Wu Tian truly enjoyed these days of isolated cultivation.
They were dull, repetitive, and painfully monotonous—but with the system panel, he could clearly sense every tiny step of progress he made.
If possible, he would have liked to continue cultivating like this indefinitely—steadily advancing until he reached peak Cauldron Forging, then obediently following that senior back to the Central Lands.
Unfortunately, cultivation was never that simple.
After fully opening his apertures, the next step was Qi Circulation—and that required a Qi Circulation Diagram.
The Moon-Devouring Qi Circulation Diagram of Wild Dog Cave was a high-grade method. Wu Tian had long since considered it his inevitable prize.
"Master Man Xiong said he'd be back within a month," Wu Tian muttered to himself, "but it's already been two…"
Just as the thought crossed his mind, his eyes suddenly lit up. He sprang to his feet.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Wu Tian barked excitedly. He had sensed Man Xiong's aura outside the restricted area.
"Master really picked the perfect timing," he thought, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
If Man Xiong had returned any later, his cultivation would have been stalled.
"Woof!"
He barked toward the sky in farewell.
The world remained silent. Zhu Ye Shuang did not respond.
Wu Tian opened his mouth and swallowed the black net and the palm-sized banner. His Abdominal Storage Technique had improved recently—aside from the bell, he could now store two additional artifacts.
Still, once everything was swallowed, his belly felt uncomfortably bloated. That was why he usually didn't store everything inside at once.
But since he was leaving, he naturally had to bring all his belongings with him.
He glanced back toward the hot spring, lowered his forepaws, and bowed respectfully. After paying his respects, he turned and ran toward Man Xiong's location.
Man Xiong knew Wu Tian had been cultivating within the restricted area, so after returning to the mountain, he waited in the forest not far outside.
Wu Tian sprinted through the woods and soon found him.
The moment he did, his pupils contracted.
Man Xiong was covered in blood—some already dried, some still fresh. His exposed arms bore visible wounds, and his entire body radiated exhaustion.
"Woof! Woof!"
Wu Tian rushed to his side, barking anxiously, then quickly remembered he still had a sound-transmission talisman. He immediately spoke through it.
"Master, what happened to you?"
Man Xiong shook his head. "It's nothing. I ran into a Great Demon and fought it."
"I thought I'd be back within a month, but after going down the mountain, I realized something was wrong around the Eighteen Stockades. More and more monsters have been appearing."
"Over a hundred newly awakened spirits, many full-fledged demons—and even three Great Demons. If I hadn't been fast, I might've been swallowed whole."
Wu Tian felt his heart tighten.
Great Demons were comparable to peak cultivators of the Spell Refinement Realm. If even Man Xiong had nearly died, their power was terrifying.
"Master," Wu Tian asked, "why did this happen so suddenly? Didn't you say the monsters around the Eighteen Stockades were all raised by Skull Mountain?"
"I don't know either," Man Xiong replied. "Something feels off. Even near White Hound Village, demons have started appearing."
"I was worried the village would be attacked, so I killed several demons—but that drew the attention of a Great Demon."
Wu Tian didn't feel a deep attachment to White Hound Village. Aside from Chi Li Mu, the one he was closest to had been Silver Frost, the hound king of the hunting party.
"Master… the village is still safe, right?"
Man Xiong nodded. "Great Demons are as cunning as humans—sometimes more so. It fears the cauldron artifact at the village center. That artifact carries the aura of the Beast-Soul Banner from the mountain."
"So it only drives lesser spirits to wreak havoc, even forcing them into the village. It doesn't dare enter itself—for now."
"But if this drags on, that may change."
"I sent word to the sect over a month ago. Other disciples have been descending the mountain in response. Only then was I able to return."
Wu Tian's heart pounded.
His Fortune Avoidance talent gave him an unusually sharp intuition—this incident felt closely tied to him, and not in a good way.
"Let's return to the mountain first," Man Xiong said.
Black wind wrapped around them, carrying man and hound swiftly back through the mountain gates.
After returning to Cloud Perch Cave, Man Xiong first reported his mission, exchanged the spoils from hunting demons for needed materials, and gathered information about the situation below the mountain.
By the time everything was settled, night had fallen.
When Man Xiong reached the entrance of his cave dwelling, he saw Tong Guan standing there, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Tong Guan?" Man Xiong frowned. "Why are you here? Don't tell me you're delivering the Moon-Devouring Qi Circulation Diagram."
He didn't believe Tong Guan would ever be that generous.
A thin smile twisted across Tong Guan's gaunt, shadowy face. "Junior Brother guessed correctly. I'm here precisely to deliver it."
He produced a jade slip glowing with gentle light—clearly no ordinary item.
"Then many thanks," Man Xiong said coldly, reaching for it.
Tong Guan stepped back, avoiding his hand. "No rush."
"You're backing out?" Man Xiong's expression darkened.
Tong Guan waved his hand. "A bet is a bet—I'm not that petty. But you know this diagram is a direct inheritance of the sect master's lineage. I can't pass it on freely."
"So I visited the senior brother at the Bone Hall and reported the matter."
"He agreed—but set one condition."
Man Xiong's voice remained flat. "What condition?"
"Simple. You and that white hound will patrol the mountain for three years, earning merit for the sect."
"Otherwise, if everyone coveted the core lineage inheritance, wouldn't the sect fall into chaos?"
"And with the trouble below the mountain lately, manpower is scarce. You know that better than anyone."
"If you agree, the diagram is yours."
Man Xiong remained silent, then sent a message to Wu Tian.
"White Dragon, what do you think? Do you truly need this diagram?"
Wu Tian activated his Fortune Avoidance talent, sensing the outcomes of both choices.
Heavenly currents shifted.
If he refused, opportunities faded—and dark clouds pressed down overhead.
If he agreed, opportunities descended from above. He even glimpsed scattered fortune lights below the mountain—white, crimson, azure—tempting beyond measure.
"Master, I'm willing to go down the mountain," Wu Tian replied. "I just don't want to burden you."
Man Xiong responded calmly, "It's fine. I was planning to travel again anyway. A cultivator of the Spell Refinement Realm cannot stagnate."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. I'm willing."
Man Xiong withdrew his focus and said coldly, "Tong Guan. Hand over the thousand-year Ironwood Heart and the Qi Circulation Diagram. I agree."
Tong Guan's smile turned faintly feral. "They've long been prepared."
He pulled out a pale jade slip and a three-foot-long, fist-thick core of deep-green ironwood, tossing them over.
"Junior Brother," Tong Guan said lightly, "I hear there are Great Demons below the mountain. Do be careful…"
"Hahahaha!"
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
Man Xiong caught the items, his expression grim. He stared at Tong Guan's retreating figure, snorted coldly, and finally returned to his cave.