Upon reaching their campsite, Zhang Qiu immediately set about organizing a defensive perimeter, though the lingering aura of Liu Yan's newly evolved Wuhun was likely enough to deter any curious soul beasts for the night.
"Gather around," Zhang Qiu said, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of astonishment and professional curiosity. "Let's see the results of your breakthroughs. It's not every day I witness a six-year-old absorbing a century soul ring, let alone two."
Liu Yan sat on a log, still adjusting to the surge of power within her. She watched as her children stood in the center of the clearing, excitement evident in their postures.
"First, let's see the soul rings," Liu Yan said softly.
At her words, Liu Cheng and Liu Erlong focused their will. Beneath their feet, ripples of energy shimmered before solidifying into light.
From the ground beneath Liu Cheng, a ring of deep, amber-yellow light rose, swirling around his Wuhun before settling firmly into place.
Beside him, Liu Erlong grunted with effort, her small face scrunching up in concentration. With a soft hum, a ring of identical yellow hue emanated from the ground, positioning itself around her Wuhun.
Zhang Qiu gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "Goodness... both of them obtained soul rings above the traditional limits as their first rings? The standard for a novice is rarely above four hundred years... This... this is unheard of! Even in the famous clans and sects, only the most elite direct disciples might manage a near-limit first spirit ring, and that's with sect resources piled upon them. To do it in the wild..."
She looked at Liu Yan with newfound respect. "Sister Yan, your children are monsters. True monsters."
Liu Yan smiled, a hint of smugness in her expression. "They take after their mother, apparently."
"Brother, look!" Liu Erlong exclaimed, staring at her hand. She summoned her Wuhun. The violet flame dragon appeared, but now, fueled by the soul ring, its scales seemed more defined, and the heat radiating from it was significantly more intense. "I feel like I have so much fire in my belly!"
Liu Cheng nodded, his expression calmer, though his eyes burned with focus. He summoned his own Wuhun. The flaming humanoid figure with vermillion hair appeared behind him, the black cape fluttering even in the still air. The yellow soul ring around Liu Cheng lit up, syncing with the figure.
"Soul skill manifestation," Liu Cheng murmured.
He lunged forward, and the flaming humanoid mimicked his motion perfectly. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
ROAR!
A concentrated stream of fire blasted from the humanoid's mouth, slamming into a large boulder fifty meters away. The rock didn't just crack; it exploded into dust, glowing red-hot from the residual heat.
Silence descended on the clearing.
Zhang Qiu's eyes were wide as saucers. "An attack-type skill with that kind of destructive power? And at such a range? Cheng, what is the name of your skill?"
"Fire Dragon's Roar," Liu Cheng replied. In his mind, however, he was analyzing it. It was a variation of the Dragon Slayer magic he remembered from his past life, adapted into the laws of this world. It functioned as an Area of Effect skill with tremendous penetrating power.
Zhang Qiu turned to Liu Erlong. "Erlong, try yours."
Liu Erlong took a deep breath, her small fists clenching as she felt the connection to the soul ring she had absorbed.
"Soul Skill: Fire Dragon Claw!"
Instantly, her hands were engulfed in intense violet flames. The fire coated her hands, shaping into terrifying claws that extended a foot past her fingertips. She swiped at the air, leaving five trails of lingering fire in the wind. The heat was so intense that the air distorted around her hands.
"An augmentation-type attack skill," Zhang Qiu analyzed, her mind racing. "It drastically increases attack power and adds a fire attribute to melee strikes. Combined with her dragon Wuhun's natural strength, she will be a nightmare for opponents at the same level in close combat."
Liu Yan stood up and walked over to her children, inspecting them closely. "Are you two in any pain? Absorbing an over-limit soul ring can leave internal injuries."
"I feel great, Mom!" Liu Erlong beamed, dispelling the claws and hugging her mother's waist. "I feel like I could lift a mountain!"
"I feel a surge of energy," Liu Cheng admitted, dispelling his Wuhun. "It increased my soul power significantly. I think... I might have broken through to Level 13 directly."
"Level 13?" Zhang Qiu shook her head in disbelief. "A soul ring usually grants only one or two levels of soul power, even with a perfect absorption. To jump from Level 10 to 13 in one go... is terrifying."
Liu Yan looked at her own hand, where a purple soul ring glowed faintly. She summoned her Wuhun. The Armored Salamander appeared, its scales shimmering with a metallic luster that hadn't been there before.
"My Aurora of Flames skill," Liu Yan mused. "It acts as both a defense buff and an offensive amplifier. I can feel that my resistance to fire has become strong."
She looked at her children, her expression turning serious. "This power is a gift, but it is also a responsibility. Cheng, Erlong, you must remember that the Douluo Continent is vast. There are always mountains beyond mountains."
Liu Cheng glanced at his sister. His mind was already planning their next steps. We need time, he thought. Erlong needs to control her Wuhun and soul skill, and I need to master the Dragon Slayer arts.
"I understand, Mother," Liu Cheng said, his voice sounding mature beyond his six years.
As night fully settled over the forest, the family sat around a small fire Zhang Qiu had started. They ate a simple meal, but it tasted like a feast to the soul masters who had just overcome a monumental hurdle.
"Sister Yan," Zhang Qiu said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. "With their talents... staying in a small city running a restaurant won't be enough for them forever. Have you thought about their education?"
Liu Yan poked the fire with a stick, the flames dancing in her eyes. "I have. I was thinking perhaps Dream Elementary Academy in the city? It's reputable."
Zhang Qiu hesitated, then looked at Liu Cheng. "It is good for ordinary children. But for these two? They need a place that can handle geniuses. Somewhere that can teach them how to truly fight, not just cultivate."
She paused, a distant look in her eyes. "I know an academy called Purple Radiance Academy."
"Purple Radiance Academy?" Liu Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Zhang Qiu nodded firmly.
Liu Yan looked at her children. A small smile played on her lips.
Suddenly, Liu Yan laughed, a bright, clear sound that echoed through the trees. She ruffled Erlong's hair. "Then it is settled. Once we return and settle things at the restaurant, we will look into this Purple Radiance Academy."