Room Seven was the most eccentric dormitory in the academy.
Their style was akin to a gang, following the rule of "recognizing a boss," which Xiao Lin actually found quite practical. After all, while students in other dorms were locals from Nuoding City, those in Room Seven were working-class students from various small mountain villages.
With no one to rely on, they had to huddle together for warmth. Having a single voice for the team made it much harder for others to bully them. Of course, even now, Room Seven was still bullied plenty.
As the bottom of the academy's social ladder, they really shouldn't have set their sights on Xiao Lin.
"Hey, newbie. What's your name? Where are you from?"
One of the eight-year-old boys looked at Xiao Lin's coarse hemp clothes and, smelling a kindred spirit, asked directly.
"Holy Spirit Village. I'm your future Boss."
Xiao Lin knew the rules of Room Seven, but he had no intention of following them. He planned to subvert the natural order and take the top spot immediately.
"Ho ho, since when is it your turn to be Boss?"
At that moment, the eight-year-old was pulled aside, and a boy of twelve or thirteen stepped out. He possessed a physique that was quite burly compared to his peers.
"I am Wang Sheng, Martial Soul: Battle Tiger. I'm the Boss of Room Seven and a future Battle Soul Master. Who the hell do you think you are?"
Wang Sheng looked on with disdain, arms crossed, eyeing Xiao Lin sideways.
As soon as he finished speaking, the group of children behind him burst into laughter simultaneously, looking at Xiao Lin as if he were an idiot.
"I am Xiao Lin, Martial Soul: Horned Dragon Staff, Rank 15 Battle Soul Master. You tell me—who do I think I am?"
Xiao Lin smiled; he found himself in the mood to tease these kids. After announcing his martial soul and soul power rank, he walked straight toward Wang Sheng.
In an instant, the entire dormitory fell dead silent.
Wang Sheng, looking at the child who was younger than himself, actually felt a surge of cowardice and took a few steps back.
"Impossible. How old are you? How could you be Rank 15?"
Wang Sheng suddenly realized something, recalling what the teachers had said in class. He simply didn't believe that someone as young as Xiao Lin could already be at Rank 15.
Xiao Lin shook his head slightly, ignored Wang Sheng, and found a bed near the dormitory door. He put down his school uniform and prepared to head out to find Tang San. Though he already had a quilt, it wasn't a good idea to just pull it out in the middle of Room Seven.
Additionally, he needed to "transform" into Xiao Yan with Tang San to collect his manuscript fees. Xiao Lin turned and left, completely ignoring Wang Sheng and the other children. He was past the stage of playing house with kids.
Aside from Tang San, no child could pique his interest.
As for the future Xiao Wu... maybe half an interest. Was that "half" only because she was a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form? Xiao Lin wanted to learn many things from Xiao Wu; he was full of curiosity toward her.
First was the matter of the Soul Core. Second was whether Xiao Wu counted as a Soul Beast or a human—or perhaps a half-human, half-Soul Beast? Even if she couldn't transform back yet, did she still count as a Soul Beast? If not, what was the point of a Soul Beast taking human form?
What were the benefits?
These were all things Xiao Lin was curious about.
"Stop! You're not allowed to leave!"
Seeing Xiao Lin already stepping out the door, Wang Sheng was stunned and shouted.
However, his shout lacked deterrence; it even carried a hint of fear.
Xiao Lin turned around, gave Wang Sheng a helpless look, and suddenly released a bright yellow Soul Ring.
In the narrow corridor of the dormitory building, the yellow Soul Ring Xiao Lin manifested shone through the walls, appearing vividly before the eyes of the children in Room Seven.
The moment Xiao Lin released the yellow ring, the children's eyes widened, staring blankly at the shimmering light.
"Ye... Yellow!!"
"The first one... is already yellow!"
"B—B—B—Big Brother, he's even stronger than you!"
"Shut up! You think I don't know that?" Wang Sheng snapped, then immediately softened.
"From now on, he's my Big Brother."
