The Beginning of a Power

As Luo Can finished speaking, Bai Wuliu and Bai Qiba exchanged a glance and instantly understood the deeper meaning behind his words.

This Title Douluo intended to cultivate his own faction in Baican Village.

"Please rest assured, Boss Luo," Bai Wuliu said solemnly with a bow. "My brother and I will certainly handle this matter properly."

"Mm." Bai Qiba nodded heavily as well.

At that moment, the two already regarded themselves as Luo Can's subordinates.

To them, serving under such an important figure was a tremendous opportunity. And for the villagers of Baican Village, being chosen and cultivated by a Title Douluo was an opportunity to change their fate.

"Good." Luo Can stood up. "Tomorrow at noon, I will visit White Silkworm Village."

By the time he returned to Fate Defying Valley, dusk had already fallen.

From afar, Luo Can saw Ye Lingling facing off against the hundred-year Ghost Tiger through the Soul Power Barrier in the clearing—or, more accurately, competing with it.

The little girl stood with her hands on her hips, her tiny face drawn taut. She bared her teeth at the Ghost Tiger inside the Barrier and even let out childish "Awoo, awoo" imitations of a tiger's roar. Though immature, they carried a fair amount of spirit.

The Ghost Tiger within the Barrier had clearly been enraged. It frantically pounced against the pale golden membrane, its claws scraping out piercing sounds against the Barrier. Its scarlet eyes remained fixed on Ye Lingling as if it wanted to swallow her whole.

Yet Ye Lingling did not retreat.

Although her little legs still trembled slightly, she stubbornly stood where she was, taking the stance of the Tiger Stance and glaring furiously at the Ghost Tiger.

"Not bad."

The corners of Luo Can's lips rose slightly, satisfaction showing in his eyes.

In just two days, the little girl's courage had indeed grown considerably. At first, she had not even dared meet its gaze. Now, she dared bare her teeth at a hundred-year Spirit Beast. Her progress was obvious.

He did not interrupt Ye Lingling's special training and turned to prepare dinner instead.

As the night deepened, Ye Lingling ate her medicinal meal and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted. Luo Can walked to the Barrier and glanced at the Ghost Tiger, which lay sprawled on the ground from hunger, barely able to move. He took out a large slab of fresh beast meat from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it into the Barrier.

The Ghost Tiger's eyes lit up as it pounced on the meat and began devouring it ravenously.

The next morning.

After Luo Can completed his usual Fishing, Ye Lingling happened to wake up as well. Once she had washed up, she ran over to the clearing, took a deep breath, and shouted at the Ghost Tiger inside the Barrier:

"Ugly tiger! Get up—!!"

Her voice echoed through the valley.

The Ghost Tiger, which had been dozing with its eyes half-closed, jolted and abruptly raised its head. Seeing that it was once again this annoying little human, it immediately flew into a rage. Its massive body shot toward the Barrier's edge like a bolt of black lightning.

Bang!

It slammed solidly into the pale golden membrane.

Roar—!!!

The Ghost Tiger flew into a furious rage, wildly clawing at the Barrier as low growls rumbled from its throat. Its scarlet tiger eyes glared fixedly at Ye Lingling, all its ferocity on display.

"Her courage has indeed grown quite a bit."

In the distance, Luo Can shook his head with a laugh.

He just did not know whether the little girl could maintain this courage once the Barrier was removed and she truly had to face the Ghost Tiger.

After preparing Ye Lingling's food for the day and giving her a few instructions, he spread his Dragon Wings and left the valley.

At noon, outside White Silkworm Village.

When Luo Can descended while concealing his aura, dozens of people had already gathered on the open grassland outside the village.

Bai Wuliu and Bai Qiba had worked efficiently. All forty-eight people on yesterday's list had arrived, without a single exception.

Most of them were boys and girls between ten and twenty years old. There were also several younger children holding their parents' hands, their faces full of curiosity and nervousness.

When Luo Can landed, an elderly man with graying hair and coarse cloth clothes hurried over, his face piled high with a respectful smile.

"Honored Lord Soul Master, this humble old man is Bai Shi, the village chief of Baican Village. I have been awaiting your arrival here."

Luo Can merely nodded lightly at the old man's fawning manner before turning his gaze toward the people on the grassland.

He slowly walked to the front of the crowd, his eyes sweeping over every young face.

Most of these boys and girls had dark skin and rough palms, clearly children of farming families. At that moment, they looked at him with anxious yet hopeful eyes.

