# Chapter 9: Evening Training
After the excitement of the day's events had finally settled and the other work-study students returned to their dormitory, Chen Sheng found a quiet moment to examine his accumulated treasure chests. He had collected four from the earlier confrontation, and the anticipation of discovering what rewards awaited him was almost overwhelming.
Finding a secluded corner behind the dormitory building where he wouldn't be disturbed, Chen Sheng activated his system.
System, open all five treasure chests.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Martial Soul Enhancement Card"』
Chen Sheng's eyes lit up. Another enhancement card—and this time, he would use it on his Four-Winged Archangel martial soul to further increase its power and quality.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Soul Ring Aura Adjustment Talent"』
『Description: This talent allows the host to manipulate the visible appearance of soul rings. A ten-thousand-year black soul ring can be displayed as a thousand-year purple ring, or any other configuration desired.』
Chen Sheng could hardly believe his fortune. This ability would solve one of his greatest concerns—how to explain possessing soul rings that exceeded normal limitations without revealing his system or enhanced capabilities.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Master Chef's Cooking Skills Manual"』
Practical, if not immediately useful for combat, Chen Sheng mused. Still, good cooking skills could improve quality of life significantly.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Michael Jackson's Dance Technique Manual"』
Chen Sheng's expression became complicated as he stared at this reward. The moonwalk and other iconic moves from his previous world's legendary performer seemed utterly out of place in the Douluo Continent.
『Treasure Chest opened! Congratulations to master for receiving "Saitama's Address Note"』
A piece of paper with an address from a completely different fictional universe, Chen Sheng thought with bewilderment. The system's sense of humor is truly unpredictable.
Setting aside the more peculiar rewards, Chen Sheng immediately focused on the most valuable one. System, use the Martial Soul Enhancement Card on my Four-Winged Archangel.
The moment he activated the card, Chen Sheng felt divine energy surge through his spiritual sea with unprecedented intensity. His Four-Winged Archangel began to glow with brilliant golden light as it underwent another dramatic transformation.
Two additional wings erupted from the archangel's back, bringing the total to six magnificent appendages that radiated pure holy light. The martial soul's size increased dramatically—when fully manifested, it could now reach ten meters in height, towering over any opponent with divine majesty. The holy light it emanated had grown so intense that it could purify negative energies and provide healing effects to allies.
A Six-Winged Archangel, Chen Sheng marveled. This martial soul has now reached a quality that rivals the rarest legendary spirits on the continent. Combined with my White Tiger, I possess two top-tier martial souls that complement each other perfectly.
After integrating the Soul Ring Aura Adjustment talent and storing his other rewards, Chen Sheng began making his way back toward the dormitory. The evening had grown late, and most students would already be preparing for sleep.
However, as he rounded the corner of the building, he encountered an unexpected sight.
Xiao Wu was walking directly toward him, her face noticeably flushed in the moonlight. She seemed to have been waiting for him, her usual confident demeanor replaced by something more hesitant and uncertain.
Chen Sheng stopped, his expression carefully neutral.
"..."
This is either going to be very good or very bad for my plans, he thought.
Xiao Wu approached until she stood directly in front of him, fidgeting slightly with the hem of her shirt. "Chen Sheng, I... I wanted to talk to you about something important."
"What is it?" Chen Sheng asked, keeping his tone friendly but cautious.
"Today, when you defeated all those students so easily, I realized something," Xiao Wu said, her words coming out in a rush. "I'm not strong enough. I thought I was capable because I have full innate soul power, but watching you fight made me understand how much I still need to learn."
She looked up at him with determined eyes. "I want you to train me. Teach me how to become as strong as you are."
Chen Sheng felt conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to explain that his strength came from his system and couldn't be simply taught, but revealing such information would be extremely dangerous. However, training with Xiao Wu could provide opportunities to earn more treasure chests through her emotional responses.
"Xiao Wu, my training methods are... unconventional," Chen Sheng said carefully. "And my strength comes from factors I can't fully explain or replicate in others."
"I don't care," Xiao Wu insisted. "Even if I can't become exactly as strong as you, I can still improve. Please, Chen Sheng. I need to get stronger."
After a moment of consideration, Chen Sheng nodded. "Alright. I'll help train you. But you need to understand that it will be difficult, and progress won't come easily."
Xiao Wu's face broke into a brilliant smile. "Thank you! When can we start?"
"How about right now?" Chen Sheng suggested. "Your first lesson in combat training begins tonight."
"Really? Right now?" Xiao Wu's excitement was palpable. "Yes! Let's do it!"
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's excitement and hope emotions toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
They moved to a clear area behind the dormitory where they wouldn't disturb sleeping students. The moonlight provided adequate illumination for basic training, and the soft grass would cushion any falls during sparring.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Tang San was returning from his training session with Master Yu Xiaogang.
As he approached the dormitory, he noticed movement in the training area and recognized the familiar figures of Chen Sheng and Xiao Wu.
What are they doing out here so late?
Tang San wondered, something uncomfortable stirring in his chest.
He moved closer, staying in the shadows to observe without interrupting.
"Alright, Xiao Wu," Chen Sheng was saying. "Attack me with everything you have. Don't hold back—I need to understand your current capabilities before I can identify areas for improvement."
Xiao Wu summoned her rabbit martial soul, and her legs began to glow with pink energy. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Chen
Xiao Wu summoned her rabbit martial soul, and her legs began to glow with pink energy. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Chen Sheng with a flying kick aimed at his head.
