Spell [Universal Skill]

Li Mo stared at the glass jar without letting go, immediately drawing Han Cai's attention, who couldn't help but introduce it: "This is Misty Spiritual Energy, similar to Cloud Mist Spiritual Energy, but with corrosive properties."

As Han Cai spoke, he took down the glass jar of Misty Spiritual Energy and placed it before Li Mo.

Li Mo carefully observed the changes in the Misty Spiritual Energy, the curiosity in his eyes growing deeper as he repeatedly confirmed his observations.

Misty Spiritual Energy appeared much like Cloud Mist Spiritual Energy, but in essence, they were fundamentally different.

Cloud mist is composed of water vapor, whereas misty haze consists of tiny particles of dust, making Misty Spiritual Energy exist somewhere between the tangible and the intangible.

There was no denying that Misty Spiritual Energy possessed a mutable nature, excelling in both offense and defense, making it highly suitable for Li Mo's needs.

Han Cai brought the glass jar of Misty Spiritual Energy to his ear and gently shook it.

"What a pity, though..."

"What's a pity?"

"A pity that the Misty Spiritual Energy here is far too scarce—cultivation won't be easy. Even my entire stock wouldn't be enough to see you through the Childhood Stage."

Li Mo's expression turned somewhat helpless. When it came to versatility, Misty Spiritual Energy was undoubtedly the best fit for him, but the trouble was exactly as Han Cai had said.

He had learned from the bone scroll that, although Spiritual Veins still existed seven thousand years later, the spirit stones mined from them were all mixed with various types of variant energy, making them unusable for direct cultivation assistance.

Hundreds of different types of spiritual energy were mingled in the air, so cultivation required collecting them in advance, or else painstakingly separating them bit by bit.

Han Cai's variant spiritual energies were all gathered from various environments.

Lava Spiritual Energy came from volcanic craters, Swamp Poison Spiritual Energy from marshlands, and Misty Spiritual Energy was mostly found in damp, dusty places.

The more extreme the environment, the fewer types of spiritual energy it contained.

The reason Han Cai had recommended Mountain Spiritual Energy was that Smelting Town was surrounded by peaks, making cultivation efficiency far higher than with ordinary variant spiritual energies.

Li Mo subconsciously looked toward the Mountain Spiritual Energy, and Han Cai began introducing it again.

"If you spend a few spirit stones, you can learn a spell here from me called the Mountain Tendon Changing Spell..."

To keep Han Cai from rambling on, Li Mo quickly interrupted, "Doctor Han's kindness is appreciated, but I'll stick with the Misty Spiritual Energy."

"Fine, then."

Han Cai had no choice but to agree.

Li Mo wasn't being stubborn; he simply knew that as long as the variant spiritual energy hadn't affected his dantian yet, he could still expel it.

Even if his dantian were assimilated by the spiritual energy, Han Cai could perform surgery to replace it.

Li Mo's confidence lay entirely in the Book of Fortune. Once he imprinted his Middle Dantian, the ability he gained would likely aid his cultivation.

"In that case, I won't stop you."

Han Cai scratched his head, then stretched out four arms to rummage around.

He pulled out a half-meter-tall porcelain jar from beside the cabinet, filled with withered, shriveled internal organs—all lifeless Corpse Spirit Roots.

While Li Mo was still stunned, Han Cai skillfully picked out a Corpse Spirit Root infused with Misty Spiritual Energy.

"The Childhood Stage mainly involves transforming your five viscera into Corpse Spirit Roots. I can implant the Corpse Spirit Roots of predecessors into your organs, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort."

"But..."

"Don't worry. Once you break through to the Coming-of-Age Stage, you can just remove the attached Corpse Spirit Roots. It only carries a small risk, and as for the spirit stones, Hu Wen will cover them for now."

Han Cai emphasized again: "Of course, Hu Wen covers the spirit stones for the implantation. You'll have to pay for the removal yourself."

Li Mo waved his hand in refusal.

He had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation and had no desire to saddle himself with debt.

Li Mo reached out to push aside the Corpse Spirit Root, but the Book of Fortune reacted subtly—a faint outline of the Corpse Spirit Root appeared on its blank page.

With just a thought, the Corpse Spirit Root would be imprinted onto it.

This meant the Book of Fortune had the ability to integrate external organs into the body, but whether his body could withstand the Corpse Spirit Root was another matter.

