Douluo Continent: Starting with a Tom Cat

Shen An had no experience in tying hairpins for girls, so he could only clumsily put them on, which made Zhu Zhuqing's hair a bit messy.

Zhu Zhuqing's originally aloof and incomparable face now appeared somewhat adorable after Shen An's antics.

High颜值 (good looks) means you look good no matter what.

"You made it look awful," Zhu Zhuqing said with disdain.

"But I think it looks really good. If you don't like it, Zhu Qing, I'll take it off for her." Shen An reached out to pick it off, completely oblivious to the coquettish tone in Zhu Zhu Qing's words.

"Idiot!" Zhu Zhuqing thought to herself, annoyed.

She slipped away without leaving a trace, saying, "Fine, I'll just wear it. My hair will be a mess again if I take it off."

"Women, they say one thing but mean another." Tom, standing to the side, watched as Zhu Zhuqing, who was being hypocritical, kept touching the hairpin in her hair along the way.

Mr. Li's teahouse still had a lot of tea leaves and raw materials. While shopping, Shen An discovered that Soto City sold sugar, milk, and various kinds of jams.

Shen An suddenly had a whimsical idea. Opening a teahouse would be too traditional and too ordinary. In his previous life, he had run a milk tea shop and had quite a bit of experience in making milk tea.

If you simply imitate the cat, even though Douluo Continent doesn't have much technology or ruthless skills, you can still make it somewhat similar.

Shen An felt guilty, thinking, "Milk tea is also tea, right?"

After a shopping spree, Shen An returned to his shop and piled all the items he had bought into the lobby.

"Zhuqing, Tom, we're finally home!"

"Home," Zhu Zhuqing murmured to herself, her eyes softening and shining. "I really like this word."

"Tom, Zhuqing, don't just stand there, let's set everything up together. I'm planning to turn this place into a chic teahouse," Shen An commanded without any hesitation.

Tom said that he would listen to his master, and immediately rolled up his sleeves and started working.

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes, but still stood up to help. And sure enough, after Zhu Zhuqing arranged the simple vases and decorations, the whole room looked exceptionally stylish.

Upon seeing this, Tom pulled out a set of paper and pens from somewhere, put on a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and began writing and drawing on the paper while occasionally carefully observing his surroundings.

Finally, an extremely well-designed interior design was created.

“You can always trust Emperor Tang.” Shen An was overjoyed when he saw the blueprint. The blueprint looked amazing. He and Zhu Zhuqing immediately arranged the tables, chairs, murals and other items according to the blueprint.

After a flurry of activity, a retro-style teahouse was born.

The plaque outside the teahouse had been taken down by Shen An, who had commissioned a custom plaque that read "Tom's Teahouse" on his shopping trip.

After Shen An agreed to pay more, the plaque maker said he would expedite the process and deliver it the next day.

This teahouse is a two-story duplex. Just as Mr. Li said, people can also live upstairs. The overall height is about seven or eight meters, with the first floor occupying about four meters.

Entering from the teahouse entrance, the passageway is actually quite large, with tables, chairs, and benches scattered throughout the hall according to Tom's design, creating a harmonious and beautiful space.

At the end of the road is the bar. To the left of the bar is a small door leading to a storage room where various raw materials can be stored. The kitchen and the storage room are adjacent. To the right of the bar is a staircase leading upstairs.

The upstairs area has been cleaned up, but the beds and furniture haven't been laid out yet.

"Tom, I remember you can cook, right? Well then, thank you for your hard work today." Shen An looked at Tom with a mischievous grin, he really wanted to try Tom's cooking.

Tom was completely shocked. How could he be ordered around so smoothly? He suddenly realized that he could no longer be a lazy house cat.

"Okay, don't be reluctant anymore. I'll buy you more dried fish and your favorite milk from now on, okay?"

That's more like it. Tom nodded in satisfaction after hearing about the reward and walked briskly to the kitchen.

After Zhu Zhuqing saw that there was nothing else to do, she sat down to meditate, as cultivation was very important to her.

Seeing this, Shen An didn't disturb them. Instead, he ran upstairs. Although the shop was set up, their own living quarters hadn't been tidied up yet.

Shen An ran around upstairs by himself and quickly cleaned all three rooms, laying out brand new, clean bedding.

Shen An filled Tom's room with snacks and milk, and placed various small toys on Zhu Zhuqing's bedside table.

Looking at his masterpiece, although it wasn't as good as Tom's design, Shen An was already very satisfied.

That's more like it. This is what a home should feel like. After pouring his heart and soul into this teahouse, Shen Anfang felt a sense of belonging and peace. He would be living here from now on.

Chapter 17 Soul Ring Granting, Level Up!

After Shen An finished cleaning, he glanced at his system panel and found that it had actually risen to over 5000.

