Man Xiongmu was discussing with Wu Tian what kind of spell artifact would suit him best.
For most cultivators, during the Qi Nurturing stage, refining a single spell artifact was already considered sufficient.
This was not only because crafting spell artifacts required numerous materials, but more importantly because a spell artifact had to be personally nurtured and tempered over a long period of time in order to reach completion.
Refining too many artifacts would only drain one's focus and hinder cultivation.
Man Xiongmu explained calmly,"On Skeleton Mountain, aside from the sect master's lineage that cultivates the White Bone Demon God Dao, all disciples who follow the Hundred Beasts Yin Soul Dao will refine a beast robe during the Condensation stage to enhance their combat strength."
"With a beast transformation and a single spell artifact for protection, that is already more than enough."
"The ideal choice is for the spell artifact to complement the beast form, forming a complete combat system."
"Of course, this also depends on the available spirit materials and refining methods. After all, the types of spell artifacts we can refine on the mountain are limited."
"Most are banners, staffs, long or short whips. As for me, the artifact I refined is an Yin Wind Banner, which I began nurturing back in the Qi Nurturing stage and refined all the way up."
Wu Tian had long been curious about beast transformations, and hearing this, he couldn't help but ask,"Master… then what beast form should I cultivate during the Condensation stage?"
Man Xiongmu fell silent for a moment.
In truth, he had thought about this question many times—but had never brought it up himself.
Because Wu Tian was already a beast.
For him, the best possible form was actually… human.
Yes—beast transformation did not only apply to beasts.
If one could use the skin, flesh, bones, and blood of spirit beasts to refine beast robes, then naturally, human skin could also be used to refine human robes.
In fact, many people on the mountain knew this well.
The sect master's lineage cultivated what was politely called "human aspects."
But in essence—
They were human skins.
Eighteen aspects.Twenty-eight aspects.
At their core, they were crafted from flayed human skin, refined into painted skins that allowed the wearer to assume human appearance.
In recent years, due to that senior's presence, the sect master's lineage had kept an extremely low profile. Already few in number, they had become even more reclusive.
If Wu Tian could refine a human skin, he wouldn't need to wait until his cauldron was perfected to obtain a human appearance. He could even condense Qi into a human form—something that would greatly benefit his future cultivation.
Man Xiongmu was no saint.
Living deep in the southern wilderness, surrounded by venomous insects, ghosts, demons, and monsters—no one survived here with kindness alone.
But he also had to consider that senior's stance.
To casually kill humans and refine their skins right under her watchful eye would be nothing short of courting death.
Thus, after a brief pause, Man Xiongmu deliberately avoided the topic of human skin and said instead,
"For you, the best choice is naturally the Cloud Leopard of our Qiyun Cave lineage."
"You are originally a white dog. Your body is quite compatible. There are also advanced paths—who knows, one day you might even cultivate the Winged Leopard."
"Actually, the Wild Dog Cave lineage would suit you extremely well too. You are a white dog by birth. If you could obtain their inheritance, it would allow you to fully excavate your bloodline's potential."
"But that lineage is not one we can afford to provoke."
"Their ancestor was once a direct disciple of the sect founder and later became a Yuan Spirit corpse-immortal. Their foundation is profound. Even in decline, they far surpass us."
Man Xiongmu had heard fragments of the reason behind Wild Dog Cave's decline.
It had something to do with that senior.
When she first arrived at Skeleton Mountain, her sword had been stained with rivers of blood. Her reputation had been forged through slaughter.
Without her, Skeleton Mountain would never have known peace.
A lineage that refined skins through slaughter—whether human or beast—was never truly righteous.
Back in the day, blood had flowed freely, demons had fled, ghosts had wailed, and entire tribes had knelt in terror.
Wu Tian knew nothing of human skin techniques.
He was simply thinking that if he could transform into a flying beast—or one that could swim—it would greatly expand his survivability.
Hearing Man Xiongmu's explanation, he felt a bit regretful, but quickly let it go.
After all, cultivators eventually learned techniques to fly, burrow, or traverse seas. There would always be methods later.
Thinking further, Wu Tian realized something unsettling.
All of his current talents were focused on survival and cultivation.
He lacked any direct killing techniques.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked,"Master… I heard that Steward Liu from the Transmission Hall possesses a Soul-Severing Hook—indestructible, capable of killing even souls. Can Qiyun Cave refine something like that?"
Man Xiongmu's expression stiffened slightly.
He replied awkwardly,"Killing weapons are the most precious—and most difficult—among all Dao-protecting artifacts."
"On the entire Skeleton Mountain, only the sect master's lineage possesses the methods and materials to refine true killing weapons."
"Liu Tong was simply blessed by fate. He obtained a piece of high-grade Yin Soul Iron, a premium mid-grade spirit material."
"Even among materials of the same rank, there are inferior, standard, superior, and precious grades."
"More importantly, he encountered a powerful expert during his travels who helped him refine that Soul-Severing Hook."
"Even Liu Tong himself likely couldn't refine a second one."
Wu Tian felt genuine regret.
With such a weapon, paired with his speed, he could dominate among peers.
Banners were the mainstream spell artifacts—but they focused on storing souls, something he disliked.
Staves and clubs would waste Qiyun Cave's Yin Soul Silk inheritance and require additional materials.
A whip… or—
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
What if he refined an extremely sharp and resilient silk thread?
It could restrain enemies.
Or kill them.
"If perfected… transparent and invisible… like a soul-snaring cord."
"Brush it, and you bleed.Bind it, and you die."
"Others have a Soul-Severing Hook—I could have a Soul-Harvesting Thread."
Just as Wu Tian was about to share this thought—
His heart sank.
A wave of danger surged.
The Fortune and Calamity Sense activated on its own.
He abruptly looked up.
The dark clouds overhead had grown heavier.
And within them—
A trace of blood-red light.
Bloodlight.
A sign of imminent death.
Wu Tian's expression turned icy.
True killing intent rose in his heart for the first time.
He turned sharply toward Man Xiongmu and transmitted a single question:
"Master… can one kill within the sect?"
Man Xiongmu froze.
Before he could answer—
A hoarse, dry laugh echoed from outside the cave.
"Is Junior Brother Man here?"
"This is Tong Guan of Wild Dog Cave. I have come to pay a visit. Please come out and meet me."
(End of Chapter)