Wang Rui opened his eyes and felt like the dormitory in front of him was shaking violently. He instinctively raised a hand to press between his brows.
His human cultivation was still too weak.
Even though his spiritual power was sufficient to project his consciousness into the puppet Di Feng, his soul power in human form was far from enough to support it.
"You used something like divine descent?" Electrolux asked with great interest. "It's a bit like our world's Divine Descent Technique... A god-favored person prays to a deity, and the god projects part of their consciousness and power down. But you're not a god… and this doesn't quite resemble necromancy either."
"Pretty much," Wang Rui said wearily.
He briefly explained his puppet creation method to Electrolux, who clicked his tongue in amazement. "This likely surpasses the domain of alchemical puppets. The embryo you used as a base had just lost its vitality, but embryos themselves are neither truly alive nor dead. You used so much Gold of Living Beings and dragon vein blood—it's no surprise the corpse came back to life. That body can even grow, and it's no longer undead, essentially indistinguishable from a living person."
Then the old man's tone turned mischievous. "So... can your puppet body have children?"
Wang Rui: "…"
Electrolux nodded knowingly. "That reaction means yes. So you could self-reproduce, give birth to your own—"
"No, I cannot!"
After locking Electrolux's "research-oriented discussion" into the depths of his mental sea, Wang Rui felt refreshed. He turned to the side and stretched under the covers.
Then he began to ponder a very serious question:Where should he take Huo Yuqing for fun?
Was this a date? Could it be considered one?
When was the last time he went out to play with another human?
When Di Feng was active on the continent, he spent most of his time inspecting industries and reinforcing the Beast Sect's external framework and rules. The last time he actually went out with a human… was 15,000 years ago—with Wang Rui.
No helping it. As a life-long bachelor, his only reference for dating was his exasperating younger sister.
But Wang Rui wasn't even a useful reference. Her idea of fun was reading novels, manga, watching anime and movies. Even when she went out, it was to visit otaku shops, bookstores, and anime conventions. Even after starting work, she was still the same—buying character pins and anime-themed merch for hundreds without blinking.
Speaking of which, in the other world, Miss Qiu also got into commissioning fan art under Wang Rui's influence. Unfortunately, the Huo Yuhao in her memory looked nothing like the characters from anime, so most artists assumed she was creating an OC… Not that the gap between real and fictional forms could get much bigger than here.
Wait a minute… where did the orange cat get the money to commission art? Did she use his inheritance?
Back in Douluo Continent, there weren't even any anime shops to visit.
This world... those with the means to pursue culture and entertainment were busy cultivating. Those without such ambitions were struggling to survive.
The needs of ordinary people were thoroughly ignored, which stunted productivity growth—soul masters with power didn't care about farming. Combined with the slow spread of information, there was no soil for cultural or spiritual needs to take root.
If he could produce a work widely recognized across the continent and run it like anime IPs in his past life—selling mystery boxes, blind-draw figurines of popular characters—it would surely make a fortune.
Wait. Blind boxes.
A flash of inspiration struck him. Wang Rui sat bolt upright and grabbed hold of that thought.
The blind box model was fascinating.
People are thrilled when they get rare items. Disappointed when they get repeats. With enough repeats, frustration builds—an uncontrollable negative emotion.
And it can be subtly directed at a target.
Blind box buyers get addicted. Negative emotions accumulate. A cycle forms.
And thanks to Shrek's tireless promotion, is there any IP more famous on the continent than Douluo Dalu?
Even after 10,000 years, the forgetful people of Douluo still hadn't forgotten the legend of Sea God Tang San.
Humans deconstruct their myths. They criticize saints and question history. Back in Wang Rui's homeland, some delighted in applying conspiracy theories to historical figures, loving scandalous "alternative histories"—the wilder the better.
But here? Ten thousand years later, and no one had said anything negative about Tang San.
Any real saint would eventually be dragged down and critiqued. Tang San certainly had skeletons in the closet. Shrek Academy's "history lessons" surely played a role in preserving his myth.
Wang Rui was certain that Tang San needed faith.
The Sea God gained divinity by absorbing the faith of millions of sea soul beasts and sea soul masters. When Tang San inherited that position, he too relied on faith to ascend. His divinity likely still depended heavily on belief.
