Chapter 30: Miracles from Single Draws

Ding! "Detected that your existence has been remembered by one of Douluo's protagonists. Fame value +1000."

Ding! "Detected that your existence has been etched into the heart of Douluo's fated protagonist. Fame value +5000."

Shen An glanced at the faint text displayed on his system panel, his heart involuntarily exclaiming, What the heck?!

Clearly, the "protagonist" was Xiao Wu, and the "fated protagonist" was Tang San. Shen An chuckled inwardly. They had come to his shop demanding milk tea, resorted to threats when refused, and then escalated to violence when that didn't work.

In the end, they attracted the city patrol, and despite being in the wrong, they now seemed to harbor a grudge against him. What was Tang San planning?

Shen An shook his head lightly and glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside him. Given how she had stood by him against those two earlier, there might be friction between her and them in the future at the academy.

What should I do? Shen An mused. He recalled how online readers in his past life had often criticized Tang San's personality. Perhaps it was best to detach Zhu Zhuqing from the Shrek gang entirely.

Initially, Shen An hadn't planned to get involved with the main cast. But with Zhu Zhuqing in the mix, avoiding them seemed impossible now.

Oh well, it's not like things will escalate to life-threatening situations just because of some tension, Shen An concluded.

"Shen An, why did things almost turn into a fight with those two?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"Nothing much. Just a couple of nutcases. But Zhuqing, if you end up being their classmate, don't go out of your way to antagonize them," Shen An replied dismissively. He didn't want her to sever ties because of him, especially since he wouldn't be at Shrek Academy to look out for her.

"Okay. Then, why are you taking the day off tomorrow?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, seemingly guessing the answer but still wanting to hear it from him.

"Because you're going to the academy to enroll, of course. Tom and I will go with you!" Shen An answered without hesitation.

Zhu Zhuqing turned her face away, hiding her expression. A smile bloomed on her otherwise frosty face, her brows arching into crescent moons.

Tom observed her and fell into contemplation again. It seems my future mistress has fallen. But why?

Could this be the pinnacle of flirting—winning a heart through the most genuine simplicity? Tom thought suspiciously, casting a side glance at Shen An. My seemingly innocent owner, so skilled!

Of course, Tom was overthinking. Shen An was merely treating Zhu Zhuqing as a friend. Yet the care and warmth she felt were precisely what she had always longed for but never received.

As for Tang San and Xiao Wu, Shen An stopped dwelling on them. If a day came when they truly clashed, Shen An wouldn't hesitate to teach them a lesson with his sword.

In the meantime, his fame value had just crossed 100,000, unlocking his second soul ring.

That night, as the fame value on his system interface ticked upward, it finally reached 100,000.

Shen An's spirits soared, and he immediately commanded, "System, grant me the soul ring!"

The now-familiar rainbow light enveloped Shen An, an endless surge of pure energy cascading over him.

As the energy poured in, a white soul ring materialized, quickly turning bright yellow. The yellow deepened to a radiant purple.

Shen An felt his body brimming with energy, even as pain surged through his limbs. He gritted his teeth, halting the absorption as soon as his limits were reached.

Finally...

The second soul ring, a formidable 5,000 years, was born. Power radiated through Shen An, igniting every fiber of his being.

Shen An examined himself in the mirror. His reflection had changed—his height now reaching around 178 cm, and his features exuding grace and strength. His sharp, starry eyes gleamed with piercing determination.

The second soul skill was the icing on the cake.

"Sword Control (Growth-type): Enables telekinetic manipulation of the user's martial soul. The sword moves as the user wills, capable of attacking from a distance. The more soul power infused, the faster and deadlier the attack becomes."

With the unparalleled sharpness of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, Shen An could now strike with lethal precision, even from afar. The possibilities were boundless, and the ability's growth potential meant it could evolve alongside him.

Shen An's eyes sparkled with excitement. Does this mean I can even fly someday?

With 1,000 fame points remaining, Shen An decided to celebrate by trying his luck with the system's gacha.

"System, give me a single draw!"

The system panel, typically plain, suddenly burst into golden radiance. A small item appeared before Shen An, leaving him utterly stunned.

"Golden... legend?! It's real?!"

Shen An clutched the newly acquired item: a tiny outfit radiating mysterious energy—purple combat armor with a green cape.

[Tom's Super Suit (One-time Item): When worn, Tom transforms into a superhero for 3 minutes.]

Shen An burst into laughter. "The ancients were right: miracles really do come from single draws!"

Meanwhile, Tom's voice echoed in his mind, brimming with confidence:

"At this moment, I... am God."