Chapter 1: HuoYu Tong
Divine Realm.
"Damnable Destroyer God!"
A blue-haired man gripping a golden trident muttered darkly. He was, after all, the leader appointed by the God of Good and God of Evil.
After a moment, his expression eased.
Fortunately, his preparations left behind in the Douluo Continent ensured everything remained under his control.
...
"Grandpa, why is a girl dressing as a boy called 'heroic,' but a boy dressing as a girl gets called 'effeminate'?"
"Such judgments depend on one's actions. A man disguised as a woman to assassinate a lustful enemy is still a hero."
"So if girls dressing as boys can live in boys' dorms, could a boy dressing as a girl—without doing anything else—live in a girls' dorm?"
Mu En: "..."
By the entrance of the white dormitory building, an elderly man in coarse gray robes reclined in a chair, his face deeply lined with age. Beside him stood a delicate-looking youth with jet-black hair and eyes, two stray locks sticking up unruly. The boy peeled a banana with pale fingers.
"If you wish to be expelled, feel free to try," a hoarse voice replied, tinged with amusement.
"No thanks! I was joking—I paid ten gold soul coins for this." The boy's fair face twisted in genuine pain.
An Zhen truly regretted the expense.
Though Shrek Academy hadn't raised tuition in ten thousand years—remarkably fair, given its growth from a village to a powerhouse—the fee remained a heavy burden for an orphaned infiltrator like him.
Transmigrator. Orphan.
Discovered at age six for his innate full soul power, he'd been adopted by the Hongchen family of the Sun Moon Empire. At ten, he'd petitioned his foster grandfather, Jing Hongchen, to study at Shrek. After meticulous arrangements, he'd arrived with a recommendation letter from a Duke of the Dou Ling Empire.
Orphans owned little.
The Duke offered some funds, but it wasn't enough.
Crucially: tuition was nonrefundable.
"Grandpa, want a banana? Can you chew it?" An Zhen pushed the peeled fruit into the old man's skeletal hand. The cheerful boy and resigned elder basked in the sun like grandfather and grandson.
"This old man isn't a dorm supervisor."
Trapped into accepting the fruit, the frail Mu En sighed.
"Don't say that! Are you accusing me of bribery? Can't I just respect elders and cherish youth?"
What boy wouldn't be curious about the girls' dorm?
As noon approached, the pair lounged peacefully in the rare warm sunlight. Passing students paid them no mind, assuming they were faculty relatives.
"Excuse me, Elder. I'm a new student here for dorm check-in. Do you need my admission badge?"
A soft, youthful voice spoke with deep respect.
Without lifting his head, Mu En extended a trembling right hand. His raspy voice was low. "Badge and dorm key."
Swish—
Two objects sailed through the air in a graceful arc before landing squarely on An Zhen's peacefully sleeping face.
"Mmm~"
A drowsy murmur escaped him as bleary eyes blinked open. The boy fumbled for the items that had disturbed his nap.
A badge and a key?
"Room 108?"
An Zhen read the number engraved on the key aloud.
"Youngsters shouldn't laze around like this old bag of bones," Mu En croaked, a hint of grandfatherly warmth in his tone.
"Lack of sleep stunts growth," the boy declared righteously. At nearly 160 cm tall for eleven, this wasn't laziness—it was health preservation.
"Mn."
The elder nodded faintly and closed his dim eyes.
"..."
Fine. Who told me to respect elders?
An Zhen rose reluctantly.
With a light push on the lounge chair, space rippled—and the two-seater vanished.
"Huh?"
An Zhen's gaze settled on the small figure before him. His pupils dilated.
Standing barely 140 cm tall—stunted even on this early-developing continent—the child wore faded but clean clothes. Sapphire-blue hair brushed their ears, framing a pale, lovely face with delicate brows.
But their eyes captivated: clear as crystal, deep as autumn lakes, and bright as clustered stars.
Where did this little one come from?
"Beautiful eyes," An Zhen praised honestly, not looking away.
"Th... thank you."
The child ducked their head shyly, slender fingers twisting a plain hem.
"I'm An Zhen. A new student this year."
"Huo... Huoyu Tong." The voice was soft as a mosquito's buzz. Summoning courage, the fate-touched youth lifted their head. Star-bright eyes met An Zhen's warm black ones—then darted away. "I'm Huoyu Tong. Also new."
"Come with me."
Grabbing the thin wrist, An Zhen headed straight for the first-floor dorms.
Yah!
Startled, Huoyu Tong froze, letting themself be led like a doll.
After they left, a scholarly middle-aged man materialized silently behind Mu En. He bowed respectfully. "Teacher."
"I'd hoped to soak in youthful energy, yet I got this lazy rascal instead." Despite his words, Mu En's eyes crinkled affectionately—as if discussing a beloved grandson.
"An Zhen. Orphan. Eleven years old. Rank-23 Great Soul Master. Martial Soul: 'World.' Possesses potent emotional influence—even knowing his ability, one lowers their guard against his enthusiasm."
"You overthink things, Shao Zhe."
Mu En shook his head gently. "Don't measure children by adult cynicism. Humans are social creatures. Why resist the world's warmth?"
"Ah."
The man flushed. "This student merely found the boy... unusual."
...
The key turned in the lock.
An Zhen caught Huoyu Tong's wrist before they could enter. Under the youth's puzzled stare, he waved a hand. A gust scattered stale air, driving dust into a corner.
"These rooms sat empty too long. Wait here—I'll handle it."
Huoyu Tong watched, awestruck, as the gale swept every speck into a pile.
Windows flew open. Fresh air rushed in.
"Ordinary students get such awful housing."
An Zhen scowled.
The dorm spanned barely ten square meters. No private bath. Worse than my university digs—and those had AC! This was the continent's top academy; every entrant was a genius elsewhere.
Tch. Flender's stinginess lives on.
"Thank you, Brother An Zhen."
Huoyu Tong bowed gratefully.
"Don't mention it." An Zhen waved it off—a trivial effort. "But my water control's still weak. You'll need to clean the rest yourself."
"You can control water too? Your Martial Soul is amazing, Brother An Zhen!" The blue-haired youth (dressed as a boy) glowed with sincere admiration. Sensing kindness, their earlier shyness eased into closeness. "My Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes. What's yours?"
"'World.'"
Modulation Mode.
An Zhen added silently.
The kind that belonged in certain genres.
(End of Chapter)