"So what kind of surprise are you trying to give us?" Hei Yao raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he lifted his hand casually. "Hopefully it's not something that'll scare us half to death."
Cheng Mo stood silently beside him, eyes fixed on Si Lu with a burning intensity, saying nothing but clearly intrigued.
"Alright, let's skip the drama," Si Lu said with a calm tone. She lifted her delicate, pale hand, and with a flick of her wrist, two slim silver vials shimmered into existence. "One each. Don't drink them here—find somewhere private. And if someone asks, make up an excuse. Just don't go back to the tribe with them."
The moment those vials appeared, both Hei Yao and Cheng Mo froze, eyes wide in silent shock.
Cheng Mo turned slightly toward Hei Yao. As expected, the man's guess had been spot on—they were absolutely stunned. They weren't fools. It didn't take a genius to guess what this was. Si Lu had given them something similar in the past, though the color had been different. These new silver vials… they had an unmistakable aura of advancement, like a next-level evolution.
They both had a good idea of what it meant, but neither of them said a word. No need to speak what could be quietly understood. Some truths didn't need to be confirmed. Some questions were better left unanswered. Sometimes, you just knew.
"Yep, I was right. I am scared," Hei Yao said, smirking.
"Same," Cheng Mo agreed, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Si Lu had weighed the decision carefully. Among their large family, only these two stood at the top in both strength and intelligence. If anyone deserved to be powered up first, it was them. These were the only two potions of this level she had—no second chances, no refills.
And honestly, even if she had lined all her partners up and given them the choice, she believed every one of them would've stepped aside and let Hei Yao and Cheng Mo take them anyway.
Hei Yao had experience, raw strength, and a tactical mind sharper than most. His presence alone was like armor for the family.
Cheng Mo was the rock. Calm, composed, naturally charismatic, and respected. A born leader. He didn't need to be loud—people just listened.
"Take them," Si Lu said, her tone soft but firm. "Use them when the time feels right."
Without hesitation, she placed a silver vial into each of their hands.
"Lulu, your seafood porridge is ready. I brought it for you," came a voice from outside the cave.
The footsteps approached deliberately. It was Bai Di—and he wasn't just bringing food. He was signaling. A quiet reminder not to overstay the private conversation, and not to interrupt anything important.
They all understood. If Si Lu wanted to say something privately, none of them would pry. If she didn't share it willingly, they wouldn't ask.
"Perfect timing! I'm starving," Si Lu grinned, catching Bai Di's meaning loud and clear.
How could she not? Her partners were sharp. Considerate. Thoughtful.
"Coming right up," Bai Di said as he stepped in, carrying the steaming bowl of porridge.
Right behind him came Song Zhan, balancing a platter of perfectly grilled meat, and Nans, proudly holding a pile of charred, fragrant shrimp—her favorite.
"Whoa, so much food! You guys spoil me!" Si Lu laughed, eyes sparkling."You always make exactly what I want. You're the best."
She leaned in and inhaled deeply, the delicious aromas hitting her senses all at once.
"Smells amazing!" she said with a dramatic sniff.
Honestly? Few things in life compared to good food. This was the pinnacle of happiness. Food was her love language.
"Come here, Lulu. I'll feed you," Bai Di said gently. "The porridge's just the right temperature."
"Mmhmm," Si Lu nodded, opening her mouth as he offered a spoonful.
Delicious.So delicious she closed her eyes to savor it, completely lost in the warmth and flavor.
The others chuckled at her expression—eyes closed in bliss like a happy cat. Their little female was only getting cuter by the day.
In the days that followed, both Hei Yao and Cheng Mo successfully advanced to silver-level strength.
With their promotion came more than just power—they each received a flood of inherited knowledge, mysterious memories, and ancient truths.
One day, Si Lu sat with them, restless and curious.
"Amo, A-Yao... how strong are you now, exactly?" she asked, tilting her head.She'd never heard of a level above purple.
She did have one last purple-level potion tucked away for herself—but she didn't plan to take it just yet. Not until her body recovered. She needed to strengthen herself too. She couldn't keep depending on them to protect her forever.
Besides, out of everyone in the group, she was still the weakest. That potion... it had to be meant for her. Why else would the system hand it over so suddenly?
And as she'd discovered, the spiritual spring water in her space only worked up to the purple level. Once someone reached that tier, no amount of spring water would push them further. It could still help with healing or maintaining health, sure—but not advancement.
Which was fine. Honestly, she was grateful.
The spring water had already done more than enough.
Even miracles had their limits.
But now, curiosity got the better of her.
"So? What level comes after purple?" she asked.
Hei Yao gave her a steady look. "Silver," he said seriously. "And beyond that… nothing. Not here."
"This continent is part of the orc world," Cheng Mo added, voice low. "But there are other worlds out there. We thought our world was vast—but it turns out we've only been seeing the tip of the iceberg."
Si Lu's jaw dropped. "Wait—other worlds?!"
Cheng Mo nodded. "Yes. The orc continent only allows strength up to the silver level. If someone surpasses that… they either leave, or the laws of the world will suppress and eventually erase them."
"How do you know that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Cheng Mo just shook his head—he didn't know.
Hei Yao, on the other hand, responded calmly. "I don't know how I know. The knowledge just… appeared. Like it was planted in my head the moment I advanced."
"Sounds legit to me," Si Lu said with a sigh.There was no point trying to unravel every mystery right now.
Some answers would only come with time.And strength.And maybe a little chaos.