Ruyi Whip

As the Stone Gate behind them boomed shut, only father and son remained in the Cave Mansion. The light was dim, making Tong Jin somewhat afraid.

"What did Huang Ren say to you outside just now?" Master of Wild Dog Cave had transformed into a short-tailed black dog. He lay on the ground, his dark jade-green eyes fixed intently on Tong Jin.

Tong Jin had originally intended to conceal it, but when he saw his father's icy gaze, he shuddered and stammered out every word Huang Ren had said, holding nothing back.

"Father, I wasn't planning to do anything."

"Really. I remembered what you told me, Father. I drove him away!"

Tong Jin explained himself, his voice growing quieter with every word.

Master of Wild Dog Cave said nothing. After remaining silent for a long while, he finally said, "No, you should go. Find your senior brothers and sisters and have them help you keep an eye on that dog's movements."

"If a suitable opportunity arises, kill it."

"But..."

He slowly lowered his eyes. "You cannot show yourself, and you absolutely cannot make a move yourself. Do you understand?"

Tong Jin was not stupid. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "But Father, they're also people from Wild Dog Cave. If something happens, Qiyun Cave will definitely know that we did it, won't they?"

"Something happens?!" Master of Wild Dog Cave let out a cold laugh. "Who told you something would happen?"

"Go. Do as I say."

Tong Jin did not understand, but he dared not defy his father's will. He could only agree before turning and leaving the Cave Mansion.

As the Stone Gate closed, the Cave Mansion sank into darkness once more.

Master of Wild Dog Cave's dark jade-green eyes grew even more sinister. "Man Xiongmu, I've given you the man. You'd better know when to stop."

Qiyun Cave.

Man Xiongmu had already left, and he had descended the mountain openly after accepting a mission from Mountain Patrol Hall.

Wu Tian lay on a stone chair. As he breathed in and out, Tongyou Qi circulated through his body while the Water, Fire, Wind, and Thunder Curses were cast in succession. The turbid qi within him continued to disperse.

During this period, he had not relaxed for even a moment, pouring all his energy into cultivating the four curse arts and opening his acupoints.

Even after clashing with Wild Dog Cave these past two days, he had not slacked off or relaxed. Instead, he had cultivated with even greater seriousness.

Whether it was that senior's decree or Man Xiongmu, they were merely external forces. They could be borrowed, but could not serve as reliance. Only one's own strength was the foundation.

After opening the acupoints came the Qi Circulation Realm.

This stage of cultivation was crucial. First, it allowed one to refine Curse Artifacts. Second, the Qi Circulation Realm could, to a certain extent, temper one's meridians and cleanse one's marrow, changing the body's aptitude.

After different Qi Circulation Diagrams were cultivated to perfection, they could bring about all kinds of transformations.

For example, Qiyun Cave's Dark Cloud Qi Circulation Diagram could increase one's speed, while also allowing one to use yin wind and shadows to conceal one's tracks.

Fire Crow Cave's Wind Fire Qi Circulation Diagram, meanwhile, could strengthen one's wind and fire talent, allowing one to command the power of wind and fire to a certain extent.

As for other branches, such as Black Bear Cave, White Ape Cave, and Fierce Tiger Cave, each possessed a different Qi Circulation Diagram. Once cultivated to perfection, each could produce all kinds of miraculous transformations.

Immense strength, Copper Skin Iron Bones, commanding yin ghosts, and so on—the list went on.

The Qi Circulation Diagram of Wild Dog Cave was called the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram. It could devour moonlight at night to nourish one's form and spirit, and could even devour yin ghosts. It was exceedingly terrifying.

It was said that the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram had originally been one of the Sect Leader's Direct Lineage's inheritances. The essence of the sun and moon was so wondrous that ordinary inheritances had no right to touch it. Only because the ancestor of Wild Dog Cave had come from the Sect Leader's Direct Lineage had Wild Dog Cave obtained such an inheritance.

