Metamorphosis!

The method for consuming Millennium Whale Glue is far more complex than that of the Century-grade variety.

It cannot be swallowed directly; it must first be soaked in high-proof soul-power wine for three days. Once the glue has softened, it must be removed, sliced into pieces, and then simmered over a low flame for six hours. Finally, the resulting thick broth must be consumed in separate portions.

Throughout the entire process, if the heat is off by even a fraction, the medicinal efficacy is reduced by just as much.

Liu Yunlan took charge of the operation herself. The old lady placed the eight pieces of Millennium Whale Glue into eight separate ceramic jars, poured in the soul-power wine, sealed the lids, and affixed labels marked with the date.

"Come back to open the jars in three days."

The old lady brushed the dust from her hands, her tone resolute. "When simmering, the heat cannot be too high, or the medicinal properties will dissipate; it cannot be too low, or the properties will not be extracted."

Qing Hongyuan stood to the side, nodding repeatedly, though he felt his mother had no need to explain these things at all.

Qing Mufeng stood at the entrance of the herb room, watching his grandmother's busy back, choosing not to go in and disturb her.

The old lady had her own way of doing things; outsiders could not interfere, nor was there any need to interject.

During these three days, Liu Yunlan adjusted the formula for the medicinal bath.

The medicinal power of Millennium-grade Whale Glue is several times more violent than that of the Century-grade. After consumption, the body experiences an intense sensation of dry heat, and the meridians are repeatedly scoured by the medicinal force.

The purpose of the medicinal bath is to help the body absorb the medicinal power while soothing the heat, preventing the meridians from being scorched.

"I've added cold-natured Ice Spirit Herb and peppermint leaves, along with a few herbs to calm the spirit."

The old lady muttered to herself as she added ingredients to the medicinal tub.

"Millennium-grade Whale Glue doesn't just refine the body; it also affects the mind. If the mind is unstable, the absorption effect is greatly diminished."

Qing Mufeng stood by the tub, watching his grandmother place the herbs into the boiling water one by one. Smelling that scent, a mixture of herbal fragrance and minty coolness, he suddenly felt that his grandmother was the most indispensable person in the Qing Clan.

Without her, the strengthening effect of the Whale Glue would be cut by at least half.

Three days later.

Liu Yunlan opened the first ceramic jar, poured the softened Millennium-grade Whale Glue into a copper pot, and set it to simmer over a low flame.

Flames licked the bottom of the pot, and the broth inside bubbled with tiny, fine bubbles. A scent blending the aroma of wine and the briny smell of the sea permeated the kitchen.

Six hours later.

The broth had reduced and thickened, transforming from a clear liquid into an amber-colored, viscous paste.

Liu Yunlan scooped up a spoonful with a wooden ladle, observed how it coated the sides, and nodded.

"It is done."

Qing Mufeng took the bowl, looking down at the amber paste within.

A warm breath rose from the bowl, carrying a faint briny sea scent and the aroma of wine, along with an indescribable, fresh herbal fragrance.

That was the scent of the spirit-calming herbs from the bath formula, which had infused into the Whale Glue through the long simmering process.

He lifted the bowl and drank it in one gulp.

The moment the thick paste touched his throat, a violent wave of heat surged straight to his abdomen, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of magma.

That heat exploded in his stomach, spreading outward and snaking along the path of his meridians to every corner of his body.

Qing Mufeng gritted his teeth.

The heat of Century-grade Whale Glue was warm and comfortable, like soaking in a hot spring.

The heat of Millennium-grade Whale Glue was scorching and violent, like flames licking the inner walls of his meridians. Every acupuncture point was being seared, and every meridian was being scoured.

He sat cross-legged and activated the Azure Dragon Method, opening all four paths.

Soul power surged through his meridians, guiding that scorching force along the paths of the Azure Dragon Method.

Wherever the heat flowed, the meridian walls were repeatedly scoured, becoming more resilient.

His acupuncture points were repeatedly expanded, becoming wider.

Sweat fell like rain, soaking his clothes.

But this time, he was not in as much pain as when he had absorbed his third soul ring.

It was not that it didn't hurt, but rather that he had grown accustomed to it.

Painful, yet exhilarating.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the scorching force began to recede, replaced by a warm, lingering afterglow.

Qing Mufeng opened his eyes and found his robes soaked through with sweat; he looked as if he had been fished out of water.

But his body felt lighter.

It was not that his weight had decreased, but that his body had become more agile.

The gaps between his joints seemed larger, the rotation of his limbs smoother, and his muscle contractions more powerful.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling a sense of clarity from the inside out.

His meridians had indeed widened.

The effect of the first dose of Millennium-grade Whale Glue was remarkably clear.

Liu Yunlan walked over and placed a hand on her grandson's pulse. The old lady closed her eyes to feel it for a moment, then opened them and nodded with satisfaction.

"The pulse is stronger than before. The elasticity of your meridians has clearly improved, and your acupuncture points have expanded by a full circle."

The old lady withdrew her hand and looked at her grandson, "After a few more doses, your meridians will reach the threshold required to withstand a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

Qing Mufeng nodded and returned to the bamboo forest, continuing to circulate the Azure Dragon Method to absorb all the remaining medicinal power.

From that day on, the five members of the Qing Clan began consuming the thousand-year-level Whale Glue according to their own individual paces.

Qing Mufeng and Qing Hongyuan progressed the fastest; both possessed excellent physical foundations, and Qing Hongyuan had been practicing the Azure Dragon Method for a longer period.

The two of them consumed the thousand-year-level Whale Glue almost in sync, six times in total, with five-day intervals between each dose to allow their bodies enough time to digest and absorb it, ensuring they wouldn't be backlashed by the medicinal potency.

Liu Yunlan followed in progress. Although the old lady was advanced in age, she was well-versed in pharmacology and possessed a level of control over her own body that far exceeded the average person.

She consumed the thousand-year-level Whale Glue four times, feeling that her physique had reached the strongest state of her entire life.

It was not a burst of power like in her prime, but a comprehensive strengthening from the inside out.

Her meridians were wider than when she was young, her bones were denser, and even the circulation speed of her soul power had increased by a few notches.

Shen Wanqing had the slowest progress.

The physical shortcomings of a pure support-type soul master could not be immediately remedied by a few pills.

She consumed the thousand-year-level Whale Glue three times, with seven-day intervals between each dose; her progress was slow, but she was not in a rush.

Her goal was a Fifth Soul Ring between ten thousand and twenty thousand years, and at this pace, there was more than enough time.

Qing Zhengyue was the last to begin consuming the thousand-year-level Whale Glue.

It was not because he did not need it, but because his goal was the greatest.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Plant-Type Soul Ring.

He required the most solid foundation possible and could not afford to be hasty.

"Grandfather, how are you feeling?"

One evening half a month later, Qing Mufeng found the old man in the bamboo forest and asked.

Qing Zhengyue stood in the center of the bamboo forest, his Wind Wood Dragon Wings slightly unfurled, the cyan wing bones casting a faint glow in the twilight.

The old man's white hair remained like snow and the wrinkles on his face remained deep, but his eyes had changed.

They had become sharper and more restrained, like an old blade that had been polished anew.

"My meridians have recovered." The old man's voice was calm, "I feel at least twenty years younger."

Qing Mufeng looked at his grandfather's back, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Twenty years younger.

The meridians of a fifty-eight-year-old, with the experience of a seventy-eight-year-old.

The foundation for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring was being solidified, bit by bit.