By the time Xiao Lin and the others left Spirit Hall, it was nearly evening.
After borrowing a large number of books from Spirit Hall, Xiao Lin and Tang San made a quick detour to the office where the Spirit Journal was published.
Unsurprisingly, Xiao Lin spotted several unfamiliar staff members lurking around. This only reinforced his decision to abandon the manuscript fees for now. He and Tang San headed back to Nuoding Academy together.
Before entering the academy, the two of them observed their surroundings for a long time. Once they were certain no one was watching, they pulled their quilts out of their storage-type Soul Tools and walked through the gates.
Shortly after, they arrived at Room Seven.
The moment they pushed the door open, both Xiao Lin and Tang San heard the miserable cries of several boys.
"We give up! We give up! From now on, you're our Sister Xiao Wu!"
Wang Sheng's pleas for mercy reached Xiao Lin's ears, causing him to narrow his eyes slightly.
Here she comes. The one-hundred-thousand-year rogue rabbit has arrived.
"Who's this bullying my little lackeys?"
Xiao Lin walked into Room Seven holding his quilt, his gaze sweeping across the room. He spotted a young girl in a pink dress with a scorpion-braid hairstyle stepping directly on Wang Sheng's back.
She looked at Xiao Lin with a provocative glare.
"You're the Boss of Room Seven? From now on, I'm the Boss. You all have to call me Sister Xiao Wu, got it?"
This "rogue rabbit" was truly a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, acting so arrogantly.
Xiao Lin chuckled inwardly.
Even Tang San can't beat me, and you dare act tough?
Placing his quilt on the bed by the door, Xiao Lin locked eyes with Xiao Wu. In the world of Soul Masters, locking eyes meant a battle was imminent (mostly).
"It seems Wang Sheng didn't tell you how terrifying I am. I'm already a Soul Master, you know?"
"Who isn't?"
Xiao Wu puffed out her chest proudly, and a yellow Soul Ring immediately shimmered beneath her feet.
Xiao Wu already has a Soul Ring this early?
Despite his curiosity, Xiao Lin knew that based on the current situation, they had to settle this with a fight.
"Come. Battle me."
Xiao Lin turned and walked out of Room Seven, heading toward the Nuoding Academy sports field.
Fearless as ever, Xiao Wu followed closely behind.
Tang San followed after placing his quilt next to Xiao Lin's bed, with Wang Sheng and the others trailing at the back. They were all intensely curious to see who would ultimately become the Boss of Room Seven.
Upon reaching the field, Xiao Lin stood with his hands behind his back.
A bright yellow Soul Ring instantly manifested beneath him. In the dim light of the evening, Xiao Lin's Soul Ring was exceptionally dazzling.
"Xiao Lin, Rank 15 Power Attack System Soul Master, Martial Soul: Horned Dragon Staff."
"Ohhh! Awesome!"
"Rank 15! Boss is incredible!"
Xiao Lin's calm demeanor and movements instantly triggered cheers from Wang Sheng and the others; they truly had the potential to be a professional hype crew.
"Hmph!"
Xiao Wu glared at Wang Sheng and the rest, silencing them. Then, she too released her Soul Ring.
A yellow Soul Ring—though not quite as bright as Xiao Lin's—appeared, and she announced with equal pride:
"Xiao Wu, Rank 12 Power Attack System Soul Master, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit."
Xiao Wu imitated Xiao Lin's composed manner as she stated her rank and martial soul, leaving Tang San momentarily stunned.
Didn't Brother Lin say the Soft Bone Rabbit was a trash martial soul? How can she have Innate Full Soul Power? Or is it a Martial Soul Mutation?
Quietly, Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye, preparing to carefully observe this battle between Power Attack System Soul Masters.
"Come, come. You take the first move," Xiao Lin beckoned, inviting Xiao Wu to attack.
Xiao Wu wasn't about to be polite.
Being Rank 12 against a Rank 15 and still letting the opponent move first? She wasn't an idiot.
"First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!"
Xiao Wu dashed toward Xiao Lin with incredible speed.
The moment she neared him, her Soul Ring flashed, and a strange power surged into her waist. She leaped high into the air, intending to use her long, slender legs to lock onto Xiao Lin's neck.
Xiao Lin remained motionless, his arms crossed over his chest as his Soul Power erupted.
A silvery-white, metallic Soul Power formed a protective barrier in front of him, shaped like an eggshell. It was so smooth and firm that Xiao Wu's legs couldn't find a grip on his head.