That's strange. Why is it rising so fast?

With over five thousand coins, Shen An hesitated between opening the box and not opening it, as the joy of unpacking was simply too captivating.

Ding! The system has detected that the host's soul power has reached level 10 and can be granted a soul ring. In order to take care of the new host, the system has specially launched a limited-time event.

You can exchange 5000 [Fame Points] for your first Soul Ring (limited to one time only). Do you agree?

Huh? Is that so? But I really love the thrill of opening blind boxes, Shen An thought to herself, conflicted.

Shen Anxin had a thought: what's the difference between the soul rings the system gave him and the ones he acquired himself?

Ding! The system has bestowed upon you a martial soul that is most suitable for your host. The lifespan of the soul ring depends on the maximum lifespan that your host can withstand, and its quality is equal to that of a divinely bestowed soul ring.

"Damn! The conditions are already so good, what more could you want? Let's get a new one!"

Host, please pay attention, the spirit ring bestowal process has begun!

A seven-colored light appeared out of nowhere and enveloped Shen An. Shen An felt an incomparably pure and vast, seemingly endless energy rushing towards him and surging into his body.

The influx of energy did not cause Shen An any pain; instead, it made him feel as if he were in a warm ocean, with pure energy constantly filling his foundation. His soul power instantly broke through its original limits and continued to rise.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass appeared on its own, its blade suspended in the air. First, a white halo appeared beside it, gradually radiating a yellow glow until it turned bright yellow.

But this was far from the limit. Within the bright yellow halo, a faint purple shimmered, and the soul ring took shape!

At the same time, Shen An seemed to hear a crisp shattering sound. Pure soul power flowed rapidly within his body, like a spring breeze, giving his entire body an even stronger vitality.

Level 11, Level 12, Level 13, Level 14, just a hair's breadth away from reaching Level 15.

Shen An opened his eyes again, a sharp glint flashing in them; this version update was too powerful.

He has now transformed from a Soul Seller into a true Soul Master, and a powerful force fills his body.

This powerful sense of comfort was something Shen An had never experienced before. Shen An now felt unusually confident, and he even wanted to have a match with Zhu Zhuqing to see his own level. In other words, he had become arrogant.

Holding the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass in his hand, Shen An felt an intense excitement that he couldn't quite express.

He wanted to share this with Zhu Zhuqing, but the fact that the system granted him a soul ring was too incredible to tell anyone.

Shen An looked at the wooden walls around him with a hint of regret. What a pity. If only we were in the wild, with my current condition, I could easily clear all the weeds within a ten-mile radius.

Just as Shen An was about to grip his sword and satisfy his dream of becoming a swordsman, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Come down for dinner!" It was Zhu Zhuqing's voice.

Shen An could only suppress his urge to vent, retract his martial spirit, and run downstairs.

Four dishes were already laid out on the table on the first floor, and Zhu Zhuqing had already taken her seat. At this moment, Tom, dressed in a tuxedo with a red bow tie around his neck, walked over with an elegant cat-like gait, carrying a bowl of fish soup.

Tom elegantly placed the fish soup in the center of the table, then set up an exquisite tray with three white candles on it, and cleverly took out a transparent vase filled with vibrant roses.

"Candlelight dinner, all done!" Tom clapped his hands, looking at Shen An expectantly, waiting for Shen An to praise him.

······

Shen An looked at the four dishes and one soup on the table, then glanced at Tom, and couldn't help but twitch his lips. Good heavens, sweet and sour carp, boiled fish, squirrel mandarin fish, steamed sea bass, plus a serving of crucian carp soup.

"Tom is amazing, it looks delicious," Shen An praised, patting Tom's head.

If you don't cook for yourself, you should be grateful to have something to eat. Why be picky? Besides, isn't it nice to have a whole fish feast?

Shen An kept a low profile, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing's expression out of the corner of his eye. He didn't care about himself, but he was worried that the girl wouldn't be able to accept it. He found that Zhu Zhuqing was already seated, holding a fork in one hand and chopsticks in the other. Her originally cold expression turned into one of eager anticipation.

Very good, it seems Zhu Qing is very satisfied. She's a girl who loves fish.

Shen An gave a fair assessment.

Shen An sat in the chair between Tom and Zhu Zhuqing, a seat that Tom had specially reserved for him.

"Then let's eat, everyone, don't be shy."

With a critical eye, Shen An ladled out a small half bowl of crucian carp soup with a large spoon. The milky white color of the crucian carp soup was so beautiful that it looked like a work of art, making it hard to believe that it was food.

Shen An scooped up another spoonful, pursed his lips slightly, and the delicious flavor exploded in his mouth.

Holy crap! A fresh and pure flavor burst forth on Shen An's taste buds.

