Douluo Dalu 2: Way of Heaven

NPCs in the Virtual World were one-to-one reflections of reality. Experimenting here—even wrecking this body—had no real impact beyond sensory perception.

"When Huo Yutong used Mental Detection, I felt a deep connection. Maybe we can also use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill!" Wang Dong'er exclaimed excitedly.

"Mmm."

The girl looked like a child awaiting praise. "Plus, Brother An Zhen, I found that when I focus my Mental Detection into a single line, it can create an effect like a mental attack!"

"Exactly! We only beat that twin duo with their Fusion Skill today thanks to Huo Yutong."

Wang Dong ruffled Huo Yutong's hair.

An Zhen smiled without a word.

The boy crouched down, meeting the little one's eyes. "Huo Yutong, really?"

"Mmm..."

Her cherry lips parted slightly, luminous eyes locking onto his—which mirrored her own reflection.

The girl closed her mouth.

The girl grew nervous, tiny hands clutching her skirt.

"Huh?"

Wang Dong'er sensed something amiss.

"Huo Yutong! You tricked me earlier!" The petite beauty planted her hands on her hips.

"Sorry, Wang Dong."

The girl apologized sincerely.

"Alright, alright."

An Zhen pulled both girls together. "Everyone has their own secrets, right? Even best friends deserve private space."

Wang Dong'er calmed down.

Wait—wrong focus!

"Huh?"

Ethereal eyes narrowed suspiciously at An Zhen. "By that logic... are you hiding things from me too?"

"Mmm."

The boy nodded lightly.

"Oh! You admit it?!"

Fair-skinned hands seized An Zhen's sleeve as Wang Dong'er glared fiercely.

"Then I take it back." Since you insist.

"Ahhh!"

Wang Dong'er had never met anyone so shameless—no wonder his face felt so hard when I stepped on it!

"Shouldn't we get back to business? Like Martial Soul Fusion Skills?" An Zhen suggested.

The ethereal beauty shot him a look but nodded. I'll squeeze every secret out of him later!

An Zhen turned to Huo-girl.

"Try it here. But first, Huo Yutong... mind letting me meet the big worm and gray sphere in your mind?"

"Huh?!" The girl froze.

"!" Wang Dong stared. How does he know? And why is there a worm in Huo Yutong's head?!

"You knew, Brother An Zhen?!"

Huo Yutong's mouth fell open in shock. Not only did he know about Sister Tianmeng—he even knew about the gray sphere she couldn't identify!

"I do. Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, right? May I see her?"

"Of course."

Huo Yutong couldn't refuse An Zhen. She'd promised Sister Tianmeng secrecy, but now that he knew...

"Though it depends if Sister Tianmeng agrees."

Sister Tianmeng...

Pfft—

An Zhen barely stifled a laugh.

"Tell her I'm the Ice Empress's fiancé, and that my Bingbing hates lickworms. If she agrees, tell her not to resist the suction later."

"Mmm."

Huo Yutong logged off.

"Who's the Ice Empress?!"

The jealous girl pounced onto An Zhen's back, fair legs wrapping around his waist. "Explain!" she demanded.

"The worm's unrequited crush. The Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor—ranked on the Beast Sovereign List."

Fingertips brushed the ticklish soles of her feet, forcing Wang Dong'er down. An embrace, then a kiss—one fluid motion.

Her hands pushed against his chest, struggling... then melting into a desperate clutch, as if merging their bodies. Two figures tangled into one. Wang Dong'er loved this—feeling her lover's emotions, his secure embrace.

Much later...

The pink-blue-haired beauty lay limp against him.

"Dong'er, trust me—I'd never hurt you. When the time's right, I'll tell you everything."

"Mmm."

Gazing up with youthful but earnest love, her eyes held only An Zhen.

...

"That guy named me? Told me not to resist?!"

"Mmm."

"Hah! Does he think I'm stupid?"

"He said he's the Ice Empress's fiancé... and that she hates lickworms."

"!"

"Fine! I'll meet him! Even if he's a 100,000-year soul beast in human form—I'm a million-year Soul Beast Sovereign!"

...

Huo Yutong re-entered the Virtual World.

"Brother An Zhen, Sister Tianmeng agreed."

"Good."

After dressing Wang Dong'er and Huo Yutong in elegant gowns, and temporarily logging out Wu Feng and Ning Tian upstairs...

The surroundings morphed into an endless ocean.

