Soul Ring Hunting and a Blueprint for Power

At dawn on the fourth day, before the sky had even brightened, several figures had already gathered before Ye Mansion.

Ye Shengxin personally selected two Soul Ancestors from the Ye Clan's collateral branch.

One was Ye Ming, a level forty-three Control System Soul Ancestor whose martial soul was Green Vine; the other was Ye Feng, a level forty-five Power Attack System Soul Ancestor whose martial soul was an Iron-Back Gray Wolf. Both were experienced and had led teams into Sunset Forest many times to hunt Spirit Rings.

Originally, Luo Can had only requested Soul Elders to accompany them, but to be safe, Ye Shengxin directly replaced them with Soul Ancestors.

Bai Ningshuang and Bai Chen stood beside the two, dressed in fitted clothing suitable for movement, with Soul Guidance Storage Bags prepared by the Ye Clan hanging at their waists.

"On this trip into Sunset Forest, listen to Ye Ming and Ye Feng's commands in everything," Ye Shengxin instructed. "Your task is to obtain suitable hundred-year Spirit Rings. Do not recklessly take risks. Understood?"

"Understood!" the two answered in unison.

Ye Shengxin nodded, then turned to the two Soul Ancestors. "These two children are valued by Mister Luo. You must keep them safe."

"Rest assured, Patriarch," Ye Ming replied steadily.

Ye Feng grinned as well. "With us brothers here, nothing can go wrong."

When the sun rose, the four left Ye Mansion and set off toward Sunset Forest.

Ye Shengxin stood before the manor gates and watched them disappear around the street corner before turning back inside.

At the same time, in Fate Defying Valley.

Luo Can finished his morning Fishing session and looked thoughtfully at the numbers flickering on the Points Panel.

Over the past three days, he had accumulated nearly another ten thousand Points. Added to the previous eighty thousand, his total had now exceeded ninety thousand. He was only one final step away from upgrading both the Fishing Spot and his permissions.

In a few more days, I'll be able to upgrade both at once.

He put away his fishing rod and walked toward the open clearing.

Ye Lingling was already having her "morning training" with the Ghost Tiger.

When she saw Luo Can approach, Ye Lingling nimbly flipped backward to widen the distance. She made a face at the Ghost Tiger inside the Barrier, then jogged over.

"Master, good morning!"

"Morning." Luo Can rubbed her sweat-dampened hair and handed her a warm towel. "You trained well. But your transitions between moves are still somewhat stiff. The switch between Tiger Form and Mountain-Crushing Force isn't smooth enough."

Ye Lingling wiped away her sweat and nodded seriously. "Mm, I felt that too. When that ugly tiger pounced at me, I clearly wanted to counterattack with Mountain-Crushing Force, but my body was always half a beat too slow..."

"That's because you haven't integrated Tiger Momentum into your instincts yet." Luo Can crouched before her and patiently explained, "The Tiger King Mountain-Crushing Fist emphasizes momentum. Tiger Form gathers momentum, while Mountain-Crushing Force releases it. Your current Tiger Form only has the form, not the momentum. That's why the transition feels stiff."

He rose to his feet and assumed the opening stance of the Tiger Stance.

The movement was no different from what Ye Lingling usually practiced, but the instant his stance took shape, an invisible, ferocious presence spread outward from him. It was not the pressure of Soul Power, but a purely spiritual force, as though a true ancient ferocious tiger had awakened at that moment. Wherever its gaze reached, all things held their breath.

The Ghost Tiger within the Barrier instantly bristled, lowering its body and letting out a threatening whimper. It actually did not dare meet Luo Can's eyes.

Ye Lingling stared blankly, her small mouth slightly open.

"Did you feel it?" Luo Can dispersed the aura and returned to normal. "This is the true Tiger Form. It isn't about imitating movements, but making yourself become the tiger. When you throw a punch, it isn't you punching. It is the tiger pouncing to kill. Do you understand?"

Ye Lingling's eyes lit up, and she nodded heavily. "I understand, Master!"

"Go practice."

Luo Can walked to the spring and sat down, watching the little girl throw herself back into training with a satisfied look in his eyes.

