Yu Xiaogang's Unshakable Confidence, Lin Xuan Enters Dorm Seven

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan took his Martial Soul certificate to the administrative office and waited in line for less than ten minutes.

The female teacher handling registration looked up at him, then at the word "Paper" on his certificate. Her pen paused.

"A Paper Martial Soul? Innate Full Soul Power?"

"Yes."

The teacher asked nothing more. She lowered her head and copied his name into the register.

When she finished, she pushed a wooden tag toward him. "Work-Study Students stay in Dorm Seven. Go to the Back Hill this afternoon to sweep up leaves. Ten Copper Soul Coins a day."

Lin Xuan took the tag, thanked her, and left.

That had gone more smoothly than he had expected.

At least no one here had mocked his Martial Soul or demanded proof that he had a second one.

In another courtyard, Tang San knelt on both knees.

Yu Xiaogang took him by the arm and tried twice to pull him up, but Tang San would not budge.

"Teacher. A teacher for a day is a father for life!"

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a long time before he finally sighed.

"Get up. From today on, you are my disciple."

He took an old-looking black belt from his sleeve. Fine patterns were engraved on its buckle.

"Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night. It's a Storage Soul Tool. Keep it with you from now on."

Tang San froze. "Teacher, this is too valuable."

"Not compared to you." Yu Xiaogang waved a hand. "Go report to Dorm Seven first, and don't neglect your Work-Study Student duties. Come back here tonight, and I'll teach you the Meditation Method."

Tang San put the belt away and rose to leave.

Yu Xiaogang spoke again. "Oh, right. You and Lin Xuan are from the same village?"

"Yes. We grew up together."

Yu Xiaogang nodded, and a smile returned to his face.

"Then that makes things easy."

"What do you mean, Teacher?"

"Little San."

Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and took a couple of leisurely steps.

"That boy is stubborn. It's only natural that he can't see reason yet. But I've studied Martial Soul Theory for decades, and I've never been wrong about a person."

"With my wisdom, Lin Xuan will become your junior fellow disciple sooner or later. You both have Twin Martial Souls. Under my guidance, you're bound to become leaders of the Soul Master world."

At that moment, Tang San truly believed him.

"Teacher, once Lin Xuan sees your wisdom, he'll be convinced."

Yu Xiaogang burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking.

Before long, Lin Xuan found Dorm Seven, the Work-Study Students' dormitory.

He pushed the door open. Around a dozen beds stood inside, some with newer bedding than others. Brooms, dustpans, and several buckets of water were piled along the wall.

Seven or eight children were gathered together. Some were arranging their bedding, while others were jostling for a look at a dog-eared Spirit Beast Atlas.

When the door opened, the room fell quiet.

An older boy jumped down from a bed. He stood half a head taller than Lin Xuan.

"New here?" Lin Xuan nodded.

"Lin Xuan. Holy Soul Village. Work-Study Student."

Wang Sheng patted his chest.

"I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is Battle Tiger, and my Soul Power is level nine. I'm the boss of Dorm Seven."

"Dorm Seven has a rule: newcomers have to fight the boss. If you win, you become the boss."

Lin Xuan set his cloth bundle on an empty bed.

He remembered this rule.

Originally, Tang San was supposed to fight Wang Sheng. Using the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Tang Sect techniques, Tang San would throw him. But Lin Xuan had reached Dorm Seven first, so the fight had fallen to him instead.

Lin Xuan did not refuse.

"Want to fight outside?"

Wang Sheng paused. He had been ready to make a little speech, but the newcomer was unexpectedly direct.

"Sure. You pick the spot."

The group followed them out of the dormitory to a patch of open ground behind it.

Wang Sheng rolled his shoulders.

"Let's get one thing straight. I won't use Soul Power to bully you. Neither of us has a Soul Ring yet, so we'll settle this with our fists and feet."

Lin Xuan nodded.

"Fine."

