Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Avoid her edge? Don't be ridiculous."
"This is called strategic maneuvering…"
Wu Tian muttered to himself inwardly.
He was not some hot-headed fool who insisted on charging straight into trouble just to prove a point. Having just entered the sect, the most important thing was to grow steadily and quietly. Stirring up trouble and drawing the attention of high-ranking cultivators would be nothing short of suicidal.
Thanks to his Wind Spirit talent and his keen canine senses, Wu Tian could clearly recognize the aura of Fei Tianyun and Gu Lido. Long before encountering them, he would sense their presence through the wind and calmly alter his route.
Entering Skull Mountain had caused his Wind Spirit talent to grow at several times its previous speed.
The reason was simple—this place was far more dangerous than the wilderness.
Eight great halls, thirty-six cultivation caves, and countless disciples… almost every presence here carried hidden danger. Those faint threats flowed endlessly through the wind, stimulating his perception and pushing his talent forward.
Skull Mountain was no ordinary cultivation ground.
It was a den of danger.
Wu Tian remained extremely cautious, following the safest path guided by the wind as he quietly approached the Transmission Hall.
Two days ago, Man Xiongmu had personally brought him here and spoken with the disciples in charge of food and daily affairs. In exchange for three feet of soul thread, Wu Tian was granted permission to come here twice daily for meals.
The very next day, Man Xiongmu entered seclusion.
From then on, Wu Tian had to make the trip alone.
Fortunately, with Wind Spirit guiding him, everything went smoothly.
Before dawn fully broke, Wu Tian slipped in through the small northern entrance of the Transmission Hall and arrived at the Meal Hall.
Two fifth-generation disciples were in charge of this place.
Both were over fifty years old, with mediocre talent. After decades of cultivation, they had yet to break through to the Foundation Forging stage and remained stuck in the Qi-Nourishing realm. Such disciples were not uncommon—many left the mountain, while others stayed behind as attendants in various halls, exchanging labor for merit to sustain their cultivation.
The man was named Huang Ren, known to everyone as Master Huang, though behind his back he was often called Fat Huang. He was broad-faced and always smiling, but notoriously stingy, never serving even half a spoon extra.
The woman was Wu Lian, affectionately called Aunt Wu. Though advanced in years, she was sharp-tongued yet kind-hearted. Every time she filled Wu Tian's bowl, she worried he wouldn't have enough.
As soon as Wu Tian arrived, Aunt Wu noticed him.
"We haven't even eaten yet, and this beast comes right on time," she muttered.
Despite her words, her hands didn't hesitate. She poured a full bowl of food—thick bones with meat still clinging to them, glistening with oil and releasing a rich aroma.
Wu Tian hurried over, wagged his tail, and rubbed his head against her skirt affectionately.
Aunt Wu immediately laughed and scolded, "Enough with your tricks. Go eat already. I still have plenty to do."
Fat Huang muttered nearby, "You little beast, stop taking advantage of my wife and get lost."
Wu Tian deliberately barked twice at him.
Seeing Fat Huang reach for the cleaver, Wu Tian instantly tucked his tail and dashed away, burying his head into the bowl and devouring the food with gusto.
Fat Huang continued grumbling under his breath.
Aunt Wu slammed her iron ladle onto the counter with a loud clang."Fat Huang, are you done yet?"
Fat Huang immediately shut up.
He knew better than to provoke his fiery wife.
The two of them, one miserly and one hot-tempered but soft-hearted, argued often but had lived peacefully together for decades. In their later years, they were blessed with a daughter—Wu Xia'er—who was now cultivating in the Transmission Hall, giving them something to truly look forward to.
Wu Tian's steel-hard teeth made short work of the bones. In no time, the bowl was spotless, oil and all. He lay down contentedly, tongue hanging out.
Before long, chanting could be heard from behind the wall.
The disciples had begun their morning lesson.
They were reciting the White Bone Sutra of Deliverance, a scripture said to have been written by the founding patriarch himself and said to contain profound truths.
In reality, no one had ever heard of anyone comprehending enlightenment from it. More often, it served as a beginner's text for learning the sect's doctrine and written language.
The sutra was just over three hundred characters long—short, yet obscure. Without explanation, its meaning was nearly impossible to grasp.
Wu Tian listened carefully and memorized every word.
Once the morning lesson ended and the disciples began arriving for breakfast, Wu Tian quietly slipped away.
Back at Cloud Perch Cave, he began his daily cultivation.
He did not enter the deeper cultivation chambers—those places were not meant for him yet. Instead, he leapt onto a stone chair in the front hall and lay comfortably atop it.
As he recited the Nether Communion Incantation, his Feeding on Radiance and Dew talent activated.
Heaven and Earth Essence gathered, transforming into streams of azure radiance that flowed into his mouth and nose.
He inhaled and exhaled radiance, nourishing his body.
The sensation was intoxicating.
When mental fatigue set in, Wu Tian turned to the shelves lining the cave and picked up the White Bone Sutra of Deliverance, slowly learning to read. Though no one taught him, his understanding grew steadily.
When reading tired him, he dashed out to the cliffside, sprinting across jagged stone to hone his movement and talents.
With Wind Spirit guiding him, he never strayed into forbidden territory.
At night, he returned once more to the Transmission Hall.
By then, the disciples had already eaten, but Aunt Wu always saved him a portion.
This time, Wu Xia'er was there.
"Wow! Bai Long'er, you're here again!"
The eight-year-old girl had been cultivating here for three years. With solid talent and her parents quietly helping her, her Nether Communion Incantation was already quite advanced.
She was lively and bright, often dressed in red, chattering endlessly. She scooped Wu Tian into her arms and rubbed his snowy fur.
Wu Tian nuzzled her neck, making her giggle uncontrollably.
After playing for a while, he devoured the food Aunt Wu left for him.
Then, the two cultivated together.
Wu Xia'er's spiritual root aligned with wind and fire, and cultivating beside her made things easier for Wu Tian. Wind Spirit howled, fiery radiance shimmered—like glowing sunset clouds.
After cultivation, the exhausted girl was taken away to rest.
Wu Tian ran back through the night.
For him, running itself was cultivation.
"See you tomorrow, Bai Long'er!" Wu Xia'er's voice echoed behind him.
"Woof!"
Wu Tian barked in reply, vanishing into the darkness.