After successfully registering, Wang Li took his luggage and headed to the dorm. Notting Academy, in a small place like Nuoding City, naturally couldn't recruit too many talented students, and even fewer work-study students, as it's rare for commoners to be geniuses.
Seven Dorm was where all the work-study students lived, regardless of age or gender, with unified accommodation and management.
So, when Wang Li arrived near Seven Dorm, he could visibly see that although the surroundings were relatively clean, they were very dilapidated, and a noisy sound was coming from inside the dorm.
Wang Li was already somewhat prepared for these conditions. Walking into the dorm, he saw four or five dozen beds in the spacious room, but only eleven of them had bedding. At this moment, eight or nine teenagers were sitting on the beds, chatting and laughing.
As Wang Li entered the dorm, their gazes converged on him.
Even though he was prepared, Wang Li couldn't help but inwardly complain when he saw the living conditions. A prisoner-of-war camp wouldn't be much worse; perhaps only a black-hearted factory could compare.
However, remembering that he hadn't even paid tuition, Wang Li felt relieved. He looked at everyone and said with a smile:
"Hello everyone, I'm the new work-study student this year. My name is Wang Li."
As his voice fell, a very burly teenager among them stood up, put one hand on his hip, and pointed at himself, saying:
"You're Wang Li? I'm Wang Sheng!"
He grinned and continued:
"I'm currently the boss of Seven Dorm. Now I'll give you a choice: fight me. If you win, you'll be the new boss. If you lose, you'll acknowledge me as the boss. Don't think that just because you also have the surname Wang, I'll go easy on you. This fight must happen."
Wang Li originally didn't want to engage in meaningless disputes, but thinking of his panel that still had no experience, he decided to try fighting to see if anything would change.
So he looked around, picked a bed, put his belongings on it one by one, then faced Wang Sheng and said solemnly:
"In the World of Spirit Masters, combat is unavoidable. Although I only recently awakened my Spirit, I will never fear. Wang Sheng, let us have a battle between Spirit Masters!"
Wang Li sounded a bit chuunibyou, but he had thought it through. Rather than making harsh remarks that could lead the fight in an uncontrollable direction, it was better to guide it into a sparring match between Spirit Masters.
Although Wang Sheng looked tall, he was only an eleven or twelve-year-old boy. Hearing this, his expression froze for a moment, then he quickly reacted, his face showing some excitement.
A person isn't a youth without being a little chuunibyou, right? Wang Li's words hit his excitement point, and he became completely hyped, shouting loudly:
"Wang Sheng, ninth-rank Spirit Scholar, Spirit War Tiger, please enlighten me."
Wang Li spread his legs slightly, one in front and one behind, forming a bow stance, and began to gather strength. At the same time, he said:
"Wang Li, third-rank Spirit Scholar, Spirit Mutated Blue Silver Grass, please enlighten me."
As soon as these words came out, not only was Wang Sheng extremely surprised, but the other work-study students were also full of astonishment, looking around at each other.
Since when could Blue Silver Grass cultivate? After all, it was a famously useless Spirit.
Wang Sheng stood opposite Wang Li. Knowing Wang Li's Spirit and spirit power, he relied on his cultivation and said with his head held high:
"Come on, I'll let you make the first move."
Wang Li steadied himself. The characteristics and passive abilities of Blue Silver Grass—vitality and resilience—couldn't directly enhance his strength, but he still mentally connected with the Blue Silver Grass Spirit, letting his spirit power circulate within his body.
Feeling the warm current within his body, Wang Li almost shot out. Since Wang Sheng let him attack first, he wouldn't be polite and seized this initial advantage.
Seeing this, Wang Sheng roared like a tiger and swung his fist towards Wang Li.
Wang Li bent his knees and lowered his body, dodging Wang Sheng's punch. He had no intention of clashing head-on with Wang Sheng. After quickly closing the distance, he grabbed Wang Sheng's waist with both hands, using the momentum and his shoulder to heavily ram into Wang Sheng's chest.
Wang Li's strength was not small, but it wasn't granted by his Spirit; it was something he had trained himself. Even though Wang Sheng's War Tiger Spirit greatly enhanced his physical fitness, he was still knocked back by Wang Li's impact.
Wang Sheng felt a sharp pain in his chest and was pushed back by Wang Li. He regretted being arrogant, but it was too late to think about that now. He wanted to shake off Wang Li, but Wang Li held him tightly.
"Spirit, possess!"
Wang Sheng could only activate his Spirit. Yellow energy flowed out of his body, and at the same time, his body began to change: his nails and teeth sharpened, and his body hair grew. However, because no spirit ring was attached, the degree of tiger transformation was not deep.
But his strength genuinely increased again. He first stabilized his lower body, and once his feet were firm, the strength in his hands could fully erupt.
With an angry roar, he used both arms to grab Wang Li and throw him out.
Wang Li felt his body fly into the air. Just now, Wang Sheng felt he had underestimated Wang Li; now, Wang Li felt he had underestimated Wang Sheng.
After Spirit possession, Wang Sheng's strength had greatly improved. Wang Li's original strength now seemed insufficient in front of the current Wang Sheng.
Wang Li didn't know any light-body techniques, so he landed heavily on the ground. However, Wang Li knew how to dissipate force, rolling a few times after landing before getting up.
His chest, back, wrists, and arms ached, making Wang Li grimace in pain. But he soon discovered a cool sensation appearing within his previously warm spirit power. This coolness only appeared in the injured areas, and then the pain in his body began to decrease.
Meanwhile, Wang Sheng looked at Wang Li, and feeling that he had regained face, he once again said with his head held high:
"Wang Li, you actually forced me to use my Spirit. I admit you are a powerful Spirit Scholar, but to defeat me, this is far from enough."
Wang Li seemed not to hear these words, because in the space between him and Wang Sheng, a few words mysteriously appeared: "Experience +5."
He was both surprised and excited. He had finally found the correct way to gain experience. Then, he looked at Wang Sheng again, his gaze completely changed, and he said in a very chuunibyou manner:
"Wang Sheng, my first opponent on the path of a Spirit Master, and my most powerful opponent! Even if your strength is terrifying, I will never give up. Come on, let's fight with all we've got!"
Wang Sheng's blood boiled upon hearing this. He often fought with self-funded students, but he had never been as excited as he was today. He laughed and said:
"I, Wang Sheng, acknowledge you! I will definitely use all my strength to defeat you!"
The other work-study students, who were watching, hadn't expected things to escalate to this point, but they were equally excited, all wishing they could join in.