The atmosphere grew heavy, a shadow falling over everyone's hearts.
Lu Jixing was currently at the seventh stage of the Venerable realm, which was considered quite good for ordinary cultivators.
But he was an inner disciple of the Qingxu Heaven, with considerable talent. If not for the hidden injuries, he might have already reached the Spirit King cultivation and become one of the top ten young geniuses on the Heaven's Chosen List, with unlimited potential.
Choosing between preserving his life or taking a gamble was incredibly difficult.
Just as Su Luo was about to comfort Lu Jixing, he suddenly slapped his palm. "Hey, look at you all. I'm not dying tomorrow, why the long faces? I'm not scared, so what are you afraid of?"
Chu Tianshu looked at him. "Third brother, don't be like this. We know you're not feeling well..."
"Bah, bah, bah, you jinx! I feel perfectly fine!"
Lu Jixing snorted dismissively. "These hidden injuries don't affect me. At worst, I won't treat them. Okay? My current cultivation is already enough to defeat most people. Besides, with the prestige of Qingxu Heaven, who would dare casually cross me?"
Only then did Chu Tianshu burst into laughter, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "That's right, it's good you can see it that way. Life is paramount, don't take risks. Don't worry, with me as your brother, I'll ensure you live a life of comfort and luxury!"
Lu Jixing also laughed. "You bet! If anyone dares to mess with me in the future, I'll just call out: Second Brother, go get them! And you'll charge in with a howl..."
"Get lost, do you think I'm a dog!"
"Didn't you just say you'd protect me? Already backing out?"
"You brat..."
Seeing the two start to bicker again, Bai Qi felt a little relieved.
But Su Luo knew that their third senior brother was just trying not to worry them, deliberately acting as if he didn't care. She also pretended not to see through his forced composure and didn't expose his pretense.
Xuan Mai Zhen (Profound Meridian Needle), this was the treatment method suggested by the Divine Eye Mirror, and also one of the Xuanmen secret arts of the Su family.
This required Su Luo to condense her spiritual energy into needle-thin filaments and insert them into Lu Jixing's body, gradually dissolving the blockages and hidden injuries, and activating the life force in his dantian. A total of one hundred and eight needles had to be inserted, and each needle must not deviate in the slightest.
In her past life, Su Luo had only attempted it once. However, when she was inserting the eighty-third needle, the patient's adversary suddenly broke in with a group of people, causing the attempt to fail. Therefore, she herself didn't know if she could truly complete all one hundred and eight needles.
And whether Lu Jixing could withstand it!
Never mind, she would let her third senior brother consider it first. If he decided to try, she would then consider the subsequent steps.
Su Luo shifted everyone's attention, letting the matter drop for now. Seizing the opportunity, she brought out the prepared monthly stipends. "Hey, second senior brother, third senior brother, fifth senior brother, I have some good news to announce."
"What is it, junior sister?" The two who were bickering stopped.
"Tada! Look..."
Su Luo said with a radiant smile, "These three storage bags contain next month's stipends. I had them prepared beforehand, and since the three senior brothers are here, I'll give them to you."
Chu Tianshu smiled. "This is great, thank you, junior sister."
He was usually not short of money and put it away casually. Bai Qi also took it without much thought and thanked Su Luo.
It was Lu Jixing who eagerly leaned closer. "Junior sister, this stipend couldn't have come at a better time! I've been spending a lot lately and was in need... Huh? Something's not right, why is there so much more?"
"A million? And there are gemstones too?!"
It was then that Chu Tianshu realized something was amiss. He looked at his own storage bag and exclaimed in surprise, "Yo! Junior sister, why is this month's stipend doubled? Did you make a mistake?"
Su Luo blinked and smiled. "No mistake. Because starting next month, I've increased everyone's monthly stipends."
"Since I'm in charge of the Resource Hall, I naturally have to improve everyone's benefits. From now on, all expenses for missions will be reimbursed. Don't skimp on flying spiritual artifacts, eat well, spend freely! Oh, and second senior brother, where can I buy transmission talismans? I plan to get one for each of you."
