Li Mo was digesting the fragmented memories that the Creation Book had revealed. Most of them were scraps of imagery.
From these fragments, he learned that seven thousand years ago, immortality was yet to exist.
At that time, the Heart Beast Sect was just as Li Mo had imagined—a cultivation sect whose disciples seemed like Land Immortals, soaring effortlessly against the wind.
He took a deep breath, dizziness engulfing his mind, yet his thoughts becoming sharper.
Li Mo struggled to maintain his balance; his mind seemed to be undergoing transformation. Fortunately, the children were utterly exhausted—some even dry-heaving nearby—which made his oddity less conspicuous.
"Heiwa, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Don't make a fuss."
Zhao Zhu noticed Li Mo's abnormal state and quickly supported him.
Manager Tian paid no attention to the children's expressions. His voice carried an air of warning as he led them toward the city gates.
"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."
The guards stationed at the city gates dared not question Manager Tian. They lowered their heads hastily, withdrawing their tall spears, avoiding eye contact.
With an indifferent expression, Manager Tian carried his belly and walked straight into the city.
Li Mo furrowed his brow. The memories imparted by the Creation Book had now been fully digested, but only bits regarding the Heart Beast Sect remained shallow.
He forced himself to stay alert, carefully observing the streets and alleys of Rong Town.
Rong Town sprawled across the entire mountain peak—its population numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The peculiar nature of immortality led to an incessant growth in the town's inhabitants.
Their bodies were severely decayed and grotesquely distorted. Compared to Niu Village, such rotten bodies would long have rendered labor impossible.
Yet as to whether Rong Town bore any connection to the Heart Beast Sect, Li Mo couldn't say. He could distinctly sense a threatening aura emitting from a few individuals.
He even had the illusion that the townsfolk were utterly unaffected by the Death Disease.
Li Mo raised his gaze toward the mountain summit. The town was divided into inner and outer sections, separated by an inner city wall encircling the ridge.
This layout resembled that of seven thousand years ago—when the Heart Beast Sect too was divided into Outer Disciples and Inner Sect members.
Manager Tian turned into a narrow lane, the children crowding tightly as they followed.
"Hsss…"
Li Mo gasped sharply as his eyes inadvertently caught sight of a Mixed Grain Shop on the street corner. The dormant memories within the Creation Book stirred once more.
[Outer Elixir Room]
The Outer Elixir Room was a place where Outer Disciples of the Heart Beast Sect would receive and refine elixirs. In his memory, the building resembled a jade-like gourd.
The Mixed Grain Shop now, however, was dilapidated, its walls scorched with marks of fire and smoke.
In front of the door, a clerk poured sacks of grain into an iron pot, adding unknown ingredients that turned its contents into a viscous, dark brown mush. A faint burnt odor spread into the air.
"Does this look anything like the Outer Elixir Room?"
Li Mo glanced across the southwestern street. His gaze rested on a desolate Medical Hall.
[Scripture Pavilion]
"Scripture Pavilion?"
The Scripture Pavilion had been where Outer Disciples learned skills and received teachings, while the Medical Hall was responsible for treating illnesses—the two concepts were utterly unrelated.
Li Mo tried peering inside the Medical Hall through its open door, but his view was obstructed by a bamboo screen of Qing Mountain in the main hall.
What surprised him most was that, since entering Rong Town from its gates...
He hadn't seen so much as a single animal or bird. Even in filthy corners, there wasn't a mouse to be found, nor any sparrows resting on the rooftops.
The Heart Beast Sect was once renowned as an ancient sect of the Immortal Realm specializing in Beast Taming. Why had all creatures vanished after seven thousand years?
"Children, we've arrived."
Manager Tian stopped in front of a bustling pawn shop, whose clerks numbered over thirty.
A few clerks appeared to be in their early twenties, likely recruited in recent years—indicative that Rong Town frequently sought apprentices from surrounding villages and towns.
"Greetings, Shopkeeper."
"Good day, Manager Tian."
The clerks dusted off the dirt from Manager Tian's body using cloth rags. However, when they touched his belly, an unusual fear flickered across their faces.
"I have other matters to attend to. Wu Wanfeng will guide them to the backyard for rest."
Without turning back, Manager Tian walked into the pawn shop, leaving the bewildered children outside.
Li Mo stared at the pawn shop's signboard.
According to the Creation Book's information, this location had been [Outer Device Workshop] seven thousand years ago.
The Outer Device Workshop and Outer Elixir Room served similar purposes—the former was for Artifact Refining, the latter for Alchemy.
