Friends

After Jiang Nannan left, Xu Feng was about to begin cultivating when his good friend arrived.

"Yo, yo, why is our great Casanova all by himself?"

A teasing yet playful voice came from inside his head, interrupting Xu Feng's thoughts.

"March, you have time now?" Xu Feng smiled faintly as the Soul Power within him rapidly condensed, and his Martial Soul emerged.

Immediately afterward, March 7th appeared directly in front of him.

Although this body had been constructed from his Soul Power, its soul and memories came entirely from her original self.

The girl who had fought alongside him aboard the Astral Express and shared countless adventures with him.

To March 7th, it felt like creating an alt account in a brand-new game.

And entering this body each time was as natural and smooth as logging into an account.

"Sigh, Uncle Yang and Sister Himeko are already trying to figure something out. After all, this was the work of that Joy Aeon. Even Miss Herta couldn't solve it."

March 7th sighed and briefly explained the situation on the Astral Express. Xu Feng's sudden disappearance had scared everyone terribly.

Especially Pom-Pom. He had just thrown out the trash when, the very next second, he saw Xu Feng vanish into thin air and promptly fainted.

If Aha had not left behind a note, Pom-Pom would probably have driven the train across the universe looking for him.

Still, Aha's evaluation in Pom-Pom's heart had gone from the worst Nameless to the absolute worst Nameless.

Xu Feng had only gradually learned about these things after turning March 7th into a Three-Star.

He discovered that his Martial Soul was directly linked to his account, with all character appearances unlocked and all affection levels maxed out.

"But why have you never used this lady's abilities?!"

March 7th suddenly put her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure as she stared straight at Xu Feng.

Though time flowed differently in the two worlds, March 7th had genuinely waited for six years.

Six years! Xu Feng had not used her power even once. How could she possibly endure that?

Xu Feng stared at March 7th in utter astonishment.

"When did you awaken the Path of Elation? Do you think it's normal for a grown man like me to wear a skirt?"

His Martial Soul, Currency War, had another function similar to the Class Cards in the Fate series. He could have the powers of these friends possess his body.

But this possession was no ordinary possession. Even his clothes and hair would be directly affected, transforming him into the corresponding character's appearance.

If Xu Feng truly used March 7th's abilities, his hair would turn pink, and he would also be wearing that iconic skirt.

Just imagining that scene made Xu Feng shudder.

He had never used this ability precisely because he did not want to face such an embarrassing situation.

But he had never imagined that March 7th had been looking forward to it all along.

"Well, I need to take pictures of your situation back to everyone. Since that's the case, of course I want to take some novel photos."

March 7th raised the camera in her hand and aimed its lens at Xu Feng. This was her exclusive mission.

Every day, she would come over to take a few pictures and bring them back to the Astral Express so everyone could see how Xu Feng was doing in this world.

Of course, if she could capture some "interesting" scenes, that would be even more perfect.

"If you took pictures like that, they'd be a little too novel."

Xu Feng repeatedly waved his hands, his face full of resistance.

He did not want to someday actually board the Astral Express, only to discover that pictures of him dressed as a woman had spread across the universe. That scene would be more terrifying than the apocalypse.

By then, not only would Uncle Yang laugh until he could not straighten his back, Sister Himeko would sip coffee while enjoying the show, but even Dan Heng's eternally expressionless face would probably crack.

And Miss Herta would be even worse. She would likely record it as "interesting experimental material" before publicizing it everywhere.

"Alright, alright. I'll head back to the train first. If you run into any danger, call for me anytime. After all, we're the best partners."

March 7th put away her camera and waved at Xu Feng. After saying that, her eyes instantly turned vacant. Clearly, her original self had logged off.

Seeing this, Xu Feng withdrew the Soul Power maintaining this body, and March 7th's figure dispersed into the air.

Xu Feng took a deep breath and returned to his room to continue cultivating.

Tomorrow, he would officially enter the academy. He did not want any trouble on his first day; he only hoped everything would go safely.

However, the next day, after Xu Feng truly joined the Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy, he regretted agreeing to join at his imperial father's request.

"Prince of Qin!"

Xu Feng desperately ran forward, looking so miserable that he was completely unlike the Prince of Qin who had slain countless enemies on the battlefield.

Behind him, a group of female students had eyes that were practically turning into pink hearts. Waving handkerchiefs, they screamed as they chased after him.

