The Xiao Family Village's Blood and Grit

They were only ordinary people. They had little knowledge, and their understanding extended no farther than this village and a few nearby ones. The biggest city they had ever visited was Notting City.

Thinking of this, Luo Yihe sighed and said, "Village Chief, call the Xiao Clan descendants over. Let's talk together, all right?"

The old village chief still wanted to say something.

Luo Yihe clasped the old village chief's callused hands and said earnestly, "Village Chief... I have no family. You were the first person I saw when I opened my eyes. I have no relatives, but Xiao Family Village has always acted as my elder. I am also a member of Xiao Family Village, but I will always be an outsider by surname. No matter whether I can grow strong in the future and lead the Xiao Clan to prosperity, the Xiao Clan must have a powerhouse of its own. Village Chief Grandpa, do you understand what Xiao Yi is saying?"

Luo Yihe involuntarily tightened his grip on the old village chief's hand. The old village chief was already crying, too choked up to speak.

Luo Yihe did not stop. He continued, "And there will definitely be powerful enemies in my future. Every rising powerhouse loses many things. I do not want what I lose to be Xiao Family Village, the uncles and elders in this village. And I do not even know whether I can..."

"Stop."

The village chief shouted.

"I'll gather the Xiao Clan's direct descendants."

Before long, all the Xiao Clan's direct descendants had arrived—only around thirty people in total. Luo Yihe repeated what he had said to the village chief before the gathered uncles and elders. "Uncles, elders, every rising powerhouse grows by stepping over countless corpses. When a genius becomes a powerhouse, their enemies will target the people and things they possess and cherish. I hope that even if I disappear one day, the Xiao Clan can still become a great family on Douluo Continent, so no one has to waste this brief life merely struggling for food and warmth. We humans have many things we can do. We do not necessarily have to become Soul Masters, but we must have powerful Soul Masters around us. That is why I took out this treasure to strengthen the Xiao Clan's younger generation. I only hope the Xiao Clan can grow better and better."

"Xiao Yi, do as you said. The old village chief has been thinking too comfortably. We know that the outside world is dangerous, and if we go out to make our way in the world, we will inevitably come into conflict with others. We may be weak, but not one member of the Xiao Clan is a coward. If your enemies truly come because of you and vent their anger on us ordinary people, we will only be happy. Because by then, you will already be a towering powerhouse. They will have no way to deal with you and can only kill old bones like us to vent their frustration. When that time comes, Xiao Yi, do not worry about us. Kill boldly. Just avenge us."

"Hahahaha!!!"

The previously oppressive room immediately filled with hearty laughter.

After discussion among the village elders, this opportunity for Martial Soul super-evolution was given to Xiao Chenghe, a fourth-generation descendant of the Xiao Clan.

Martial Soul: White Bear

Innate Soul Power: Level 2

Current Soul Power: Level 11

Soul Ring: Yellow

Age: Eleven

Luo Yihe remembered this boy. He had personally taken him to hunt for his Soul Ring. But his physical constitution had been too weak. Even for a Soul Ring barely over a hundred years old, he had taken a trip to death's door.

Luo Yihe did not waste words. He took out a strand of Volibear's fur.

The instant Volibear's fur appeared, golden clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. Before the golden clouds could form a complete pattern, a violent storm of lightning descended with the wind and, without hesitation, surged toward the golden clouds to destroy them.

The golden clouds did not yield either. They formed a giant hand and reached for the rolling storm.

Not to mention the villagers—even Luo Yihe was utterly shocked by this sight.

"What is happening? Was this drawn here by the power of demigod Volibear?"

"Xiao Yi, did something go wrong?"

The village chief spoke in terror.

"The owner of this fur is extremely powerful. It has drawn down an even stronger force that wants to take this strand of fur away. Village Chief, quickly! Have Xiao Chenghe release his Martial Soul and enter the storm to gamble on it. Otherwise, this power will be taken away."

"What? This..."

The village chief stared at the storm towering beyond sight and the golden clouds occupying half the sky.

But Xiao Chenghe did not wait for the village chief's command. He felt his blood boiling, yet his Martial Soul was afraid. And he—wanted to become stronger. He needed this power.

