Nuoding Academy, the Peerless Duo (3)

Before Lin Chen could speak, Xiao Wu stepped forward, planted her hands on her hips, and said, "Hmph, if you want to fight Brother Lin Chen, you'll have to get past me first!"

"Out of the way, little girl." Wang Sheng waved her off impatiently. "A man doesn't fight girls."

No sooner had he spoken than Xiao Wu moved, her figure as swift as a pink shadow. In an instant, she was right in front of Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng's vision blurred, and his wrist was caught. A gentle force followed, sending him staggering forward two steps beyond his control. He nearly fell flat on his face.

"What are you doing?!" Both shocked and furious, Wang Sheng summoned his Soul Power and swung a fist at Xiao Wu.

But Xiao Wu's movements were ten times more nimble than his. Like a real rabbit, she darted left and right, and Wang Sheng couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes. After a few exchanges, he was panting with exhaustion, his face flushed red with anger.

The students in the room stared in astonishment. This little girl looked so delicate and weak, yet she was such a skilled fighter?

Tang San opened his eyes too. His gaze fell on Xiao Wu, and his brows drew together slightly. Her footwork was subtle and nimble, unlike the basic movement techniques of an ordinary Soul Master. It looked more like a secret art passed down over many years.

"All right, Xiao Wu, stop bullying him," Lin Chen said softly.

Xiao Wu immediately stopped and hopped back to Lin Chen's side. She lifted her chin proudly. "Well? Brother Lin Chen, wasn't I amazing?"

"Mm, very amazing." Lin Chen looked up at Wang Sheng. "All right, now it's my turn."

Wang Sheng's face went red, then pale. He couldn't even beat Lin Chen's little sister, so how could he have the face to fight Lin Chen? But backing down in front of so many of his roommates would be a little embarrassing.

He gritted his teeth and was just about to force himself forward when a calm voice rang out.

"Wait."

Tang San rose from his bed and walked up to Lin Chen. He wore clean cloth clothes and wasn't particularly tall, but he stood straight, his gaze steady.

"Wang Sheng is no match for you." Tang San looked at Lin Chen, his tone serious. "I'll spar with you. No Martial Souls, and we'll stop before anyone gets hurt."

The room fell silent in an instant.

Everyone knew that Tang San also had Innate Full Soul Power and had taken Yu Xiaogang as his master. He had already shown off a few moves in Dorm Seven today, and Wang Sheng couldn't even withstand three of them.

A duel between two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power? That was much more interesting than watching Wang Sheng get beaten up!

Lin Chen looked at Tang San, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Anytime."

He also wanted to see just how strong Tang San was with his Tang Sect Secret Arts.

The two stood facing each other, three steps apart. Xiao Wu retreated to the side, clenching her little fists as she cheered Lin Chen on.

Wang Sheng and the others held their breath, watching without blinking.

"Please." Tang San cupped his fists. The moment the word left his mouth, he sprang into motion.

His footsteps were feather-light, as though he were treading on cotton, and his figure flitted unpredictably. It was Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. His right palm struck silently toward Lin Chen's shoulder, its force held in check. With Mysterious Jade Hand in use, the strike looked light as a feather, but it carried tremendous force.

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly. Tang San's close-combat skills were indeed far beyond those of his peers.

Rather than take the blow head-on, he slid half a step to the side and twisted his body slightly, dodging the palm strike.

Chaos Soul Power silently circulated, sharpening the reaction speed of his limbs. But as soon as Tang San's attack missed, he switched moves, curling his fingers and reaching for Lin Chen's wrist with a crafty motion. It was the opening move of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon.

In an instant, the two exchanged several moves.

Tang San's strengths lay in his exquisite footwork and practiced techniques. He drew on the various Tang Sect Secret Arts with ease, his moves so crafty and strange that they were impossible to guard against.

Lin Chen's strengths, meanwhile, lay in his tough body and abundant Soul Power. The Chaos Pearl tempered his body at every moment, lending a weighty force to every punch and kick, and his reactions were no slower.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The muffled thuds of fists and feet colliding rang out one after another.

The longer Tang San fought, the more alarmed he became. He had already trained Mysterious Jade Hand to the beginner level and could crush ordinary stones, but striking Lin Chen was like punching a mass of cotton. Somehow, the force of his blows was always dispersed.

What was more, Lin Chen's strength was somewhat greater than he had expected. With every collision, his arms tingled faintly from the impact.

The fight was no easier for Lin Chen. Tang San's footwork was too slippery, and several of his attacks missed. Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track combined with Mysterious Jade Hand integrated offense and defense, leaving almost no openings. If not for the boost from his Chaos Soul Power, which gave him perception far beyond that of ordinary people, he would have fallen behind long ago.

"Again!"

Tang San gave a low shout and suddenly closed in. His left hand feinted while his right formed a claw, striking straight for Lin Chen's chest. This move combined feint and attack; it was the strongest technique he could currently use.

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. Instead of retreating, he advanced, dipping his right shoulder slightly and taking the claw strike head-on. At the same time, his left hand clenched into a fist and smashed toward Tang San's ribs with a howl of wind.

Tang San hadn't expected him to neither dodge nor evade. His claw landed, only to meet an invisible obstruction: a faint shield formed spontaneously by the Chaos Pearl. The instant most of the force was dispersed, Lin Chen's fist was already in front of him.

Tang San hurriedly twisted aside, but he was still half a beat too slow. The fist grazed his ribs, and a tremendous force struck him. He staggered back three steps before regaining his balance.

"Cough, cough. I lost." Tang San raised his head. Though his face was somewhat pale, he was quite composed.

He could tell that Lin Chen had held back on that last punch. Otherwise, he would have suffered more than just being pushed back three steps.

The room was deathly silent, then erupted in low cries of astonishment.

He won! Lin Chen had actually beaten Tang San!

Wang Sheng swallowed, looking at Lin Chen with awe. Even Tang San couldn't beat him. This newcomer was too fierce.

Lin Chen lowered his hand, breathing slightly hard. The fight had been no easy victory. Tang San's Tang Sect Secret Arts were indeed formidable; if not for the Chaos Pearl's passive defense, the outcome would still have been uncertain.

"You went easy on me. You're very strong too," he said mildly.

According to Dorm Seven's rules, whoever defeated the current boss became the new boss.

Wang Sheng and the others lowered their heads, waiting for Lin Chen to speak.

But Lin Chen turned sideways, pulled Xiao Wu over, and said with a smile, "Starting today, Xiao Wu is Dorm Seven's boss. From now on, you'll all call her Sister Xiao Wu and do as she says."

Everyone froze.

He had won, yet he was letting his little sister be the boss?

Xiao Wu blinked too, then broke into a happy smile. She hopped in front of everyone, planted her hands on her hips, and said, "Did you hear that? From now on, I'm your boss! Anyone who doesn't listen gets a beating!"

Wang Sheng was still somewhat unconvinced and muttered under his breath, "Making a little girl the boss..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Wu flashed forward and appeared in front of him. She grabbed his arm and used his own momentum to throw him. Wang Sheng's body, weighing nearly a hundred jin, was effortlessly thrown flat on its back by a six-year-old girl.

"Well? Do you submit?" Xiao Wu asked with a smile, stepping on his arm.

"Ow, my butt! Stop hitting me! I... I submit!" Wang Sheng grimaced in pain and hurriedly shouted, "Sister Xiao Wu, Sister Xiao Wu! I submit!"

Seeing this, how could the others dare to object? They all lowered their heads and called out in unison, "Hello, Sister Xiao Wu!"