Moreover, its ability to devour yin ghosts was simply too effective against the Thirty-six Caves of the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path. This was also one of the reasons the Wild Dog Cave lineage could suppress the other branches.

Every disciple of the Thirty-six Caves knew clearly that the Sect Leader's Direct Lineage must possess inheritances that countered the Thirty-six Caves. The Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram of Wild Dog Cave was merely the tip of the iceberg, yet it was already enough to make people wary.

Wu Tian had naturally considered the matter of the Qi Circulation Diagram as well. If he had no choice, then so be it, but if he could obtain Wild Dog Cave's inheritance, he certainly would not give it up.

The other Qi Circulation Diagrams of the Thirty-six Caves could at most be considered secret inheritances, but the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram was very likely a superior method.

Whether it was swallowing the moon or devouring ghosts, both were exceedingly rare talents. He did not want to miss them.

Since Wild Dog Cave had delivered itself to his door this time, he naturally wanted to try to obtain this Qi Circulation Diagram.

There was also the choice of Curse Artifact. He had already discussed his ideas with Man Xiongmu. His idea of refining Yama's Rope had gone up in smoke—the refinement of a Curse Artifact was not as simple as he had imagined. The combination of various materials and the tempering of curse spells had all been developed by predecessors through countless failed attempts.

To refine a new Curse Artifact required decades or even centuries of experimentation and the expenditure of countless resources. Unless one belonged to a major sect, one simply lacked such strength and foundation.

Thus, his choices were quite limited now. Of Yin Soul Banner, Ruyi Whip, and Water Breaking Staff, he could choose one.

Wu Tian leaned more toward Ruyi Whip. The properties of this Curse Artifact could be changed by adding different spiritual materials, and quite a few disciples of the Thirty-six Caves chose this kind of Curse Artifact.

There were Wind Fire Whip, Water Fire Whip, Wind Water Whip, Yin Wind Whip, Yin Fire Whip, and so on. Because spiritual materials with the thunder attribute were relatively scarce, and the sect had no inherited thunder-attribute curse arts capable of nourishing Curse Artifacts, no one refined one.

Wu Tian was ambitious. He wanted to refine a whip capable of commanding the four kinds of Heaven and Earth essence—water, fire, wind, and thunder. Although it would consume more spiritual materials, and its subsequent nourishment would require even more time and effort,

he wanted even more to refine a premium Curse Artifact. With one crack of the whip, water, fire, wind, and thunder would surge together, and any enemy would be beaten into ash.

"With this Ruyi Whip, combined with the Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity gained after perfecting the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram—striking with the whip and devouring souls with an open mouth—I'll be able to begin forming my own combat system."

"I can also ask that senior for advice and see whether she has any guidance..."

Wu Tian immersed himself in cultivation, ignoring the outside world. Thunder rumbled, water and fire surged, and fierce winds swept through the air. Under the successive casting of the four curse arts, the turbid qi in his body dissipated at a speed far beyond that of ordinary people.

Before he knew it, a night had passed. After leaving the Cave Mansion, Wu Tian used the Fire Pupil Curse to draw in a wisp of purple qi from the rising sun and absorb it into his eyes. Only then did he feel that his weary mind had recovered slightly after a night of arduous cultivation.

He turned and walked back toward the Cave Mansion, but at the instant he turned around, his eyes grew cold. His Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity had already alerted him that hostile intent was approaching.

"No rush."

Wu Tian returned to the Cave Mansion and closed his eyes. Before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

After roughly two hours, he had replenished his spirit and restored himself to his peak condition. Only then did he slowly open his eyes.

He then left the Cave Mansion once more and headed toward the mountain gate.

"Hurry, hurry! That white dog has left the Cave Mansion."

"Be careful. Follow it quietly."

"Find somewhere with no one around and kill it."

Seven or eight figures hid beneath the shadow of a Cloud Covering Banner, concealing their tracks as they watched Wu Tian from afar.