Leveling Up Permission

[ Ding! -1000 Points. The host's permission has been raised to Level 1. ]

[ Ding! Congratulations, host, on reaching Level 1 Permission. The age of all your Spirit Rings has increased by one thousand years! ]

The moment the system notification ended, Luo Can felt as if something inside him had been ignited.

His Golden Dragon Moth martial soul manifested uncontrollably. Nine Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, then began to change.

His original configuration of two yellow, two purple, four black, and one dark red Spirit Rings transformed within a few breaths into four purple, four black, and one red.

When the Ninth Spirit Ring became a vivid blood-red color—

"Pop—"

A faint cracking sound came from within his body. Soul Power surged like a river bursting through its banks, instantly smashing through the barrier of Level 92.

"I... broke through just like that?" Luo Can felt the explosive growth of Soul Power within him and was momentarily dazed.

Normally, a Title Douluo needed years or even more than a decade of hard cultivation to advance from Level 91 to Level 92. Yet only a few short days had passed since he became a Title Douluo.

"At this rate, the other Title Douluo might as well give up living."

After withdrawing his martial soul and Spirit Rings, Luo Can looked back at the Virtual Panel.

[ Fisher: Luo Can ]

[ Permission: Level 1 (0/5000) ]

[ Highest Fishing Quality Available: Black ]

[ Daily Fishing Time: 2 hours ]

[ Points: 1700 ]

[ Unique Fishing Spot: Fate-Defying Spring (Level: Intermediate) + ]

"Black quality..." Luo Can's eyes lit up. "Does that mean I can fish up Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones and items of equivalent value?"

Without hesitation, he spent his remaining Points to upgrade the Fishing Spot.

[ -1000 Points ]

[ Unique Fishing Spot: Fate-Defying Spring is upgrading... ]

The ground beneath his feet shook once more. This time, the disturbance was greater than ever—the springhead of the Fate-Defying Spring expanded visibly, growing from one zhang to two, until it finally stopped at three zhang.

The spring water became deeper in color, changing from crystal clear to a faint jade green. The spiritual energy around it grew so dense it nearly condensed into mist, while the spirit herbs in the Herb Garden visibly shot up another stretch.

Luo Can crouched down, scooped up a handful of spring water, and drank it.

The cool liquid slid down his throat and instantly turned into warm energy that flowed through his entire body. Every cell seemed to cheer, while his meridians grew tougher beneath the washing of that energy.

"The effect is at least ten times stronger than before..." He opened his eyes, a trace of shock flashing through them. "And it even contains incredibly potent life energy."

Just that small sip made him feel several years younger—not in appearance, but in the vitality blooming from the depths of his bones.

"Could this Fate Reversal Water cure Sister Ye?" The thought surfaced uncontrollably.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Can took out a White Jade Bottle from his Storage Soul Tool, filled it with spring water, and sealed the mouth with Soul Power.

"I'll give it a try."

Dragon Wings unfolded behind him. The golden butterfly wings refracted dazzling halos beneath the sunlight as Luo Can shot into the sky, landing outside Qingshi Town within a few breaths.

He first stopped by the herb shop.

Bai Liuwu and Bai Qiba had already arrived. They were cleaning the counter when they saw Luo Can enter and hurriedly stopped what they were doing.

"Good morning, Boss!"

"Morning." Luo Can nodded. "I need to go take care of something, so watch the shop carefully. Someone may come to collect the Red Blood Ganoderma they reserved today. It's in the third drawer on the left."

"Understood, Boss!"

After giving his instructions, Luo Can turned and left the shop, heading out of town.

Ye Mansion was located three li outside Qingshi Town, a sprawling estate that covered a considerable area.

Outside Ye Mansion.

When the guards saw Luo Can approaching, they respectfully bowed and stepped aside.

Over the years, Luo Can had supplied medicinal ingredients exclusively to the Ye Clan and was close to Ye Qingyu, the eldest daughter. At Ye Mansion, he was practically half one of their own.

"Lord Luo." The two guards respectfully saluted and made way.

Luo Can nodded in acknowledgment and stepped into the estate.

The layout of Ye Mansion was simple and elegant. Pavilions and towers were arranged in pleasing layers, and every corner carried the tranquil atmosphere of a family of healers.

Luo Can made his way through the front courtyard with practiced ease and arrived at the rear garden.

Then he saw Ye Qingyu.

