Journey to the Star Dou Forest

The next morning, when Luo Can arrived at Luo's Herb Shop, the youth from yesterday was already waiting at the entrance.

The youth wore clean, coarse linen clothes. When he saw Luo Can appear, his eyes lit up. He hurried over and bowed.

"Boss Luo, you're here."

"Mm." Luo Can nodded, took out the key, and opened the shop door. "Come in."

The two entered the shop one after the other. Luo Can sat down in the chair behind the counter before finally raising his eyes to carefully examine the youth before him.

"What's your name?"

"Yang Yan," the youth answered.

"Yang Yan, let me see your martial soul."

Yang Yan took a deep breath, stepped back twice, and closed his eyes.

A faint earth-yellow glow rose from his body. Then, a humanoid martial soul completely covered in thick Rock Armor emerged.

Luo Can narrowed his eyes.

This martial soul is of quite good quality.

In the original story, humanoid martial souls generally had no low ceiling so long as their Innate Soul Power was not too poor. Ghost Douluo's Ghost, Huo Wu's Fire Shadow, and even Yan's Flame Lord were all humanoid types.

"What level is your Innate Soul Power?" Luo Can asked again.

"Level five," Yang Yan replied.

Luo Can secretly shook his head.

A typical case of Innate Soul Power holding him back. Level five Innate Soul Power was not bad, but for such a mutated martial soul, it was somewhat lacking.

If his Innate Soul Power had reached level seven or even eight, this youth would have long since been fought over by Spirit Hall and the major sects.

"Let me see your Spirit Ring."

Yang Yan nodded, Soul Power surging beneath his feet.

A white Spirit Ring rose from beneath him.

Luo Can: "..."

He stared at the Spirit Ring for three seconds, confirming that he had not seen it wrong.

A ten-year Spirit Ring.

"..."

Luo Can took a deep breath and forcibly swallowed the complaint that had reached his lips. He tried to keep his voice calm.

"Who helped you obtain your Spirit Ring back then?"

Yang Yan scratched his head. "The teachers at the Primary Academy. They all thought my martial soul was kind of... useless. Rock Armor's actual defense was worse than that of true defense-type martial souls, and its attack power was inferior to the Power Attack System. The teachers said that since my potential ceiling wasn't high anyway, they might as well just find a ten-year Spirit Beast to make do..."

Luo Can closed his eyes and rubbed his throbbing temples.

What a waste.

What an utter waste!

A seedling with a high chance of possessing a top-tier mutated martial soul had been crippled by those "teachers." If they had found him a hundred-year Spirit Ring back then, Yang Yan's Soul Power would have already broken through level twenty with the foundation of this martial soul!

He opened his eyes and looked at the somewhat uneasy youth before him, a complicated emotion rising in his heart.

Perhaps this was the reality for low-level Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent. Without a background, resources, or a sharp-eyed mentor, even the finest talent could be buried.

Just like himself back then. If he had not fallen from Jueming Cliff and obtained the Fate-Defying Spring, he would probably have spent his entire life as a "useless martial soul" with 0.5-level Innate Soul Power.

Fortunately, it was not too late.

"Yang Yan," Luo Can said. "Work well for me from now on, and I'll train you into a true powerhouse."

Yang Yan abruptly raised his head. The next moment, he dropped to his knees with a thud and heavily kowtowed to Luo Can. "Thank you, Boss Luo! Yang Yan will never forget today's kindness!"

"Get up." Luo Can waved his hand and took out a book half an inch thick from beneath the counter, placing it before Yang Yan. "This is the Detailed Summary of Basic Herbs that I compiled. It records the identification, properties, and processing methods of three hundred and twenty common herbs. Take it back and study it carefully."

He paused, his tone turning stern.

"I'll only give you half a month. After that, I'll personally test you. If you pass, you may officially stay. If you fail..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was obvious.

Yang Yan accepted the book with both hands, hugged it tightly to his chest, and nodded heavily.

"I'll definitely complete the task! I won't disappoint you!"

"Go read in the back hall. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."

"Yes!"

