Beast Form Transformation

After Huang Ren was surrounded by a group of people and brought into Wild Dog Cave, he felt the cave dwelling was gloomy and filled with the smell of blood, with even white bones scattered on the ground.

Not far ahead, a short-tailed, black-furred wild dog lay on the ground, its pair of eerie green eyes staring directly at him. Huang Ren couldn't help but shiver.

Then, the black-furred wild dog, which was as long as a zhang, seemed to flow like water all over its body. A slit opened in its abdomen, and a person emerged.

The wild dog skin twitched slightly, transforming into a black cloak that wrapped around the person's body.

The person was tall and burly, with messy hair scattered about. He wore a loose, long black robe that completely concealed his thin body, revealing only an ugly, shriveled, monstrous face. His pupils were an eerie green, and just one glance sent a chill to the bone.

"You said you found a wild dog that had become a spirit, where is it?"

Huang Ren already regretted coming to Wild Dog Cave, but facing the cave master, he didn't dare to utter a single word of refusal. He stammered, "It was a white dog I saw at the Canteen, it looked like it had become a spirit..."

His words were vague and unclear. The Wild Dog Cave Master's tone turned cold upon hearing this. "Since you're here, speak clearly. If you're toying with me, you know the consequences."

Huang Ren didn't dare to look up. He could feel the chilling, ferocious aura emanating from the other party, as if it wanted to devour him.

Cornered, he had no choice but to say with a trembling voice, "It should be a white dog raised by Senior Brother Man Xiong at Qiyun Cave that has become a spirit."

"Oh? What's its breed like?" the Wild Dog Cave Master asked again.

Once Huang Ren started speaking, the rest flowed much more smoothly. "If I'm not mistaken, that white dog should be from White Dog Stockade, one of the Eighteen Villages down the mountain. The white dogs from there are known to be able to hear the wind, have agile limbs, and snow-white fur."

"The white dog I saw was even more outstanding. Its fur was fair, fine, and lustrous, its entire being filled with True Qi and radiating spiritual light. Moreover, it was very intelligent."

Tong Jin, who had been watching the commotion from the surrounding area, suddenly's eyes lit up. He quickly said, "Daddy, I want this white dog."

The other disciples were also filled with envy. Disciples who cultivated the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path on Skull Mountain generally practiced the Form Transformation Curse at the Form Condensing stage.

This Form Transformation Curse required selecting a monster or demon beast, skinning it, extracting its Yin soul, and then using its flesh and blood as ink and its bones as a brush to refine a Beast Robe.

Simply wrapping this Beast Robe around oneself would allow one to transform into the beast's form, not only greatly increasing combat power but also aiding in True Qi cultivation. It was a technique with many uses and was essentially a mandatory practice for Skull Mountain disciples.

The Wild Dog Cave lineage, for instance, chose to transform into wild dogs, and even their subsequent cultivation was closely related to this.

Wu Xia'er's Fire Crow Cave transformed into fire crows, while Man Xiongmu's Qiyun Cave transformed into cloud leopards. Other branches were similar, with only the specific monsters they transformed into differing.

In fact, if one had ample time and resources, it was entirely possible to cultivate multiple beast forms. The curse methods used for beast form transformations in the Thirty-six Caves were actually the same.

However, without the coordination of an Qi circulation diagram, it was difficult to utilize all its benefits, and one could not achieve more profound transformations later on.

The most crucial aspect of cultivating this beast form transformation was the choice of monster. If the breed was outstanding, naturally, one would gain more benefits.

Ultimately, this beast form transformation was akin to a Curse Artifact, and it could be continuously upgraded through subsequent cultivation. Therefore, the strength of the monster was irrelevant; talent and breed were what mattered.

Tong Jin was naturally very interested upon hearing about such a white dog. This beast form transformation could very well accompany him for the rest of his life, so of course, he wanted to choose the best and most magnificent one.

"I know about the dogs from White Dog Stockade. I've tried to cultivate them into spirits before, but all failed," the Wild Dog Cave Master shook his head. "I didn't expect Senior Brother Man Xiong to be able to cultivate a white dog into a spirit. That's interesting."

"But I remember he's from White Dog Stockade, so it's reasonable for him to cultivate a white dog into a spirit."

For the branches of the Thirty-six Caves, monsters that matched their own lineage were very important resources. Just like the fire crows cultivated by Fire Crow Cave, disciples didn't need to go out; as long as their cultivation reached the required level, they could choose a fire crow and directly practice the beast form transformation.

Wild Dog Cave had also tried to cultivate dog demons before, searching all over the surrounding thousand miles for the most suitable seeds. White Dog Stockade down the mountain was naturally one of their choices.

The white dogs there could hear the wind and predict danger, their fur was snow-white and of excellent breed, but unfortunately, their bloodline was truly inferior, with no path for advancement. The cost required to cultivate them into spirits was too great, making it completely unworthy.

The Wild Dog Cave Master's interest was piqued. After a moment of thought, he said, "This information is quite useful to me. I'll give you fifty Minor Merits."

Huang Ren was overjoyed. This reward far exceeded his expectations. He quickly bowed and thanked him, "Thank you, Cave Master, thank you, Cave Master."

The Wild Dog Cave Master waved his hand. These minor matters didn't require his personal attention; his disciples would handle them.

Although Huang Ren was also a fifth-generation disciple, he had never addressed the other party as "junior brother" from beginning to end, clearly not taking him seriously.

"Alright, follow me!" A female disciple who had been serving in the cave stepped forward, beckoned Huang Ren, and walked towards the cave entrance.

After Huang Ren left, Tong Jin became impatient. He walked directly to the Wild Dog Cave Master's side, tugged at his sleeve, and said, "Daddy, Daddy, I want that white dog, quickly help me catch it."

The Wild Dog Cave Master looked at his son, and a gentle expression appeared on his ugly, gloomy face. "Don't worry. Since there's such an outstanding white dog, I will definitely help you find it."

"Wait for me to get ready, and I'll go to Qiyun Cave with you. I believe Senior Brother Man Xiong will give me this face."

In his opinion, a mere monster was nothing on the mountain; at most, he would pay some Merit points or exchange spiritual materials.

Moreover, everyone on the mountain knew that Wild Dog Cave cultivated dog demons. Even if it were just to give him face, they would agree.

Meanwhile, outside the cave, the female disciple credited Huang Ren's Merit points using her Identity Plaque. Without even looking at him, she turned and went back into the cave.

Huang Ren's expression turned a little grim because she had only credited him with thirty Merit points, twenty less than the fifty the Wild Dog Cave Master had mentioned.

He gritted his teeth, not daring to say anything more, and quickly turned to leave.

Not long after Huang Ren left, the Wild Dog Cave Master and Tong Jin emerged from the cave dwelling. A gust of black wind swept them up, and they headed towards Qiyun Cave.