Alone, since his Martial Soul could not be relied upon, he would rely on himself and gamble on it. Without summoning his Martial Soul, he ran toward the heart of the storm.

Seeing this, Luo Yihe shouted, "Everyone, get farther away. I'll follow him and take a look."

Without waiting for the villagers to respond, Luo Yihe chased after Xiao Chenghe.

Elsewhere...

In Spirit City, Bibi Dong, whose figure was stunning, breasts enormous, and legs exceptionally long, stood in papal robes, her expression grave as she stared at the clearly visible storm and the golden half of the sky before her.

"A great era... is coming."

At the same time, forces large and small across the Star Dou Forest, Sea God Island, Slaughter City, Worship Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, and elsewhere all watched the storm and golden half-sky in shock.

In another spacetime, the Divine Realm—

"Pfft—cough, cough."

"What kind of power is this? I merely got a little close and nearly got crushed to death. Cough, cough."

"Life God King, quickly! Heal the Asura God King!"

Within the storm—Xiao Chenghe had already had one arm and one leg blasted off by lightning, and his body was covered in blood. Yet he still crawled painfully toward the storm's center. Lightning surged wildly around him, striking Xiao Chenghe from time to time.

Luo Yihe could only watch from outside the storm. He could not enter either. Xiao Chenghe at least possessed a bear-type Martial Soul. In Volibear's eyes, Xiao Chenghe was like a member of a bearfolk tribe. He had encountered hardship and needed Volibear's power, and this storm was the trial.

But Volibear did not acknowledge Luo Yihe, so Luo Yihe could only watch from outside.

Luo Yihe could also faintly hear the roars of a bear, as though a battle was taking place within.

The storm lasted for nearly three hours. By then, all four of Xiao Chenghe's limbs had been severed, countless holes riddled his body, and even his head bore a wound that had pierced through it. His entire body was a bloody mass of flesh. He could now only drag himself forward with his teeth, yet he still moved slowly and resolutely toward the storm. The White Bear within him seemed to suddenly gain sentience. When Xiao Chenghe was about to be unable to endure any longer, it broke free of its fear of Volibear and resolutely possessed Xiao Chenghe's body... If not for those bear legs shaking like an engine... it would have looked even cooler and more moving.

Another six hours passed. Just when Luo Yihe thought he had failed, a roar that resounded through heaven and earth rang out: "I am the First Thunder, Valhir, Destroyer of a Hundred Mountains. I heard him call for Volibear, and the thunderstorm is my answer!"

Across the entire Douluo Continent, including the Divine Realm, the storm and golden half-sky vanished from this world at the same time after everyone heard that bloodthirsty, violent voice.

Even though the storm had already dispersed, no powerhouse dared to come and investigate for the time being. This gave the Xiao Clan time to catch their breath and time to relocate. For a long time to come, this place would undoubtedly become the target of public scrutiny.

Xiao Chenghe had now transformed into a gigantic egg. Even a fool could tell that he had succeeded and was undergoing rebirth through nirvana. Combined with the storm brought about by that strand of fur, which they had just witnessed firsthand, everyone in the Xiao Clan was overwhelmed with excitement.

Village Chief Xiao sternly warned, "What happened today must stay buried in your stomachs. Even if you die, you cannot reveal a single word."

Everyone in the Xiao Clan was incredibly excited and unanimously replied, "No problem."

After the matter ended, they waited a full half year before Xiao Chenghe finally broke out of the shell. And Xiao Chenghe had completely changed.

His appearance had become exceptionally burly. His height, originally just over one meter, had shot up to one and a half meters. His once ordinary body had turned into that of a muscular, powerful warrior.

His eyes had turned blue. Whenever he became angry, threads of blue lightning would flicker within them. On his back was also a majestic totem of Volibear—a white-furred, beast-eared twin-tailed figure seated upon a throne. Ah, no, Volibear's majestic totem.

His Martial Soul had also become a white bear clad in a set of Rune Battle Armor. Lightning flashed in its eyes, on its palms, and around its shoulder armor, while its gaze had become incomparably savage. Xiao Chenghe named his new Martial Soul: "Rune Battle Bear."

But... Xiao Chenghe seemed to be a little different as well.

"Brother Luo, my dad says I'm terrifyingly strong now. I have a small wish that I really want to fulfill."