For a full hour, Man Xiongmu imparted the Dark Cloud Qi Circulation Diagram to Wu Tian without holding anything back. Only after confirming that Wu Tian had memorized it completely did he stop.
"You must study this Qi Circulation Diagram every day and master it thoroughly. When you undergo Meridian Opening, you'll be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"Besides that, I'll teach you the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell as well. Once you've mastered these two spells, you won't need to go to the Law Transmission Hall anymore."
With that, he demonstrated the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell once each.
The Cloud Water Spell could gather the essence of water between heaven and earth and transform it into a dark cloud. With a point of the finger, droplets of water would rain down.
The Gather Wind Spell was even simpler. It consisted of only fifty-eight ancient sounds, and with a sweep of the sleeve, it could whip up a fierce gale.
Wu Tian had only watched twice before recording both spells into the System Panel.
After handing Wu Tian a Bitter Bamboo seed, Man Xiongmu returned to the secluded cultivation room.
Wu Tian bit the seed in his mouth and planted it in a crack between the stones outside the Cave Mansion. Then he activated the Cloud Water Spell. As he recited the seventy-four ancient sounds one by one, the essence of water between heaven and earth immediately began to gather.
Before long, it transformed into a dark cloud, hovering three feet above Wu Tian's head. Soon, droplets began to fall. Unfortunately, they came only in a sparse drizzle. After merely a dozen breaths, the cloud dispersed.
Wu Tian then cast the Gather Wind Spell. A fierce wind swept past, not only causing the seed to take root and sprout, but also making the leaves and branches of the dozen or so Bitter Bamboo plants beside it rustle loudly as they suddenly shot upward by another section.
"Sure enough, it's a spirit seed. It's different from ordinary bamboo."
The ordinary mountain wind could not make these bamboo plants grow. Only spell-wind infused with the essence of wind could make Bitter Bamboo grow taller.
"After entering the Qi Nourishing Realm, eating grains and other common food will increase the turbid qi in my body, which is unfavorable to cultivation. That's why Man Xiongmu told me to start eating these Bitter Bamboo leaves after entering the Qi Nourishing Realm."
"After daybreak, I'll have to make another trip to the dining hall. Consider it a farewell."
Wu Tian sprang up, bit several tender leaves from a Bitter Bamboo stalk, and immediately a bitter taste mixed with the scent of bamboo spread through the air, making his eyes nearly squeeze shut.
"So bitter..."
"No wonder they say Bitter Bamboo leaves can clear the mind and focus the spirit. When they're this bitter, how could anyone still think about all sorts of messy things?"
He endured the bitterness and swallowed the bamboo leaves. Before long, he felt his stomach swell, and the slightest hunger vanished.
"Forget it. For the sake of cultivation, I can only swallow this bitter medicine."
Wu Tian calmed his mind and began pondering his skills. He now had four spells to cultivate: the Fire Pupil Curse, Thunder Sound Curse, Cloud Water Spell, and Gather Wind Spell.
Once he had formed Tongyou Qi, he no longer needed to wait for sunrise to cultivate even the Fire Pupil Curse. He only needed to use Tongyou Qi to draw in the essence of fire. Of course, if he could swallow the purple qi of the rising sun, the effect would be even better.
"First, I'll try cultivating all four spells once. With Tongyou Qi, casting them should be completely different from before."
"I just cast the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell. Next, I'll try the Fire Pupil Curse and Thunder Sound Curse."
Wu Tian circulated his cultivation method and cultivated the two spells one after another, carefully observing the acupoints within his body.
"The Thunder Sound Curse is the most effective at cleansing the turbid qi in my body, several times better than the other spells."
"The Fire Pupil Curse comes next, followed by the Gather Wind Spell. The Cloud Water Spell is the least effective."
He then adjusted and experimented with the order in which he cast the spells. Before he knew it, a whole night had passed.
"Cast the Thunder Sound Curse first, then the Fire Pupil Curse, followed by the Cloud Water Spell, and finally the Gather Wind Spell. That produces the best effect."
Wu Tian discovered that after casting the Fire Pupil Curse, immediately casting the Cloud Water Spell caused its effect in cleansing turbid qi to be no weaker than that of the Fire Pupil Curse. He did not understand the mystery behind it, but guessed it was related to the attributes of water and fire.
"The Tongyou Spell is no longer useful for my cultivation. My main task now is to open the seventy-two acupoints as soon as possible and begin cultivating the Qi Circulation Diagram."
