Li Mo set down all the Bone Scrolls, then closed his eyes. On the surface, he seemed to be considering which Spell to choose, so Steward Hu did not disturb him.
Having just entered the Childhood Stage of cultivation, it was unwise to cultivate too many Spells at once. After all, Death Sickness had already begun eroding his internal organs, and his energy was truly limited.
Li Mo digested the vast amount of information that had suddenly appeared in his mind.
He continually compared the Heart Beast Sect's Spells with Smelting Town's Spells, gradually filling in his understanding of the Immortal Cultivation World from seven thousand years ago.
The realms of the Ancient Cultivators differed somewhat. The first three realms were the Qi Refining Stage, or Childhood Stage; the Foundation Establishment Realm, or Coming of Age Stage; and the Golden Core Stage.
Seven thousand years ago, the Heart Beast Sect had been an inconspicuous minor force in the Immortal Cultivation World. Even at its peak, it had produced only one Golden Core Stage cultivator.
However, the Heart Beast Sect's Cultivation Method was exceptionally distinctive. It was one of the few schools of Beast Cultivation.
Heart Beast Sect disciples primarily controlled beasts, and their cultivation resources always went first to their Natal Spirit Beasts.
Whenever a Natal Spirit Beast advanced, the Heart Beast Sect disciple would receive feedback in return, cultivating through a bond where one loss meant mutual loss, and one glory meant mutual glory.
Li Mo noticed that even the Heart Beast Sect's techniques had to rely on Natal Spirit Beasts.
By taking advantage of the similarity between their own Spiritual Qi and that of their Natal Spirit Beasts, Heart Beast Sect disciples could temporarily receive their Spirit Beasts' support and use it to cast Spells.
Li Mo examined Smelting Town's Spells, and the longer he looked, the more he felt they were neither fish nor fowl.
He felt somewhat doubtful. He did not know whether his Eternal Life constitution could master the comparatively more reasonable ancient Spells.
Steward Hu yawned and asked somewhat impatiently, "Li Mo, which technique are you planning to focus on?"
"Paint Green Clothes."
Seven thousand years ago, Paint Green Clothes had been a Spirit Robe Spell specially used to protect the body. It suited cultivators whose Natal Spirit Beasts were Scale-type.
After the tempering of seven thousand years, Paint Green Clothes had become completely different. However, the Bone Scroll's records regarding the Spell's effects were rather vague.
Li Mo seemed to have no choice but to select Paint Green Clothes.
Among the Spells Steward Hu had given him, Paint Green Clothes clearly suited him best. Its cultivation process involved drawing a Beast Head Tattoo across the surface of his skin.
Though he did not know its precise effects, with Li Mo's skill in painting, he would certainly master it quickly.
Li Mo could also see that Steward Hu's purpose in guiding him was most likely Paint Green Clothes.
It looked as though she had allowed him to choose, but Steward Hu had not left him any room at all. If Li Mo wanted resources, he had to obediently do as she said.
Li Mo was grateful for one thing.
He possessed the Book of Fortune and could imprint every organ in his body to obtain Divine Abilities.
Paint Green Clothes was a Spell directed at the skin.
Li Mo could completely expend the Book of Fortune's Blank Pages to imprint his skin twice, giving his body two layers of Human Skin.
If Paint Green Clothes had any drawbacks, he could directly destroy the corresponding page, abandoning one layer of skin while stripping away the Spell.
"Not bad. Paint Green Clothes truly suits you quite well, Li Mo."
Steward Hu did not explain further. She then took out a Jelly Jade Token the size of a palm and gestured for Li Mo to refine it with his fingertip blood.
The moment Li Mo took the jade token, the Book of Fortune had already informed him that it was an identity Spirit Tablet.
The identity Spirit Tablet signified that he had become an Outer Sect Disciple of the Heart Beast Sect. He had not expected that after seven thousand years, the Spirit Tablet had not changed at all.
Li Mo cut open his finger and let his darkened blood drip onto the Spirit Tablet.
After the Spirit Tablet absorbed the blood, many fine impurities emerged. Li Mo could feel a faint connection between himself and the Spirit Tablet.
