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Liu Ying's genes came from the Zerg. Her origin could be traced back to the Breeding Star God, known as the Insect Queen. Because of that, her body naturally attracted bugs. She didn't really mind fireflies and the like, but spiders and cockroaches? No way. She was still a girl, after all.
That's why she preferred cold places. Somewhere like Long City, located near the far north, was perfect—no annoying bugs.
Liu Xing gently took her hand and said softly, "Let's head back to the room. I remember there's a soul device in there that can cool the place down. Those bugs won't dare follow us in."
Liu Ying bit her lip in frustration, then nodded and let Liu Xing lead her back to the room without protest.
After sending Liu Ying back, Liu Xing returned to his own room. Leaning against the wall, he murmured, "Liu Ying, I swear I'll find a way to make you just like a normal person—able to sleep, able to dream."
Meanwhile, in her room, Liu Ying was sitting on the bed hugging her knees, leaning against the wall just like him. Resting her chin on her knees, she whispered, "Idiot."
Still, a soft smile appeared on her face. In the corner of the room, a soul device quietly released cold air, gradually lowering the temperature. Thanks to her unique body, she wasn't afraid of the cold—any normal person would've frozen by now.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, after a luxurious breakfast prepared by the servants, Luan Yu took Liu Xing and Liu Ying out to shop for supplies and do some sightseeing around Mingdu.
Time flew by. It had already been a year since they arrived in Mingdu. Both Liu Xing and Liu Ying were now six years old, and today was the big day: their Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.
Liu Xing sat cross-legged on the bed. He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of frosty air, finishing his meditation. He'd been practicing a modification technique Luan Yu gave him—From Grounded to Skyborne.
Although he hadn't awakened his Martial Soul yet and couldn't control his soul power, training the meditation method still helped strengthen his spirit power and potentially boost his innate soul power. Of course, the gains were limited. Nothing beat eating rare herbs and heavenly treasures when it came to improving innate soul power.
Still, Liu Xing really enjoyed meditating. Coming from a magicless world in his past life, now that he had the chance to tap into supernatural power, he was totally hooked.
"What's wrong? Nervous?"
Luan Yu turned to look at Liu Xing and Liu Ying, a big smile on her face.
Over the past year, she'd stayed in Mingdu just to take care of the two kids. Their bond had grown much deeper during that time.
Liu Xing nodded. "A little bit, yeah."
Even though he was confident that he and Liu Ying would awaken powerful Martial Souls, nothing in life is guaranteed. What if the Goddess of Life bailed on them? What if they couldn't awaken at all? Or worse—what if they ended up with trash Martial Souls? That would be a total loser start!
Liu Xing definitely didn't want a loser start! Those don't sell anymore—nobody's into the "underdog revenge arc" these days. He wasn't looking to spend thirty years in obscurity, only to suddenly flip the script.
Liu Ying wasn't overthinking it like he was. She didn't have that emotional attachment to superpowers. Still, she understood where Liu Xing was coming from. After all, he used to be just an ordinary guy. This was his first real brush with the supernatural—how could he not be excited and nervous?
She reached out and held Liu Xing's hand, giving him a soft smile. In that instant, all his nervousness vanished. He looked at her and thought, Yep, my Yingbao really is the sweetest.
Luan Yu twitched at the sight. Seriously? Is this something a single woman like me should be watching? These kids were way too mature for their age! They were only six!
Well, technically they were six, but that was just their physical age. Mentally, they were way older.
Today, Liu Ying was dressed in a stylish, school-inspired outfit. She wore a black vest-like coat with two fluttering tails in the back, stitched together to look like tiny firefly wings. A bright orange scarf was tied at her chest. Her white-and-green shirt had wing-shaped, gradient edges. A bellflower was clipped to the back of her skirt, which faded into a glowing effect toward the bottom, decorated with sparkling dots—giving off a soft, healing vibe.
She also wore a pair of deep green, gradient thigh-high socks with floral patterns running up one side, plus a pair of short boots with lace trim matching her skirt—one pointing up, the other down, for a cute contrast.
She looked just like a glowing firefly, perfectly matching her unique style. Her silver hair was tied with a black ribbon, knotted into a bow on the left side—absolutely adorable.
This outfit was specially designed by Liu Xing, who'd spent a long time working with a fashion designer to get it just right. If it weren't for Luan Yu being a level 9 Soul Engineer, no designer would've bothered—it was way too much work.
By contrast, Liu Xing's outfit was super simple: a black shirt, a black jacket, dark pants, and a pair of black knee-high boots. Clean and sharp.
Just then, a soul-powered vehicle pulled up in front of them. The door opened, and out stepped a woman who looked a bit like Luan Yu, but older. She wore a set of crimson light armor and a red cape embroidered with a fiery phoenix. A middle-aged woman, dignified and powerful.
"Aunt Feng."
"Sis, what are you doing here?"
Liu Xing, Liu Ying, and Luan Yu all spoke at once.
The older woman smiled gently at the two kids, ruffling their silver hair. "How could I miss Xiao Liu Xing and Xiao Liu Ying awakening their Martial Souls today?"
Then she shot Luan Yu a sharp look.
Luan Yu shrank back instinctively. Back in the day, her sister used to beat her up all the time. Even now, as a Titled Douluo and a level 9 Soul Engineer, she still felt like a helpless little sister in front of her. Growing up under her sister's care had left a deep impression—big sis felt more like a strict mom sometimes. It was pure genetic suppression!
Yep, the woman was none other than Luan Yu's older sister, Luan Feng—one of the Guardian Hands of the Sun-Moon Empire, head of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Regiment, a level 9 Soul Engineer, and a level 94 Titled Douluo known as Fire Phoenix Douluo. Her Martial Soul: the Fire Phoenix Sword.
Though she held a high position in the empire, she was like Luan Yu in one way—no husband, no family of her own, no plans to pass down her Martial Soul. She doted on Liu Xing and Liu Ying like they were her own grandkids.
Well… she wanted to treat them like grandkids, but thanks to her unreliable little sister, she had to settle for "Aunt Feng" instead.
Today was a huge day. On the continent of Douluo, the day a child turns six is the day that shapes their entire future. Whether they soar to the heavens or fade into the crowd—all depends on the outcome of today's awakening.
"....."