Bai Ningshuang and Bai Chen Return

Early the next morning.

Qian Renxue was taking a walk by the lake when, after only a few steps, she spotted the enormous creature squatting at the shore, staring longingly at Luo Can.

A Titan Giant Ape.

Though it was still in its juvenile stage, its nearly two-zhang-tall body, granite-like muscles, and bright yellow eyes glowing like two little lanterns through the morning mist still radiated a terrifying pressure.

She quickly walked over to Luo Can's side and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you fish this out last night?"

"Mm." Luo Can opened his eyes, glanced at the Titan Giant Ape, and shook his head regretfully. "It's a pity it's only five hundred years old. If I could fish out one at the ten-thousand-year level, it would be a much greater help."

"Tsk, tsk. I think it's pretty good." Qian Renxue crossed her arms and scrutinized the Titan Giant Ape. "A top-tier Spirit Beast like this has enormous growth potential. Raise it properly, and once it reaches ten thousand years, or even a hundred thousand years, having it sacrifice itself for one of the Pavilion's younger members could produce a top-tier powerhouse."

She said it as if it were only natural, as though she were discussing how to raise livestock.

"Roar—!!"

The Titan Giant Ape had clearly understood. A ferocious light suddenly flashed in its bright yellow eyes as it sprang to its feet. Its massive body cast a mountain-like shadow, and it bared its stark white fangs at Qian Renxue, a threatening growl rumbling from its throat.

Qian Renxue merely raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Quite the temper."

She rolled her wrists. Six pitch-black wings unfolded behind her, dark radiance flowing over her body.

"Perfect. This young lady needs a punching bag for her morning exercise."

Before her words had even faded, her figure vanished from where she stood!

The Titan Giant Ape's pupils shrank. Instinctively, it raised both arms before its chest, but in the next instant, a fair little fist slammed into its crossed arms!

"Bang—!!!"

The Titan Giant Ape's enormous body was actually blasted back several staggering steps by that punch, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground.

"Roar!!"

The Titan Giant Ape flew into a rage. Its bright yellow eyes turned bloodshot as its fists smashed toward Qian Renxue like heavy hammers.

But Qian Renxue's figure flickered like a ghost, easily evading the furious strike before driving a backhanded punch into the Titan Giant Ape's waist.

"Bang!"

"Roar—!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The next half hour became a one-sided "beating."

"Do you submit?"

"Roar—!"

"Looks like you don't. Then let's continue."

"Bang!"

"Do you submit?"

"Wuu..."

By the time Luo Can finished cultivating and rose to his feet, the Titan Giant Ape was already sprawled on the ground, bruised and battered, its bright yellow eyes noticeably dimmer.

Qian Renxue clapped her hands. Her six black wings folded away as she nodded in satisfaction.

"Solid bones and muscles. Takes a beating well. A fine punching bag."

Luo Can rubbed his brow helplessly.

"That's enough. Don't actually beat it to death. Lingling and Yanyan will need it as a sparring partner later."

Qian Renxue curled her lips and finally stopped.

She walked over to the Titan Giant Ape and nudged its thick arm with the tip of her foot. "I'll let you off today. Behave yourself from now on, understand?"

The Titan Giant Ape let out a weak "Wuu," taking it as an answer.

Watching this scene, Luo Can shook his head and said seriously to Qian Renxue.

"Vice Pavilion Master Qian, there are many ways to obtain Spirit Rings. Don't simply regard the Spirit Beasts I fish out as 'Spirit Ring resources.' They possess intelligence and can grow. In the future, they may become support for the Fate Defying Pavilion, or even companions."

Qian Renxue shrugged.

"Got it. But speaking of which—"

She looked at the Titan Giant Ape, a thoughtful glint flashing through her eyes.

"This big fellow really is suitable as a sparring partner for those two little girls. The Ghost Tiger no longer puts much pressure on Lingling. Replacing it with this one... should be enough to force out that girl's potential."

"Mm." Luo Can nodded. "That was my thought too."

Baican Village.

When Luo Can came here again, the changes at the village entrance made him pause in surprise.

The formerly empty wasteland had now become a bustling construction site.

Dozens of workers were busy. Some were laying foundations, some carried stone, and others erected simple work sheds. Piles of bluestone, timber, bricks, and tiles were stacked at the village entrance, while several carts loaded with building supplies slowly approached from afar.

Luo Can quickly found Ye Qingyu among the crowd.

Today, she wore a light gray outfit suited for movement, her long hair simply tied into a ponytail. Holding a roll of blueprints, she was explaining something to several foreman-like men.

When she saw Luo Can approaching, Ye Qingyu nodded to the foremen and hurried over.

"Little Luo, you came at just the right time." She unfolded the blueprints in her hands and pointed to several marked locations. "This is the current plan. Since we need to build a sect compound capable of housing over a hundred people for living, cultivation, and daily life, the material and labor costs won't be low. Initial estimates put it at no less than one thousand Gold Soul Coins, and completing it fully will take at least half a year."

Luo Can took the blueprints and examined them carefully.

