The journey back was much lighter than the journey there.
Five figures moved through the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest as dusk dyed the sky deep purple and mist gradually rose among the trees.
Qing Zhengyue walked at the front with steady steps. The Wind Wood Dragon Wings on his back had already retracted, lying close against his shoulder blades without any visible sign from the outside.
But his aura had changed.
A level-seventy quasi-Saint.
The old man walked at the head of the group, his back straighter than before and his strides more unhurried.
Qing Hongyuan followed behind his father, the Azure Snake Dragon Wing on his back opening and closing halfway. Its azure feathers gave off a faint glow in the twilight.
Every so often, he looked back at his son behind him, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
Liu Yunlan walked in the middle, holding her grandson's hand. The old woman's mood was excellent.
The External Soul Bone had allowed the old man to break through level seventy, her son had gained the ability to fly, and her grandson had obtained his third ring. This trip's rewards far exceeded expectations.
Shen Wanqing walked beside her husband, her gaze occasionally sweeping over her parents-in-law and son, her eyes full of tenderness.
The family of five did not speak, yet the atmosphere was wonderful.
That sense of fulfillment from returning laden with rewards brought more peace of mind than any words could.
Qing Mufeng walked beside his grandmother, pondering something as he went. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were considering a very important matter.
"Feng'er, what are you thinking about?" Liu Yunlan noticed her grandson's odd behavior and asked softly.
Qing Mufeng raised his head, glanced at his grandmother, then at his grandfather and father ahead. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke.
"Grandfather, there is something I want to tell you."
Qing Zhengyue did not stop or turn around. "Speak."
"It concerns your seventh soul ring."
The old man's steps paused briefly before continuing. "Speak."
Qing Mufeng gathered his thoughts.
"The characteristics of a seventh soul ring are fixed. No matter what soul beast it absorbs, or what its age is, it only grants one soul skill: Martial Soul Avatar."
Looking at his grandfather's back, he said, "In other words, the seventh soul ring does not need to consider a soul beast's offensive soul skills or attribute compatibility. It only needs to consider one thing: its age."
Qing Zhengyue slowed down.
"The higher its age, the stronger the Martial Soul Avatar's enhancement."
Qing Mufeng continued, "Most ordinary Soul Saints use a seventh soul ring between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years. But you are different. You have the External Soul Bone, the Wind Wood Dragon Wings, and the Azure Dragon Method. If you also use certain special methods to strengthen your body..."
"What are you trying to say?" Qing Zhengyue stopped and turned to look at his grandson.
Moonlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, illuminating the old man's wrinkled face.
His gaze was calm, but a glimmer flickered deep within his eyes.
Qing Mufeng met his grandfather's gaze directly.
"Hundred thousand years."
Those three words fell into the forest like a massive stone cast into still water.
Qing Hongyuan sharply turned his head. Liu Yunlan's grip tightened, while Shen Wanqing covered her mouth.
Qing Zhengyue did not move.
He stood there, looking at his grandson in silence for a long time.
"Do you know what a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast means?" the old man asked in a low voice.
"I do." Qing Mufeng nodded. "An existence at the level of a Titled Douluo. The strongest creatures on the continent."
"Then why say it?"
"Because the seventh soul ring is the only soul ring where one can take a shortcut." Qing Mufeng's tone remained calm. "There is no need to consider a soul beast's offensive methods or attribute conflicts. The only question is whether the body and spiritual power can endure it, and physical strength can be improved through external means."
He paused.
"Grandfather, have you heard of Whale Rubber?"
Qing Zhengyue frowned slightly.
Of course he had heard of Whale Rubber.
It was a common medicinal ingredient in coastal cities, cheap and mainly used for relations between men and women.
"Whale Rubber's true purpose has nothing to do with that." Qing Mufeng said, "Its true purpose is body tempering. It strengthens the skin, muscles, meridians, bones, and can even temper the internal organs. It is simply that no one in the soul master world knows the proper way to use it. They all treat it as an ordinary medicinal ingredient, so its effects are naturally greatly reduced."
Qing Zhengyue's expression changed.
"How do you know this?"
"Inherited memories." Qing Mufeng pointed to his head. "The Azure Dragon's inherited memories contain the complete method for using Whale Rubber."
He said it with complete ease.
