Settling the Score

With the cave mansion's gate slamming shut, tranquility returned to the cave.

Man Xiongmu looked at Wu Tian with a smile and said, "Do you still remember that senior mentioning they would pass down an edict?"

Wu Tian's mind immediately recalled the senior's words from back then.

"Seeing as your bond with me is difficult to sever, I can permit you to cultivate on Skull Mountain. I will pass down an edict; whether you can achieve the status of a Spiritual Beast will depend on your own fortune and destiny."

At the time, he had only thought this so-called edict meant Man Xiongmu would bring him to Skull Mountain. He never expected a method to be left within his own body.

Wu Tian was instantly overjoyed. With this edict protecting him, he could roam freely throughout Skull Mountain.

"I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you to become arrogant, and I hoped you would remain true to yourself and not fear the difficulties of cultivation," Man Xiongmu said seriously, his smile fading. "The path of cultivation ultimately relies on oneself."

"If you hadn't dared to step through the mountain gate back then, I would have sent you down the mountain all the same."

"Do you understand?"

Wu Tian's mind flashed through all his experiences since joining the sect. Man Xiongmu was deliberately telling him how dangerous Skull Mountain was, urging him to be cautious and avoid trouble.

He never even mentioned the senior's edict, always keeping Wu Tian filled with reverence and a sense of urgency.

Even when Tong Guan came knocking today, Man Xiongmu hadn't mentioned the edict at first, only blocking him himself.

It wasn't until Tong Guan harbored killing intent towards him that Man Xiongmu revealed the edict on his person, causing the other to retreat.

After piecing everything together, a warmth surged within Wu Tian's heart.

A teacher imparts the Way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts!

Man Xiongmu not only taught him various techniques and answered his questions but also tempered his character, preventing him from becoming arrogant due to the edict's protection. Such painstaking effort would not have been undertaken if not for genuine care for him.

Wu Tian felt his chest burn. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "This disciple thanks Master."

Man Xiongmu nodded at his demeanor, "It is enough that you understand my intentions."

"Skull Mountain is but one of the Southern Border's Hundred Thousand Mountains. The villages below the mountain speak of 'hundred thousand mountains, hundred thousand demons.' In the depths of the mountains, Demon Kings roam, and even Demon Saints slumber."

"Even so, the Southern Border is merely a corner of the world. Beyond that lies the Central Plains, presided over by great Buddhist and Daoist sects, prosperous and flourishing, where True Immortals descend – the very center of the world."

"Outside the Central Plains is the vast and boundless East Sea. Above the East Sea are countless islands, reclusive Loose Immortals, and the East Sea Dragon Palace. Water demons and fiends dwell there, and since ancient times, it has been a place for mortals to seek immortality and the Dao."

"As for the Western Great Marsh, it is where demonic sects take root, with countless barren mountains and treacherous waters, suffused with malevolent energy, a veritable forbidden zone for living beings."

"The world is vast. Only by cultivating to the Primordial Spirit stage can one be qualified to travel freely. Only then can a Loose Immortal become a powerful figure in their own right."

"Your fortune in receiving that senior's edict is considerable. I do not wish for you to confine your gaze to just Skull Mountain, becoming stagnant and narrow-minded."

"Like chickens and dogs fighting over scraps in a coop, wouldn't that be a betrayal of your immortal destiny?"

Hearing this, Wu Tian finally understood Man Xiongmu's expectations and intentions. A saying suddenly flashed in his mind: "A parent's love for their child is far-reaching in its planning."

Although Man Xiongmu was not his birth parent, his kindness and care for him were no less than that of a parent.

He lowered his head and bowed again, committing everything Man Xiongmu had said firmly to memory.

"Alright, get up quickly!" Man Xiongmu saw his posture and knew Wu Tian had truly taken his words to heart, feeling gratified.

"With the senior's edict protecting you, Tong Guan would never dare to act against you again."

"However, do not think you can act with impunity just because you have the edict. Remember, sometimes killing does not require one to act directly."

