Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo carefully picked up the ancient book.

The yellowed paper is of unknown material, but upon closer inspection, it contains no plant fibers and has a delicate, smooth texture like silk.

Sumali reached out and stroked the ancient book: "The hide of a high-level mythical beast! Time has caused the spiritual energy to dissipate, but the toughness remains."

Liu Xingmo held the paper up to the lamplight: "What secrets are inside? A map that points to a cave filled with treasure?"

"Xingmo, you've been reading too many fictional novels. Wealthy and powerful people would never do such a thing. Treasures are used to improve strength, make friends, or be left to future generations. They would never give them away to strangers."

"But surely such precious materials can't just be used to write a turtle farming journal, right?"

Sumali took out a small, dusty black medicine bottle from the bottom of the container. She shook the bottle, poured out a drop of amber essential oil, and applied it to the pages of the book.

The honey-like essential oil turned bluish-purple.

Liu Xingmo couldn't figure it out.

Sumali shook her head: "There is indeed some hidden information, but the person who set it up is of a very high level. We can only find the answers he set up to solve his puzzle."

Liu Xingmo said confidently, "Since the book is called 'The Record of Tortoises and Soft-shelled Turtles,' it must contain the blood of innate rare beasts like tortoises and soft-shelled turtles! I'll just have to trouble Bao Hei for now. I'll go get the kitchen knife..."

"Don't rush! First, try urine and sweat, if the turtle has any."

"Okay, I'll bring Bao Hei's bathwater."

Liu Xingmo went to the kitchen, changed the water in the large wooden basin, and carried the old water in buckets to the workshop.

Soak the deciphered page from the ancient book in water, then take it out.

Under the light of the oil lamp, the yellowed paper seemed even more blurred.

The sharp-eyed Sumali noticed something: "That's it! It's just that our 'developing solution' concentration is too low, so we need to distill and purify it."

"I'll go to the kitchen and start a fire!"

Liu Xingmo placed the large vat on the stove and boiled Bao Hei's bathwater until it became thick and viscous.

A foul odor permeated the kitchen.

Let's go out and buy food tomorrow.

Baohei, nestled in the wooden tub, poked its head out and looked this way, somewhat bewildered.

Liu Xingmo walked over and, through the connection of the soul imprint, sensed that a wisp of luck had accumulated within its body and had not been consumed.

"Great, the secret that was delivered wasn't brought about by your abilities. If there's any more misfortune backlash, I can't handle it."

"But then again, was it your luck that ultimately prevailed with the 'Record of Tortoises and Soft-shelled Turtles'? Did you change my fate as well?"

The old turtle couldn't speak; its bean-like eyes reflected the red glow of the stove fire.

Liu Xingmo moved the purified developing solution to the workshop, placed it into the pages of the ancient book, and slowly, new characters emerged.

Liu Xingmo looked at it from left to right, his heart leaping with excitement: "This is a secret technique! It's most likely from the bloodline, related to turtle-like contracted beasts."

"In Western countries, only some forbidden magic would be hidden so deeply," Sumari said noncommittally.

"It should be fine. As for the conditions for unsealing, the author of the ancient book presupposed this scenario: the descendants who obtained the book often studied it, and the turtles that roamed freely in the room accidentally urinated on the book, and this secret method saw the light of day again..." Liu Xingmo repeatedly examined the ancient characters that appeared, "There is no conspiracy, it's just a turtle keeper sharing his findings with future enthusiasts."

"It's easier said than done. In reality, this is almost impossible. I suspect the author of this book isn't very bright," Sumali said expressionlessly.

"That's called romance! Romantic! Mary, you're nothing like a Westerner."

"Xingmo, what exactly do you mean by 'the West'?"

"A distant, fantastical, unknown land; a towering castle under the crescent moon; windmills spinning in the fields..."

"Then you'll be disappointed. People in my hometown don't like collecting manure for compost, so the streets are very dirty..."

"I don't want to know this!"

"I really like the towns in the East, and I've decided to stay here forever."

"Yes. Thank you, Mary."

……

Liu Xingmo began organizing ancient books.

First, make a copy of "The Record of Tortoises and Soft-shelled Turtles". Then, separate the pages and soak each page in the developing liquid to reveal the secret method. Make another copy.

Judging from the handwriting, the author is the same person. However, the book was written a very long time ago, probably two thousand years ago.

However, there are many living ancient artifacts in this world, and the text itself is not a problem.

Deciphering them is only a matter of time.

Late at night.

Liu Xingmo began cultivating, consuming a bone-strengthening root and ten fish roe, which enhanced his physique and blood energy.

……

From that day on, Liu Xingmo entered a busy period of work.

I spend 5 days a week handling household chores, deciphering ancient texts, and diligently cultivating my skills, and 2 days a week working at the newspaper office to earn money to buy elixirs.

A month has passed in the blink of an eye.

That night, the workshop was dimly lit.

Liu Xingmo wrote the last line, put down his pen, and let out a long breath.

"Finally finished. The Turtle and Tortoise Record, and this secret technique called Turtle Shell Kung Fu."

"Xingmo, will you also turn into a tortoise after you advance in your cultivation level? Like the other high-level experts in the village?"

"No, Bao Hei cannot become my natal contracted beast. As for changes, it all depends on what kind of bloodline beast I can raise."

"Oh, then I'm relieved."

"Tomorrow I need to buy medicinal herbs to brew the secret medicinal soup for my training. Mary, what medicine do you need? I'll get some for you."

"I wrote it on paper."

Early the next morning.

Liu Xingmo drove the insect cart to the medicinal herb market in Xizhen.

Unlike the heavily guarded pharmacies in Midtown, this place deals in medicines that lack spiritual energy.

In a vast square, herbs such as Bupleurum, Mint, Poria, and Licorice were piled up like mountains on large, dried yellow lotus leaves.

Some came from contracted seedlings of wood-cultivating practitioners, while others came from the vast jungles and mountains. Their quality was consistently excellent.

Liu Xingmo was also an expert in this field, and could easily classify medicinal herbs into three grades: superior, middle, and inferior.

He looked around the market carefully, and finally picked out a ten-year-old ginseng root the size of an adult. He picked it up and tossed it onto the cart.

I received a great item. This is absolutely top-quality; it may even have acquired a touch of spiritual energy over time.

After some haggling, I got it for eighty yuan.

Next, he leisurely drove the insect-shaped vehicle around the entire square, collecting all the necessary medicinal herbs.

Back home, I took out a machete, chopped off a piece of ginseng rootlets, and weighed it on a steelyard.

The other medicines were prepared in the correct proportions, put together in a pot, and cooked on the stove.

The air was filled with a strong medicinal smell, a bitter aroma mixed with an indescribable herbal fragrance.

Liu Xingmo sniffed, feeling that it was about time.

The secret technique "Turtle Shell Skill" has a very simple training content in its first stage: strengthening muscles and bones, and forging skin and flesh.

You can practice your skills by directly circulating your blood and qi; with the help of medicinal herbs, you can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Liu Xingmo poured out a bowl of thick, dark brown herbal soup, blew on it to cool it down, and then took a sip.