Truly the most beautiful woman on Sea God Island. If only she could be my wife.

After expressing his thanks, Li Qing planned to immediately find a quiet place to absorb this mass of energy.

He had just turned to leave when he was called back by Bo Saixi.

"Wait."

Bo Saixi looked at him with some confusion and asked, quite puzzled, "Since it has been refined, why not absorb it right here? The Sea God Hall is filled with abundant energy and is a safe environment; it is the most ideal place for cultivation. I can also stand guard for you to prevent any accidents."

Li Qing's footsteps froze instantly, his small face turning bright red in a "whoosh," with even his earlobes stained a deep crimson.

He kept his head lowered, not daring to meet Bo Saixi's eyes, and stammered for a long time before explaining in a voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, "That... Great Priestess Sister... although the main effect of this Whale Glue after refinement is to strengthen the physique, the... the original aphrodisiac effect... has not been completely eradicated; it has only been weakened significantly. Plus... plus you are truly so beautiful, and your temperament is so refined... I... I am afraid that while I am absorbing the energy, my mind will be stirred, and if... if I am affected by the residual medicinal power and lose control... and commit some disrespectful act... that would be... that would be too offensive to you..."

The softer Li Qing spoke, the lower he buried his head, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

This explanation was half-truth and half-lie; the fact that the aphrodisiac effect of the Whale Glue had not completely vanished was one reason, but more importantly, facing a peerless beauty like Bo Saixi while absorbing energy with such special properties, he—a transmigrator with a mature psychological age—really had no confidence in his ability to keep his mind completely free of distracting thoughts.

If he were to make a fool of himself, it would be social suicide; how would he ever be able to show his face on Sea God Island again?

After hearing Li Qing's stumbling, red-faced explanation, Bo Saixi was stunned for a moment. Then, two faint blushes quickly spread across her beautiful face, like white jade stained with rouge, adding a touch of charm.

She immediately understood Li Qing's concerns, and at the same time, she felt a subtle, imperceptible shyness—and perhaps a hint of pleasure—at his remark that she was "truly so beautiful."

She gave a light cough to hide her slight unease and waved her hand, her tone returning to its usual indifference, though if one listened closely, it seemed a fraction faster than usual: "I see... then go quickly and find a quiet place to absorb it. Be careful and act within your limits."

"Yes! Thank you, Great Priestess Sister!" As if granted amnesty, Li Qing clutched the golden essence of energy and ran toward his room without looking back, his speed faster than a rabbit.

Watching Li Qing's back as he practically fled in a panic, Bo Saixi stood where she was. Only when his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did she let out a soft, barely audible sigh.

She raised her hand, her fingertips unconsciously brushing her slightly warm cheeks. As Li Qing's words echoed in her mind, she couldn't help but whisper, "This little one... he isn't big, but his thoughts are... however..."

Her gaze turned toward the statue of the Sea God, her eyes becoming profound.

Li Qing's behavior today once again confirmed his uniqueness.

This child was definitely no ordinary person.

Perhaps he really could change something.

"Tang Chen's great-grandson... Tang San, is it..."

Bo Saixi muttered to herself, her eyes complex: "And the Asura God Position... it seems that the continent is truly about to face a storm."

At this moment, Li Qing, having hidden back in his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to absorb the hard-won essence of the Whale Glue.

He took a deep breath and, without further hesitation, opened his mouth and swallowed the warm, gelatinous mass.

Unexpectedly, it was not the delicacy he had imagined; at first, it still carried a bitter and fishy taste, and he almost spat it out instinctively.

But soon, an indescribable sweetness bloomed on the tip of his tongue, sliding down his throat into his stomach and turning into a warm current.

However, this warm current did not diffuse gently.

Almost in an instant, a scorching heat, like a wildfire being ignited, surged violently from his lower abdomen!

Li Qing felt as if all the blood in his body were boiling; his originally fair skin flushed a deep red at a speed visible to the naked eye, and fine beads of sweat even seeped from his temples.

A primitive, restless desire, like a waking beast, began to assault his mental defenses.

Oh no, the medicinal power is even more potent than I imagined! Li Qing was startled, but he dared not delay for a second. He immediately centered his mind and exerted his innate soul power—which far exceeded that of ordinary people—to its limit, guiding this violent energy along his meridians in an attempt to refine and absorb it.

Seemingly sensing that its master was in a critical period, the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag appeared beside him without needing to be summoned.

The flag fluttered without wind, emitting a soft, cool blue halo. The ancient runes on the flag's surface flowed slowly, releasing pure water-elemental power that nourished Li Qing's scorching body like sweet dew, helping him stabilize his mind and suppress the rising fire of desire.

The spirituality of this primordial treasure was fully revealed at this moment.

Just as Li Qing was struggling with all his might against the medicinal power, the door was gently pushed open a crack.

An elegant blue figure slipped into the room silently; it was Bo Saixi, who had returned.

She was, after all, somewhat uneasy and wanted to see with her own eyes what this so-called method of tempering the physique was like, while also wanting to confirm Li Qing's safety.

Bo Saixi stood a few paces away from the bed, her beautiful eyes, deep as the ocean, curiously observing Li Qing as he cultivated.

When she saw the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag protecting its master of its own accord, a look of amazement flashed in her eyes once again.

The spirituality of this martial soul was truly extraordinary.

[If this method can truly significantly improve a soul master's physique, then the value of Whale Glue will likely need to be re-evaluated.]