"From now on, my cultivation will consist of the four spells and opening my acupoints."
"At my current pace, opening my acupoints shouldn't take too long."
Wu Tian sank his mind and cast the four spells in turn. After each cycle, the turbid qi in his body would stir, and he would seize the opportunity to open his acupoints. Once the turbid qi settled again, he would cast the spells anew.
This was the little trick Man Xiongmu had taught him: cultivate the spells first, then open the acupoints. It could slightly increase the efficiency of opening them.
"But I feel that opening my acupoints after casting the spells is much more effective. It's nothing like the 'better than nothing' Man Xiongmu described."
After cultivating through several cycles, Wu Tian noticed the difference. "It must be the effect of the Thunder Sound Curse. The high-grade spells taught by that senior really are extraordinary."
"If that's the case, I'll probably be able to open my acupoints much faster than expected."
He cast the four spells in turn, then opened his acupoints, repeating the cycle over and over. Before he knew it, another night had passed.
Wu Tian felt exceptionally weary in mind and spirit, but under the tempering of the four spells, his Tongyou Qi had grown purer and purer. Moreover, he was now swallowing the essence of water, fire, wind, and thunder. Compared to the pure essence of wind he had absorbed before, the effect was even better.
When the rising sun first appeared, he used the Fire Pupil Curse to swallow a wisp of purple qi from the morning sun, then stopped circulating his cultivation method. Although the Fire Pupil Curse lacked the Thunder Sound Curse's wondrous ability to cleanse turbid qi, every time he swallowed purple qi, his eyes felt warm, and a current of warmth flowed straight into his spiritual platform.
Although he had cultivated all night and his mind and spirit were exhausted, he felt much more refreshed now.
"This Fire Pupil Spell can nourish the spirit..."
"The Thunder Sound Curse and Fire Pupil Spell each have their own wonders. They're far beyond what the Cloud Water Spell and Gather Wind Spell can compare to."
Wu Tian increasingly felt the immense difference between what that senior had taught him and the inheritance of Skull Mountain.
"That senior said that within ten years, once my Cauldron Body was perfected and I transformed into human form, he could take me back to the sect."
"But according to what Man Xiongmu said, the time required for the Qi Nourishing Realm alone is ten times that of Foundation Establishment. In other words, I'll also need ten years to perfect the Qi Nourishing Realm."
"Not to mention that even after breaking through to Cauldron Forging, I'll still have to cultivate the Cauldron Forging Realm to perfection..."
"Time waits for no one!"
A sense of urgency filled Wu Tian's heart. He did not want to waste time, so he hurried toward the dining hall.
When he arrived at the dining hall, he saw from far away that Wu Xia'er was waiting for him by the side entrance in a red dress.
The moment she saw Wu Tian, she rushed over, threw her arms around him, and said excitedly, "White Dragon, I broke through! I broke through!"
"Hahahaha!"
The girl's silver-bell-like laughter echoed through the air. She was clearly overjoyed.
Wu Tian was also somewhat surprised. He had not expected Wu Xia'er to break through at nearly the same time as him.
Wu Xia'er had begun cultivating three years ago, and in that short time had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. Such talent was already no weaker than Man Xiongmu's, and she had hope of entering the Law Refining Realm in the future.
In fact, on Skull Mountain, reaching the Law Refining Realm was already enough to qualify one for the position of elder.
Most of the deacons were at the Cauldron Forging Realm.
Although Man Xiongmu was currently only a deacon, that was because he was preparing to take over as elder of Qiyun Cave and had therefore declined the positions offered by the sect's other elders.
"White Dragon, tell me, am I awesome? Hahaha!"
Wu Xia'er was clearly immensely excited. She held Wu Tian and walked toward the dining hall.
After they entered, Aunt Wu's voice rang out with a smile. "Your little dog is here. Xia'er broke through in cultivation today, so you can share in the good fortune. I prepared the flesh of a demonized python, which is highly nourishing, and saved a portion for you. Hurry up and eat!"
Fatty Huang grumbled from the side, "Giving something this nourishing to a dog is such a waste. Even I can't bear to eat it..."
As he spoke, his eyes swept over Wu Tian, then suddenly froze.
"Something's not right. Why does this dog look like it's become sentient?"
"His essence is abundant, and spiritual radiance shines through his body..."
"Could it... could it really have become sentient?!"
Before you continue