A flicker of disbelief crossed Julian's eyes. He looked from Caleb's Blue Silver Grass to his own. Both were the same spirit, yet the gap between them was jarring.
In that moment, Julian couldn't help but doubt Silas. The Grandmaster had told him explicitly that Blue Silver Grass was a spirit devoid of mutation. But looking at Caleb's thick, upright vine—standing tall like a pillar—Julian knew this was no ordinary weed. Is it truly a mutation?
"It's so... big," one of the boys whispered. "And look at how thick the stem is!" another added, awestruck.
The room was convinced. Compared to Julian's thin, ethereal vine, Caleb's spirit looked like a weapon. Satisfied that he had established his cover story, Caleb retracted the plant.
He turned to his bundles, pulling out a bag of crisp, reddish fruit. Opening it before the crowd, he smiled warmly. "These were a gift from my village. Come and have a taste, everyone. We're roommates now, after all."
The work-study students didn't stand on ceremony. Saliva pooled at the sight of the fresh fruit—a rare luxury for poor children. Amidst a chorus of thanks, hands reached out. Caleb picked out a handful of the best pieces and walked over to Lyra.
"Big Sister Lyra, these are for you."
As a rabbit-based soul master, Lyra had an instinctive love for juicy fruits and vegetables. Her eyes sparkled as she took them. "You're a sharp one, kid! Don't worry, Big Sister Lyra will look after you from now on."
Caleb bowed slightly, a polite smile on his face. Good, he thought. I don't like owing favors. If the day comes when a Title Douluo hunts her down, I can run away with a clear conscience. Until I reach the top myself, I'm not playing the hero in a death-chase.
He looked back to see the dorm feasting. Leo had a fruit in each hand, juice dripping down his chin. Only Julian stood to the side, looking awkward and out of place.
Caleb's internal alarm went off. Not good. I can't let him feel excluded. He quickly stepped over and pressed two fruits into Julian's hands. "Julian, eat. They look a bit tart, but they're quite refreshing."
Julian hesitated, his dark eyes searching Caleb's face for a moment before he whispered, "Thank you."
Caleb laughed softly and moved on. He didn't need Julian's friendship—he just needed to make sure he wasn't on the boy's list of enemies. One fruit was a small price to pay to avoid the "Path of Death."
"Can someone tell me what school life is like?" Lyra asked between bites.
Leo, being the senior student, swallowed a mouthful of fruit and stepped up. "Yesterday was for returning students; today is for new registrations. Tomorrow is the opening ceremony, and the day after that, classes begin. Two lectures in the morning: Culture and Spirit Theory. The afternoon is for cultivation."
He paused, a shadow of bitterness crossing his face. "The rich kids can do whatever they want in the afternoon. We work-study students have to clean the campus to earn our food money. Once the chores are done, we're free to cultivate. I'm Rank 9 now; once I hit Rank 10, a teacher will take me to hunt a Spirit Beast for my first ring. That's the only way to officially graduate."
Lyra's fruit suddenly seemed less sweet. She looked down, her voice trembling slightly. "Do we... have to hunt Spirit Beasts?"
Leo nodded firmly. "Of course. Without a spirit ring, you'll never be a true Spirit Master."
Lyra went silent, her thoughts unreadable.
Before the mood could sink further, a voice rang out from the corridor. "Will the three new students step outside?"
"That's a teacher," Leo whispered.
Caleb, Julian, and Lyra dropped what they were doing and filed out. A middle-aged man with green hair stood there, clutching a bundle of silk bedding.
"Which one is Julian?"
"I am, Teacher," Julian said, stepping forward.
"I am Mo Hen," the man said flatly. "Julian, this bedding was prepared for you by the Grandmaster. All of you, use today to learn your way around. Ask Leo if you have questions. Opening ceremony tomorrow—don't be late. And starting the day after, you three are responsible for the garden south of the athletic field. Ten bronze coins a day. Keep it clean of debris, or I'll deduct your pay... or worse, expel you."
He shoved the bedding into Julian's arms and walked away without another word.
Lyra's eyes immediately locked onto Julian's high-quality silk sheets, while Caleb turned back toward the dorm. He didn't care about the bedding; he was thinking about the garden.
I have a system. I gain experience faster than anyone, Caleb mused as he began making his bed with his own rough, home-spun linens. When I hit Rank 10, I'll take the safe route. I'm a commoner with no backing; I'll let the school handle the Spirit Beast hunt. No point risking my life in the wild yet.
He checked his injuries. The dull ache from his fight with Leo was almost gone. The superficial bruises hadn't reached the bone, but he felt his spirit power was low.
The exchange was incredible: a small amount of spirit power for rapid, near-perfect healing. With this, his survivability was leagues beyond his peers. If he reached the higher realms, he might become truly unkillable.
The healing works, Caleb noted, his eyes narrowing. Now I need to see if the Tenacity passive truly hardens my physique after every recovery. I need more combat. I need to know how far I can push this body.