In a courtyard brimming with flowers, the three of them appeared.
"Alright, we've arrived," Yun Ming said gently, loosening his hold on Ya Li's waist.
Ya Li quickly took a step back, her cheeks still flushed. Despite her embarrassment, she managed to speak in a calm tone.
"Please wait a moment. I'll prepare something to eat."
The courtyard shimmered with the soft glow of evening light, petals swaying gently in the breeze. The air carried the fragrance of flowers and the distant hum of spirit energy.
Yun Ming gave a quiet nod, his gaze shifting toward Yun Xian—whose small hand was still wrapped around his. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Xiao Xian," he said softly, his tone calm yet firm, "let's sit on the bench. I need to ask you something."
"Okay, Dad," Yun Xian replied obediently.
They walked side by side through the courtyard, their footsteps rustling against fallen petals until they reached a stone bench nestled beneath a flowering tree. The scene felt serene—like a moment suspended in time.
After sitting down, Yun Xian turned to his father, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"What do you want to ask me, Dad?" he said, his voice light but expectant.
For a moment, Yun Ming didn't answer. The gentle rustle of petals filled the silence as he studied his son's innocent face—so full of potential, yet unaware of the weight his power carried.
"Since you awakened two Martial Souls," Yun Ming finally said, his voice calm but edged with gravity, "I want to know… which one do you intend to cultivate first?"
Though his tone was gentle, the seriousness in his gaze made Yun Xian sit a little straighter. The question wasn't simple—it was a choice that could shape his future.
Hearing his father's words, Yun Xian's expression turned thoughtful. He could sense the weight behind the question—the first step on his cultivation path would determine everything that followed.
Still, a hint of doubt lingered in his heart. He hesitated for a moment, then looked up.
"But Father… can't I cultivate both at the same time?" he asked, his tone uncertain yet hopeful.
Yun Ming smiled faintly. "Of course, you can," he replied, his voice calm as a breeze. But the warmth in his eyes dimmed slightly as he added, "However, I would prefer you not to."
"Why?" Yun Xian asked quickly, confusion flickering in his gaze. The idea of nurturing both Martial Souls had seemed so natural—so full of potential.
Yun Ming's expression grew solemn. The playful softness from before was gone, replaced by the calm authority of a man who had walked the path of power for decades.
"First, you must understand something," he said slowly. "Listen carefully, and then… you can decide for yourself."
Yun Xian nodded earnestly, his young eyes focused entirely on his father.
Yun Ming leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon where the sunlight filtered through the petals. When he spoke again, his voice carried both weight and calm authority.
"In the long history of the Douluo Continent," he began, "there have been countless geniuses—but those born with Twin Martial Souls are still fewer than a hundred." His tone was firm, each word measured. "Even across twenty thousand years, fewer than a hundred people have awakened both. That alone should tell you—such individuals are true miracles of their era, the kind of geniuses that appear once in a century."
He paused, letting the significance of his words settle. The faint rustle of flowers filled the silence before he continued.
"However," Yun Ming said slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly, "not all of them managed to cultivate both Martial Souls to their peak. Only a few ever did. And there's a truth that most people fail to understand—" he turned his gaze back to Yun Xian, his expression calm but piercing—
"—having Twin Martial Souls does not automatically make one powerful. History is filled with figures who stood at the summit of the world without possessing such a gift. Their strength came from determination, comprehension, and will—not merely from talent."
Yun Xian interrupted, eyes bright. "Like you."
Yun Ming chuckled, a low, warm sound. "Ah—yes." He accepted the interruption with an amused glance, then grew serious again.
"So what makes a Twin Martial Soul truly dangerous," he explained, "is the ability to switch tactics mid-battle to exploit an opponent's weakness. Take Tang San of the First Tang Sect: his Blue Silver Emperor was a control-type Martial Soul, while his Clear Sky Hammer was an offensive one. Or Bibi Dong—she was likewise a Twin Martial Soul wielder who used her two souls to cover different roles."
