"Master… may I bring Bai Long'er with me up the mountain as well?"
Chi Li Mu hurriedly lifted Wu Tian into her arms, looking at the red-robed woman with pleading eyes.
She could instinctively sense how unfathomable and extraordinary her master was, and thus spoke with great caution.
The red-robed woman's gaze fell upon Wu Tian. Her voice was calm and indifferent.
"Your essence is abundant, wind spirits gather around you. Though your bloodline is ordinary, you do possess a measure of talent."
"You are no rare sacred beast, yet the fact that you were able to learn the Nether-Communion Mantra—and have already made progress—shows that you are not lacking in spiritual intelligence."
"With such aptitude, if you can avoid falling into greed and slaughter, there is still hope for you to become a spirit beast."
At these words, Man Xiong Mu's eyes flickered slightly.
"Nether-Communion Mantra?"
He was genuinely surprised. Though the white dog had been present when he taught Chi Li Mu, he never imagined the little fellow could actually cultivate the mantra to the point of entry.
That alone proved Bai Long'er had real talent. Whether he could become a demon was uncertain, but achieving spirit-beast status was certainly possible.
A white dog becoming enlightened—such a thing was exceedingly rare.
Wu Tian felt a surge of nervous tension.The decision of this red-robed woman would determine the course of his future.
"My sect is a righteous great sect of the Central Plains. We do not forbid the acceptance of spirit beasts…"
Her voice paused slightly.
"…but you are not yet qualified."
Those words caused Wu Tian's heart to sink.
Chi Li Mu clutched him tightly, utterly unwilling to part.
Seeing this, Man Xiong Mu sighed and gently persuaded her,"Little Chi Li, be obedient and listen to your master. Once your cultivation is successful, you may still return to see him."
He feared that Chi Li Mu's childish emotions might offend the red-robed woman.
Tears welled in Chi Li Mu's eyes. She bit her lip lightly, still refusing to let go.
Wu Tian's heart was filled with turmoil.
Should he leap down now—break free from her arms and fulfill her immortal destiny?
Or should he rely on their bond and fight for this chance one last time?
Just as he hesitated, the red-robed woman spoke again.
"Since the karmic bond between you and my disciple is difficult to sever, I shall permit you to cultivate within Skull Mountain."
"I will bestow a decree of law. Whether you ultimately become a spirit beast will depend on your own fate and fortune."
She then turned her gaze to Man Xiong Mu.
"Since he was also born of this village and shares some connection with you, I will leave this matter to your handling."
With those words, she flicked her sleeve.
A strand of golden radiance descended, wrapping around Chi Li Mu, transforming into a golden arc that streaked toward Skull Mountain.
Only Man Xiong Mu remained behind, tasked with dealing with the aftermath.
Skull Mountain lay at the outer edge of the Southern Frontier's Hundred-Thousand Mountains.
Its terrain was peculiar—sun-facing to the south, shadowed to the north. Deep beneath the earth ran a ten-thousand-year fire vein.
After countless tectonic upheavals, this vein formed a Fire Aperture within Skull Mountain.
At present, it was not obvious, only manifesting as a hot spring halfway up the mountain where forest streams converged.
Yet if left unrestrained, one day the fire vein would erupt, turning a thousand li of land into scorched earth, extinguishing countless lives.
The red-robed woman was originally an elder of the Taiqing Sect of the Central Plains.Her name was Zhu Ye Shuang.
Due to excessive slaughter and violation of sect rules, she was punished and exiled to the Southern Frontier to suppress the fire vein and accumulate merit.
She cultivated the Path of Metal and Fire. Successfully suppressing the fire vein not only earned her karmic merit but greatly benefited her cultivation.
If successful, she might even condense a Dharma Form and ascend to the realm of a Loose Immortal.
Thus, she had been stationed at Skull Mountain for sixty years.
With her presence, Skull Mountain—once nearly degenerated into a demonic sect, breeding monsters, devouring humans, and ravaging the forests—had grown uncharacteristically quiet and restrained, behaving like a proper righteous sect.
