Hidden Sword Cave

"Master, can I bring White Dragon儿 with me up the mountain?" Chili Mu quickly hugged Wu Tian and looked at the Woman in Red with pleading eyes.

She could also feel the mystery and extraordinary nature of her master, speaking very carefully.

The Woman in Red's gaze fell on Wu Tian, and she said in a flat tone, "Your vital energy is abundant, and Wind Spirits surround you. Although your bloodline is ordinary, you possess quite a bit of talent."

"While you're not exactly a rare bird or exotic beast, since you've managed to learn the Tongyou Spell and are making steady progress, you're clearly quite intelligent."

"With such talent, if you can avoid falling into greed and killing, there's hope you can become a spirit beast..."

Upon hearing this, Man Xiongmu's eyes flickered, "Tongyou Spell?"

He was somewhat surprised. Although Chili Mu was taught by him back then, and this White Dog was also present, he truly hadn't expected this little fellow to be able to cultivate the Tongyou Spell to an introductory level.

This meant that White Dragon had talent. Whether it could become a demon was uncertain, but at the very least, becoming a monster was not a problem.

A White Dog becoming a spirit was a rare occurrence.

Wu Tian was also a bit nervous at this moment. The Woman in Red's decision would directly affect his future development.

"My sect is a major orthodox sect of the Central Plains. We do accept spirit beasts, but you are not yet qualified..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Tian's heart sank. Chili Mu held him even tighter, unwilling to let go.

Seeing this, Man Xiongmu couldn't help but sigh and advised, "Little Chili Mu, obediently listen to your master. When your cultivation is complete, you can come back to see it..."

He was afraid Chili Mu, not understanding the situation, would offend the Woman in Red.

Chili Mu's eyes were almost tearful. She bit her lip slightly, unable to let go.

Wu Tian's heart was also filled with struggle. Should he leap down now, break free from Chili Mu, and fulfill her immortal destiny, or should he rely on his bond with Chili Mu and try to fight for another chance?

Just as he hesitated, the Woman in Red spoke again.

"Considering your unbreakable bond with my disciple, I can permit you to cultivate on Skull Mountain. I will issue a decree. Whether you can achieve the status of a spirit beast will depend on your own fortune and destiny."

After speaking, she looked at Man Xiongmu, "Since it was born in this village and has some connection with you, I will leave this matter to you to handle."

As soon as her voice fell, she waved her hand, scattering a golden ray of light. It swept up Chili Mu and transformed into a golden rainbow, heading towards Skull Mountain.

Only Man Xiongmu was left to handle the aftermath...

Skull Mountain is a spiritual mountain on the outskirts of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains in the Southern Territory. The terrain here is peculiar, with a southern exposure and northern shade. Deep underground lies a ten-thousand-year-old fire vein. After countless years of seismic activity, it has formed fire apertures within Skull Mountain.

These fire apertures are not yet conspicuous. Only amidst the trees on the mountainside, where streams converge, has a hot spring formed.

However, if this fire vein cannot be suppressed and eliminated, it will eventually erupt, turning the surrounding thousand miles into scorched earth, causing the extinction of billions of lives and countless deaths.

The Woman in Red was originally an elder of the Taiqing Temple, a major sect of the Central Plains, named Zhu Yushuang. Due to excessive killing, she violated the sect rules and was punished to go to the Southern Territory to suppress the fire vein and accumulate merit.

She herself cultivated the path of gold and fire. If she could successfully suppress the fire vein, not only would she accumulate external merit, but it would also greatly benefit her cultivation. Upon completion, she might even be able to manifest a Dharma form and achieve the realm of a Corpse-Ascended Immortal.

Therefore, she resided on Skull Mountain in the Southern Territory for sixty years. With her here, Skull Mountain, which had been reckless and almost degenerated into a demonic sect, had become increasingly tranquil and well-behaved, like disciples of the orthodox path. They had completely forgotten their arrogance of raising demonic beasts, devouring human flesh, and rampaging through the forests in previous years.

In recent years, she had built a hermitage by the hot spring on the mountainside of Skull Mountain. This place had become a forbidden zone on Skull Mountain, and neither humans nor monsters dared to approach.

Man Xiongmu's intrusion into this forbidden zone was a life-threatening risk, as no one could predict her temper. As someone who had already condensed their Primordial Spirit and was known as a Corpse-Ascended Immortal, even killing him casually would go unnoticed.

Zhu Yushuang had a solitary personality and employed ruthless methods. She always dealt with heretics and evildoers with thunderous force, earning a fearsome reputation in the Central Plains and the Eastern Sea, making countless heretics grit their teeth in hatred but also fear her like a tiger.