Li Mo withdrew his awareness from the Book of Fortune. If he imprinted the Corpse Spirit Root right in front of Han Cai, he'd likely end up stuffed into one of those glass jars.

"How boring."

Han Cai's expression gradually cooled. His eight arms twisted open the glass bottle, and a burst of azure spiritual energy erupted, suppressing the Misty Spiritual Energy inside.

He separated a tenth of the Misty Spiritual Energy into an empty jar.

"The Misty Spiritual Energy in this glass jar can be preserved for at most ten years. Absorb it quickly, little brat. As for a cultivation method, let me find one..."

Han Cai fumbled around on the ceiling, muttering to himself, then packed the bone scroll of the technique along with the glass jar into a cloth pouch.

The pouch was palm-sized but easily held the glass jar, suggesting it was likely a magical artifact.

"The Nourishing Origin Fundamental Scripture isn't bad. Even though it only covers the Childhood Stage, switching to another method later won't damage your foundation."

"I'll throw in a Storage Bag for free. You stubborn little brat—now go, go."

"Um..."

Li Mo put away the Storage Bag, his fingers gripping the stone bead as he said, "Doctor Han, Steward Hu told me to give this to you. He said it can be exchanged for a spell—the Universal Skill."

Han Cai raised an eyebrow, snatched the stone bead, and brushed off the stone powder from its surface, revealing a vivid Double Pupil Eye.

"At least you've got some heart."

He handed the Double Pupil Eye to Little Spider, grabbed Li Mo, and headed upstairs, casually pressing a Bone Scroll he'd found somewhere against Li Mo's brow.

The contents of "Universal Skill" flooded into Li Mo's mind.

Since Han Cai never imagined Li Mo possessed the Eidetic Memory ability, the Bone Scroll contained content from both the Childhood Stage and the Coming-of-Age Stage.

Li Mo swallowed hard and frantically began memorizing it by rote.

The Universal Skill at the Childhood Stage was called [Six Fingers], which mainly involved transplanting an extra, mystical Magic Finger onto a cultivator.

The Magic Finger not only moved as naturally as one's own, but under the drive of Spiritual Energy, it could produce exquisitely intricate transformations, said to be capable of imitating all kinds of tools.

Li Mo was quite interested in Universal Skill, but only as far as the Childhood Stage went.

Because the Coming-of-Age Stage of Universal Skill required four steps to modify the body: [Multiple Hands], [Hollowing], [Grouting], and [Tendinosis].

Just look at Han Cai's appearance—it was the perfect illustration of Universal Skill.

On the second floor of Miraculous Hands Medical Hall, the walls were covered with all sorts of human tissue, and the empty room held several cultivators lying with their chests and abdomens cut open.

The most severely injured was a Fat Taoist, lying face-down with his spine already split open.

Upon seeing Han Cai, the One-Eyed Doctor said urgently, "Doctor Han, you're here. That Xu Dahui has all his meridians destroyed—can't delay any longer."

"And Jin Li, he paid a good amount of spirit stones to master the Protective Mystical Method, just needs thirty-five Qianqiu Seeds implanted in his spine."

Han Cai said impatiently, "Let's just do them all together. After we're done, I'm resting for three months—don't open the door for anyone, no matter who comes."

"Wait..."

The One-Eyed Doctor sucked in a sharp breath. Han Cai's eight arms moved nimbly among the cultivators.

Screams rang out without end.

Li Mo was unfortunate enough to become one of them. Before he could resist, Spiritual Energy bound him, and then Han Cai's fingers stabbed straight into his abdomen.

A small piece from the end of his rib was cut off, and Han Cai immediately stitched the wound back up.

Then, in a dizzying blur, he began modifying the rib, and in moments it had taken on the shape of a finger bone.

Han Cai then sliced open Li Mo's palm and transplanted the Magic Finger beside his pinky. The nerves and flesh connected in just a few breaths.

"At your age, your hands will recover in two days, the rib at most three months."

Li Mo felt a searing pain, but in less than ten minutes, he was pushed downstairs.

Staring at his trembling hands, he didn't want to stay in Miraculous Hands Medical Hall for even a second. He fled the clinic in a panic, not caring where he went.

Thanks to Leng Leng Leng Leng Leng Leng, Da Da Da Da Da Guai Guai, Gu Yun Fei Xiu Ah, Yang Yang, Meng Xin Xiao Zuo Jia, Yong You Shi Qu, Liu Yi Ao, and Lu Bao Chuang Jiang Hu for their support.