Chapter 2: Reflecting the World
"The World!"
The little loli exclaimed in awe.
Mysterious and powerful!
That was Huoyu Tong's first impression.
"Truly incredible," Huoyu Tong praised without a trace of envy.
"Your Spirit Eyes are remarkable too—a Body-type Martial Soul."
The starlight in her eyes dimmed momentarily, flickering with imperceptible insecurity before quickly brightening again.
Time to clean.
After fetching a basin of water, the little loli scrubbed corners untouched by the wind, her tiny bottom sticking up in the air. Meanwhile, An Zhen reached into the void and pulled out his lounge chair.
Huo Yuhao...
Huoyu Tong...
Given her solitary presence here, it seemed unlikely Huo Yun'er had birthed twins. The Son of Destiny was gone, replaced by a Daughter of Destiny—a deviation from the original tale. Tch. The worldlines were likely tangled already, especially with his own interference.
But why disguise as a boy?
No.
That soft voice might just be puberty.
Petite cuteness didn't equate to masculinity.
Time for a check.
Instead of returning to his dorm, An Zhen lay on the chair and closed his eyes.
Martial Soul, Manifest.
"Hmm?"
In a golden sea of consciousness, a silkworm marked with ten golden patterns lifted its head as if sensing something.
An approaching presence...
Or nothing at all.
Forget it—that human elder's aura terrifies me. Better hide.
...
"Unorthodox, yet undeniably practical."
An Zhen rose, lips curving into a smile as he watched the petite figure sweep. He slid his arms around her waist and pulled the small body against his chest.
No struggle.
No gasp.
She slumped bonelessly into his embrace, like a puppet with severed strings.
World Modulation Mode.
Centered on An Zhen's physical body, his psyche confined this space to a pocket dimension—a simulated world mirroring reality. Those within it projected as NPCs, mimicking real actions until he touched or commanded them, stripping their autonomy. Here, he reigned as a god.
And his Martial Soul's stealth was peerless.
Once, leveraging Jing Hongchen's connections, An Zhen had met Silvermoon Douluo Kong Deming. Even that elite sensed nothing. His only concern was Mu En—the Light of the Sea God Pavilion.
No... if canon holds, Mu En is already here.
An Zhen pressed a finger to Huoyu Tong's occiput. Three blue screens materialized:
[Huoyu Tong]
[Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm]
[Eliascus]
If anyone on the continent possessed supreme spiritual power, it was this: the former Child of Light, the Calamity Necromancer Eliascus... or his fractured remnant soul.
Even a fragment was divine consciousness—a god's essence.
"Seizing sun and moon, plucking stars from the sky—none rival my might."
An Zhen's pale fingers closed around a wisp of gray light. "Eliascus," he murmured, "do you remember that bitch Foluo and her bastard Peiluo?"
If the original Huo Yuhao—blinded by hatred—could sway Eliascus, surely invoking the princess who betrayed him and the pope's son who slaughtered his clan would provoke a reaction now.
...Nothing?
Had this soul-shard truly forgotten?
An Zhen left to seek Mu En.
He was gone.
Already departed?
In that case... Heh. Little Yu Tong, no uncertainties remain.
He rushed back to the dorm.
With a thought, a pristine bed materialized. An Zhen laid the small figure upon it gently.
Time for that inspection.
Truly, a descendant of the White Tiger.
"Why would such an adorable girl disguise herself as a boy?"
An Zhen didn't know her reasons. Another mental command purged the room of grime, condensing waste into a gray orb by the door.
Reality
An Zhen opened his eyes.
The little loli was wiping a table with a damp cloth.
"Let me handle it."
An Zhen pitied this ill-fated girl. With the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm and Eliascus bound to her, her threadbare clothes and malnourished frame mirrored Huo Yuhao's origins.
If not for Tang San, she should've lived a charmed life—a Daughter of Destiny rising from adversity. Yet even the World's Will couldn't withstand a Godking's machinations.
Whether Son or Daughter of Destiny, Tang San would claim them. Treating Douluo as his backyard, he'd inevitably target An Zhen too. Becoming Tang San's dog might be the best outcome.
Reborn here, An Zhen craved only freedom and amusement. He would ascend to godhood. With a Martial Soul this potent... If the Angel and Sea Gods could ascend, why not him? This "World" Martial Soul might itself be divine—perhaps beyond divinity.
Thus, allying with the Daughter of Destiny was logical.
The current Divine Realm wasn't yet Tang San's fiefdom—Life and Destruction still presided as Godkings. Tang San himself was bound by divine non-interference rules (though he'd later exploit loopholes). At least this era wasn't as bleak as Douluo III.
The vast, starry black of An Zhen's eyes reflected that petite figure.
Huoyu Tong... I came for you.
He needed her aid—not just against Tang San, but for a pivotal breakthrough only destiny's blessing could facilitate.
"First Soul Skill: Reflect."
A translucent yellow ring shimmered near An Zhen's ankle. Amber light flared, and an eerie ripple washed over the dorm—sparing only An Zhen and Huoyu Tong.
The little one gaped as the room transformed into spotlessness.
First Soul Skill: Reflect
An Zhen could overlay reality with his pocket dimension's state, altering the physical world. He could also project entities, objects, or even his own cultivation from that dimension.
Yet conjuring or erasing matter demanded significant energy—drawn from both his soul power and his Martial Soul's reserves. The Martial Soul itself functioned as a massive, unique "Milk Bottle."
Frankly, soul rings merely unlocked his world's inherent authorities; they offered no unique abilities beyond raw soul power. Summoning wind or chairs earlier required no rings—those were innate powers. Rings were just keys.
For daily life, it was convenient: instant outfit changes, accelerated cultivation. Combat? Against prepared peers, it held advantages. But facing higher-level foes risked backlash.
This skill wasn't meant for battle.
(End of Chapter)