Bo Saixi pondered to herself: [There is no shortage of powerful whale-type soul beasts in the waters around Sea God Island. If they can be utilized reasonably...]

However, her train of thought was quickly interrupted by the scene before her.

Due to the special residual medicinal effect of the Whale Glue, a certain part of Li Qing's body showed an obvious change.

Seeing this, Bo Saixi's beautiful face turned bright red in a "whoosh," with even her fair neck stained a deep crimson.

She had lived for over a hundred years. As the Great Priestess of Sea God Island, her status was incomparably noble, and the rules on the island were strict; everyone held her in awe, and no one had ever dared to show the slightest disrespect.

She herself had also devoted her life to serving the Sea God and focusing on cultivation. Regarding the affairs of men and women or the intimacies of the boudoir, she was like a blank sheet of paper, pure to the point of naivety—otherwise, she would not have been deceived by that brute Tang Chen back then.

To suddenly witness such a sight now, and on a child she regarded as a junior, the shock and embarrassment left her at a loss for what to do.

She instinctively wanted to look away, but her observational skills and curiosity as a Peerless Douluo made her unable to resist wanting to understand the specific manifestations and the degree of influence of the medicinal effect.

After all, this concerned the authenticity and safety of the body-tempering method Li Qing had mentioned.

This contradictory psychology left her frozen in place, unable to advance or retreat. She could only force herself to remain calm, but her slightly trembling eyelashes and accelerated heartbeat betrayed her inner turmoil.

The night was as dark as ink, and the Sea God Hall was wrapped in silence, save for the soft, glowing halo cast by the night-luminescent pearls.

Li Qing slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance flickering through his pupils as if waves were surging in their depths.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, his joints popping with crisp, rhythmic cracks.

Carefully sensing the surging blood and qi within his body and the marked increase in his muscular strength, Li Qing nodded with satisfaction. "As expected of eight-thousand-year Whale Glue; the results are even better than I anticipated."

At this moment, his entire body was sticky, covered in a layer of grayish-black grime—the impurities purged from his body after refining his physique.

He strode into the bathroom attached to his room, where warm seawater poured from a shell-shaped showerhead embedded in the wall, washing his body clean.

Once finished, Li Qing changed into clean clothes and pushed the door open to step out.

The corridor was empty, with only the aquamarine gems on the walls emitting a faint, ghostly light.

He walked straight toward Bo Saixi's room.

Arriving before the door carved with the Sea God totem, Li Qing hesitated for a moment before reaching out to knock gently.

The sound of his knuckles striking the door panel was crisp, ringing out with startling clarity in the silent corridor.

"Sister, are you asleep?" he asked in a lowered voice, fearing he might disturb her.

After a moment of silence, Bo Saixi's gentle, slightly languid voice drifted from behind the door: "Come in."

Li Qing pushed the door open and stepped inside, the sight that met his eyes causing him to freeze.

Bo Saixi was not asleep; instead, she was lounging on a recliner carved from white sea jade by the window.

She had changed out of her daytime gown into a soft, lightweight, pale blue silk nightdress.

The cut of the nightdress was impeccable, outlining her tall, graceful, and curvaceous figure to perfection—not an ounce of fat, nor a hint of thinness; it was a masterpiece of the Creator.

Her long, deep-blue hair, as vast as the ocean, was not meticulously pinned up as it was during the day, but cascaded loosely behind her. A few strands fell playfully across her delicate collarbone and chest, adding a touch of tenderness and allure rarely seen in her usual demeanor.

She sat with her legs crossed, a casual posture that caused the hem of her nightdress to ride up slightly, revealing a length of jade-smooth, perfectly shaped calves and delicate, elegant ankles.

Moonlight spilled through the carved window lattice, plating her exposed skin in a cold, silver sheen that made her fair complexion seem to glow.

However, what drew Li Qing's gaze most was her breathtaking face.

Under the illumination of the bright moon, a faint, lingering flush remained on Bo Saixi's cheeks, like white jade stained with rouge, injecting a hint of indescribable shyness and vitality into her usually untouchable, sacred aura.

Bathed in the moonlight, her blue hair, snowy skin, and rosy cheeks, set against the backdrop of the boundless deep-blue sea and sky outside the window, formed a heart-stopping tableau—like a goddess under the moon, serene and seductive.

My god...

Li Qing gasped inwardly, his eyes widening as he couldn't help but think: This... this is too beautiful! She truly is the greatest beauty on Sea God Island!

A powerful surge of excitement welled up in his heart, and a bold, perhaps even blasphemous, thought bubbled up uncontrollably: If only... if only she could be my wife...

The moment the thought flashed through his mind, he immediately noticed the unusual flush on Bo Saixi's cheeks and muttered to himself: But... why is your face still so red? Did you drink tonight? That can't be right!

Bo Saixi had clearly heard Li Qing's momentary stupor and the intense activity of his inner thoughts with perfect clarity.

The thought of "being my wife," in particular, made her heart skip a beat, and the flush on her cheeks seemed to deepen, resembling a ripe peach.

She turned her head slightly in an unnatural motion, avoiding Li Qing's direct, stunned, and inquisitive gaze. Her slender fingers unconsciously twirled a lock of hair resting on her chest as she tried to mask the turmoil in her heart with a calm tone: "Coming over so late... did you encounter any problems while absorbing the Whale Glue?"

Her voice was a fraction deeper than usual, carrying a languid, husky quality like someone just waking from sleep, which sounded particularly heart-stirring in the quiet of the night.