Your Idea Is Good, But—I Refuse!

Lin Qing's gaze changed as he looked at his three adorable, innocent little daughters.

What Little Cotton-Fitted Jackets?

They were clearly three walking Human-Shaped Mobile Lucky Cheats!

Fighter Jets among mascots!

"My little treasures."

Even Lin Qing's voice drifted slightly.

"Were you all blessed by the Goddess of Luck when you were born, or did you secretly top up?"

He hurriedly took the Soul Bones Wu'er and Rou Rou had found and carefully sensed them one by one.

That was right!

They were all high-quality, energy-filled Ninety Thousand Year Thousand Jun Ant Emperor Soul Bones!

One Left Leg Bone, one Trunk Bone, and the Left Arm Bone Qing Zhu had found—exactly three different parts!

"Dad, is Rou Rou amazing? Is the bone Rou Rou found big?"

Seeing her dad lost in thought, Rou Rou raised her little hand and looked at him eagerly, waiting for praise.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Lin Qing praised her sincerely and emphatically.

He rubbed each of their little heads, enjoying the soft feel.

"You are all Dad's super Little Lucky Stars, the best little lucky stars in the world! Dad loves you to death!"

"Then Dad, give us kisses!"

Rou Rou giggled and immediately pushed her luck, raising her Small Face.

"Wu'er wants Dad's kisses too!"

Seeing this, Lin Wu'er immediately leaned her face over as well, unwilling to fall behind.

Although Lin Qingzhu said nothing, she quietly moved half a step forward and lowered her little head slightly. It was obvious that she was expecting one too.

Seeing his three daughters like this, Lin Qing's heart melted completely.

The shock he had felt over the Soul Bones was instantly replaced by intense warmth and happiness.

These three little girls are such considerate Little Cotton-Fitted Jackets, and they even know how to compete for affection.

"Alright, alright. Dad will kiss all of you!"

He planted loving kisses on each of his three daughters' smooth, full foreheads.

"Smack!" "Smack!" "Smack!"

Three crisp kissing sounds rang out.

The three little girls were immediately satisfied.

Their Small Faces bloomed with smiles brighter and more radiant than sunlight, as if they had gained the whole world.

Lin Qing stored the three incomparably precious Ninety Thousand Year Soul Bones, enough to make Soul Masters outside fight to the death, in the deepest part of his Storage Soul Tool.

His mood at that moment could no longer be described as simply "great."

He was positively delighted, beaming with joy!

The harvest from this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had been absolutely insane!

He had broken through Level 90.

He had obtained three mutated Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

And now, he had picked up three top-tier Ninety Thousand Year Soul Bones for free.

This luck, this harvest—if word got out, it would stun a whole crowd of Titled Douluo!

He took his three daughters' soft little hands.

Feeling the warmth in his palms, he felt more grounded and hopeful than ever before.

"Come on, Little Lucky Stars. Let's head back to the Lake of Life."

"Eat something and get some rest, then wait for Uncle Er Ming to bring us the next piece of good news."

His gaze turned toward the depths of the northwestern forest, his eyes filled with anticipation.

That Flood Dragon... what kind of surprise would it bring next?

The night was as thick as unmelting ink, pressing heavily down.

Yet the Lake of Life at the very heart of the Star Dou Great Forest did not seem dark or eerie at all.

The lake water itself emitted a soft jade-green glow, echoing the blinking stars scattered across the sky.

The hazy lake light intertwined with the clear starlight.

The surroundings were illuminated into a scene both dreamlike and peaceful, utterly silent.

The bonfire in the center of the simple camp by the shore burned brightly.

The firewood crackled and popped, scattering sparks.

The flames glowed Orange Red, radiating warmth.

The three little girls who had spent the entire day playing themselves wild—Wu'er, Qing Zhu, and Rou Rou—had long since squeezed together and fallen asleep, their breathing even and deep.

They lay upon and were covered with soft furs from some unknown beast, looking thoroughly comfortable.

Wu'er was restless even in her sleep.

One little leg was draped over Rou Rou, while her little hand tightly hugged Rou Rou's arm as though it were a precious pillow.

