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A trace of disbelief flashed in Tang San's eyes. He looked at Wang Li's Blue Silver Grass, then at his own. Both were Blue Silver Grass, but the difference was striking. Tang San's martial soul was slender and delicate. Wang Li's, however, was noticeably thicker and much larger. For a moment, Tang San even doubted Yu Xiaogang's words. Yu Xiaogang had clearly told him that Blue Silver Grass, as a Martial Soul, could not mutate. But seeing Wang Li's robust and upright Blue Silver Grass, it was obvious this was no ordinary plant.
"So big…"
"So thick…"
The others in the dorm stared in amazement. Compared to Tang San's thin and fragile Blue Silver Grass, everyone was convinced that Wang Li's Martial Soul was truly a mutated version.
Satisfied that he had made his point, Wang Li withdrew his Martial Soul. He turned around and began rummaging through his belongings. He pulled out the bag of fruit the villagers had given him. He set it in front of everyone and said,
"These are some fruits the villagers gave me before I left home. Everyone, have a taste. We're roommates from now on."
As soon as he spoke, the others stopped hesitating. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the fresh, colorful fruit. Thanking Wang Li, they eagerly reached out to take some.
Wang Li smiled. He then picked out 6 or 7 of the best fruits and brought them to Xiao Wu. He handed them over and said,
"Xiao Wu, these are for you."
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with delight as she accepted the fruit. Her face lit up with a bright smile.
"You're pretty thoughtful. I'll look out for you from now on."
Wang Li returned her smile. "Thank you, Xiao Wu."
His thinking was simple: he didn't like owing anyone. In the future, if Xiao Wu ever ran into serious trouble, he could leave with a clear conscience. Until he became strong enough, he had no intention of getting caught up in dangerous situations.
Turning back, Wang Li saw everyone enjoying the fruit. Wang Sheng even took two at once, one in each hand.
Only Tang San stood awkwardly to the side, unsure what to do.
Noticing this, Wang Li quickly grabbed two fruits and pressed them into Tang San's hands.
"Tang San, you should eat too. They might look a little green, but the taste is great."
Tang San hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether to accept. Then, finally, he said, "Thank you."
Wang Li laughed. He was satisfied that Tang San wouldn't hold a grudge over something as trivial as a few fruits, now that he had some himself. He had no desire to make enemies over such small matters, especially with someone who could be sensitive about these things.
As Xiao Wu ate, she asked,
"So, what's life at the academy really like?"
Wang Sheng, the oldest and a sixth-year student, swallowed a mouthful of fruit before answering.
"Yesterday was registration for returning students. Today was for new students. Tomorrow is the opening ceremony, and classes start the day after. There are two classes in the morning—one for general knowledge and one for Martial Soul studies. In the afternoon, self-funded students can do whatever they want. But work-study students like us have to clean part of the campus to earn our meals."
"The teachers will assign specific jobs. Once you finish, you're free to train. Take me for example—I'm a level 9 Soul Master. When I reach level 10, the academy will arrange for a teacher to take me to hunt a soul beast and get my first soul ring. Only then will I be recognized as a true Soul Master and graduate."
Xiao Wu's smile faded a little. She asked quietly,
"Do you really have to hunt soul beasts?"
Wang Sheng nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. You can't become a Soul Master without a soul ring."
Xiao Wu fell silent, lost in thought.
Just then, a voice called from outside the dormitory.
"The 3 new students, come out for a moment."
Wang Sheng quickly leaned in and explained, "That's a teacher. You should go quickly. Teachers don't like to be kept waiting."
Wang Li, Tang San, and Xiao Wu immediately put down what they were holding and hurried outside.
A middle-aged teacher with green hair stood at the entrance. He was holding a set of bedding. He looked at the 3 new students and asked,
"Which one of you is Tang San?"
Tang San stepped forward. "That's me, Teacher."
The teacher nodded. "My name is Mo Hen, but you can call me Teacher Mo. Tang San, this bedding was prepared for you by the Grandmaster. You should take some time today to get familiar with the campus. If you have any questions, ask Wang Sheng. He is the oldest returning student."
"Don't be late for the opening ceremony tomorrow. Classes start the day after. You'll also be responsible for cleaning the garden on the south side of the playground every afternoon. You'll earn 10 copper soul coins a day. Make sure it's clean. If it isn't, your pay will be docked. And if it's really bad, you'll be expelled."
He handed the bedding to Tang San and left.
As soon as Mo Hen was gone, Xiao Wu eyed Tang San's new bedding with interest. Wang Li, however, quietly returned to the dorm.
With my panel, he thought, I can gain experience and probably cultivate faster than normal. When I reach level 10, I will probably get my first soul ring with the academy's help, just like Wang Sheng.
Wang Li didn't even consider hunting a soul beast on his own. The controlled hunting grounds needed a permit. And the wild forests? Far too dangerous. As a commoner, his only option was to rely on the academy.
Back in the dorm, Wang Li spread out his bedding. He then checked his injuries. Most of the pain was gone. It was only surface bruising, nothing serious. He had used up some soul power, but it was already recovering.
This healing speed was impressive. Even if it didn't make him invincible, it would definitely make him hard to kill. If he ever reached a high level, he could probably recover from any injury almost instantly.
Wang Li could feel the difference. After healing, his body felt a little stronger, though it wasn't obvious yet. He realized he needed to keep fighting. Not just to gain experience, but also to see how much his passive resilience could really strengthen him.
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