The plan was very clear. The central area held the sect's main hall, with the Mission Hall and Contribution Hall on the left, and cultivation and lodging areas on the right. The style was not particularly extravagant, but the layout was sensible and the facilities complete.

"I'm planning to build a basic framework first, then expand it year by year." Ye Qingyu added somewhat regretfully, "But cultivation grounds like mimic environments are beyond us for the time being. Those require special Soul Tool Arrays and rare materials. With the Fate Defying Pavilion's current finances, I'm afraid..."

"This is already very good." Luo Can handed the blueprints back to her. "Sister Ye has put a great deal of thought into creating such a plan in only a few days."

He took out a purple Soul Coin card and handed it to Ye Qingyu.

"There are three thousand Gold Soul Coins on this card. It should be enough. If it isn't, just tell me anytime."

Ye Qingyu accepted the Soul Coin card, slightly startled.

"Three thousand? That's too much. One thousand Gold Soul Coins is enough for the initial construction."

"Take it." Luo Can smiled. "If we're building it, we should build it properly. Use the best materials and pay the workers well so they'll have the motivation to work. The rest can be used to purchase basic supplies or serve as operating funds for the Pavilion."

Hearing that, Ye Qingyu no longer declined and nodded firmly.

"Alright, I understand."

Luo Can then took out the thick Contribution Point System he had designed the day before and handed it to Ye Qingyu.

"Since we're building the sect, we might as well mobilize the disciples too. Set up some 'daily tasks'—carrying materials, clearing the site, assisting construction, and so on. Award Contribution Points based on their performance. It can speed up progress and help them become familiar with the Contribution Point System faster."

Ye Qingyu's eyes lit up.

"That's a good idea. I'll go work out a feasible plan right away."

Holding the Contribution Point System, she entered a temporary tent nearby and began studying it at her desk.

Luo Can made a round of the construction site. Looking at those busy figures, anticipation flashed through his eyes.

After finishing his inspection, Luo Can left Baican Village and headed to Luo's Herb Shop in Yaowang Town.

Time quietly passed in peace.

In the blink of an eye, seven days went by.

Quite a few changes had taken place over those seven days.

Beside Baican Village, the initial outline of the Fate Defying Pavilion had become clearly visible. The foundations had been laid, and the frameworks of several main buildings had risen. Construction continued day and night, progressing swiftly.

With the Titan Giant Ape as her new "punching bag," Ye Lingling's progress in the Tiger King Mountain-Crushing Fist advanced by leaps and bounds. She had already touched the threshold of the third form, Tiger Roars in the Mountain Forest. When she threw a punch, the faint sound of a tiger's roar could be heard, its power astonishing.

Dugu Yan's Myriad Poison Force had also improved significantly. She had initially mastered the method of incorporating Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison into her force, but lacked sufficient high-quality poisonous herbs and toxins for deeper cultivation. She could only wait for Dugu Bo to send over the supplies.

At the peak of Jueming Cliff, the thirty-one Baican Village boys and girls whom Luo Can considered the "core" had entered the right track in cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Four of them had already touched the threshold of the first level, including the dark, skinny youth Asan.

At the base of the cliff, the twenty-one Associate Inner Pavilion Disciples could also enter shallow meditation through the Embryonic Breathing Meditation Method.

That morning, Luo Can finished Fishing by the spring.

[ Ding! This Fishing session has ended. Overall evaluation: Good. Reward: 3000 Points ]

[ Points: 28500 ]

Looking at the numbers on the Virtual Panel, Luo Can shook his head helplessly.

The Fishing gains over the past seven days had indeed been somewhat "dull."

Not to mention a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, a Level 9 Soul Tool, or red-quality pills—he had rarely even caught anything decent of black quality.

Most of the time, he caught basic resources like Soul Power Pills and Body Refining Pills. Occasionally, there were a few low-grade Spirit Bones, but their age was only between thirty and sixty thousand years.

"Did fishing out Qian Renxue really use up all my good luck?"

He laughed at himself and put away his fishing rod.

What happened to "highest fishable quality: red"? He had not even seen a single hair of a red-quality item.

But on second thought, Soul Power Pills and Body Refining Pills were urgently needed resources for the Fate Defying Pavilion's disciples. He could just treat it as the system helping him stockpile "supplies."

"Whatever. Better than nothing."

He stopped dwelling on it, got up, and headed toward the kitchen to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, and a certain "big-eater Vice Pavilion Master."

Yaowang Town, Luo's Herb Shop.

Luo Can opened the shop and sat behind the counter.

He had been seated for less than ten minutes when the shop door was pushed open.

Two travel-worn figures walked in.

They were Bai Ningshuang and Bai Chen.

Upon seeing Luo Can, Bai Ningshuang quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Boss Luo! We're back!"

Bai Chen bowed as well, excitement impossible to hide on his face. "We successfully obtained our First Spirit Rings!"

Luo Can looked at the siblings, his gaze sweeping over them as satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

He stood, walked over to them, and gently patted their shoulders.

"Congratulations. You've become Spirit Masters."