The air in the Headmaster's office of Purple Radiance Academy was thick, crackling with a tension that had nothing to do with soul power and everything to do with a furious father.
Zhang Yu, a imposing man in his late forties, paced behind his desk. Even without doing anything, As a Level 76 Soul Saint with the formidable Thunder Eagle Wuhun, he commanded respect.
But right now? He looked like he was about to explode.
"You rebellious girl!" Zhang Yu slammed his hand onto the hardwood desk, the impact sending a tremor through the room. "How dare you run off from home without a single word? Do you know what your mother did to me? She nearly broke every bone in my body! My ribs are still aching!"
Standing across from him, entirely unbothered, was Zhang Qiu'er. She tossed her hair, looking at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Old man, stop barking like a wet dog," she shot back, leaning against the wall. "I'm not a kid anymore. Besides, look at the bigger picture. I didn't just run off; I found three geniuses for the academy. You should be thanking me."
"Thanking you?!" Zhang Yu's eyes twitched. "You dare call me a dog again? Believe me, I can arrange a marriage for you right this second. A nice, arranged marriage to a man you've never met. You're almost twenty-five, Qiu'er, yet you still act like a naughty brat!"
Qiu'er snorted, crossing her arms. "Hmph! Try it. I'll just run away again. What can you do? Lock me up?"
Zhang Yu opened his mouth, closed it, and let out a long, weary sigh, the anger deflating out of him. "You... ugh! Fine." He turned his gaze, finally shifting his attention to the three people standing quietly in the corner of the room—the Liu family trio. They looked a bit stunned, eyes wide as they watched the verbal sparring match.
"So," Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes, assessing them. "Are these the 'geniuses' you mentioned?"
He scrutinized them. "Eight or nine years old with one ring... yes, that's promising. But eighteen years old with only two rings?" He shook his head, sounding disappointed. "That's barely average for a prestigious academy. And these three... they feel odd. Are they siblings? Or cousins?"
"No," Qiu'er said simply, stepping aside. "They're a family unit. The show is over. Go ahead, introduce yourselves properly." Stop staring at us like statues."
The three snapped out of their daze. Sensing the weight of the Headmaster's scrutiny, they stepped forward.
"Allow us," Liu Yan said, her voice steady. She stepped in front of the children. In a flash of light, their martial souls erupted into existence.
The room suddenly felt incredibly hot.
First, the little girl (younger sister), Liu Erlong, seven years old. A majestic, serpentine dragon coiled around her body, radiating the terrifying aura of sky-fire and lightning.
"Liu Erlong, seven years old. Combat Type. Level 17."
As she spoke, a single Yellow soul ring rose from her feet—shining with a luster that hinted at a seven-hundred-year cultivation base.
Next, her brother (older brother), Liu Cheng, also seven. His martial soul was unique—a humanoid figure wreathed in intense flames, looking like a fire demon incarnate.
"Liu Cheng, seven years old. Combat Type. Level 18."
A deep yellow soul ring appeared under him—clearly an eight-hundred-year ring. A shockwave of heat hit the room.
Finally, the mother, Liu Yan, stepped forward. She slammed her foot down, and the temperature spiked. Heavy, red armor seemed to crystallize over her skin as a massive salamander manifestation roared behind her.
"Liu Yan, nineteen years old. Combat Type. Level 28."
Not one, but two soul rings rose beneath her. Both were purple.
The first glowed with the energy of a thousand years; the second, a terrifying three-thousand-year soul ring.
"We are one family," Liu Yan declared, her voice echoing with the power of her cultivation.
Zhang Yu froze. The cup of tea in his hand paused halfway to his lips. His eyes bulged.
*Level 28 at nineteen?* That was average. But those soul rings... a 3,000-year second soul ring at that age? That was monstrous. And the seven-year-olds with 700-800 year rings?! That defied common sense. how did they withstand the impact.
Before he could recover, Zhang Qiu'er chuckled, stepping into the center of the room. "Alright, my turn."
A blinding pillar of light shot up from her. The pressure of a Soul King descended on the office.
"Zhang Qiu, twenty-six years old. Wuhun: Thunder Sky Lark." Her voice changed, taking on a regal, sharp edge. "A mutated evolution of the Thunder Eagle. Level 52—Soul King."
She shot a playful glance at Liu Yan. "That 'Fiery Eagle' nonsense was just a disguise for my travels, Sister Yan."
Zhang Yu slowly set his cup down, the clink sounding loud in the silent room. A wide grin spread across his face, dispelling the earlier anger.
"Good! Good! Good!" He laughed, a booming sound that shook the windows. He looked at Liu Yan with genuine respect now. "Liu Yan, was it? Since Qiu'er calls you sister, if you don't mind, you can call me Uncle. And you two little rascals," he looked at the kids, "if you have no objections, you can call me Grandpa."
He took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn. "I know this is sudden. Take your time." He locked eyes with Liu Yan. "But you—Liu Yan—from today forward, you will be my disciple. Are you okay with that?"
Liu Yan didn't hesitate. She straightened her back, the fire armor gleaming, and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple Liu Yan greets Master!"
Zhang Yu laughed heartily, the sound echoing like rolling thunder. He reached into his robe and pulled out a shimmering bracelet, tossing it to her.
"Here. A meeting gift for my new disciple," he said. "It's a Storage Soul Guide. It contains a sixty-cubic-meter space. That should be plenty for you for now."
Liu Yan caught the bracelet, the cool metal soothing against her heated skin. "Thank you for the gift, Master!"
The tension in the room evaporated, replaced by a warm, familial atmosphere.
"Alright, settle down," Zhang Yu clapped his hands, looking at the group. "You three—are coming with me to the Zhang Clan. From today on, that is your home."
He pointed a finger at Qiu'er, though there was no anger in his eyes now. "And you, Qiu'er? get moving! Go see your mother, Yun'er, before she actually decides to break my bones! Your mother has been waiting to scold you herself. Don't keep her waiting."