After personally witnessing Lin Mo and Xiao Wu's exchange, Tang San became even more certain that his Soul Power was only pseudo-Innate Full Soul Power.
Even if everyone used their Martial Soul abilities, he probably still wouldn't be a match for Lin Mo and Xiao Wu.
Lin Mo's sheer strength, which crushed all opposition, and Xiao Wu's exquisite Soft Skill were both far beyond what he could handle at present.
Perhaps talents like theirs were the true geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power. He had merely found a clever shortcut.
Still, he had his own advantages. Tang San encouraged himself in his heart.
To him, his Martial Soul was only a supplement. His greatest advantages were the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons recorded within it.
Those would be the foundation that let him make a place for himself in this world.
Tang San never forgot his purpose in crossing over to this world: he would make the Tang Sect flourish here.
"You three all have it?!" Wang Sheng's eyes widened.
He looked at Lin Mo, then at Xiao Wu, and finally at Tang San. His mouth opened and closed, then closed and opened again.
After a long while, he sighed, "The work-study students this year are all extraordinary!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, fully endorsing Wang Sheng's words.
Innate Full Soul Power was an incredibly rare talent.
Since Notting Academy was founded, you could count its students with Innate Full Soul Power on one hand.
And this year, three had appeared among the first-year students all at once, as if they were a dime a dozen.
Xiao Wu stared at Lin Mo for a long time. Only when he noticed her gaze and their eyes met did she finally ask, looking rather unhappy, "Lin Mo, why are you so strong? Is it because of your Martial Soul?"
At that, Lin Mo smiled. "Maybe. But I think it's more likely because I was born with divine strength.
"Your technique is much better than mine, but unfortunately, you're still a little too weak..."
Hearing Lin Mo's words, Xiao Wu felt even more dejected.
Born with divine strength—those four words were practically her natural enemy.
After that simple bout, Lin Mo had earned the title of leader without question.
Of course, Xiao Wu had also happily gained the title of Sister Xiao Wu, which she found rather pleasing.
Though Xiao Wu had lost to Lin Mo, everyone in Dorm Seven recognized her strength all the same.
After all, the scene of her easily defeating Tang San was still fresh in everyone's minds.
Soon, Mo Hen, the teacher in charge of their Dorm Seven students, brought Tang San a brand-new set of bedding on Grandmaster's behalf. He also told the three new work-study students, Lin Mo among them, what their work at the academy would be.
"You're all first-year students, so you'll be responsible for cleaning the garden south of the athletic field. You'll earn ten Copper Soul Coins a day." After saying this, Mo Hen left.
While he was there, Lin Mo had already made his bed.
It was worth mentioning that, perhaps because he had defeated Xiao Wu, she seemed to have taken a great interest in him.
She had even chosen a bed right next to his.
Just as Lin Mo finished making his bed, Xiao Wu set her sights on the spare bedding he had put aside to change into.
"Lin Mo... You have two sets of bedding. It's just sitting there anyway, so could you lend me one?" Xiao Wu pleaded.
Other than the uniform Notting Academy had issued her, she had only the clothes she was wearing. She didn't have any bedding, let alone a change of clothes.
"Take it." Lin Mo's mouth twitched. Then he added, "Remember to pay me back for the bedding once you've collected your Soul Master subsidy..."
"Soul Master subsidy? What's that?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, blinking her big eyes.
She had only recently arrived in the human world and didn't understand much about human affairs.
Besides, she had come in such a hurry that the clothes she was wearing were all she owned.
Lin Mo patiently explained, "It's assistance from Spirit Hall for Soul Masters. Once a Soul Master obtains their First Soul Ring, they're eligible to collect it from the Spirit Hall Branch in Notting City.
"A One-Ring Soul Master gets one Gold Soul Coin a month, which is more than enough to cover daily expenses.
"As for Soul Coins, that's the currency we use for everyday expenses. Gold Soul Coins are the highest denomination."
As he said this, Lin Mo instinctively glanced at his luggage and bedding.
The orphanage director had prepared all these things for him.
Before he left, the old director had pressed the bundle into his hands and repeated all sorts of advice again and again.
The orphanage's funds weren't exactly plentiful.
Two sets of bedding, a few changes of clothes, and the handful of Silver Soul Coins the director had tucked into his pocket.
That was everything he owned.
That was why he needed a work-study position. Without the tuition exemption that came with being a work-study student, he couldn't even scrape together enough to pay his fees.
"That's so nice!" Xiao Wu's eyes widened, excitement filling them.
"Then, are you going to collect it?" Lin Mo asked casually.
Xiao Wu answered without thinking, "Not yet. I don't have my First Soul Ring, so I couldn't collect it even if I wanted to."
"Oh." Lin Mo nodded.
He now had a rough idea of Xiao Wu's situation.
Just as he had guessed, Xiao Wu had only recently transformed from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast into a human and begun cultivating anew.
She needed to come into contact with human energy to break through in cultivation.
Since she had only just transformed and entered human society, her Soul Power was probably still at level ten.
Soon, it was time for dinner.
Once Wang Sheng learned just how tight the three work-study students' finances were, he gritted his teeth and paid out of his own pocket to treat Lin Mo and the others to a meal in the cafeteria.
The food wasn't especially lavish, but for the work-study students, it was already a rare treat.
Several large plates of food were brought out, and everyone's chopsticks flew.
To Lin Mo's surprise, Tang San and Wang Sheng didn't get into an argument this time because of Yu Xiaogang.
After eating and drinking their fill, just as everyone was about to return to the dormitory, Yu Xiaogang suddenly appeared and called Tang San away.
Tang San said goodbye to everyone, then hurried over. The teacher and student left one after the other, soon disappearing from sight.
The sun was nearly setting by the time Tang San returned to the dormitory.
Dorm Seven.
As soon as Tang San returned, he went straight to Xiao Wu and Lin Mo without hesitation and got right to the point:
"Lin Mo, Xiao Wu, I'm going out with my teacher in a couple of days.
"We're going to hunt for a Soul Ring, and I don't know how long we'll be gone. You two will have to handle our work-study duties in the meantime."
Tang San explained the situation succinctly. "But don't worry. I'll take care of all the remaining work this semester."
"Hey, Tang San, can I ask you something..."
Lin Mo raised his hand. "Could you ask your teacher for me? Would he be able to take me along for the Soul Hunt tomorrow?
"I also have Innate Full Soul Power. I need a Soul Ring to break through..."