Douluo Dalu 2/ Soul Land 2: Wonderland

After all three of them finished cooking, Pao leisurely picked up a fish and took a bite.

"Blegh!"

His face turned pale, and he began to wobble. Both Chen and Sheng rushed to his side, their faces etched with concern.

"Brothers...," Pao croaked, his voice trembling. "Don't... forget me!" Then, his body went limp, and he collapsed.

...

Well, did you really think something like that would happen? Nah, he was just acting. But the food was genuinely terrible.

When Chen and Sheng tasted their fish, their faces contorted in disgust, though their reactions weren't as dramatic as Pao's.

Trying to shake off the horrible taste, Pao spoke up, "Hey, Sheng, your spirit... explain it now."

Even Chen perked up, his curiosity matching or possibly surpassing Pao's.

"Oh, that... I don't know," Sheng replied absentmindedly, still searching for a way to rid his mouth of the foul flavor.

Chen was stunned by the nonchalant response, but Pao simply shrugged as if it were perfectly normal.

"So, how can we believe that book?" Pao asked, giving Sheng a light smack on the head to snap him out of his daze.

Rubbing the sore spot, Sheng stood up and wandered over to a tree. After searching for a while, his face lit up. Without warning, he dove into the bushes.

Chen and Pao exchanged puzzled glances before chasing after him, eager to see what was going on. As they neared the bush, Sheng leapt out, his hands clasped together tightly, as if trapping something inside.

"What's that?" Chen asked, his eyes narrowing. He had found Sheng odd at times—whether in the village or on their journey to the forest—but this was on another level.

"Just wait," Sheng said, his voice unusually serious. With a sudden squeeze, he crushed whatever was in his hands.

A white ring materialized above his palms. Upon closer inspection, a tiny insect-like soul beast lay lifeless in his grasp.

Chen and Pao were speechless. The only time they had ever seen a spirit ring was at the awakening ceremony. To see one so up close now sent a shiver down their spines.

Sheng summoned his book, his eyes skimming over the notification he had received upon reaching Soul Power level 10:

Congrats!You are now eligible to enter Level 1 but require a soul ring for that. The Book of Wonders is no ordinary spirit, so the selection of the ring must be made uniquely. You must hunt any soul beast, of any age and kind. Surprised? Well, the book doesn't require any special spirit rings. As mentioned before, your powers are proportional to your fame, and so are your soul rings. Even if you bring a million-year soul ring, it will be reduced to a mere decade-old soul ring. And vice-versa is also possible.

'No matter how many times I read this, I still can't believe it,' Sheng thought. The Book of Wonders defied the very laws of this world. Yet, the predecessor's notes had hinted at such power.

With no other choice, Sheng had targeted the weakest soul beast he could find. After all, if his abilities weren't affected, why make things harder than they needed to be?

Chen and Pao stood rooted in place, their eyes wide as Sheng began absorbing the ring. They wanted to intervene but hesitated, fearing they might disrupt the process and cause him harm.

Half an hour passed in silence as Sheng absorbed the ring's essence. With every moment, he felt its energy seeping into his being, revitalizing him. When the process was finally complete, he opened his eyes, his body tingling with newfound strength.

Yet, before he could even take a breath, a fist connected with his face. The pain was sharp and sudden, contrasting brutally with the serenity he had just experienced.

"What the hell was that for?!" Sheng shouted, clutching his throbbing cheek. He looked up to see his assailant—Pao, now back in human form, his expression unamused.

"That's something we should be asking you," Chen chimed in, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, you suddenly summoned a ring and started absorbing it. Couldn't you have at least warned us first?" Pao grumbled.

"Well...," Sheng mumbled, scratching the back of his head, "I got caught up in the moment."

Chen rolled his eyes. "Typical."

Before they could continue the scolding, Pao pointed at Sheng's book. "Hey, look. Your info changed."

