Douluo Dalu 2: Way of Heaven

Wake up.

Reflect.

Eat.

Attend class.

Though still attending lectures, this life felt utterly... at least mostly pleasurable. Holding the white-stockinged young mistress while resting his head on a black-stockinged beauty's lap—yesterday's daydreams had become reality.

Class ended.

Then came rallying his classmates.

An Zhen considered himself a responsible class president. His efforts alone had ignited the entire class's academic drive.

"Keep it up, Vice President. The rest is in your hands."

"Wu Feng, those ankle socks suit you well~"

Under the red-haired girl's flustered glare, An Zhen made his escape.

Ning Tian lowered her gaze, comparing Wu Feng's athletic calves in black ankle socks to her own white thigh-highs.

Does An Zhen prefer black?

Or girls like Wu Feng?

The golden-haired heiress pondered.

Stall Duty

Business boomed.

An Zhen had become a campus celebrity—not for milk tea, but for beating a senior as a freshman. His talent drew attention, especially after Gluttony Douluo's appearance at his stall. Yet beyond boosting sales, it changed little for An Zhen.

Zhang Lexuan hadn't visited recently, granting him peace. Xu Sanshi returned, however, buying milk tea with hard-earned wages. He claimed Jiang Nannan hadn't thrown his previous drink away—just left it on a table. Though An Zhen saw no difference in her rejection, Xu Sanshi treated it as monumental progress.

An Zhen—surrounded by beauties daily—didn't understand, but acknowledged everyone pursued different dreams.

Night - Virtual World

Huo Yutong grew busier, clutching metal sheets and engraving knives—tools of a soul engineer. Though Fan Yu hesitated to burden the diligent girl, she'd insisted, citing the next day's rest.

"Soul tools."

An Zhen toyed with an unfinished tier-1 core device.

Oh right—he was a soul engineer too. Tier 3.

As Jing Hongchen's foster grandson, he'd received top-tier training. Fan Yu was talented, but Shrek's soul tool development lagged like Sun Moon Academy's warrior training—no nine-rank soul engineers here.

But he couldn't reveal this skill.

Xu Tianran had provided only a flawless orphan identity, excluding soul engineering. An Zhen couldn't demand more; this "spy mission" seemed merely an excuse to gift Jing Hongchen's descendant a plaything.

"Go for it, Yu Tong."

He planted a loud kiss on her fair cheek.

Why labor himself when he could nurture a top soul engineer?

With one core formation, he could mass-produce copies given energy and time.

Ten-rank soul engineer Huo Yutong ≈ Ten-rank soul engineer An Zhen

"Mhm!"

The blushing loli's motivation skyrocketed.

"Dong'er~"

Once she left, An Zhen pulled Wang Dong into his arms.

"Mm." She accepted the nickname.

"J-just feet this time."

"I don't crave that 24/7!" An Zhen looked wounded, claiming he merely wanted to hug a fragrant girl while sleeping.

"I'd believe you if something wasn't poking me." Wang Dong shot him a stunning eyeroll.

"Holding such a smart, beautiful, exquisite, lovely, youthful, captivating maiden—" The barrage of praise lifted her lips into a smile. "—if I reacted nothing, I'd be a eunuch."

"Tch. My charm is simply overwhelming." The proud young mistress tilted her fair neck, satisfied. "Fine. But behave."

"Naturally."

An Zhen was an honest man.

⋯

New Day

Reflect.

"I'm eating with Ning Tian."

Huo Yutong: !

Wang Dong: ?

A foot lashed toward An Zhen's groin.

The handsome boy glared furiously.

You hold me all night, then date another girl?!

"That kick's for Yu Tong!"

"Let me explain!"

An Zhen dodged with agile reflexes.

He outlined the context.

"We're teammates, after all."

"She's obviously recruiting you!" Wang Dong saw through the ploy instantly.

"Why refuse free money?"

Did An Zhen not notice? He knew.

"Take her gifts, and you'll owe favors. Careful—she'll chain you to her chariot."

