The night was still, the only sound being the gentle rustle of leaves outside. Liu Cheng lay in bed, his body drenched in sweat, heart pounding as he awoke with a start. Memories of a life once lived flooded back to him—adventures, friendships, and battles from a world he had only read about. But now, he was reborn in the Douluo Continent from earth, a realm filled with martial spirits and soul power.
With the remnants of his past life, a sharp pain pierced his head, causing him to clutch it tightly. "I'm Liu Cheng," he whispered to himself, trying to find his footing in this new reality. "Born to Yu Luomian, brother to Liu Erlong, the Fire Dragon." The weight of his new identity settled upon him like a heavy cloak.
He had been a mere spectator in the stories of Douluo Continent, never imagining he would become part of it. In the novels, Yu Luomian was a figure of cruelty, and Liu Erlong was destined for greatness as a powerful soul master. Yet, something felt different this time. The butterfly effect of his reincarnation had already begun to alter the course of events.
As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. Liu Cheng knew he had to assess the changes around him. Liu Erlong, his sister, was known for her fierce spirit and immense potential. In the original story, she had only reached level 7 soul power, but Liu Cheng could sense a shift. Liu Erlong's aura felt stronger—almost level 9, nearing the coveted innate level 10.
"Could my presence have caused this?" Liu Cheng wondered, excitement bubbling within him. He had always admired Liu Erlong's strength and determination. Now, he had the chance to train alongside her, pushing each other to new heights.
His thoughts turned to their mother. In the original narrative, she had died early, but here she was, alive and seemingly stronger than before. "What resources has she been using?" he pondered. "I need to talk to her about her wuhun and soul rings."
As the household began to stir, the aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, beckoning Liu Cheng to the dining area. He found Liu Erlong already seated, her fiery red hair a striking contrast against the wooden table. Their mother entered shortly after, her presence commanding respect and admiration.
"Good morning, Mother. Liu Erlong," Liu Cheng greeted as he took a seat.
"Morning, Cheng! You look a bit pale. Did you sleep well?" Liu Erlong asked, concern etched on her face.
"I had strange dreams," Liu Cheng replied, carefully choosing his words. "But I'm fine. I wanted to ask you both something important."
Their mother raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it, Cheng?"
"I've been thinking about our soul rings. Liu Erlong, you're close to level 10, right? Have you considered what kind of soul rings you want to obtain?"
Liu Erlong nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining. "I want to get the best ones possible."
"And Mother," Liu Cheng continued, "I noticed your strength. You seem to be over level 10 without a soul ring. Have you ever thought about attaching one to your Wuhun?"
Their mother sighed, a hint of regret in her eyes. "I neglected it for years, believing I could manage without. But perhaps it's time to reconsider."
"How long have you been at this level without a soul ring attached, Mother?" Liu Cheng asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Their mother thought for a moment before responding, "It should be more than 10-12 years now. I'm 23 years old, and for commoners, it's normal to give birth after 15 years. When my Wuhun awakened, it was a fire lizard with level 3 soul power. But I had no resources to study and cultivate, and after reaching level 10, I neglected attaching a soul ring, even though I cultivate soul power every day."
Liu Cheng's eyes widened as he did the math in his head. "That means you reached level 10 around when you were 11 years old, Mother. If I'm not wrong, your body should have strengthened to a certain amount when you cultivated for 4-5 years after level 10, even without a soul ring. That means you can withstand a high-level soul ring, around 500-700 years. And there's a high chance your soul power may reach level 20, then you'll need to add a second soul ring around 1000-1500 years."
Their mother's eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You're right, Cheng. I never thought about it that way. Perhaps it's time for me to reconsider my approach to soul rings."