"I didn't expect this girl to be this powerful!"
"I was floored before I could even react! Looks like the boss of our Dorm 302 will be Sister Xiao Wu for sure!"
"Exactly! That new kid is so delicate and thin. There's no way he can beat her!"
…
The little fatty, still groaning on the floor from Xiao Wu's earlier attack, rubbed his bruised ribs while glancing cautiously toward Yu Chen. Tang San, standing nearby, brushed the dust off his uniform while eyeing Wang Chen, who had been knocked down just moments ago.
Neither Tang San nor the little fatty thought that Wang Chen—or anyone else—could defeat Xiao Wu so easily. She had practically toyed with them!
In contrast, Yuchen looked fragile and fair-skinned, as if the wind could blow him over. Nothing about him seemed threatening.
"Ding! The Divine Selection System has activated. Please make your choice:
1. Avoid the fight — Reward: 30 gold coins.
2. Intentionally lose to Xiao Wu — Reward: 500 silver coins.
3. Defeat Xiao Wu — Reward: Soul Power +1 level.
Choose within 30 seconds."
Just as the others were discussing the dormitory pecking order, a crisp electronic voice rang in Yuchen's mind.
The rewards from the first two options were tempting in their own right, but Yuchen's eyes lit up at the third. A direct increase in soul power by one level?
Soul power advancement typically took grueling effort—days of meditation, training, and battle. To level up instantly was priceless.
Without hesitation, Yuchen chose the third option.
Shua!
The moment he confirmed the choice, the air around him subtly shifted. The system's surge flooded his meridians.
Just then, Xiao Wu launched herself forward. Her leg whipped toward Yuchen with the elegance of a dancer and the explosiveness of a beast. She was no ordinary opponent—her soul beast instincts gave her agility and power that even most full-fledged spirit masters couldn't match.
But Yuchen didn't flinch. Calmly, he raised his palm—and the moment he did, an azure glow sparked behind him. The Azure Dragon Martial Spirit surged forth, and dragon shadows flickered briefly in his pupils!
Boom!
Yuchen's palm met Xiao Wu's attack. But instead of being thrown back, as Tang San and the others expected, it was Xiao Wu who was launched away!
Airwaves surged violently. Xiao Wu flailed in the air, her two slender arms twisting as she tried to stabilize her posture mid-air. But she had lost balance and control—she tumbled backward straight toward Yuchen again!
Thud!
Yuchen instinctively caught her. Thanks to the enhancements from his Martial Spirit awakening, his body was now far stronger. Holding Xiao Wu, even with the added weight of force, wasn't difficult at all.
It had all happened in a flash, but the outcome was clear—Yuchen was the victor.
He could feel it. The moment his palm connected, a surge of energy spread through his body. His soul power… had broken through to Level 16.
"He… he actually won?!"
"One palm?! That's all it took?! What kind of monster is he…?"
"She mopped the floor with all of us earlier, and now she's the one getting slammed…!"
"Also… I don't know if you felt it, but his aura just got stronger after the fight…"
Tang San and Chen Rui's jaws dropped as they processed what had just happened. A moment ago, they had all assumed Yuchen would end up on the floor like them. But instead, he had defeated Xiao Wu with ease.
"You… actually won!"
"You're the boss now!" the little fatty exclaimed.
Xiao Wu, who was still slightly dazed in Yuchen's arms, blinked rapidly. Hearing the others cheer for Yuchen, she quickly stood up and faced him seriously.
"My name's Xiao Wu. That's Wu as in 'dance'—nice to meet you, Boss!" she said while extending her hand, a flicker of surprise still lingering in her eyes.
She hadn't held back much in the clash—her instincts as a 100,000-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit Soul Beast granted her incredible combat intuition even in human form. To lose in a single exchange? That shocked her to her core.
Now, her gaze was filled with curiosity.
"Yuchen," he replied, shaking her hand with a light smile.
"Brother Chen! I'm Chen Rui—you can just call me Rui Rui from now on!"
"Brother Chen! I'm Yang Can!" added the other boy with a grin.
Seeing Xiao Wu acknowledge Yuchen's strength, the others followed suit without hesitation. In the world of spirit masters, the strong earned respect—regardless of age.
Tang San also nodded and called him "Brother Chen."
With the dorm boss decided, the group chatted briefly before heading to their respective beds.
As previously noted, due to the limited number of working-class students, Dorm 302 only had six beds. Four were aligned along one wall, while the remaining two were placed on the opposite side, with a five-meter-wide aisle between them.
The side with two beds was far more spacious—reserved for the strongest students. Naturally, those spots went to Yuchen and Xiao Wu.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Yuchen's smile deepened.
"The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms… combined with my Azure Dragon Spirit, they resonate perfectly. No wonder it's so powerful."
In that earlier exchange, he had used one of the techniques granted by the Divine Selection System—Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, a legacy martial art adapted to his Azure Dragon spirit.
He had only used 30% of his strength.
Now, his soul power had reached Level 16. For a first-year working-class student, this was an unthinkable level.
"Brother Chen! Let's go eat!"
"I hope the canteen has carrots!" Xiao Wu's bright voice rang out. Her large, watery eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Yuchen chuckled, standing up. "Alright."
Chen Rui and the others immediately followed their new boss toward the cafeteria.
…
Though Notting Academy was merely a junior spirit master institution, its structure was decently comprehensive. Four major buildings formed the core facilities. To get to the cafeteria, they had to pass the second building.
"Are those the working-class students this year?"
"Tch… Just more village kids. Nothing special."
"Wait a second… That guy in front is kinda handsome! He doesn't look like a working-class student at all!"
Yuchen's noble aura, inherited from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, made him stand out even in simple robes. Combined with his striking features, he naturally drew attention wherever he went.
Soon, they arrived at the Notting Academy cafeteria. It was peak meal time, and the hall was bustling with activity.
"I want carrots!" Xiao Wu declared, immediately scanning the buffet trays.
"Sister Xiao Wu, the first floor only serves fixed meals. No carrots here."
"The second floor has à la carte meals, but it's expensive."
"But it's our first day together as a dorm! This one's on me!" Chen Rui said proudly.
Just as he finished speaking, a mocking voice echoed behind them.
"Well, well… a bunch of poor village kids dreaming of eating upstairs?"
A smug blond boy approached, sneering.
"Why not eat my leftovers instead? I'm sure it's better than what you're used to!"
Behind him followed several smug, cleanly dressed students—clearly full-time academy enrollees.
"Brother Yang Ming is offering you his leftovers, and you're not even thanking him? What an ungrateful bunch!"
Their arrogant posturing made it clear—they were looking for trouble.