He paused, letting the names hang in the fragrant air before leaning closer, his voice dropping to a careful, measured cadence.
"But it's not as simple as I make it sound. Shifting between Martial Souls at the right moment requires incredible focus and deep understanding of both souls. That precision is hard to achieve in the chaos of a real fight. And there's another cost: using two Martial Souls burns Spiritual Power like wildfire. Most people simply don't have the reserves."
Yun Ming spoke slowly, each sentence deliberate, giving Yun Xian time to absorb the weight of the truth.
Yun Ming's gaze deepened, his tone shifting from gentle to instructive.
"So," he began, "every Twin Martial Soul user must choose one Martial Soul to cultivate first—at least until they reach the Seven-Ring Soul Sage stage."
He paused for a moment, watching Yun Xian's eyes widen in curiosity.
"Only after becoming a Soul Sage does a soul master possess enough Spiritual Power and physical endurance to bear the strain of the second Martial Soul," Yun Ming continued. "There's a reason for this. If you try to add Soul Rings to both Martial Souls too early, the imbalance can create instability between them. That instability can lead to a catastrophic backlash—spirit explosion—and death."
The air seemed to still around them as Yun Ming's words sank in. Even the soft rustle of petals sounded distant.
"But," he went on, his tone softening slightly, "once a soul master reaches the Soul Sage stage, they obtain the True Body of their Martial Soul. At that point, adding rings to the second soul doesn't just become safe—it often brings great benefits. Their Soul Power grows faster, their second Martial Soul matures more completely, and they can choose stronger rings suited to it."
He leaned back, looking up at the drifting clouds.
"Of course, that was before the invention of Spirit Souls. With Spirit Souls, cultivating two Martial Souls has become far easier than in the past. Yet remember this, Xiao Xian—contracting a Spirit Soul still requires strong Spiritual Power. The challenge hasn't disappeared… it's simply changed its form."
Turning his gaze back to Yun Xian, Yun Ming's expression grew thoughtful and warm.
"The reason I want you to focus on one Martial Soul first is because it will benefit you far more than rushing both at once."
He raised a hand, ticking off his points slowly.
"First—when your Soul Power increases, your second Martial Soul will strengthen as well, even if you're not directly cultivating it. The growth will be slower, yes—but it will still progress.
Second—with your current Spiritual Power and physique, focusing on one Martial Soul allows you to contract a Purple Spirit Soul, which is far superior to having two weaker Yellow Spirit Souls for separate Martial Souls.
And third—since your cultivation already begins at Level 20, you'll have the freedom to study a secondary profession earlier. That will save you valuable time in the future."
When Yun Ming finally stopped speaking, the courtyard fell quiet again. The evening breeze carried the scent of flowers past them, and Yun Xian sat silently, digesting every word his father had said.
Yun Xian fell silent, his gaze lowering to the flower petals scattered across the courtyard floor. The gentle wind brushed past his face, but his mind was far from still.
Everything his father said was true—at least, true according to the history of this world. But Yun Xian knew more.
Much more.
As a reincarnated soul, he understood the reality behind Twin Martial Souls better than anyone in this era. He knew that what seemed like a divine blessing was, in truth, a double-edged sword—one that had taken the lives of many so-called geniuses.
His father's warning echoed in his mind: "Adding Soul Rings too early can cause instability… spirit explosion… death."
Yun Xian's hand unconsciously tightened into a fist on his lap.
Yes, he thought silently, the first person in history to awaken Twin Martial Souls proved that. He tried to add a Soul Ring to both Martial Souls at the Soul Grandmaster stage… and blew himself apart. His body couldn't handle the clash of energies.
He drew a slow breath, steadying his thoughts. The faint scent of blossoms mixed with the fading light of dusk, wrapping the courtyard in a serene stillness.
Though his expression remained calm on the surface, a quiet determination flickered within his eyes—one that didn't belong to a mere child.
After a long silence, Yun Xian finally looked up. Determination flickered in his clear eyes, the uncertainty from before completely gone.