The night grew darker and hazier. Just as the children began dozing off, a man named Wu Wanfeng, the pawn shop's accountant, finally arrived.
Wu Wanfeng was no older than thirty, yet his lips were entirely rotten, exposing the blackened gums underneath.
He walked hunched over, his spine contorted into a grotesque and deformed curve.
"It's too late tonight; we'll assign apprentices the tasks tomorrow."
The children froze momentarily, then hurriedly stood up and paid their respects.
Wu Wanfeng ignored them, moving toward the side door that connected to the backyard chambers, where a tall ginkgo tree stood.
The pawn shop occupied a sizable lot, but the chambers in this backyard were the most secluded.
Inside the courtyard was a single low-tiled house, its eaves covered in pitch-black mold, surrounded by waist-high weeds—clearly neglected for years.
Ma Ergao hesitated as he walked forward, fumbling with his coin pouch. Nervously, he spoke: "Accountant Wu, could you…"
"You'll be assigned to the workshop's manager; decisions are beyond me as an accountant. Naturally, you'll have a new place to stay when the time comes."
Unbothered, Wu Wanfeng sneered coldly: "The shop's business is demanding. Even though Manager Tian handpicked you, don't expect any special privileges. Best to sleep early."
None of the children dared to speak further. They swarmed inside the chambers.
Calling it a chamber was generous—it resembled a storage room more than anything. The furnishings were meager: a grass mat spread across the floor; a rickety wooden table against one wall.
Near the table legs were several baskets of dry provisions. After rushing through their meals, the children quickly fell asleep, having been exhausted from their journey.
Anxiety lingered naturally, but children of this world matured early; it was common to marry by age ten. Though unfamiliar surroundings could unsettle them, it wouldn't rob them of their composure.
Li Mo listened to the insect chirps in the courtyard, shoving away Zhao Zhu, whose poor sleeping posture took up too much room.
He closed his eyes and focused on distinguishing the sounds of the night.
After the horizon swallowed the last remnants of sunlight, the darkness brought the sudden cries of wild beasts—even though no birds or animals had been seen at all.
Li Mo, despite feeling tired, was more eager to investigate the now-active Creation Book.
Fixing his gaze on the Creation Book within his mind, its mystery unfolded before him.
He processed the information and opened its pages, discovering nine in total—with eight remaining completely blank.
The first page displayed an image of a brain.
Li Mo learned that the Creation Book's pages could bestow him Divine Skills—by consuming a blank page and imprinting it onto one of his organs.
Not just his brain, but even his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, Five Internal Organs, skin, and limbs could be affected.
Li Mo had unknowingly activated the Creation Book earlier. Since it resided within his mind, the first imprinted organ happened to be his brain—granting him the Divine Skill of "memorization."
Different organs would awaken varying Divine Skills.
The ability to access the Creation Book's memory fragments was likely just an incidental benefit of this skill.
As for why the Creation Book contained information about the Heart Beast Sect from seven thousand years ago, Li Mo had no answers.
Alas, the Creation Book's memories were scattered and incomplete, only emerging when Li Mo encountered related objects.
Since he was in Rong Town, the Creation Book naturally revealed details about the Heart Beast Sect.
Li Mo's thoughts surged. If the Heart Beast Sect had left behind any extraordinary treasures, the Creation Book might enable him to seize fortune.
"If I imprint my brain a second time, would it…"
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the Creation Book projected the deduction directly into his consciousness.
A shiver ran down his spine.
If an organ was imprinted repeatedly, a duplicate of the organ would grow—enhancing the power of its Divine Skill correspondingly.
Li Mo couldn't help but chuckle ruefully. Imprinting his brain again would mean growing a second head—practically a precursor to a split personality.
Besides, the blank pages were incredibly rare, their means of replenishment unknown. Any opportunity to imprint had to be carefully deliberated.
Apart from the brain, however, the Five Internal Organs and Six Viscera seemed viable for repeated imprinting. Not only could this bolster Divine Skill power, but it could also strengthen bodily functions.
Li Mo stared at the eight remaining blank pages, struggling to suppress the urge to use them.
Imprinting a vital organ required time for transformation—any abnormalities within his body risked attracting suspicion at the pawn shop. Better to wait until he unraveled the workings of the shop before acting.
He faintly understood that Divine Skills were capable of growth, making prudence all the more crucial.
"If I imprint my heart, could it stabilize my heartbeat?"
"If I imprint my eyes, might I gain uncanny precision?"
"Imprinting my Dantian…"
Li Mo fell asleep without realizing it.