Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

The Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy wasn't as large as it appeared. With the Grandmaster leading the way, Cheng Xiao quickly arrived at the administrative office. Thanks to the Spirit certificate issued by the Spirit Hall, he smoothly completed the registration process and officially became a first-year student of Nuoding Academy.

"Xiao San, I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving for now. I'll come find you when I have time," the Grandmaster said calmly, glancing at Tang San, who had just completed his registration.

"Understood, Teacher," Tang San nodded.

The Grandmaster patted Tang San's head. As he turned to leave, he gave Cheng Xiao a deep look.

During the registration process, the Grandmaster had seen Cheng Xiao's Spirit certificate—Beast Spirit, Shadow Soldier, and innate full spirit power! In his eyes, Cheng Xiao was undoubtedly a rare genius. With the Grandmaster's theoretical guidance, Cheng Xiao's future achievements could at least reach the level of a Title Douluo! Unfortunately, the boy didn't seem interested in spirit theory. As a renowned Spirit Theory Master, chasing after such a student would surely make him a laughingstock. However, the Grandmaster wasn't in a hurry. Once the spirit training began, the gap between Tang San and Cheng Xiao would become increasingly obvious. By then, Cheng Xiao would surely want him as a teacher, right?

After the Grandmaster left, Director Su, who had registered both Tang San and Cheng Xiao, was also a little surprised but said nothing. He simply handed the two boys their new uniforms and returned to his work.

"Thank you," Cheng Xiao said politely as he accepted the uniform. Then, with Tang San, they left the administrative office.

Carrying their uniforms, the two boys soon found their dormitory, as instructed by the staff at the office.

Since they were work-study students, they were assigned to the work-study dormitory—Dorm Seven.

Before they even entered, Cheng Xiao and Tang San could hear the ruckus coming from inside. Pushing the door open, they saw seven or eight children roughhousing, none of whom noticed the two newcomers.

"Hey, are you the new work-study students?"

At that moment, an older boy walked toward them.

"Yes, we are. Is there a problem?" Cheng Xiao squinted slightly, eyeing the boy who was approaching with wide strides.

Is he planning to establish dominance on the first day of school? Tang San stood silently beside Cheng Xiao, watching the boy who was at least two heads taller than him.

"Since you're in Dorm Seven, you need to follow Dorm Seven's rules!" The tall boy looked down at them and said, "My name is Wang Sheng. My spirit is the Battle Tiger, and I'm a future Battle Soul Master. I'm also the boss of Dorm Seven. What are your names? What are your spirits?"

Cheng Xiao and Tang San exchanged glances before reporting their names and spirits.

"Blue Silver Grass? Shadow? What kind of trash spirits are those?" Wang Sheng exaggerated his expression, bursting into laughter.

Following his lead, the other children in the dorm also laughed, looking at the two boys as if they were fools.

Shadow and Blue Silver Grass sounded like weak, useless spirits, nowhere near as impressive as Wang Sheng's Battle Tiger.

"Alright, enough laughing," Wang Sheng waved his hand, looking at Cheng Xiao and Tang San. "Now that you're in Dorm Seven, you'll have to listen to me from now on, got it?"

With that, Wang Sheng reached out and gave the seemingly easier-to-bully Tang San a shove.

As for Cheng Xiao, standing beside Tang San, Wang Sheng chose to ignore him. Sometimes, bullies target those who appear weaker, and Tang San was exactly that type in Wang Sheng's eyes.

"Looks like we'll have to fight," Tang San calmly set down his luggage and uniform.

In the next instant, Tang San moved like lightning. In one swift motion, he appeared behind Wang Sheng, bent his right arm slightly, and struck Wang Sheng's waist with an elbow while kicking his right leg into Wang Sheng's calf, bringing him down to the floor.

"You dare ambush me!" Wang Sheng roared angrily as he got back on his feet. A faint yellow light enveloped his body as he charged at Tang San with incredible speed, activating his Spirit.

Watching Wang Sheng activate his spirit, Cheng Xiao shook his head. After all, they were just children, prone to anger and rash decisions.

But since Cheng Xiao and Tang San had come together, even though Tang San could easily defeat Wang Sheng, Cheng Xiao felt that he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. So, he joined the fight, helping Tang San face off against Wang Sheng and his lackeys.

Ever since receiving the Shadow Monarch's power, coupled with three months of continuous training, Cheng Xiao's physical abilities had improved significantly. Facing these dormmates, none of whom were even one-ring Soul Masters, was a simple task.

As the other boys rushed toward him, Cheng Xiao clenched his fist. In an instant, he charged at one of them.

The boy saw Cheng Xiao coming and hastily threw a punch at him.

Cheng Xiao dodged to the left, his fist striking the boy's abdomen before he quickly withdrew it. Then, he spun around, targeting the other boys who hadn't yet reacted.

"Ah! Don't hit my face! Please don't hit my face!"

"Boss, help me… Ah!"

Amidst the cries of pain, Tang San turned around to see several boys lying on the ground, clutching various parts of their bodies and groaning in agony. The others, who hadn't joined the fray, stood obediently on the sidelines, too scared to make a sound.

Cheng Xiao, who had caused all this, was already holding his uniform and luggage, calmly selecting a bed as if the groaning boys on the ground had nothing to do with him.

"I… What the…!" Wang Sheng's eyes widened as he stared at his beaten-up lackeys. His voice trembled, "Cheng… Cheng Xiao is the real tough guy!"

"Wang Sheng! Come help me make the bed," Cheng Xiao called.

"Yes!" Wang Sheng quickly scrambled to his feet, a fawning smile on his face as he rushed over to help Cheng Xiao.

Seeing this, Tang San shook his head and chose an empty bed to begin setting up.

…

"Tang San, did you use a soul skill earlier?" Having been beaten, Wang Sheng and the others had lost their earlier arrogance and were now trying to strike up friendly conversation. After the fight, they could clearly tell that neither Cheng Xiao nor Tang San were to be trifled with.

Wang Sheng soon explained the unwritten rules of the work-study students and strongly recommended that Cheng Xiao be the boss of the work-study students. After all, the events that had just unfolded were still fresh in everyone's minds.

"I think Tang San should be the boss instead," Cheng Xiao wasn't interested in Wang Sheng's flattery and decisively refused the offer, recommending Tang San as the dorm leader.

"Uh, alright then," Wang Sheng sighed, shifting his gaze to Tang San.

Tang San was about to refuse as well, but when he saw the hopeful expressions on Wang Sheng and the others' faces, he felt a sense of responsibility—to protect the weak. This feeling was often called a sense of justice.

As a disciple of the Tang Sect, how could he not possess such a sense of justice? Unable to refuse, Tang San was about to agree when a crisp voice came from outside.

"Excuse me, is this Dorm Seven?"

Everyone turned to see a girl standing at the door. Her face was rosy, her long scorpion braid reaching down past her waist. Her large, bright eyes sparkled with curiosity as she peered into the dorm.

The boys, none of whom had ever seen such a sight, were stunned, speechless and wide-eyed.

Cheng Xiao also noticed the girl at the door but didn't pay much attention. After all, Xiao Wu was only six years old—how beautiful could she possibly be at that age?