She was originally in seclusion, suppressing the fire vein. She naturally disliked outsiders approaching. However, in recent years, while suppressing the fire vein, her Primordial Spirit had merged with heaven and earth, allowing her to comprehend the Great Dao and gradually gain some insights. Her temperament had also become slightly more restrained and steady.

It was only then that she used a Primordial Spirit avatar to summon Man Xiongmu before her and inquire about his intentions.

When she heard Man Xiongmu say that a cultivator with an astonishing immortal root had appeared in the village below, she scoffed. With over a hundred thousand people in the eighteen villages of the Miao Territory, and in such a desolate region, what astonishing talent could there be?

However, after hearing Man Xiongmu's description, she became somewhat surprised and uncertain, considering a certain possibility. But she was currently in deep seclusion, her true body suppressing the fire vein and her Primordial Spirit merged with heaven and earth, unable to disengage.

This caused a delay. Only when the underground fire vein was slightly smoothed out, allowing her to withdraw some power, did she impatiently send out her Primordial Spirit and descend the mountain on her magic sword.

After dealing with the matters in White Dog Stockade, she immediately urged her sword light and returned to the fire aperture in the mountains.

The sword light descended from the sky, manifesting Zhu Yushuang and Chili Mu.

Chili Mu was somewhat dazed. She only felt a flash of golden light before her eyes and before she could react, she had already left the village and arrived in this unfamiliar forest.

Zhu Yushuang gently took her hand, gradually calming the flustered and apprehensive young girl.

Chili Mu looked around. She found that the trees here were lush, but birds and beasts were very scarce. There were no traces of poisonous insects or snakes. Especially not far ahead, a hot spring emitted steam in the chilling early spring, making her eyes light up.

Zhu Yushuang said nothing and pulled Chili Mu forward. When they reached the hot spring, she took a step forward.

Chili Mu didn't understand her master's intentions but dared not resist. Coupled with the warmth from the hand holding hers, she felt reassured and followed, taking a step forward.

The next moment, the world spun. The hot spring she had just seen had transformed into an ancient cave shrouded in shimmering light. A stone door sealed the entrance, inscribed with the three ancient characters "Hidden Sword Cave."

Although Chili Mu didn't understand calligraphy, the moment she saw those characters, her body suddenly tensed. She felt as if the strokes were like bone seams chiseled by knives and axes, sending a chill through her entire body, as if she were about to be cleaved by a sword.

"This is where I meditate and forge swords. When you reach the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation stage and begin to forge your cauldron, I will teach you the methods to enter and exit. At that time, you can travel outside."

Chili Mu nodded and was led into the cave dwelling by Zhu Yushuang. The stone door of the cave dwelling boomed open, and immediately fiery clouds surged out, accompanied by cracking thunder and roaring dragons, along with rumbling sounds that made one hesitant to approach.

Seeing this, Chili Mu pursed her lips slightly, feeling a little nervous.

Zhu Yushuang did not stop but said calmly, "It's just that the swords I forged are still fierce and haven't been subdued. The fire energy is escaping the furnace, it's nothing."

"You have the Li Fire Dao Body. Cultivating here will be very beneficial to you."

"Let's go!"

Master and disciple joined hands and entered the cave dwelling. Their figures, one large and one small, disappeared as the stone door boomed shut.

Meanwhile, at the White Dog Stockade below the mountain, Wu Tian felt a sense of loss. Although he wanted to rely on his feelings for Chili Mu to enter Skull Mountain, his feelings for the little girl were also genuine.

During this time, the two had depended on each other. One was lonely and helpless, the other a wandering soul from another world. They had long since become companions who relied on each other.

Every night, Chili Mu would use a wooden bucket to wash his fur and then hold him in her arms to sleep.

Now that the little girl had suddenly left, Wu Tian felt as if a large part of his heart was empty.

Fortunately, his disposition was steady, and he quickly regained his composure.

"No matter what, I've finally entered Skull Mountain. Since we're in the same mountain, we'll meet again someday."

He looked up at Man Xiongmu, acting very well-behaved and not growling.

From now on, the person he depended on was gone. From now on, he could only rely on himself.

Man Xiongmu looked at him and let out a sigh, "Bringing you up the mountain, I truly don't know if it's a blessing or a curse..."

He shook his head and said no more, simply using the black wind to lift himself and Wu Tian.

"Forget it. As for what happens in the future, it depends on your fate!"

With that, the black wind swept up the man and the dog, heading towards Skull Mountain.

Something came up today, so I'm posting a bit late. I hope everyone will continue to support me with your reads. Thank you!