Xu Feng ran for a long time before finally catching sight of the half-open door to a Research Lab at the end of the corridor.

He dashed inside in one stride, shut the door behind him, and leaned against it as he gasped for breath.

Only after the footsteps of those female students gradually faded outside did he finally let out a breath of relief and raise a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Yo, our Prince of Qin is really popular. On his very first day, he's already won the hearts of the academy's girls."

Xiao Hongchen leaned beside the experiment table, holding a metal rod as he mercilessly teased his good brother.

"Quit with the sarcasm, Xiao. Do you have any water here?"

The moment class ended, Xu Feng found himself in this kind of chase. He was already exhausted.

By pure coincidence, he had run into Xiao Hongchen's Research Lab, so he could finally rest for a while.

After all, he could fight back without mercy against enemies, but when facing girls whose eyes were full of affection, he was truly helpless.

He could not hit them, could not scold them, and even if he put on a stern face to scare them off, they would interpret it as, "The cold Prince of Qin is so handsome."

He even suspected that he had come to the wrong place. What academy was this? It was obviously some fanatical fan club.

"My Research Lab is not so poor that it doesn't even have water."

Xiao Hongchen tossed him a cup, then pointed toward the water dispenser on the other side.

Xu Feng caught the cup, walked over to the dispenser, filled it with cold water, and gulped down several mouthfuls. Only when the icy liquid slid down his throat did his restless heart calm slightly.

Holding the cup, he walked over beside Xiao Hongchen, his gaze falling upon the pile of strange-looking parts before him.

"What Soul Tool are you researching?"

"A Soul Tool? Don't joke around. This is an invention that will change the times, and I, Xiao Hongchen, am destined to go down in history!"

Xiao Hongchen raised his head, spun the metal rod around his fingers, then pointed it at the half-finished device on the experiment table.

The thing looked like an iron box, filled with gears, pipes, and unknown mechanisms. Several thick springs were wrapped around its exterior.

Xiao Hongchen proudly patted it.

"This thing I'm inventing doesn't need Soul Power at all!"

"Once it succeeds, everyone will truly be able to use it. Even an ordinary person without Soul Power will be able to operate it with ease."

Xu Feng raised an eyebrow. Although he only had a superficial understanding of Soul Guidance technology, he knew what it meant for something not to require Soul Power.

It would completely break down the barrier between Soul Masters and ordinary people, allowing technology to truly serve every commoner.

He set down his cup and leaned closer to examine the iron box.

"So what does this thing do?"

Xu Feng had never really understood their research projects.

If they tried explaining all that complicated scientific knowledge to him, he would not understand a word of it. It was better to just ask what it did.

Xiao Hongchen rolled his eyes, deeply dissatisfied with Xu Feng's scientific illiteracy, but he still patiently explained its function.

"It's a machine for washing clothes."

"A washing machine?!"

Xu Feng was dumbfounded. His eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the unbearably proud young man before him.

Xiao Hongchen, grandson of the master of Mingde Hall and the Sun Moon Empire's youngest Soul Engineer genius.

Was actually holed up in this Research Lab full of parts, tinkering with a machine for washing clothes.

"Washing machine? That's a good name. If it succeeds, I'll call it that."

Xiao Hongchen completely ignored Xu Feng's shock. Instead, he thought the name was rather fitting.

He picked up a pen and wrote the words "washing machine" on the blueprint beside the experiment table, then examined it with satisfaction.

"As long as you like it."

Xu Feng did not know what else to say and could only shake his head helplessly.

Who would have thought that Mingde Hall, a place renowned for researching large-scale destructive weapons,

would have someone like Xiao Hongchen, willing to spend his time for the sake of ordinary people?

Those lofty Soul Engineers spent their days thinking about how to create more powerful Soul Cannons or stronger protective barriers, yet few cared about the lives of ordinary people.

And Xiao Hongchen, who normally seemed arrogant and conceited, was in this tiny Research Lab,

silently designing things that could make life more convenient for ordinary people who did not even possess Soul Power.

Xu Feng leaned against the experiment table, watching Xiao Hongchen focus intently on adjusting the washing machine's components.

It seemed his arrival had indeed caused quite a butterfly effect. At the very least, the original Xiao Hongchen would never have researched something like this.