"If it were me, I would either use a borrowed knife, or select a pawn to act, stirring the pot from the shadows. Once you are dead, I would then kill the murderer."

"Or I could directly find a way to lure you down the mountain, letting you die by the mouths of demons. There are countless such methods and schemes."

"The senior's edict merely makes certain people hesitant, but if one truly tears down all pretense, there will always be those who are not afraid of death."

"If a person is no longer afraid of death, no matter what protective charm you possess, it will be useless. Do you understand?"

Wu Tian naturally understood. Throughout history, even in imperial times, there were no few who dared to plot against the Crown Prince or even the Emperor.

Even a commoner would dare to draw blood within five steps.

If he truly treated this edict as an invulnerable golden body, he would eventually run headfirst into a wall.

His initially excited and restless heart immediately calmed down.

At this moment, Man Xiongmu spoke again, "Before Tong Guan arrived, you asked me if killing was permitted within the sect."

"What do you mean by that? Could it be you know who informed Tong Guan about you?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian first looked up at the sky above. A wisp of black cloud still lingered. He had already sensed it – it was the lingering malice from Tong Jin, the son of the Wild Dog Cave master.

"Master, I sensed malice from Huang Ren in the Canteen earlier."

Man Xiongmu frowned upon hearing this, "It was him? That's not surprising. Although this person has a kind nature, he has always been greedy for small advantages."

"Reporting your whereabouts to Wild Dog Cave in exchange for some benefits is normal."

He sighed slightly as he spoke, "Ultimately, the monsters raised within the sect are always being coveted and seen as resources for cultivation."

"If it weren't for Huang Ren, it would be someone else."

"However, since he ran into the muzzle of the gun, this debt must be repaid."

"Rest assured, I will definitely make him give you an explanation."

What Man Xiongmu said did not exceed Wu Tian's expectations.

He hadn't told Man Xiongmu before because he knew it would be pointless.

Before the incident even happened, Man Xiongmu would at most have issued a warning or punishment. He couldn't possibly go to someone's doorstep and kill Fatty Huang for something that hadn't occurred yet.

This was a sect, and it had its own rules.

More importantly, Wu Tian wasn't human; he was a dog!

To kill a fellow sect steward for a mere dog would be considered insane.

But for someone like Tong Guan to kill a dog for his son, people would find it understandable.

How could they treat those of a different kind the same as their own?

Wu Tian had long since realized that he was a monster, a demon, not a human.

Even if many people had been kind to him and given him opportunities, it couldn't change everyone's views and stances.

Demons were demons, beings that countless humans slaughtered and viewed as resources for their cultivation.

That was why he had endured so much, staying in his cave dwelling. Seeing the disaster approach, he finally informed Man Xiongmu, intending to resolve the calamity in one fell swoop.

Once the disaster passed, he would then seek retribution, and he would have the justification for it.

Retreat first, then advance, achieving victory in one battle.

Calamities must always be resolved from the root, not avoided.

The reason he was facing disaster was fundamentally due to his monstrous form.

Even without Fatty Huang, there would be others. With so many people on the mountain cultivating the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path, his monstrous nature would always attract covetous eyes; such trouble was unavoidable.

Only by striking back forcefully after an incident, striking fear into all those who coveted him, could he achieve a decisive victory and prevent further attacks.

Of course, Wu Tian had considered the worst-case scenario in all his planning. If even Man Xiongmu couldn't withstand it, he would run directly to the hot springs halfway up the mountain and beg for help, provoking that senior. Then, all sorts of demons and monsters would vanish into thin air.

But he truly hadn't expected that the senior would leave an Edict on him; everything was even better than he had anticipated.

With the Edict protecting him, as long as he didn't court disaster himself, no one foolish enough would dare to seek trouble with him again.

"So, the next step is to settle the score."

"Especially with Wild Dog Cave. Fleeing when the situation looks bad? Is there such a thing as a free lunch?"

"If I don't strip them of a layer of skin and draw some blood, wouldn't this Edict be wasted?"

Wu Tian's eyes turned cold, and he gently licked his claws.