But Tang San's foundation had shifted—no longer focused on sea soul masters and beasts, but the human race of Douluo Continent.
And soul beast faith, being instinctual and unrefined, could never compare to human belief.
Besides… faith from sea soul beasts was directed at the Sea God role. Even a pig, if it became the vessel for the Sea God's divinity, would receive that faith.
Tang San hadn't even tried to maintain the faith of the sea soul beasts.
If Wang Rui wanted to undermine Tang San's foundation through faith, he'd have to start with humans.
But openly spreading negative information about Tang San would provoke backlash from Sea-God-controlled factions like the Hao Tian Sect and Shrek Academy.
Exposing himself early for an uncertain result would be foolish.
But… what if Tang San appeared as the "Thank you for playing" junk prize in Douluo-themed blind boxes?
After hyping up the product, imagine Tang San standing between desperate players and the jackpot they'd hoped for?
Wouldn't that plant the seeds of discontent?
Could small human annoyances and frustrations act as an invisible poison? A swarm of ants gnawing at a dam?
Could such covert erosion shake the faith-based foundation of the Sea God?
It was worth a try. Even if it failed, if managed well, the Beast Sect could still make a fortune.
The problem was—Wang Rui lacked manpower!
He'd already sent all the smart soul beasts and human sympathizers capable of crafting soul tools to help build the new city. Making trendy blind box figurines would need human aesthetics… The Beast Sect was understaffed!
If only some willing humans would defect to his side… Wang Rui daydreamed for a while, then sighed and shoved this half-baked plan onto his ever-growing project list.
Slumped on the bed like a puddle of cat, Wang Rui didn't yet realize—this was the Star Dou Rebirth timeline. When a cat wants something, the cat gets it.
He scratched his head over date ideas for a bit longer before loud noises erupted in the hallway. He heard familiar voices.
Gan Wen and Wang Dong were arguing—again. Those two constantly bickered like cat and dog. (Though you really shouldn't call your sister a dog.) Huo Yuqing was trying and failing to break up the fight, which only made things worse.
Two others followed behind—Bai Chenxiang and Ma Xiaotao. Great, they'd already bonded quickly. The plan was proceeding smoothly.
There was another set of nearly inaudible footsteps—light and rhythmical, like the wind.
Jiang Lan, the mysterious inner court student.
That purple-haired girl was beautiful, composed, rarely showing emotion. Like a marble statue, without joy or sorrow. Her mystery and elusiveness put Wang Rui on alert—he could tell she was drawn to Wang Dong, but… was this part of Tang San's plan?
He sat up and stared at the dorm door.
The next moment, Wang Dong and Gan Wen barged in, dragging each other.
"He's trying to steal my soul bone!"They shouted in unison.
The two quarreling roommates glared at each other, voices rising.
"You're a dark-type soul master—why do you even want a light-type soul bone? Aren't you worried about backlash?"
"Your martial soul has nothing to do with dragons—why do you want a dragon soul bone? Don't cry if your martial soul gets contaminated by dragon blood!"
Huo Yuqing pulled them apart and gave Wang Rui a helpless look before sitting on his bed with a sigh.
Ma Xiaotao, Bai Chenxiang, and Jiang Lan followed in.
Nobody thought it was strange that a cramped double dorm now contained 1.5 men and 5.5 women.
"Let's get introductions over with. This is Chen Xiang, a new inner court student. Remember to call her Senior Sister," Ma Xiaotao said, totally at home as she perched on the only desk, one leg up and crossed over the other.
"Chen Xiang, agility-type soul master, level 66. Student of the inner court soul tool department." The ash-brown-haired girl greeted Wang Rui, then turned to Ma Xiaotao and teased, "You've gotten cozy with the outer court boys, huh, Xiao Tao?"
"Don't underestimate him—this guy's impressive," Ma Xiaotao said, pulling two chairs over and inviting Jiang Lan and Chen Xiang to sit.
Chen Xiang tilted her head and looked at Wang Rui with calm curiosity, as if she truly didn't recognize the red-haired junior.
Tsk tsk. What a seasoned actor. Unlike those freshly transformed ten-thousand-year soul beasts with their clueless expressions. Wang Rui silently praised.
