Zhan Li spoke word by word, his voice hoarse.
His tone carried a remembrance of past events, heavy and desolate, like boundless yellow sand, rustling mournfully.
Su Luo nodded and hummed, "Fourth Senior Brother, please continue."
Scenes flashed through Zhan Li's mind. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, or perhaps he was recalling something in his thoughts.
He had known about this painting since he was young, as it was passed down from his ancestors in the Zhan family. However, it was lost during his great-grandfather's time. His parents had searched for it their entire lives, taking him to many places, enduring much hardship, and encountering many dangers...
When he was a child, the most frequent thing his parents told him was: "You must find this painting!"
Su Luo and Li Tianjue waited for a long time but heard nothing.
Here we go again!
Fourth Senior Brother falters at crucial moments, silence is golden.
Zhan Li seemed to forget about Li Tianjue and Su Luo. He looked at the hard-won scroll, lost in memories. Although he mumbled to himself, no sound actually emerged.
From his earliest memories, his father and mother had been like obsessed individuals, constantly searching. They inquired everywhere, rushed around, and often argued. Their quarrels were earth-shattering, and he would hide in his wet nurse's arms, frightened...
They couldn't find it no matter what, squandering their family fortune and offending all their relatives and friends. Later, even the wet nurse died, and the servants fled one by one. The house became increasingly desolate. But he was too young then to say anything, and crying was useless.
Zhan Li remembered hiding in the corner of the dark room, listening to the fierce arguments outside.
His father's temper, his mother's crying...
This was his childhood.
Later, his father met someone who claimed to know the painting's whereabouts. His father believed him implicitly, but the man turned out to be a swindler who had no Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu. Not only did he kill his father, but he also tried to claim his mother.
Zhan Li thought blankly, as if he could hear his mother's cries before she died, and her urging him to escape quickly...
His face contorted. Even though he had endured much over the years, the thought of these events still made him wish he could tear that person to shreds.
"Kill... kill!" he rasped, suddenly clenching his fists.
Su Luo knew Zhan Li was getting emotional. Wondering what he was thinking of, she glanced at Li Tianjue, who shook his head at her, signaling her not to disturb him.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhan Li finally calmed down.
He stroked the painting inch by inch, a hint of relief appearing on his face. It was as if the great mountain that had weighed on him for years had finally disappeared. He had found the Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu, and his parents could finally rest in peace in the afterlife.
Zhan Li spoke word by word, "That's, how, it, happened."
"Ah?" Su Luo was taken aback.
Was that all?
But Fourth Senior Brother, you didn't say anything just now...
Li Tianjue remained calm, seemingly accustomed to Zhan Li's temperament.
"Can you give me this painting... please?" At this moment, Zhan Li finally uttered his second complete sentence. "I will repay the money."
Su Luo breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he could express himself, it was fine. "Don't mention it, Fourth Senior Brother. This painting was meant for you from the start. As for the money... there's no hurry, you can repay it slowly."
Zhan Li couldn't wait a moment longer. He eagerly cut his finger and squeezed a drop of blood onto the scroll.
Su Luo's eyes lit up. Was this blood recognition?
Only divine artifacts required blood recognition; ordinary magical and sacred artifacts did not. Su Luo and Li Tianjue watched Zhan Li's actions, both wondering about the painting's purpose.
The blood was crimson. When it dripped onto the canvas, a faint red glow appeared, slowly seeping in.
But after a long time, there were no other reactions.
Zhan Li dripped another drop of blood. It was still a faint red glow, and the blood seeped in, but the scroll remained silent.
He froze.
"Isn't this blood recognition?" Su Luo didn't know either.
Li Tianjue reminded him, "Fourth Junior Brother, are you sure this scroll requires blood recognition to be used?"
Zhan Li became nervous and somewhat at a loss.
From childhood, his parents had told him that once the Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu was found, the first thing to do was blood recognition, so others couldn't snatch it away. But now...
He was truly bewildered. Why was it different from what his parents had said?
Seeing Zhan Li's helplessness, Su Luo knew something was wrong. She quickly used her Divine Eye Mirror to scan it, confirming that this painting was indeed the Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu. Moreover, she couldn't find any other information, indicating it was genuine.
To understand the specifics, she could only scan Fourth Senior Brother.
Forgive me!
It's all because Fourth Senior Brother didn't say anything, and I'm trying to help you.
Zhan Li: 23 years old, descendant of the Beast King Zhan Wuhai from five thousand years ago. Parents deceased. Joined Qingxu Heaven as an outer disciple at eighteen, promoted to inner disciple three years later... Due to his bloodline, he became the sole inheritor of the divine artifact Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu.
Su Luo scanned the information rapidly, not delving into Zhan Li's secrets, only noting the important content.
Fourth Senior Brother was actually a descendant of the Beast King Zhan Wuhai!
She had read the Records of Famous Figures of the Xuanhuang Continent. Five thousand years ago, the four most famous super-powerful beings were collectively known as the Four Kings.
King Hai, King Huo, King Huan, and King Shou. Among them, King Shou was Zhan Wuhai.
Although Zhan Wuhai was not as famous as Emperor Haotian, nor had he cultivated to the demigod realm, he still left a significant mark on history. Legends about him were abundant, especially among beast tamers, where he was almost a divine existence.
As for the secret of the Wan Shou Wu Jiang Tu...
Su Luo continued to examine it and finally understood.
"Fourth Senior Brother, could it be that your blood drop wasn't enough?" she asked deliberately, actually hinting to Zhan Li about the correct operation.
Not enough, perhaps?
Zhan Li's brows furrowed. He uttered a third sentence, "Usually, for divine artifacts, one drop of blood is enough for recognition, right?"
Su Luo blinked. "That means this isn't an ordinary divine artifact."
That seemed plausible?
Zhan Li had no other choice but to hold onto a sliver of hope and continue dripping blood.
One drop, two drops, three drops...
Before long, Zhan Li had dripped a teaspoon's worth. The scroll still only showed a faint red glow, with no other changes. He was close to despair. Would it work or not? Had he bought a fake?
Li Tianjue remained silent. He had a feeling Su Luo knew something.
This girl never spoke without reason. Since she hadn't declared the painting fake and had encouraged Fourth Junior Brother to continue dripping blood, it meant she knew the painting's secret.
"Oh, Fourth Senior Brother, you're too slow," Su Luo finally said impatiently.
She quickly pulled out a dagger and slashed across Zhan Li's wrist.
Swoosh!
Blood gushed out like a spring, and Zhan Li almost cried out in pain.
A deep wound appeared on his wrist, and blood flowed incessantly onto the scroll, all absorbed by the canvas.
The red light grew larger and larger, almost dyeing the entire painting. The fluctuation also intensified, and the scroll seemed to gain vitality, calling out for something.
Only then did the scroll finally change.
The dark imagery dispersed like clouds to the sides, revealing the owner of the eye in the center. It was a giant, unidentifiable exotic beast. Its appearance was indescribable, shrouded in dark clouds. Its single eye emitted a red beam, shooting towards Zhan Li's forehead.
Suddenly, the scroll vanished.