Small World

Xiao Wu had come empty-handed, bringing nothing at all, so naturally she had no bedding.

She could only stand there awkwardly.

Seeing that their boss was in a difficult spot, several considerate students immediately stepped forward. "Boss, use my quilt. I can use the mattress as both bedding and blanket."

Another said, "Boss, use my mattress. I can make do with just the quilt."

They had yet to figure out their new boss's temperament, but one thing was certain: sucking up to the boss could never be wrong. Pleasing the boss might not earn a reward, but displeasing the boss would definitely bring punishment.

In Dorm Seven, it was perfectly normal to beat someone up after randomly finding an excuse because you did not like the look of them.

That was exactly how the previous boss, Wang Sheng, had acted.

Xiao Wu looked at their bedding. It was not exactly filthy, but most of it was tattered and worn, and she did not like it at all. Just as she was troubled over what to do, she saw Lu Shi return with new bedding in his arms.

Xiao Wu's gaze fell on the bedding. She walked over, clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward, and looked at him with her watery eyes. "Lu Shi, how about we discuss something?"

"Your bedding is quite big. It would be no problem for two people to share it. If we push our beds together, wouldn't we both have bedding?"

Tang San felt uncomfortable as he listened from the side and hurried over. "Xiao Wu, why not use mine?"

Grandpa Jack had given it to him. It was not new, but it was clean and not tattered.

Lu Shi did not refuse. "Push your bed over here."

Rather than let Tang San benefit, he might as well benefit himself.

Xiao Wu rejected Tang San, eagerly pushed her bed over, and took the initiative to make it up. Just as Tang San was feeling empty inside, a teacher with an ordinary face and light green hair walked in and asked who Tang San was.

Tang San was already feeling sour, so when he saw the teacher looking for him, he quickly stood up.

"My name is Mo Hen. You can call me Teacher Mo. Tang San, this bedding is from Grandmaster."

He took the bedding. It was not expensive, and it was very plain, but a fresh, dry scent rushed toward him. There was even a pillow prepared, clearly showing that everything had been carefully considered.

Feeling the softness of the bedding, warmth rose in his heart. Grandmaster's face could not help appearing in his mind. Since coming to this world, Grandmaster was one of the few people who had truly thought of him.

I will definitely cherish it!

Tang San sniffed emotionally, then turned to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, you can use this set. I can use the old one."

At least she would not have to share a bed with someone else. After all, men and women should not sleep together.

Xiao Wu had not expected Tang San to give her the bedding outright. She was immediately delighted. After thanking Lu Shi, she took the new bedding and spread it on her own bed.

After Mo Hen left, Tang San instantly realized something was wrong. Xiao Wu had not moved her bed back!

Xiao Wu's original bed had been taken by a fourth-year student who gave off a sour foot odor and loved picking his nose.

Right beside Tang San's bed!

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu was lying on her bed, propping up her chin as she swung her pale little feet. She curiously watched Lu Shi, who was reading a very thick book by the moonlight.

"Lu Shi, what are you reading?"

Lu Shi turned a page. A hundred years had passed, and the paper had long since lost its scent of ink. "A book about Soul Beasts. Since we are all Soul Masters, there is no harm in learning more about Soul Beasts."

"Won't the teachers teach us in a few days? Why are you reading now?"

Xiao Wu rolled around on the soft bed, so comfortable that she practically did not want to get up.

Lu Shi said, "I traded for this book from Grandmaster. The school does not teach this."

Grandmaster?

Tang San instantly perked up. How did this involve his teacher?

"I explained some knowledge about Martial Soul Mutation to Grandmaster, and he gave me this book in exchange."

"Impossible!"

Tang San refuted him from seven beds away, startling everyone. They all turned to look at him. "My teacher is a master of Martial Soul theory. How could he possibly need you to explain Martial Soul knowledge to him?"

He had always repaid kindness and respected his teachers. He would never allow anyone to slander his teacher.

