The Idea of Establishing a Force!

Dugu Xin was left speechless.

"Again."

Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, a teasing smile in his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes.

Dugu Xin took a deep breath and spread his External Soul Bone, pale blue wings beating behind him.

He sprang into the air and charged at his father.

Then he was knocked flat again.

Lin Wan'er stood to the side, covering her mouth as she laughed softly.

Dugu Yan opened her eyes from cultivation. Seeing her father knocked to the ground by her grandfather once again, even her emerald Dragon Eyes curved into crescents.

"Dad, you can do it!"

Dugu Xin lay on the ground, staring up at the sky, his Deep Purple Eyes filled with utter despair.

"I can't do it anymore..."

Dugu Bo walked over and held out a hand to his son.

Dugu Xin froze for a moment before taking his father's hand and being pulled to his feet.

"Not bad." Dugu Bo patted his son's shoulder. "You lasted three seconds longer than last time."

Three seconds.

Dugu Xin's mouth twitched.

But it was his father's approval.

Even three seconds counted as progress.

The days passed one after another.

Every day, Dugu Bo refined pills, cultivated, guided his family, and went out to search for rare plants.

Every day, Dugu Yan consumed Whale Rubber, cultivated her soul power, practiced her soul skills, and strengthened her spiritual power.

Every day, Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er adapted to their Undead Bodies, worked to coordinate their Soul Bones, practiced their soul skills, and occasionally received "sparring" lessons from Dugu Bo.

The family of four lived a secluded life in this hidden valley.

No one disturbed them. There were no disputes and no dangers.

Only the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes flowed quietly. Only the Immortal Herbs flourished amid the spiritual energy. Only the laughter of three generations echoed through the valley.

But Dugu Bo knew this peace would not last forever.

There was still far too much waiting for him in the outside world.

Spirit Hall's ambitions, Qian Renxue's disguise, the undercurrents within the Tiandou Empire, and enemies lurking in the shadows...

But the time had not yet come.

He had to use this rare period of peace to raise both his own strength and his family's strength to a higher level.

Only when that day arrived would he be able to protect those he cared about.

Dugu Bo stood beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes fixed on the distant sky.

Stars dotted the night sky.

He drew a deep breath, turned, returned to the spring, and sat down cross-legged.

The Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art circulated as Netherworld Power slowly flowed through his body.

He could not stop cultivating.

Outside of cultivation, Dugu Bo began considering a question.

A force.

He needed a force of his own.

This was not an impulsive decision, but one reached after careful consideration.

The Tiandou Empire appeared peaceful on the surface, but turbulent undercurrents ran beneath it.

Xue Ye's health worsened by the day. The position of crown prince remained undecided. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had close ties with the imperial family, Ning Fengzhi was ultimately still an outsider.

And Qian Renxue, hidden in the shadows, was a ticking bomb that could explode at any moment.

Spirit Hall's ambitions were obvious for all to see, and Bibi Dong's plans had been in motion for decades.

Once she launched her full assault, the Tiandou Empire would bear the brunt of it.

Although Dugu Bo was already a Titled Douluo and the Nine Nether Divine Dragon was a god-tier Martial Soul, he was only one man.

He could not protect Yan Yan, Dugu Xin, Lin Wan'er, and everyone else he cared about all at once.

He needed helpers.

He needed a force that belonged to him alone.

A force absolutely loyal to him, powerful enough to ease his burdens at critical moments.

Dugu Bo sat cross-legged beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes watching the intertwined crimson and snow-white currents as thoughts surged through his mind.

Establishing a force was no simple matter.

It required people, money, resources, and time.

And he had all of those things.

Or rather, he could have them all.

The Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art.

This cultivation method inherited from the origin of his Martial Soul was not merely Dugu Bo's personal cultivation method.

It contained six major chapters.

The Soul Refining Chapter, the Body Refining Chapter, the Soul Power Refining Chapter, the Ring Refining Chapter, the Martial Refining Chapter, and the Nether Refining Chapter.

Each chapter could stand alone as an independent secret art.

The Soul Refining Chapter specialized in cultivating spiritual power.

The Body Refining Chapter specialized in tempering the body.

The Soul Power Refining Chapter specialized in raising one's Soul Power Level.

The Ring Refining Chapter specialized in increasing the age of Soul Rings.

The Martial Refining Chapter specialized in strengthening the quality of one's Martial Soul.

The Nether Refining Chapter specialized in comprehending Nine Nether Power.

Any one of these six chapters was enough to transform an ordinary Soul Master completely.

If he selectively taught them to certain people and let them cultivate according to the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art...

Their growth would far surpass that of ordinary Soul Masters.

As long as they remained alive and cultivated steadily step by step, becoming Titled Douluo would not be a dream, but an inevitability.

This was Dugu Bo's greatest source of confidence.

He was not trying to cultivate a few ordinary Soul Masters.

What he wanted to cultivate was a group of future Titled Douluo.

A group of Titled Douluo who would be absolutely loyal to him and willing to brave fire and water for him.

Naturally, there was one core part of the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art.

The Nether Refining Chapter.

He would not pass it on to anyone.

That was an exclusive chapter belonging to the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Martial Soul, one only he could use.

But the other five chapters could be taught after careful selection.

The Soul Power Refining Chapter could greatly increase cultivation speed.

The Body Refining Chapter could strengthen the body and improve one's ability to survive.

The Soul Refining Chapter could enhance spiritual power and strengthen one's resistance to the resentment within Soul Rings.

The Ring Refining Chapter could slowly increase the age of Soul Rings after they were absorbed, continuously improving their quality.

The Martial Refining Chapter could continuously temper the origin of a Martial Soul, steadily improving its quality.

Together, these five chapters formed a complete cultivation system leading to Titled Douluo.

At that thought, a glimmer flashed through Dugu Bo's Dark Golden Dragon Eyes.

"Nine Nether Hall."

He softly spoke the name.

Nine Nether represented his Martial Soul, the Nine Nether Divine Dragon.

Hall represented an organization, a force, a foundation that could be passed down.

Nine Nether Hall.

It was neither ostentatious nor domineering, yet it was deep enough and mysterious enough.

Just like the Nine Nether Divine Dragon itself.

Dugu Bo closed his eyes and began outlining the initial form of Nine Nether Hall in his mind.

Nine Nether Hall did not need too many people.

What he wanted were elites—elites with absolute loyalty.

The first group of members could be selected from orphans.

Every year, countless children in the Tiandou Empire lost their parents to Soul Beast attacks and bandit raids.

With no one to rely on, such people were the easiest to cultivate loyalty in.

As long as he gave them a chance to live and hope of becoming stronger, they would follow him with unwavering devotion.

The second group of members could be selected from frustrated low-level Soul Masters.

Some had decent talent, but lacked proper cultivation methods and guidance, wasting away their years.

If he gave them an opportunity, they would cherish it all the more.

As for the issue of loyalty, Dugu Bo was not worried.

He had plenty of methods.

The Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art contained a secret art known as the Netherworld Pact.

Using Netherworld Power as a guide, it planted a mark deep within the other party's soul.

This mark would not affect their thoughts or actions, but it had one function.

The moment they developed thoughts of betrayal, the mark would activate instantly and drag their soul into the netherworld.