At this time, a clear and melodious voice came from outside,
"Is this room seven?"
Everybody looked in the direction of the door, eyes immediately staring somewhat.
They caught sight of a pretty, very young girl standing in the door, seemingly about the same age as Tang San, height also practically the same. With a pretty little rosy face, and fair and soft appearance resembling a completely ripe honey peach, giving people an urge to bite off a mouthful. Although her clothing was very plain, it still looked very neat.
Black long hair combed into a scorpion braid hanging past her buttocks. A pair of bright and intelligent eyes appearing full of curiosity. Both her hands carried a covered brand new school uniform.
All the students in the dormitory were boys, and seeing this kind of beautiful young girl suddenly appear, each and every one showed a gaping appearance.
Tang San could not help asking Wang Sheng in a low voice:
"We boys and girls live together here?"
Wang Sheng nodded, and in an equally low voice said:
"All of us are still children so all the school dormitories do not separate genders. They say intermediate spirit master academies start making the distinction. It's really strange; last year there wasn't even one working student, this year there are three. Boss, go, give her a show of strength."
"Eh..., there's no need."
Tang San had not expected that for the sake of becoming the so called room seven boss, he would immediately run into a difficult problem. Going to bully a girl, he really could not do this.
The girl in the doorway blinked with her big eyes. Seeing that nobody inside paid attention to her, she again raised her head to take a look at the room seven sign plate on the door, and on her face appeared a happy smile.
"Hello everyone, I'm called Xiao Wu, Wu of dancing."
Wang Sheng pushed Tang San from behind, hinting that he could not destroy the dormitory customs.
Tang San had no choice. He obliged, stood up and walked in the direction of the girl.
"Hello, I'm Tang San. I'm-, I'm this place's-..."
He truly could not say the word boss, but had a thought,
"I'm this place's room senior, you called my name on the line. May I ask, what is your spirit?"
Xiao Wu blinked, and said with a smile:
"My spirit is rabbit. A very lovely sort of little white rabbit. Yours?"
When she smiled up, her face showed two lovely little dimples, indescribably touching.
Tang San said:
"Then you really aren't like me, my spirit is your spirit's food. Blue silver grass."
Xiao Wu gave a puff of laughter, and said:
"Do you really mean, you won't let me inside?"
"This..., it's like this: our room seven has a rule that newly arrived working students must at once show their spirit's actual strength. Therefore, I want you and me to exchange pointers for a moment."
Tang San secretly encouraged himself: exchanging pointers was not bullying people. If he was a little careful, he would not injure her. It could also be considered continuing the dormitory tradition.
Xiao Wu looked strangely at Tang San,
"You're certain?"
Tang San nodded, and said:
"I'm certain."
Xiao Wu set the school uniform she held to one side, on her face showed a bit of excitement,
"Fine, then come."
Lin Tianyu watched with interest as another canon scene played out before him, though this time involving a fight he was curious to see. Xiao Wu's incredible speed and flexibility caught Tang San completely off guard. Her unconventional fighting style, which she called "Soft Skill," utilized her body's natural litheness to devastating effect. Despite Tang San's superior technique and physical conditioning, he found himself outmaneuvered by her unpredictable movements and thrown to the ground in a manner that left him both defeated and flustered.
Tang San was clambering to his feet. Just like Wang Sheng, for him a defeat was a defeat; being careless was no excuse. He knew that when Xiao Wu grabbed and threw him she was already lenient. Otherwise, tangling both her legs around his neck would not result in it being only a simple fall.
It was still the first time Tang San had encountered this kind of technique. In his opinion, the martial arts of his original world did not seem to have a similar way. However, this kind of technique was also highly dangerous: if at that time his response had been a little faster, then at that close range, attacking Xiao Wu's body didn't seem difficult at all.
"I've lost. Can you tell me, what skill did you used just now?"
Tang San's face was slightly red. In his heart musing, his time as the room seven boss was probably the shortest.
Xiao Wu said with a winsome smile:
"I call this Soft Skill. Utilizing the body's litheness and stretchability masterfully."
By now, the dormitory students had all along been watching with gaping expressions, particularly Wang Sheng. Tang San who defeated him already gave him a somewhat fantastic feeling, and now Tang San had been subdued in one hit by this beautiful little girl. His eyes were wide since long ago. In his heart he thought, why were this year's new working students all so fierce?
Tang San who originally had no idea regarding the position as dormitory boss, said:
"In accordance with dormitory rules, you defeated me, so hereafter you are the room senior of this dormitory, and also the boss of this group of people."
