Ruyi Whip

As the stone door behind them slammed shut, leaving only the father and son in the cave, the dim light made Tong Jin feel a little scared.

"What did Huang Ren say to you outside just now?" The Master of Wild Dog Cave, now transformed into a short-tailed black dog, lay on the ground, his emerald eyes staring intently at him.

Tong Jin had initially intended to hide it, but upon seeing his father's cold gaze, he shivered and stammered out everything Huang Ren had said, word for word.

"Daddy, I didn't intend to do anything."

"Really, I remember what you said, Daddy, I sent him away!"

Tong Jin explained, his voice growing softer and softer.

The Master of Wild Dog Cave remained silent for a long time before speaking, "No, you must go. Go find your senior brothers and sisters and have them keep an eye on that dog's movements."

"If you get a suitable opportunity, kill it."

"But..."

He slowly lowered his gaze, "You cannot show yourself, nor can you take action. Do you understand?"

Tong Jin wasn't stupid. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "But Father, they are also people of our Wild Dog Cave. If something happens, Qiyun Cave will surely know we did it, right?"

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

"Go, do as I command."

Tong Jin didn't understand, but he didn't dare disobey his father's will. He could only agree, then turned and left the cave.

As the stone door closed, the cave plunged back into darkness.

The Master of Wild Dog Cave's emerald eyes grew even colder, "Man Xiongmu, I've given you the person. You'd best know when to stop."

Qiyun Cave.

Man Xiongmu had already left, having openly accepted a mission from the Mountain Patrol Hall before descending the mountain.

Wu Tian lay on a stone chair, inhaling and exhaling, Tongyou Qi circulating within his body. The four incantations of water, fire, wind, and lightning were cast in rotation, and the impurities within his body were constantly dissipating.

During this time, he had not relaxed for a single moment, dedicating all his energy to the cultivation of the four incantations and Aperture Opening.

Even though there had been a conflict with Wild Dog Cave these past two days, he had not slacked off or relaxed. Instead, he had cultivated even more diligently.

Whether it was the edict from that senior or Man Xiongmu, they were merely external forces that could be borrowed but not relied upon. Only one's own strength was the foundation.

After Aperture Opening comes Qi Circulation.

This stage of cultivation is very crucial. Firstly, it allows for the refinement of Curse Artifacts, and secondly, the Qi Circulation Realm can, to a certain extent, cleanse the meridians and wash the marrow, altering one's innate potential.

After fully mastering different Qi Circulation Diagrams, one could achieve various transformations.

For example, Qiyun Cave's Dark Cloud Qi Circulation Diagram could increase one's speed and allow one to conceal their tracks using the yin wind and shadows.

Fire Crow Cave's Wind Fire Qi Circulation Diagram could enhance wind and fire talent, allowing one to control wind and fire powers to a certain extent.

Other branches, such as Black Bear Cave, White Ape Cave, and Fierce Tiger Cave, each possessed different Qi Circulation Diagrams. Upon mastering them, they all granted various wondrous transformations.

Such as immense strength, bronze skin and iron bones, controlling yin ghosts, and so on.

As for Wild Dog Cave's Qi Circulation Diagram, named the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram, it could absorb moonlight at night to nourish the body and spirit, and also devour yin ghosts, making it quite terrifying.

It is said that this Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram was originally one of the sect leader's direct lineages. The essence of the sun and moon is incredibly profound, and ordinary inheritances were not qualified to touch it. It was only because the ancestor of Wild Dog Cave came from the sect leader's direct lineage that they possessed such an inheritance.

Furthermore, this ability to devour yin ghosts was extremely effective in suppressing the Thirty-six Caves of the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Path, which was also one of the reasons Wild Dog Cave could surpass other branches.

The disciples of the Thirty-six Caves were all well aware that the sect leader's direct lineage must possess inheritances that could suppress the Thirty-six Caves. The Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram was merely the tip of the iceberg, yet it was enough to make people wary.

Regarding Qi Circulation Diagrams, Wu Tian naturally had his own considerations. If he had no choice, it would be one thing, but if he could obtain the inheritance of Wild Dog Cave, he would certainly not give 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 likely a superior technique.

Both moon swallowing and ghost eating were extremely rare talents, and he did not want to miss out.

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

As for the choice of Curse Artifacts, he had already discussed his ideas with Man Xiongmu. The idea of the Yama's Rope was directly shelved. Refining Curse Artifacts was not as simple as he had imagined. The combination of various materials and the tempering of magical spells were all results of countless failed attempts by predecessors.

To refine a new Curse Artifact would require decades, even centuries, of experimentation and the consumption of countless resources. Without a major sect, one simply did not have such strength and foundation.

Therefore, his choices were now quite limited: he could choose one from the Yin Soul Banner, Ruyi Whip, or Water Breaking Staff.

Wu Tian leaned more towards the Ruyi Whip. The refinement of this Curse Artifact allowed for the alteration of attributes by adding different spiritual materials. Many disciples of the Thirty-six Caves chose this type of Curse Artifact.

For example, the Wind Fire Whip, Water Fire Whip, Wind Water Whip, Yin Wind Whip, Yin Fire Whip, and so on. Due to the scarcity of lightning-attribute spiritual materials and the lack of inheritance for lightning-attribute incantations that could nurture Curse Artifacts, no one had refined one.

Wu Tian was ambitious and wanted to refine a whip that could control the four elemental energies of water, fire, wind, and lightning. Although it would require more spiritual materials and the subsequent nurturing would also consume more time and energy.

But he wanted to refine a precious Curse Artifact, one that, when whipped out, would unleash water, fire, wind, and lightning, turning any enemy into ashes.

"With this Ruyi Whip, coupled with the talent of swallowing the moon and eating ghosts after mastering the Moon Swallowing Qi Circulation Diagram, a whip strike followed by soul devouring would allow me to initially form my own combat system."

"Additionally, I could also seek guidance from that senior and see if she has any pointers..."

Wu Tian was immersed in his cultivation, oblivious to the outside world. Thunderous roars, surging water and fire, and blowing winds filled the air. The impurities within his body were being eliminated at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people under the sequential casting of the four incantations.

Unknowingly, a night had passed. As Wu Tian emerged from the cave and absorbed a wisp of morning sun's purple energy into his eyes using the Fire Pupil Curse, he felt a slight recovery of his weary spirit after a night of arduous cultivation.

He turned to walk back into the cave, but the moment he turned, his eyes turned icy. His Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity had already made him sense an approaching malevolent intent.

"No rush."

Wu Tian returned to his cave dwelling, closed his eyes, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

After about an hour, he had rested and recovered his energy to its peak. Only then did he slowly open his eyes.

He then walked out of the cave dwelling again and headed in the direction of the mountain gate.

"Quick, quick, quick, that White Dog has left the cave dwelling."

"Be careful, follow it quietly."

"Find a place where no one is around and slaughter it."

Seven or eight figures hid in the shadow of a Cloud Covering Banner, concealing their tracks, and stared at Wu Tian from afar.