Qi Eater

Time flew by. More than three months had passed since Wu Tian awakened Spirit of Wind, and winter had already descended upon the land.

Ever since Wu Tian awakened Spirit of Wind, the Hunting Team's hunts had become much simpler. Through the wind, he could sense information from extremely far away, allowing him to avoid danger and seek out suitable prey.

Thus, the household soon stored up more than enough food.

After a heavy snowfall arrived, the Hunting Team stopped going out as well. In weather like this, it was difficult to make any gains.

At that moment, Wu Tian was hiding atop the tallest ancient tree in the household. His fur was white enough to shine, every strand smooth and lustrous as jade, giving him an indescribable air.

He slowly lowered his eyes and rhythmically swallowed and exhaled his breath. In the cold weather, the heat streaming from his nostrils surged out like a spirit snake, only to quickly dissipate into the air.

One swallow and one exhalation held a marvelous mystery.

He was cultivating Nine Forms of Snake Slaying. More than two months earlier, he had finally gained an initial understanding of this saber art and entered its threshold.

Snake Slaying Saber was entirely different from hunting skills. Hunting was the most suitable killing technique for a white dog, while the core of Snake Slaying Saber lay in breathing.

By using his breath to mobilize the strength of his body, he could twist that strength into a single force. When Blade Light flashed, his power condensed into one line; even a snake's tough yet flexible body would be severed by a single slash.

Using breathing to control his own strength with ever greater precision and subtlety—this was the foundation of Snake Slaying Saber.

As for the forms, they worked in coordination with breathing, one internal and one external, tempering and refining his control over strength.

All of Wu Tian's other skills had already reached perfection, so he devoted nearly all his energy to Snake Slaying Saber.

By a month ago, whether he was walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, he no longer stopped using Breathing Technique. He had practically fused it into every movement he made.

After the heavy snow the previous day, he had not returned all night, as though he had fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment. On this ancient tree, he swallowed and exhaled, seemingly about to melt into the wind.

At some unknown point, the wind began to blow. The cold gusts swept the snow from the branches and brushed against his fur, sending a chill surging toward him.

Yet Wu Tian did not feel the slightest cold. Instead, he slowly opened his eyes, joy appearing in his pupils.

Ding, system notification: Your skill Nine Forms of Snake Slaying has reached perfection and can awaken as a talent. Please choose one of the following three talents.

Option One, Sharp Claws: Your claws will become sharper, and you will gain a certain increase in strength.

Option Two, Iron Lungs: Your breathing will become more prolonged, your stamina will increase greatly, and your vitality will improve to a certain extent.

Option Three, Qi Eater: Through breathing, you will be able to swallow and exhale an extremely scarce form of the world's vital essence.

The first talent had also been unearthed through hunting skills before. Clearly, some skills could unearth the same talent.

The second talent bore a certain resemblance to the regeneration talent, but was better suited to stamina and endurance.

As for the third talent...

This time, Wu Tian did not hesitate in the slightest. He directly chose Option Three. Whether in myths and legends or folk tales, whether they were the legendary immortals or the spirits and monsters in stories, they all shared one common trait.

They could all eat qi!

Immortals ate qi and abstained from grain, while spirits and monsters swallowed the essence of the sun and moon to become demons.

In every legend, eating qi was the beginning of transcendence.

Wu Tian had never imagined that Snake Slaying Saber could unearth such a talent. This was enough to set him on the path of transcendence.

With a thought, the System Panel appeared before his eyes.

Name: Wu Tian

Age: 2

Bloodline: Southern Border White Dog

Talents: Poison Swallowing 60% (Beginner) Agility 30% (Beginner) Spirit of Wind 30% Qi Eater 1% (Beginner)

Skills: Hunting 100%, Wind Listening 100%, Nine Forms of Snake Slaying 100%

With four beginner talents and three perfected skills, Wu Tian's strength had already caught up to Silver Frost's.

"Silver Frost should have awakened Sharp Claws and Agility, and it has also gained an initial level of Spiritual Communication. Its Hunting and Wind Listening skills should have reached perfection as well."

"But now, I've already begun to surpass it..."

Wu Tian silently assessed his own strength. The gap between him and Silver Frost was not large. It was only the Spirit of Wind talent that had greatly improved his ability to survive in the forest.