In Xiao Wu's eyes showed a trace of pleasant surprise, not much surprise, and a flourishing delight,
"Boss? That seems very interesting. Good. Then from here on I'm your boss. Becoming a working student seems a very good thing."
Xiao Wu selected a bed next to Tang San, picking up her package and school uniform from behind and setting them there.
"Then, who of you will give me an introduction to our academy's state of affairs?"
Xiao Wu looked at everyone who did not utter a word in reply.
Right now these students were just gradually getting over the shock, when Xiao Wu just now threw Tang San so extremely agilely, made them in their hearts somewhat fearful.
It was still Wang Sheng who stood up.
"Us working students are actually responsible for sweeping clean the academy, our teacher is responsible for arranging specific jobs. The academy altogether has six grades, every grade has a class. You boss and Tang San are newly arrived, and should be first grade students. The rest of us are at least third graders, I have this year become a sixth grader. At the academy every day we attend class in the morning, then cultivate individually in the afternoon. In the morning there are generally two classes, one class is cultural knowledge, one class is spirit lore. Us working students for the most part have work in the afternoon, thereby earning income for meals."
Wang Sheng gave the other students a simple introduction. Among these working students, the best inborn spirit was Wang Sheng: not only was it a beast spirit, in combat effectiveness it was still the strongest king of beasts. His spirit power was already ninth rank, when it again rose a rank he could at graduation join a group to hunt and kill spirit beasts, thereby obtaining a spirit ring to promote his title.
Listening until Wang Sheng finished speaking, Xiao Wu gave Tang San a glance, and said:
"Tang San, what is your spirit power rank? Just now I sensed your strength was very powerful."
Tang San did not conceal it, after all on the surface his spirit was a good-for-nothing blue silver grass,
"I have innate full spirit power. Therefore my power is comparatively strong."
"Innate full spirit power?"
The students immediately cried out.
Wang Sheng's heart finally reached balance. Since Tang San's spirit power was stronger than his, defeating him was also as it should. As everyone did not have the prerequisites for a spirit ring, spirit power had a decisive effect. No wonder his strength could be greater than his. Wang Sheng's heart was pure confidence, and in his heart thought that since his spirit was a war tiger, after he and Tang San equally had gained a spirit ring and entered the spirit master title, his blue silver grass certainly would not be the equal of his war tiger.
Xiao Wu blinked, muttering some sentence.
At this time, a thirty year old teacher entered from outside, "The new students have arrived? Stand up a moment."
Tang San and Lin Tianyu simultaneously rose from their beds.
This teacher had an ordinary appearance, pale green hair, "Where are Tang San, Lin Tianyu, and Xiao Wu?"
Tang San, Lin Tianyu, and Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped forward.
The teacher said: "I'm Mo Hen, you can call me teacher Mo. Tang San, Lin Tianyu, and Xiao Wu, you are first year working students, so from now on, you are responsible for sweeping the garden south of the sports ground. Every day you'll get ten copper spirit coins, but remember, you must clean every day. Especially junk must be properly sorted out neatly, otherwise your wages may be deducted. If you seem like delinquents, the academy can expel you. Have you understood clearly?"
Tang San, Lin Tianyu, and Xiao Wu nodded simultaneously, expressing understanding.
Mo Hen said: "Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. The day after tomorrow the regular classes begin. The first year classes are on the first floor of the main school building, so the day after tomorrow you will punctually go to class. Starting from the day after tomorrow, you will start carrying out the regular work. We may do non-scheduled spot checks. Well, take a rest first. Wang Sheng, you're the oldest here, so tell them about the rules."
After Mo Hen left, the dormitory settled into a more relaxed atmosphere. The working students began sharing information about academy life, work duties, and the social dynamics between different student groups.
"Tang San," Lin Tianyu said, approaching with his storage ring glowing softly, "I have some spare bedding I can lend you, so there's no need for you to go find one yourself."
He withdrew an elaborately crafted bed from his spatial storage, its frame made from polished hardwood and fitted with a thick, comfortable mattress covered in fine silk sheets. The luxury item was clearly worth more than most families earned in several years.
The working students stared in amazement at the opulent furniture that had materialized from Lin Tianyu's storage device. None of them had ever seen such expensive bedding, let alone imagined sharing a dormitory with someone wealthy enough to own such items.
"This is far too extravagant for a simple dormitory room," Tang San protested, though his eyes showed appreciation for his friend's generosity.
