# Chapter 6: Treasure Harvest
As evening settled over Notting Academy and the other dormitory residents began preparing for bed, Chen Sheng felt the familiar pull of anticipation. Ten treasure chests awaited him in his system storage—the largest single-day harvest since his system had awakened. The dormitory was finally quiet enough for him to slip outside unnoticed and examine his rewards in private.
Making his way to a secluded corner of the academy grounds, Chen Sheng found a spot beneath an ancient oak tree where the shadows would conceal him from any casual observers. The moonlight filtering through the leaves provided just enough illumination for him to see his surroundings while maintaining his privacy.
System, open the first treasure chest, Chen Sheng commanded mentally, his excitement barely contained.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Phantom Step Technique"』
Chen Sheng's eyes widened with delight. A movement technique was exactly what he needed to complement his enhanced physical abilities.
System, open the second treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "High-Quality Solar-Powered Torch"』
The description that accompanied this reward indicated it was a device from his previous world—a powerful flashlight with a rechargeable battery that could be powered by sunlight. While not immediately useful for combat.
Third treasure chest, please.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Yun Yun's Soft Armor (Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect)"』
Chen Sheng's expression became complicated as he recognized this item. Yun Yun was a character from a completely different world—Doupo, her soft armor was legendary for its defensive capabilities while remaining lightweight and flexible. The fact that his system could draw rewards from multiple universes was both fascinating and slightly overwhelming.
Fourth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Martial Soul Enhancement Card"』
Excellent, Chen Sheng thought with satisfaction. Another enhancement card. This one will go toward my Two-Winged Archangel Martial Soul.
Fifth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Noble Quilt"』
A high-quality bedding set might seem mundane, but Chen Sheng appreciated the practical value of having superior living accommodations in the dormitory.
Sixth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Hen's Egg"』
Chen Sheng's mouth twitched slightly. Another food item. At least this time it was something more substantial than vegetables.
Seventh treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Superior Quality Sharp Knife"』
A well-crafted blade could serve multiple purposes, from practical tasks to emergency self-defense.
Eighth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Super Healing Factor (Talent)"』
Chen Sheng's breath caught. A regenerative healing ability comparable to Wolverine from his previous world's comics would make him nearly invincible in combat. Such a talent could heal serious injuries within moments.
Ninth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Captain America's Shield"』
Another item from his previous world's fiction, but an incredibly valuable one. The vibranium shield was virtually indestructible and possessed unique energy-absorption properties.
Tenth treasure chest.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Bucket of Fresh Milk"』
Chen Sheng sighed as he stared at this final reward. *At least it's nutritious,* he consoled himself.
『All rewards have been stored in system storage and are available for immediate use.』
With all his treasure chests opened, Chen Sheng began implementing the most valuable rewards immediately. First, he activated the Phantom Step Technique, feeling the knowledge integrate seamlessly with his existing movement capabilities. The technique would allow him to move with supernatural speed and create confusing afterimages during combat.
Next, he used the Martial Soul Enhancement Card on his Two-Winged Archangel Martial Soul. The moment he activated the card, Chen Sheng felt divine energy surge through his body. His Two-Winged Archangel began to glow with brilliant golden light as its form underwent a dramatic transformation.
When the evolution completed, Chen Sheng gazed upon his enhanced martial soul with awe. The Four-Winged Archangel was magnificent beyond description—taller, more imposing, and radiating an aura of divine authority that seemed to make the air itself hum with power. Its four wings spread wide in a display of celestial majesty, each feather appearing to be crafted from pure light. The quality improvement was immediately apparent, transforming what had been a rare martial soul into something approaching legendary status.
Finally, Chen Sheng integrated the Super Healing Factor talent into his physique. The process was intense but brief, and when it concluded, he could feel his body's natural regenerative capabilities had increased exponentially. Minor cuts and bruises would heal within seconds, while more serious injuries could be recovered from in minutes rather than days or weeks.
With his most valuable rewards integrated, Chen Sheng decided to check his updated status.
System, display character panel.
[Master/Host: Chen Sheng]
[Physique: 20]
[Soul Power: 10 (requires soul ring to advance)]
[Martial Souls:
1. White Tiger: no soul rings
2. Four-Winged Archangel: no soul rings]
[Treasure Chest: 0]
[Stored Items: ×10 Gold Soul Coins, Noble Quilt, Solar Torch, Yun Yun's Soft Armor, Sharp Knife, Captain America's Shield, Hen's Egg, Bucket of Milk]』
Chen Sheng felt deeply satisfied as he reviewed his dramatically improved capabilities. His martial souls were now both of exceptional quality, his physical abilities were enhanced beyond normal human limits, and he possessed a regenerative healing factor that would make him extremely difficult to defeat in combat.
Retrieving his noble quilt from the system storage, Chen Sheng made his way back to Dormitory 7. The bedding was truly impressive—crafted from deep blue fabric with intricate golden patterns that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. The material felt incredibly soft yet durable, clearly superior to anything the academy typically provided.
When he entered the dormitory, most of his dormmates were already settling in for the night. Xiao Wu, however, was still awake and immediately noticed the exquisite quilt in Chen Sheng's hands.
"What a beautiful quilt!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with appreciation. "That seems like a really nice one!"
Just as Chen Sheng was preparing to set up his sleeping area, a teacher in his thirties entered the dormitory. The man had the practical appearance of someone accustomed to dealing with student affairs, his clothing neat but unpretentious.
"Which students are this year's new work-study arrivals? Please stand up," the teacher announced.
Chen Sheng, Tang San, and Xiao Wu rose to their feet simultaneously, marking themselves as the newest additions to Dormitory 7's population.
"Which one of you is Tang San?" the teacher asked, scanning the three young faces.