He watched Yang Yan walk briskly toward the back hall with the book in his arms.

At dusk, Luo Can closed the shop and returned to Fate Defying Valley.

Ye Lingling was practicing the Tiger King Mountain-Crushing Fist in the open space, while Dugu Yan sat nearby, watching intently.

When she saw Luo Can return, Ye Lingling withdrew her stance and ran over.

"Master!"

"Mm." Luo Can rubbed her hair, sending Soul Power into her body to examine the strength of her meridians and the solidity of her Soul Power.

After a moment, Luo Can withdrew his hand, satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

"Very good. Your Tiger Form possesses seventy percent of its true essence, and you can release and retract Mountain-Crushing Force at will. Your meridians are resilient, and this physical strength..." He paused before giving his judgment. "It is enough to withstand the impact of a thousand-year Spirit Ring."

"Really?!" Ye Lingling's eyes lit up, her little face brimming with delight.

"A thousand years?!"

Dugu Yan also jumped up, her emerald eyes wide. "M-Master, are you saying... Senior Sister's first Spirit Ring will absorb a thousand-year one?!"

"What, is that not allowed?" Luo Can raised a brow.

"N-No..." Dugu Yan swallowed. "B-But isn't the limit for a Spirit Master's first Spirit Ring four hundred and twenty-three years? A thousand-year Spirit Ring... wouldn't that make her explode and die?"

"Ordinary Spirit Masters naturally can't do it." Luo Can smiled, his tone filled with confidence. "But Lingling is different. The Medicinal Baths, Medicinal Meals, and pills she has used these past two weeks are far from ordinary."

"Besides, have you ever seen a level-ten Spirit Master who could fight a hundred-year Ghost Tiger back and forth like Lingling?"

Dugu Yan froze.

Luo Can then looked at Ye Lingling and said seriously.

"Lingling, remember this—the so-called 'limit' exists to be broken. Just because others can't do it doesn't mean you can't. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Ye Lingling nodded heavily.

Dugu Yan's heart surged as she listened. Once she came back to herself, she immediately grabbed the hem of Luo Can's robe.

"Master! I want to go too! I want to watch Senior Sister absorb a thousand-year Spirit Ring!"

Luo Can lightly tapped her little head.

"Go back and sleep properly. We'll return early tomorrow morning. You can watch all you want then."

"Ah..." Dugu Yan's little face fell. She reluctantly released his robe and walked back toward the Wooden House, turning back every few steps.

Luo Can smiled and paid her no further mind. He bent down, picked Ye Lingling up, and spread his Golden Dragon Wings behind him.

"Hold on tight."

"Mm!"

With a beat of his wings, he shot into the sky. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the clouds, becoming a streak of pale golden light as he sped toward the Star Dou Forest.

With his current level ninety-five strength, flying at full speed, the Star Dou Forest appeared at the edge of his vision after only half the time it took to burn an incense stick.

Outside the Star Dou Forest, in an open grassy clearing.

After landing, Luo Can set Ye Lingling down.

Then he closed his eyes as vast mental power spread out and extended into the forest.

According to the original story, regardless of what Spirit Rings the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul obtained, it would only ever have one Soul Skill—healing. Moreover, it was group healing, its effects controlled according to the Spirit Master's will. The higher the level and the more Spirit Rings possessed, the greater the healing power.

Such a martial soul was practically a miracle.

But Luo Can had his own ideas regarding Ye Lingling's training.

Since her healing ability already reigned supreme across the continent, he might as well put more effort into "survival" and "counterattacking."

If Lingling absorbed strength-type Spirit Rings, it could indirectly enhance her healing through increased attack power on one hand. On the other, even if enemies wanted to assassinate her, the core healer, she could strike back with a set of Tiger King Mountain-Crushing Fists and kill them on the spot.

A healer who could heal, yet transform into a brutal close-combat battle healer when pushed too far—just thinking about it gave one a headache.

"So, the target for the first Spirit Ring..."

Luo Can opened his eyes, golden light flowing through them.

"A Great Strength Ape, or a Great Strength Vajra Bear."