Can You Kill People?

Man Xiongmu was discussing with Wu Tian what kind of Curse Artifact should be forged for him. Most cultivators would only forge a single Curse Artifact during the Qi Nourishment stage.

This was not only because forging a Curse Artifact required many materials. More importantly, a Curse Artifact could only gradually reach perfection through being nurtured and tempered by its owner, which consumed a great deal of time and effort.

Forging too many Curse Artifacts would instead affect one's cultivation.

Man Xiongmu explained to Wu Tian, "On Skull Mountain, aside from the White Bone Demon God Path cultivated by the Headmaster's lineage, every disciple who cultivates the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path will forge a Beast Robe during the Form Condensation stage to strengthen their combat power."

"Add a Curse Artifact for protection, and that will be completely sufficient."

"It would be best if the curse energy and the spirit monster you transform into could complement each other, forming a relatively perfect combat system."

"Of course, this must also take the spirit materials and forging techniques into consideration. After all, the Curse Artifacts that can be refined on the mountain are limited."

"Most of them are banners, staves, clubs, long and short whips, and the like. As for the artifact I forged, it is a Yin Wind Banner that I have nurtured and tempered all the way from the Qi Nourishment stage."

In truth, Wu Tian had been curious about Beast Form transformations for a long time. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Master, then what Beast Form transformation should I cultivate during the Form Condensation stage?"

Upon hearing this, Man Xiongmu fell silent for a moment. In fact, he had thought about this question many times before, but he had never brought it up with Wu Tian on his own.

That was because Wu Tian was originally a beast, and the best choice for him was naturally the human form.

Yes, the Form Transformation Curse was not the Beast Form Curse. Since the skin, flesh, bones, and blood of spirit monsters could be used to forge Beast Robes, human beings could naturally be used to refine corresponding human skin as well.

In fact, many disciples on the mountain knew that the Headmaster's lineage cultivated human skin, though it sounded nicer to call it the Human Aspect.

But at its root, it meant killing people, stripping off their entire skins, and then refining them with secret techniques into a Painted Skin that could transform into another person's appearance.

The Senior Disciple Brother's Twenty-Eight Aspects and the Senior Disciple Sister's Eighteen Aspects were, in plain terms, refined from human skin.

Of course, in recent years, because of that senior, the direct disciples of the Headmaster's lineage had practically secluded themselves within the sect. Their disciples had already been few in number, and they had appeared even less often these past years.

If Wu Tian could refine a Painted Skin using human skin, he would not need to wait until his Cauldron Casting reached perfection before possessing a human appearance. He could even condense his True Qi into human form, which would greatly benefit his subsequent cultivation.

Man Xiongmu was naturally no kindhearted man. Living deep in the great mountains of Miao Territory, where snakes, insects, poisonous ants, Yin ghosts, and evil entities were everywhere, and where one had to fight demons and monsters, how could he possibly be a good man?

But he also had to take that senior's thoughts into consideration. Not to mention that casually killing people to refine their skin, right under that senior's nose, would simply be courting death.

Hearing Wu Tian's question, Man Xiongmu pondered for a moment, deliberately ignoring human skin as an option before saying, "For you, the best choice is naturally the Cloud Leopard inherited by our Qiyun Cave lineage."

"You were originally in White Dog Form, so you are highly compatible with it. There are also advancement techniques for it. Even if you one day cultivate an Winged Leopard, it may not be impossible."

"Of course, the inheritance of the Wild Dog Cave lineage is actually very suitable for you as well. You were originally in White Dog Form, and if you could obtain the Wild Dog Cave's inheritance, you would be able to excavate your own potential and bloodline to the greatest extent."

"However, that lineage is not one we can afford to provoke. The ancestor of Wild Dog Cave was originally a direct disciple of the Headmaster and was a Corpse-Ascended Immortal who had cultivated a Primordial Spirit. Its foundations are profound. Even though it has declined in recent years, it is still beyond our comparison."

