Didn't Expect It, I Still Have Another Layer of Skin

Li Mo set down all the bone scrolls and closed his eyes, appearing to be contemplating his choice of spells, so Steward Hu did not disturb him.

At the initial Childhood Stage of cultivation, it was unwise to practice too many spells simultaneously, as the Death Sickness had already begun eroding his internal organs, leaving his energy severely limited.

Li Mo digested the vast amount of information flooding his mind.

He continuously compared the spells of the Heart Beast Sect with the Molten Town Spell, gradually filling in his understanding of the Immortal Cultivation World from seven thousand years ago.

The realms of ancient cultivators differed somewhat; the first three stages were Qi Refining Stage (Childhood), Foundation Establishment Realm (Coming of Age), and Golden Core Stage.

Seven thousand years ago, the Heart Beast Sect was an insignificant minor power in the Immortal Cultivation World, having produced only a single Golden Core cultivator at its peak.

However, the Heart Beast Sect's techniques were very unique, making it one of the few "Beast Cultivation" sects.

Heart Beast Sect disciples focused primarily on beast taming, with all cultivation resources prioritized for their Natal Spirit Beast.

Whenever a Natal Spirit Beast advanced, the Heart Beast Sect disciple would receive a reciprocal boost, cultivating through a method of mutual loss and mutual gain.

Li Mo noticed that even the Heart Beast Sect's spells relied heavily on the Natal Spirit Beast.

Heart Beast Sect disciples could temporarily gain their spirit beast's blessing by leveraging the similarity of their spiritual energy, thereby casting spells.

Li Mo examined the Molten Town spells, and the more he looked, the more they seemed off to him.

He felt a flicker of doubt, wondering if his Eternal Life constitution could even master the comparatively more reasonable ancient spells.

Steward Hu yawned and asked with a hint of impatience, "Li Mo, which spell are you planning to focus on?"

"Paint Green Clothes."

Seven thousand years ago, Paint Green Clothes was a spiritual garment spell specifically for protection, suitable for cultivators whose Natal Spirit Beast was of the Scale-type.

After seven thousand years of transformation, Paint Green Clothes was completely different, but the bone scroll's record of the spell's effects was rather vague.

Li Mo seemed to have no choice but to select Paint Green Clothes.

Among the spells Steward Hu had gifted, Paint Green Clothes was clearly more suited to him; its cultivation steps involved painting a Beast Head Tattoo on the surface of the skin.

Though he didn't know the exact effects, given Li Mo's painting skills, he would likely master it quickly.

Li Mo also realized that Steward Hu's guidance was probably aimed at Paint Green Clothes all along.

She pretended to let him choose, but Steward Hu had left him no real leeway; if Li Mo wanted resources, he would have to comply.

Li Mo was grateful for one thing.

He possessed the Book of Fortune, allowing him to imprint his organs and obtain divine abilities.

Paint Green Clothes was a spell targeting the skin.

Li Mo could simply consume blank pages from the Book of Fortune to imprint his skin twice, granting his body a double layer of human hide.

If Paint Green Clothes had any drawbacks, he could directly destroy the page, shedding one layer of skin and stripping away the spell simultaneously.

"Good, Paint Green Clothes is indeed quite suitable for you, Li Mo."

Steward Hu offered no further explanation, then took out a palm-sized Jelly Jade Token and gestured for Li Mo to refine it with his Fingertip Blood.

The moment Li Mo received the token, the Book of Fortune informed him that this was a Spirit Tablet.

The Spirit Tablet signified that he had become an Outer Sect Disciple of the Heart Beast Sect. He hadn't expected that, after seven thousand years, the Spirit Tablet remained unchanged.

Li Mo cut his finger and let the blackened blood drip onto the Spirit Tablet.

After the Spirit Tablet absorbed the blood, many fine impurities emerged. Li Mo could sense a faint connection with the tablet.

