Wait, Isn't This a Control-Type?

After throwing a tantrum, making a scene, arguing her ear off, and playing dumb... Cen Yu finally got a token from Bibi Dong that represented her authority.

It was basically a Pope Token.

Once he had what he wanted, Cen Yu stopped arguing with Bibi Dong and bolted.

In the blink of an eye, he was standing outside what looked like the fanciest clothing store in all of Spirit City.

"Mm~ Now this is a place that suits my status~"

Thinking this, Cen Yu headed inside.

Perhaps because everything here was so expensive, there were hardly any customers in the store.

As soon as an idle shop assistant saw a new customer walk in, she gave him a polite smile and a bow, regardless of how he was dressed.

"Good afternoon, honored guest! Welcome to Martial Soul Star!"

Cen Yu waved a hand and strolled farther inside.

He looked over a few outfits, then casually felt the fabric. His eyes widened in surprise.

This really was a place for the rich. The material was unbelievably soft.

Could it even compare to the plastic... no, the polyester clothes he'd worn in his previous life?

It was even softer than the bit of cotton he had... on, wasn't it?

Cen Yu asked the shop assistant beside him, "You must have fabrics even softer and more comfortable than this, right?"

The shop assistant nodded and patiently explained, "These are all basic styles, so the fabrics are fairly ordinary."

"Upstairs, we have many more styles and better fabrics. Or would you like to hear about our bespoke and high-end custom tailoring?"

Although the child in front of her wasn't dressed very well and looked like he'd never seen the world,

her years of experience reading romance novels told her that people like him were probably hidden big shots, either rich or powerful!

At that, Cen Yu's eyes lit up.

Two hours later, Cen Yu stepped out of the store wearing a bright, flamboyant outfit.

"Thank you for visiting, honored guest! We hope to see you again!"

Behind him, three shop assistants followed, carrying a pile of gift boxes and bags.

They contained the twenty outfits Cen Yu had bought.

On top of that, he'd ordered eight high-end custom outfits, which would be delivered to his home once they were finished.

What? You wanted to know where he got the money?

Why even ask? Cen Yu didn't have any money. But he was the Pope's most, most, most "beloved" disciple!

Of course, he'd put the bill under the Pope's name using the Pope Token.

"Hehe~"

In high spirits, Cen Yu had the clothes sent home, then hummed a little tune as he headed for Martial Soul Academy.

"Drifting~ wandering~ I can only drift~ and wander~"

"In the rainy night, my eyes~ have lost their color~"

"Yet they can still light~ the hope in my heart~"

"What?! Junior, you want to join the Martial Soul Hall Team?"

Hu Liena looked at Cen Yu in surprise.

Her junior was only a Soul Grandmaster, while the weakest member of the Martial Soul Hall Team was a Soul Ancestor. How could he—

Yan and Xie Yue frowned too, asking in confusion, "Junior, you're only in the twenties. How can you join a team where everyone is at least a Soul Ancestor?"

"!!!"

Those words flipped a switch in Cen Yu. His eyes suddenly blazed!

That was more like it! That was the right tune! They doubted him, and then he'd slap them in the face!

But before Cen Yu could say a word, Hu Liena rested her chin on her hand and mused, "Still, it's not impossible."

With her, her brother, and Yan's strength, sweeping the competition would be no problem.

"Junior, just make sure you protect yourself when the time comes. Leave the rest to us."

Xie Yue nodded too. "That works. Taking part in the competition could be good training."

The two had said it all, so Yan had nothing to add. He simply nodded along.

But Cen Yu, standing beside them, was dumbfounded, staring at the three with a vacant look.

Wait, was this right? Why weren't they following the usual script?

Weren't they supposed to doubt him, then let him prove himself in a fight and leave them utterly shocked?

Cen Yu refused to give up. "How about we spar? What if I end up holding you back?"

But Yan merely patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Junior. With us here, everything will be fine."

"..."

Feeling as if he'd punched a cotton ball, Cen Yu was so frustrated that he dropped into a peaceful sleep with a snap.

The gentle version of Cen Yu came online. He said to Hu Liena and the others, "Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, I can also provide support and control for you."

Hu Liena asked curiously, "Hmm? Junior, you're only in the twenties. How can you support us Soul Kings?"

Could his Martial Soul be so ridiculously powerful that it could provide a bit of a boost across ranks?

"Nope. You'll see when you try it."

Cen Yu closed his eyes. His second Soul Ring lit up beneath him as the Miao Shi Heavenly Maiden appeared.

"What..."

"This... a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?!"

This was the first time the three of them had seen Cen Yu's Martial Soul and Soul Ring.

What kind of figure was she?

She was sacred, compassionate, and beautiful, like an untouchable deity.

"Lotus Rebirth: World Mother."

For a moment, the three didn't know whether to be more astonished by his Martial Soul or by that dazzling purple Soul Ring.

They were so absorbed in their shock that they didn't notice Cen Yu had already activated his Soul Skill.

Suddenly, a streak of light swept past. In an instant, all three felt something wrong with their bodies.

Hu Liena said in shock, "What?! Why has my perception become so blurry?"

She wasn't the only one. Yan and Xie Yue also felt their bodies grow sluggish, and even a little weak.

"Junior... is this your Soul Skill?"

Cen Yu nodded. "This is my second Soul Skill."

After hearing his answer, the three relaxed and began using Soul Power to purge the negative effects from their bodies.

But soon, they realized something was wrong.

The three of them were Soul Kings, yet they couldn't dispel the negative effects inflicted by Cen Yu, a mere Soul Grandmaster?

How was that possible?!

The three tried again, unwilling to believe it, but got the same result.

In the end, only when Cen Yu took the initiative to dispel the negative effects did they recover from their weakness.

Cen Yu chuckled. "This is only part of my second Soul Skill. I didn't apply the effect that drains life force."

"Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, do you believe now that I can help you?"

In a sense, the negative effects he inflicted didn't count as negative effects in the traditional Douluo Continent sense. They were more like curses.

Unless he allowed it, even a Titled Douluo couldn't dispel them. At most, the degree to which they were affected would differ.

Yan said with a bitter expression, "We believe you, we believe you. I thought you were a support who boosted us, Junior, but you're a support who weakens the enemy."

Cen Yu waved his hand helplessly. "Senior Brother, that's where you're mistaken."

"How is weakening the enemy not a way of supporting you?"

"Boosting your teammates makes them stronger and more likely to win."

"And weakening the enemy makes them weaker, which also makes it easier for your teammates to win, doesn't it?"

The corners of the three's mouths twitched. "Right... that makes sense."

Good. That was a support strategy they'd never considered before.

Suddenly, Hu Liena realized something. "Wait, Junior, isn't this a control-type?"