Swallowing the Moon Qi Circulation Diagram

Wu Tian greatly enjoyed these days of bitter cultivation. Although they were incredibly dull and tedious, with the System Panel, he could sense every bit of progress he made.

If possible, he even wanted to keep cultivating like this until he reached perfection in the Cauldron Forging Realm, then honestly follow that senior back to the Central Plains.

Unfortunately, cultivation was not that simple.

After reaching perfection in the Meridian Opening Realm, he had to circulate qi next, which required a Qi Circulation Diagram.

The Swallowing Moon Qi Circulation Diagram of the Wild Dog Cave lineage was a superior Qi Circulation Diagram, and Wu Tian had long regarded it as already in his possession.

"Master Man Xiong said he would be back within a month at most this time, but now two whole months have passed..."

As he muttered inwardly, his gaze suddenly shifted, and he sprang upright. "Woof, woof, woof~"

Wu Tian barked excitedly. He had already sensed Man Xiongmu's presence outside the Forbidden Area. "Master really came back at just the right time."

His heart finally relaxed.

If Man Xiongmu had returned any later, it probably would have delayed his upcoming cultivation.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

He barked several times at the sky as a farewell.

The world between heaven and earth was utterly silent. Zhu Yushuang did not answer him.

Wu Tian opened his mouth and swallowed the Black Net and the palm-sized banner into his belly. His Abdomen Pouch Spell had improved during this time; besides the bell, he could now store two more Curse Artifacts.

However, after swallowing everything, his belly felt swollen and uncomfortable, so he usually did not like swallowing all his belongings at once.

But he was leaving now, so naturally he had to bring his household with him.

He glanced back toward the hot spring, lowered his forelegs, and bowed his head slightly. After paying his respects, he ran toward Man Xiongmu.

Man Xiongmu knew that he would be staying in the Forbidden Area to cultivate during this period, so after returning to the mountain, he waited in the woods not far outside the Forbidden Area.

Wu Tian raced through the woods and found him before long.

But when he saw Man Xiongmu, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Man Xiongmu was covered in blood. Some of it had already dried, while some was fresh. There were also wounds on his exposed arms, and he looked utterly exhausted.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Wu Tian sprang to his side and barked. Then he suddenly remembered that he still had not used the Sound Transmission Talisman and hurriedly sent his voice through his mind.

"Master, what happened to you?"

Man Xiongmu shook his head. "Nothing serious. I merely encountered a great monster and fought with it."

"I originally thought I would be back within a month at most, but when I descended the mountain this time, I discovered that something was wrong with the situation around the Eighteen Villages. More and more monsters and demons have been appearing nearby."

"There were over a hundred newly emerged spirits alone, along with quite a few vicious beings that had become monsters. There were even three great monsters. If I hadn't run fast enough, that great monster might have swallowed me alive."

Wu Tian was startled by this. A great monster was comparable to an expert in the Law Refining Realm. The fact that even Man Xiongmu had nearly lost his life showed just how formidable it was.

"Master, how did this suddenly happen? Didn't you say before that all the spirits around the Eighteen Villages were being raised by Skull Mountain?"

Man Xiongmu said, "I don't know either. Something is wrong with the situation. Quite a few monsters have even appeared outside White Dog Stockade. I was worried something had happened to the stockade, so I fought and killed several monsters, but I never expected to provoke a great monster."

Wu Tian did not actually have very deep feelings for White Dog Stockade. Although he had been born there, aside from his ties with Chili Mu, the one he was most familiar with was Silver Frost, the Dog King of the Hunting Team.

"Master, is everything all right in the stockade?"

Man Xiongmu said, "A great monster's intelligence is already no worse than a human's, and it may even be more cunning. It fears the cauldron artifact in the center of the stockade, where there is an aura from the Hundred Beast Yin Soul Banner on the mountain."

"That is why it drives ordinary spirits to rampage and even break into the stockade."

"But it doesn't dare enter itself. If this continues for long, though, that may change."

"I sent word of this to the sect a month ago. In recent days, disciples from other sects have gradually descended the mountain, allowing me to withdraw and return."

Wu Tian felt his heart pounding with alarm. His Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity gave him an exceptionally keen intuition. It seemed that what Man Xiongmu had described was closely connected to him—and was probably not a good thing.

