Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo snapped out of his daze amidst the overwhelming and complex information.

The small puddles in the grass were hot and humid, and the chirping of crickets could be heard from afar.

"How is it, Xingmo?" Su Mali asked.

"The step of imprinting the soul mark went quite smoothly. But this guy's soul ran away on its own, and I can't control its body. I can only get a 'plant fish' instead." Liu Xingmo said helplessly.

Sumali remained calm and said without much emotion, "Then you shouldn't eat the bugs. How about you eat this fish instead?"

"This! The Scale Insect Realm can only refine Blood Path Contract Insects, but I... cultivate both paths simultaneously, and my overall strength has reached the Swimming Fish Realm level. This fish is a Primordial Beast, and a genuine Blood Path Beast..." Liu Xingmo explained carefully, his eyes lighting up, "So, there really is a chance?"

The wounds on the fish's back caused by the hooks have healed and are almost fully recovered.

Liu Xingmo forcefully flipped the fish over, then took out a jar of blood-qi potion and poured it into the fish's mouth below its head.

He sat on the fish's head, his soul imprint connecting his two bodies, allowing his blood and energy to circulate smoothly and freely.

This was the first time he had received a feedback of blood energy from a contracted beast, and it was so pure, far surpassing his own.

He entered a deep meditative state to hone his skills.

After a long while, Liu Xingmo opened his eyes and slowly said, "This fish is far stronger than me. Only when my blood energy reaches a level comparable to that of a second-tier expert can I refine it into my body."

Sumari looked at the setting sun and asked, "So what do we do now?"

"We need to keep the fact that we caught this fish a secret as much as possible. We'll find Liu San Niang and ask her to help us transport the fish back home."

Liu Xingmo took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and put it into the bamboo tube on Fu Hei's leg.

The large crow flapped its wings and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Liu Xingmo went out to find his fishing friend, let him know he was safe, and explained that he had lost track of the strange fish.

Everyone sighed deeply.

More than an hour passed.

"Caw caw!" With the cawing of crows, a wolf cub carrying two small vine cages pushed through the weeds and appeared in the hollow.

"Tsk tsk! This is truly remarkable!" Liu San Niang jumped off the wolf's back, waded into the water, and carefully observed the black and gray strange fish. "It's a rare innate beast, and it's even from the bloodline. It's a pity it couldn't be reincarnated as a human, otherwise it would have been another number one genius of Black Dragon Village."

"That kind of future is too terrifying," Liu Xingmo shook his head in denial.

This fish is a monster reincarnated, and it is extremely vicious.

It actually managed to travel thousands of miles to Black Dragon Village, and disguise itself as weak to attack fishermen in order to strengthen itself.

It's best to keep its information hidden, especially the identity of the reincarnated individual; otherwise, it might cause trouble.

Liu Xingmo had already made up his mind to refine and devour it.

Liu San Niang made the wolf cub squat down and put the cleaner and Bao Hei into the two rattan cages on the left and right.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali also rode on the wolf's back.

"Awoo~" the wolf cub howled and ran towards the dam.

He mingled among the fishermen returning home in twos and threes, and was let through without any strict checks.

The wolf cubs' running created a strong breeze, making the summer night particularly cool.

Sitting on the wolf's back, Liu Xingmo felt an unusual surge of emotion.

What will happen to me if I swallow that fish?

We passed through Beicun, got onto the main road, and headed straight into the city center.

The shops in Mushroom Castle lit up, and Su Dabao and Du Xiaomei began selling potions.

The wolf cub headed straight for the March River.

The scavenger falls into the water and breathes and eats by instinct.

Liu Xingmo stayed on the riverbank, using his soul imprint to control the soulless plant fish, digging a hole in the mud and sand at the bottom of the river, trying to find a hiding place.

Without a word, the strange fish that had stirred up trouble in Beicun disappeared without a trace.

The days that followed continued as normal.

Acquiring medicinal herbs and selling medicinal solutions; reviewing reports and writing novels; feeding livestock and managing bacterial cultures...

Whenever the night is deep and quiet, Liu Xingmo would come to the banks of the March River where fireflies danced.

Summon the cleaners hidden in the deep pit, ride on the back of a fish, and swim in the river under the moonlight.

At the same time, the blood and qi constantly interact and circulate, making the two more and more compatible.

Finally, after nearly a month and another harvest of needlegrass seeds, the time was almost right.

The newly built mushroom cultivation shed stands on the north side of Mushroom Castle.

This short, stout building has a deep underground space filled with water, where strange, dark gray fish with dazed expressions live.

It was late at night on a weekend during the last few days of July.

Liu Xingmo arrived at the bottom of the greenhouse.

His blood energy was already extremely refined, and his blood cultivation had essentially reached the second level, but he had not gone through the final step of the first level of the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

He gazed at the bony head and body of the fish, and rode on its back one last time.

He circulated his internal energy, channeling the surging blood and qi within his body. The strange fish beneath him also circulated its blood and qi accordingly.

The two energies resonated with each other, creating a surge of spiritual energy in the space.

The whole fish began to tremble, faster and faster, as if it were undergoing irregular movements at the molecular level.

Finally, at some point, the hard scales shattered into sand, and a stream of red pus floated up and entered the mouth and nose of the young man on the fish's back.

Liu Xingmo was jolted and tried his best to absorb this substance and energy.

At the same time, a certain constraint on the body suddenly broke free, and the world that was originally narrow in the eyes suddenly became wide.

Liu Xingmo, with his own even greater capacity, absorbs external forces.

The strange fish continued to disintegrate, and the water became increasingly murky...

A day passed, and Sumali came to visit. Seeing that everything was alright, she was relieved.

Two days passed, and Sumali came to patrol as usual.

Three or four more days passed.

Before we knew it, it was the fifth day.

Liu Xingmo's lower body was immersed in murky water, his consciousness absorbed in a world of pure energy.

The blood and qi, solidified as a substance, surged and flowed within his body, and a tremendous power sprouted within his newborn form.

That's it.

Liu Xingmo opened his eyes.

The space was dark and vast, but every corner was clearly visible.

With arms outstretched, a series of cracking sounds came from the joints.

With legs straight, the whole body felt light as a feather, like a fish swimming in water.

Liu Xingmo was covered in dried, broken sludge. He peeled off the filth and waded through the muddy water to the stairs, then climbed the steps.

On the first floor of the greenhouse, clothes, food, and water were laid out on the ground.

Liu Xingmo picked up some water, rinsed his body briefly, then got dressed and pushed open the door to the dark room.

In an instant, light shone down.

Lush flowers and plants under the scorching sun are a common sight in the mountains and forests.

Liu Xingmo squinted, adjusting his eyes to the light.

He walked step by step toward the main gate of Mushroom Castle.

He looked at his house, realized he didn't have his keys, and was about to pull the rope and ring the doorbell.

Just then, with a creak, the small door opened.

Sumari carried a tray with food and water and came out. She froze when she saw the young man at the door.

The rice bowl overturned, and the water jug ​​broke.

The woman put down all her belongings and hugged the man in front of her.

"Xingmo! You're back!"

"Mary, I'm back."