Skull Mountain Envoy

From the Chieftain to the ordinary tribespeople, everyone knelt. Even the white dogs fell silent, sensing the danger in the black wind.

Wu Tian watched as the black wind touched down, revealing a burly man who looked to be in his thirties. He was bare-chested, his bronze-colored skin covered in black tattoos. The interwoven lines formed a lifelike black bear, making him look even more fierce.

"Hahaha, Shan Manmu, long time no see. Do you still remember this old friend of yours?"

When the Chieftain, who had been kneeling on the ground, heard that voice, excitement immediately spread across his face. He instinctively raised his head, looked at the fierce, burly man before him, and cried out, "Man Xiongmu, is that you?"

The burly man known as Man Xiongmu walked over and helped the Chieftain up from the ground. With a sigh of emotion, he said, "Old friend, you've grown old!"

The Chieftain's body trembled with excitement as he gripped Man Xiongmu's arm tightly. "That's right, I've grown old. You're still just as you were before. All these years, you haven't changed at all."

Man Xiongmu shook his head and said wistfully, "How could a person possibly never change?" He did not elaborate. Instead, he turned toward the other tribespeople and said, "Come on, all of you, get up!"

The tribespeople looked at one another, none of them daring to move for the moment.

The Chieftain hurriedly said, "You should all have heard that an honored lord from White Dog Stockade entered Skull Mountain. The person before you is that very lord. He was born in White Dog Stockade as well."

Hearing this, the tribespeople became just as excited. They rose from the ground and gazed at this honored envoy from Skull Mountain with excitement and reverence.

"Man Xiongmu, why are you the one who came this time? The envoys in all those previous years weren't you. I never thought I'd get to see you again." The Chieftain spoke with some excitement.

Man Xiongmu let out a soft sigh. "Life on Skull Mountain is difficult too. Every step along the path of cultivation is fraught with danger. I struggled bitterly for several decades, and finally achieved something in my studies. Only then did I become qualified to descend the mountain."

What he did not say was that within a thousand-mile radius of Skull Mountain, there were eighteen villages, including White Dog Stockade and Crimson Blood Stockade. All of them were territories belonging to Skull Mountain.

Every year, Skull Mountain sent Patrol Envoys to the eighteen villages.

One purpose was to repair the village's warding artifacts, and another was to inspect the mountains for any newly born Monsters.

To Skull Mountain, the eighteen villages and the mountain's spirits and Monsters were all extremely important resources.

Such a task could not be completed by ordinary disciples of Skull Mountain. Only those who had mastered spells, cultivated magical power, and could ride the wind were capable of patrolling a thousand miles.

As they spoke, the old Chieftain suddenly remembered the python they had hunted just yesterday. With a smile, he said, "Man Xiongmu, the stockade hunted a python yesterday that was almost ready to become a spirit. It's just right for eating."

Man Xiongmu had noticed the python meat in the Bronze Ancient Cauldron long ago. He asked with interest, "I noticed it earlier. This big fellow is nothing much to me, but it probably wasn't easy for the stockade to bring it down, was it?"

The old Chieftain looked slightly smug. "Man Xiongmu, you probably wouldn't guess that this python wasn't hunted by the Hunting Team. Another Dog King has appeared in the stockade."

"This giant python was hunted by the Dog King alone."

Man Xiongmu was genuinely surprised this time. His gaze swept over the white dogs nearby, first landing on Silver Frost, but quickly moving away. In the end, he stared straight at Wu Tian.

"Well, would you look at that. Its vital essence is blazing throughout its body, and its eyes are so lively. It can't be far from becoming a spirit!"

He walked over to Wu Tian and examined him closely, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Looks like this is still a puppy. What Natural Treasures did it eat to gain such a fortune? Extraordinary!"

"You little fellow certainly had a great opportunity!"

With him staring at him, Wu Tian felt as though a terrifying giant Monster stood before him. Every hair on his body rose, and the sensation of danger was so intense that he almost turned around and ran.