"What!?" Xiao Wu cried out in surprise.
If she couldn't lock onto his neck, how could she use the Waist Bow to attack?
Slipped away by the smooth, eggshell-like barrier, Xiao Wu lost her balance and nearly crashed into the ground. At that exact moment, Xiao Lin unleashed an even stronger burst of Soul Power. He expanded the "eggshell," sending Xiao Wu flying backward to land face-first in the dirt.
"Ouch!"
Xiao Wu let out a cry of pain.
Her small face was flushed red, and she looked at the distant Xiao Lin with utter shock. She hadn't even managed to force him to summon his martial soul.
Feeling the pressure of Xiao Lin's powerful Soul Power barrier and his Vajra Imperishable Divine Skill hardness, Xiao Wu realized she was absolutely no match for him.
For a moment, tears welled up in her large eyes.
A misty haze formed; she was on the verge of crying. If she couldn't even beat an ordinary human child, how was she supposed to avenge her mother? Was the Soft Bone Rabbit really a useless martial soul?
She suddenly remembered the boastful things she had said to Wang Sheng when they first met.
"You lost, right?"
"How could you possibly beat our Big Brother?"
"Bleh!"
"Shut up, Wang Sheng! And the rest of you—you couldn't even beat Xiao Wu, yet you dare insult a Soul Master?" Xiao Lin shouted.
If Wang Sheng and his lackeys acted like this outside, they'd be beaten to a pulp. He couldn't be expected to shield them forever.
"Yes, Big Brother!"
"Sorry, Sister Xiao Wu!"
In an instant, almost all the lackeys bowed and apologized to Xiao Wu.
Their movements were so smooth and synchronized that Xiao Lin wondered if Wang Sheng and the boys had studied etiquette in some foreign country.
"Alright. From now on, I am the Boss of Room Seven. The one who came with me is your Third Brother, and this Xiao Wu is your Sister Xiao Wu."
Xiao Lin made the arrangements casually, feeling a bit bored.
It turned out Xiao Wu's Waist Bow and Instant Kill Eight Stage Drop weren't that special after all. He had been looking forward to this, thinking finally someone could "dance" with him. But Xiao Wu couldn't even land her skill on him.
"Wait a second! I don't accept this!"
Just as Xiao Lin was thinking this, Xiao Wu let out a stubborn shout. She couldn't beat Xiao Lin, but surely she could beat that thin kid next to him?
That "Little Rascal San"?
"I want to challenge him!"
Xiao Wu's small finger pointed straight at Tang San.
The look of wanting to cry had vanished, replaced by a face full of grit and determination.
"Then I'll just surrender. I'm just an ordinary Blue Silver Grass Soul Master," Tang San replied.
He had no interest in meaningless fights. Even if he won, so what? His name was already at a disadvantage; if he became the second-in-command, wouldn't people just call him "Third Brother" anyway?
"Blue Silver Grass? Blue Silver Grass can be cultivated!?"
Not only was Xiao Wu stunned, but Wang Sheng and the others were also dumbfounded.
If even Blue Silver Grass could become a Soul Master, weren't they just trash?
"And I am merely a Support System Soul Master," Tang San added.
Upon hearing this, the "rogue rabbit" Xiao Wu knew she couldn't force a fight. She just gave a cold huff and turned back to Xiao Lin.
"I will definitely defeat you one day."
"Impossible. The Soft Bone Rabbit isn't a Power Attack System martial soul," Xiao Lin retorted instantly.
From the bottom of his heart, he didn't believe the Soft Bone Rabbit was a powerful soul. If it weren't for Xiao Wu's later skills being so broken, he doubted she could have even kept up with the Shrek Seven Devils.
"Alright, everyone from Room Seven, back to the dorm."
Xiao Lin was tired.
At this hour, wasting time instead of reading his new books was practically a sin. Led by Xiao Lin, the group headed back. Along the way, Wang Sheng and the boys were buzzing with excitement, while Xiao Wu stared at Xiao Lin's back with a defiant gaze the entire time.
In the distance, Tang Hao, clad in a black robe and blending perfectly into the shadows of the sports field, watched Xiao Lin and the others with a pensive expression.
Two brothers plus a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form... what a familiar scene...
However, Tang Hao soon composed his thoughts. He wasn't interested in Xiao Wu; he had a certain someone he needed to deal with.