"Let's go. We'll return to the mountain first." Man Xiongmu called to him, and a black wind wrapped around man and dog. Before long, they had returned to the mountain gate.

After returning to Qiyun Cave, Man Xiongmu first went to turn in his mission. At the same time, he exchanged the spoils from hunting monsters during this period for the spiritual materials he needed. He also had to inquire about the situation and find out exactly what was happening at the foot of the mountain.

By the time he finished handling these trivial matters, night had already fallen.

Man Xiongmu had just returned to the entrance of his Cave Mansion when he saw Tong Guan standing outside. He seemed to have been waiting there for a long time.

"Tong Guan?" Man Xiongmu could not help frowning. "What brings you here? Are you here to deliver the Swallowing Moon Qi Circulation Diagram?"

He did not believe Tong Guan would be so kind as to come deliver the Qi Circulation Diagram of his own accord.

A smile squeezed onto Tong Guan's gaunt, gloomy face. "Junior Brother is right. I have indeed come to deliver the Qi Circulation Diagram to you."

As he spoke, he took a jade slip from his hand. A warm jade luster flowed across it, and it looked extraordinary.

"Then many thanks, Senior Disciple Brother." Man Xiongmu did not want to beat around the bush with him and reached out to take it.

Tong Guan stepped back and dodged his hand. "Junior Brother, don't be hasty."

"What? Are you going back on your word?" Man Xiongmu's expression darkened.

Tong Guan waved his hand. "A bet is a bet. I still have that much integrity. But you know that the Swallowing Moon Qi Circulation Diagram was originally an inherited secret art of the Sect Master's lineage. I cannot casually pass it on to others."

"So some time ago, I went to White Bone Hall to see Senior Disciple Brother and reported the matter to him."

"Senior Disciple Brother approved, but he had one condition."

Man Xiongmu asked indifferently, "What condition?"

"It's simple. Senior Disciple Brother hopes that you and that white dog will patrol the mountain for three years and accumulate Merit points for the sect. Otherwise, if everyone covets the inherited lineage, wouldn't everything fall into chaos?"

"Besides, trouble has arisen at the foot of the mountain recently. You, Junior Brother, should understand best that the sect is precisely in need of manpower."

"If you agree, you may take the Swallowing Moon Qi Circulation Diagram."

Man Xiongmu fell silent and asked Wu Tian through the Sound Transmission Talisman, "White Dragon, what do you think? Do you absolutely need this Swallowing Moon Qi Circulation Diagram?"

Wu Tian used his Talent for Seeking Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity to sense the changes in fortune and misfortune brought by his two different choices. The various qi currents between heaven and earth immediately began to shift.

With two different choices, auspiciousness and calamity would change accordingly.

If he refused, not only would the opportunity drift away, but dark clouds would also press down overhead.

If he agreed, an opportunity would descend from heaven. He even glimpsed scattered glimmers of opportunity at the foot of the mountain: white, scarlet, azure, and many other colored rays spread across the land, making one's mouth water.

"Master, I'm willing to descend the mountain. I'll just be involving you as well!"

Hearing Wu Tian's reply, Man Xiongmu sent back, "It's fine. I was planning to descend the mountain again anyway. Someone in the Law Refining Realm will find it difficult to make further progress without traveling the world."

"Think it through carefully. Once you confirm, I'll agree to his terms."

"Thank you, Master. I'm willing to descend the mountain," Wu Tian replied.

Man Xiongmu withdrew his mind and said coldly, "Tong Guan, give me the Thousand-Year Ironwood Heart and the Qi Circulation Diagram you promised. I agree to descend the mountain."

A somewhat ferocious smile appeared on Tong Guan's face. "I prepared them for Junior Brother long ago. Take them!"

He pulled a blue-white jade slip and a three-foot-long, fist-thick piece of Ironwood Heart, its entire body a deep, ghostly green, from his sleeve pouch and flung them over.

"Junior Brother, I heard there are great monsters appearing at the foot of the mountain. You'd better be careful..."

"Hahahaha!"

After saying this, Tong Guan turned and left without looking back.

Man Xiongmu caught the jade slip and Thousand-Year Ironwood Heart in one hand. His expression was rather unpleasant as he glared at Tong Guan's departing back. He snorted coldly, then returned to his Cave Mansion.