She lived in seclusion near the hot spring halfway up the mountain, an area designated as a forbidden zone. Humans, demons, and spirits alike dared not approach.
Man Xiong Mu's intrusion into this forbidden land was a life-threatening gamble.
After all, Zhu Ye Shuang had already condensed her Primordial Spirit, a being known as a Corpse-Release Immortal.Even if she killed him casually, no one would dare question it.
Her temperament was aloof, her methods ruthless. Toward demonic and heretical paths, she wielded thunderous slaughter.
Her name struck terror throughout the Central Plains and the Eastern Sea.
Yet in recent years, as she merged her Primordial Spirit with heaven and earth while suppressing the fire vein, her temperament had gradually become calmer.
Only then did she manifest a Primordial Spirit incarnation to summon Man Xiong Mu and inquire into his purpose.
At first, upon hearing that a prodigious immortal seed had appeared in a mountain village, she scoffed.
Eighteen villages, over a hundred thousand people—what astonishing talent could arise in such a desolate land?
But after listening to Man Xiong Mu's full account, doubt crept in.
She thought of a terrifying possibility.
Unable to move her true body due to seclusion, she delayed for some time.Once the fire vein was slightly stabilized, she could spare some power.
Thus, she decisively projected her Primordial Spirit, wielded her flying sword, and descended the mountain.
Sword light fell from the heavens, revealing Zhu Ye Shuang and Chi Li Mu.
Chi Li Mu was dazed—one moment still in the village, the next already standing in an unfamiliar forest.
Zhu Ye Shuang gently held her hand, calming the frightened little girl.
Chi Li Mu looked around.
The forest was lush, yet birds and beasts were scarce. Not a single venomous insect or serpent could be seen.
Ahead, a hot spring steamed gently in the chill of early spring, dazzling the eye.
Zhu Ye Shuang said nothing and stepped forward.
When they reached the hot spring, she took a single step.
Chi Li Mu hesitated—but felt warmth from the hand holding hers, and followed.
In the next instant, heaven and earth spun.
The hot spring vanished, replaced by an ancient cave wreathed in radiant clouds.
A stone gate sealed the entrance, engraved with three ancient characters:
Sword-Hidden Cave.
The moment Chi Li Mu saw them, her body tensed.The strokes felt like cleaved bone, like an invisible sword poised to strike—chilling her to the core.
"This is where I cultivate in seclusion and refine my swords," Zhu Ye Shuang said calmly."Once you have established your foundation and begun forging your cauldron, I will teach you the method to come and go freely."
Chi Li Mu nodded.
The stone gate rumbled open.Flaming radiance surged forth, thunder roared, and dragon-like howls echoed violently.
Chi Li Mu's lips pressed together in nervous tension.
Zhu Ye Shuang continued walking, unfazed.
"Merely the ferocity of my sword artifacts not yet subdued. Nothing worth concern."
"You possess the Li Fire Dao Body. Cultivating here will benefit you greatly."
"Come."
Master and disciple entered the cave together.
As the stone gate slammed shut, their figures vanished within.
Back in White Dog Village, Wu Tian felt a deep sense of emptiness.
Though he had wished to ascend Skull Mountain through his bond with Chi Li Mu, that bond itself was genuine.
They had depended on each other—two lonely souls, one an orphaned child, the other a displaced spirit.
Every night, Chi Li Mu would wash his fur and hold him as she slept.
Now she was gone.
His heart felt hollow.
But Wu Tian steadied himself quickly.
"At least I've entered Skull Mountain. As long as we're on the same mountain, we'll meet again one day."
He looked up at Man Xiong Mu, obedient and silent.
The one who had shared his life was gone.
From now on—he would rely only on himself.
Man Xiong Mu gazed at him and sighed softly.
"Bringing you up the mountain… whether this is fortune or calamity, even I cannot say."
He shook his head, then summoned black wind to lift both man and dog.
"Enough. What comes next depends on your destiny."
The black wind surged.
One man.One dog.
Together, they flew toward Skull Mountain.
(End of Chapter)