Thoughts on the Seventh Soul Ring

The journey back was far lighter than the trip there.

Five figures wove through the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest as twilight stained the sky a deep purple and mist began to rise between the trees.

Qing Zhengyue walked at the very front with steady, composed steps. The Wind Wood Dragon Wings on his back were retracted, pressed flat against his shoulder blades, leaving no outward sign of their existence.

Yet, his aura had changed.

Level 70, Quasi-Saint.

The old man led the group with his back straighter and his stride more relaxed than when they had first arrived.

Qing Hongyuan followed behind his father, his Azure Snake Dragon Wings half-open, the cyan feathers casting a faint glow in the twilight.

He glanced back at his son trailing behind from time to time, the corners of his mouth unable to stop curling upward.

Liu Yunlan walked in the middle, holding her grandson's hand, the old lady in high spirits.

The external spirit bone had allowed the old man to break through to level 70, her son had gained the ability to fly, and her grandson had successfully obtained his third spirit ring; this trip had yielded far more than they had ever expected.

Shen Wanqing walked beside her husband, her gaze sweeping over her parents-in-law and son from time to time, her eyes filled with tenderness.

The family of five said nothing, yet the atmosphere was wonderful.

That sense of fulfillment from returning with a full harvest was more reassuring than any words.

Qing Mufeng walked beside his grandmother, lost in thought. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were contemplating a matter of great importance.

"Feng'er, what are you thinking about?" Liu Yunlan noticed her grandson's unusual behavior and asked softly.

Qing Mufeng looked up, glanced at his grandmother, then at his grandfather and father walking ahead. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.

"Grandfather, there is something I wish to discuss with you."

Qing Zhengyue did not stop his pace, nor did he turn his head. "Speak."

"It is about your seventh spirit ring."

The old man's footsteps faltered for a heartbeat before he continued walking. "Speak."

Qing Mufeng organized his thoughts.

"The properties of a seventh spirit ring are fixed. Regardless of what spirit beast you absorb or its age, the spirit skill is always the same: the Avatar of the Martial Soul."

He looked at his grandfather's back. "In other words, you do not need to consider the spirit beast's offensive skills or its elemental compatibility. You only need to consider one thing: its age."

Qing Zhengyue's pace slowed.

"The higher the age, the stronger the boost to the Avatar of the Martial Soul."

Qing Mufeng continued, "The seventh spirit ring of an ordinary Spirit Saint is usually between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years. But you are different. You possess the external spirit bone, the Wind Wood Dragon Wings, and the Azure Dragon Method. If you use some special means to strengthen your physical body..."

"What are you trying to say?" Qing Zhengyue stopped and turned to look at his grandson.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, illuminating the old man's wrinkled face.

His gaze was calm, but a flicker of light danced deep within his pupils.

Qing Mufeng looked his grandfather straight in the eyes.

"One hundred thousand years."

These three words fell into the forest like a boulder dropped into a still pond.

Qing Hongyuan whipped his head around, Liu Yunlan's hand tightened, and Shen Wanqing covered her mouth.

Qing Zhengyue did not move.

He stood where he was, watching his grandson, silent for a long time.

"Do you know what a one-hundred-thousand-year spirit beast implies?" the old man asked in a low voice.

"I do," Qing Mufeng nodded. "An existence on par with a Titled Douluo, the most powerful creatures on the continent."

"Then why would you suggest it?"

"Because the seventh spirit ring is the only one where you can take a shortcut," Qing Mufeng's tone was calm. "You don't need to consider the beast's offensive methods or attribute conflicts; you only need to consider whether your physical body and mental strength can withstand it. And physical strength can be enhanced through external means."

He paused.

"Grandfather, have you ever heard of Whale Glue?"

Qing Zhengyue frowned slightly.

Of course he had heard of Whale Glue.

It was a common medicinal material in coastal cities, cheap and primarily used for matters between men and women.

"The true purpose of Whale Glue is not that," Qing Mufeng said. "Its true purpose is body tempering. It strengthens the skin, muscles, meridians, bones, and even tempers the internal organs. It is just that the spirit master world does not know the correct method of use, treating it as an ordinary herb, so its effects are naturally greatly diminished."

Qing Zhengyue's expression shifted.

"How do you know this?"

"Inherited memories." Qing Mufeng pointed to his head. "The inherited memories of the Azure Dragon contain the complete method for using Whale Glue."

He said this with a clear conscience.

