Xiao Xiao, How About You Come to My Dorm

Xiao Xiao snapped out of her shock. Looking into those deep, piercing eyes, she spoke in a small voice, "I... I wanted to thank you."

Hearing this, Su Ling raised an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle. "Thank me? By stalking me?"

"No, that's not it!"

Xiao Xiao hurriedly explained, flustered as she held up the fruit tea she had prepared long ago between them. She held it with both hands, perfectly upright, as if presenting a treasure.

"I wanted to give you this!"

Milk tea?

Seeing the familiar packaging, Su Ling became interested.

He didn't stand on ceremony. He pulled the straw from the bag, pierced the lid, and leaned down slightly, sipping directly from the cup while Xiao Xiao held it.

Xiao Xiao's fingers tightened around the cup involuntarily. She watched him nervously, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Is it good?"

Su Ling swallowed the mouthful of fruit tea, his brow furrowing slightly. "What did you put in this?"

"Huh?" Xiao Xiao froze, her expression visibly collapsing as she grew instantly anxious.

"I bought it based on my own taste. Do you not like sweet things?"

The storybooks said that to capture a man's heart, you first had to capture his stomach, but Su Ling's reaction clearly showed it wasn't to his liking!

Was her first attempt at gathering the courage to strike up a conversation destined to end in failure?

The more Xiao Xiao thought about it, the more panicked she became, her eyes beginning to redden.

Su Ling took in every change in her expression, watching the fruit tea cup trembling slightly in her grip.

He suddenly laughed.

Reaching out to take her trembling hand, Su Ling gently pulled her and the fruit tea closer.

"No, I like it very much."

"Eh?" Xiao Xiao was stunned.

Su Ling bit onto the straw and took another sip from the cup she was holding before slowly straightening up.

"I said it's delicious, and I like it." He paused, then added with a smile, "I was just teasing you."

"...You!"

Xiao Xiao finally realized she had been played.

Looking at Su Ling's mischievous smile, she felt both shy and annoyed, glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks.

But in Su Ling's eyes, Xiao Xiao's watery eyes and reddened nose made her glare lack any intimidation; instead, she looked like a ruffled little kitten.

[Xiao Xiao Favorability +2, obtained 20 Strategy Points]

Another 70 Strategy Points in the bag.

The smile on Su Ling's face deepened. He shifted his stance to give Xiao Xiao more room, his tone returning to a more serious note.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. My name is Su Ling, and I'm in Freshman Class One."

"Freshman Class One? You were also assigned to Teacher Zhou Yi's class!?"

"My name is Xiao Xiao, and I'm also in Freshman Class One! Hehe, we really are fated!"

The resentment on Xiao Xiao's face instantly turned into surprise. After the earlier commotion, it was as if a floodgate had opened.

"Is that so? Then, classmate Xiao Xiao, why did you choose to stalk me in the middle of the night?"

"I... I actually saw you in the cafeteria!"

"Then why didn't you call out to me back then?"

"There were too many people, I didn't dare..."

Time ticked away, second by second.

Xiao Xiao was still talking with great enthusiasm.

Su Ling glanced at the dormitory building, which had already gone dark, and turned to look at Xiao Xiao with a helpless expression.

"Classmate Xiao Xiao, it's getting very late. Why don't you come to my dorm, and I'll listen to you talk slowly?"

"Ah? Is that okay?"

Xiao Xiao responded foolishly, without a second thought.

"Of course, unless you'd prefer to visit the Dean's office tomorrow morning."

Su Ling smiled, his expression unreadable.

Only then did Xiao Xiao realize what she had just agreed to, and her face, which had just lost its flush, turned bright red once again.

"I... I'm not! Su Ling, I... I'll head back first! Goodnight!"

Xiao Xiao covered her beet-red face, turned around in a panic, and hurried away as if fleeing.

"Goodnight, slow down."

Su Ling shook his head with a chuckle. Seeing Xiao Xiao disappear at the end of the streetlights, he turned and walked away as well.

Meanwhile.

On a nearby rooftop, Xuan Zi watched Su Ling enter the dormitory building and took a swig from his gourd.

"Xiao Xiao, hmm, she's a pleasant-looking lass with decent talent. The lad Su has a good eye."

He smacked his lips, took another gulp of wine, and suddenly remembering something, turned his head toward the Sea God Pavilion with a grin.

"Though, this old man thinks it's best to be well-matched in status."

"Oh, right, I haven't gone to congratulate Lin Huiqun on her breakthrough to level 97 yet. Perfect, I'll ask for a thank-you gift on the lad's behalf while I'm at it..."

Xuan Zi stowed his gourd, chuckled, stood up, and leaped away, flying toward the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Back in his dorm.

Su Ling locked the doors and windows, sat cross-legged on the floor, and retrieved the Soul Ascension Pill and the Autumn Dew of Insight from his Sumeru Ring.

He then opened the Strategy Mall.

He spent 100 Strategy Points to exchange for 1 level of soul power, triggering a 30-day cooldown.

This was his monthly "basic allowance" that he couldn't afford to miss.

[Exchange for '1 level of soul power' successful, 100 Strategy Points deducted, 480 Strategy Points remaining]

A pure orb of soul power flew out from the system interface and dove straight into the center of Su Ling's brow.

His soul power broke through to level 27, and the significant amount of soul power he had previously cultivated was inherited into his new level.

It wasn't an equal amount, but an equal percentage!

"As expected, anything from the system is top-tier! Now, it's time to consume the immortal herb and the Soul Ascension Pill."

Su Ling suppressed his excitement, channeled his soul power to his fingertips, and looked at the two crystalline droplets at the tip of the Autumn Dew of Insight.

Those were the essence of the Autumn Dew of Insight; once the droplets were gone, the herb itself would be destroyed.

This was the comprehensive explanation provided by the system.

Su Ling held his breath, reached out, gently pinched the two droplets with his fingertips, and quickly placed them into his mouth.

Instantly, a cooling sensation surged from his throat into his body, rushing straight to his brain. An unprecedented sense of clarity rippled through his mind.

At the same time, his eyes erupted with a violet glow, even more intense than when he had activated his martial soul before!

It wasn't over yet. Su Ling made another move.

He quickly took out the emerald-green Soul Ascension Pill, placed it in his mouth, assumed a posture with his fingers pointing toward the sky, and closed his eyes to begin cultivating.

--

The next morning.

Su Ling was awakened by a commotion.

He withdrew his soul power and slowly opened his eyes.

A flicker of violet light vanished from his pupils.

"My spiritual power has increased by more than threefold and is even more solid. My soul power has also broken through to level 29!"

Su Ling was overjoyed. He stood up and stretched his limbs, his joints popping and cracking.

Just then, an argument broke out next door.

The soundproofing in this dormitory wasn't great, but fortunately, noise was prohibited at night, and the argument had only just begun.

Otherwise, he would have had to consider moving out.

Ignoring the noise outside, Su Ling grabbed his towel and toothbrush and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Young people, after all—bickering was normal.

Just as Su Ling was wondering what to have for breakfast, Suddenly, the arguing flared up again, and this time he heard it more clearly.

It was peppered with phrases like "If you don't listen to me, I'll beat you out" and "Let's try it then, let's go outside."

Su Ling frowned.

Why did that voice sound so much like Huo Yuhao's?

Wait!

Su Ling realized it suddenly; he remembered that diagonally across from his dorm was room 108!

That was the dorm where Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong lived in the original story.

It seemed the bait cast by the Tang God King was starting to take effect!

This book is starting its trial run. If it's to your taste, dear patrons, please add it to your bookshelf or leave a comment so I can see your love. I kowtow in gratitude!!