Gugugu! The young eagle kept turning its head and body around restlessly, making continuous noises. There had been similar situations before, but the eagle usually calmed down and fell asleep quickly. This time, however, it had been restless for a long time without showing any sign of stopping. Li Tan had a pounding headache and finally figured out what was happening—the little one was hungry.
“What exactly do young monsters eat again?”
Li Tan placed one hand on his temple. After thinking for a while, he concluded it was carnivorous. He then took out some dried rations he had prepared before entering the Domain of Fallen Immortals and brought them to the eagle’s mouth, but the young eagle not only refused to eat them, it didn’t even glance at the food.
“Not eating meat?
That can’t be right. Is it too hard for you?” Li Tan tore the dried meat into smaller pieces, soaked them in water, and then held them near the eagle’s beak again. This time, not only did the eagle refuse to eat, it pecked him twice.
“I remember that most young demon beasts will eat any kind of meat. You’re just too picky.”
Li Tan tried feeding it directly into its mouth, but soon the food was regurgitated back out.
Li Tan twitched his lips in annoyance and said to the eagle, “You’ve got more issues than I do.”
Standing up, Li Tan forcibly stuffed the eagle into his pocket and walked straight outside.
“I think it’s in this direction.”
Muttering to himself, Li Tan weaved through pavilions and terraces and soon arrived at a relatively tall building. A signboard hung above the eaves reading “Library.”
Libraries are commonly found in any family or sect with even a little power. Their structures are generally similar: the first floor contains mundane works like agricultural texts, while the second floor holds slightly more important books, including titles related to geography and reference materials.
Li Tan’s target was the second floor. He wanted to investigate information about the Xuan Shuang Eagle to find out why its young was so picky.
The second floor of the library was filled with bookshelves, yet it was eerily empty. A staircase led to the third floor, which was a restricted area filled with martial arts techniques and cultivation methods, guarded by personnel.
The third floor held no interest for Li Tan. Instead, he frowned in frustration at the chaotic and numerous books on the second floor and muttered, “This could take forever. I really should have just handed this little thing over to an auction house.”
As if understanding his words, the young eagle started squawking and wriggling again. Suppressing the urge to knock it out cold, Li Tan held it in his palm and tried to soothe it while continuing his search for books related to the Xuan Shuang Eagle. He couldn’t help but regret his moment of softness back in the forest, although he had no real intention of going back on his decision—he would never stoop so low.
“This isn’t it. Not this one either. What about this one? Golden Lotus?”
Li Tan searched from left to right, front to back, but the sheer number of books, all haphazardly stuffed without categorization, made it impossible to find anything. Half an hour passed without success.
Just as he was beginning to feel disappointed and considering heading to the dining hall to test the dishes one by one, an old voice suddenly spoke up.
“Never thought there’d still be young people willing to spend time here. Haha, young man, looking for something? Let this old man help you.”
“Young man?”
Li Tan turned around and looked at the white-haired elder descending from the third floor, finding it strange.
He himself had lived for over a thousand years, yet this fellow, barely over a hundred, had the audacity to call him “young man.” Where was the logic in that?
But since he had been reborn into a younger body, it probably wasn’t worth dwelling on.
Li Tan nodded slightly and said, “I’m looking for books that record information about demon beasts.”
The elder paused, then spoke earnestly, “You’re trying to prepare yourself before entering the Domain of Fallen Immortals, right? Knowing your enemy is wise, but don’t aim too high. You should be reading about ferocious beasts instead.”
“I understand, but I still want to read about demon beasts.”
Li Tan didn’t bother to argue.
The old man frowned slightly, displeased. “Why are you reading about demonic beasts? Do you think you can fight one?”
“Of course not.”
Li Tan calmly explained, “I’m just curious and want to learn a little.”
The elder hesitated for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “How silly of me. I thought you were trying to find ways to fight them. The books are over there. Go look for yourself.”
“Thank you, elder.”
Li Tan walked over to the designated bookshelf, his gaze sweeping up and down until he immediately spotted an ancient book titled “The Habits of Monsters.”
He placed the famished young eagle, too weak to cry out anymore, onto the shelf. The elder noticed and curiously asked, “Is that just an ordinary bird or the offspring of a fierce beast?”
Although the young eagle was a demonic beast, it hadn’t fully matured yet and appeared no different from an ordinary bird.
Li Tan thought for a moment before replying, “Just an ordinary bird. I’m keeping it for fun.”
“Keeping birds isn’t a bad hobby. It’s better than running off to brothels. Just don’t let it interfere with your cultivation.”
The elder said solemnly.
Li Tan nodded and immediately said, “Understood.”
Stroking his long beard, the elder looked at Li Tan with satisfaction for a moment, then asked, “What’s your name? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Li Tan stopped flipping through the book, slightly surprised in his heart. “This old man should be at the middle to late stages of Xiantian cultivation. How come he knows nothing about such a big matter as the marriage alliance? Doesn’t even recognize me?”
“Li Tan.”
He directly gave his name without trying to hide it.
“Li Tan?
Why would someone from the Li family be here!”
The elder’s eyes flared with anger, and in an instant, killing intent surged forth, only to be quickly reined in as he scrutinized Li Tan suspiciously. “Ah, right, you’re the one who married in, aren’t you?”
“Exactly.”
Li Tan responded casually and kept turning the pages, looking for the term “Mystic Frost Eagle.” The old man, now aware of Li Tan’s identity, was visibly disappointed. He somehow found a chair and slowly sat down, saying, “I heard your dantian was damaged and you can no longer cultivate. So why bother reading about demonic beasts? Why not just go downstairs and flip through some comic books to kill time?”
Li Tan continued reading casually and replied offhandedly, “Reading these books is just a way to comfort myself. It satisfies a fantasy.”
After he finished speaking, the elder laughed heartily and praised, “Even though you can’t cultivate, you haven’t given up on yourself. Your mindset is much better than those useless brats in my family.”
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