Law Transmission Hall

"Skull Mountain had eight halls and thirty-six caves. The thirty-six caves were excellent cultivation abodes, carved directly into the mountain itself. Basically, only elders were qualified to live in them."

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

"As for the Eight Halls, they included the Hall Master White Bone Hall and the other seven main halls. The various affairs of the sect's disciples—cultivation, traveling outside, seeking instruction, refining treasures, and so on—were basically all handled by the Eight Halls."

"After forging my cauldron body and beginning Law Refining, I became qualified to descend the mountain and conduct patrols. This time, I came down to carry out a mission from the Mountain Patrol Hall. Now that I've returned, I have to go there first and return my Token Flag."

"Also, bringing fierce beasts and spirit monsters back to the mountain requires registering and recording them at the Mountain Patrol Hall. Otherwise, once you're separated from the Token Flag, since you don't yet possess Tongyou Qi, the Mountain Protection Formation will activate immediately and turn you into a pool of bloody sludge."

After Man Xiongmu led Wu Tian through the mountain gate, they hurried onward. They encountered other disciples of the sect along the way, but everyone was coming and going in a rush. Occasionally, someone's gaze swept over Wu Tian, but no one showed the slightest unusual reaction.

He wasn't even a spirit monster yet. At most, he was merely a white dog with abundant vital essence, not worthy of a cultivator's notice.

Before long, Man Xiongmu brought Wu Tian to a grand hall. The words "Mountain Patrol" were engraved on its plaque. The hall was spacious, with towers behind it. Its design was simple and ancient, and numerous spells were engraved across it, filling the place with a solemn atmosphere.

Three stewards presided over the hall, each with their own duties.

Man Xiongmu first went to one of the stewards to return the Token Flag. The Token Flag was not only proof of his right to enter and leave the mountain gate; the details of his patrol would also be recorded in it.

"Patrolling the Eighteen Villages earns ten Minor Merit points."

"Discovering two spirit children earns twenty Minor Merit points."

The steward spoke as magical light flowed around his fingertips. He drew three spells across the Identity Plaque Man Xiongmu had handed over, recording his Merit points.

"Thank you, Steward." Man Xiongmu took back his plaque, then led Wu Tian to another steward to register and record him.

This time, it was even simpler. Wu Tian had not yet become a spirit monster and was merely an ordinary beast. After registering him, the steward took out a Bronze Bell engraved with spells and gave it a slight shake, producing a clear jingle.

"Hang this Bronze Bell on it. Then it can move about within the sect. Whatever you do, don't lose it."

"If this Bronze Bell is lost and the formation activates, it'll probably turn into a pool of bloody sludge immediately, with its Yin Soul drawn out."

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.

"All right, White Dragon, let's go!"

After all that fuss, everything was finally settled.

Man Xiongmu no longer delayed and led Wu Tian toward Qiyun Cave.

Qiyun Cave was on the northwestern side of Skull Mountain's summit. No plants grew outside the cave; only a dozen or so solitary black bamboo stalks stood there. Yet whenever the sun set, clouds and rosy light filled the sky, and mist rose within the cave. In particular, a stone platform inside had perhaps been steeped in the clouds and rosy light for hundreds or thousands of years, giving it an extraordinary mystique during cultivation.

It was precisely because of this special environment that a cultivation abode had been carved out here and named Qiyun Cave.

Man Xiongmu carried Wu Tian through the air on the wind. When they descended outside Qiyun Cave, Man Xiongmu couldn't help but sigh in relief, and a smile appeared on his face.

"This outing had a few twists and turns, but everything went smoothly in the end. I'm finally home."

He pointed at the ancient cave ahead and smiled at Wu Tian. "White Dragon, this is Qiyun Cave. For the period ahead, you'll be cultivating here with me."

Wu Tian looked around. Since the summit of Skull Mountain had been refined by the great magic power of the founding ancestors, ordinary plants could not grow among the cracks in the mountain rocks, aside from special spirit roots.

As a result, the area outside the cave looked barren. Only a dozen or so black bamboo stalks had taken root outside the entrance. Even Qiyun Cave had merely been carved into the mountain rock and sealed with a Stone Gate, making it seem extremely inconspicuous.

Although Wu Tian felt that this place was very different from the cultivation grounds he had imagined, he was not disappointed. He had come up the mountain only in the hope of obtaining a path to improve himself; he had never expected to receive any cultivation resources.

At that moment, Man Xiongmu walked up to the Stone Gate, and it immediately swung open.

Wu Tian followed him inside. He found that the cave was not as dark as he had imagined. It was spacious, and lotus lamps had been arranged along the stone walls. He did not know what the lamp oil was made from, but when it burned, it gave off a faint fragrance.

On a table inside the cave sat a fist-sized luminous pearl. Radiance like rosy clouds flowed across its surface, making the entire abode brightly visible.

Once they entered the cave, the Stone Gate behind them closed. Yet with the lotus lamps and the luminous pearl, it remained as bright as daylight, merely somewhat dimmer.

The cave's layout resembled a reception hall. There was another Stone Gate at the rear, which should lead to the actual cultivation area.

Man Xiongmu sat down on a stone chair, grabbed the teapot from the table, and without caring how long the tea had been sitting there, poured himself a full bowl and gulped it down.

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

"White Dragon, there are three cultivation rooms at the back of this abode, one alchemy-and-artifact room, and one storage room. Along with this reception hall, it isn't very large, but it's more than sufficient for cultivation."

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

"First, there's no water in the cave. When I joined the sect, my master taught me the Cloud Water Spell, which can gather clouds and mist and draw water on its own."

"Second, there are no grains or other food in the cave. When I joined the sect, my master had me plant a Bitter Bamboo outside the entrance. Nourished by wind spirit energy, this bamboo can grow three feet in a single day. Its leaves taste bitter, but they can fill the stomach, while its joints can be drawn into strands and made into banners."

"The dozen or so black bamboo stalks you saw outside the entrance were planted by the successive disciples of Qiyun Cave."

"Therefore, the Tongyou Spell, Cloud Water Spell, and Gather Wind Spell are the essential techniques that every disciple of our Qiyun Cave lineage must cultivate upon joining."

"However..."

Man Xiongmu paused slightly at this point and said helplessly, "Ordinarily, after spirit children join the sect, they must cultivate at the Law Transmission Hall. Only after refining Tongyou Qi can they take a master."

"The Law Transmission Hall is filled with disciples who have just joined the sect. Naturally, it provides food and drink, and it also teaches various Daoist scriptures, classics, and written language, laying the foundation for their future cultivation."

"I was only able to cultivate the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell after refining Tongyou Qi. You can't cultivate them yet."

"I also need to enter secluded cultivation regularly. It's impossible for me to think of ways to solve your food problem every day, so you can only go to the Law Transmission Hall."

"I'll speak with the disciples at the Law Transmission Hall. When the time comes, they'll provide you with some food."

"But Feitianyun and Guduo are also at the Law Transmission Hall now. In particular, there are seven or eight people from Moyun Village there. You previously had a conflict with them, so I'm afraid they may bully you."

"I've only just entered the Law Refining Realm, so my status in the sect isn't very high. I don't have much say at the Law Transmission Hall either."

His tone was somewhat helpless. "So try to avoid them every day. Go to the Law Transmission Hall once in the morning and once in the evening, and return promptly after filling your stomach."

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