The journey back from the Soul Hunting Forest was grueling, a stark contrast to the adrenaline-fueled hunt that had preceded it. Though the victory over the 3,000-year Blazing Marsh Crocodile had been glorious, the exhaustion that followed was absolute. It was a bone-deep weariness that seeped into the marrow.
By the time the towering walls of "Dream City" appeared on the horizon. The carriage, hired from a town near the forest border, creaked and groaned over the uneven road. Inside, the silence was heavy.
Liu Yan, despite her monumental breakthrough to Level 24, was terrifyingly pale. The energy of the purple soul ring was potent, but integrating such a violent force had taken a heavy toll on her internal organs. She sat with her eyes closed, leaning against the velvet cushions, her breathing shallow but steady.
In the corner, Liu Cheng and Liu Erlong—who were usually bundles of inexhaustible energy—were slumped against each other. The gentle swaying of the carriage, usually a lulling comfort, now only served to remind them of how empty their energy reserves felt.
They arrived at the back entrance of "Dreams and Flavors" under the cover of twilight. The alleyway was quiet, smelling of rain and wet stone. The staff, had kept the restaurant running smoothly in their stead.
The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing the warmth of the kitchen.
"Home," Liu Erlong murmured, half-asleep, rubbing her eyes as she stepped onto the familiar cobblestones. The safety of the restaurant washed over her like a blanket.
"A hot bath, and then bed," Liu Yan said firmly, though she swayed slightly as she spoke, gripping the doorframe for support. She looked at her children with soft eyes. "We celebrate tomorrow. Tonight, we sleep."
***
The next morning, the sun streamed through the windows of the private dining room on the second floor of the restaurant. The comforting, rich smell of lotus root congee, steamed buns, and spicy side dishes filled the air, chasing away the last remnants of the forest's dampness and the cold memory of battle.
For a while, the only sound was the clinking of porcelain spoons against bowls.
Liu Yan set her teacup down, her expression shifting from relaxation to solemnity.
"Erlong, Cheng'er," Liu Yan began, her voice low. "Now that you both possess soul rings, you have truly stepped onto the path of soul masters. But I must be honest with you. What we did in the forest... surviving by instinct and raw talent... it won't be enough forever. You need a systematic education. You need to understand the geography of the continent, the ecology of soul beasts, and the laws that govern the soul master world."
Zhang Qiu, who had been sitting quietly at the head of the table, finished her tea. She had been uncharacteristically silent during the meal, her gaze shifting between Liu Yan and the children, observing them with a thoughtful, calculating expression.
She stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the bustling street below where merchants hawked their wares.
"Sister Yan is right," Zhang Qiu said, her back turned to them. "I've watched you grow these past months. I've seen your potential, and I've seen your flaws. You are no longer ordinary folk. You are prodigies. And prodigies... well, they attract attention, both good and bad. You need a stage that matches your talent."
She turned back to face them, a determined glint in her eyes. "I want to take you to Purple Radiance Academy."
"Purple Radiance Academy?" Liu Yan repeated. "Isn't it in the next province?"
"It is," Zhang Qiu confirmed, walking back to the table. "And it is one of the few high-level advanced academies on the continent that is specifically dedicated to nurturing commoner soul masters. Unlike the noble academies which focus on politics, lineage, and connections, Purple Radiance focuses on one thing: survival and strength."
"Can we get in?" Liu Erlong asked, her eyes wide with hope and a trace of anxiety. "We're only one ring soul masters... . I thought advanced academies had strict requirements."
Zhang Qiu smiled mysteriously. "Usually, they do. But for you two? Leave that to me."
The next six months passed in a blur of intense preparation and transition. The restaurant became a training ground in the mornings and evenings.
Under Zhang Qiu's strict guidance, their cultivation stabilized completely. She was a harsh taskmaster, demanding perfection in every stance and every breath of soul power.
Liu Yan found her rhythm at Level 28. She practiced her defensive techniques relentlessly. She was now a fortress of fire and defense, her aura calm and heavy like a mountain. Her control over the "Aurora of Flames" allowed her to superheat the air around her without scorching her own clothes, a testament to her mastery.
