Lin Fan was woken by a knock on the door.
When he opened it, the person standing outside surprised him.
Her cold, beautiful face, always clad in her signature dark purple leather outfit, accentuated her curvaceous figure.
Right now, she stood nervously at his door, holding a lunch tray, her slender fingers fidgeting with the tray's edge, clearly anxious.
It was Zhu Zhuqing.
Honestly, Lin Fan had expected Zhao Wuji to come calling him for lunch.
"Zhu Zhuqing, why are you here? And how did you know I was staying in this room?"
Hearing his question, a hint of panic flickered across Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. She spoke in a slightly tense voice,
"Sword Shadow Douluo, we noticed you hadn't come to the cafeteria for lunch, so I asked Teacher Zhao about your room and brought you lunch."
"Oh? I see. Thanks, that's very kind of you." Lin Fan smiled lightly as he accepted the tray.
After handing over the tray, Zhu Zhuqing remained rooted at the door, awkwardly wringing her pale hands and lowering her head slightly.
"Do you have something you need from me?" Lin Fan asked calmly.
"Yes… I do have a favor to ask, but… I'm not sure how to begin…"
Zhu Zhuqing's voice was soft as she avoided his gaze.
Lin Fan had already guessed her intentions the moment he saw her standing at the door.
"Don't worry. Just speak your mind." Lin Fan's voice remained calm.
Zhu Zhuqing gathered her courage, raising her head to meet his eyes seriously.
"Sword Shadow Douluo… I wish to ask you to teach me how to cultivate soul power."
"You wish to take me as your master?" Lin Fan asked.
"Would that be possible?" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes shone with hope.
"No." Lin Fan rejected her without hesitation.
"I… I see. Sorry for bothering you." Zhu Zhuqing's face visibly darkened with disappointment.
She lowered her head and turned to leave.
But as she turned around, Lin Fan's calm voice drifted out,
"You possess the Netherworld Civet martial soul, right? If you can fully explain your martial soul's characteristics and what it means to be a true agility-type soul master, I might reconsider."
With that, Lin Fan carried his lunch back inside and closed the door behind him.
Zhu Zhuqing froze in place, staring at his closed door in a daze.
Netherworld Civet… What characteristics? I'm already an agility-type soul master, aren't I?
She walked away, confused by his words.
In the corridor, Dai Mubai leaned lazily against a pillar. Seeing Zhu Zhuqing approach, he smirked,
"You went to see him… hoping he'd teach you how to cultivate, right?"
"That's none of your business," Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly, her expression darkening upon seeing him.
"Taking a Titled Douluo as a master sounds great, but in our situation, it's unlikely he can help much," Dai Mubai said as she brushed past him.
"At least it's better than you wasting your life drinking and waiting to die," Zhu Zhuqing shot back sharply, not even looking at him.
"Zhu Zhuqing… you know as well as I do—your sister and my brother are several years older than us. With the same innate talent, there's no way we can surpass them, no matter how hard we try," Dai Mubai said, his tone resigned to reality.
"Besides, they have the full support and resources of their clans behind them. What hope do we have?"
"Hmph… So that's your excuse for being a coward? You'd rather wait to accept your fate and be slaughtered? I refuse to die like that."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice carried a bitter smile as she walked away without looking back.
"I came all this way with a sliver of hope, and yet your words only deepen my despair. I won't degrade myself like you—I'll find my path."
Dai Mubai stood there, unable to respond to her words.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan watched the entire exchange from his window.
Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's words, Lin Fan couldn't help but feel a twinge of respect.
Such a young Zhu Zhuqing… Despite knowing she has almost no chance of success, she still refuses to give up.
Of course, Lin Fan was well aware of the "family rule" that bound Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's lives.
If not for Tang San's intervention in the original story, they wouldn't have had the slightest chance of changing their fates.
Still, Lin Fan had no intention of meddling in other people's lives—his only goal was to improve his strength.
Currently, among the Titled Douluo, Lin Fan knew his position wasn't much different from Dugu Bo's—barely above the bottom.
In a real battle among top-ranked Titled Douluo, he'd still be nothing more than cannon fodder.
After finishing lunch, Lin Fan spent an hour moving around outside before returning to his room to meditate.
While meditation no longer did much to increase his soul power, it still helped him maintain his body and mind in peak condition.
That evening, in the cafeteria…
After dinner cooked by Shao Xin, the teachers gathered.
No one knew where Ning Rongrong had gone after being scolded by Flender.
Adjusting his glasses, Flender announced seriously,
"As I said this morning, your first lesson starts tonight. Now, follow me to Soto City."
Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Dean, why are we going to Soto City for class? Won't we get back really late?"
"You'll understand when we get there. Zhao Wuji, are you coming?" Flender asked.
Zhao Wuji rubbed the bruises on his face and replied,
"No way. My wounds haven't healed yet. If my old friends see me like this, I'll never live it down."
Dai Mubai couldn't help but snicker at that.
"What are you laughing at? Mumbai, you're coming to me for combat lessons tomorrow!" Zhao Wuji shot him a glare.
"Sword Shadow Douluo, are you coming too? Soto City's much livelier at night than during the day," Flender asked Lin Fan.
"I've heard a lot about Soto City's Great Spirit Arena. I'll go. If I stay cooped up in my room, I'll just grow old faster. It's good to hang out with young people—it keeps you feeling young," Lin Fan said casually.
"Uh, Brother Fan… If I may ask… You're not just in your twenties, are you?" Ma Hongjun asked timidly.
"Haha, little brother, you are blunt. I'm in my forties," Lin Fan replied without hiding it.
"No way! I never would've guessed… You look about the same age as me, but I look way older…" Flender muttered, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"Maybe I just take better care of myself," Lin Fan chuckled.
"Besides, breaking through to Titled Douluo makes you look younger, too."
"Alright, let's not waste time. The sooner we go, the sooner we return." Lin Fan stood up and walked out of the cafeteria.
"Breaking through to Titled Douluo in your forties… Sword Shadow Douluo must've been born with full innate soul power…" Flender sighed in admiration.
After instructing Zhao Wuji to keep an eye on Ning Rongrong, Flender led the students to Soto City.
Outside the massive fortress-like arena, Flender said to Dai Mubai,
"Mumbai, take them to register. All new students must fight at least one match."
"Wait, what?! They're going on stage on their first day?!" Dai Mubai exclaimed.
He'd thought tonight's trip was just to let the new students observe.
"Stop complaining—go!" Flender ordered firmly.
"Mumbai, what's going on?" Tang San asked curiously.
"This place is called the Great Spirit Arena," Dai Mubai explained.
"It's where soul masters fight in official matches, with large crowds watching."
He then gave Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others a detailed explanation.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had already slipped inside the arena… to place bets.
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