Law Transmission Hall

"Skull Mountain has eight halls and thirty-six caves. The thirty-six caves are prime cultivation spots, carved within the mountain itself, and generally only elders are qualified to reside in them."

"My Qiyun Cave is one of the thirty-six caves."

"The eight halls, including the Hall Master White Bone Hall, are the eight main halls. Most matters for disciples, such as cultivation, going out, seeking Dharma, and refining treasures, are handled by the eight halls."

"Ever since I forged my cauldron body and began refining Dharma, I've been qualified to go down the mountain to patrol. This time, I'm returning to the mountain after accepting a mission from the Mountain Patrol Hall, and I need to hand over my Token Flag first."

"Furthermore, bringing fierce beasts and monsters back to the mountain requires registration at the Mountain Patrol Hall. Otherwise, without your Token Flag and without Tongyou Qi in your possession, the Mountain Protection Formation will immediately activate and turn you into a puddle of blood."

After Man Xiongmu brought Wu Tian into the mountain gate, they hurried along. They encountered other disciples of the sect along the way, but everyone was basically in a hurry. Occasionally, someone's gaze would sweep over Wu Tian, but there was no unusual reaction.

He wasn't even a monster yet, at most he was just a White Dog filled with vital energy, not yet worthy of a cultivator's attention.

Before long, Man Xiongmu brought Wu Tian to a large hall. The plaque above the hall was inscribed with the words "Mountain Patrol." The hall was spacious, with pavilions behind it, an ancient design, and inscribed with many incantations, exuding a solemn aura.

There were three stewards presiding in the hall, each with their own responsibilities.

Man Xiongmu first went to a steward to return the Token Flag. The Token Flag was not only proof of entry and exit from the mountain, but his patrol experience would also be meticulously recorded within it.

"Patrolling the Eighteen Villages, you have earned ten Minor Merits."

"Discovering two spiritual children, you have earned twenty Minor Merits."

The steward spoke, his fingertips flowing with pháp quang, and he inscribed three incantations on Man Xiongmu's Identity Plaque, recording his merits.

"Thank you, Steward." Man Xiongmu retrieved his waist token and then led Wu Tian to another steward to register him.

This time, it was even simpler. Wu Tian had not yet become a monster, only a mortal beast. After registration, the steward took out a Bronze Bell inscribed with incantations. A slight shake of it produced a ding-dong sound.

"Hang this Bronze Bell on it, and you can move around within the sect. Never lose it."

"If this Bronze Bell is lost, the formation will activate, and you'll likely be turned into a puddle of blood and have your Yin soul extracted immediately."

Man Xiongmu thanked the steward for the reminder. He drew a strand of Yin Soul Silk from his Hundred Beast Banner, threaded the Bronze Bell onto it, and hung it around Wu Tian's neck.

"Alright, White Dragon, let's go!"

After a flurry of activity, everything was finally settled.

Man Xiongmu wasted no further time and led Wu Tian towards Qiyun Cave.

Qiyun Cave was located on the northwest side of the peak of Skull Mountain. The area outside the cave was barren, with only a dozen or so solitary black bamboo trees. However, every sunset, when the clouds filled the sky, clouds and mist would also rise within the cave. In particular, there was a stone platform inside the cave that, perhaps due to being enveloped by clouds and mist for thousands of years, offered a unique profoundness during cultivation.

It was precisely because of this special location that a cultivation cave dwelling was established here, named Qiyun Cave.

Man Xiongmu and Wu Tian flew with the wind. As they landed outside Qiyun Cave, Man Xiongmu couldn't help but sigh in relief, a smile appearing on his face.

"This trip out, though it had minor setbacks, everything went smoothly in the end. We're finally home."

He pointed to the ancient cave ahead and smiled at Wu Tian, "White Dragon, this is Qiyun Cave. You'll be cultivating here with me for some time to come."

Wu Tian looked around. Because the peak of Skull Mountain had been refined by the great magic power of the senior ancestors, ordinary plants and trees, apart from special spiritual roots, could not grow in the mountain crevices.

Therefore, the area outside the cave looked bare, with only a dozen black bamboo trees rooted outside the cave entrance. Even Qiyun Cave was carved into the mountainside and sealed with a stone door, appearing very unremarkable.

Although Wu Tian felt it was very different from what he imagined a cultivation place to be, he wasn't disappointed. The reason he came up the mountain was simply to obtain advanced cultivation methods; he had never expected to gain any cultivation resources.

At this moment, Man Xiongmu walked to the stone door, and it immediately opened wide.

Wu Tian followed him inside. He felt that the cave was not as dark as he had imagined. The interior was spacious, and lotus lanterns were arranged on the stone walls. The oil for the lamps was made of something unknown, and when lit, it emitted a faint fragrance.

On a table in the cave, a pearl about the size of a fist was enshrined. The pearl flowed with colorful light, making the entire cave dwelling clearly visible.

After they entered the cave, the stone door behind them closed. However, with the lotus lanterns and the pearl, it was still like daylight, only slightly dimmer.

The layout of the cave seemed like a reception hall. Behind it was another stone door, which was likely the cultivation area.

Man Xiongmu sat down on a stone chair in the cave, grabbed the teapot on the table, and without regard for how old the tea was, poured a full bowl and drank it down in large gulps.

After drinking, he let out a long breath, his tone much more relaxed.

"White Dragon, behind this cave dwelling, there are three cultivation rooms, one alchemical and artifact room, one storage room, and this hall. Although it's not large, it's completely sufficient for cultivation."

"However, there are two inconveniences for you here."

"The first is that there is no water in the cave. When I joined the sect, my master taught me the Cloud Water Spell, which can gather clouds and mist to draw water myself."

"The second is that there are no grains and cereals in the cave. When I joined the sect, my master had me plant a Bitter Bamboo outside the cave. This bamboo, watered by the Wind Spirit, can grow three feet a day. Its leaves are bitter but can fill the stomach, and its nodes can be drawn into silk to make banners."

"The dozen or so black bamboo trees you saw outside the cave entrance are what the disciples of Qiyun Cave have planted throughout the generations."

"Therefore, the Tongyou Spell, Cloud Water Spell, and Gather Wind Spell are the mandatory introductory Dharma methods for our Qiyun Cave lineage."

"However..."

Man Xiongmu paused slightly at this point, saying with some helplessness, "Under normal circumstances, spiritual children are supposed to cultivate in the Law Transmission Hall after entering the sect. Only after forging Tongyou Qi can they formally become disciples."

"The Law Transmission Hall is filled with newly initiated disciples. They naturally provide food and drink, and also teach various Taoist scriptures and texts, teaching literacy to lay the foundation for future cultivation."

"I was only able to cultivate the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell after I forged Tongyou Qi. You cannot cultivate them yet."

"I also need to go into seclusion for cultivation daily, so I can't possibly find ways to solve your food and drink issues every day. Therefore, you can only go to the Law Transmission Hall."

"I will speak to the disciples at the Law Transmission Hall, and they will provide you with some food."

"However, Feitianyun and Guduo are also at the Law Transmission Hall. Especially since Moyun Village has seven or eight people at the Law Transmission Hall, and you've had conflicts with them before, you might be bullied by them."

"I am only in the initial stage of Dharma refinement, and my status in the sect is not high. I don't have much influence at the Law Transmission Hall."

He said with some helplessness, "So, try to avoid them as much as possible. Go to the Law Transmission Hall once in the morning and once in the evening. After you've eaten your fill, return promptly."

"Once you forge Tongyou Qi, I can teach you the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell, and then you won't have to go to the Law Transmission Hall anymore."