"Ahem."

Luo Can cleared his throat and spoke.

"My name is Luo Can."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every person present.

"From today onward, I will select suitable people from among you and train them to become Spirit Masters."

He paused, and his gaze turned sharp.

"But before that, I require your loyalty."

As soon as he finished speaking, his thoughts stirred slightly.

Behind him, the Golden Dragon Moth martial soul appeared.

Brilliant golden butterfly wings unfurled, dragon scales reflecting dazzling radiance beneath the sunlight. Majestic dragon might spread outward like a tide.

All the boys and girls present sucked in a breath, their eyes widening as shock filled their faces.

"My martial soul began at the same starting point as yours."

Luo Can's voice was calm, yet it carried a power that seemed to pierce straight into their hearts.

"They are all White Silkworms, and my Innate Soul Power was only level 0.5."

A low stir ran through the crowd. Disbelief flashed through many of the boys' and girls' eyes.

Innate Soul Power of level 0.5? How was that possible?

"But now—"

Nine Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath Luo Can's feet.

Purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.

When the final hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring, vivid as blood, appeared, an overwhelming pressure descended over the entire crowd like a mountain. The boys and girls turned pale, while some of the younger children's legs gave out, nearly dropping them to their knees.

"I have already reached the pinnacle of Spirit Masters."

Luo Can's gaze swept across the crowd as his voice rang out powerfully. "A Title Douluo."

The grassland fell deathly silent. Only the rustling of grass in the wind could be heard. Everyone was so stunned by this sight, which overturned all common sense, that they could not speak.

A White Silkworm martial soul with Innate Soul Power of level 0.5 had actually cultivated to become a Title Douluo? It was simply absurd!

"So, I ask you—"

A faint smile appeared on Luo Can's face as he said:

"Are you willing to cultivate under me and join the faction I am about to establish? Then become Spirit Masters whom others admire?"

His words exploded in everyone's minds like thunder.

After a brief silence—

"I'm willing!!"

"Lord Luo, please teach us how to cultivate!!"

"We are willing to follow you!!"

Excited cries erupted like a tidal wave. The boys and girls' faces flushed red, blazing fire burning in their eyes. They knelt before Luo Can and bowed deeply, their voices trembling with excitement.

"Very good."

Luo Can raised a hand in a downward gesture, and the crowd gradually quieted.

"But joining my faction will not be so simple. Next, you must complete a trial—"

He raised his hand and pointed toward the towering Jueming Cliff in the distance.

"Set out from here, hurry all the way to the base of Jueming Cliff, then climb to its summit. I will wait for you there."

He did not accept them immediately.

It was a trial that was not particularly dangerous, yet sufficient to test their temperament and will—whether they could persevere through fear, keep moving through exhaustion, and refuse to give up in desperate circumstances. Those things were far more important than Innate Soul Power.

Most of the boys and girls present had heard of Jueming Cliff's fearsome reputation. Many herb gatherers from the village had once climbed its cliff face, only never to return. Yet at that moment, their desire to become Spirit Masters overcame their fear of the unknown danger.

They exchanged glances, determination gradually igniting in their eyes.

"To become Spirit Masters..."

"Let's do it!"

Luo Can said no more. He turned to look at the village chief, Bai Shi, who had been waiting respectfully to the side.

"From now on, everyone in White Silkworm Village who awakens a White Silkworm martial soul must be reported truthfully to me. You are not to reveal what happened today to anyone or any faction, including Spirit Hall."

His gaze was calm, yet Bai Shi felt a chill shoot up his spine. He hurriedly bowed.

"Please rest assured! This humble old man will not reveal a single word!"

"Good."

Luo Can nodded and did not linger any longer. His Dragon Wings spread wide as he shot into the sky, turning into a streak of golden light that swept toward Jueming Cliff.

After he left, the boys and girls on the grassland looked at each other. No one knew who shouted first:

"Let's go! To Jueming Cliff!"

Dozens of figures ran toward that perilous peak.

At the summit of Jueming Cliff.

Luo Can sat casually atop a protruding rock at the cliff's edge, his legs dangling in the air as he gazed at the mountain ranges stretching into the distance.

From here, he could clearly see the tiny, ant-like figures below the mountain gathering at the base of the cliff along the mountain path.

"The first step in building a faction..." The corners of Luo Can's lips curved into a faint arc.

"It has begun."