The Martial Soul Skeleton, in Douluo Continent's Bone-Changing Susanoo

Chapter 7 Notting Junior Soul Master Academy (Part 3)

"Lin Xiao, I'll treat you to dinner later. Thank you for carrying that heavy bag for me the whole way," Xia Liang suggested.

"You're very rich?" Lin Xiao asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes." Xia Liang took out five copper soul coins from his waist.

Lin Xiao smiled awkwardly, "Never mind. We're all not well-off, you should keep it. You don't need to treat me to a meal. I helped you carry your things, and you helped me apply the medicine, didn't you? It's only right for classmates to help each other."

"Alright." With that, Xia Liang stuffed five copper soul coins into his belt. Actually, he also had a gold soul coin hidden behind his belt.

This is the money that Uncle Meng obtained by exchanging his pickling method for pickled mustard greens with Mr. Cui, the owner of the fish-shaped rice restaurant. He doesn't show it because of the principle of not flaunting one's wealth.

After all, one gold soul coin is enough for an average family's expenses for a month. If it is stolen or robbed, it will definitely not be easy to earn it back.

A teacher in his thirties suddenly walked in from the dormitory entrance and said in a calm voice, "New work-study student, step forward for a moment."

Xia Liang and Lin Xiao looked towards the sound almost simultaneously and found that the person was Mo Hen, Teacher Mo, who had previously been in charge of new student registration.

"Teacher Mo, is something the matter?" Xia Liang jumped off the bed and asked curiously.

Lin Xiao also stood up.

There were only two new work-study students.

Teacher Mo walked up to Xia Liang and Lin Xiao, "I'm here to talk to you. As work-study students, you can do odd jobs at the college to earn your living expenses."

"Lin Xiao, from now on you'll be in charge of cleaning the garden on the north side of the playground. Ten copper soul coins a day. Remember, you have to clean every day. Make sure to remove all the clutter. Understand?"

"Yes!" Lin Xiao replied.

Teacher Mo looked at Xia Liang and said, "You'll be in charge of cleaning the school district. You'll get ten copper soul coins every day."

"Teacher Mo, can I not clean? Before I came to the academy, my uncle had already arranged for me to work part-time at a restaurant."

After listening to Xia Liang's explanation, Teacher Mo smiled and nodded. "Of course. The academy doesn't have a mandatory requirement. As long as you can save up for your living expenses, that's fine."

"Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. Classes will officially begin the day after tomorrow. First-year students will have classes in Class 1 on the first floor of the teaching building. I am the head teacher of your Class 1. I am also the teacher in charge of your Dormitory 7. If you have any questions in the future, you can ask me."

After saying that, Teacher Mo left.

Xia Liang and Lin Xiao chose their respective beds, changed into their school uniforms, and prepared to eat at the college cafeteria.

night.

Dean's Office.

Dean Ding was sitting behind his desk, reviewing the materials submitted by the new students.

A middle-aged man pushed open the door and walked into the dean's office.

"Is there something you need?" the middle-aged man asked.

Dean Ding put down the pipe he was smoking on the table, stood up, and said, "Xiao Gang, I have something to show you. I'm sure you'll be very interested."

"Oh?" the middle-aged man said calmly. "What is it?"

Dean Ding handed a data card to the middle-aged man.

After taking the information card, the middle-aged man glanced at it, and the lazy and decadent look in his eyes immediately turned to surprise.

"Xia Liang, a Skeleton Martial Soul? I never expected that an ordinary person from the village could inherit a Skeleton Martial Soul. Innate Level 5 Soul Power, this should be the student with the highest innate soul power in the history of Notting Academy."

Dean Ding sighed, "Yes. Back then, I was only at the fourth level of innate soul power."

"Xiao Gang, look closely. The Martial Soul Certificate also says it's a fragmented Skeleton Martial Soul. It says it only has rib sections, not a complete skeleton. Therefore, this child named Xia Liang has been marked as having a useless Martial Soul."

After hearing these words, the middle-aged man's eyes were filled with disdain. "It's obvious. The Spirit Hall deacon who wrote this child's Spirit Certificate is a good-for-nothing."

"According to one of the ten core competitive advantages of martial souls that I have studied, the size of innate soul power is directly proportional to the quality of the martial soul. A useless martial soul obviously cannot meet the requirements of innate level five soul power. Therefore, I can be sure that this skeleton martial soul with only the ribs may have potential in some aspects that is no less than that of a high-quality martial soul."

"Possesses potential comparable to a high-quality martial soul?" Dean Ding said thoughtfully. "Xiao Gang, aren't you exaggerating? How could the villagers possibly have such a high-level martial soul inheritance?"

"Ding Yuan, it seems you're just as incompetent as I am. After following me for so long, haven't you made any progress in your theoretical knowledge?"

At this point, the middle-aged man recalled his past experiences. Besides Dean Ding of the Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, he had also met two more powerful companions during his travels across the continent.

One of the partners went off to open an academy and become its dean, while the other partner disappeared without a trace.

For various reasons, he had no choice but to come to Notting Junior Soul Master Academy to rely on Dean Ding Yuan and live a life of freeloading.

Looking back, a bitter feeling welled up in the middle-aged man's heart. He had almost forgotten that his name was Yu Xiaogang. He only remembered the nickname that people gave him: the invincible theoretical master.

Being insulted for no reason, Dean Ding was somewhat displeased. "Xiao Gang, how could you call me a good-for-nothing? I'm the one who took you in, after all. Look at that shrewd businessman Flander, he called you his brother, but when he opened the academy, he didn't even invite you to be an advisor."

"I just couldn't be bothered with him. Alright. Let's not dwell on the past. Let's get back to the main topic. Ding Yuan, can't you really see? This kid named Xia Liang actually has a mutated martial soul."

Yu Xiaogang shook the data card in his hand and said, "How could a child from the countryside possibly have a high-quality martial soul inheritance? Since he awakened innate level five soul power, it means that the quality of his martial soul is not bad. And the condition that led to this result must be martial soul mutation."

"A mutated martial soul?" Dean Ding exclaimed in realization. "You mean, that child's skeleton martial soul, like your Luo Sanpao's, is a mutated martial soul? How is that possible?"

"Why not?" Yu Xiaogang said seriously, "Among the ten core competencies of martial souls that I proposed, martial soul mutation is not limited to a certain type of martial soul. Any martial soul can mutate under specific circumstances. Depending on the direction of the mutation, it can be divided into benign mutation and malignant mutation."

"This child named Xia Liang must have a benign mutation in his martial soul to possess innate level five soul power. If his parents' martial souls are merely bones, then his ribs are the result of a benign mutation in the bones. In the future, he might have the opportunity to grow into a complete skeleton. At that time, his complete skeleton martial soul will be no less than a high-quality martial soul."

"Yes, you're right." Dean Ding's eyes showed admiration. "Xiao Gang, you can see so much from such a simple martial soul proof. You're really something."

"If I didn't have this ability, I wouldn't deserve the title of 'master'."

Yu Xiaogang habitually put his hands behind his back, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Perhaps I should meet that child. A benignly mutated skeleton martial soul has great potential. If he can receive the right theoretical guidance, he will surely achieve great things in the future."

Hearing this, Dean Ding smiled knowingly. "Xiao Gang. You want to take him as your disciple and guide his cultivation?"

Yu Xiaogang didn't answer the question. "It's getting late. Aren't you hungry?"

With that, he left the office and headed towards the college cafeteria.

(End of this chapter)