By the time the children snapped out of their shock, Xiao Lin had long since left the dormitory building to chase after Tang San.
"When Big Brother comes back, don't call me Big Brother anymore. Call me Second Brother, got it?"
Wang Sheng turned around, scanned the other kids in the dorm, and followed his heart quite fiercely.
"Yes, Second Brother!"
Meanwhile, at the gate of Nuoding Academy.
Tang San had a look of fury on his face, his brow furrowed as he looked unkindly at the scruffy middle-aged man in front of him.
He had come out to buy a quilt, yet he was still targeted by this Yu Xiaogang. It was as if Yu Xiaogang knew he didn't have a quilt and had been squatting at the school gate waiting for him.
In broad daylight, Tang San didn't want to make a move against Yu Xiaogang. Otherwise, with Yu Xiaogang blocking the way like this, Tang San would have almost told him, "You already have a path to your own death."
"Tang San, I am Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. You may not have heard of me, but I can say that no one understands your martial soul or your secrets better than I do."
Seeing Tang San's frown, Yu Xiaogang wasn't annoyed.
He believed that with his wisdom, he would eventually win over this genius. However, much to Yu Xiaogang's surprise, Tang San simply frowned, treated it as a joke, and even muttered a "dumbass."
"Tang San! You dare show such disrespect to your elders?"
Yu Xiaogang grew anxious.
Although he didn't quite understand what "dumbass" meant specifically... it was clearly an insult. How could he not recognize the tone and aura of a curse?
"Tang San, you don't believe me? I am an Elder recognized by Spirit Hall, the only 'Wisdom Elder' who achieved his title through intelligence and theory."
Yu Xiaogang was still holding back.
Even though he knew the secret of Tang San's Twin Martial Souls, he didn't want to expose it to bystanders. Otherwise, Tang San might be taken away by Spirit Hall.
"Idiot!"
Seeing that Xiao Lin's usual taunt wasn't enough, Tang San immediately added a vulgarity he knew.
"Ah—!"
"Tang San!"
Yu Xiaogang truly broke down this time. Tang San dared to be so disrespectful and even called him an idiot? He was the Grandmaster!
He lived off his intellect.
He could tolerate other insults, but calling him an idiot?
"Good, very good! Tang San, since you distrust me so much, I have no choice but to reveal your secret in public."
"You have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"
As the words left his mouth, Yu Xiaogang raised his head arrogantly, tilting his greasy, scruffy face upward, waiting for Tang San to worship him.
At this moment, a look of suspicion and alertness appeared on Tang San's face. His left wrist lifted slightly—he looked ready to strike. The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated that one must never let a threat to oneself go.
Yu Xiaogang, you already have a path to your own death!
No... killing him would be an admission that I have Twin Martial Souls.
Tang San immediately raised his left hand, scratched his hair, and asked with feigned confusion.
"What are Twin Martial Souls? Why do you say I have them?"
"Hmph!"
Yu Xiaogang let out a smug snort and shook his head triumphously, quite satisfied with Tang San's question.
"As far as I know, you are a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, yet the martial soul you awakened was Blue Silver Grass. I have investigated 647 people with Blue Silver Grass; no more than 16 possessed Soul Power, and not a single one had more than Rank 1."
"According to one of my 'Ten Core Competitive Theories,' Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of the martial soul. Blue Silver Grass obviously cannot meet this condition, therefore..."
"Therefore, why can't I be the exception? Why can't my martial soul be the king of Blue Silver Grass—a Blue Silver King?"
Tang San had zero interest in the Ten Core Competitive Theories and refuted him directly.
"Blue Silver King!?"
Yu Xiaogang was instantly stunned by Tang San's counter-question.
For a moment, his "CPU" felt like it had burned out.
Blue Silver King? The king of Blue Silver Grass? A Martial Soul Mutation?
Yu Xiaogang clutched his head.
The more he thought about Tang San's words, the more plausible they seemed.
Had he... become the clown?