Is "Little Sister Xiao Wu" Something You Can Call Her?

As Yu Xiaogang's words fell, the system's cold notification immediately rang out in Tang San's mind.

[ Ding—Congratulations, host. You have completed the main quest: Become a Disciple. ]

[ Quest Reward: When hunting a soul beast and absorbing your first soul ring, if the soul beast's age is insufficient, the system will directly raise the soul ring to the maximum limit the host can absorb. This reward will automatically take effect when the host absorbs the first soul ring. ]

The corners of Tang San's mouth rose slightly despite himself.

Innate full soul power at level ten, his teacher Yu Xiaogang's theoretical knowledge of martial souls, and the system's heaven-defying reward that could raise a soul ring to its limit.

His first soul ring was bound to become the most perfect first soul ring in this world!

Yu Xiaogang brought Tang San and Xiao Wu to the Academic Affairs Office. After briefly explaining a few things to Director Su, he hurriedly took his leave.

If not for Tang San, he would have long since found a secluded place to consume the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma bestowed by his master and attempt to break through the level-thirty bottleneck that had trapped him for most of his life.

Now that everything was settled, how could he possibly restrain himself any longer?

Tang San and Xiao Wu completed their registration with Director Su, received their Notting Academy uniforms, thanked him, and turned to leave the Academic Affairs Office.

The moment the two stepped out, the sound of several young teachers talking drifted from the room behind them.

"Director, not that I'm saying it, but that Grandmaster's so-called 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls' is just ridiculous, isn't it? What level is he himself? A level-twenty-nine Grand Soul Master, and he thinks he's qualified to talk theory?"

A young voice sneered.

"Enough!" Director Su's voice grew sterner. "The Grandmaster is the dean's friend. No one can prove his theories are correct, but no one can prove they're wrong either. In the field of martial soul research, the Grandmaster is a renowned figure. Do not be disrespectful."

"Is that right, Director?" Another voice cut in with a strange, mocking tone. "Shouldn't he be called a 'renowned clown'? Across the entire soul master world, who doesn't treat him as a joke?"

Tang San stopped in his tracks outside the door.

Xiao Wu frowned. She had wanted to rush inside and argue with them, but Tang San stopped her.

He listened quietly until they were done, then turned and walked away.

Sunlight fell across his youthful yet steady face. There was no anger in his eyes; instead, they held a newfound understanding.

So that was it. He finally understood why, beneath the excitement in his teacher's gaze earlier, there had been such deep expectation and urgency.

It was not merely the thirst for talent. It was the desperation of a theorist who had been denied and mocked by the entire world for most of his life, finally grasping a one-of-a-kind treasure capable of proving him right.

Though slandered by all, he had never broken down.

Without a powerful martial soul, he had devoted his entire life to the dullest theoretical research, trying to use wisdom to forge a new path for those who came after him.

That resilience, that almost obsessive fixation on martial souls, stirred an unprecedented respect in Tang San's heart—as well as a bold sense of kinship.

They were both outliers misunderstood by the world. But one day, they would prove themselves.

"Teacher." Tang San did not look back. In a voice only he could hear, he murmured, his gaze firm as iron, "One day, I'll let everyone on the continent know that a disciple taught by Yu Xiaogang is no worse than anyone else."

In the corridor, Xiao Wu skipped along behind him, her braid swaying over her shoulder.

"Xiao San," Xiao Wu suddenly called.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you stop me just now? Why wouldn't you let me go in there and teach them a lesson?"

Tang San paused for a moment without saying anything, then walked even faster.

Xiao Wu stared at the back of his head for two seconds before the corners of her lips slowly curled up. Humming an unknown tune, she chased after him. "Didn't you hear me telling you to wait for me?"

The two bickered and played all the way to the dormitory area.

The moment they entered the courtyard, Xiao Wu seemed to remember something and patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Oh, right, Xiao San. If anyone bullies you from now on, remember to come find me. I'll beat them up for you."

Tang San's mouth twitched. "...No need to trouble yourself."

"Why be so polite? We're family—no need to stand on ceremony." Xiao Wu giggled, tossed out those words, and skipped into the dormitory building.

