Forming the Fools

Jingliu looked at Xu Tianming for a moment.

"Sure."

She answered readily.

"If you want to learn, I'll teach you."

The smile on Xu Tianming's face grew more obvious.

"Besides that, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you to help me with."

Jingliu frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

"Help me establish an organization."

"An organization?"

"This organization must draw a clear line from the Sun Moon Empire. On the surface, it can't have any connection to me either."

Xu Tianming's tone grew increasingly solemn.

"At this stage, I can only provide funding. You'll have to handle the specific recruits, training, operations, and development yourself."

Jingliu said nothing. She excelled at commanding armies in battle, training soldiers, and teaching disciples, but a complete organization consisted of far more than combat personnel.

Management, finances, intelligence, resources, research, and logistical affairs all required people to take charge.

She could practice the sword, lead troops, and kill enemies, but she could not do everything.

"What kind of organization?"

Jingliu asked.

Xu Tianming looked at her. "An organization specifically dedicated to eliminating Rift Realms."

"Regardless of nationality or background, whether nobles or commoners, anyone willing to fight the Rift Realm can join."

"This organization will have only one goal."

"To eliminate all Rift Realms across the continent, protect civilians threatened by the Rift Realm, and safeguard the Douluo Continent."

Mo Mang Palace was exceptionally quiet.

Xu Tianming did not speak loudly, but he was very serious.

"The Rift Realm appeared because of me."

"I once wished upon the Star Core for the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core. The Star Core granted my wish, but it brought the Rift Realm into this world."

"Since it was a disaster caused by me, I'll solve it myself."

Jingliu gazed at him.

"What do you want?"

"Wish Power."

Xu Tianming did not hide it.

"Eliminating Rift Realms can earn the Wish Power of all living beings. After a Rift Realm collapses, energy from beyond this world will seep into the Douluo Continent, raising this world's original foundation."

He paused.

"As for protecting civilians, one reason is reputation. The other is..."

Xu Tianming raised his head.

"I already see everyone in this world as my future subjects."

"I am destined to become king."

"If so, then it is only right to protect my subjects in advance."

Beneath Jingliu's eyepatch, her ruby-like eye trembled slightly. She had seen people sacrifice countless innocent lives for power, and she had seen scheming ambitionists who treated everyone in the world as their pawns.

Xu Tianming's ambitions were immense, but he had the will to protect others. That was enough.

"Establishing an organization like this alone will put you under a lot of pressure."

Xu Tianming looked at Jingliu.

"But don't worry. We can take it slowly. Later, I can summon more people, and someone will naturally come help you then."

Jingliu fell silent for a while before nodding.

"All right."

"Then what will this organization be called?"

Xu Tianming rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. A name appeared in his mind.

"The Fools."

"The Fools?"

"That's right."

Xu Tianming smiled.

"This organization will stand between the Rift Realm and all living beings."

"Since the world is unwilling to face disaster, then let a group of fools face it instead."

Jingliu considered the name, her expression unchanged.

"I understand."

Xu Tianming walked over to her.

"From today onward, you are the First Executive Officer of the Fools."

"Codename: [Swordhead]."

"[Swordhead]?"

Jingliu repeated it. With a lift of her hand, an ice-blue longsword appeared in the air. Its blade was clear and translucent, glimmering with cold light, as though she held moonlight in her hand.

Jingliu gripped the hilt and sensed the principles by which soul power functioned in this world. After a while, she put the longsword away.

"Understood."

Xu Tianming looked out the window. Mingdu was brilliantly lit, while within the imperial palace, the flags of the Sun Moon Imperial Clan fluttered in the evening breeze.

Beyond the prosperous city, however, Rift Realms continued to expand.

"[Swordhead]."

"Yes."

"Starting tomorrow, teach me swordsmanship."

"All right."

Jingliu looked at Xu Tianming.

"But first, I need to make one thing clear."

"What?"

"My training is harsh."

Xu Tianming laughed.

"I'm not afraid of hardship."

Jingliu raised her hand. A thread of icy sword aura passed through the entire hall, even suppressing the flames in the soul tool lamps.

"I hope you remember what you said."

The next day, Xu Tianming regretted it a little.

Jingliu's training method was simple: train until you were nearly dead, then train harder.

At the first light of dawn, Xu Tianming was dragged out of bed. By the time he came to his senses, he was already at the training ground in the rear courtyard of Mo Mang Palace.

He held an iron sword suited to his age.

The iron sword was not heavy. Its blade was narrow and thin, while its hilt was wrapped in coarse hemp rope. It was just the right weight for a child to hold with both hands, but after several thousand consecutive swings, even this iron sword became as heavy as a mountain.

Move after move, Xu Tianming performed diagonal slashes, straight thrusts, horizontal cuts, and upward strikes.

The four basic movements repeated without end.

Sweat streamed down his face and dripped onto the bluestone slabs beneath his feet, quickly forming a small wet patch. His arms were not merely trembling slightly; the muscles in his entire arms were spasming, and the fingers gripping the hilt were nearly numb.

It was a struggle after reaching his limit.

Jingliu stood three steps away, holding a branch casually snapped off in the rear courtyard. She looked completely relaxed, yet whenever Xu Tianming's movements deviated even slightly, the branch struck his trembling arm.

It was not hard, but it hurt.

"Grip it tighter."

Jingliu's voice was icy and clear, like a crystal-clear lake in winter.

"As a swordsman, you must never let go of your sword."

"When your form falls apart, defeat and death begin."

Xu Tianming gritted his teeth.

He wanted to tell Jingliu that he was only a person of Douluo, not a Xianzhou Tianren. He did not possess a physique that could be stitched back together after having its head cut off.

Would this really not kill him?

But the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down, because he knew Jingliu was so ruthless only because she knew he had something within him.

The Golden Dragon King's Divine Core.

Because the Divine Core existed, even if he trained to his limit, as long as he did not damage his foundation, the Divine Core would repair his body on its own. That was why Jingliu dared to train him so mercilessly.

It was also the confidence that allowed Xu Tianming to keep training with her.

"Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six."

"Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-seven."

"Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight."

"Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine."

"Ten thousand."

After the final strike fell, the iron sword slipped from his hand and hit the bluestone slab with a clatter.