Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Not long after, Liu Huimin, Liu Zhili, and Xu Wenting also arrived.

All six staff members from the newspaper were present.

Liu Xingmo looked at his employees with a serious expression: "This time, our newspaper must be beautifully written!"

"Hey, club president, can you give us some information?" Xu Wenting asked. "I heard that the first Nian beast to enter the city was incredibly powerful! It was you who defeated it, club president!"

Liu Xingmo neither confirmed nor denied: "That's true, but I was just there to make up the numbers. The one who contributed the most was our village's number one genius, Liu Yizhu. Yes, that's what the newspapers said."

Liu Huimin quickly pressed on, "President, tell the truth, was that Nian beast a manifestation of the Mountain Goddess? She personally tested us!"

Liu Xingmo shook his head and denied it: "No. That thing is just an ordinary Nian beast. Yes, that's what the newspaper wrote. Everyone remembers it."

Liu Zhili couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time: "President, you're putting us in a very difficult position. You have to hide this and conceal that; how are we supposed to write a report like this?"

"It's simple. Just write vaguely and irresponsibly. Include all sorts of rumors and speculations to whet people's appetites, but ultimately don't confirm anything." Liu Xingmo laughed as he said this. "Journalism is all about showing off your words. Don't take it too seriously."

Liu Huimin immediately complimented, "You're absolutely right! President, you're amazing!"

Jiang Yourong covered her face and sighed, "My God, how could it be someone like this who's been placed on my head?"

……

Two days later, this week's newspaper was successfully edited and sold.

The librarian also finished his advisory duties for the meeting and returned to the library.

Liu Xingmo bid farewell to his companions, carrying a heavy money bag, and headed excitedly to the pharmacy.

The combined revenue from the novel was unexpectedly high, earning Liu Xingmo a bonus of over ten thousand yuan.

How should I spend this money? I should focus on improving my strength! I've had enough elixirs, so I'll continue working on some magical artifacts.

Liu Xingmo arrived at window number 13 as usual.

The receptionist smiled sweetly: "Welcome, Mr. Liu Xingmo. Here are some things for you."

A black cloth bag, about the size of a palm, was handed out through the iron-barred window.

Could this be the so-called spatial storage bag? This thing is extremely rare; only fifth-tier elders can afford to use it, which is why they usually don't bother transforming into beast form.

Liu Xingmo took the cloth bag with trembling hands. It felt ordinary and light as a feather.

He put the bag in his arms and then eagerly reached his hand into the bag.

She reached straight down and found most of her arm swallowed by the small bag. Her fingers touched a hard, cold, and rough object. This was the Void Stone, the reward Sumari had demanded.

Storage bags are wondrous treasures, perhaps with unexpected uses. Even simply using them to store weapons can be surprisingly effective.

For example, a spinal chain tens of meters long could be stored inside, and when facing the enemy, it could be continuously pulled out to trap them in an inescapable net...

"Are you sure?" the receptionist interrupted her reverie. "Here's another reward for defeating the Nian beast. You chose Crimson Maple Balls, five in total, right?"

"That's right! Give me one first! Keep the rest."

The cone, about the size of a head, has a hard shell covered with sharp spines, resembling a sea urchin.

The blood energy within was so dense it was terrifying, it instilled fear in people even from a great distance.

A top-grade elixir! A priceless treasure carefully kept by every major power!

Liu Xingmo even worried that he wouldn't be able to absorb such a good thing, but he couldn't resist trying it.

The receptionist carefully wrapped the maple seeds and handed them out the window: "Is there anything else you need?"

Liu Xingmo rubbed his hands together and said, "Give me a few high-level blood-path beast minions. I have a budget of ten thousand yuan."

"Ten thousand?!" The receptionist gasped softly. "A fourth-tier lynx claw, one thousand each, is that alright?"

"Lynx claws? From the Hall of Enforcement?" Liu Xingmo recalled the big and small cats he had seen in the basement of the library.

"That's right! Those people are incredibly strong, so the quality is absolutely guaranteed. I heard they enjoy sharpening their teeth and trimming their toenails, which is why some of their claws have ended up on the market."

"Then give me five. And some other parts for strange beasts too." Liu Xingmo gritted his teeth, handing over his money pouch with a bittersweet smile.

Pack your best items and leave the pharmacy quickly.

When they reached the end of Birch Avenue, Liu Xingmo didn't even take the Wild Rabbit Bus as usual.

Fortunately, Sumali had driven her black car ahead of time and was waiting by the roadside.

The two embarked on their journey home.

Back in the stone house he hadn't seen for many days, Liu Xingmo breathed in the stuffy air and displayed the spoils of his trip on the table.

Sumali's gaze was immediately drawn to the black stone.

She carefully lifted the rough, meteorite-like stone and examined it under the light. A faint glow seemed to flicker among its fragmented texture.

She murmured, "The power of time and space... the fifth type of Philosopher's Stone! It's incredible; this is the first time I've ever seen something so legendary."

"The fifth category? What are they in total?" Liu Xingmo asked curiously.

Sumali held up five fingers: "Depending on their function, the Philosopher's Stones, numbered one to five, correspond to energy, soul, life, rules, and time and space, respectively."

"Oh, it's similar to our Central Plains region. The focus of cultivation corresponds to each stage." Liu Xingmo suddenly realized, "The first stage is about condensing spiritual energy, and the second stage is about tempering the spirit. I'm not too clear about the later stages, but I've heard that those high and mighty old immortals all possess a certain degree of time and space power. So it gets this complicated from the fifth stage onwards. No wonder there are so few elders."

Sumari's dark eyes reflected the pitted stone in her hand: "The value of this Void Stone is immeasurable; I don't even know how to use it."

"What are you afraid of? Use it without worry!" Liu Xingmo said casually. "Even if you ruin it during the forging process, you can just find another Nian beast next year and plunder it as much as you can. Then you'll have the Void Stone again."

Sumali pursed her lips: "Let's not do something so dangerous."

"Never mind, we'll talk about it later." Liu Xingmo pulled out five long, hook-shaped claws, each as long as an arm. "Mary, could you take a look at these too? What kind of magical artifacts can they be made from?"

"What is this? What a terrifying feeling, as if a vampire marquis has descended upon us... Xingmo, do you want me to create that demonic artifact, the Bloodthirsty Slaughterer?"

"You guessed it? What do you think? I think it's perfect!"

"It's possible, but that magical artifact shouldn't be used by someone like you."

"So what! Attach that giant claw to the chain, and from now on it'll be called the Blood Droplet! I'll grab this thing, swing it around, grab the enemy's head, and yank it off—just thinking about it is awesome!"

"Aren't you a storyteller? Is this really okay...?"