"That would be me, sir," Tang San replied, stepping forward slightly.
"My name is Mo Chen, and you may call me Teacher Mo," the instructor said, producing a bundle of bedding from his bag. "The Master specifically requested that I deliver this to you." He handed the package to Tang San, who accepted it with obvious gratitude.
The bedding was fairly ordinary in appearance but clearly new and well-maintained, with a fresh, clean scent that spoke of recent washing and proper care.
"Chen Sheng, Xiao Wu, Tang San," Teacher Mo continued, addressing all three newcomers, "as first-year work-study students, you will be responsible for maintaining the garden area south of the main playground. Your daily wage will be ten bronze soul coins each. Remember, you must complete your assigned cleaning duties every single day without exception. Failure to do so will result in wage deductions, and repeated negligence may lead to expulsion from the academy."
"We understand, Teacher Mo," the three students replied in unison, their voices reflecting both respect and determination.
After Teacher Mo departed, the dormitory residents began discussing sleeping arrangements. Wang Sheng and several other students had noticed that Xiao Wu hadn't brought any bedding with her, prompting them to offer assistance.
"Sister Xiao Wu, you can use my quilt tonight," Wang Sheng suggested. "I can spread it out partially and use half to cover myself. We'll make it work somehow."
Xiao Wu looked around at the various bedding arrangements throughout the dormitory. While most of the work-study students kept their belongings reasonably clean, the majority of their quilts and blankets showed obvious signs of age and wear. Only the bedding that Tang San had just received and Chen Sheng's noble quilt appeared to be in truly good condition, with Chen Sheng's being noticeably superior in quality.
"Don't keep calling me 'boss,'" Xiao Wu said with a slight frown. "It makes me sound old and stuffy."
"That won't work," Wang Sheng replied firmly. "Rules are rules in Dormitory 7. The strongest person leads, and everyone else follows their guidance."
"Since I'm supposedly the boss, then you have to listen to what I say about everything, right?" Xiao Wu asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "In that case, you can all call me Sister Xiao Wu from now on. That sounds much better than 'boss.'"
After establishing her preferred form of address, Xiao Wu walked over to Chen Sheng with a bright smile. "Chen Sheng, how about we discuss something?"
"What did you have in mind?" Chen Sheng asked, though he suspected he already knew where this conversation was heading.
"I can see that your quilt is quite large and looks very comfortable," Xiao Wu said with obvious appreciation. "It would be more than enough for two people to share. How about this—we can push our beds together so we can both use it. That way, neither of us has to worry about inadequate bedding."
Chen Sheng considered the proposal briefly before shaking his head. "I appreciate the suggestion, but I think it would be more appropriate for me to adjust my sleeping arrangements with Tang San instead. You can have my quilt entirely to yourself."
He handed the luxurious bedding to Xiao Wu, who accepted it with visible delight and gratitude.
With the sleeping arrangements settled, Wang Sheng looked around at the three newcomers and realized something important. "I don't suppose any of you have had lunch yet today? It's getting late, but the cafeteria should still be serving food. We should all go eat together."
When Xiao Wu heard the mention of food, her eyes immediately lit up with enthusiasm. "Eating? Absolutely! What kind of delicious things do they serve here?"
Wang Sheng smiled with slight embarrassment. "I'm afraid the options aren't too exciting for work-study students like us. We can afford the basic meals in the cafeteria, but nothing fancy. We mostly just buy cheap food and make do with what we can get."
"I won't go," Tang San said quietly. "I brought some food with me from home, and I don't have any coins to spend anyway."
"Xiao San, I still have money available," Chen Sheng interjected. "Let's go eat together. You have full innate soul power, which means as soon as you obtain a soul ring, you can become an official Soul Master. Once that happens, you'll receive a monthly stipend of one gold soul coin from the spirit hall."
Tang San hesitated momentarily before nodding. "Alright then, if you're sure you don't mind."
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Gratitude emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Already earning more rewards, Chen Sheng noted with satisfaction as his system registered Tang San's appreciation for his generous gesture.
"Does eating really cost money? Soul coins?" Xiao Wu asked with a hint of embarrassment. "I don't have any coins with me either."
"I'll treat both of you to dinner today,"
Chen Sheng said generously. "You'll both have your own money after you receive your first day's wages tomorrow. Besides, Xiao Wu, your soul power level should be quite high. You'll probably be able to become a Soul Master soon yourself."
"I also have full innate soul power," Xiao Wu announced proudly, her chest puffing out with obvious pride in her exceptional abilities.
"There are so many monsters among this year's first-years," Wang Sheng muttered to himself, shaking his head in amazement at the unprecedented concentration of talent.
"Well then, let's go have dinner," Chen Sheng said, leading the group toward the dormitory exit.
Under Wang Sheng's guidance, the small group made their way across the academy grounds to the cafeteria building. The structure was larger than the dormitory, built to accommodate the entire student body during meal times. As they approached the entrance, Wang Sheng provided some helpful context about the dining arrangements.
"The cafeteria has two floors," he explained as they walked. "The food on the second floor is obviously better quality and more expensive—that's where the wealthy students eat. The first floor serves more basic meals that we can actually afford."
As soon as they entered the building, however, their peaceful dinner plans were interrupted by a discordant voice that cut through the general chatter of the dining hall.
"Well, well, isn't this Wang Sheng's group of poor beggars?"
Chen Sheng and his companions turned toward the source of the insulting comment. On the staircase leading from the first floor to the second floor, a group of older students dressed in expensive clothing were looking down at them with obvious disdain.
The speaker was a boy who appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old, clearly the leader of his group based on how the others deferred to him.
"Poor people will always be poor people," the boy continued with a sneer. "They can never afford to eat on the second floor where they belong."
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