"Nonsense," Lin Tianyu replied with a dismissive wave. "My parents insisted I maintain certain standards even while living away from home. This is just my spare."
He proceeded to withdraw a second bed for himself, even more elaborate and luxurious than the first, its frame adorned with intricate carvings and fitted with the finest materials money could buy.
"There," Lin Tianyu said, settling his own bed into place. "Now we both have proper accommodations."
Wang Sheng and the other working students watched the display of wealth with a mixture of awe and envy. They had never imagined that their new roommate possessed such tremendous resources, casually producing luxury items that represented fortunes to their families.
Wang Sheng scratched his head, eyeing the luxurious beds with undisguised amazement. The carved wooden frames alone would cost more than his family earned in months.
"Lin Tianyu, if you don't mind me asking... why would someone like you sign up as a worker student? With resources like these, you could easily enroll the normal way and avoid all the cleaning duties."
The other students nodded in agreement, curiosity evident on their faces. Even Xiao Wu tilted her head, waiting for his answer.
Lin Tianyu smiled, arranging his silk pillows with practiced ease. "My father believes true merchants must understand people at every level of society. This is part of my family's training tradition." He smoothed a wrinkle from his bedspread. "As future head of our merchant caravan, I need to build connections with everyone, especially those starting from the bottom."
"But cleaning gardens?" one student asked incredulously.
"The most valuable trading partners are often those who remember you from before you had wealth," Lin Tianyu explained. "Besides, I'll learn which students have actual talent versus those who merely have family resources." He glanced meaningfully around the room. "In business, knowing who's truly capable is worth more than gold."
Wang Sheng nodded slowly, a new respect forming in his eyes.
Xiao Wu's eyes immediately fixed on the large, luxurious bed that Lin Tianyu had given to Tang San. The fine craftsmanship and obvious comfort made it far more appealing than the simple, worn bedding the other working students used.
"That's a really nice bed," she said admiringly. "It looks big enough for more than one person."
Tang San looked somewhat confused by her observation. "It is quite large. Lin Tianyu was very generous."
"Since it's so spacious," Xiao Wu continued with apparent innocence, "would you mind if I shared it with you? My bedding isn't very comfortable, and that looks much better than anything else here."
The other working students watched this exchange with fascination, curious to see how their former room boss would handle such a direct request from the pretty girl who had defeated him.
Tang San hesitated, clearly uncertain about the appropriateness of such an arrangement. "I... well, it would be sharing, and we barely know each other..."
"We're all children here," Xiao Wu said with a bright smile. "Besides, it's just sleeping arrangements. Nothing inappropriate about it."
Lin Tianyu watched the interaction with amusement, recognizing Xiao Wu's straightforward personality from his knowledge of the story. She was clearly the type to pursue what she wanted without worrying about conventional social expectations.
"If Tang San is comfortable with the arrangement, I don't see any problems," Lin Tianyu said diplomatically. "The bed is certainly large enough, and we're all academy students here."
Tang San looked around the room at the other working students, who all nodded encouragingly. Their expressions suggested they thought he would be foolish to refuse such an offer from an attractive girl.
"Very well," Tang San agreed somewhat reluctantly. "If you're certain it's appropriate, we can share the bed."
Xiao Wu clapped her hands together in delight. "Wonderful! This will be much more comfortable than sleeping alone on one of those hard, narrow beds."
She quickly moved her belongings to the area around Tang San's bed, arranging her few possessions with obvious satisfaction. The other working students watched with a mixture of envy and amusement as their former room boss found himself sharing sleeping arrangements with the dormitory's only female resident.
Wang Sheng grinned at Tang San's obvious discomfort. "Tang San, you're certainly popular with the ladies already."
"It's just practical sleeping arrangements," Tang San protested weakly, though his face showed clear embarrassment.
Lin Tianyu smiled at his friend's predicament while settling into his own luxurious bed. "Tang San, you certainly work fast. Most people take weeks to find someone willing to share their bed."
Tang San's face turned even redder. "It's not like that! It's just practical sleeping arrangements!"
"Of course it is," Lin Tianyu replied with obvious amusement. "Very practical indeed."
The dormitory dynamics were establishing themselves quickly, with Xiao Wu as the new boss, Tang San as the defeated but respected former leader, himself as the wealthy benefactor, and the other working students as grateful witnesses to this unusual evening.
As evening settled over Notting Academy, the working students began preparing for sleep. Tomorrow would bring the opening ceremony and the beginning of their formal education as spirit masters. For now, they were content to rest in their shared quarters, each contemplating the adventures and challenges that lay ahead.
