Wu Tian cultivated the Nether-Communion Mantra once in the morning and once at night.During the day, he followed the hunting team into the mountains, and at night, he rested curled up in Chi Li Mu's arms.
Although his cultivation efficiency was now far inferior to Chi Li Mu's, he did not slack off in the slightest.
After all, he had once been nothing more than a White Dog with a single Poison-Devouring talent.Now, he possessed four major talents.
With the aid of the system panel, his talents would only continue to multiply—growing ever more mysterious and profound.
One day, he would surely catch up to those heaven-blessed Immortal children and spirit creatures.
Unknowingly, more than a month passed.
Chi Li Mu's cultivation progress advanced at an astonishing pace.She could now sustain cultivation for a full hour at a time. Each session was accompanied by crimson霞 light wrapping her body, flames surging—an awe-inspiring phenomenon.
Wu Tian's progress with the Nether-Communion Mantra, however, was painfully slow.After more than a month, it had only reached 8%.
It was foreseeable that the further one went, the slower the progress would become.
"I'll probably need at least a year—maybe even two—just to barely bring the Nether-Communion Mantra to completion and awaken a new talent."
He sighed softly inwardly, increasingly aware of the terrifying gap in innate aptitude.
Ever since Chi Li Mu entered the beginner stage, her cultivation speed had been shocking.
By his estimation, her progress was already at least 50%.
Perhaps in another month, she would be able to fully master the mantra and condense Nether Qi.
Wu Tian glanced at Chi Li Mu, who was still cultivating beside him, and slowly stopped his own practice.
After more than a month of training, he had only managed to extend each cultivation session by a dozen breaths.
"Fortunately, my progress in other areas hasn't stalled. In fact, thanks to the Nether-Communion Mantra, my Qi-Devouring talent has improved much faster."
With a thought, he opened the system panel.
Name: Wu TianAge: 3Bloodline: Southern Frontier White Dog
Talents:
Hundred Poisons Immunity 3% (Mid-tier)
Thousand-Mile Divine Movement 5% (Mid-tier)
Wind Spirit 72% (Basic)
Qi Devouring 96% (Basic)
Skills:
Hunting 100%
Wind Listening 100%
Serpent-Slaying Nine Forms 100%
Nether-Communion Mantra 8%
To improve the Wind Spirit talent, he needed to roam the forest, using the wind to sense the omnipresent flow of information and perceive danger in advance.
This was one of the reasons Wu Tian insisted on entering the mountains daily with the hunting team.
It wasn't just to help the village gather food—the ever-present dangers of the savage forest were immensely beneficial to his growth.
"After reaching mid-tier, talent progression becomes slower and slower. Especially Hundred Poisons Immunity—ordinary poisons are completely useless to me now."
"Only the venom of something like the Jade Centipede can continue tempering it."
"Fortunately, Thousand-Mile Divine Movement only requires constant running. As long as I exhaust my body daily and roam the mountains, I can still make progress."
He organized his thoughts carefully.
"Wind Spirit becomes harder the further it advances. Reaching full completion will probably take several more months."
Yet he could faintly sense that once Wind Spirit reached perfection, it might awaken the legendary talent of foreseeing fortune and calamity.
No matter how much time or effort it required, it would be worth it.
"As for Qi Devouring—it used to progress slowly, but cultivating it alongside the Nether-Communion Mantra has actually accelerated its growth."
"In a few more days, it should be able to advance."
Wu Tian looked at Chi Li Mu beside him.
Although he had exited the Qi-Devouring state and could no longer directly perceive her cultivation phenomena, his keen senses and Wind Spirit allowed him to feel the intense, blazing aura surrounding her.
"I wonder—after Qi Devouring advances, how close I'll be to her level?"
He didn't believe that an advancement alone would allow him to rival Chi Li Mu.
Her displayed potential was simply too terrifying—far beyond that of ordinary Immortal-rooted children.
"Is everyone with Immortal roots this monstrous… or is Chi Li Mu especially gifted?"
Chi Li Mu sat cross-legged, her delicate, fair face glowing faintly with a lustrous sheen.
As she recited the Nether-Communion Mantra, the deeper her cultivation became, the quieter the thunderous sounds grew.
When cultivated to perfection, the sound would vanish entirely—like whispers of ghosts and gods, unheard by mortals, able to bridge yin and yang and commune with spirits.
Wu Tian shook his fur lightly and chose not to disturb her.
He walked calmly toward the door.
Yet the moment he stepped out of the bamboo lodge, he saw a streak of black wind tearing across the sky at terrifying speed.
"Man Xiong Mu has returned."
His movements froze slightly.
"This time… he's probably here to take Chi Li Mu up the mountain."
Countless thoughts surged through Wu Tian's mind.
He wanted to ascend the mountain with Chi Li Mu.
The village could offer him fewer and fewer resources. Only Skull Mountain could provide greater opportunities.
"With Chi Li Mu's attachment to me, she'll definitely want to bring me along. But… will Man Xiong Mu agree?"
He wasn't sure.
He had thought about this many times—whether he could ascend the mountain depended neither on him nor on Chi Li Mu.
Only Man Xiong Mu's approval mattered.
"I hope it works…"
Wu Tian felt a rare sense of unease.
Even if he stayed in the village, he could continue improving—the Nether-Communion Mantra alone would take one or two years to perfect.
But once Chi Li Mu ascended the mountain, his chances of following later would become vanishingly small.
Even if their bond was strong now, people changed.
After decades of cultivation on the mountain—who could say what the future would hold?
Wu Tian didn't want to give up this opportunity—the most likely chance he would ever have.
He sprinted toward the center of the village.
With Thousand-Mile Divine Movement, his speed was terrifying—a streak of white light flashing past.
In moments, he arrived before the bronze cauldron.
The hunting team had already gathered, waiting.
Wu Tian now held a unique status within the team.
Because of him, the dangers of the forest had diminished greatly—and the harvests had grown richer and richer.
Even the Dog King, Yin Shuang, was no longer his equal.
"Haha! Bai Long'er is here—we can set off!" Gu Xiong Mu laughed loudly.
"Woof! Woof!"
Wu Tian barked toward Yin Shuang, then howled toward the sky.
Gu Xiong Mu looked up and saw black wind descending—landing precisely within the village, likely at the clan chief's bamboo lodge.
He glanced at Wu Tian, who was visibly restless, and chuckled.
"You little fellow—want to see the Envoy, don't you? Sharp as ever."
After a moment's thought, he said,"Man Xiong Mu is probably here to take Chi Li Mu away. You likely won't see each other again for a long time."
"Don't go hunting today. Go back and see her off."
Knowing that Bai Long'er could understand him, Gu Xiong Mu gave the order and immediately led the rest of the hunting team away.
Wu Tian barked twice at Yin Shuang, reminding them to be cautious.
Then he turned and sprinted toward the bamboo lodge where Chi Li Mu was staying.
"This chance to ascend Skull Mountain…"
"I must seize it."
(End of Chapter)