Wild Dog Cave

After a moment of thought, Man Xiongmu said, "I'll stay in the cave for a few more days and teach you the Dharma. I want to see who dares to plot against my Qiyun Cave."

He looked at Wu Tian and said, "You don't need to worry either. My Master is still cultivating in the cave. As long as we keep the doors closed, they won't dare to attack the cave."

"Just calm your mind, and I will teach you the Silk Drawing Curse."

"This curse technique is also the core of artifact refining in my Qiyun Cave lineage. If cultivated to a profound level, one can draw the essence of plants and trees into silk, then refine it with wind and clouds, and nurture it with Tongyou Qi to obtain Yin Soul Silk."

"Whether it's used to weave banners, robes, or whips, it's very useful. My own magic artifacts are also woven from Yin Soul Silk."

"The resources needed for cultivation over the years have also largely relied on exchanging Yin Soul Silk."

"This is the true foundation for establishing oneself. You cannot underestimate it."

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian immediately understood. Man Xiongmu trusted him more and was increasing his efforts to cultivate him, even teaching him such a core curse technique.

As his thoughts raced, he prostrated himself on the ground, lightly nodding his head, and transmitted his voice, "Disciple thanks Master."

Man Xiongmu was stunned at first, then quickly shook his head and chuckled, "You are quite clever. Fine, fine. Although I cannot officially record you in the roster yet, since I am teaching you the Dharma, it is not unreasonable for you to call me Master."

"I only hope that you can shed your beast form and transform into a human body as soon as possible. Only then will the Great Dao be within reach."

He said no more and began to meticulously teach the Silk Drawing Curse.

This curse technique was indeed complex. Although it was still a Secret Transmission Curse Technique and not a High-grade Curse Technique, its complexity surpassed that of High-grade Curse Techniques.

There were as many as 145 incantations alone, more than the Thunder Sound Curse.

After Man Xiongmu finished teaching, the System Panel naturally changed.

[Name: Silk Drawing Curse]
[Type: Secret Transmission Curse Technique]
[Description: Can extract the essence of plants and trees, transforming it into fine silk, which serves as a low-grade spiritual material. Upon reaching perfection, it can draw in clouds and clear winds as silk. When combined with corresponding diagrams, it can yield mid-grade spiritual material Cloud Brocade Silk.]

Wu Tian's eyes lit up when he saw the introduction on the System Panel.

Low-grade spiritual materials were one thing. They could basically only be used to forge Curse Artifacts. Although far superior to ordinary mortal swords and armor, they were useless to those in the Cauldron Forging and Law Refining realms.

Wu Tian had heard a thing or two when listening to lectures in the Law Transmission Hall. He knew that cultivators' protective artifacts were divided into Curse Artifacts, Magic Artifacts, and Magic Treasures.

Most cultivators in the Foundation Building Qi Nourishing Realm used Curse Artifacts.

Those in the Cauldron Forging Law Refining Realm began to forge Magic Artifacts.

Only powerful cultivators in the Dao Embryo Primordial Spirit Realm could wield Magic Treasures.

And forging these protective artifacts required spiritual materials. Low-grade spiritual materials could only be used to forge Curse Artifacts, mid-grade spiritual materials could forge Magic Artifacts, and high-grade spiritual materials could forge Magic Treasures.

In this world, both Curse Artifacts and Magic Artifacts were very rare. Even Curse Artifacts required the combined refining of many low-grade spiritual materials, making them extremely precious.

Magic Artifacts, on the other hand, required dozens of years of refining with cauldron fire during Cauldron Forging, and were by no means as common as rumored in folk tales, with everyone possessing seven or eight.

There were three Stewards in the Law Transmission Hall, but only one of them had successfully refined a Magic Artifact, named the Soul Severing Hook. It not only cut through iron like mud but could also sever Yin souls, making it very terrifying.

It was with this Soul Severing Hook that he became the chief among the three Stewards. Occasionally, when lecturing disciples, he would bring out his Magic Artifact, eliciting gasps and envy from the disciples.

"Qiyun Cave actually has a legacy for forging mid-grade spiritual materials. Its foundation is quite deep."

Wu Tian was also somewhat surprised. The further one progressed on the path of cultivation, the more resources were needed. Relying solely on traveling to stumble upon opportunities, or engaging in fights, was not a reliable method. Having such a legacy for producing spiritual materials was the true foundation.

"Alright, I have already taught you the Silk Drawing Curse. Cultivate it diligently." Man Xiongmu then asked, "How are your Aperture Opening exercises going these past few days? Are they proceeding smoothly?"

