"Ding! The three-choice system is activated. Host, please select one of the following options:
1. Share a dormitory with Yu Xiaogang and receive 4999 silver spirit coins as a reward!
2. Move into Dormitory 302 and receive the secret martial skill reward — Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms!
3. Choose solitary accommodation and receive a tempered black-iron short blade as a reward!"
Hearing the system's prompt ring clearly in his mind, Yuchen didn't hesitate. He immediately selected the second option.
The first and third rewards, be they spirit coins or the black-iron short blade, didn't attract Yuchen's interest. They were too ordinary to excite a transmigrator like him.
But the second option? That one sparked a rare glimmer in his eyes.
As someone from another world, how could he not recognize the legendary martial skill—Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms?
"Dormitory 302?" he muttered with a raised brow.
Yu Xiaogang, who was browsing through a thick stack of martial soul research data, paused mid-flip and looked over with curiosity. "You… want to live with the children in Dormitory 302? That's the dorm reserved for work-study students, you know."
Notting City's Junior Soul Master Academy accepted a quota of outer village children each year—those who had barely passed the basic spirit power awakening requirement. The academy allowed them to enroll for free in exchange for menial labor, labeling them "work-study students."
Though every child in the Douluo Continent could awaken a martial soul, only those with spirit power above level 5 could be considered true soul master prospects. The rest? Either trash martial souls or talentless individuals fated to be ordinary.
Villages rarely produced strong soul masters, and those who did awaken power often had little to no guidance. So, work-study students were often seen as weak and irrelevant.
Yuchen nodded calmly. "Yes. That's my choice."
Yu Xiaogang furrowed his brow, seemingly surprised but offered no argument. "Fine. Since you've made your choice, I'll take you there myself."
He closed the file in his hands and signaled an attendant to prepare clean bedding for Yuchen. Without delay, the two departed and made their way toward the eastern wing of the dormitory halls, where Dormitory 302 sat, slightly more aged and isolated than the others.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at a creaky wooden door. The sound of footsteps and distant chatter echoed faintly from inside.
"If you encounter anything unusual, you can always come find me." Yu Xiaogang placed the bedding down and looked at Yuchen with a contemplative gaze. "I'll also begin checking through ancient soul records to investigate your unusual spirit ring composition and martial soul."
After offering that, the renowned 'Grandmaster' turned and climbed the stairs with a thoughtful expression, clearly intrigued by Yuchen's mysterious nature.
Yuchen glanced around the modest room. It was old, but not filthy—functional, if not luxurious. Six beds filled the space. Three were already occupied, each by a child roughly around eleven or twelve.
One of them—a plump youth with a loud voice—noticed Yuchen's arrival first and immediately bounced off his bed, pointing.
"Hey! You one of us now? A work-study student too?" The chubby boy grinned, his small eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well then, let's not waste time—since we all live together, it's only right we pick a boss for the dorm! These two already lost to me!"
Yuchen didn't speak, only offering a subtle smile as he scanned the kid.
"Didn't think the dorm was already this full," Yuchen murmured softly.
"Hello," came a calm, confident voice from the doorway. "My name is Tang San."
A thin, blue-haired boy with mature eyes stepped in, carrying a worn bundle on his back. He nodded politely toward everyone.
The chubby boy turned, waving his arms. "Tang San, huh? You don't look that sturdy either. Why don't the two of you take me on together? That way no one accuses me of bullying!"
But before the impromptu challenge could begin, another voice rang out—a crisp, clear tone brimming with playful arrogance.
"Miss a fight? Me? Never!"
"If we're deciding who's boss, you all better include me too!"
The boys turned just in time to see a girl skip into the room. She wore twin ponytails and a pink dress that fluttered as she moved. Though clearly around their age, her posture and energy radiated confidence and agility.
"A girl?" the chubby boy blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. Then he puffed up his chest. "Listen here, I don't care if you're a girl—don't expect me to go easy on—"
BANG!
Before he could finish his sentence, the girl dashed forward like a spring-loaded bolt, appearing in front of him in a blink and delivering a sweeping kick that sent the poor boy flying back several steps.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Before the remaining two students could react, the girl whirled around, dispatching both with precise, graceful kicks that knocked them to the ground.
Finally, she turned to Tang San.
Tang San's instincts were sharp—his training under Tang Sect in his previous life still guided him. He parried two of the girl's strikes skillfully. But her attack patterns shifted rapidly, and with a spin-kick, she sent Tang San tumbling to the floor.
"You're the only one left now!"
The girl giggled and spun toward Yuchen, eyes gleaming with challenge.