Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Looking at this scene, Su Dabao chuckled and said, "Uncle, you've only been lying down for ten seconds."

"Really?" Liu Xingmo asked in surprise, "Is ambergris really that powerful?"

Upon careful observation, all physical fatigue had vanished, but the mind remained slightly groggy. The recovery of mental energy was not ideal.

Liu Xingmo, carrying his stomach bag, made a series of attempts.

When I'm in a good state, I can fall asleep after taking a little inhalation and wake up after a short while.

After becoming fatigued from cultivation, I can fall asleep by inhaling a lot of energy, and wake up after sleeping for about ten minutes.

The effect of relieving physical fatigue is truly immediate. With ambergris, one can cultivate day and night. Of course, one can also work day and night.

Liu Xingmo was overjoyed and made a series of plans for the winter.

Unfortunately, something else will take a while longer.

The next morning, while it was still pitch black, the crowing of roosters echoed throughout the city.

Lights were on in every household as people busied themselves preparing for their long journeys.

The great hunt has begun.

In the past, residents of a prosperous area like Midtown didn't need to venture out of town to pick up a few scraps. But this year, thanks to the peace treaty, the wilderness is safer than ever, and it would be a real shame not to go out for an autumn outing.

Moreover, an unprecedented martial arts tournament is about to be held, and some people are full of ambition and working hard to cultivate, which is exactly what they need now.

Liu Xingmo has also accumulated several soul imprints, but hasn't decided how to use them yet.

He planned to wander around the city on his own for the time being, hoping to get lucky and find something good.

Su Mali and Liu San Niang disagreed and insisted on coming along.

There was no other way but to shut down the factory for a few days and have Su Dabao and Du Xiaomei use the warehouse stock to supply a limited amount each day.

……

Liu Xingmo arrived at the animal pen and called out to the crow, Fuhei.

"Gaga!" Fuhei happily hopped to its owner's side, its eyes filled with longing for the sky.

Baohei huddled in the corner, helplessly guarding the house. Its luck would continue to accumulate until next spring, when it would try to search for newly born rare beasts and extraordinary offspring.

After packing up, Sumali, carrying a rifle, left her warm home hand in hand with her husband.

Liu San Niang, leading a fully armed little gray wolf, waited at the door.

The group nimbly climbed onto the wolf's back.

"Awooo—!" Ice Cream let out a long howl and then strode into the desolate and chilly autumn night.

Running on the dirt road, you can see a long line of lights between a row of birch trees in the distance.

Upon arriving at Tiegu Pass, the spacious square inside the city walls was packed with people.

The annual grand hunt has been planned well in advance by many, who are just waiting for the grand and lively event.

This time, we cannot attack our allies. To be specific, this means we cannot target wild boars, gray wolves, brown bears, tigers, moose, or sturgeon. Apart from these, there are no restrictions.

The sky turned blue, and the eastern mountains were bathed in brilliant light, the golden dawn awakening the dark forests.

Someone shouted, "Open the door! Let us out!"

"Open the door!" "It's time!" "Open the door now!" Shouts of various kinds rose and fell in the square.

"Creak, creak..." The noose pulled the heavy city gate, and the dim doorway was replaced by a splash of yellow.

The mountains and rivers, the forests and the vast sky of late autumn stretch out endlessly under the dawn.

The crowd filed out, and joyful cheers filled the air.

Liu Xingmo and his two companions, riding wolves, were swept out of the city gate by the flow of people.

At this point, there's no need to follow the rules or conform to the crowd anymore. The ice cream glides briskly along the mountain path, running all the way into the distance.

The family of three sat in a bunker on the back of a wolf—learning from the lesson of the broken tent last time, this time they used alchemical materials to build a low, round bunker, somewhat like a tank turret.

Liu Xingmo held a hunting rifle in his hand, his sharp eyes watching every rustle of wind and movement.

There's nothing wrong with this bush.

Fuhei, report!

A thought, following an invisible connection, was transmitted far away.

The large, glossy black crow quickly turned back, circling after the little gray wolf's trail.

Each image is transmitted into the owner's mind.

There are no wild beasts in this valley.

Keep going!

……

Two days have passed.

Noon, at the edge of the designated hunting area.

Several white ribbon-like waterfalls cascade down a mountain stream, flowing into a secluded pool. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting shimmering patches of light on the water's surface.

Beneath the crystal-clear pool water, fiery red maple leaves, stained with silt, slowly decompose and return to the embrace of the mountains.

Liu Xingmo sat on the pebbles, wiped the gun barrel with a burlap sack, and sighed, "Ah—!"

"What's wrong, Xingmo?" Su Mali was boiling water and cooking when she heard the sigh and couldn't help but laugh. "Are you feeling down because you haven't found any rare beasts or seedlings?"

"Am I that kind of person?" Liu Xingmo said irritably.

Looking down at the pool, a young man's face was reflected in the rippling water. He was energetic and spirited, but his bright eyes also betrayed a hint of restlessness.

Liu Xingmo chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Heh, okay, I admit it, I am that kind of person."

"Oh dear, my husband, you're used to delicacies, and you're not used to simple meals all of a sudden," said Liu San Niang, leading a squirrel to the edge of the pool. "Simple dishes have their own flavor too. If you're tired of fish and meat, why not give this a try?"

This gray squirrel is today's lunch. It's already dead and bled. After some cooking, it can be stewed in a pot.

Liu Xingmo's eyes lit up: "Oh right, leave the squirrel pelt for me! I'm going to find some local squirrels to play with."

Liu San Niang was taken aback. She turned the sharp knife in her hand around and, starting from the neck, deftly peeled off the entire rat skin.

A short while later, Liu Xingmo, now completely naked, stuck the warm rat skin to his body. He then activated a secret technique, and with the nourishment of blood and qi, the rat skin and human skin fused together.

I recently learned about "animal transformation techniques," which I heard were evil methods used by human traffickers in the past, but are now being used for another purpose.

The gray squirrel stood upright, its nimble front paws carefully examining the gaps in its chest and abdomen to make sure the fur concealed them well.

He then curled up and huddled on the old tree root, looking around furtively.

He turned and climbed the tree, his claws, adorned with gold-plated finger guards, gripping the bark tightly, and swiftly darted to the treetop.

"Hahaha!" Liu Sanniang laughed loudly, "Husband, you're such a good actor! You're even seducing female squirrels, hahaha..."

"Hehe..." Su Mali smiled and waved, "Little squirrel, come here and let your big sister give you a hug!"

Liu Xingmo squatted on a tree branch, raising his two front paws to his chest, and said, "You two take a close look, is there any other flaw in my defense?"

After saying that, the gray squirrel jumped and swayed from side to side. Although its movements were exaggerated, it perfectly captured the essence of a squirrel.

After observing for a while, Su Mali said, "Xingmo, when you observe the outside world through the squirrel's mouth, sometimes you raise its head too high, which looks unnatural. And that tail doesn't move at all; it's too fake."

"It's not that complicated!" Liu San Niang covered her face and chuckled. "Your bloodlust is impossible to conceal."