Man Xiongmu had heard his master mention some of the reasons for Wild Dog Cave's decline in recent years. It should have been related to that senior.

When that senior had first arrived at Skull Mountain, his sword had been stained with the blood of many people. His reputation had been carved out by killing with his sword; otherwise, Skull Mountain could never have enjoyed its present peace.

An inheritance that could refine skin by hunting people and spirit monsters, and even extract souls to forge artifacts—how could it possibly be an orthodox path?

Back then, in this Savage Jungle, he had also killed until blood flowed like a river, making demons flee, Yin ghosts wail, and the countless people prostrate themselves before him.

Wu Tian knew nothing about the matter of human skin. He was only thinking that if he could transform into other birds and beasts—perhaps something that could fly through the sky or swim through the water—he would be able to broaden his ability to survive.

Hearing Man Xiongmu's words, he also felt somewhat disappointed. But then he thought it over. After all, he was a cultivator, and in the future he would always be able to cultivate spells. By then, whether ascending to the heavens or entering the earth, overturning rivers and churning seas, there would always be corresponding techniques. Only then did he abandon the thought.

He thought about how most of his current talents were related to survival and cultivation. As for curse arts and talents that could directly grant him killing power, he had not possessed even one.

With this in mind, he could not help asking, "Master, I heard that Steward Liu of the Law Transmission Hall possesses a Soul Severing Hook. It is said to be capable of cutting through anything and killing Yin souls. Can our Qiyun Cave forge one?"

Man Xiongmu's expression stiffened slightly at this. He said awkwardly, "Weapons of slaughter like that are the most precious and the most difficult to refine among all Guardian Artifacts."

"Our entire Skull Mountain possesses only the Headmaster's lineage's methods and materials for forging weapons of slaughter."

"That brat Liu Tong had incredible luck and obtained a piece of premium Yin Soul Iron. You should know that it was a premium grade among Mid-grade Spirit Materials."

"Even spirit materials of the same grade are divided into inferior, fine, premium, and exceptional qualities. More importantly, he happened to meet an expert while traveling, and that expert forged this Soul Severing Hook for him."

"Even he himself probably cannot refine a second one."

Wu Tian felt even more regretful upon hearing this. If he could have a killing blade like that to protect himself, combined with his own speed, he would be able to dominate among those of the same rank.

He thought it over. Banner-type Curse Artifacts were the mainstream in the sect, but they mainly focused on storing and nurturing Yin souls, which did not suit his tastes.

If he forged a staff or club, he would be wasting Qiyun Cave's Yin Soul Silk inheritance for nothing, while also having to rack his brains to search for other spirit materials.

He might as well forge a whip, or perhaps...

A thought suddenly flashed through Wu Tian's mind. If he could forge a strand of incomparably tough and sharp silk, it could bind his opponent and kill people as well.

"If it can truly be refined, it would be best for it to be transparent and colorless, just like a Soul Hooking Rope. A mere graze would injure them, and once it wrapped around them, they would die."

"Others have a Soul Severing Hook, while I have a Soul Hooking Rope. It wouldn't be any worse..."

Of course, this was only his own idea. He had no idea whether it could actually be refined. As Wu Tian thought this, he was just about to communicate with Man Xiongmu when his heart suddenly sank. A powerful sense of crisis erupted, and his Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity began operating on its own.

He abruptly raised his head and looked into the sky. The dark clouds that had filled the heavens had grown oppressive and black, with even a trace of blood-colored light emerging from them.

As the saying went, blood light heralded disaster. This meant that his life was in danger.

Wu Tian's expression changed dramatically. A murderous intent completely took root in his heart. He abruptly turned toward Man Xiongmu and transmitted his voice, asking, "Master, are we allowed to kill people in the sect?"

Man Xiongmu was startled upon hearing this. Before he could answer, a hoarse, dry laugh came from outside the Cave Mansion: "Junior Brother Man Xiong, are you there? Tong Guan of Wild Dog Cave has come to visit. I ask that you show yourself for a meeting."