Even Chu Tianshu was moved. Transmission talismans were so expensive, and junior sister wanted to get them for everyone?
"Junior sister, you're much more generous than our senior brother!"
"Senior brother only makes us work our muscles and starve our bodies! Junior sister, why didn't you come to Qingxu Heaven sooner? I wouldn't have lived such a meager life before, not even having enough money for alchemy..."
Lu Jixing wished he could hug Su Luo and kiss her. "From now on, I'll follow junior sister. If you tell me to go east, I'll definitely not go west. If you tell me to beat a dog, I'll never chase a chicken!"
Su Luo: "Hahahaha..."
Bai Qi watched silently, remembering it in his heart. As expected, junior sister was beautiful and kind-hearted.
Meeting her was his greatest fortune.
Chu Tianshu nodded. "Transmission talismans are always rare, and difficult to buy even with money. But I'll help keep an eye out. If I hear anything, I'll let you know, junior sister."
After a period of playful banter, the group left Yongfu Residence, not wanting to disturb Bai Qi's rest.
As they were leaving, Su Luo suddenly remembered something and casually asked, "Oh right, second senior brother, didn't our fourth grand-uncle say he would pick someone from among you to cultivate spirit beasts? How did that turn out?"
Chu Tianshu chuckled. "How could I do that? Having me constantly deal with a bunch of spirit beasts and demonic beasts would drive me mad! Guess who the fourth elder finally chose? It was fourth brother!"
Su Luo never expected this outcome.
Fourth brother was taciturn and cold, so much so that even she found him unapproachable. And he turned out to be the most skilled in beast cultivation?
Wouldn't he scare those spirit beasts to death?
With lingering doubt, Su Luo returned to Feihong Residence.
Passing by Wanghe Residence, Su Luo had intended to tell Tang Xiaoguo that she was back and to give her the monthly stipend. However, a servant said, "Miss Tang is not here. She went to Yuxu City with Young Master Shang Xie."
"Xiaoguo is actually with Shang Xie..."
Su Luo was a little surprised. She hadn't expected these two to get along so quickly.
She could only leave the stipend, instructing the servant to give it to Xiaoguo when she returned, and then she went back to Feihong Residence.
In the following days...
Su Luo went to see the Third Elder and gave him ten bottles of Spring of Life for alchemy.
The Third Elder was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Su Luo to obtain such a heavenly spiritual item. This reignited his passion for alchemy, and he immediately took out his pile of pill formulas, ready to get down to business.
She then went to see the Fourth Elder and told him that she hadn't managed to capture any Spirit Beast Kings, and would have to wait until next time...
Regarding Giant King City, after discussing with the Second Elder, Su Luo planned to try crafting a magical artifact that could isolate the petrification effect and see how it worked. Su Luo left a petrification crystal for the Second Elder to research, hoping for good news soon.
Finally having dealt with important matters, Su Luo seized every moment to cultivate.
Ever since Shang Xie Shaoqing arrived at Qingxu Heaven, he had been restless, hovering around Su Luo like a vagrant, trying to curry favor and sending her a large number of gifts carefully selected during his trip to Yuxu City.
However, Su Luo neither accepted the gifts nor had time to play with him, often disappearing without a trace.
Was it because the gifts weren't good enough that Luo Luo didn't like them?
Shang Xie Shaoqing was baffled but undeterred, redoubling his efforts to understand Su Luo's preferences.
Although Tang Xiaoguo was simple-minded, she wasn't a fool. She finally understood Shang Xie Shaoqing's intentions. After his sincere assurances and countless culinary strategies, she agreed to help him pursue Sister Su.
This day, late at night.
Su Luo had just finished cultivating and was about to rest when she suddenly sensed someone outside her door.
The aura was cold and sharp. Although she didn't detect any immediate danger, it still made her vigilant.
Su Luo flashed to the door and yanked it open, only to see a man in black standing in the courtyard.
"Huh? Why is it you, Fourth Brother?"