Lin Tianyu closed his eyes and focused on his Quantum Dimensional Simulator, noting that his next simulation point would be available in the morning. After experiencing two weeks of mostly catastrophic single-point simulations, he had reached a firm decision: no more one-point attempts. The tutorial had been clear that 180 points provided blue/purple talents with good luck and generally B-rating performance. From now on, he would save up at least 180 points per simulation, even if it meant waiting six months between attempts. Quality over quantity would be his new approach.
The dormitory gradually quieted as the working students settled into their beds. Soft breathing and occasional whispered conversations filled the room before eventually giving way to peaceful silence. Tomorrow would mark a new chapter in all their lives as they began their journey to become spirit masters.
* * *
Morning light filtered through the dormitory windows, gradually rousing the sleeping students. Wang Sheng was the first to wake, his years of academy experience having trained him to rise early. He stretched and looked around the room, taking note of the various sleeping arrangements that had developed overnight.
"Time to get up, everyone," Wang Sheng called softly, not wanting to startle anyone awake. "Breakfast starts in an hour, and we don't want to miss it."
The other working students began stirring, slowly emerging from their beds and beginning their morning routines. Tang San opened his eyes to find Xiao Wu still sleeping peacefully beside him, her breathing steady and calm. He carefully extracted himself from the shared bed without disturbing her.
"Breakfast?" Tang San asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "That sounds good. I'm quite hungry after yesterday's events."
Wang Sheng nodded, then his expression became somewhat apologetic. "Well, there is one small matter. Breakfast at the academy cafeteria costs money. The basic meal is about fifteen copper spirit coins, which isn't too expensive, but it does add up over time."
Tang San's face fell slightly as he considered his limited finances. Old Jack had given him some money for academy expenses, but he needed to be careful with every coin. Fifteen copper spirit coins for breakfast meant he would quickly exhaust his modest funds.
"I see," Tang San said slowly. "Perhaps I should skip breakfast then. I can manage until lunch."
"Nonsense," Lin Tianyu interjected, overhearing the conversation as he emerged from his own luxurious bed. "If there's one thing I'm not lacking, it's money. I'll cover breakfast for everyone."
The working students stared at him in surprise. Wang Sheng was the first to find his voice.
"Lin Tianyu, that's very generous, but breakfast for all of us would cost quite a bit. Are you certain?"
Lin Tianyu waved dismissively as he began getting dressed. "My family's merchant business is quite successful. A few copper coins for breakfast is hardly worth considering. Besides, we're all roommates now. It would be strange to let anyone go hungry when I have the means to help."
Xiao Wu had awakened during the conversation and stretched gracefully before sitting up in the bed. "That's very kind of you, Lin Tianyu. I accept your offer gladly."
Tang San looked conflicted. "I appreciate the gesture, but I don't want to take advantage of your generosity."
"You're not taking advantage of anything," Lin Tianyu replied firmly. "Consider it an investment in our friendship. A well-fed roommate is a happy roommate, and I prefer living with happy people."
Wang Sheng and the other working students exchanged glances, clearly torn between their pride and their empty stomachs. The prospect of a good breakfast was tempting, especially when they knew their own funds were limited.
"Very well," Tang San said finally. "But I'll find a way to repay your kindness in the future."
"If it makes you feel better, you can help me with my sword training," Lin Tianyu suggested. "Your blacksmithing experience and combat techniques would be valuable for refining my swordplay."
With the matter settled, the working students finished their morning preparations and headed toward the academy cafeteria. The building was already bustling with activity as students from various dormitories converged for their morning meal.
The cafeteria was a large, two-story structure designed to accommodate the academy's diverse student population. The lower floor housed the basic dining area where most working students and those with limited funds took their meals. The upper floor served as a more upscale dining space where the wealthier students and academy instructors typically ate.
As Room Seven's group entered the cafeteria, several older students from the upper floors noticed their arrival. Their eyes swept over the working students dismissively at first, but lingered when they spotted Lin Tianyu's fine clothing and confident bearing.
One of the older students nudged his companion and tilted his head slightly toward Lin Tianyu's group. His friend glanced over, took note of the expensive fabric and quality accessories, then shook his head almost imperceptibly.
The older students exchanged knowing looks before turning their attention back to their meals, their interest in the new arrivals quickly fading. What might have been an opportunity for easy targets had become a situation best avoided entirely.
