Hundred Thousand Year External Soul Bone: Black Flood Dragon Inverse Scale!

Thinking of the possibility of an External Soul Bone, Lin Qing took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Soul Power gathered at his fingertips, forming a sharp golden glow that lightly pierced the edge of the inverse scale.

Hiss—!

The inverse scale fell off in response.

By the time it landed in his palm, it had already changed shape.

The originally pitch-black scale now shone with a Dark Gold luster and was about the size of a palm.

It felt warm and smooth like jade in his hand. Soul Power flowed endlessly within it, and he could faintly hear the low hiss of a Flood Dragon.

Fine patterns covered the surface of the scale, like naturally formed runes.

Simply holding it let him sense the immense energy contained within.

[Hundred Thousand Year External Soul Bone: Black Flood Dragon Inverse Scale]

A genuine treasure!

Lin Qing forcibly suppressed the urge to absorb it on the spot.

His heart pounded wildly.

This thing was not only suitable for him, but also for Qing Zhu.

That girl's Martial Soul was the Nether Dragon Cat, a Beast Martial Soul with Dragon Bloodline as well.

Absorbing dragon-type Soul Rings and Soul Bones also gave her extra benefits.

More importantly, he could let Qing Zhu absorb it first and trigger the Nanny Dad System's return!

"Though I'm not sure whether the system will count an External Soul Bone too..."

Lin Qing calculated inwardly.

"But it's worth trying. If it works, that means multiple times the happiness. Even if it doesn't, Qing Zhu still gets another External Soul Bone, so there's no loss."

A guaranteed profit with no risk!

He put away the inverse scale Soul Bone.

Then he stuffed the entire corpse of the Black Scaled Flood Dragon into his Storage Soul Tool.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Flood Dragon was covered in treasures.

Its scales could be made into armor, its bones could be used as medicine, and the energy in its flesh and blood was enough to feed his three daughters for several months.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Lin Qing looked at Da Ming.

"Let's go. We're heading back to the Lake of Life."

Lake of Life.

The lake water was jade-green, reflecting the sky and forest.

Morning sunlight scattered across the surface, breaking into a sea of golden scales.

The three little girls were sitting by the lakeshore, playing in the water.

"I caught another fish!"

Wu'er stood barefoot on a rock in the shallows, bending over to scoop up the swimming fish.

Rou Rou crouched nearby, using her little hands to stir the duckweed floating on the surface.

Qing Zhu sat on the shore with her knees hugged to her chest, staring at the center of the lake, seemingly lost in thought.

"Babies, look who's back!"

"Dad!"

Wu'er was the first to spot Lin Qing.

Her eyes lit up. She threw down the stone in her hand and charged over barefoot.

Water splashed all along the way.

Rou Rou and Qing Zhu followed close behind.

The three little figures were like three tiny cannonballs, thumping into Lin Qing's arms.

The impact was no joke.

Lin Qing deliberately staggered back a few steps as if struggling, then laughed and picked them all up.

One in each arm, with another hanging around his neck.

"Easy, easy."

He said with a smile, "You're going to knock Dad apart."

"No way, Dad is obviously super strong~"

Rou Rou stuck out her little tongue, not believing him at all.

"Dad, where did you go?"

Wu'er wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her small face against his.

"You were gone for so long. We missed you."

"I went to beat up some bad guys."

Lin Qing kissed each of their foreheads.

"And Dad brought back something tasty for you."

As he spoke, he took several fresh fruits from the System Space.

Bright red Vermillion Fruits, Crystal Clear Crystal Pears, and several bunches of purple grapes.

They had all been picked from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Woohoo!!!"

The three little girls cheered as they snatched the fruit, squatted by the lake to wash it, and began crunching away.

Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, was crouched beneath the shade of a tree not far away.

Watching the heartwarming scene, he gave a couple of jealous snorts.

His enormous palm supported his chin, making him look like a wronged, oversized child.

Just a couple of days ago, he had been the one playing with these three Cute Babies, catching fish and picking fruit.

Now that the real deal had returned, he had been cast aside.

Lin Qing noticed his expression and walked over with a smile.

"Er Ming, thanks. You worked hard taking care of them these past few days."

"Roar..."

Er Ming turned his face away, pretending not to care.

"Oh, right. I got revenge for you."

Lin Qing patted his large hand.

"I slaughtered that Black Scaled Flood Dragon."