Seeing how frightened Wu Tian was, Chili Mu forced down her own fear and carefully gathered him into her arms. In a gentle voice, she comforted him, "Be good, White Dragon. Don't be afraid. The honored envoy won't hurt you."

When Man Xiongmu saw the little girl's actions, he could not help laughing. "Don't worry. I won't hurt it."

With that, he said to the Chieftain, "Old friend, let's take care of official business first. We can reminisce after we're done."

"Yes, yes, yes!" the Chieftain hurriedly agreed.

Every time an envoy from Skull Mountain arrived, it was a major event for the stockade, one that concerned the stockade's survival.

Man Xiongmu said, "Old friend, you should know the rules. First, gather all the older children here. I'll cast a spell on this Bronze Ancient Cauldron."

The Chieftain hurriedly nodded in agreement. Then he called out to the children over five years old. He knew every child in the stockade like the back of his hand and had made preparations long ago.

Soon, five children, including Chili Mu, were all called out and stood before the Bronze Ancient Cauldron.

Man Xiongmu did not attend to the five children right away. Instead, he took a blood talisman made of animal hide from his robes.

He muttered an incantation, then pinched the blood talisman between two fingers. Black flames suddenly burned at his fingertips. In just a few breaths, the blood talisman transformed into a streak of blood-colored light and sank into the Bronze Ancient Cauldron.

The Bronze Ancient Cauldron, which had been covered in mottled marks, instantly looked brand-new. At the same time, it gave off an ancient and intimidating aura.

"All right. Now notify the other tribespeople to immediately use the Exorcism Talismans to absorb the cauldron's aura. That will keep them safe for a year." Man Xiongmu stopped his movements and issued the instruction.

The tribespeople of the stockade also began moving one after another. They went through this every year and had long since grown accustomed to it.

Every household had prepared Amulets of Warding in advance. Aside from warding children, some of the images depicted Heavenly Gods or legendary divine beasts.

But none of these Amulets of Warding were actually effective. Only after the envoy from Skull Mountain cast a spell on the Bronze Ancient Cauldron could they absorb the cauldron's aura with the talismans and make them effective at dispersing Yin Souls.

The aura on the Bronze Ancient Cauldron would last for roughly an hour before withdrawing inward. It would then guard the center of the entire stockade, dispersing the Hundred Beast Yin Souls at night and protecting the tribespeople's safety.

While the tribespeople used the Bronze Ancient Cauldron to empower their Exorcism Talismans, Man Xiongmu turned his gaze toward the five children before him.

He said to the children, "In a moment, I'll cast a spell. You must tell me what you see."

The five children nodded in a daze.

Man Xiongmu gave a low shout and formed hand seals with both hands. A black wind immediately emerged around his body and spiraled without end.

Wu Tian had also remained nearby the entire time. As Man Xiongmu cast his spell, he suddenly felt the surrounding essence of Heaven and Earth grow denser. Green halos coiled around the black wind, streaming like bolts of silk and looking exceptionally beautiful.

Chili Mu raised her fair, tender face as well and stared fixedly above the black wind. In a startled voice, she said, "Uncle, why is there fire on top of that black wind? There's so much fire!"

A delighted expression immediately appeared on Man Xiongmu's face. He asked Chili Mu, "You can see fire on the black wind? What else do you see besides the fire?"

Chili Mu shook her head and said timidly, "Uncle, I only see fire. The fire is so big. Will it burn you?"

"Good, good, what a good child." Man Xiongmu was overjoyed. He turned to the other children and asked, "What about you? Did you see anything?"

The other children stared fixedly at the black wind, but aside from the black wind, they saw nothing at all. They could only shake their heads blankly.

Man Xiongmu held on for a little longer before finally dispersing the spell. Yet at some point, beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead. Clearly, casting such a spell was not easy for him either.

"I never thought another child with an Immortal root would appear in the stockade."

"Good, good. You're very good!"

He came before Chili Mu and asked gently, "Good child, tell me, what is your name?"

Chili Mu was somewhat frightened of the burly honored envoy before her. She clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands and said softly, "Uncle, my name is Chili Mu."