Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

A short while later, the woman returned, holding a piece of paper in her hand.

Sumali took the paper and studied it carefully.

Her face displayed a wide range of expressions, shifting between confusion and astonishment.

She murmured to herself, "Is that so... How could this be... Oh, I see..."

Upon seeing this, Liu Xingmo understood. He looked at the woman and said, "Since such a thing exists, I will naturally help your two children. You can ask Old Monkey to be your guarantor."

"I'm relieved to hear that," the woman said, pulling a thick booklet from her bosom and handing it over.

Liu Xingmo took it, glanced at it briefly, and then frowned: "Something's not right? Why is it damaged!"

"Impossible! Can you double-check? This book is hidden in a secret vault and has never been touched," the woman hurriedly explained.

"If it's a cultivation technique, where are the accompanying pill formulas? Where are the weapon diagrams? What good is a technique if you only have the technique!" Liu Xingmo shouted.

"This..." The woman was speechless.

"Auntie, let's be frank. Your family received this kind of thing, but you didn't hand it over to the library or the pharmacy. I'm afraid you have something more to offer, don't you? I don't believe you don't have the matching accessories."

"So what? This skill manual should be enough to get my child a job, right?"

"There are many kinds of jobs! Being entrusted with important responsibilities and getting promoted step by step is a job. Doing hard labor is also a job. Don't you think so, Auntie?" Liu Xingmo smiled shamelessly.

"Hmph! You really are as cunning and treacherous as the rumors say!"

The woman turned and left, running quickly in small steps. A short while later, she returned carrying two thick books that looked like bricks.

"Remember this: although our family has declined, the library's network of connections remains! We're not to be trifled with!"

"Yes, yes, madam." Liu Xingmo happily picked up the two thick books. "Thank you for your cultivation inheritance. I will properly discipline your two children."

"Don't let them suffer any injustice!" The woman glared fiercely at the young man in front of her.

"Impossible. What kind of work doesn't involve hardship? A sword's sharpness comes from honing, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold!" Liu Xingmo pointed to himself. "Look at me, still having to do hard labor in the mines in the dead of winter. Just yesterday, I was covered in dust and dirt, hammering stones!"

"What?!" The woman's mouth dropped open, her jaw almost falling to the ground. "Are you even capable? I'm starting to regret it..."

Liu Xingmo patted his chest and said, "I'm sure I can do it. Tomorrow is the newspaper's opening day, so have your two boys go straight to the library to register."

The transaction is complete.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali carried the books and walked home.

Although we failed to acquire the land as planned today, we obtained a more valuable inheritance of alchemy techniques, which will greatly benefit the development of the Alchemy Workshop.

Sumali even walked and looked around, completely disregarding the cold and slippery road. She would occasionally pull her husband aside and ask him to explain some difficult and obscure ancient terms, nodding in understanding after she understood them.

"Is it really that pretty, Mary?" Liu Xingmo cautiously looked around the road, then asked with a wry smile.

"My common sense has been shattered! For example, I always thought that if an iron ball and a feather were thrown at the same time, the iron ball would land first. Today I was suddenly told that the correct answer is that they land at the same time! The iron ball landing first is only a situation under certain conditions, not an absolute truth."

"Oh, that's quite shocking. Truth often contradicts common sense, I understand."

Although Liu Xingmo was not very familiar with alchemy and weapon crafting, he found the pill formulas and weapon diagrams quite interesting.

"Mary, what kind of magical artifact is this? Can you even forge one?"

"According to this book, I can create my own natal alchemy furnace. As I advance in my cultivation and incorporate more materials, it will continuously strengthen." Sumali's voice trembled with excitement. "I have an idea: to create a unique alchemy furnace, using the Philosopher's Stone as the main material!"

Liu Xingmo clapped his hands and said, "Great idea! We still have a few ounces of Seven-Colored Coral left, and we'll get new stock next year. This treasure can be used as the main material for Tier 1 materials."

"It works! I really found the way to the fifth level!" Sumari put down her book, looked around at the snow-covered landscape, and even after her mind calmed down a bit, she was still somewhat incredulous. "It's like a dream; I obtained incredibly precious knowledge so easily!"

Liu Xingmo didn't seem to care: "Right now, these books are irrefutable evidence of collusion with outsiders, so that old lady had no choice but to give them to us cheaply to gain a favor. If we want to monopolize this Dao of Refining, we need her to keep the secret, so we have to take good care of her two children. That's how we'll establish a close cooperative relationship."

Su Mali hugged her husband's arm: "Xingmo, you can be so mature and worldly-wise sometimes."

"Um, Mary!" Liu Xingmo rubbed his hands together. "I wanted to ask if I could also get a magical artifact? Money isn't a problem; I can save up slowly!"

"Well, actually, you already have magical artifacts." Su Mali looked at her husband's expectant face, somewhat amused and exasperated. "Your contracted beasts are a kind of biological magical artifact. The fact that you can control so many contracted beasts—that's the power of a divine-level technique!"

"Huh? Is that so? There's such a saying..." Liu Xingmo was dumbfounded.

"Heh..." Sumali suddenly chuckled eerily. "If you don't mind, I have a design blueprint for a magical artifact from Silvermoon Castle, called the Bloodthirsty Slaughterer. It's made primarily of bone, with blood as a secondary ingredient..."

Liu Xingmo sniffed: "That sounds terrifying. Let's see if there's anything suitable in this book."

The two arrived at the Birch Avenue stop, took out Baohei, rode the old turtle, and started their journey home.

The sky was a vast expanse of white, devoid of sunlight. With the howling north wind, swirling snowflakes crashed against the birch-lined avenue, making a silent, low thud.

Before we knew it, snowflakes began to fall in abundance, enveloping the entire mountain in a white silence.

The old trees bowed low, their branches laden with ice crystals and frost. Occasionally, a pine needle would shake off a wave of snow, the rustling sound carrying far through the forest.

Wearing a rat-skin hat, Bao Hei couldn't help but shrink his neck, and quickened his pace with his four legs encased in leather boots.

Liu Xingmo raised the old cotton quilt, using it as a large cloak to cover himself and his wife, leaving only their heads exposed.

Soon, the blankets were covered in snow, the deerskin vests were covered in snow, and even the hair of the two people was covered in snow.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali couldn't help but exchange a smile.

The road home was long, but not cold or lonely.

By the time they entered the Yinqianshan mine, it was already dark.

The warm heat melted the snow, and Liu Xingmo quickly took out a towel to wipe away the water droplets.

I got home and had a good meal.

The two men brought out a desk, lit an oil lamp, and began to study ancient books.

I translated and proofread, consulted materials, and then left my questions for future consultation with more knowledgeable seniors.

That's what spiritual practice is all about; there are bound to be dull and tedious parts.

Liu Xingmo is the main translator, while Su Mali explains some of the proper nouns. Compiling the *Honglu Jing* is estimated to take more than a month.

As for the two thick books of alchemical formulas and diagrams of artifacts, they were much simpler.

Liu Xingmo specifically looked through it; the Blood Path had countless pills, but very few magical artifacts. After all, this path focused on body refinement.

As for those magical artifacts, we can actually find a way to forge them.

Knowing this, Liu Xingmo was so troubled that he couldn't sleep.