Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

The oil lamp illuminated the stone staircase, but its light could not reach the entire hall.

The two walked hand in hand towards the attic.

Sumali looked at the dark factory and said in a relaxed tone, "With more manpower, our production facilities can continue to expand."

"No need to steer the conversation to real-world topics so quickly!" Liu Xingmo said with a wry smile.

"Xingmo, you're making a big fuss over nothing. Putting aside the nobility, even small families in the countryside with manors carefully plan the role of each member. It's a necessary means of survival."

"Am I being too strange?" Liu Xingmo asked himself.

"You are very, very strange, my great writer, my dear husband." Sumali smiled.

The firelight illuminated the woman's high nose bridge, pale skin, and curvaceous figure. This was an appearance slightly different from that of people from the Central Plains.

"You're a very strange person too, my alchemist, my good wife." Liu Xingmo laughed.

The couple tidied up and quickly went to rest.

the next day.

"Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling!" The sound of the copper bell echoed in the attic.

Still half asleep, Liu Xingmo immediately jumped out of bed, went downstairs, and opened the door to find three merchants who had come to buy goods.

Bai Youyun, the daughter of her parents' friend, asked warmly, "Hey! Little brother, I heard you're getting along well with that group of outsiders?"

"It's alright. They're willing to chat with me for a bit because I've written a few books," Liu Xingmo said indifferently.

"You're a big shot, you might be able to recruit a few subordinates. I have a feeling your factory is going to increase production!" Bai Youyun said with great certainty.

"Perhaps." Liu Xingmo's ambiguous words had already provided the answer.

"Leave the sales problem to our Hongyan Caravan! The people of Nancun have been raving about the Blood Qi Potion!" Bai Youyun affectionately hooked her arm around Liu Xingmo's shoulder, as if the two were old friends who had grown up together.

Tie Shengcai quickly chimed in, "Our White Horse Caravan can transport heavy, large equipment! Boss, if you need anything, we'll definitely deliver it to you!"

This middle-aged businessman, though only saying half of what he meant, had already conveyed his message: vying for market share.

There was another businessman, Bai Daoyuan, who clenched his fists but remained silent. This young man was still too inexperienced.

Liu Xingmo opened the medicine box one by one, showing the quantity of medicines.

He said unhurriedly, "Don't rush. I plan to produce new goods and some healing medicine. Once we have surplus production, we can consider caravans."

"Healing medicine?"

All three were puzzled, but then they quickly understood.

Heilongzhai has no shortage of medical treatment methods, which means that medicines need to be sold to outsiders.

The three of them made up their minds at the same time to find a way to compete for market share.

The transaction was over, and the merchants disappeared into the pebbly path hidden by the grass.

After washing up and eating, Liu Xingmo finally had time to deal with his own affairs.

Preparation of penicillin.

I dug out the small bamboo bottles I had collected a few days ago, moved them to the dark, empty room in the attic, and opened and examined them one by one.

Fortunately, most of the mold samples were still alive.

Next, we need to cultivate the bacterial culture. Without professional knowledge, I can only rely on intuition.

Place the boiled and sterilized white porcelain plate on a wooden rack and pour in a little nutrient solution—this is broth simmered in a large pot, containing fruits, wheat, and even animal hides; in short, it contains sugars, starches, and proteins.

Open the small bamboo bottle, use a glass rod sterilized by flame to pick out the bluish-gray mold, and spread it on the nutrient solution in the dish.

Next, let's wait for them to grow.

Liu Xingmo spent most of the day setting up a shelf of Penicillium culture dishes.

He lit a candle, looked at the gray-blue bacteria, and a strange thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Can Penicillium be used as a contracted seedling?

Should, maybe, probably... it's possible?

I heard that some people in the village have contracted seedlings of Ganoderma lucidum.

Reishi mushroom is not a plant, but a real fungus, and Penicillium is also a fungus.

However, the two fungi are too different; one grows a lignified structure, while the other is just a short-lived green fuzz.

Liu Xingmo became more and more curious and couldn't resist trying it out.

He poured the rotten fruit pulp from the small bamboo bottle into the same earthenware jar, then focused his mind to force out the soul imprint born from the first level of the Wood Dao within his body, attempting to integrate it into the microbial community.

A strange sensation. Dark and sticky, like a malevolent gaze in the shadows.

The soul imprint desperately tried to merge with these life forms, but could not.

Liu Xingmo tried repeatedly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Is it going to fail? If so, it will take several days to consolidate the soul, during which time the strength will not improve.

It's not a huge price to pay, so it's acceptable.

Liu Xingmo was still unwilling to admit defeat. He mobilized the remaining spiritual power in his body and integrated it all into the soul imprint, trying to control these strange life forms.

It penetrates deep into the barely perceptible hyphae; it spreads out, connecting the fragile life forms into one.

A soul imprint, constantly enlarging, like a flattened gold leaf, wrapping indescribable rotten fruit flesh.

Sweat dripped from Liu Xingmo's chin, splashing water on the ground.

The faint soul imprint seemed to have barely taken root, no longer a weak spiritual force.

Liu Xingmo felt his mind go blank, his legs went weak, and he sat down on the ground.

Did it work? Probably.

After resting for a while, Liu Xingmo stood up, leaning against the wall.

It wasn't physical exhaustion, but rather a significant mental drain, like not having slept for three days.

Pour the remaining culture medium from the large pot into the earthenware jar, and then use an iron rod to mix the rotten fruit and food together.

Enough! The soul imprint seems to be loosening; stop immediately.

A wisp of wood energy was gently introduced and slowly absorbed.

Liu Xingmo rubbed his dark circles, waited a while, and after confirming that he was alright, quickly returned to his bedroom to rest.

……

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In my sleep, a steam train spews black smoke as it travels along the tracks in the mountains and forests, raising a cloud of withered leaves.

Liu Xingmo blinked.

The bedroom was dimly lit, with a beam of golden-red light streaming through the window. Dust floated on the wooden floor, resembling burning flames.

Is it evening?

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

It wasn't a train in a dream, but a workshop downstairs, already in operation.

Liu Xingmo got up and went downstairs.

The complex steel machinery is driven by steam, with gears rotating and pistons opening and closing.

The room was sweltering. Su Dabao, his face covered in soot, was adding charcoal to the stove with a shovel.

On the other side, Sumali, accompanied by a young woman, was operating the high-pressure reactor.

Upon seeing Liu Xingmo arrive, Su Mali pointed to the woman beside her and introduced her, "This is Du Xiaomei, Da Bo's female classmate."

"We've met before." Liu Xingmo smiled kindly. "Hello, classmate. It's a bit late to introduce myself. I'm Liu Xingmo, Mary's husband."

"I know you! Many of my friends are talking about it. That nameless guest is in this Black Dragon Village." Du Xiaomei was a short girl who wore glasses and was quite inconspicuous.

Liu Xingmo knew, however, that this girl was an excellent student.

While rummaging through my luggage, Du Xiaomei's notes caught my eye.