As long as he held the Spirit Tablet, not only would his freedom within the Pawnshop remain unrestricted, but he could also travel freely throughout Smelting Town's Outer City.
Watching Li Mo toy with the jade token, Steward Hu could not help pursing her lips in a smile.
She tossed out another stone bead the size of a walnut and said flatly, "Li Mo, you are innately intelligent. You have the makings of a cultivator."
"Your comprehension is above average, but unfortunately, your constitution is truly ordinary."
"When you go to the Medical Hall to collect your Cultivation Method, you may seek out Doctor Han Cai and exchange this bead for an auxiliary Spell, Universal Skill."
"Thank you, Steward Hu."
Li Mo accepted it without hesitation.
He had already shown his value, so naturally he could obtain the resources that matched it.
Whether in the Heart Beast Sect seven thousand years ago or Smelting Town seven thousand years later, the law of the jungle applied everywhere. He simply had to be more cautious.
Li Mo tactfully did not ask about Liu Qin.
From the bloodstained Tiger Roar Painting, it was clear that Liu Qin had absolutely realized the painting's value and most likely had not intended to hand it over to Steward Hu.
Her fate was likely more grim than hopeful.
Steward Hu stretched lazily and walked out through the main doors.
If one ignored Steward Hu's bewitching and bizarre features, her figure truly belonged to a beauty.
"Oh, right."
Steward Hu's head twisted one hundred and eighty degrees. "After collecting your Cultivation Method, go to the inner quarters of the Pawnshop. That is where the official Painters live, and it is also convenient for secluded cultivation."
She roughly explained the precautions for the inner quarters.
Li Mo nodded repeatedly.
"Ha~~~"
Steward Hu yawned again. The tears at the corners of her eyes smudged her makeup, causing her phoenix eyes to warp grotesquely.
"Using cigarette ash as rouge is truly terrible."
She covered her face with one hand, and her figure vanished completely into the pitch-black night.
Li Mo had completely lost all sleepiness. He stared at the corridor, dimly lit by candlelight.
Chill gusts swept through in waves, carrying hoarse beastly roars. At the end of the corridor, it seemed as though a man-eating beast was approaching Li Mo.
Li Mo's spine turned cold, and just as he was about to close the door and return to his room—
He suddenly noticed that wherever Steward Hu had passed, there were always scratches in the corners and along the edges.
In his memory, Steward Hu had always worn a long robe, and her legs had never been exposed. Could she have mastered a Spell similar to the A Hui Possession Curse?
Li Mo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly shut the doors and windows tight.
He sat before the desk, intending to calm his restless mood through painting. Only then did he remember that his ink sticks had long since been exhausted.
The ink sticks had special effects, and the Calligraphy and Painting Hall likely would not provide them for free. He might need to find some work to earn money next.
Li Mo did not know whether Spirit Stones were still the currency of the Immortal Cultivation World, so he simply closed his eyes and pondered the Heart Beast Sect's Spells, preparing himself to master Smelting Town's Spells as well.
He discovered something strange.
When ancient Spells were cast, they required the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and corresponding acupoints.
No matter how Li Mo checked, the distribution of meridians and acupoints in the ancient Spells was clearly different from that of modern humans.
All three hundred and sixty-five acupoints were located in completely different places, as though they had been randomly rearranged.
What shocked Li Mo most was the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians had been reversed. If nothing unexpected happened, Smelting Town's Cultivation Methods might operate through reverse circulation.
However, the Three Dantians were not a problem.
The upper dantian was between the eyebrows, also known as the Numinous Palace, where the soul resided; the Middle Dantian was within the chest, where ancestral qi gathered; the Lower Dantian was three inches below the navel, used to store essence.
All three Dantians could be imprinted by the Book of Fortune. That was where Li Mo's confidence came from.
Before Li Mo had even begun imprinting, the remaining eight Blank Pages were already proving woefully inadequate, leaving him with a pounding headache.
Increasing the number of pages was a problem he could never avoid.
Before he knew it, Li Mo had fallen asleep sprawled across the desk.
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