Ye Lingling's comprehension was even better than he had expected. At this pace, she would truly master Tiger Form in at most another month. Once she absorbed her first Spirit Ring, her combat strength would undergo a qualitative transformation.

It was time to prepare Lingling's first Spirit Ring as well...

That afternoon, Luo Can left Fate Defying Valley and arrived atop Jueming Cliff.

In the open space atop the cliff, thirty-one boys and girls sat cross-legged in a circle, exchanging their cultivation insights.

When they saw Luo Can appear, everyone hurriedly rose and bowed.

"Lord Luo!"

Luo Can waved a hand, signaling for them to sit.

"How is your cultivation progressing?"

A-Shan spoke first, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice. "Reporting to my lord, I estimate that I'll break through another level in three to five days!"

"Me too. I feel like I'm close..."

"I'm still a little behind, but I'll definitely make it within a month at most!"

Everyone chimed in at once, and the atmosphere was lively.

After hearing them out, Luo Can nodded.

"Not bad. But let me remind you—when cultivating Soul Power, avoid impatience. Level one is only the threshold. You still have a long road ahead before becoming true Spirit Masters."

He paused, his voice becoming more serious.

"Moreover, you all know what White Silkworm martial souls mean in the world of Spirit Masters. Weak potential, no offensive power, no other attribute enhancements. But—"

His tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp.

"Since I chose you, I have a way to change that fact. In three months, once all of you have broken through level one, I will perform Cleansing Marrow and Washing Meridians for you and improve your aptitudes. After that, what path you choose as Spirit Masters and what Spirit Beasts you hunt will all be up to you."

As soon as his words fell, the cliff top became silent.

The boys and girls stared blankly at Luo Can before wild joy erupted in their eyes.

Cleansing Marrow and Washing Meridians! Improving their aptitudes!

These were things they had never even dared dream of. Yet now, this lord had personally promised them!

Thud!

A-Shan was the first to kneel, heavily knocking his head against the ground.

"My lord, I will never forget your grace of remaking me! From this day onward, this life of mine belongs to you!"

The others also dropped to their knees, their eyes reddening and their voices choking with emotion.

"We are willing to die for you, my lord!"

Luo Can looked at the boys and girls trembling with excitement and nodded inwardly.

This was precisely the effect he wanted.

Combining grace and authority, giving them hope, granting them strength—this was the proper way to build a loyal foundation.

"Get up, all of you."

"I give you hope and the opportunity to become stronger. But how far you can ultimately go will depend on your own efforts and choices."

He said no more. Turning, he walked toward the cliff's edge and gazed into the distant sea of rolling clouds.

Behind him, thirty-one pairs of blazing eyes fixed upon his back, as though they had seen a banner.

At sunset, just as Luo Can was preparing to return to the valley, he sensed two familiar presences appear beneath the cliff.

They were Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

A moment later, the old man and the young girl appeared atop the cliff.

Dugu Yan had not changed much outwardly. However, her aura had become far more solid, clearly due to the effects of the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma.

"Little Friend Luo!" Dugu Bo hurried forward, unable to hide the delight on his face. "After Yanyan took the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma, her martial soul directly evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Then she followed the method you taught us for half a month, and her foundation is now much more solid. Especially her control over her Life-Bound Poison—it surpasses even mine!"

Dugu Yan also stepped before Luo Can and respectfully bowed.

"Master."

Luo Can examined her for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. Since you're here, begin cultivating with Lingling tomorrow."

He looked toward Dugu Bo. "How has your poison been feeling these past few days?"

"Thanks to you, it's much better!" Dugu Bo hurriedly replied. "After taking the medicinal liquid you gave me, the toxins within my body have stabilized considerably, and my Soul Power has improved somewhat as well. Especially after absorbing that Sixty Thousand Year Soul Bone, my Soul Power has already broken through to level ninety-two. I just haven't forced the poison into the Spirit Bone yet."

"No rush." Luo Can waved a hand. "Take it slowly. We have plenty of time."

"Mm, then this old man shall take his leave!" Dugu Bo nodded.

As night gradually deepened, Dugu Bo took his leave. Dugu Yan was arranged to stay in the Wooden House next to Ye Lingling's, which Luo Can had built several days earlier in preparation for her.