When Tang San returned, everyone in the dormitory was cultivating, except for Ao Tian, who was asleep.
His footsteps were light. When he returned to his bed, he noticed a lunchbox placed beside it.
Tang San was puzzled. He opened it and found a few chicken legs inside, smelling delicious, although already cold.
"Tang San, you're back?" Xiao Wu's voice rang out.
Tang San turned around and saw that Xiao Wu had already opened her eyes.
The other people in the dormitory also woke up from cultivation and only then noticed Tang San.
"This is..." Tang San asked.
Wang Sheng came down and said, "Tang San, I apologize for what happened at noon. This was from Ao Tian's treat; I packed some for you, but unfortunately, it's cold now."
It had been half a day, and Tang San's anger had mostly subsided. He said, "Forget about what happened."
Looking at the lunchbox, he said, "I already ate with the teacher just now. I'm still full."
Xiao Wu jumped off the bed, touched her stomach, and said, "I'm hungry. Wang Sheng, let's go eat. Since Tang San has already eaten, we shouldn't waste the food. Let's take it with us and eat it."
Wang Sheng nodded and said, "Alright."
Xiao Wu looked at Ao Tian, who was still comfortably curled up in bed, and furrowed her delicate brows.
Ao Tian had been sleeping ever since lunch, without cultivating at all.
She went over to Ao Tian's side and gently shook him.
"Wake up, it's time to eat."
Ao Tian turned over and mumbled, "You guys go eat, I'm not hungry."
The food in the cafeteria might seem delicious to Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and the others, but Ao Tian found it mediocre and had no appetite.
He had wandered the continent for ten years with Bibi Dong, tasting countless delicacies. His taste had become very picky.
"Alright then."
Xiao Wu had no choice but to go to the cafeteria with Wang Sheng and the others.
The dormitory was now left with only Tang San and Ao Tian.
Tang San looked at Ao Tian for a moment, then climbed into bed to rest.
He had been traveling for several hours in the morning and spent the afternoon studying with the Grandmaster. He was already exhausted.
It wasn't long before Tang San fell asleep.
More than half an hour later, Xiao Wu and the others returned.
Seeing that Ao Tian was still asleep, Xiao Wu couldn't help but shake him again and said, "Ao Tian, is your martial soul a pig? Sleeping from day to night and not even cultivating."
Ao Tian sighed helplessly and sat up.
He didn't need to cultivate deliberately. The Dragon Clan's inherited technique was operating automatically in his body.
At his level, cultivation on the Douluo Continent had almost no effect.
Even if he absorbed all the spiritual energy from the entire Douluo Planet, it wouldn't help him advance much.
To improve quickly, he'd need to go to higher-level worlds—like the Divine Realm, or wander the universe.
But after a five-hundred-million-year slumber, he just wanted to enjoy life. He planned to train again once he got bored. After all, no one here could threaten his life.
Xiao Wu was full from dinner and didn't want to cultivate right away. Seeing that Ao Tian was awake, she said, "Let's go for a walk."
Suddenly, Ao Tian frowned. He sensed a Titled Douluo-level spiritual force coming from outside, enveloping Xiao Wu.
This spiritual fluctuation felt familiar to him.
Xiao Wu and the others couldn't detect it due to their lower cultivation levels, but it couldn't escape Ao Tian's senses.
His gaze sharpened. His sight pierced through layers of obstruction, and he saw a shadowy figure in a dark corner not far from the dorm building, clad in a black robe.
Tang Hao!
So he's noticed already? Ao Tian glanced at Xiao Wu.
"Hurry up and put your shoes on, come with me outside for a walk," Xiao Wu urged.
Ao Tian smiled, "Alright."
Wang Sheng and the others looked on with envy. Their talents were average, and after dinner, they had to train hard. There wasn't much time for them to play.
Tang San suddenly sat up and said, "Xiao Wu, I have something to tell you."
Xiao Wu, who was walking out with Ao Tian, stopped and turned around. "What is it?" she asked.
Tang San said, "My soul power has reached level ten. Teacher will take me to get my first soul ring tomorrow, and it might take a few days."
Since Xiao Wu was the leader of Dorm Seven, Tang San felt it was only right to let her know.
After all, he was a working student. The school year was starting tomorrow, and he had duties to perform. If he wasn't on campus, someone had to cover for him.
Xiao Wu's expression became a bit complicated. She asked, "Are soul rings really that important to you humans?"
The complexity on her face could only be understood by Ao Tian.
Tang San nodded and said, "Yes. Only by killing soul beasts and obtaining soul rings can soul masters continue to cultivate."
Wang Sheng added, "Tang San, you're worried about the working student duties, right? Don't worry. I'll handle it while you're away."
Tang San nodded, "Thanks. I'll help you out when I return."
"No need to thank me. You're the first soul master in our dorm, after all," Wang Sheng said enviously.
He had trained at Nuoding Academy for several years but still hadn't reached level ten.
Meanwhile, Tang San had just started his first day and was already going to get a soul ring. How could he not be jealous?
Aside from Ao Tian and Xiao Wu, the others were all filled with envy.
Tang San looked at Ao Tian and said, "Ao Tian, teacher asked me to check if you want to get your first soul ring too. You can come with us tomorrow."
"No need." Ao Tian declined.
"Let's go," Xiao Wu said gloomily, pulling Ao Tian out with her.
By now, the sky had completely darkened. Only the cold moonlight and starlight gave the earth a faint glow.
On campus, very few teachers or students were walking around.
Soul masters usually cultivated at night, making the campus seem a bit desolate.
Xiao Wu pulled Ao Tian all the way to the sports field and sat on a large, smooth rock.
"Ao Tian, why do you think humans must kill soul beasts?"
Xiao Wu lay on the rock, staring at the stars above, and asked the question again.
"Human cultivation can't be separated from soul rings. It's a law of nature. Thinking too much about it won't help," Ao Tian said.
He remembered that before his long sleep, the laws weren't like this. On Douluo Star, soul beasts didn't leave soul rings upon death.
Apparently, soul beasts were something that emerged later.
"Nature really is unfair to soul beasts," Xiao Wu said, her expression tinged with sorrow.
Ao Tian reached out and pinched her cheek. "Why are you thinking so much? Don't tell me… you're a soul beast?"
Xiao Wu's large eyes flashed with panic. She quickly replied, "Nonsense! I'm so cute—how could I possibly be a soul beast?"
Ao Tian chuckled and didn't press the issue.
"So you dragged me out here just to chat?" he asked.
Xiao Wu jumped down and said, "Of course not. I brought you out because I want to fight you."
"Why? Didn't I already admit defeat?" Ao Tian asked.
Xiao Wu replied, "That was because I had no choice. I wanted to be the boss, but if I lost to you, I couldn't be. And if you lost, I was afraid it'd embarrass you. I just really want to fight you."
"So you chose nighttime when no one's around?"
Xiao Wu nodded happily, "That way, if I lose, I won't lose my spot as boss. And if you lose, you won't lose face either, right?"
"Come on, let me see how strong you are!" Xiao Wu pulled Ao Tian down from the rock.
Ao Tian glanced at the dark corner nearby and smiled, "Alright, then let's have a good spar."
....