Er Ming's eyes lit up.

He abruptly turned his head and stared at Lin Qing, gesturing several times with his enormous hand.

He meant: Really? That guy was a tough one!

Then he patted his sturdy chest, clenched his fist, and swung it.

(My injuries healed ages ago! I can take on ten now!)

Lin Qing laughed at his antics.

"I know you're strong."

He said, "Next time there's a hard fight, I'll definitely call you."

At that moment, Da Ming suddenly spoke. "Er Ming, come with me. I need to tell you something."

His voice was calm.

But Lin Qing sharply sensed a certain gravity hidden in Da Ming's tone.

Er Ming tilted his head in confusion, his thick fingers scratching the back of his head.

But he did not ask any questions. He obediently stood up and followed Da Ming toward the depths of the forest.

The backs of the two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts quickly vanished into the dense woods.

Lin Qing watched the direction in which they had left, his brow furrowing slightly.

Something to say... What could require them to avoid me?

A trace of doubt rose in his heart.

But he did not dwell on it.

He turned and returned to the lakeshore, sitting down beside his three daughters.

"Dad."

Qing Zhu leaned closer and asked softly, "Are you hurt?"

Her sense of smell was sharp, and she had caught the faint Bloody Smell on Lin Qing.

"Just a minor injury. It's already healed."

Lin Qing rubbed her hair.

"Qing Zhu is so thoughtful. You're Dad's Little Cotton-Fitted Jacket too. So adorable."

Qing Zhu pursed her lips and took a little handkerchief from her clothes. She dipped it in lake water and gently wiped the grime from Lin Qing's face.

Her movements were very serious.

As though she were completing an important task.

Lin Qing's heart warmed.

His daughter had not been spoiled on him for nothing.

When Lin Qing took out that Black Flood Dragon Inverse Scale from his Soul Tool, the setting sun was shining slantwise across them.

The black scale reflected a warm glow.

The Soul Power Fluctuation caused the surrounding air to warp slightly, like heat waves rising from a road in summer.

"Qing Zhu, come here."

He beckoned to her.

Qing Zhu obediently walked over, but her eyes were fixed on the inverse scale.

The Dragon Bloodline in her Martial Soul made her throat tighten—it was the call of power from the same source.

Like a starving person smelling roasted meat, she simply could not control herself.

"Here. The External Soul Bone of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Black Scaled Flood Dragon: the Black Flood Dragon Inverse Scale."

Lin Qing gently placed the scale in her palm.

The scale felt warm and heavy.

Qing Zhu's hand trembled.

Hundred Thousand Year... External Soul Bone!

Those words struck her chest like a Heavy Hammer, nearly leaving her unable to breathe.

Although she was only a little over Six Years Old, she had long known from the stories her Dad told her just how outrageous such a thing was.

Across the entire continent, the number of people with Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones could be counted on one hand.

A Hundred Thousand Year External Soul Bone?

That was a legend among legends.

"Dad, this is too precious..."

Qing Zhu wanted to push the scale back, but her fingers honestly clenched tighter around it.

She took a breath. "Give it to Rou Rou. She has absorbed one fewer Soul Bone than I have."

She still remembered that.

Rou Rou immediately grew anxious.

Her little head shook like a rattle drum.

"No, no. Dad said this is the Soul Bone of a dragon-type Soul Beast. It matches your Martial Soul best, Qing Zhu!"

She pounced forward and hugged Qing Zhu, rubbing her cheek against her Older Sister's shoulder again and again.

"My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is Support Type, so its attributes don't match at all. Besides, Dad will definitely find me something even better later, right, Dad?"

She turned to look at Lin Qing, blinking her large eyes.

Her expression practically said, "Hurry up and say yes."

Lin Qing laughed. "Of course! Leave Rou Rou's Soul Bone to Dad. I'll definitely make it up to you next time."

Wu'er also leaned over and cheerfully poked Qing Zhu's face.

"Exactly, exactly. Qing Zhu, just absorb it already. Being all wishy-washy doesn't suit you."

Qing Zhu looked at the inverse scale in her palm.

Then she looked at the family surrounding her.

Her nose suddenly stung.

She sniffed hard and nodded firmly. "Okay! I'll absorb it!"

"Now that's more like it."

Lin Qing ruffled her hair.

"Sit cross-legged, calm your mind, and focus. Dad will stand guard for you."