Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo wandered on the riverbank, feeling helpless.

There were cries of pain and bloodshed everywhere. Not only were there wild boars, wolves, and brown bears injured, but even the instructors of Black Dragon Village were badly wounded.

Fortunately, the experts in the Blood Path are resilient and can survive as long as their brains aren't shattered. However, a few were torn to shreds in the battle just now.

Liu Xingmo took three deep breaths, then quickly retrieved his medicine kit and joined the team treating the wounded.

Unexpectedly, the golden armored dragon of the Great Plains also called for reinforcements. Facing that group of winged beasts, they would be at a disadvantage in every battle.

This world, for some reason, possesses an extremely rich ecosystem. Within this ecosystem, the struggle for supremacy among dragons and beasts is the dominant theme of history.

Dinosaurs occupied the vast plains, building lush pastures. Herbivorous dinosaurs directly ate tender vegetables, while carnivorous dinosaurs herded cattle and sheep.

For dinosaurs, forests covered with trees were barren lands where it was difficult to move around, and they had to cultivate them and build them into their own homes.

In contrast, various wild beasts inhabited the mountains and forests, hostile to the malevolent dragon.

Oviparous birds belong to the dinosaur branch, while viviparous humans belong to the wild animal branch.

Herbivorous dragons despise carnivorous dragons, while pigs, deer, cattle, and sheep hate jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards.

Birds feared pterosaurs yet sought to replace them, so humans established nations to expel the alien races.

A chaotic mix of forces are constantly clashing on this land.

Liu Xingmo had read some history books, but they only explained the issues from a human perspective. Looking at the world as a whole, the situation was extremely complex.

The sun set completely, and darkness enveloped the earth.

From the shadowy forest came low growls from time to time.

Between the dark clouds overhead, it seemed as if ferocious wings swept by, only to vanish in the blink of an eye.

A group of strong wild boars rushed into the valley, picked up their companions, and quickly moved to another location.

The beast army followed the path over mountains and valleys, finally arriving at a valley with deep fissures in the rock walls.

Once inside, branching paths constantly appear, and the caves are interconnected.

The troops eventually arrived at a cave.

"Drip! Drip!" Water droplets kept sliding down from the stalactite tip, splashing out water droplets.

"Hmph..." The wounded, who had been suppressing their pain all the way, began to wail softly again.

"We've gotten this far, this is really troublesome!" the gray otter exclaimed, shaking its whiskers.

"What's wrong, Master Bao?" Liu Xingmo asked hurriedly.

"I heard that this cave was dug by some kind of pig god, and it was the headquarters and last line of defense against the Ankylosaurus." Gray Otter Baoya was a friend that Liu Xingmo met at the water park last year.

Liu Xingmo jumped off the otter's back and reached out to touch the ground: "Huh? This texture is unusual."

"Isn't that right? The old sage's methods make mud harder than steel." Master Bao looked around to make sure it was safe, then reached out and put his hand on Liu Xingmo's shoulder. "Young man, go back as soon as it's light! Don't come back again."

"I understand," Liu Xingmo replied helplessly.

Time ticked by, and the spirit stone lamp brought by some instructor was the only light in the darkness.

The remaining soldiers in the cave were dispirited and their expressions were gloomy.

A skunk instructor approached Liu Xingmo: "Hey! Young man, those wild boars need to see us, and they specifically asked me to call you."

"What's wrong?" Liu Xingmo got up from the ground.

The skunk replied, "Probably paying them. Cooperation between different races is the most crucial step; even a pig-brain would know that."

The gray otter chuckled: "Hey! These wild boars are pretty smart! Young man, hurry up and go. You've come all this way with a bang, you can't leave empty-handed!"

"Okay, I'll go take a look."

Liu Xingmo followed the skunk, along with several other instructors, and led by a wild boar, they turned left and right in the cave, finally arriving at a large hall.

Glitter.

Liu Xingmo's eyes were filled with dazzling golden light, emanating from the enormous ankylosaur carcasses.

These heavily armored dragons, skilled in divine metal cultivation techniques, have countless metals fused into their bodies. Even a random slice of one of their corners would be excellent material for forging weapons.

The people of Black Dragon Stronghold naturally looked down on such things, because they were useless to them.

The lead wild boar continued deeper into the area, where a stone pillar topped a watermelon-sized spirit stone that emitted a bright white light.

Stone basins and jars were placed on the ground, filled with various plants. They were all rare seedlings, and although they were cultivated, their quality was quite good.

The lead wild boar sat down, looked around, and said, "Humans, you choose."

The instructors didn't stand on ceremony; they crawled into the pots and pans, found ginseng and he shou wu, and carried them on their backs.

These extraordinary seedlings must have been cultivated by practitioners of the Wood Path, using a different cultivation method, which is why they have no soul imprint and no master.

Those Black Dragon Village wood cultivators who practice the "Ancestral Tree Technique" can acquire such a rare seedling and, once they imprint their soul mark on it, it becomes their own.

Liu Xingmo was somewhat undecided.

He walked around in the huge earthenware pots and stone jars, looking left and right. This is not bad, that is alright too.

In the distance, a golden light shimmered, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a huge ankylosaur head.

The skull, covered in bony spurs, lay upside down on the ground, its purpose unknown.

Liu Xingmo climbed up the ankylosaur's eyes and nose, then peered inside while holding onto the edge of its skull.

The brain and flesh had been hollowed out and filled with murky water. A fleshy mass slowly wriggled in the water, radiating a vigorous life force and an indescribable, terrifying aura.

What is this thing?

The skunk instructor noticed what was happening and quickly ran over, grabbing Liu Xingmo and pulling him away: "Young man, don't look around! That thing is a Tai Sui!"

"Tai Sui?" Liu Xingmo couldn't help but chuckle. "Is the legend true?"

"How could it be fake! Anyway, don't touch that thing. I'll find you a ginseng to take back." The skunk ran quickly away from the fleshy mass inside the ankylosaurus's head.

Liu Xingmo recalled the contents of the ancient book.

Tai Sui, also known as the fleshy Lingzhi, is said to be able to revive the dead, heal flesh and bones, and grant immortality to those who consume it. However, it harbors malevolent energy, and ordinary people will die upon contact with it.

Based on what I felt just now, that ball of flesh should be a naturally occurring rare beast, no, it could also be described as a naturally occurring rare seedling.

In short, it controls the higher-level energies of life force, blood energy, and wood energy.

Conventional healing spells can only activate the patient's own life force, so their effects are limited.

If one were to directly grant life force, it might truly be possible to bring the dead back to life and achieve immortality. That would be the work of gods.

Tai Sui is definitely a treasure, but what does it mean that ordinary people will die if they come into contact with it?

Thinking about it carefully, Tai Sui represents disaster in traditional culture. Could it also be related to fortune? Because it contains strong death luck, bad luck, and misfortune, it can kill the person who takes it?

The more Liu Xingmo thought about it, the more convinced he became, and he couldn't help but feel a little itchy.

I have two auspicious beasts that can hold their own, and maybe I can even use this meat spirit mushroom?

Liu Xingmo quickly ran to the wild boar: "Wild boar warrior, may I take that piece of Tai Sui?"