Li Mo put down all the bone scrolls and immediately closed his eyes. On the surface, it looked like he was contemplating his spell choices, so Steward Hu did not disturb him.
The childhood stage of initial entry into cultivation was not suitable for dual cultivation of multiple spells, especially since the Death Disease had already begun to erode his internal organs, depleting his limited energy.
Li Mo was digesting the vast amount of new information in his mind.
He constantly compared the spells of the Heart Beast Sect with those of Rong Town, gradually piecing together a more complete understanding of the Cultivation World from seven thousand years ago.
The realms of ancient cultivators differed slightly, with the first three stages being Qi Refinement Realm (childhood), Foundation Establishment Stage (weak crown), and Golden Core Stage.
Seven thousand years ago, the Heart Beast Sect was an unremarkable minor faction in the Cultivation World, having produced only one Golden Core Stage cultivator at its peak.
However, the techniques of the Heart Beast Sect were highly unique, being among the rare "Beast Cultivation" schools.
Disciples of the Heart Beast Sect primarily focused on Beast Taming, with cultivation resources prioritized for their Lifebound Spirit Beasts.
Whenever a Lifebound Spirit Beast advanced, the disciple would receive a reciprocal benefit, cultivating through a symbiotic relationship where loss and gain were shared.
Li Mo noticed that even the sect's techniques relied heavily on the Lifebound Spirit Beast.
Through the spiritual energy similarity with the Lifebound Spirit Beast, disciples of the Heart Beast Sect could temporarily receive enhancements from their beasts, enabling them to cast spells.
Li Mo scrutinized the spells of Rong Town, increasingly feeling a sense of incongruity.
He was somewhat puzzled, uncertain whether his immortal body granting longevity could master these seemingly more rational ancient spells.
Steward Hu yawned and impatiently asked, "Li Mo, which spell do you plan to specialize in?"
Seven thousand years ago, Hui Qingyi was a spell specifically used for protective spiritual clothing, suitable for cultivators whose Lifebound Spirit Beasts belonged to the scale-armored types.
After seven thousand years of transformation, Hui Qingyi had changed significantly, though the descriptions in the bone scrolls regarding its effects remained vague.
Li Mo seemingly had no choice but to select Hui Qingyi.
Among the spells given by Steward Hu, Hui Qingyi clearly suited him best. The cultivation method involved drawing Beast Head Tattoos on the surface of his skin.
Although the exact effects were unclear, with Li Mo's skill in painting, mastering it would undoubtedly be easier.
Li Mo also realized Steward Hu's intentions were most likely aligned with Hui Qingyi.
While it appeared like a choice was given, Steward Hu didn't actually leave much room for alternatives. If Li Mo wanted to secure resources, he had to obediently comply.
Li Mo felt somewhat fortunate.
He possessed the Creation Book, which allowed him to imprint divine skills upon every organ in his body.
Hui Qingyi focused on the skin.
Li Mo could consume blank pages of the Creation Book repeatedly to imprint his skin twice, enabling his body to bear double human skins.
If Hui Qingyi had any drawbacks, he could simply destroy the imprinted pages, discarding one layer of skin along with the spell.
"Very well, Hui Qingyi is indeed quite suitable for you, Li Mo," Steward Hu remarked.
Without further explanation, she took out a palm-sized Agar Jade Token and gestured for Li Mo to refine it with his fingertip blood.
When Li Mo received the jade token, the Creation Book had already informed him it was the identity spirit plate.
The identity spirit plate symbolized official membership as an Outer Disciple of the Heart Beast Sect. Surprisingly, despite seven thousand years having passed, the spirit plate had remained unchanged.
Li Mo slit his finger and dripped the darkened blood onto the spirit plate.
Once the spirit plate absorbed his blood, it produced numerous fine impurities, and Li Mo could feel a faint connection with it.
As long as he held the spirit plate, he wouldn't face restrictions within the pawn shop and could freely enter the outer district of Rong Town.
Steward Hu smirked as she watched Li Mo toy with the jade token.
She then tossed out a walnut-sized stone bead and said indifferently, "Li Mo, you were born intelligent, a promising candidate for cultivation."
"Your comprehension can be considered top-quality, but unfortunately, your physique is quite ordinary."
"When you go to the medical hall to claim cultivation techniques, be sure to find Doctor Han Cai and exchange this bead for an auxiliary spell, Universal Skillful Hand."
"Thank you, Steward Hu."
Li Mo accepted without hesitation.
Having demonstrated his value, he naturally gained access to corresponding resources.
Whether in the Heart Beast Sect of seven thousand years ago or the current Rong Town, the law of the jungle prevailed, necessitating extra caution.
Li Mo tactfully avoided asking about Liu Qin.
The blood-stained Tiger Roar Painting clearly suggested Liu Qin had realized the painting's value and likely had no intention of submitting it to Manager Hu.
The prospects seemed grim.
Steward Hu stretched lazily and walked out the door.
If one ignored her eerily seductive features, her figure was indeed that of a beauty.
Steward Hu's head twisted one hundred and eighty degrees. "After claiming your cultivation techniques, go to the inner chambers of the pawn shop, where the official painters reside. It's also convenient for secluded cultivation."
She briefly informed him about the considerations for the inner chambers.
Li Mo nodded repeatedly.
Steward Hu yawned again, tears from the corners of her eyes smudging her makeup, causing her almond-shaped eyes to distort.
"Using ash as rouge, truly disgraceful."
She covered her face with her palm and vanished completely into the pitch-black night.
Li Mo felt utterly sleepless, staring at the dimly lit corridor.
Bursts of cold wind swept through, accompanied by raspy beast roars, as though a man-eating fiend beast was approaching Li Mo from the end of the corridor.
Li Mo's back turned cold as he considered shutting the door and retreating to his chamber.
Suddenly, he noticed scratch marks in every corner of the places Steward Hu had passed.
In his memory, Steward Hu was always dressed in a long robe, her legs never exposed—could she be employing a spell similar to Ahui's Curse?
Li Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly locked the doors and windows tightly.
Sitting at his desk, he planned to use painting to calm his restless mind, only to recall that his ink sticks had long been depleted.
Ink sticks had a special effect, and the Calligraphy and Painting Hall was unlikely to provide them for free. He would likely need to find a job to earn them.
Li Mo wasn't sure whether the Cultivation World's currency was still Spirit Stones, so he simply closed his eyes and pondered the techniques of the Heart Beast Sect while preparing to familiarize himself with the spells of Rong Town.
He realized something peculiar.
Ancient spells required the use of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and corresponding acupoints.
No matter how he aligned them, the arrangement of meridians and acupoints for ancient spells differed significantly from modern humans.
Three hundred sixty-five acupoints were entirely misplaced, as though randomly shuffled.
What shocked Li Mo the most was the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians had reversed direction, and it appeared that Rong Town's cultivation techniques might operate through reversed flow.
However, the Three Elixir Fields were consistent.
The Upper Dantian was located between the eyebrows, also known as the Mud Pill Palace, housing the soul; the Middle Dantian was within the chest, where ancestral energy gathered; and the Lower Dantian was three inches below the navel, storing essence.
All Three Dantians could be imprinted by the Creation Book, which provided Li Mo with substantial confidence.
Li Mo hadn't started imprinting yet, but the remaining eight blank pages of the Creation Book already appeared insufficient, leaving him deeply troubled.
Increasing the number of pages had always been a persistent challenge.
Unknowingly, Li Mo fell asleep on the desk.