Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

Soto City was truly a big city. Although it was still morning, it already showed signs of prosperity, with people walking hurriedly, just like the big cities from the previous world. The pace of life was fast.

After entering the city, Zhu Zhuqing spoke: "We're here at Soto City. Let's part ways here."

After spending a few days together, Zhu Zhuqing had learned a bit about Shen An, and she realized he was just a Soul Master at the ninth level of soul power.

Although they had fought side by side, keeping him around would only be detrimental to her.

"If Tom needs anything, you can come to Shrek Academy and find me. I'll be a student there."

Without waiting for Shen An to respond, Zhu Zhuqing vanished in front of him.

"Meow~!"

Tom stared at Shen An with frustration, gesturing at him non-stop. Shen An was confused, looking at him. This time, Tom's movements were something Shen An truly didn't understand.

"Ah, why are you being so silly? If you don't know how to do it, I'll teach you how to flirt with girls!"

Shen An was stunned. The dialect had a strong northeastern flavor, and Tom's sudden shift to speaking in such a familiar accent caught him off guard.

It seemed that Tom really liked Zhu Zhuqing, or he wouldn't have gotten so desperate that he started speaking human language.

But to have a cat teach him how to flirt was a bit embarrassing for Shen An.

Flushed and ready to rebut, Shen An remembered that in the cat world, Tom was a master of flirtation, while Shen An had never even experienced the troubles of love.

With a sigh, Shen An accepted the fact that Tom was much better than him in this regard. No way to argue.

"How about we try some local food here?" Shen An said, changing the subject.

The mention of food made Tom immediately forget everything else, his eyes widening as he nodded eagerly.

Shen An laughed inwardly. "Silly little cat, easy to handle."

Shen An and Tom wandered around Soto City, visiting the shops that had already opened. Shen An bought a specialty drink at the first store, but when he handed over a gold soul coin, the storekeeper hesitated for a moment, counting it several times before providing the correct change.

Shen An understood the importance of keeping money hidden, but unfortunately, all the system gave him were gold soul coins.

In Douluo Dalu, one gold soul coin could cover the living expenses of a family of three for an entire month. The purchasing power was undeniably high.

However, Shen An had chosen a quieter store on purpose, and with Tom by his side, he wasn't too concerned.

Having Tom's protection gave him a strong sense of security.

They spent the entire day from breakfast until afternoon, barely spending two gold soul coins, and even bought a few new outfits. Shen An had intended to buy something for Tom, but Tom declined. "What does a cat need with clothes?"

Afterward, Shen An booked a high-end hotel for a temporary stay, planning to find a house later.

However, the high-end hotel cost three gold soul coins per night, which made Shen An sigh at the vast difference in prices.

If he remembered correctly, once someone became a Soul Master, they could receive gold soul coins from the Spirit Hall without doing anything, while ordinary civilians had to rely on their own hard work to earn a meager income.

After they placed the food and drinks in the hotel room, Shen An and Tom immediately headed for the bathroom.

The hotel was indeed different from the rest— the bathroom was huge, and there was an oversized bathtub, big enough for two people to bathe at the same time.

Shen An wasted no time, undressing and jumping into the hot water-filled bathtub.

"Ah, this feels amazing!"

These past few days in the wilderness had made Shen An miss the comforts of a proper bath. Not even his face had been washed.

Strangely, although the world was based on a blend of ancient Chinese and Western civilizations, their living standards were modern, with body wash, shampoo, and soul guiding devices all available.

After fifteen minutes of letting the water heat up, Shen An finished with Tom's bath in under ten minutes, quickly adding soap and shampoo.

"Very manly speed."

When Shen An finished wiping his body with a towel, Tom simply shook himself. His fur, previously damp, instantly dried and became pristine again.

Shen An was no longer surprised. Whatever mystical abilities Tom had, he had gotten used to them. After all, it was just a cat drying its fur.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Shen An smiled. "Not bad."

Although his time in the wilderness had made him look a bit rough, it couldn't hide his inherent handsomeness.

Lying on the soft hotel bed, Shen An began to consider his plans for the future. A thought crossed his mind, and the system panel appeared before him.

System Host: Shen An [Soul Power Level 9]

Initial Partner: Tom Cat (A mystical cat)

Martial Soul: Sword Grass (Super Martial Soul)

Fame: 1 (Fame is affected by the player's reputation, exposure, achievements, respect, trust, and fame)

Gold Soul Coins: 995

Martial Soul Evolution Source: 1

Balenciaga Lettered Stockings

This was all of Shen An's belongings.

"Huh? It was supposed to be a top-tier martial soul, but now it's a super martial soul?"

Shen An remembered that after he made a request to the system, his originally top-tier "grass-type" martial soul was enhanced with sword properties, making it a super martial soul.

"Heh, a free upgrade, nice," Shen An smirked. From top-tier directly to super, any data enthusiast would love this.

After all, the protagonists in the original Douluo Dalu were only top-tier martial souls. Now, Shen An had already surpassed them.

Recalling how he used to play with pets in the game Sai Er Hao, he always aimed to get the highest quality pet, even if it wasn't top-tier. He wouldn't bother with a low-quality one.

Now that the environment seemed safe, Shen An's gaze was fixed on the Martial Soul Evolution Source, and no one would disturb him.

"Yes or no?"

Shen An turned to Tom. "I'm going to evolve my martial soul now. Keep an eye out for me and don't let anyone interrupt."

Tom, who had been lazily lying down, instantly stood up, saluting with full seriousness.

Shen An nodded in satisfaction. "Tom, you're reliable. You give me a sense of security— unless you're planning to catch Jerry."

"Alright, let's start," Shen An said as he clicked "Yes."

Evolve, my Martial Soul!

The Martial Soul Evolution Source disappeared from the system panel, and a wave of pure, overwhelming energy flooded Shen An's entire body.

This sensation was ten thousand times more comfortable than soaking in a hot spring. Under the nourishment of this energy, Shen An felt as if he had been reborn from the inside out.

"Ah, this feels amazing!"