"Okay, Dad," he said softly, but his voice carried a firmness beyond his years. "I'll listen to you… and only cultivate one Martial Soul before reaching the Soul Sage stage."
Yun Ming's expression eased, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips. Before he could speak, Yun Xian continued—
"And I'd like to cultivate the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul first."
For a brief moment, even the wind seemed to pause. The gentle sunlight spilled through the blossoms, bathing the boy's face in a golden glow. Yun Ming's eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing through them before giving way to a look of quiet pride.
He hadn't expected his son to choose that one—yet hearing it, he understood.
The Nine Heart Begonia was not a Martial Soul of offense or dominance, but of life, compassion, and resilience. For Yun Xian to choose it first meant he wasn't chasing power recklessly… he was thinking deeply.
Yun Ming let out a slow breath, then smiled faintly.
"Good," he said warmly. "That's a wise choice, Xiao Xian."
Just as their conversation came to an end, soft footsteps approached from behind.
"Food's ready," Ya Li called gently, her voice carrying a smile. "Come inside, both of you—if you're done with your secret talk."
Yun Ming chuckled, rising to his feet. "Alright," he said, sharing a knowing glance with Yun Xian.
"Okay, Mom!" Yun Xian replied cheerfully.
The two of them followed Ya Li back into the house. The fragrance of freshly prepared dishes filled the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of the courtyard flowers that still clung to their clothes.
They sat down together, the warmth of family settling around the table like a gentle light.
As they began to eat, Yun Xian looked up thoughtfully. "Father," he said between bites, "since I've decided to cultivate the Nine Heart Begonia, what kind of Spirit Soul should I fuse with?"
Yun Ming paused, setting down his chopsticks. "Hmm…" he murmured, then nodded slowly. "As you know, the Nine Heart Begonia is a special Martial Soul—unique even among support types. It grants only one soul skill: healing. So your Spirit Soul should also be of the healing type. The higher its age, the stronger your foundation will be. There's even a small chance it could trigger an evolution."
"Evolution…" Yun Xian echoed softly, but his brow furrowed. "But, Father… I feel like my Martial Soul isn't an ordinary Nine Heart Begonia."
Before either of them could respond, he lifted his hand.
A magnificent purple flower bloomed slowly in his palm. Its petals shimmered under the lamplight, delicate yet radiant. At first glance, it resembled the Nine Heart Begonia from the ancient records—but then Yun Ming's eyes narrowed.
Threaded through the violet petals were faint golden veins, subtle yet unmistakable. They pulsed with a gentle glow, as if life itself flowed through them.
Ya Li gasped softly. Yun Ming's expression grew solemn.
Golden veins—within a Plant-type Martial Soul—were not just rare. They were a mark of supremacy, a sign of dominion over the entire Plant Kingdom.
His mind instantly drew the connection: Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor… also bore golden veins when it evolved into the Emperor of Plant Spirits.
For a moment, silence filled the room—broken only by the faint hum of the flower's glow.
Yun Ming exchanged a glance with Ya Li. Both of them understood what this meant… and what it could become.
Yun Ming stared at the glowing veins for a long moment before exhaling softly. "It is indeed as I thought," he murmured, his expression both thoughtful and impressed. Then, looking at Yun Xian, he spoke in a calm, deliberate tone.
"In that case, we should choose a Spirit Soul with a life attribute, and if possible, a rare one. It might help your Martial Soul reveal its true form. And even if it doesn't, it will still be beneficial—there's no harm in that."
"Okay," Yun Xian nodded obediently.
He lowered his head and resumed eating. For some reason, his appetite suddenly spiked—each bite felt strangely satisfying, as if his body was craving energy.
Ya Li noticed and chuckled softly. "Looks like someone's really hungry today."
Yun Xian smiled sheepishly, not wanting to worry her. Maybe it's just the aftereffect of awakening my Martial Soul, he thought, brushing the feeling aside.
The golden glow from the flower had faded, but a faint warmth still lingered within his chest—quiet, steady, and alive.