Su Ping knew that he now owed a rather large favor. The only thing he could do was find a way to repay it in the future—perhaps with some special cultivation methods.
Though he felt a bit emotional, Su Ping wasn't the type to be coy or overly sentimental.
The item had already been mailed over by Qin Xiaoxue. Was he really going to push it back and send it to her?
Given her personality, would she even accept it if he did?
Since he'd already taken it, he would simply find another way to return the favor later.
Of course, this also stemmed from Su Ping's confidence in himself. Otherwise, if he lacked the ability and still forcibly accepted such a gift, he might truly have had no choice but to repay it with his body.
At present, Su Ping was only at the Ordinary realm.
He couldn't even physically enter his own Beast Space yet. He could only sense and manipulate it through spiritual perception.
That pebble-sized Stone of Creation, with its strange three-leaf clover growing atop it, slowly vanished from before his eyes and fused into Su Ping's Beast Space.
The Beast Space—ashen, silent, and defined only by the concept of space itself—gradually enveloped it.
A trace of vivid vitality bloomed from within. Su Ping couldn't help but let out a soft sound.
A cool sensation spread outward, as if it were being dyed into existence from the deepest layers of his soul.
His mind felt instantly clear.
That icy current flowed from the depths of his consciousness throughout his entire body, and he almost involuntarily slipped into a meditative state.
Spiritual energy within the Beast Space rapidly gathered.
In an instant, the tiny mental barrier that hadn't even counted as a bottleneck shattered. Su Ping's realm advanced from Ordinary Eighth Rank to Ordinary Ninth Rank.
This was a peak Emperor-tier material!
And not just that—it was a special resource effective on human beastmasters. Its value was far beyond what ordinary items could ever compare to.
Even though it wasn't a material that directly boosted spiritual realms, its assistance toward advancement was perfectly natural and smooth.
The Beast Space was a beastmaster's foundation.
Many high-tier resources that didn't originate from pets themselves were actually born within the Beast Spaces of high-level beastmasters.
Thus, managing the Beast Space was the most important task for a beastmaster—second only to nurturing their pets.
From time to time, Su Ping had imagined what his first spatial trait would be after breaking through to the Elite realm, when the Beast Space would truly begin to take effect, and how he would plan its future development.
But he never would have dreamed that he'd stumble into such a heaven-defying starting point.
After briefly feeling it out—whether because the slight trace of drunkenness had already faded, or because of everything he'd experienced that day—Su Ping found he had no desire to sleep.
He first went to check on the Paper Figurine. The little fellow was still diligently training, so Su Ping didn't disturb it.
Then he headed toward the forest.
Sure enough, not a single movement within the forest escaped Old Sha's perception.
The moment Su Ping appeared, Old Sha broke away from the training wolf pack and quickly arrived before him.
"Awwooo—" (You're back!)
Su Ping rubbed Old Sha's head. The old wolf wore an expression of pure enjoyment. Only then did Su Ping finally say:
"Old Sha, are you ready to evolve?"
Evolve?
Even without spiritual communication, Old Sha understood human speech quite well by now.
He stared at Su Ping blankly for a moment.
Then, beneath the darkness of night, his already emerald-green eyes flared with dazzling brilliance.
As a wolf that had lived for so many years—one that had seen much of the world—how could he not understand what this meant?
How could he not know what evolution represented?
Greater power. A brighter future. An extended lifespan.
This boy before him was someone he'd watched grow up from the time he was very, very small.
Back then, the kid had still been wearing split-crotch pants.
Yet he was also Old Sha's most important family.
The new little master Old Sha had silently protected all these years.
Many years ago, Old Sha had dreamed of evolution.
He'd even tried.
More than once.
But the opportunities of his early years had allowed his Sunlight Absorption skill to grow—perhaps even surpassing the limits of his race. And yet, in another sense, that very achievement may have shackled him.
After several attempts and the consumption of vast sums of money and resources, all he'd known was failure.
In the end, even he himself had given up.
His greatest remaining wish had been to watch this boy grow up and restore the glory of Wooden Heart.
Now, he had seen that wish fulfilled.
In truth, Old Sha no longer had any regrets.
He'd been prepared to wait quietly until his vitality finally declined, until his lifespan naturally ran its course.
But he never would have imagined—
That on this day, at this moment, the child he'd watched grow up would say such words to him.
In that instant—
This aging old wolf seemed to shed twenty years, returning to the prime of his youth from decades past.
He straightened his tall body. At this moment, a spirited Old Sha stood even slightly taller than Su Ping himself.
Under the bright moonlight, Old Sha lifted his head and howled.
Within that howl was the pride of an old, battle-worn soldier addressing a young general:
"Though I am old, my arrows are still sharp!"
If his little master hadn't given up on him, why should he give up on himself?
The earlier Wooden Heart potion had already made Old Sha unable to see through this young master of his.
And now—
At this final moment, he was willing to place his trust in Su Ping.
Su Ping laughed heartily and slapped Old Sha on the back.
"Good. Starting tomorrow morning, Old Sha—get ready to accept my evolution cultivation!"
"Awwooo!"
Under the moonlight, within the forest, the piercing wolf's howl traveled far… and farther still.
At the same time, outside Wooden Heart—
A small aircraft swooped in from above the road, flying directly toward the grounds.
Passing through Wooden Heart's entrance, it returned to the Yun Tian Resort.
The aircraft showed no sign of stopping. It flew straight to the outside of the top-floor window of the central building.
Then—like an Iron Man transformation—the aircraft contracted and folded, becoming a wristwatch.
The figure revealed inside was none other than Dong Mu Yun, wearing nothing but his underwear.
Personal flight devices had this downside—they weren't combat armor formed from fully cultivated mechanical pets.
Dong Mu Yun didn't mind. He casually stepped into the bathroom for a shower, then put on his pajamas, poured himself a glass of red wine, and pressed a button.
Before long, a figure entered the room.
"Chairman."
"While I was away from Linzhou, how was the kid next door doing?"
"Reporting to Chairman—Su Ping hasn't come by. His business seems to be doing quite well. His weekly cultivation fees bring in four to five million."
Dong Mu Yun exhaled slowly, urgency flashing in his eyes.
"I understand. Tomorrow, you'll come with me to see that kid. Then we'll do this…"
"…Understood."
She had to meet this boy.
⭐ Want more? Read chapters early on Patreon →
https://www.patreon.com/Nishaat⭐
Advance chapters are finished—all that's left is to unlock them.
BONUS CHAPTER SYSTEM
10 reviews → Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones → Bonus Chapter
🔥 The stronger your support, the faster the story moves.