First it spread to the tip of the tongue, then to the root of the tongue, and finally to the esophagus and stomach. A delicious flavor that brought the ultimate pleasure to the heart burst forth, so delicious that Shen An almost swallowed his tongue as well.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing was completely different from her usual cold demeanor. She fully utilized the characteristics of an agility-type Soul Master, moving nimbly and elegantly as she picked up food from the table, a look of enjoyment on her face.

Tom watched the two of them wolf down the food he had prepared, feeling both proud and...disappointed.

This cat painstakingly prepared a candlelight dinner, and you all didn't even notice the candlelight and roses, only focusing on the word "dinner," huh?

Tom couldn't help but shake the cat's head. Two unromantic creatures, they deserve to stay single forever.

Meow!~

Tom yelled, "These two are eating way too fast! Leave some for this cat!"

Upon hearing the meow, Shen An and Zhu Zhuqing simultaneously picked up the same piece of fish, exchanged a glance, and then released it at the same time.

Finally, they both handed the fish they were holding to Tom's small bowl, and their chopsticks clinked together slightly, holding each other for a short while without breaking apart.

Shen An continued eating as if nothing had happened; it was so delicious that she couldn't stop.

Unlike Shen An, girls are always more sensitive. Zhu Zhuqing stared at the chopsticks in front of her, which were covered in the saliva of the two of them, wondering whether she should eat them or not.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Shen An, who was eating heartily, and thought to herself, "He doesn't care at all, so why am I being so dramatic?"

The food on the table was quickly devoured, and Shen An lay comfortably on the bed, patting his bulging belly. It felt so good.

Tom's belly swelled up high again, round and plump. Shen An patted Tom and said, "Tom, from now on, you'll be in charge of the family's meals. I feel at ease with you here."

"Meow~"

Zhu Zhuqing gently wiped her mouth with a napkin. Her originally flat stomach was slightly bulging, but her high chest made her clothes stand up high, so no one could see that her figure had changed.

The desire to kidnap Tom has been rekindled. How can I become Tom's owner while Tom already has a male owner?

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly stole a glance at Shen An, seemingly lost in thought.

"By the way, Zhuqing, I obtained a spirit ring. Can we spar a bit after we rest for a while?"

Chapter 18 Soul skills show their power

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. Shen An had obtained a soul ring? When did this happen? She had only been gone for half a day.

"Okay, after you rest for a while, we'll go and have a spar," Zhu Zhuqing agreed.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned, her beautiful eyebrows furrowing. "You didn't just randomly hunt down a ten-year-old soul beast, did you?" Her tone carried a hint of anger.

"No, no, no, this was just good luck. We happened to run into a heavily injured soul beast," Shen An said, but he was also unsure of himself, wondering if this reason was too perfunctory.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's eyebrows furrowed. "You're hiding something from me," she said, before letting out a cold snort. She thought to herself, "You're in trouble during the sparring session. I'll make sure you get a black eye and a swollen face."

Don't try to hide anything from a woman. If you're going to hide it, do it thoroughly, otherwise the consequences of her finding out will be quite serious. Girls aren't very shrewd.

Shen An's attempt to conceal the truth was clearly incomplete, even clumsy, a fact he himself was aware of.

-

On a grassy field outside Soto City, Shen An stood with his sword in hand, Zhu Zhuqing stood gracefully with her martial spirit in her body, and the audience was a cat.

Shen An took a deep breath. This was the first time he had ever fought with a weapon. "Zhu Qing, be careful. Don't be careless."

A strange feeling flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's mind. "Your soul power is so much lower than mine, yet you still want me to be careful. And your sword-holding posture is so improper, I could take on ten of you!"

Shen An channeled his soul power into his body, quickly drew his sword and slashed straight at Zhu Zhuqing, a streak of cyan sword energy spreading outwards.

Something's wrong! Such sharp sword energy, I can't block it! Even before the sword energy arrived, Zhu Zhuqing already felt an extremely sharp aura coming towards her.

A yellow spirit ring appeared on her body. Her first spirit skill, Netherworld Thrust, allowed her to dodge the attack like a ghostly cat.

Once the sword energy was unleashed, it could not be withdrawn. A large tree twenty meters away was severed in half and fell heavily to the ground with a mournful roar.

Zhu Zhuqing was shocked. How could this be? He was only a dozen or so levels high, yet she knew she could never do something like this.

Tom's eyes widened to a meter in apprehension as he watched from the side, but then his two blue sleeves became incredibly long and thin, pulling his bulging eyes back inside.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing narrowed her eyes slightly and began to look at Shen An seriously. Taking advantage of the fact that the power of the Netherworld Thrust had not yet dissipated, she approached Shen An with ghostly speed.

Since your sword energy is so strong, I will not confront you head-on. Once I get close, with my speed and agility, you will surely be defeated!