Wu Tian honestly replied, "Disciple has already opened five acupoints."

"So quickly?" Man Xiongmu couldn't help but be somewhat surprised. "It seems you'll be opening your acupoints and starting Qi Circulation within two to three months at most."

He pondered for a moment and then said, "In that case, I will have to prepare a Curse Artifact for you in advance."

"We cultivators not only need a method to seek the Dao but also a protective artifact to guard it, so that we can preserve our lives."

"Forging a Curse Artifact during the Qi Circulation Realm and warming it up while circulating Qi day and night will allow the Curse Artifact to connect with one's own aura, making it easier to wield."

"Moreover, most people, upon reaching the Cauldron Forging Realm, use their own Curse Artifact as a base, add mid-grade spiritual materials, and continue to refine and warm it, transforming it into a Magic Artifact. This can save a lot of hard work."

"Since you are originally a beast, you need to think carefully about what kind of Curse Artifact to forge."

While the master and disciple were imparting and receiving the Dharma in the cave, Huang Ren, after finishing the delivery of food and goods, was heading towards Wild Dog Cave, one of the Thirty-six Caves.

Upon arriving at Wild Dog Cave, he saw a forest outside the cave. This forest was not made of ordinary plants but of spiritual roots called Ironwood. The trees were as hard as iron and were excellent spiritual materials for making flagpoles for refining banners.

Wild Dog Cave held a special position among the Thirty-six Caves. Its founder was a direct disciple of the Founding Ancestor, but he took a different path, combining it with the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path to forge his own way.

The inheritance of Wild Dog Cave was extremely exquisite, second only to the White Bone Demon God Path, the direct lineage of the sect leader, and it dominated the Thirty-six Caves.

Even though the younger generation had not lived up to expectations in recent years, the current Cave Master had still achieved the Law Refining Realm, with profound magic power and exquisite sorcery, holding the hope of achieving the Dao Embryo.

However, the personalities of the successive inheritors of the Wild Dog Cave lineage were eccentric and reclusive, rarely interacting with their disciples. Moreover, they were extremely vengeful, which made people even more afraid to approach them.

Huang Ren was somewhat flustered upon arriving outside Wild Dog Cave. As he hesitated, he heard someone jest, "Where did this fatso come from? Daring to come to my Wild Dog Cave, are you looking for a beating?"

Huang Ren was startled and turned around to see a child of about five or six years old in the forest, dressed in brocade clothes, wearing a silver bracelet around his neck, with two buns tied on his head. He was looking at him with a smile.

Behind this child were seven or eight other people, including teenagers and men in their twenties or thirties.

One of the young men with an ugly face said with a sinister grin, "Fatso, this is not a place for you. If you don't want to get beaten, just lie down and roll out of here."

The leading child heard this and immediately clapped his hands, laughing heartily, "I've never seen a fatso roll. You're so round, you must roll very fast."

The others all started to jeer upon hearing this.

"Fatty, get lost."

"Hurry up and roll into a ball so my junior brother can see."

"Get lost, or I'll beat you up."

Huang Ren was both ashamed and angry, but he didn't dare to lash out in front of the Wild Dog Cave. His chubby face turned beet red, and he was already considering leaving.

But how could that child be willing to let it go? He was the beloved son of the Wild Dog Cave Master, named Tong Jin. He was only six years old and doted upon. Coupled with the flattery of his fellow disciples, he was arrogant and mischievous at a young age.

At this moment, he felt like teasing, insisting that Huang Ren roll around.

Surrounded and humiliated by everyone, Huang Ren's teeth were almost ground to dust. Seeing that someone was about to make a move, he quickly shouted, "Wait, wait! I'm here because I discovered a wild dog that has become a spirit, and I've come to report it to the Cave Master."

Upon hearing this, Tong Jin's eyes lit up. He quickly stopped everyone and grabbed Huang Ren, asking, "Quick, tell me, where is that dog demon?"

Huang Ren remained silent. The disciples of the Wild Dog Cave acted so erratically; if he spoke, he feared he might be forced to lead the way, let alone think about any merit points.

He was already regretting coming here, but at this point, he could only brace himself and say loudly, "I am Huang Ren, a steward of the Canteen. I request an audience with the Wild Dog Cave Master to report the whereabouts of a dog demon."

The child's face immediately turned fierce upon hearing this. "You dead fatty, what do you mean by that?"

Before he finished speaking, a voice came from inside the cave, "Jin'er, don't be rude."