Wang Sheng took his stance, feet apart and center of gravity low.

"You go first."

Lin Xuan did not move immediately.

Before awakening his Martial Soul, he had exercised every day. An interest from his previous life had also led him to learn a little about fighting.

He was no expert, but it had made him stronger.

After all, Lin Xuan had no money for Whale Rubber, no medicinal baths, and no high-level Soul Master to build his foundation. All he could do was keep at it and train however he could.

The stronger his body became, the better his chances of absorbing a Soul Ring in the future.

Wang Sheng's Battle Tiger Martial Soul favored direct attacks. He was strong, but not particularly fast. His approach was straightforward: test his opponent with a punch, then press forward and force a contest of strength.

Lin Xuan took a piece of Talisman Paper from inside his robe and channeled his Soul Power into it. The paper dissolved in his palm, becoming a faint wisp of blue-green mist that entered the space between his brows.

His mind cleared, and his senses seemed to sharpen with it.

Then Lin Xuan said,

"Let's begin."

"Here I come!"

Wang Sheng had been raring to go. At those words, he charged.

A fist came smashing in from the right.

Lin Xuan turned aside and hooked his right foot forward, striking near the ankle of Wang Sheng's supporting leg.

Wang Sheng stumbled but immediately steadied himself, sweeping his left fist across.

Lin Xuan retreated half a step instead of meeting the blow head-on.

Wang Sheng threw several more punches in quick succession, each one carrying plenty of force. The children watching drew sharp breaths. Lin Xuan kept dodging, and they doubted he could last much longer.

"Boss Wang Sheng's going to win, right?"

Another child shook his head.

"I can't tell."

Wang Sheng grew more frustrated with every exchange.

Whenever he was about to put more force into a blow, Lin Xuan moved out of the way. When he tried to grab Lin Xuan's clothes, Lin Xuan changed direction before his hand could reach them.

It was maddening.

"Stop dodging!"

Lin Xuan stepped aside.

"Hit me first."

Gritting his teeth, Wang Sheng lunged again.

This time, he did not rush to throw a punch. He feinted with his left hand, then swept his right leg toward Lin Xuan's shin.

That was exactly what Lin Xuan had been waiting for.

When Wang Sheng kicked, his left shoulder dipped and his waist turned with the motion. Under the effect of the Clear Mind Talisman, the opening was more obvious than usual.

Lin Xuan stepped back from the sweep, planted his right hand on Wang Sheng's shoulder, and pressed down with the force of Wang Sheng's own charge. At the same time, he slipped his left foot behind Wang Sheng's leg.

Wang Sheng lost his balance completely.

He tried to catch himself, but Lin Xuan had already let go and retreated two steps.

Wang Sheng sprawled onto the dirt and got a mouthful of dust.

The children at the edge of the clearing went quiet for a moment.

Wang Sheng got up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.

He did not think Lin Xuan had pulled any dirty tricks.

Lin Xuan's timing had been precise. If Wang Sheng kept charging in like that, he would only be thrown again.

After staring at Lin Xuan for a long moment, Wang Sheng waved a hand.

"No more."

"I lost."

Then Wang Sheng raised his hands and gave Lin Xuan a respectful salute.

"You're the boss of Dorm Seven from now on."

Lin Xuan waved it off.

"Just call me Lin Xuan. 'Boss' sounds awkward."

Wang Sheng blinked, then lowered his hands.

"All right, Lin Xuan."

The other Work-Study Students followed his lead.

Lin Xuan left it at that and returned to the dormitory to make his bed. His blanket was a little thin, but the weather was not cold yet. Once he obtained a Soul Ring, he could register as a Soul Master at Spirit Hall and collect a stipend.

He had to admit that Spirit Hall's benefits were excellent. Soul Masters like Su Yuntao traveled to villages to awaken children's Martial Souls, and Soul Masters could collect a monthly stipend too. For a commoner like Lin Xuan, that was a good deal.