You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

Qin Shou nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

But I felt a sense of relief.

As long as Shen Liuli doesn't step out of the Shui family's house, the Shui family won't be able to do anything to her for the time being.

After returning to his quiet room, he sat cross-legged and focused inward.

Over the past fifty years, he has entered the Shui family's spiritual energy pool five times in total.

The first time, he converted his immortal spiritual power to 40%, the second time to 60%, but the next three times were more difficult than the last.

Especially recently, he spent almost two years in the pool before he could barely push from 60% to 80%.

The further he progressed, the stronger the purging effect of the immortal spiritual power on his physical body and meridians became. Even with his Six Apertures Small Heavenly Circuit, he could no longer absorb it as readily as before.

"At this rate, it will take at least two more soaks to grind up the last 20%," Qin Shou secretly estimated.

The consumption over the years has also been staggering.

Each time someone enters the pool, it costs two or three thousand low-grade immortal crystals.

Although he had refined a large number of elixirs for the Shui family and earned back several times more immortal crystals than what was lost in the pool, this speed still made him dare not relax.

That's why he hasn't easily revealed his true strength in recent years.

Occasionally, I would exchange ideas with the two old alchemists, but only briefly.

The next day, Qin Beast went to the Immortal Spirit Power Pool again.

The old man surnamed Xun asked no more questions, but handed him a pot of pale blue spiritual tea before he entered the pool.

Qin Shou thanked him and stepped into the pool.

This time, he deliberately suppressed the absorption speed, only slowly guiding the immortal spiritual power through his six orifices, gradually refining the remaining 30% of spiritual energy in his body.

Two years later, he slowly stood up, his immortal spiritual power having been converted to 97%.

As they left the stone hall, the elderly man surnamed Xun made an exception and stood up to see them off.

As soon as Qin Shou finished putting on his outer robe, he saw a man in a blue robe standing outside the forbidden area.

The man had a refined appearance, a short beard, and stood with his hands behind his back beneath an ancient pine tree. Seeing Qin Shou emerge, he smiled slightly, his voice gentle:

"I've long heard of Qin Gongfeng's reputation, but today I finally get to meet him in person."

Qin Shou paused, his gaze sharpening.

The man's aura was unfathomable; he stood casually, yet he seemed like a mountain pressing down on the ground.

He almost instantly concluded that this person was the head of the Shui family.

He had lived in the Shui family for many years and had seen them from afar a few times, but had never spoken to them face to face like this.

"Clan Chief." Qin Shou bowed respectfully.

The Shui family patriarch smiled and waved his hand, "No need for formalities."

I've come here for two reasons: first, to see you; and second, to discuss some things with you.

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Qin Shou, seemingly casually, yet it made Qin Shou tense up.

The investigation by a late-stage True Immortal cultivator was no ordinary matter. He dared not show any unusualness, and only said, "Please speak, Clan Chief."

"The children's aptitude has already been assessed by the clan."

The Shui family patriarch paused for a moment, then said, "Among your children, there are quite a few with excellent spiritual roots."

It was time for the clan to select talented individuals to enter the clan school.

You are their father, and I cannot overstep my bounds.

"But back then, you made a pact with my Shui family to send ten celestial seedlings into the clan. Now it's time for an explanation."

Qin Shou's expression remained unchanged, but he already understood the purpose of their visit.

He said, "The children's foundation is still weak. I originally wanted to stay a few more years to personally take care of them."

I know you can't bear to part with it.

The Shui family patriarch sighed softly, "However, the clan academy has elders who pass on their skills, as well as suitable cultivation methods and spiritual medicines."

They are better suited to the clan school than to stay by your side.

Rest assured, they are all your flesh and blood, and also the bloodline of my Shui family.

The Shui family will not treat you unfairly.

Qin Shou did not respond immediately.

He looked up and met the man's gaze for a moment, finally nodding slowly.

"In that case, we shall do as the clan chief says."

"But they are too young; I hope you can allow me to raise them for a few more years."

"nature."

The Shui family patriarch's smile deepened. "Ten people have been chosen. They are all over twenty years old and ready to enter the clan school. The younger ones will remain under your care."

Qin Shou appeared calm, but his heart felt as if something had gently ripped out from it.

The two returned to the villa together.

Not long after, several stewards of the Shui family arrived outside the courtyard with a blue-patterned cloud-carriage.

Ten boys and girls were brought out from various side courtyards and stood in the courtyard. Some had their heads down, while others looked curiously at Qin Shou.

Most of them had youthful faces, but their features already hinted at the likeness of Qin beasts.

Qin Shou stood under the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the children one by one.

He had met a few of the men a few times, while others had been raised by their wet nurses for years and he had barely spoken to them.

Even so, the feeling of being connected by blood still made his chest feel tight.

Shui Yingyue stood behind him, her eyes already red.

She was usually very docile, but at this moment she was tightly clutching her sleeves.

Shui Rou remained silent, her face pale and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Shuiyao couldn't hold back and stepped forward, her voice trembling:

"Could we...let them stay for a few more years? They're only in their early twenties!"

"Yao'er," the Shui family patriarch said gently, yet with an undeniable authority, "the clan academy is not a place of trials and tribulations; you should understand that."

Shuiyao shuddered, lowered her head, and stopped talking.

Qin Shou could see that her shoulders were trembling slightly.

He said nothing, but slowly walked up to the group of children, his gaze falling on the boy at the front.

The boy was thin and slender with a calm expression. When he saw him approaching, he called out softly, "Father."

"Mm," Qin Shou responded, then remained silent for a moment before saying, "Be good and live well."

The boy's eyes were slightly red, and he nodded emphatically.

The other children echoed in agreement.

The Water Clan Chief stepped forward and patted Qin Beast on the shoulder:

"Qin Daoyou is a dragon among men, destined to become a mystical immortal in the future."

There's no need to worry too much about having offspring.

Self-cultivation is fundamental.

Qin Shou's fingers, which were hanging inside his sleeves, slowly clenched, but he smiled slightly:

"The chieftain is right."

The cloud car quickly drove away from the villa.

The courtyard gate closed again, and the footsteps faded into the distance.

Qin Shou remained standing under the eaves, gazing towards the entrance, without moving for a long time.

Shui Yingyue finally couldn't hold back and cried softly.

Shui Rou supported her, her eyes also brimming with tears.

Shuiyao suddenly grabbed Qin Shou's arm and said in a trembling voice, "Sooner or later...sooner or later we will bring them back."

Qin Shou turned his head, glanced at her, then looked at Shui Yingyue and Shui Rou, and said softly, "Yes."

After saying this, he turned and went back into the house.

The three women behind him remained standing in the courtyard, none of them following him.

As night deepened, the wind blew in from outside the courtyard, making the old locust tree rustle.

Qin Shou sat alone in the quiet room and slowly closed his eyes.

He knew that what made people most vigilant in this world was never the enemy's knife, but the bones and blood held in the hands of others.