Quasi-Emperor!

The consumption of the millennium-grade Whale Glue continued for nearly two months.

Life at Qing Family Manor settled into a fixed rhythm during these two months.

At dawn, five figures would each circulate the Azure Dragon Method in their rooms, smoothing out the soul power accumulated overnight.

After breakfast, everyone took a spoonful of the millennium-grade Whale Glue broth before attending to their respective tasks.

In the afternoon, Liu Yunlan would prepare a medicinal bath, and the five of them would take turns soaking for one hour each.

In the evening, the whole family gathered in the main hall for dinner, chatting about daily life before returning to their rooms to cultivate until late at night.

The days were as plain as water, yet everyone's body was undergoing visible changes.

Qing Zhengyue's changes were the most obvious.

On the old man's snow-white head, strands of black hair had actually sprouted at his temples.

The wrinkles on his face had also shallowed significantly; when he smiled, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes were no longer as deep as before.

The most striking change was in his gaze.

Those eyes no longer looked like an old man's; the turbidity had faded, and the sharpness had returned, like an old blade that had been polished anew—its edge restrained, yet ready to be unsheathed at any moment.

"Old man, you've grown younger."

One day during dinner, Liu Yunlan stared at her husband for a long time before suddenly uttering these words.

Qing Zhengyue's hand, holding his chopsticks, paused. He looked up at his wife, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly: "You are the same."

Liu Yunlan was stunned for a moment, reaching out to touch her own face.

She hadn't looked in a mirror and didn't know how great her changes were.

But if her husband said she had grown younger, then it must be true.

The old lady had indeed changed.

Her silver hair remained silver, but its texture was much better than before, lustrous and moist, no longer dry and brittle.

Her complexion was much more ruddy, her gait was lighter, and even her voice was a few decibels louder than before.

Qing Hongyuan's changes were concentrated on his physique.

His frame was a circle broader than it had been two months ago—not the bloated kind of bulk, but muscles that were firmer and lines that were more defined.

The veins on his arms no longer bulged as they once did, but were hidden beneath the muscle, making him appear more composed and restrained.

Shen Wanqing's changes were the most delightful surprise. The physical shortcomings of a pure support-type soul master were, under the dual effect of two months of continuous millennium-grade Whale Glue consumption and medicinal baths, filled in bit by bit.

Her meridians had widened by nearly double, and her soul power circulation speed was fifty percent faster than before, which in turn significantly increased the casting speed of her support soul skills.

Qing Mufeng's changes were the least obvious, as his starting point was already high.

But upon closer inspection, differences could still be seen.

He had grown taller, his shoulders were broader, and the muscle definition on his arms was more distinct than two months ago.

For a six-year-old child, he now had the build of a seven or eight-year-old.

That evening, the whole family gathered in the main hall for dinner.

Liu Yunlan had stewed a pot of pork rib soup; the broth was milky white and overflowing with fragrance.

The old lady's culinary skills were as good as ever, and even Qing Zhengyue, who usually didn't pay much attention to food, drank an extra bowl.

Qing Mufeng set down his bowl, looked at his grandmother, and suddenly spoke.

"Grandma, what level is your soul power now?"

Liu Yunlan was in the middle of picking food for her grandson; she paused at the question and thought for a moment.

"Peak level fifty-nine, just one step away from level sixty."

Qing Hongyuan looked up at his mother, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Previously, his mother had been at level fifty-nine, stuck at the bottleneck for these past days without moving an inch.

Now that she said she was one step away from level sixty, it meant that the bottleneck which had held her back for several years had finally loosened.

"The effect of the Whale Glue is even better than I imagined."

Liu Yunlan set down her chopsticks and looked at her own hands.

"My meridians have grown at least ten years younger. I was stuck at level fifty-nine before because my meridians were aging, and my soul power couldn't pass through the bottleneck. Now that the elasticity of my meridians has recovered, my soul power naturally surged through."

Qing Zhengyue looked at his wife, silent for a moment, before speaking.

"Then let's strike while the iron is hot. Once you break through to level sixty, we'll hunt your sixth soul ring while we're out."

Liu Yunlan looked up at her husband.

"Target age? Around forty thousand years," Qing Zhengyue said. "Your physique is already sufficient under the reinforcement of the Whale Glue, and with Feng'er's Dragon Might as support, it shouldn't be a problem."

Liu Yunlan nodded without saying anything more.

She knew that the old man was making long-term plans.

The target for the seventh soul ring was a hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast, located in the deep reaches of the Star Dou Forest, in the high-risk area surrounding the Life Lake.

That kind of place isn't easy to reach, not even once.

Since they were going, they might as well get everything done that needed doing.

Her sixth soul ring could conveniently be hunted on the same trip.

"Then what should I choose for my sixth soul ring?" the old lady asked.

Qing Zhengyue thought for a moment. "The same as Hongyuan: a Wind Wood Dragon. Forty thousand years, dual wind and wood attributes, it can provide you with flight capabilities."

Liu Yunlan's eyes brightened slightly.

Flight capabilities—she certainly wanted that.

The last time she saw her son flying in the sky, the old lady had called it "good for nothing" on the outside, but she had been envious to death on the inside.

"Are there any other flight-capable soul beasts for the wood-attribute plant system?" she pressed.

"There are, but they are too rare. The Wind Wood Dragon is a stable and reliable choice," Qing Zhengyue said. "Besides, we have hunted two Wind Wood Dragons before; we have the experience. Hunting another will be second nature."

Liu Yunlan nodded, asking no more questions.

Qing Hongyuan, listening from the side, suddenly spoke up.

"What about me?"

"Of course you're coming."

Qing Zhengyue glanced at his son, his tone matter-of-fact. "You have experience with Wind Wood Dragons; you can help when we get there. Plus, your Azure Snake Dragon Wing can provide aerial vision even in the dead of night."

Qing Hongyuan nodded, the corners of his mouth curling upward. He had assumed his father would leave him behind to watch the house, but he hadn't expected the whole family to go this time.

"I'm going too." Shen Wanqing set down her bowl and took the initiative to speak. "My support soul skills are useful in a team. Although I can't help much in direct combat, buffing you all and ensuring survival is my specialty."

Qing Zhengyue looked at his daughter-in-law and nodded.

Shen Wanqing's Jade Orchid support had played a huge role during the last hunt for a thirty-thousand-year Wind Wood Dragon—Jade Blessing boosted attack and defense, Jade Protection ensured survival, and Jade Rejuvenation provided continuous recovery.

With her there, the team's survivability increased by at least thirty percent.

"Then the whole family goes." Qing Zhengyue made the final decision. "Five people, not one less."

Qing Mufeng looked at his grandfather, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The whole family acting together—this was the situation he most wanted to see.

It wasn't because he needed protection, but because when the family was together, that was the safest state of all.

Liu Yunlan stood up and began to clear the dishes. The old lady moved quickly, already calculating the things that needed to be prepared before departure.

"We need to bring more medicinal herbs for the medicinal baths, and we must bring the Whale Glue. In case we are out for a long time, we can't let the consumption be interrupted."

The old lady muttered to herself as she tidied up:

"The Beast Repellent Powder needs to be remixed; there isn't much left from last time. And the healing herbs—prepare several extra portions."