After all, the best explanation for anything difficult to explain was to attribute it all to the Azure Dragon's inheritance.
Qing Zhengyue stared at his grandson for a long time, his expression complicated.
"Go on."
"Use hundred-year Whale Rubber first to lay the foundation and strengthen the skin and muscles."
"Then follow up with Millennium Whale Glue to strengthen the meridians and bones."
"Finally, use ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber to temper the internal organs."
Qing Mufeng finished in one breath. "Once all three stages are complete, physical strength will rise by an entire level. Then, if you absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Plant-Type Soul Ring, the success rate will be at least ninety percent."
The forest fell silent once more.
Qing Hongyuan opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.
Liu Yunlan held her grandson's hand, her hand trembling slightly.
Shen Wanqing looked at her son, her eyes full of shock.
Qing Zhengyue stood beneath the moonlight. The Wind Wood Dragon Wings on his back seemed to sense their master's emotions and trembled faintly.
After a long while, the old man spoke.
"You mentioned two key points. First, Whale Rubber. Second, the plant type."
"Yes." Qing Mufeng nodded. "Beast-type soul beasts possess too much resentment, so absorbing a hundred-thousand-year one is too risky. Plant-type soul beasts have low intelligence and weak resentment. Since they are also wood-attributed, they are highly compatible with your martial soul, and furthermore..."
He looked into his grandfather's eyes.
"Hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beasts are very weak offensively. Some even have no offensive ability whatsoever."
Qing Zhengyue took a deep breath.
"Do you know where to find one?"
"Not yet, but we can search for one slowly in the meantime."
Qing Mufeng shook his head.
"It will not be easy to find a hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast that meets those conditions," Qing Zhengyue said.
Qing Mufeng smiled. "Difficult to find does not mean impossible to find. This is the best plan. If it truly does not work, then we can settle for one with a lower age."
Qing Zhengyue looked at the determination in his grandson's eyes and suddenly smiled.
It was not a bitter smile, nor one of helplessness. It was a genuine smile from the bottom of his heart.
"Good."
The old man turned and continued onward.
"Once we return, write out the method for using Whale Rubber in detail. I will handle the purchases."
Qing Hongyuan stood frozen in place, staring at his father's back without reacting for a moment.
"Father, you agree?"
"Why would I not?" Qing Zhengyue did not look back. "A hundred-thousand-year soul ring was something I never even dared dream of before. But Feng'er is right. The seventh soul ring is the only one where one can take a shortcut. As long as physical strength is sufficient and a plant-type soul beast's resentment is weak, the success rate will not be low."
He paused.
"Besides, the Qing Clan needs an ultimate Soul Saint now."
Liu Yunlan held her grandson's hand. Her eyes reddened, but she was smiling.
"Hundred thousand years..." she murmured. "The old man is going to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring..."
Qing Mufeng looked at his grandmother and smiled.
"Grandmother, you have a share in this too."
Liu Yunlan froze. "Me?"
"The entire family will use Whale Rubber." Qing Mufeng said, "You need to prepare for your sixth soul ring. Father's sixth soul ring is coming up too, Mother's fifth soul ring is next, and mine is the fourth. The whole family will strengthen ourselves and improve together."
He looked at his father ahead.
"Father, your sixth soul ring can also aim for over sixty thousand years."
Qing Hongyuan turned back to look at his son, a flicker of fervor crossing his eyes.
A sixth soul ring of sixty-thousand-year caliber was something an ordinary Soul Emperor would never dare imagine.
"Mother, your Fifth Soul Ring can aim for an even higher ten-thousand-year level." Qing Mufeng looked at his mother. "Support-system soul masters have weak constitutions, but Whale Rubber can make up for that weakness."
Shen Wanqing took a deep breath and nodded.
"And you too, Grandmother." Qing Mufeng looked at Liu Yunlan. "For your sixth soul ring, twenty to thirty thousand years should not be a problem."
Liu Yunlan laughed and lightly patted her grandson's head. "You certainly have the whole family arranged perfectly."
Qing Mufeng chuckled without refuting her.
Qing Zhengyue walked at the front, listening as his grandson laid out the soul ring plans for each family member. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
This six-year-old child had paved the way for the entire family.
He took a deep breath and looked at the faint light filtering through the forest's edge ahead.
Soon.
They would be home soon.
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