As long as he held the Spirit Tablet, not only would his freedom within the Pawnshop be unrestricted, but he could also freely go to the outer district of Molten Town.

Steward Hu watched Li Mo playing with the token and couldn't help but purse her lips in a smile.

She tossed out a stone bead the size of a walnut and said flatly, "Li Mo, you are naturally intelligent, a good seedling for cultivation."

"Your comprehension can be considered top-notch, but your physique is truly mediocre."

"When you go to the Medical Hall to receive your techniques, you can look for Doctor Han Cai and use this bead to exchange for an auxiliary spell, Universal Skill."

"Thank you, Steward Hu."

Li Mo took it without hesitation.

He had already demonstrated his value, so naturally, he would receive corresponding resources.

Whether in the Heart Beast Sect of seven thousand years ago or in Molten Town seven thousand years later, the law of the jungle applied; he just had to be extra cautious.

Li Mo was wise enough not to inquire about Liu Qin's affairs.

From the bloodstained Tiger Roar Painting, it was clear that Liu Qin had definitely realized the painting's value and likely hadn't intended to hand it over to Steward Hu.

Her fate was grim.

Steward Hu stretched her waist and walked out the door languidly.

If one ignored Steward Hu's bizarre and enchanting features, her figure was indeed that of a beauty.

"Oh, right."

Steward Hu twisted her head one hundred and eighty degrees: "After you receive your techniques, go to the Inner Room of the Pawnshop. That's where the official Painters live, and it's also convenient for secluded cultivation."

She roughly informed him of the rules for the Inner Room.

Li Mo nodded repeatedly.

"Haah~~~"

Steward Hu yawned again, the tears at the corners of her eyes smudging her makeup, distorting her phoenix eyes into a twisted mess.

"Using soot as rouge—truly shoddy."

She covered her face with her palm, and her figure vanished completely into the pitch-black night.

Li Mo had lost all desire to sleep, staring at the dim candlelight in the corridor.

Chilly gusts of wind blew in, carrying hoarse beastly roars, as if a man-eating monster at the end of the hallway was creeping toward him.

A chill ran down Li Mo's spine, and he was about to shut the door and return to his side room.

Then he noticed something: wherever Steward Hu had passed, there were scratches along the edges and corners.

In his memory, Steward Hu had always worn a long robe, her legs never once revealed. Could she be wielding a spell similar to the A Hui Possession Curse?

Li Mo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly closed the doors and windows tight.

He sat down at the desk, intending to calm his restless mood through painting, only then realizing that his ink stick had long since been used up.

Ink sticks had special effects; the Calligraphy and Painting Hall likely wouldn't provide them for free. He would need to find some way to earn money soon.

Li Mo wasn't sure if the currency in the Immortal Cultivation World was still spirit stones, so he simply closed his eyes and pondered the spells of the Heart Beast Sect, while preparing himself for mastering Smelting Town's techniques.

He noticed something peculiar.

When ancient spells were cast, they required the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and corresponding acupoints.

No matter how Li Mo cross-referenced, the distribution of meridians and acupoints in ancient spells was clearly different from that of modern humans.

The three hundred and sixty-five acupoints had entirely different positions, as if they had been randomly shuffled.

What shocked Li Mo most were the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians had reversed direction. If nothing went wrong, the cultivation method of Smelting Town likely operated in a reverse flow.

However, the Three Dantians were fine.

The Upper Dantian was between the brows, also called the Numinous Palace, where the soul resided; the Middle Dantian was in the chest, the gathering place of ancestral qi; the Lower Dantian was three inches below the navel, used to store essence.

All Three Dantians could be imprinted by the Book of Fortune, and this was the source of Li Mo's confidence.

Li Mo hadn't even started imprinting yet, and the remaining eight blank pages were already proving insufficient, giving him a deep headache.

Increasing the number of pages was always an unavoidable trouble.

Without realizing it, Li Mo slumped over the desk and fell into a drowsy sleep.