This Is a Real Father, That Drunkard Is Not My Father

He was truly worrying over nothing. Shen Qingling had not even had time to sigh.

Gu Yuena had already walked over, looking as if she were here to demand an explanation.

"Husband, isn't Xiao San being a little too proactive? He insists on taking the initiative in everything. It feels like he's taking my place."

She was the wife, yet even things like serving food were being snatched away by a disciple. How could that be acceptable?

"Na'er, you're overthinking it. Xiao San merely has his own ideas. Besides, you're my wife. No one can take that away."

Shen Qingling began soothing Gu Yuena's little sulk.

Di Tian, standing to one side, was even more alarmed. His lord's changes were far too great, leaving him with a feeling he had never expected.

"We'll talk after we get back. Try to finish what you have on hand within two days. I've learned a few new hearty dishes too."

Gu Yuena smiled.

The moment she said that, Shen Qingling felt a headache coming on. It's true that I have the bloodlines of the Golden Dragon King and Blue Silver Emperor, but your Silver Dragon King temperament is really no less intense.

You never hold back whenever you practice. No matter how quickly I recover, I can't withstand such high-intensity torment.

Are all powerful fighters this relentless?

"We'll discuss it in detail after we return. As for now, let's first take care of Xiao San's matter."

His target was the two skeletons beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. They would be an enormous boost to him, and they might even leave behind soul bones. As for the souls, after tens of thousands of years, they should have long since dispersed.

As for the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, they were naturally of negligible use to him. His physical body had already reached a terrifying level.

"Teacher, Teacher, please protect me!"

Tang San called out loudly from the side.

"Xiao San is about to absorb them. As his teacher's wife, you can't make things difficult for me anymore, can you?"

Gu Yuena shot him an annoyed look, then nodded.

"Go on. Business comes first. I won't make trouble for you."

Shen Qingling walked over and sat beside Tang San. Seeing his teacher personally standing guard for him, Tang San immediately felt at ease. He took a deep breath and swallowed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot together.

The medicinal power exploded the instant it entered his stomach. Two forces, one icy and one scorching, rampaged through his meridians. Tang San's face turned pale from the cold one moment and flushed red from the heat the next. Veins bulged at his temples as the two powers collided and intertwined, the pain tightening every muscle in his body.

"Xiao San, steady your mind. Guide the medicinal power along your meridians."

Shen Qingling spoke in a deep voice. A faint golden glow gathered at his fingertips, ready to step in at any moment.

Tang San gritted his teeth and endured it, circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill according to the method his teacher had taught him. Bit by bit, he guided the icy and fiery medicinal powers toward his dantian. Even though his entire body trembled faintly with pain, he did not let out a single groan.

Teacher is here. I absolutely can't make any pained noises. Besides, what hardship haven't I endured? If I can't even persevere through this little pain, how can I make Teacher satisfied with me?

Xiao Wu walked over. With only one glance at Tang San, she knew that this was not pain an ordinary person could endure. Even she would not have been able to hold on.

When the time was about right, Tang San pointed at the spring water. "Teacher, I'm going to jump in."

The timing was right. He only needed to stay in the water for a while.

Shen Qingling smiled and pressed a hand against his shoulder. "Teacher will go down with you. You'll suffer much less that way."

Tang San's heart stirred, and his eyes filled with surprise. He had thought his teacher would only stand guard on the shore, never expecting him to personally enter the water with him. Warmth filled his heart, and he nodded heavily. "Mm!"

This is what a real father is like, not that drunkard who calls himself my father. Once I grow up, I definitely can... He did not dare say it now.

As soon as the words fell, the two leaped into the center of the spring within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Extreme cold and heat swept over them at once, bone-piercing chill intertwining with searing waves of heat, making even the air crackle softly.

A pale blue glow spread around Shen Qingling as the Blue Silver Domain quietly unfolded. At the same time, he released a layer of Bloodline Power, forming a thin membrane that firmly wrapped around Tang San and blocked most of the extreme cold and heat.

"Focus on guiding the medicinal power. Don't be distracted."

Shen Qingling's voice came steadily to him.

Tang San steadied himself, closed his eyes, and circulated his cultivation method. Under Shen Qingling's protection, the medicinal power gradually merged with the power of the spring water, washing through his body again and again along his meridians, tempering his bones, flesh, and skin.

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

When Tang San opened his eyes again, the pain around his body had completely vanished. He lowered his head to look at his arm. His formerly somewhat rough skin had become fair and smooth, with a faint lustrous sheen beneath it. It was as though his entire body had been remolded, and even his muscles and bones felt much lighter.

When he realized that his teacher had remained by his side the entire time, he was truly moved. Just as he wanted to timidly call out "Father"—

Shen Qingling spoke first. "Since you're awake, let's hurry up and go ashore."

Realizing that he had missed his chance, Tang San felt a little disappointed. I was so close. And I'm still too cowardly. If I'd just been a little bolder and called out, maybe Teacher wouldn't have minded.

This is all I can do for now.

The two leaped onto the shore one after the other. Tang San moved his limbs, and fine crackling sounds came from throughout his body. His Soul Power was several times more robust than before, faintly touching the bottleneck of level twenty. His entire bearing had become much steadier and more composed.

Not far away, Dugu Yan also slowly opened her eyes. A phantom of her Martial Soul emerged behind her. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent, which had originally been entirely green, now glowed with a faint golden radiance. A pair of small horns had grown atop its head, and its scales appeared even tougher. The Martial Soul Evolution had been completely successful.

Dugu Yan rose and walked up to Shen Qingling, then gave him a solemn bow.

"Thank you for your help, Young Master Shen. I will never forget this great kindness."

"No need to be so polite." Shen Qingling nodded slightly. "The reason you made it through the evolution was your own perseverance."

Dugu Bo, standing nearby, wore a broad smile. Seeing the changes in his granddaughter, he became even more convinced by Shen Qingling.

At the same time, inside the study of the Crown Prince's Residence in Heaven Dou City.

Qian Renxue sat behind her desk, lightly tapping her fingertips against its surface. A trace of barely noticeable anticipation lay hidden in her eyes. She had waited an entire day for Porcupinefish Douluo to bring back Shen Qingling's exact whereabouts.

She had already begun imagining what it would be like when she saw her big brother again—how she would once more throw herself at him, rub against his head, and call herself his little sister Xue'er.

Shen Qingling's appearance had been one of the few sources of light and warmth she had found in Spirit Hall.

"Young Master." Porcupinefish Douluo pushed open the door and entered, his expression somewhat complicated. "This subordinate searched throughout Heaven Dou City and its surroundings, but found no trace of Young Master Shen."

Qian Renxue's tapping fingers abruptly stopped. The beauty of her fantasies shattered across the ground like broken glass.

She lowered her eyes, concealing the surging disappointment within them. Her voice remained steady. "I understand."

Yet bitterness welled up in her heart. She had finally received news of her big brother, but in just one short day, he had vanished without a trace.

She had lurked in Heaven Dou City for years and had grown accustomed to suppressing every emotion. Yet whenever it concerned him, she could not help but care. Could it be that there is truly only such a shallow fate between him and me?

After a long silence, she finally raised her head, her tone calm and unruffled.

"Continue searching. Report immediately if there is any news."

Qian Renxue refused to believe it. She did not believe Shen Qingling would leave behind not even the slightest trace.