Rou Rou's head, meanwhile, rested crookedly against Qing Zhu's slender shoulder.

And Qing Zhu herself?

She curled up slightly, taking on a protective posture.

The three tiny figures nestled together in the firelight, their shadows stretching long across the grass behind them. They looked especially obedient and adorable.

Only Lin Qing had not gone to sleep.

He sat alone by the bonfire, holding a slender branch and absentmindedly poking at the flames before him.

The flickering Orange Red firelight alternately brightened and dimmed across his angular face, making his gaze seem somewhat profound.

His heart was far from calm.

During the day, he had truly fought a battle with the Titan Giant Ape known as Er Ming.

The fight had indeed been exhilarating, every blow landing solidly.

But after that rush of excitement faded.

Once he calmed down and thought about it, he became even more keenly aware of the absolute importance of strength.

Was being a three-ring Titled Douluo really enough?

He curled his lips inwardly.

It would not be a problem against ordinary Titled Douluo below Level 95 Super Douluo.

But after Soul Masters reached Level 90, each level was practically worlds apart.

Every level was a chasm.

Especially after Level 95, every increase represented a qualitative leap.

Thinking of those troublesome people he might face in the future—Tang Hao was one, and then there was the true behemoth that was Spirit Hall... time was tight.

He had to become stronger.

He had to stay ahead of time, ahead of every potential threat to his precious daughters.

"Splash..."

An extremely faint sound of water, nearly blending into the night breeze, suddenly came from the quiet lakeshore.

Lin Qing's hand paused slightly as he poked at the fire.

Then he casually lifted his head and looked toward the source.

Sure enough, the Sky Azure Bull Python's enormous azure head, as large as a small house, silently emerged from the glowing lake water.

Its movements were gentle, as though afraid of disturbing the tranquility.

Its enormous azure eyes, like giant lanterns in the darkness, silently watched him.

Its gaze was calm, carrying a question.

"Why are you not resting? Your consumption from the battle during the day should have been considerable."

Lin Qing casually tossed the branch into the fire and watched it ignite a small burst of flame.

"I've got things on my mind. Can't sleep."

"You're not resting either. Come sit with me, and let's chat."

He patted a large rock beside him, smooth and level from being washed by the lake water.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's massive head gave an almost imperceptible sway.

With its body size, that rock would barely count as a pebble.

But it still conveyed its goodwill.

It obediently lowered its head closer to the shore.

It slowly approached until its cool, damp breath nearly brushed Lin Qing's face.

Compared with its imposing appearance as the Forest Overlord during the day, this posture seemed far more approachable and easygoing.

At the very least, it was treating Lin Qing as someone it could speak with on equal footing.

A brief silence flowed amid the crackling of the bonfire.

Only the occasional short cries of unknown night birds in the distance made the night seem even deeper.

After quite a while.

The Sky Azure Bull Python finally spoke slowly.

"Lin Qing, there is something I wish to ask of you. It concerns Big Sister Xiao Wu."

Its manner of speaking carried the measured air of an old-fashioned creature, after all, it had lived for far too long.

"Go ahead. I'm listening. I happen to have some thoughts of my own as well."

Lin Qing sat up straighter, putting away his earlier casual manner to show that he took it seriously.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's gaze passed over Lin Qing and landed on the small pink figure curled up on the beast pelt.

Its expression was too complex to describe.

There was concern, there was affection, but above all, there was deep worry.

"Human powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level possess sharp senses. They can see through the true identity and Soul Beast aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Transformation."

It paused.

Its azure pupils narrowed slightly in the firelight, as though it were making an important decision.

"Could I ask you to bring Big Sister Xiao Wu away from the Human World and return her to the Lake of Life?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python's tone held obvious anticipation and pleading.

Its trust in Lin Qing had indeed increased considerably.

It also felt that, with the astonishing strength Lin Qing had displayed, along with the bond between him and Xiao Wu in that "future," he might truly be able to bring Xiao Wu back.

But it had not expected Lin Qing to answer so decisively.

"Your idea is good, but—I refuse!"

A decisive refusal!