The two pushed open the door to Dorm Seven.

The dormitory was not large, only a little over three hundred square meters, with around fifty beds. Only eleven of them had bedding. At the moment, seven or eight children between the ages of eight and twelve were making a racket inside.

"Is this Dorm Seven?"

Xiao Wu stood prettily at the doorway. Her lovely little face was rosy and fair, soft and tender like a ripe peach that made one want to take a bite.

Her long black hair was braided into a scorpion braid that hung past her hips. Her large, watery eyes shone with curiosity.

She was also holding a brand-new academy uniform.

The dorm was filled with boys. When they suddenly saw such a delicate, doll-like little girl appear at the door, the noise came to an abrupt halt. Seven or eight pairs of eyes turned toward her in unison, all staring dumbfoundedly with their eyes wide open.

Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes, looking completely harmless.

Seeing that no one answered her, she smiled sweetly. "Hello, everyone! My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu from dancing."

That soft, sweet greeting finally snapped the boys out of their daze.

The oldest and sturdiest boy, who had been sitting at the front, jumped down from his bed and strode over to the door. Puffing out his chest, he said, "Hello, Sister Xiao Wu! My name is Wang Sheng. My martial soul is the War Tiger, and I'll become a battle soul master in the future. I'm also the boss here."

"You're new work-study students, right? From now on, in Dorm Seven, you all have to listen to me. Got it?"

Before Xiao Wu could say anything.

The smile vanished from Tang San's face.

Xiao Wu's little sister? Was that a name they had any right to call her? If everyone called Xiao Wu little sister, then what was Tang San supposed to be?

"What, not convinced?" Seeing that something was off with Tang San's expression, Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow, his tone taking on a hint of provocation.

Tang San did not answer. He suddenly exerted force with his feet, and in a flash, he was behind Wang Sheng. His right arm bent, and his elbow struck precisely into Wang Sheng's waist.

At the same time, his right foot landed directly in front of Wang Sheng's right foot.

Wang Sheng had not even reacted before he was sent stumbling out, staggering through the dormitory door. Fortunately, his lower body was strong enough that he did not fall flat on his face. Otherwise, he would have ended up eating dirt.

"Brat, you dared to sneak attack me?"

Wang Sheng flew into a rage. Turning around, he pounced at Tang San like a tiger descending a mountain.

As Wang Sheng lunged at him, Tang San advanced instead of retreating, taking a step forward to meet him. He tilted his body slightly, dodging the punch, then grabbed Wang Sheng's wrist with his left hand and pulled with the momentum. His right palm was already pressed against the other boy's chest.

Wang Sheng only felt a clever burst of force surge through him. His entire body flew sideways out of control, crashing to the ground with a bang and sliding a long distance before finally stopping.

The dormitory fell completely silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe that this freshman, half a head shorter than Wang Sheng, had actually knocked their boss down.

Wang Sheng climbed to his feet, rubbing his bruised shoulder as his face alternated between green and white.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, walked up to Tang San, and lowered his head. "I'm sorry about earlier. You know that us work-study students have always been looked down on by the other students, so we have to stick together. Only the strongest person can be the boss, so everyone will accept it. You defeated me. From today onward, you're the boss of Dorm Seven."

The other children around them nodded as well, chiming in all at once. "That's right, Tang San will be our boss from now on!"

Everyone thought Tang San would gladly accept the position.

Then they saw the expression on Tang San's face change again and again. The corner of his mouth twitched for a long time before he seemed to make some sort of decision. He turned around and walked toward Xiao Wu, who was watching the commotion from the side.

Under the gaze of seven or eight pairs of eyes, Tang San bent one knee and said, "Great-Auntie, from now on, you're the boss of Dorm Seven. Whatever orders you have, just give the word."

Xiao Wu blinked. She froze for a moment, then bent over laughing. Stretching out her soft, fair little hand, she patted Tang San on the head with an air of seniority. "That's more like it. Xiao San, at least you know how to behave."

She skipped past Tang San, sat down on an empty bed by the window, swung her two little legs, and gave the boys in the room—who still had not recovered from their shock—a sweet smile.

"From now on, just call me Great-Auntie, like Xiao San does!"