Chapter 6: Living Off Favor
"Ahhh!"
What exhilarating cultivation!
Morning sun cast dreamlike halos through raven-black hair. The weather matched An Zhen's mood perfectly.
Aside from his Martial Soul awakening, he hadn't felt such rapid progress in years.
First Soul Skill: Projection.
An illusory world descended, overlaying reality to reshape it.
Soul power materialized from nothing. Meridians expanded fractionally.
Rank 24 Great Soul Master.
He'd drawn upon energy stored within his virtual world—An Zhen's usual method. Though miniature compared to Douluo Plane, it obeyed energy conservation. How could a Rank 23 project Rank 24 power?
"At this pace, reaching the thirties by semester's end seems feasible."
The Daughter of Fortune.
With her inside his virtual world, the Douluo World's rejection vanished completely.
Incredible.
The problem plaguing An Zhen for years had solved itself.
He felt like a beneficiary—a small company (his world) leeching resources from a giant corporation (Douluo Plane). A stranger stealing funds would face rejection, even for trivial sums. But now, the small company had charmed the corporation's treasured daughter (Huoyu Tong), becoming the favored son-in-law.
Strange analogy.
But results matter.
Dressing quickly, An Zhen left his dorm and knocked on Room 108.
After a long pause:
A drowsy, fully-dressed cutie opened the door.
"Brother An Zhen..."
Sleepy resentment filled her gem-like eyes.
Though dream cultivation was fast, waking felt like an all-nighter—with zero actual progress.
"Isn't that why I'm helping Xiao Yu Tong?"
An Zhen pinched her soft cheek affectionately.
"You shouldn't..."
Huoyu Tong shook her head but didn't resist his touch. Her wide eyes held a timid, deer-like gaze.
A bright yellow soul ring materialized.
First Soul Skill: Projection.
Nighttime fatigue vanished, replaced by full-rest vitality. Energy surged through her—foreign yet seamlessly integrated, as if self-cultivated.
So satisfying.
An Zhen continued pinching her cheek.
This Huoyu Tong was at her most fragile—a homeless child needing support. That's why the original Huo Yuhao devoted himself to Tang Sect and Shrek Academy: they became his home.
Why couldn't he be Huoyu Tong's pillar?
"Whoa!"
A rather cute giant worm lifted its head within a golden sea. "Xiao Yu Tong! Your power surged suddenly!"
"Sorry, Sister Heavenly Dream," the loli thought back, still enduring cheek-pinching. "I promised Brother An Zhen secrecy."
She'd vowed two things last night:
Never reveal his Martial Soul could draw consciousness inward.
Use her real voice when alone with him.
"But I'm not people!"
The worm complained, peering through Huoyu Tong's eyes. "Since when are you two so close? Since when do you share secrets?!"
Heavenly Dream Iceworm was baffled.
Yesterday: her obedient, innocent "daughter."
Today: bringing home a "husband"?
What happened last night?!
"Breakfast first. We'll visit the admin office for dorm changes later—teachers arrive around nine."
Freshened up, they headed to the cafeteria.
At the white-robed cafeteria entrance, An Zhen suddenly scooped the loli under his arm, then set her down swiftly.
"Let's go."
The youth blinked innocently. "To apologize for manhandling Huoyu Tong, breakfast is on me."
A teasing whisper reached her startled ears: "Xiao Yu Tong wouldn't want a public hug, right?"
"Mmmph!"
The loli puffed her cheeks.
Brother An Zhen is so mean.
Huoyu Tong was "abducted" to the purple-robed cafeteria.
Under threat of being spun mid-air, the little loli reluctantly opened her cherry mouth.
"Eat more."
An Zhen placed soul beast fried eggs on her plate.
"Strong foundations need good nutrition."
"Thank you, Brother An Zhen."
She buried her face in her food.
I'll repay his kindness someday.
"Whew~"
Her little belly pleasantly full, Huoyu Tong slumped contentedly. She'd never imagined breakfast could be this fulfilling—fluffy pancakes beyond her past experiences.
"Rest a bit. Admin office won't open until nine or ten."
An Zhen sipped an iced drink.
"Mm." Obedient nod.
As for Huoyu Tong's job? An Zhen considered a milk tea shop. Past-life experience proved such drinks irresistible to youths. Premium toppings could hike prices—most Shrek students were nobility who wouldn't balk at cost.
Grilled fish profits? Paltry.
Time to stun this world with culinary science.
Minimal effort could significantly increase Shrek's average weight.
Dormitory Return.
Huoyu Tong's dorm door stood open.
"Seems your roommate arrived."
"Who are you?"
A youth emerged.
Fair skin. Dreamlike pink-blue hair. Willow-leaf brows arched over gemstone eyes—god-dropped treasures in the mortal realm.
A strikingly handsome boy.
"An Zhen. Neighboring freshman. Great Soul Master. Martial Soul: World."
"Wang Dong. Freshman. Great Soul Master. Martial Soul: Light Goddess Butterfly." Pride laced his tone. World as a Martial Soul? Absurd.
"Light Goddess Butterfly..."
An Zhen murmured, his gaze growing increasingly peculiar.
"What's that look?!"
Displeasure tightened the youth's features.
"Inside first."
Before Wang Dong could protest, An Zhen ushered Huoyu Tong in and shut the door.
Basic but soundproof.
"Xiao Yu Tong, dorm change might be unnecessary."
Huoyu Tong: ?
Wang Dong eyed the other boy. "My roommate?"
"Since you cleaned so thoroughly—"
"Is cross-dressing enrollment trending? Pity. The academy expels boys posing as girls to enter female dorms."
"You—you—!"
Pale fingers trembled accusingly. The youth choked on outrage. "You're the girl!"
The flush spreading across his face could've been shyness or fury. Without prior knowledge, An Zhen might've believed the latter.
"Light Goddess Butterfly."
An Zhen had his alibi ready. "Saw it in a tattered tome at the City Lord's library. Exceptionally beautiful—memorable. Likely extinct, but as a Martial Soul, it manifests only in beautiful females."
That particular mansion might lack the book, but the fact was recorded elsewhere.
"Your disguise is excellent, but you missed this detail. Few know—only those stumbling upon it or deeply versed in Martial Soul research."
(End of Chapter)