Banquet Relaxation, Post-Meal Chat

Liu Yueming's gentle gaze swept over everyone present, her voice composed. "Now that everyone's here, let's eat first and talk slowly afterward."

"Those who traveled tirelessly, hunted hard, or exhausted themselves awakening their martial souls—have a proper meal first and replenish your energy. Whatever needs saying can wait until after dinner."

After speaking, Liu Yueming gave Yi Hongchen a look, then led Xiao Hongchen and the other two toward the dining room, where a feast had already been laid out.

Yi Hongchen understood what Liu Yueming meant. His steps slowed slightly as he quietly fell back to Jing Hongchen's side.

Just as Jing Hongchen was about to question him in a low voice, Yi Hongchen discreetly circulated his soul power, sending a faint yet clear voice transmission directly into his ear.

Jing Hongchen's expression did not change. He merely gave Yi Hongchen a deep look, his gaze too complex to describe.

There was wild joy, gravity, and a desire to demand answers, but in the end, he merely used voice transmission to tell Yi Hongchen something.

Receiving his father's look and transmission, Yi Hongchen smiled bitterly inwardly, though he could only maintain a calm expression. He knew that after this family dinner, a long talk would be unavoidable.

The sun sank in the west, and moonlight began to rise, its clear radiance spilling across the earth.

Inside the dining room of Hongchen Duke's Estate, the enormous hanging soul-tool chandelier was lit, along with dozens of warm yellow crystal wall lamps around the room. The light was soft and warm, bathing the entire dining room in a cozy atmosphere.

Everyone attending the banquet sat around a round table of lustrous white jade.

The three adults and three children sat in alternating seats. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen sat beside Jing Hongchen, while Yi Hongchen and Liu Yueming sat beside Yan Hongchen. With Yi Hongchen and Liu Yueming seated among them, they could also take good care of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.

The tabletop was covered with an array of exquisite dishes, each giving off enticing color and fragrance.

The time that followed passed amid the soft clinking of cups and plates and quiet laughter.

Jing Hongchen did not eat much, though he sampled a little of everything. More often, his gentle gaze lingered on Yan Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen, and he kept serving them food.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were clearly hungry. Though their movements remained proper, they ate quickly, showing a particular fondness for meat.

Yan Hongchen had initially maintained some manners as well, but as warm food filled his stomach, a sense of comfort spread through his body. He gradually relaxed, eating with focus and satisfaction.

Yi Hongchen ate unhurriedly, but steadily cleared the food before him while also serving the children. Liu Yueming ate her own meal while carefully placing food onto the children's plates, reminding them to eat more slowly.

After the banquet ended and the remaining dishes were cleared away, the faint fragrance of tea and fruit filled the air.

Everyone sat together beneath the warm lights. The moonlight beyond the windows seemed to have softened as well. It was the most relaxed and leisurely time of the evening.

Jing Hongchen raised his teacup and took a sip, steering the conversation back on track. "Yi'er, Yueming, you can tell us the details of Little Yan's awakening today now, can't you?"

Yi Hongchen knew he could no longer avoid the matter. Naturally, he would heed Jing Hongchen's words, but he did not wish to hide it from Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen either. Everyone in the family was trustworthy.

"Yes, Father." Yi Hongchen straightened in his seat, his voice clear and steady. "Little Yan has innate full soul power. His awakened martial soul is a toad-type martial soul with both spiritual and water attributes. Based on Little Yan's own sense of it, it has been named the Phantom Water Spirit Toad. In addition, he possesses a body martial soul—his heart!"

Silence fell over everyone.

Yi Hongchen, Liu Yueming, and Yan Hongchen had already experienced it and were not surprised. Though Jing Hongchen had learned of it beforehand and had recovered somewhat after dinner, his emotions still churned. As for Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, their feelings were utterly turbulent.

At Yi Hongchen's words, Yan Hongchen stirred his thoughts slightly. A blue glow emerged from his right shoulder, swiftly condensing into that delicate, crystalline spirit toad.

At the same time, Yan Hongchen's skin took on a lustrous sheen like rippling water. Iridescent colors swirled in his eyes, turning them into dreamy, glasslike hues that seemed to reflect countless tiny phantom lights.

"I can feel it," Yan Hongchen said softly, his voice seeming to take on an ethereal note as well. "This martial soul's power is very gentle. For me, the auxiliary path seems to be the most natural fit."

Then, his heart began to pound, each thump particularly distinct in the silence, as though even a needle falling to the floor could be heard.

"As for the body martial soul, the heart, it is better suited to the strong attack path."

Moreover, Yan Hongchen's two martial souls already had an advantage: he could manifest both martial souls at once. In the future, using both martial souls simultaneously—or even forming a self-body martial soul fusion skill—would not be especially difficult.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's attention was immediately drawn to him. Earlier, Yan Hongchen had been vague and had not explained his situation clearly.

Now, seeing and hearing the forms of the two martial souls for themselves, they truly realized that in terms of talent and the rarity of his mutation, Yan Hongchen stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Xiao Hongchen was sincerely happy for his younger brother, but he could not help feeling envy, jealousy, and even a faint sense of regret.

His own awakened martial soul was the Three-Legged Golden Toad, which carried divine beast bloodline, and his innate soul power was level nine. That was already a talent worthy of pride.

But Yan Hongchen? Innate full soul power, twin martial souls, one for strong attack and one for support—his room for growth was far beyond Xiao Hongchen's.

Why couldn't he have been born two years later? Then he would not be the eldest brother. He would not have to shoulder the responsibility of the eldest son, have his future planned out by his father and grandfather, or work every day at all the things he was supposed to do.

Meng Hongchen's feelings as she looked at Yan Hongchen were much simpler. Before Yan Hongchen was born, she had been treated like a little princess too. After gaining a younger brother, she had someone obedient and well-behaved who called her Big Sister and listened to her commands. Compared to Xiao Hongchen, Yan Hongchen was clearly more to her liking.

Now that her younger brother had an even better future, she was naturally even happier. With both an older brother and a younger brother protecting her, she could live more easily.

Xiao Hongchen finally spoke, with a somewhat complicated smile in his tone. "I'm so jealous of you... When Mom and Dad had us, why didn't they give us talent like that?"

Meng Hongchen added, "Little Brother, I'm proud of you. I believe you'll definitely become the strongest soul master in the future!"

Yan Hongchen, however, shook his head, his expression frank. "But right now, I can only cultivate one martial soul. I plan to cultivate the Phantom Water Spirit Toad first. My body martial soul is just for show at the moment. I'll still need Big Brother and Big Sister to protect me first."

Liu Yueming took over, her tone gentle yet solemn. "Precisely because the body martial soul is somewhat startling, we've decided to have him cultivate the Phantom Water Spirit Toad first, so that your younger brother won't draw unwanted attention. Therefore, Xiao'er, Meng'er, remember to protect your younger brother well."

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen exchanged a glance. They were more than willing to do so; at the very least, their younger brother still needed their help for now. They immediately nodded solemnly. "Alright, we'll definitely protect Little Brother well until he grows to unprecedented heights!"

Jing Hongchen and Yi Hongchen had already begun considering the paths the three children would take. At present, Xiao Hongchen focused on strong attack, Meng Hongchen on control, and Yan Hongchen on support.

The trio's composition had begun to take shape. As long as they could work together with one heart, they would hold limitless possibilities—for themselves and for their team.