She lay on a reclining chair covered with thick blankets. Sunlight fell across her body, yet it could not dispel the weakness seeping from her very bones. Her once-black hair had already turned more than half white, and her face was as pale as paper.

Beside her sat a little girl of about five or six.

The girl wore a black dress, her hair tied into two small braids. There was little expression on her delicately sculpted face. She stood quietly at the side, one small hand clutching her mother's sleeve, lips pressed together without saying a word.

Luo Can walked over to her and sensed the Soul Power fluctuations in Ye Qingyu's body, so faint they were nearly undetectable. His heart sank.

It had only been five days.

Just five short days, and her condition had worsened to this extent.

"Sister Ye," Luo Can said, crouching beside the reclining chair and taking out the bottle of Fate Reversal Water from his Storage Soul Tool. "I want to try again."

"What is this?" Ye Qingyu looked at the White Jade Bottle, confusion flickering in her eyes.

"A medicinal solution I prepared." Luo Can carefully chose his words. "One of the main ingredients... is the same kind that changed my cultivation aptitude back then."

He could not tell her it was water from the Fate-Defying Spring, so he could only gloss over it vaguely.

Ye Qingyu smiled bitterly and shook her head. "It's useless, Little Luo. I'm already at the end of my rope..."

"Try it." Luo Can looked into her eyes, his voice soft yet unusually firm. "All right?"

The pavilion fell silent. Only the rustling of leaves in the wind and Ye Lingling's tense breathing could be heard.

After a long while, Ye Qingyu let out a soft sigh.

"I'll listen to you one more time."

She tried to sit upright, but even that simple movement took immense effort. Luo Can quickly supported her and carefully brought the bottle to her lips.

The clear spring water flowed down her throat.

At first, nothing happened. But several seconds later, Ye Qingyu's body trembled slightly. A gentle vitality emerged from within her, like dead wood welcoming spring, and even her complexion gained a little more color.

Luo Can held his breath.

However, that vitality lasted less than ten breaths before receding like the tide. Ye Qingyu's face turned pale again, though it was slightly better than before.

"So it still... failed?" Luo Can's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Yet Ye Qingyu shook her head, and the corner of her lips even curved into a faint smile. "It had some effect, just not much."

For her, feeling such vigorous life force in the final days of her life was already a miracle.

But for Luo Can, it was nowhere near enough.

The Fate-Defying Spring could still be upgraded, and its effects could become even stronger. But Ye Qingyu... did not have much time left.

A feeling of helplessness instantly drowned Luo Can. The hand holding the empty bottle trembled slightly.

"All right, Little Luo." Ye Qingyu gently patted the back of his hand and changed the subject. "Look, this is my daughter, Lingling."

She pulled the little girl beside her closer. Ye Lingling raised her head, her clear black-and-white eyes quietly watching Luo Can.

"Lingling, call him Master," Ye Qingyu said gently.

Ye Lingling pressed her lips together and softly hummed in acknowledgment before respectfully bowing. "Lingling greets Master."

Luo Can suppressed the emotions in his heart and forced out a smile. "What a good girl."

He took out a yellow pill from his Storage Soul Tool. It was a Soul Power Pill.

"This is Master's greeting gift for you." He handed the pill to her. "You can take it once your martial soul awakens."

Ye Lingling did not take it immediately. Instead, she turned to look at her mother. Only after Ye Qingyu gave a slight nod did she reach out and accept the pill.

"Thank you, Master." Her voice was very soft.

"Tomorrow is Lingling's martial soul awakening day." Ye Qingyu looked at Luo Can, anticipation in her eyes. "Little Luo, today... stay here and keep me company for a while."

"Okay."

The sunlight slowly shifted, and the shadows gradually lengthened. The two spoke of their experiences over the years: Luo Can's adventures in the Star Dou Forest, Ye Qingyu's everyday affairs in the Ye Clan, and the people they both knew, the things they had experienced together.

Occasionally, Ye Lingling would add a sentence or two, her voice quiet and small.

Before they realized it, the sun had set and night had fallen.

With a servant's support, Ye Qingyu returned to her bedroom, while Luo Can was assigned a guest room to rest in.

He lay on the bed, but sleep would not come.

"Ah..." Luo Can sighed softly. "Another person is about to leave me."

His parents and Ye Qingyu were among the few people he truly cared about after crossing over to Douluo Continent. But as he kept walking forward, one by one, only he was left behind.

He did not know when he fell asleep. When he woke, the sky was already bright, and faint voices came from the courtyard.