With a thought, a ten-ringed golden Ice Silkworm and a gray sphere materialized from Huo Yutong. Soul rings were merely keys to unlock permissions—An Zhen only used them for plausibility, though he'd always admired their intricate beauty in his past life.

Iracle was still dormant—could he be drawn in?

Authority: All Living Things.

The lifeless gray sphere suddenly levitated.

Iracle had entered.

And it wasn't just his consciousness.

An Zhen felt an unfathomable gaze scrutinizing his surface—but probing no deeper.

"Who dares?!"

"Who claims to be Bingbing's fiancé?!"

A crisp female voice rang out.

A golden-haired beauty appeared—delicate features with a hint of baby fat, voluptuous curves barely contained by loose white-and-gold pajamas. Though fierce, she radiated lazy energy, like a drowsy shut-in.

"WTF?!"

The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm shrieked, then wheeled on the floating gray sphere. "Are you insane?! I'm already here! Still fighting me for space?!"

"Greetings, Elder."

A voice drew her attention. A young man bowed slightly to the sphere.

An Zhen needed Iracle's help.

"Not bad."

The languid golden-haired beauty lifted her chin haughtily, arms crossed beneath her "proud assets." "So you've heard of my Tianm—"

"You know me?"

A hoarse voice emanated from the gray sphere.

"Plague of the Dead. Death Spirit Holy Mage. Elder Iracle—your reputation precedes you."

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm: !

How does he know this gray ball?!

And those titles—'Plague'? 'Holy Mage'?!

Wait—is he ignoring ME?!

Wang Dong pulled Huo Yutong aside to watch.

"Plague of the Dead..."

The gray sphere murmured. "I... remember now."

"I do not belong to this world. At death, my soul tore through space—this wisp of divine sense arrived here."

Though the sphere didn't move, Huo Yutong felt its gaze upon her.

"When that giant worm fused with this girl, the energy surge drew me in."

"So that's how..." Tianmeng muttered.

"Elder," An Zhen interjected. "My Martial Soul—this world's power system—is itself a world. It absorbs external energy. Why not reside within it? My Martial Soul can nourish your divine sense."

"Tch. Jealous, boy?"

"For the health of your divine sense."

The sphere quivered faintly. "Your soul... this pocket world's rank is profound. I glean nothing from it, yet the world itself is strangely weak."

"Is scanning strangers upon meeting appropriate?"

An Zhen sighed in relief—his world could defend against a wisp of divine sense. Such power disdained lies.

He'd expected Iracle's probe; the "Plague of the Dead" was no kindly grandpa. Even the Holy Spirit Cult's leader wouldn't qualify as his lackey.

"Habit."

"Your thoughts on my proposal?"

"Agreed. I've no wish to 'bully a little girl,' as you imply. Besides..." A dry chuckle. "...I'm already here. You felt my power, didn't you?"

"Hard to believe. Previously, this ability only drew consciousness."

"Divine sense is will—where it goes, power follows. Were this not a mere wisp... consequences would be unpredictable."

"I am enlightened."

An Zhen stated no purpose.

Iracle asked no why.

"Hey! I'm right here!"

Tianmeng bristled. Though he'd removed the gray sphere, she—a million-year Soul Beast—was being ignored!

"Silence, pest!" Iracle disliked noisy insects.

"Ah."

Huo Yutong felt the gaze shift to her.

"Girl, once my divine sense recovers, I shall teach you. Repayment for lodging in your mind."

"Huh? Oh! Th-thank you, Elder." Huo Yutong mimicked An Zhen's address.

An Zhen eyed the fuming golden-haired beauty—her "proud assets" heaving beneath loose pajamas.

"Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. Fell into an ice crevice as a child. Ate a 100,000-year Beast Sovereign. Hunted by natural predators. Fled to sea, then land. Captured by Star Dou Forest as a blood bag. Became the first true million-year Soul Beast since the Dragon God's fall—finally able to fight evenly with 100,000-year soul beasts. Secretly loves her species' natural enemy: the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor." An Zhen recited her history like a report.

"H-How do you know all that?!"

The languid, curvaceous beauty gaped.

"You're one of Star Dou Forest's spies!" Only explanation!

"Heh."

"Alright, you're dismissed."

Suddenly, Tianmeng seemed useless beyond satisfying his curiosity.

Hah. Who'd lust after a worm?

(End of Chapter)