Chen and Pao looked at Sheng questioningly, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. Sheng, on the other hand, looked at them hopefully, his expression a mix of innocence and mischief. This silent game of stares continued for a full minute before Chen let out an irritated huff, turning away with a scowl. "You... you really know how to annoy people," he muttered, crossing his arms. Pao sighed at Chen's reaction but didn't look as surprised—he was already accustomed to Sheng's antics.

Realizing his trick wouldn't work, Sheng's shoulders slumped. He summoned his book, the pages fluttering open to reveal the status of his friends:

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Name: An ChenAge: 6Spirit: Golden Emperor's DaggerSoul Power Level: 10Next Spirit Ring: Space Devouring Swallow (380 years)Location: 2 Km northwest.

Name: Hua PaoAge: 6Spirit: Kung Fu PandaSoul Power Level: 10Next Spirit Ring: Bamboo of Healing SpringLocation: 0.5 Km east

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A small, cursor-like object blinked on the bottom right corner of the page, showing the precise locations of the two spirit beasts.

Both Chen and Pao stared at the floating text, their mouths agape. Chen's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... you can see our spirit rings' locations?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Pao rubbed his eyes, half-expecting the words to vanish.

Meanwhile, Sheng stood lost in thought, his mind racing over the information flooding into his head. Not only could his Book of Wonders display detailed statuses, but it also allowed him to summon and possess items from other worlds. 'This thing really does defy all logic,' he mused. A sly grin crept onto his face, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Pao instinctively took a step back, sensing trouble.

Noticing the sun dipping below the horizon, Chen's expression hardened. "We should find shelter. The forest isn't safe at night," he said, his tone serious. Sheng snapped out of his thoughts and nodded.

They moved quickly, their footsteps crunching on fallen leaves. After a brisk ten-minute walk, they reached a secluded resting spot—a dark cave hidden behind thick vines. The entrance was narrow, just enough for them to squeeze through one by one. Inside, the air was damp and cold, sending shivers down their spines. Water droplets echoed through the darkness, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Pao looked around nervously. "We could use a fire... can't we?" he suggested, his voice trembling slightly.

"No. The smoke will attract spirit beasts," Chen replied firmly, his eyes scanning the cave's entrance. Reluctantly, Pao slumped down in a corner, hugging his knees. Chen joined him, his expression tense.

Meanwhile, Sheng stood grinning. "This is the perfect chance..." he mumbled, his fingers brushing the pages of his book. He focused his mind and set the summoning command. Suddenly, three oversized sweaters appeared out of thin air, landing in a pile before them.

Chen and Pao's jaws dropped. They exchanged bewildered glances before turning to Sheng, who stood with his chest puffed out, clearly proud of his work. "Where... did these come from?" Chen asked, poking one with his finger.

The sweaters were identical, except for the letters on the front—one had an F, the other a G, both stitched in gold. They were shades of navy blue and dark brown, made of thick, warm yarn. Sheng's own sweater was dark green with a large gold H knitted on the front, slightly chunky in texture, perfect for the cold.

As they picked them up, Chen and Pao noticed names stitched into the fabric:

Fred Weasley.George Weasley.Harry Potter.

Pao's eyes sparkled with excitement. "These... these are magic!" he exclaimed, hugging the sweater. Chen didn't understand the names but was too cold to care. He quickly pulled it over his head, the oversized fabric swallowing his small frame.

Meanwhile, Sheng couldn't help but marvel at his ability. 'I can summon items from other worlds... even from stories,' he thought, his heart racing with excitement.

A glowing text appeared before him:

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[Summoning Ability Unlocked]

You can summon items from any story, though some restrictions apply.

Currently available: Low-value items and cartoon characters (e.g., Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse).

Summoning restrictions will lessen as your power grows.

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Sheng's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. If this was just the beginning, what more could he achieve?

Unaware of Sheng's growing ambitions, Chen and Pao were already fast asleep, snuggled in their oversized sweaters. As the night crept in, the cave grew colder, but the warmth of the magic sweaters kept the boys cozy and safe. Sheng sat by the entrance, his eyes fixed on the shadows outside, his mind spinning with possibilities.

For now, they were safe. But tomorrow... tomorrow would be another adventure.