Duolou: Reborn with reality Pen

Night had fallen over Nuoding Academy. On the roof above Dorm Seven, Eren stood quietly before a pink door, his expression calm yet focused.

Sunset Forest… Star Luo Empire. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is there.

He thought about it for a moment before twisting the knob. The door opened soundlessly, revealing a strange space filled with countless rare herbs covering the ground in neat clusters. Their faint glow shimmered under the dim light.

Eren stepped inside, an Itachi experience card held firmly in his hand as he moved deeper into the herb-filled dimension.

Meanwhile, Xiran and the others were at the academy canteen, making their way up to the second floor.

Xiao Wu looked around excitedly, her eyes bright with anticipation. After a moment, she tugged on Xiran's sleeve and asked for the fourth time, her voice filled with nervous energy,

"Boss… boss, can we really eat here?"

She had heard about the second floor from Wang Sheng. But now that she was here, anxiety crept in.

Tang San had chosen to sit with Yu Xiaogang instead. When he saw Xiao Wu defeated earlier, doubt began gnawing at him. Something about Xiran didn't feel simple, and her easy victory made him uneasy.

As for Xiao Wu, she wasn't sitting with Tang San because of Eren. He had casually given her bedding and a quilt earlier, something even Tang San hadn't done. It was a gesture Xiao Wu couldn't refuse. Eren, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Xiran and Xiao Wu had just found an empty table when a voice filled with mockery cut through the air.

"Well, well… what do we have here? A bunch of beggars thinking they belong on the second floor."

Xiao Chenyu approached with several boys following behind, all of them smirking with arrogance.

"Hahaha, working students daring to eat here? Did you come to beg for leftovers?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wu's temper flared instantly. She slammed her hand on the table, ready to fight. But before she could move, Xiran's calm voice stopped her cold.

"Don't waste time on idiots," Xiran said without even looking at Xiao Wu. "Focus on your meal."

Xiao Wu froze. "But"

"If you fight, I won't pay for your food," Xiran said evenly.

That ended the argument immediately. Xiao Wu slumped back in her chair, her cheeks puffed like a wronged rabbit as she stared at the table in silence.

Xiao Chenyu, seeing that his taunts didn't provoke a reaction, felt irritation building. After a few more sarcastic remarks, he gave up and returned to his table. He knew fighting in the canteen would result in punishment, and he wasn't willing to risk his reputation for a meaningless scuffle.

Yu Xiaogang noticed the brief commotion at the second floor before his eyes fell on a familiar figure. "Xiao San, do you know them?" he asked calmly.

Tang San nodded. "Yes, Grandf-Master. They are my roommates. The girl with brown hair… she's the strongest in our dorm and also the boss."

Yu Xiaogang was startled. The strongest? That brown-haired girl? Isn't she the one with only 0.5 soul power? His eyes shifted toward Xiran in disbelief.

"Did she defeat you?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

Tang San shook his head. "No. She didn't fight me. But… the girl next to her, Xiao Wu, defeated me first. Then, that brown-haired girl, Xiran, defeated Xiao Wu."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply, confusion rising in his heart.

Tang San continued, his voice steady. "Also… Xiao Wu has full innate soul power. Her martial soul is Soft Bone Rabbit."

Yu Xiaogang's expression grew complicated, but his focus returned to Xiran. His mind was spinning. A child with only half a level of soul power… and yet she can defeat Xiao Wu? How?

"Did this girl, Xiran, tell you how she became so strong?" Yu Xiaogang pressed.

Tang San shook his head again. "No. But… she called the boy who came with me from the village, his name is Eren, her master. And she said he is even stronger than her."

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted slightly. "What? That brat is stronger than her? Then… does that mean he's stronger than you as well?"

Tang San's face turned gloomy at that question, silencing the Master. Yu Xiaogang immediately sensed the shift and decided not to press further.

"I don't know," Tang San replied calmly. "We didn't fight. And…" His fingers brushed lightly against the hidden weapons concealed under his sleeve, a faint confident smirk curling his lips. "I still have many trump cards I haven't even used."

Seeing this expression, Yu Xiaogang exhaled slowly, relief softening his features. A smile tugged at his lips as he said, "Yes… Xiao San is my granddau-ah, disciple. One day, you will be the strongest on this continent, and you will prove my theories to the world."

With that, the tension eased, and the two began eating their meal.

Yet Yu Xiaogang's thoughts were far from calm. His mind kept circling back to the brown-haired girl, Xiran. A child with only 0.5 levels of soul power defeating someone with innate full soul power? If I uncover the reason behind her strength, my Ten Great Core spirit Competencies will not only gain recognition… the entire world will stand in awe of my theories.

A glint flashed in his eyes as he silently made his resolve.