"Silver Frost and I are basically on the same level, equivalent to spirits and monsters on the verge of becoming demons. Although I'm still no match for that Bear Demon, I've already surpassed ordinary ferocious birds and beasts."

During this period, he had used the talent Spirit of Wind to investigate the surroundings of the household. Apart from the Bear Demon in Black Fish Lake to the east, he had discovered a python that had become a demon, a Purple-tailed Sable that had become a demon, and more than a dozen ferocious beasts nearing that level.

"The people in the household divide the living creatures of the wilderness and forest into three tiers according to strength: ferocious birds and beasts, spirits and monsters, and demons."

"Although ferocious birds and beasts are terrifying, they can be hunted as long as preparations are made."

"But the creatures nearing demonhood are creatures the Hunting Team does not wish to provoke. Although they were confident of killing them, they would inevitably pay a bloody price, and their clansmen might very well lose their lives."

"As for those that have become spirits and monsters, the Hunting Team has to avoid them. If they encounter one despite having no choice, even Jade Centipede can only make such spirits and monsters somewhat wary."

"As for demons, they are existences capable of slaughtering ordinary people with ease. Even Jade Centipede is completely useless against them."

"My current strength is close to that of a spirit or monster, but I'm still lingering outside the threshold. In other words, I haven't become one yet."

As Wu Tian pondered, he activated his newly acquired Qi Eater talent. As the talent circulated, he swallowed and exhaled through his mouth and nose, and white mist immediately coiled around them like a spirit snake.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, he felt a thread of cool energy enter through his mouth and nose, pass through his throat, and sink into his body.

The sensation was indescribably refreshing. Every strand of fur across his body was filled with joy that originated from his bloodline.

"Is this Qi Eater?"

"Is that wisp of clear energy the world's vital essence described on the system interface?"

White mist streamed from Wu Tian's mouth as his mind sank into immense joy. "As long as I keep eating qi, sooner or later I'll become a spirit or monster, and then gradually become a demon..."

He did not want to waste even a moment. He continued swallowing and exhaling without pause, but after roughly half an hour, pain arose between his brows, and he involuntarily stopped eating qi.

"Looks like eating qi isn't as simple as breathing. It consumes mental strength. I have to rest for a while and recover before I can continue."

Just then, he heard a call carried on the wind.

"White Dragon, White Dragon, where are you?"

"That was Chili Mu's voice!" Upon hearing the little girl's voice, Wu Tian immediately leaped down from the ancient tree. When he was about to hit the ground, he thrust out his supple claws, dispersing the force of gravity, and landed lightly on the ground.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

He let out several barks, then ran toward the place where the little girl's cries had come from.

In this world, only Chili Mu truly cared about him, even treating him as a companion rather than a pet.

He had not returned last night. The little girl must have been worried sick.

At the thought of Chili Mu's tender little face, the softest place in Wu Tian's heart was touched. He raced through the snow like a streak of white light, moving at astonishing speed.

Before long, he found the little girl. With a light leap, he landed precisely in her arms.

"White Dragon, where did you run off to? Do you know how worried I was?"

"Ah, you're so cold, you little rascal..."

"Hee-hee!"

It turned out that Wu Tian's snow-covered fur had brushed against Chili Mu's fair neck. The icy touch and soft fur made the little girl unable to stop herself from letting out a laugh like silver bells.

"White Dragon, don't be naughty. It's freezing outside. Hurry and come home with me."

Chili Mu hugged Wu Tian tightly, afraid the cold wind would make him sick, though her own little hands and nose had already been frozen bright red.

"Let's hurry home."

Wu Tian seemingly carelessly draped his tail over Chili Mu's hand, using his fur to bring her a trace of warmth.

"White Dragon, Chieftain said that in a few days, after the snow melts, the lord envoy from Skull Mountain will come to the household."

"When the time comes, the lord envoy will examine our aptitudes. Those who are chosen will be able to become immortal youths."

"Grandpa told me so many things and taught me all sorts of rules. Do you think I'll be chosen?"

"But I don't want to leave the household. I can't bear to leave Grandpa, and I can't bear to leave you either..."

The cold wind howled, lifting snow across the ground, and gradually burying the girl and the dog together in the boundless white.