Fire Phoenix Douluo

Firefly's genes came from the Swarm, whose source was the Propagation Aeon known as the Insect Emperor. As a result, her constitution was especially attractive to insects. She did not mind fireflies and the like, but as a girl, she instinctively disliked spiders and cockroaches.

That was why Firefly liked staying in cold climates. In a city like Dragon City, close to the Far North, she would not have such worries.

Liu Xing took Firefly's hand and said softly, "Let's go back to our rooms first. I remember there's a cooling Soul Tool in the rooms. Those bugs won't dare follow us inside."

Firefly bit her lip in frustration, then nodded and obediently let Liu Xing lead her back to their rooms.

After seeing Firefly back to her room, Liu Xing returned to his own. Leaning against the wall, he said softly, "Firefly, I'll definitely find a way to make you like a normal person—to let you sleep and dream."

In the room next door, Firefly sat on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, leaning against the same wall. Resting her chin on her knees, she softly said, "Idiot!"

Yet a gentle smile appeared on her face. In the corner of the room, a Soul Tool continuously released cold air, slowly lowering the temperature. Only someone with Firefly's special constitution could endure such cold; an ordinary person would have frozen long ago.

The night passed quietly. Early the next morning, after eating the lavish breakfast prepared by the servants, Luan Yu took Liu Xing and Firefly out to purchase supplies and properly tour Mingdu.

Time flowed like water. A year had passed since they arrived in Mingdu, and Liu Xing and Firefly were now six years old. Today was the day they would awaken their Martial Souls.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Liu Xing opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of white mist, ending his meditation. He had just been cultivating the meditation method Luan Yu had provided: From Beginner to Standing Above the Heavens.

Although Liu Xing could not yet manipulate the Soul Power in his body before awakening his Martial Soul, practicing the meditation method not only gave him a chance to increase his Innate Soul Power, but also strengthened his spiritual power. Of course, the amount of Innate Soul Power it could increase was limited; it was not as effective as eating more Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Still, Liu Xing loved the feeling of meditation. After all, he had lived in a world without magic in his previous life. Now that he could come into contact with supernatural power in this life, how could he not become fascinated by it?

"What? Are you nervous?"

Luan Yu looked at Liu Xing and Firefly with a smile on her face.

Over the past year, Luan Yu had not left Mingdu again in order to care for the two little ones. Their relationship had grown even closer through their time together.

Liu Xing nodded. "A little."

Though he was confident that Firefly and he would awaken powerful Martial Souls, nothing was ever absolute. What if the Goddess of Life proved unreliable and they failed to awaken Martial Souls? Or what if they awakened useless ones? Wouldn't that mean an underdog-story opening?

Liu Xing did not want an underdog-story opening! Underdog stories were no longer popular these days. He did not want some "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" nonsense.

Firefly, beside him, was not thinking as much as Liu Xing. Unlike him, she did not have any particular attachment to extraordinary power. Still, she understood him. Liu Xing had once been an ordinary person and had never come into contact with such supernatural power before. How could he not feel anticipation and nervousness?

Firefly took Liu Xing's hand on her own initiative, a faint smile appearing on her face. The little nervousness Liu Xing had felt instantly vanished. He looked at Firefly. My Ying Bao is still the sweetest.

The corner of Luan Yu's eye twitched. Was this really something she, a single woman, was supposed to watch? Were kids these days really maturing this early? They were only six!

Children on Douluo Continent did mature somewhat early, but six was indeed a bit too soon. Then again, Liu Xing and Firefly were not truly only six years old. That was merely their physical age.

Today, Firefly wore an outfit with a strong academy style. She had on a black sleeveless jacket, from the back of which hung two ribbon tails joined into a small firefly-wing shape. An orange neckerchief was tied at her chest, while the hem of her white-and-green shirt took the form of gradient-colored wings. A bellflower was pinned behind her, and the color of her skirt grew lighter toward the bottom, creating a luminous effect. Specks of flowing starlight scattered across it, giving her an ethereal and soothing air.

On top of that, Firefly wore a pair of gradient dark-green thigh-high stockings, with the pattern on one side extending upward. She wore leggings underneath, and even her ankle boots had lace trim like the hem of her skirt—one facing down and the other up, creating a striking contrast.

Her overall appearance resembled a glowing firefly, perfectly matching Firefly's style. A black ribbon was also tied around her silver hair, forming a bow on the left side. She looked utterly adorable.

Firefly's outfit had been designed only after Liu Xing spent a long time discussing it with a fashion designer. If Luan Yu had not been a Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master, no designer would have gone to such lengths to create clothing specifically for Firefly. It was simply too troublesome.

By comparison, Liu Xing dressed very simply: a black shirt beneath a black coat, paired with dark-black trousers and black knee-high boots. He looked neat and fresh.

At that moment, a Soul Tool vehicle pulled up before them. Its door opened, and a middle-aged woman slowly stepped out. Her features resembled Luan Yu's, though she looked somewhat older. She wore light crimson armor and a red cape embroidered with a fire phoenix.

"Aunt Feng."

"Elder Sister, why are you here?"

Liu Xing, Firefly, and Luan Yu spoke one after another.

"Of course I had to come and see little Liu Xing and little Firefly awaken their Martial Souls today."

The beautiful middle-aged woman first looked gently at Liu Xing and Firefly, rubbing their silver hair before turning to glare at Luan Yu.

Luan Yu shrank her neck. She had taken plenty of beatings from this elder sister in the past. Though she was now also a Titled Douluo and a Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master, when facing her sister, she was like prey facing a natural predator and did not dare resist at all. After all, her sister had raised her from childhood. An elder sister was like a mother—genetic suppression was real!

That was right. The woman was Luan Yu's elder sister, Luan Feng. She was also one of the Sun Moon Empire's Hands of National Protection, the commander of the Fire Phoenix Spirit Tool Master Legion, a Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master, a level ninety-four Titled Douluo, the Fire Phoenix Douluo, and the owner of the Fire Phoenix Sword Martial Soul.

Although Fire Phoenix Douluo Luan Feng held great power and status in the Sun Moon Empire, like her younger sister Luan Yu, she had never married and had no plans to pass down her Martial Soul or establish a family. She utterly doted on Liu Xing and Firefly, whom Luan Yu had brought home.

At her age, she had originally wanted to spoil Liu Xing and Firefly as grandchildren. But because she had such an unreliable younger sister, she instead had them call her Aunt Feng.

Today was the day Liu Xing and Firefly would awaken their Martial Souls. For every child on Douluo Continent who had reached the age of six, this was the moment that would determine the rest of their lives. Whether they would soar to great heights or fade into the masses depended on today's Martial Soul Awakening.