Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

After the agreement was signed, preparations were made for the ceremony.

Valena led the way, guiding Liu Xingmo and Xuegao down the big tree and into the heavily guarded cave.

The dark, rocky hall was covered with intricate and beautiful magic circles drawn on the floor.

Valena checked it over and said, "Bring the wolf cub over, then give me the elixir."

"Ice Cream, come in." Liu Xingmo coaxed and pulled the wolf cub into the magic circle.

Valena pulled out several thick iron chains and locked them one by one to the wolf's paws.

Next, she opened the package and took out the silver frost birch fruit, which faintly shimmered with an icy blue light. She weighed them by touch and distributed them to different areas of the array.

Finally, she stomped her foot on the ground, and the energy flowed through the layers, causing the lines of the magic circle and runes to light up one by one until the hall shone with a dazzling blue light.

"Awooo!" The wolf cub jumped around on the spot, but it couldn't break free of the chains. It howled a few times and looked at Liu Xingmo with its watery eyes.

"Ice Cream, are you feeling unwell? If you are, wag your tail!" Liu Xingmo asked.

"Awooo!" The fluffy gray wolf lay down contentedly, dozing off with its eyes half-closed.

"Don't worry, this phase is quite enjoyable." Valena said calmly, her eyes reflecting the massive magic circle. "The real suffering is yet to come. When that time comes, call your wife and have her keep this wolf in check."

How long will the ceremony last?

"It's hard to say; it could take as little as seven days or as long as half a month. This is the first time I've used a top-grade Heavenly Spiritual Herb. Where did I get it? Could it be from the Gray Wolf family's estate?"

"It's Shanzhugou on the other side."

"My God, can those stupid pigs be communicated? Aren't they just wild beasts that only know how to charge around?"

"I have my own methods."

Liu Xingmo waited outside the magic array.

Valena took out a book and started reading it by herself.

Several hours have passed.

The ice cream seemed very comfortable, but it couldn't stand the loneliness and wanted to run around, but it was bound by chains and could hardly move.

Everything is stable at the moment.

"Husband, how is it?" A soft, charming female voice came from the passage behind them.

"It's alright, Third Sister. Why don't you try contacting her using your soul imprint?" Liu Xingmo said.

Liu San Niang walked to the edge of the formation, and Xue Gao immediately tried to pounce on it, but was pulled back by the iron chain. It stuck out its tongue and howled.

"You little brat, you're pretty cocky, aren't you? Behave yourself, or you'll get away with it."

The master's words calmed the wolf cub down a bit.

Watching this scene, Liu Xingmo asked anxiously, "Xuegao's brain isn't working properly anymore. Will she become completely stupid after the ritual?"

Valena, without looking up from the spellbook, said, "Don't worry, this guy is controlled by a soul imprint, so he won't be too bad. As long as the master uses mental power to cleanse the contracted beast's will, the symptoms of dementia can be gradually cured. However, this process is very time-consuming, possibly taking decades."

"Sounds pretty good?" Liu Xingmo pondered his family development plan, then asked, "Ms. Valena, if I provide the Soul-Path Elixir, can it quickly cure the aftereffects of Dark Magic?"

Valena looked up from her book and stared at the young man not far away: "You're really rich! I also have some methods to help people improve their strength, with minimal side effects and easy treatment..."

"No! No!" Liu Xingmo quickly refused.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly.

Liu San Niang carefully instructed Xue Gao to behave, and then left the cave with her husband.

As the sun sets in the west, the city lights begin to twinkle.

Towering trees, their branches and leaves faintly illuminated by lights, form a ribbon of light that stretches to the distant horizon.

Liu Xingmo and Liu Sanniang climbed the tree up the circular steps and walked onto the street where the wooden plank road and the vine path intersected.

The autumn wind carries fallen leaves, ruffling the clothes of passersby, and carries the smell of smoke from the woodsheds of every household.

"My lord, you've decided to rely on the people from the Ice Crystal Palace." Liu San Niang stopped and said softly.

"Improving our strength is absolutely necessary," Liu Xingmo replied in a low voice. "Everyone knows about Zhenmang and Tai Sui. The higher-ups know very well about Bao Hei and Fu Hei. Huo Yun will be exposed sooner or later. And that strange fish I devoured, those who are interested can guess what it is. A lot has happened in the past year or so, and I have reaped many benefits."

"Hahaha!" Liu San Niang laughed loudly, "My dear young master Liu, you are truly extraordinary! I was right about you."

"Third Aunt, what are you thinking? Xuegao is going to suffer some pain, and you must feel bad seeing that."

Liu San Niang seemed not to have heard the question, focusing on other things.

She leaned against the woven rattan railing, looked up at the starry sky, and murmured, "I don't know. I know nothing about this world, or even about myself."

Her red dress, under the pale moonlight, resembled congealed blood. Her long black hair, under the orange lamplight, seemed like a fleeting shadow.

She turned her head, half her face buried in the darkness, the other half smiling foolishly: "Husband, if one day I'm gone, will you still remember me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about so late at night! It's bad luck." Liu Xingmo stepped forward and grabbed the woman's hand.

The soft, delicate hand in his palm seemed almost unreal. He then wrapped his arm around the woman's waist: "I'll keep a close eye on you and never let you escape."

"Hehehe..." Liu Sanniang covered her mouth and chuckled, "You're so manly, my good husband~"

"Hmph!" Liu Xingmo didn't answer, but tightened his grip even more, as if he wanted to tie up the person next to him.

"By the way, what are you going to tell Mary about today when you get home? She seems to really dislike the fat woman from the Ice Crystal Palace and those strange secret arts."

"Ah! There's that too!" Liu Xingmo suddenly felt guilty and turned to look at Liu Sanniang.

The woman, however, looked up at the moon with an air of indifference, ignoring her husband's pleading gaze.

At the end platform of the Birch Avenue, another wolf cub is tied up.

The two rode wolves, one in front of the other, through the mountains and forests under the autumn moon, and returned to the fortress, which was shaped like a round mushroom.

Sure enough, Sumarit couldn't escape a scolding, and the explanation of the dangers of black magic continued until the next morning.

In the end, the alchemist from the West had no choice but to accept the outcome and take on a series of requests to craft equipment.

The equipment was prepared for the ice cream.

A muzzle from an ice-based magical artifact can enhance frost breath. Four claws from a blood-based magical artifact can enhance tearing power. In addition, protective armor is also essential.

The factory operates around the clock, with plumes of black smoke billowing from morning till night.

Ten days later, Ice Cream returned from South Village, having successfully advanced to the third tier.

The reward for the promotion ceremony was 10,000 worth of Silverfrost Birch Fruit, with a small amount remaining to solidify the foundation.

On this day, in the open space in front of Mushroom Castle.

Liu Xingmo carried heavy animal equipment out of the hall and dressed Xuegao in it.

Wearing a rammed steel helmet, a full plate armor body, a thorn collar around the neck, and an iron wire tassel around the tail.

A small gray wolf, clad in armor, stood on the grass, its body shimmering with silver light.