How could a mere work-study student be worthy of explaining things to his teacher?

That was a theory master recognized throughout the world of Martial Souls!

Lu Shi continued reading without turning his head. "Why not ask him tomorrow?"

Why would I lie to you?

"You..."

That single sentence left Tang San speechless.

That was right. Why would Lu Shi tell such a lie when it could be exposed so easily?

Tang San opened his mouth several times but did not know what to say. He could only silently lie back down on the old mattress.

Late at night, clouds covered the moonlight, and the room grew dim.

Lu Shi could no longer make out the words, so he put away the book and began meditating.

A meditation method meant emptying one's mind and following the method's guidance to circulate Soul Power through the body, absorbing and refining the energy of heaven and earth before converting it into Soul Power.

Besides talent, another factor affecting cultivation speed was the meditation method.

The great factions and sects all had their own exclusive meditation methods. For example, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Heart Separation Control guided Soul Power through the body's tiny meridians. Though each individual meridian carried little Soul Power, there were many of them running in parallel, making the whole process stable and suited to their need to focus on multiple targets at once in battle.

The Flame Prison Meditation Method, on the other hand, could double the cultivation efficiency of fire-attribute Soul Masters.

Their effects differed, but all were extraordinarily precious. Once a sect discovered that a disciple had leaked one, it would never show mercy.

For now, the method Lu Shi could use was naturally the most widely circulated meditation method.

As Soul Power circulated through his meridians, he could clearly sense exactly how much Soul Power he had gained.

Even if it was incredibly slight.

Cultivation was an extremely tedious process. He could not entertain other thoughts or let his mind wander. He had to constantly monitor the flow of Soul Power. Lu Shi circulated it again and again amid the monotony when he suddenly discovered something.

A faint strand of Soul Power seemed to be continuously emerging and flowing into his meridians.

"?"

It was so faint that he would never have noticed it if he had not been so bored.

Lowering his awareness, Lu Shi followed the Soul Power toward its source.

It was coming from... the Mandala Snake's Small World!

Within the forest Small World, the Mandala Snake crawled up the banyan tree's trunk and reached the top of its canopy. Warm sunlight spilled over its dark green scales, leaving it pleasantly warm.

Crystal-clear droplets hung from its scales and reflected the sunlight. It had clearly just bathed in the stream.

Could it be... that the Soul Power the Mandala Snake cultivated in the spiritual world could be shared with me?!

"..."

There was no way to verify it. If only I could enter the Small World...

Lu Shi felt somewhat regretful.

In a daze, the scene before his eyes flickered. When he woke from that brief trance, he found that he had entered the Small World!

Before him stood the enormous banyan tree at the center. Countless aerial roots hung from its branches, while behind him the stream babbled along. Soft grass lay beneath his feet, and fresh air filled his nostrils.

The Mandala Snake froze, then abruptly raised its head. Its ruby-like eyes scanned the surroundings, but there was nothing there. Sensing something was wrong, it immediately crawled down the trunk.

Only then did it discover Lu Shi.

It hurriedly lunged toward him.

Fortunately, Lu Shi's physical abilities had improved after absorbing the Soul Ring. He opened his arms, bent his knees, and steadily caught the Mandala Snake.

"I can actually enter the Small World!"

Only after personally touching its smooth scales did he dare confirm that he had truly entered the Small World.

This was simply terrifyingly unbelievable, enough to make one gasp in shock!

Even amid his astonishment, he did not forget the important matter. "Were you cultivating just now?"

The Mandala Snake nodded. The environment was comfortable and safe. What else was there to do besides cultivate?

Growing stronger was carved into the bones of every Soul Beast.

Lu Shi carefully sensed it. The faint Soul Power in his meridians had indeed been cut off.

"Try cultivating now."

The Mandala Snake did not understand what Lu Shi meant, but it would definitely obey its master's command.

It wriggled backward twice, then immediately began cultivating.

Sure enough, that strand of Soul Power appeared again.