A Challenge from Bei Bei

After a long wait in line at Shrek Academy's freshman admissions office, it was finally Gu Mingyuan's turn. Once his age, Soul Power, and letter of recommendation had been checked, he was admitted without a hitch.

But he ran into trouble at registration.

Teacher Wang took the flawless letter of recommendation and file. After scanning the pages, he gradually frowned. He looked up at Gu Mingyuan and studied him for a moment.

"Your paperwork is fine. But it says here that your Martial Soul is Bone." Curiosity flashed in Teacher Wang's eyes. "The Martial Soul you just showed me was completely different. That wasn't a pure Bone Martial Soul at all. What happened?"

Gu Mingyuan kept a straight face and made something up on the spot. "Teacher, I got lost near the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest before coming here. I was so hungry I couldn't stand it, so I ate an herb I found beside a stream. Afterward, I passed out. When I woke up, my Martial Soul had changed."

Teacher Wang looked Gu Mingyuan up and down, surprise and scrutiny entering his gaze.

His Martial Soul changed because he ate a plant?

Remembering that Bone was a Body Martial Soul, Teacher Wang's heart skipped a beat. Could this kid have gotten absurdly lucky and eaten some Heavenly Treasure that triggered a second awakening of his Body Martial Soul?

"What did the herb look like?" Teacher Wang asked in a low voice. "Did you feel anything strange in your body when your Martial Soul changed?"

Gu Mingyuan pretended to search his memory. "It looked like a cluster of white jade. The leaves had a few fine, pale-gold lines on them, and they felt cool to the touch. As for how I felt... I fell dead asleep after eating it. I don't remember a thing."

The half-true description happened to fit the characteristics of his Golden Jade Body. Teacher Wang listened with a deep frown, wondering whether he should take the freshman straight to the director of studies, when a gentle voice came from the side.

"Teacher Wang, is there a problem with this junior's registration?"

Gu Mingyuan turned and saw Bei Bei and Tang Ya. After taking Huo Yuhao back to the dormitory, they were retracing their steps.

Teacher Wang naturally knew this outstanding student from the Outer Court, and his expression softened. "Oh, it's you, Bei Bei. His paperwork is fine, but his current Martial Soul doesn't match the one in his file. I was asking him about it. Do you know him?"

Bei Bei paused, then glanced at Gu Mingyuan and smiled. "We met in the Star Dou Great Forest. He just obtained his second Soul Ring, and his foundations are solid."

With Bei Bei, a core disciple, vouching for him, Teacher Wang let the matter drop. He had never intended to hold up the admission. As long as the seal on the recommendation letter was genuine, that was enough. The rare case of Martial Soul Mutation was better reported to Du Weilun for further study.

"Since your paperwork is in order, you can enroll," Teacher Wang said, stamping the form. "I'll still need to check with the director about your Martial Soul Mutation later."

Gu Mingyuan nodded. "Thank you, Teacher."

After paying ten Gold Soul Coins in tuition, Gu Mingyuan received two sets of white freshman uniforms, a dormitory key, and a white badge marking him as a first-year student.

With registration complete, Gu Mingyuan turned to Bei Bei. "Thanks for helping me out just now, Senior Bei."

"It was nothing." Bei Bei waved a hand. His smile faded slightly, replaced by a hint of anticipation. "Are you free for a spar tomorrow?"

Gu Mingyuan's lips curved. "Of course."

The group exchanged brief farewells and parted ways.

Even Gu Mingyuan had not expected the news that "Thunderclap Bei Bei challenged a freshman" to spread through more than half the Outer Court's freshman circles in the time it took to eat a meal. He had clearly underestimated Bei Bei's influence there.

After lunch in the cafeteria, Gu Mingyuan checked his class assignment: Freshman Class Nine.

"Looks like I'll probably end up facing Zhou Yi," Gu Mingyuan remarked.

Once he had confirmed it, Gu Mingyuan followed the room number on his key to the freshman dormitory building.

Beside the entrance, an old man in gray cloth clothes lay in a rocking chair, his eyes nearly closed as though he were fast asleep.

Gu Mingyuan stopped.

He knew who the old man really was. Now that he had seen him, he could hardly ignore him.

But Gu Mingyuan did not go over to strike up a conversation or make any deliberate noise. He quietly bowed to the old man, then softened his footsteps and entered the dormitory building.

Only when Gu Mingyuan disappeared around the stairwell did the old man slowly open his eyes.

A strange glint passed through his clouded gaze.

"How odd..." the old man murmured. Then he slowly closed his eyes again, and the rocking chair continued to creak softly.

On the first floor was Dormitory 118.

Gu Mingyuan unlocked the door and went in. The room was not large, with a single bed on each side. A boy sat on the bed by the window, engrossed in a book.

At the sound of the door opening, the boy immediately closed his book and jumped off the bed.

"Hello!" the boy said warmly, holding out his hand. "I'm Zhou Sichen. We're roommates from now on, so let's get along!"

Gu Mingyuan recognized the name. Zhou Sichen's Martial Soul was a Grimoire that could summon Soul Beasts, and he would become one of Shrek's core disciples.

He reached out and shook Zhou Sichen's hand. "Gu Mingyuan. Let's get along."

At the name, Zhou Sichen froze. He looked Gu Mingyuan up and down several times, then exclaimed in a low voice, "Gu Mingyuan? I just heard someone downstairs say Thunderclap Bei Bei is sparring with a first-year freshman tomorrow. That freshman... it isn't you, is it?"

Gu Mingyuan smiled helplessly. News traveled far too fast.

"It's me."

"What, are you going to start taking bets on me to win?"

Zhou Sichen blinked. He had assumed his new roommate would be too nervous to sleep after being challenged by the Outer Court's top senior. Instead, Gu Mingyuan was completely unfazed and even had the presence of mind to joke.

"Bet? Of course I will!" Zhou Sichen thumped his chest. Though he privately thought Gu Mingyuan was certain to lose, he declared loyally, "Even if you lose, I'll bet on you! I've got your back!"

Gu Mingyuan waved a hand as he made his bed.

"No need." Gu Mingyuan kept his back to Zhou Sichen.

"If Bei Bei goes all out, I don't stand much chance against him at my current level."

He continued making his bed. A faint glint crossed his eyes, but he kept the rest to himself:

But if he limits himself to the same two-ring level as me... in a fight between equals, it's anyone's guess who wins.