"Senior Brother Four, how many demon pets and spirit beasts do you have now?" Su Luo asked curiously.
"One hundred and twenty-five."
It was too much trouble to list them one by one, so Zhan Li showed Su Luo the Myriad Beasts Unbounded Map.
The image on the map was originally pitch black with only a blood-red eye. Now, it had completely transformed.
It depicted a vast and distant scenery, like a serene ink wash painting. Precipitous peaks stood majestically, with a rushing river flowing turbulently below. Farther away on the riverbank was a lush, dense forest, where many spirit beasts and demon beasts appeared, some playing, some flying.
Beyond that was a dense fog, making the entire painting appear ancient and mysterious.
Just as Su Luo was about to say something, a faint glow flashed across the image, and it subtly changed.
The two golden griffins that had been flying in the sky were gone, replaced by a flock of flamingos. A few demon beasts playing by the riverbank were now drinking water. This was truly magical.
"The picture changes? Is this the true appearance of the Myriad Beasts Unbounded Map?" Su Luo asked in surprise.
"Yes."
Zhan Li nodded. The picture would gradually change to reflect the actual conditions within it.
He had only confirmed this after retrieving his family's divine artifact and observing it for more than half a month.
This painting contained a world of its own!
With such a vast space, it was more than enough for tens of thousands, even hundreds of millions, of creatures to live within it.
The longer Zhan Li possessed this divine artifact, the more secrets he uncovered.
All the demon beasts and spirit beasts he defeated would enter this painting. Unless he summoned them out, they could not leave the world of the Myriad Beasts Unbounded Map. They did not need to eat or drink within it to survive, but they also couldn't reproduce.
The number within the painting was equal to the number he had defeated. Even if they entered heavily injured and near death, they would recover after some time.
Zhan Li was extremely curious about how this divine artifact came to be and who created it. He had not yet fully grasped all its functions. He was most grateful to his junior sister for helping him acquire this artifact and assisting him in recognizing its master. This was a debt of gratitude he could never repay.
"Thank you, Junior Sister," he said earnestly.
"You don't need to thank me so much."
Su Luo smiled. Although her fourth senior brother hadn't spoken many words, he kept thanking her.
After staying a while longer, she left Changning Residence.
Her third grandfather's poison was cured, and the Blood Ant Queen was dealt with. Su Luo then put away the spirit herbs she brought back from the Seven Stars Sect and inventoried the accounts and income from the recent period. She was busy for quite some time before finishing.
For the next two days, Su Luo relaxed properly, taking the Dragon Hound and the Little Prince out for sightseeing, accompanied of course by Shang Xie Shao Qing, Wen Dai'er, Tang Xiao Guo, and Xiao Bai. She also visited the Giant King's Court and cultivated there for a month, also helping dozens of giants lift their petrification curses. In the outside world, less than three days had passed.
And her cultivation had smoothly broken through to the third-tier Venerable realm.
There was one thing Su Luo had not forgotten: the Fang siblings were still waiting for her to discuss the business of the Rejuvenation Pill.
Although the Phoenix Plume Grass was no longer urgently needed, Su Luo appreciated the Fang siblings' kindness. If the conditions were right, she was willing to cooperate with the Fang family. After all, making money was always a good thing.
However...
Since her return, her eldest senior brother had not spoken to her for a full five days. It was clear he was still upset.
She definitely couldn't go to discuss business alone. If this matter wasn't resolved, she didn't want to be in a cold war with him in front of the Fang siblings.
Should she apologize and coax him again?
Su Luo pondered seriously.
Li Tianjue, as a typical straightforward man, while using cunning as his survival method and being cold and decisive in his actions, was fundamentally upright, responsible, and reliable. He was indifferent to outsiders but... he was absolutely the most dependable eldest senior brother who protected his junior brothers and sisters.
Su Luo smiled slyly; she already had a plan.
As long as she yielded a little, acted a bit spoiled, and said some nice words, this man would surely calm down.
...
When Su Luo arrived at the entrance of Moxian Residence, she happened to see a servant who was cleaning coming out.
"Is Eldest Senior Brother here?" she asked.
"Greetings, Miss Su."
The servant bowed respectfully and replied, "Young Master Li started cultivating the night before last and hasn't come out until now."
Su Luo had thought Li Tianjue was angry and thus wouldn't see her. It turned out he was cultivating.
She smiled, dismissed the servant, and went in herself.
The bluestone path in the courtyard was swept clean. The tall ink bamboos on both sides rustled, creating a serene and pleasant atmosphere. Su Luo tiptoed in, not calling out to Li Tianjue. She sat by the door on the corridor, waiting for Li Tianjue to come out on his own.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Luo faintly heard some sounds.
She immediately rubbed her eyes until they were red, then lowered her head and leaned against the wall, pretending to be asleep.
A moment later, the door opened.
As Li Tianjue walked out, he saw someone sitting by the door.
The young girl had her head lowered, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed as if asleep. She looked so quiet, like a delicate bluebell, stirring his affection: "Why are you sleeping here?"
Su Luo whimpered, as if startled awake. She opened her eyes and looked up.
"Ah, Eldest Senior Brother!"
Su Luo jumped up in surprise. She had just extended her hand when she retracted it, saying softly, "I'm sorry, Eldest Senior Brother. Did I disturb your cultivation? I... I have something I want to tell you..."
Li Tianjue frowned. Had she been waiting for him all along?
Seeing her eyes were still red, had she cried before?
This silly girl!
He pulled Su Luo and walked into the house, feeling immense heartache. "If you need to find me, just come in directly. What is it like waiting by the door?"
He didn't know how long this girl had waited for him, falling asleep outside. If he had gone into seclusion for a month, would she have waited outside for a month? Damn it, he shouldn't have cultivated if he had known.
Su Luo was forcibly pulled by Li Tianjue to sit on the couch. He then brought over pastries and tea, placing them in front of her before asking, "What is it you wanted to find me for?"
"Eldest Senior Brother... are you still angry with me?"
Su Luo held the sweet fruit tea, looking at him with pitiful eyes: "You haven't spoken to me for five days. Are you going to be angry with me forever?"
Li Tianjue's gaze softened, and he felt remorse.
He had never been angry with her. He was just unhappy that their second senior brother had held her like that, and even more angry that he couldn't control himself and had said those things he shouldn't have.
"No, you're overthinking it. How could I be angry with you?" he said calmly.
Su Luo saw his forced smile and immediately began to act spoiled: "Eldest Senior Brother, I was really wrong. Please don't be angry with me anymore, okay? I promise I won't tease you again and will never joke with my life like that again, so you don't have to worry."
"There's no need to apologize, I'm not angry."
As Li Tianjue finished speaking, he suddenly caught something: "What do you mean by joking with your life?"
Su Luo said earnestly: "It was earlier. I shouldn't have said I was dying, making you worry. I was just being mischievous and said it casually... Please don't take it to heart, okay? I promise I won't say it carelessly anymore."
Li Tianjue's entire body trembled. So what she said casually was about this!
It didn't mean she didn't like him?
At this moment, the emotions that were almost extinguished in Li Tianjue's heart began to sprout again, and his silent heart stirred once more.
So he had misunderstood her meaning!