After all, anything difficult to explain could simply be blamed on the Azure Dragon inheritance; that was the best excuse of all.

Qing Zhengyue stared at his grandson for a long time, his gaze complex.

"Continue."

"Use century-old Whale Glue as a base to reinforce the skin and muscles."

"Follow up with millennium-old Whale Glue to strengthen the meridians and bones."

"Finally, use ten-thousand-year Whale Glue to temper the internal organs."

Qing Mufeng finished in one breath: "Once these three stages are complete, your physical strength will ascend to a new level. By then, absorbing a hundred-thousand-year plant-type Spirit Ring will have a success rate of at least ninety percent."

The forest fell silent once more.

Qing Hongyuan opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.

Liu Yunlan held her grandson's hand, the old woman's fingers trembling slightly.

Shen Wanqing looked at her son, her eyes filled with shock.

Qing Zhengyue stood under the moonlight, the Wind Wood Dragon Wings on his back trembling slightly as if sensing their master's emotions.

After a long while, the old man spoke.

"You mentioned two key points. First, Whale Glue. Second, plant-type."

"Yes." Qing Mufeng nodded: "The resentment of animal-type Spirit Beasts is too strong; absorbing a hundred-thousand-year one is too risky. Plant-type Spirit Beasts have low intelligence and weak resentment. Being of the wood attribute, they are highly compatible with your Spirit, and besides..."

He looked into his grandfather's eyes.

"A hundred-thousand-year plant-type Spirit Beast has very weak offensive power, and some have none at all."

Qing Zhengyue took a deep breath.

"Do you know where to find one?"

"Not yet, but we can search slowly during this period."

Qing Mufeng shook his head and said.

Qing Zhengyue fell silent.

"Finding a hundred-thousand-year plant-type Spirit Beast that fits these criteria won't be easy," Qing Zhengyue said.

Qing Mufeng smiled: "Just because it's hard to find doesn't mean it's impossible. This is the best plan. If it truly doesn't work out, we can settle for the next best thing and choose one with a lower age."

Qing Zhengyue looked at the determination in his grandson's eyes and suddenly laughed.

It wasn't a bitter laugh, nor one of helplessness, but a genuine laugh from the bottom of his heart.

"Good."

The old man turned and continued walking forward.

"Once we return, write down the detailed method for using the Whale Glue. I will arrange the procurement."

Qing Hongyuan stood frozen in place, watching his father's back, unable to react for a moment.

"Father, you agree?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Qing Zhengyue didn't look back: "A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring—I never dared to even think about it before. But Feng'er is right; the seventh Spirit Ring is the only one where you can take a shortcut. As long as the physical body is strong enough and the resentment of the plant-type Spirit Beast is weak, the success rate is quite high."

He paused.

"Besides, the Qing Clan needs a supreme Spirit Saint right now."

Liu Yunlan held her grandson's hand; the old woman's eyes were red, but the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile.

"A hundred-thousand-year..." she murmured, "The old man is going to absorb a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring..."

Qing Mufeng looked at his grandmother and smiled.

"Grandmother, you have a part in this too."

Liu Yunlan was stunned: "Me?"

"The whole family will use the Whale Glue," Qing Mufeng said. "You need to prepare for your sixth Spirit Ring, Father is also at his sixth, Mother is at her fifth, and I am at my fourth. The whole family will strengthen and improve together."

He looked at his father walking ahead.

"Father, your sixth Spirit Ring can also aim for over sixty thousand years."

Qing Hongyuan turned back, looking at his son, a flicker of fervor in his eyes.

A sixty-thousand-year-level sixth Spirit Ring was something an ordinary Spirit Emperor wouldn't even dare to imagine.

"Mother, your fifth Spirit Ring can push for a higher ten-thousand-year level," Qing Mufeng looked at his mother: "Support-type Spirit Masters have weak physiques, but the Whale Glue can make up for this shortcoming."

Shen Wanqing took a deep breath and nodded.

"And you, Grandmother," Qing Mufeng looked at Liu Yunlan, "Your sixth Spirit Ring being twenty to thirty thousand years should be no problem."

Liu Yunlan laughed out loud and reached out to pat her grandson's head gently: "You really have planned everything out for the whole family."

Qing Mufeng chuckled, not refuting her.

Qing Zhengyue walked at the very front, listening to his grandson's Spirit Ring plans for each family member, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

This six-year-old child had paved the way for the entire family.

He took a deep breath, looking at the edge of the forest where a faint light shone through.

Almost there.

Almost home.