tian isn't that kind of person." Na'er walked over to Xiao Wu and gently took her hand.

Xiao Wu turned her head, her face devoid of the tear tracks Na'er had imagined, instead carrying a strange, amused smile.

"Na'er, do you think I'm that fragile?" Xiao Wu flicked her long rabbit ears, her tone surprisingly relaxed. "Actually, I was just thinking, if Brother Gu Tian really brought back an excellent girl, what kind of welcome gift should we prepare?"

"Eh?" Na'er widened her eyes, unable to process this. "Sister Xiao Wu, aren't you angry? That jerk Tang San said Brother Gu Tian is... is building a harem outside."

"Why would I be angry about that?" Xiao Wu hopped off the windowsill, her eyes reflecting the calm inherent in her soul beast bloodline. "Na'er, you might not understand the laws of the forest. In the world of soul beasts, true powerhouses never have just one partner. Look at the lion king on the plains or the tiger king in the forest; don't they all rule over their entire tribe and possess many mates?"

Xiao Wu walked up to Na'er and said earnestly, "Brother Gu Tian is the heir to the Dragon God; he is a male destined to stand at the pinnacle of this world. For a powerhouse, this behavior is perfectly normal. In fact, I feel that if he only had us, it would just mean his charm isn't great enough."

Na'er was stunned. Although she also had soul beast blood, this was the first time she had heard such a blunt and thorough analysis from Xiao Wu.

"But... but wouldn't that mean Brother Gu Tian would have less time for us?" Na'er whispered.

"That's why we have to become stronger." Xiao Wu patted Na'er's shoulder, her ruby-like eyes sparkling with wisdom. "As long as we are outstanding enough, there will always be a place for us in Brother Gu Tian's heart. Besides, with one more sister, won't we have more hands to deal with annoying guys like Tang San?"

At this, Xiao Wu even winked mischievously: "We have to trust Brother Gu Tian's taste. If he really brings back that Meng Yiran, we must get along harmoniously and not make things difficult for him. After all, we are the primary consorts who have been with him the longest."

Na'er nodded, half-understanding. Although she still felt a bit sour, seeing Xiao Wu's open-mindedness, her original grievances dissipated for the most part.

The two girls smiled at each other and huddled together to discuss their plans for the weekend.

As for Tang San, sitting in the dirt of the flower bed, he never imagined that the provocation he had painstakingly woven would be completely ineffective against Xiao Wu, who was a soul beast by origin.