Lin Tianyu noticed the brief attention but the older students' subsequent disinterest told him everything he needed to know about how his appearance had changed the social dynamics of the situation.
Lin Tianyu noticed the older students' attention but chose not to comment on it. Instead, he led his group past the basic dining area on the lower floor and headed for the stairs leading to the upper level.
"Where are we going?" Wang Sheng asked uncertainly. "The working student dining area is down here."
"Today we're eating upstairs," Lin Tianyu replied casually. "The food quality is much better, and we'll have more comfortable seating."
The working students followed nervously as they climbed to the upper dining level. The contrast was immediately apparent - the upper floor featured properly cushioned chairs, clean tablecloths, and an atmosphere of refinement that stood in stark contrast to the utilitarian lower level.
A well-dressed server approached their group, initially looking surprised to see working students in the upscale dining area.
"Good morning," the server said politely, though his tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "Will you be dining with us today?"
"Yes," Lin Tianyu replied confidently. "A table for seven, please. We'd like to see your morning menu."
The server's demeanor shifted as he noted Lin Tianyu's expensive clothing and authoritative manner. "Of course, young master. Right this way."
They were seated at a large, round table near one of the windows overlooking the academy grounds. The morning menu offered a variety of high-quality dishes that far exceeded anything available on the lower floor - fresh fruits, expertly prepared meats, artisanal breads, and imported delicacies that most of the working students had never even seen before.
"Order whatever you'd like," Lin Tianyu told his companions. "Don't worry about the cost."
The working students initially hesitated, overwhelmed by the selection and concerned about the expense. However, Lin Tianyu's encouraging smile and Xiao Wu's enthusiastic ordering gradually broke down their reservations.
Wang Sheng tentatively pointed to a dish featuring grilled fish with exotic spices. "I've never tried anything like this before."
"Excellent choice," the server noted, making notes on his pad. "And for the rest of you?"
One by one, the working students made their selections, choosing dishes they had only dreamed of tasting. Tang San opted for a simple but high-quality meal of fresh bread, aged cheese, and cured meats, while Xiao Wu delighted in ordering fresh pastries and tropical fruits.
Lin Tianyu selected a comprehensive breakfast featuring multiple courses, partly to demonstrate his wealth but primarily because he genuinely enjoyed good food. His merchant family had always valued quality meals as one of life's simple pleasures.
When their food arrived, the working students were amazed by both the presentation and the taste. Everything was prepared with skill and attention to detail that made even simple ingredients seem exotic and delicious.
"This is incredible," Wang Sheng said between bites of his grilled fish. "I had no idea food could taste like this."
"My family's merchant business has exposed me to cuisine from across the continent," Lin Tianyu explained. "Good food is one of the benefits of successful trade relationships."
Xiao Wu savored her pastries with obvious delight. "Lin Tianyu, you've set a dangerous precedent. I might become accustomed to eating like this."
"There are worse habits to develop," Lin Tianyu replied with a smile. "Besides, we're all going to be working hard as spirit masters. We deserve to treat ourselves occasionally."
As they finished their meal, Tang San turned to Lin Tianyu with a serious expression. "I've been thinking about our next steps. Both of us have reached level ten spirit power, which means we need to obtain our first soul rings."
"You're right," Lin Tianyu agreed. "We can't advance further without soul rings, and the sooner we get them, the sooner we can begin developing our real strength as spirit masters."
Wang Sheng looked up from his empty plate. "Soul ring hunting is dangerous work. You'll need experienced guidance and protection."
Tang San considered this carefully. "Soul ring hunting is definitely dangerous, but we don't really know anyone who can guide us."
"We could go together," Lin Tianyu suggested. "I have access to quality equipment and supplies, and your combat skills are excellent. Between my resources and your abilities, we should be able to handle hunting appropriate spirit beasts. We could also invite Yu Xiaogang to guide us - he did promise to continue offering advice even though we didn't become his disciples."
"That should work well," Wang Sheng agreed. "Yu Xiaogang is known for his theoretical knowledge about spirit beasts, so he should be able to guide you safely."
"When do you want to approach Yu Xiaogang about this?" Tang San asked.
"We should speak with him today," Lin Tianyu replied. "The sooner we arrange this, the sooner we can get our soul rings and begin advancing our cultivation."
They spent the rest of the day seeking out Yu Xiaogang to discuss their soul ring hunting plans. Lin Tianyu's storage ring allowed him to carry extensive supplies, including camping equipment, medical supplies, and high-quality weapons. Tang San prepared more modestly but ensured he had everything necessary for their journey.