Chen Sheng didn't summon his martial soul. Instead, he relied purely on his enhanced physical reflexes to sidestep her attack, then caught her ankle mid-motion and gently redirected her momentum so she landed safely on the grass.
"Your opening attack was too straightforward," Chen Sheng commented.
"Against an opponent who's watching for it, that kind of direct assault leaves you vulnerable."
Xiao Wu immediately sprang back to her feet and tried again, this time mixing feints with her actual attacks.
She demonstrated impressive agility and creativity, using her rabbit martial soul's leg strength to execute complex aerial maneuvers.
However, Chen Sheng countered every move with minimal effort.
His enhanced body allowed him to read her movements and respond with precision that made the gap in their abilities painfully obvious.
After several minutes of continuous sparring, Xiao Wu was breathing heavily while Chen Sheng hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Xiao Wu, just admit defeat," Chen Sheng said calmly as he caught her wrist mid-punch and held it gently but firmly. "I let you use your full strength, but do you know that I actually haven't used my full strength at all?"
Since Chen Sheng was half a head taller than Xiao Wu, when he stepped close to deliver this observation, he naturally lowered his head slightly and spoke directly into her ear in a low voice.
Xiao Wu suddenly felt an itch in her ear, and an unfamiliar sensation spread through her chest.
A deep blush appeared on her delicate cheeks, and she unconsciously took half a step back, saying somewhat flustered, "I-I admit defeat! Let me go quickly!"
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's Embarrassment and Attraction emotions toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
From his position in the shadows, Tang San watched this "intimate" exchange between Chen Sheng and Xiao Wu, and something in his chest tightened uncomfortably.
He didn't understand why seeing them so close together bothered him so much, but the feeling was undeniable.
Why does this upset me? Tang San wondered, his adult mind struggling to process what his young heart was feeling. I barely know Xiao Wu, and yet...
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Jealousy emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
In the minds of both observers—Tang San watching from the shadows and the other work-study students who had gathered at the dormitory windows—it seemed that Chen Sheng had Xiao Wu completely under his control.
The ease with which he dominated the sparring session and the obvious effect he had on her emotions painted a clear picture of his superiority.
Seeing Xiao Wu admit defeat, Chen Sheng naturally released her and took a step back, putting appropriate distance between them.
I don't want to get too involved with Xiao Wu right now, Chen Sheng thought carefully. Who knows if Tang Hao, watching from the shadows, would directly kill me if he saw us being too intimate? Tang San is destined to be with Xiao Wu—that's one of the fundamental relationships in this world's story.
Although he possessed life-saving measures from his system, Chen Sheng still preferred to live a few more years of peaceful life without attracting the wrath of legendary Titled Douluos.
Moreover, women would only affect his growth speed at this stage. Now was not the time to consider matters of romance and love. He was only six years old, for heaven's sake! There would be plenty of time for such complications in the future once he had established sufficient strength to protect himself and anyone he cared about.
"That was a good first session," Chen Sheng said, his tone returning to that of a trainer rather than anything more personal. "Your fundamentals are solid, but you rely too heavily on your natural speed and agility. Tomorrow, we'll work on developing more diverse tactics."
Xiao Wu nodded, still slightly flushed but recovering her composure. "Thank you, Chen Sheng. I'll work hard."
As she returned to the dormitory, Chen Sheng noticed Tang San emerging from the shadows. Their eyes met, and Chen Sheng could see complex emotions swirling in his friend's gaze—curiosity, concern, and something that might have been possessiveness.
"Xiao San," Chen Sheng greeted him naturally. "Finished your training with Master Yu?"
"Yes," Tang San replied, his voice carefully neutral. "I saw you training Xiao Wu. That was... impressive."
"She asked me to help her improve," Chen Sheng explained. "I couldn't refuse someone so determined to grow stronger."
Tang San nodded slowly, though his expression suggested he was processing more than just the surface meaning of Chen Sheng's words. "Brother Sheng, you're very skilled at teaching. Your understanding of combat is remarkable for someone our age."
He's still suspicious about my origins, Chen Sheng realized. Good. That curiosity will keep him close while generating more treasure chests.
"We've both been blessed with good fortune," Chen Sheng deflected smoothly. "You with your full innate soul power and Master Yu's guidance, me with my martial soul and natural physical gifts. We should support each other's growth."
"Yes," Tang San agreed. "We should."
As they walked back to the dormitory together, both boys carried their own secrets and suspicions. Tang San was increasingly convinced that Chen Sheng was hiding something profound—possibly even a reincarnated soul like his own.
Chen Sheng knew that Tang San's destiny with Xiao Wu was written in the fabric of this world's story, and he had no intention of disrupting that fundamental relationship for now.
The night grew deeper, and within Dormitory 7, work-study students whispered excitedly about Chen Sheng's continued demonstrations of remarkable ability. His reputation as their champion and protector was solidifying with each passing day.
Three more treasure chests from a single training session, Chen Sheng reflected as he lay in his bed.
My Six-Winged Archangel martial soul is now one of the most powerful spirits on the whole dauluo continent, I have the ability to disguise my soul ring auras, and I'm steadily accumulating more rewards.
As sleep finally claimed the exhausted students, the academy settled into peaceful quiet.
---
New Author
I am new to write, but if you have some problem to or find faults please find another good stories, I am busy to read my bookmarked novels that way, my chapter upload are random and slow.