Liu Erlong, ever the fierce one, pushed her limits daily. She stabilized at Level 17, her control over her violet fire becoming precise and deadly. She spent hours striking at training dummies, her "Fire Dragon Claws" leaving deep, molten scars in the hardwood. Her combat instincts were sharpening at a frightening rate.
Liu Cheng reached Level 18, his progress steady and silent. His Dragon Slayer magic had progressed to the point where he could actively consume fire elements from the environment to recover his energy. During one sparring session, he had calmly swallowed a fireball thrown by Erlong, smirking as the fuel replenished his drained meridians. It was a terrifying advantage in prolonged battles.
But the greatest change was in Zhang Qiu.
Three months into their preparation, Zhang Qiu had announced she had to return to the wilderness alone to complete a breakthrough. She had left with a grim expression, carrying only a pack of rations.
When she returned two months later to guide them to the academy, the family barely recognized her.
The pressure radiating from her was immense, a tangible weight that made the air in the restaurant feel heavy. She had broken through to Level 52, becoming a veritable Soul King.
The night before they left, she gathered them in the courtyard and summoned her Wuhun. Her soul rings floated around her, dazzling anyone who saw them: Two Yellow (380 and 720 years), Two Purple (1,280 and 5,790 years), and finally—a single, imposing Black soul ring (10,567 years).
The black ring seemed to drink in the light around it, pulsing with an ancient, terrifying aura.
"A ten-thousand-year soul ring," Liu Yan whispered, stunned. "Sister Qiu..."
"Power is necessary to protect what we love," Zhang Qiu had said simply, dismissing the rings.
Now, standing before the majestic gates of Purple Radiance Academy, the family looked up in awe.
The academy was nestled into the side of a majestic mountain range, surrounded by a perpetual veil of purple mist that gave the institution its name. The architecture was grand and imposing, constructed from white stone and dark iron, with towers reaching toward the sky and wide, sprawling training grounds visible in the distance. The sheer scale of the place made "Dreams and Flavors" feel like a dollhouse.
They walked toward the main gate, where a large stone plaque stood, detailing the requirements for admission.
Liu Yan stepped forward to read it aloud. "Advanced College Entry Requirements: Must be below 18 years of age. Soul Power must be above Level 25."
The guards at the gate, dressed in the academy's purple and white uniforms, spotted the group. Seeing their ordinary, travel-stained clothes and the two small children—Liu Cheng and Liu Erlong, both looking barely seven years old.
They stepped forward, hands resting lazily on the hilts of their weapons, assuming the family had lost their way and was looking for the elementary division.
"Halt," one guard commanded, his voice bored and arrogant. "This is Purple Radiance Academy, the Advanced College. The kindergarten and elementary division are on the other side of the city."
Zhang Qiu ignored the guards completely. She didn't even look at them. She turned instead to the Liu family, gesturing grandly to the academy behind her, as if presenting a kingdom.
Then, she shifted her gaze to the guards. The air temperature seemed to drop ten degrees instantly.
"Open the gate," Zhang Qiu said, her voice echoing with a distinct, commanding pressure. "And notify the Dean that his daughter has returned."
The arrogant guard froze. The blood drained from his face as he looked closer at the woman standing before them. The casual demeanor, the aura of power...
"D-Daughter?" the guard choked out, his knees trembling. He stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Teacher Zhang?! The Dean's daughter?!"
"That's right," Zhang Qiu said, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked back at the stunned Liu family. "I haven't been entirely honest with you. I didn't just bring you here as a student. I brought you here because my father, the Dean of Purple Radiance Academy—a high-level Soul Saint—and I, have been searching for students with the specific kind of 'monster' potential that you possess."
She released a wave of soul pressure—Level 52, Soul King level—crashing into the surroundings. The guards fell to their knees, gasping for breath.
Zhang Qiu gestured for the family to walk through the gates, which were now being thrown open by terrified students.
"Welcome to Purple Radiance Academy," Zhang Qiu announced, her voice carrying across the courtyard. "Here, you won't just learn how to fight."
Liu Cheng looked at the sprawling academy grounds, the towering buildings, and the students practicing in the distance. He looked at his sister, whose eyes were shining with excitement, and his mother, who looked determined.
A slow smile curled on his lips. The butterfly effect was in full swing.