And Bai Chenxiang had pulled off her human transformation nicely. After taking the Red String Amorous Heart plant and refining it into a pill, all traces of beast aura were gone.
She'd followed the fierce beast transformation path, so she still bore slight animal traits—a small tuft of downy feathers hidden in her ash-brown hair, disguised by a decorative hair clip.
Wang Rui had never seen her younger form, but now, watching this delicate and airy girl, it was easy to understand why Ma Hongjun, who had known three stunning Shrek beauties, still fell for Bai Chenxiang.
"We ran into Sister Xiao Tao, Jiang Lan, and Chen Xiang at the Treasure Pavilion and came here together," Huo Yuqing said.
She had no idea this senior was actually the swallow beast from Wang Rui's side. After chatting with Chen Xiang about soul tools, she'd found her ideas fascinating and the two grew close quickly.
Meanwhile, Wang Dong and Gan Wen were still bickering over whose dirty food box had been left in the dorm. Jiang Lan expressionlessly watched them.
Ma Xiaotao, very familiar with her, noticed Jiang Lan's mouth curl upward—by maybe a pixel.
She was happy.
Which made Ma Xiaotao very unhappy with Wang Dong.
That brat, with his pretty face and top-tier martial soul, had Jiang Lan swooning. She'd been distracted by him all vacation. He was only a twelve-year-old Soul Elder—not exactly impressive. His personality wasn't great either—immature as heck.
Ma Xiaotao, who fancied strong, mature men, couldn't fathom why Jiang Lan liked a junior weaker and younger than herself.
It was like an "onee-san" fan failing to understand the appeal of "loli" types.
She had asked before.
What had Jiang Lan said?
They'd been walking a rural path, investigating the purple-black wildfire incident from ten years prior. The dappled shadows of the trees fell across Jiang Lan's shoulders when she turned and said something that pierced Ma Xiaotao deeply.
"Wang Dong is… dissonant. Incomplete. Twisted."
The purple-haired girl tilted her head.
In that moment, her face didn't look like Jiang Lan's. There was something uncannily familiar—like someone Ma Xiaotao once knew, but couldn't name. The fleeting thought sent chills down her spine.
Ma Xiaotao asked if Wang Dong didn't seem fine—always cheerful, carefree. He got along well with Wang Rui, often played with other first-years, shared snacks, and acted like everyone's dad.
Why call someone like that "twisted"?
As if sensing her doubt, Jiang Lan softly said,"I can tell. He's the same as me. I'm trapped. I'm trapped. I'm trapped…"
She repeated it mechanically, her eyes distant, as if caught in a strange emotional loop or suffering some unseen affliction. Ma Xiaotao panicked, tried desperately to snap her out of it, and finally Jiang Lan shook off her broken-soul-tool state.
Ma Xiaotao vaguely recalled teachers saying Jiang Lan had suffered greatly. She dared not ask further and bullied Xu Sanshi, who had witnessed it, into silence.
Sigh, love is love, she thought, resigning herself like a tired father. She pinched her nose and accepted this son-in-law.
After all, Jiang Lan was strong. Even if Wang Dong bullied her, he'd lose.
Meanwhile, Wang Rui had figured out the source of their argument and stared at the two.
"So, you both want the Golden Radiance Soul Bone, and you argued all the way here, only to come back and ask me for money?" He glared at Gan Wen, then at Wang Dong, who flinched under his stare. "What about you?"
"Who carries 10 million gold soul coins around?" Wang Dong cried. "My card limit isn't high enough—I need to contact my family too!"
"Have either of you considered whether the soul bone's still there? Maybe someone else bought it?" Wang Rui smiled coldly.
The two arguing teens glanced at each other, cold sweat forming on their temples.
"Uhh... no way, right? We asked the seller to hold it," Gan Wen said, still naively optimistic.
"It's really expensive. Most people can't afford a soul bone over a million gold soul coins," Wang Dong added.
Wang Rui looked at Ma Xiaotao and Bai Chenxiang. Bai Chenxiang shook her head slightly and subtly shifted her gaze toward Jiang Lan.
"I bought it," Jiang Lan raised her hand.
Everyone else:Instantly died inside.
(End of Chapter)