Pink-blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. An Zhen's knowledge and physique defied his "orphan" backstory. The latter could be talent, but how did he know about Ma Xiaotao's evil fire?

She didn't ask.

A girl in love avoids overthinking.

Wang Dong suddenly felt warnings were unnecessary. This schemer never loses. Still, she worried he'd set his sights on Ning Tian or Wu Feng.

"Remember—don't betray Yu Tong."

...Or me.

She threatened with faux fierceness.

"Leaving."

He pinched the loli's cheek and departed.

⋯

South Shrek City - Commercial District

Commerce here inevitably involved the 10,000-year-old Nine Treasures Glazed Sect—a wealth surpassing kingdoms. Generational accumulation paired with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda's appraisal abilities created unimaginable riches.

A tower stood here, resembling an enlarged nine-story pagoda. Each level shimmered with opulent light, as though countless treasures glowed within.

Nine Treasures Pavilion

"This is a marketplace, right?"

Eating here?

An Zhen—dressed in an exquisite black gold-trimmed robe—resembled nobility from folklore. He admired the lavish classical decor, dark eyes reflecting pure innocence.

"Where goods are sold, meals are too." Ning Tian's yellow dress complemented her budding elegance. Beside this golden couple, the bored black-stockinged JK girl seemed out of place.

An Zhen's outfit was Ning Tian's gift.

Were these... matching sets?

His gaze flickered to her dress. Indeed similar.

No servers guided them. As the heiress, Ning Tian knew this branch—second only to headquarters—intimately. Wooden walls housed advanced soul tool elevators; this timber rivaled steel, sourced from rare flora or plant soul beasts.

Third Floor

Rosewood tables exuded faint sandalwood. Masterpiece paintings adorned walls. Every item in this private room was worth fortunes.

Opulent yet refined.

An Zhen's casual sprawl in his chair contrasted sharply with ancient nobility's poise—yet even millennia-old families bowed before the Great Equalizer: wealth.

"Feels like speaking here requires quoting poetry."

Survival was hard enough—couldn't life be simpler?

"That's excessive. An Zhen, treat this as home." The poised heiress smiled.

Attractive maids served dishes:

Darkclaw Bear paw

Millennium Purple-fin Tuna

⋯

Extravagant.

Though poor, An Zhen recognized quality—Jing Hongchen's table rivaled this.

A meal costing 10,000 gold soul coins? Could the Nine Treasures heiress spend so freely?

Would a contract follow?

"Delicious."

Overstuffed.

Beyond flavor, these ingredients were medicinal. Ning Tian sampled lightly before sipping tea—her support-class body couldn't absorb more energy. When An Zhen and Wu Feng finally stopped, a fifth remained.

"Glad you enjoyed it." Ning Tian dabbed her lips elegantly.

"Care to tour the Nine Treasures Pavilion?"

"Honored."

Treasures

Relics from earth and sea. High-tier soul tools. Millennia-old spiritual herbs. Even soul bones.

"Soul Ascension Pill."

An Zhen paused at a corner display.

A lone jade vial sat inside. The placard read: "Soul Ascension Pill - 9,999 gold soul coins."

"But aren't these pills worth tens of thousands?"

The bait appears.

No wonder Ning Tian discussed only trivialities during lunch.

"Nine Treasures Pavilion guarantees all pill quality," Ning Tian stated. "But we also broker sales. Perhaps the owner needs urgent funds?"

Even she sounded unconvinced.

She recalled An Zhen mentioning this pill's scarcity—it vanished from markets instantly. She'd placed this one personally, directing staff to steer customers away.

The low price?

Orphans couldn't afford more anyway.

Her investigation found no Xuan Shui Pills sold locally. Four-digit prices felt psychologically cheaper than five. Benefits must be doled gradually—too blatant an offer would offend a proud genius's ego. Though this one had openly craved a sugar mommy.

"Perfect! I'll take it!"

Innocent, excited eyes met Ning Tian's stunned gaze.

An Zhen produced a black card.

Miss Heiress, you miscalculated~

(End of Chapter)

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