For a full hour, Man Xiongmu transmitted the Nether Cloud Circulation Diagram in painstaking detail.
Only after confirming that Wu Tian had memorized every pathway and node did he finally stop.
"This circulation diagram must be studied daily until it becomes instinctive," Man Xiongmu said seriously."Only then will you gain twice the results with half the effort when you begin opening your meridians."
"Besides that, I will also pass on the Cloud Water Mantra and the Wind Gathering Mantra. Once you master these two, you will no longer need to visit the Transmission Hall."
As he spoke, Man Xiongmu demonstrated both incantations in sequence.
The Cloud Water Mantra gathered water-aspected essence from heaven and earth, forming a dark cloud. With a single gesture, droplets of water fell like fine rain.
The Wind Gathering Mantra was even simpler—only fifty-eight ancient tones. With a sweep of the sleeve, a strong gust surged forth.
Wu Tian only needed to watch twice before both techniques were fully recorded into his system panel.
Afterward, Man Xiongmu handed him a Bitter Bamboo seed and returned to his cultivation chamber.
Wu Tian carried the seed in his mouth and planted it carefully into a crack in the stone outside the cave.
Activating the Cloud Water Mantra, he recited seventy-four ancient tones in sequence.
Water-aspected essence gathered swiftly.
Soon, a small dark cloud formed three feet above his head. Sparse droplets fell—but only for a dozen breaths before the cloud dispersed.
Next, he activated the Wind Gathering Mantra.
A strong wind swept across the cave entrance.
The newly planted seed immediately took root and sprouted, while the surrounding Bitter Bamboo stalks rustled violently, growing noticeably taller in an instant.
"As expected of a spiritual plant," Wu Tian thought."Ordinary wind has no effect—only wind infused with essence works."
"Once I entered the Nurturing Qi Realm, consuming ordinary grains would introduce turbidity into my body," Wu Tian reflected."No wonder Man Xiongmu only allowed me to eat Bitter Bamboo leaves after this stage."
"At dawn, I'll make one last trip to the Mess Hall—just to say goodbye."
He leapt up, bit off a few tender bamboo leaves, and chewed.
An overwhelming bitterness exploded across his tongue.
"So bitter…"
"No wonder it clears the mind. With bitterness like this, who could think of distractions?"
He swallowed them with effort. Moments later, his stomach felt full—without even a hint of hunger.
"Cultivation truly is self-inflicted suffering," Wu Tian muttered.
Calming himself, Wu Tian reviewed his techniques.
He now had four incantations to cultivate:
Fire Eye Mantra
Thunder Resonance Mantra
Cloud Water Mantra
Wind Gathering Mantra
With Nether Qi formed, even the Fire Eye Mantra no longer required sunrise—he could guide fire essence directly using Nether Qi. Still, absorbing Morning Violet Qi remained superior.
"I'll run through all four incantations once. With Nether Qi, the effect should be completely different."
He carefully practiced each technique while observing his apertures.
"The Thunder Resonance Mantra is by far the most effective at purifying turbidity," he realized."It surpasses the others by several times."
"Fire Eye Mantra comes second. Wind Gathering third. Cloud Water last."
After experimenting with different sequences, the night passed unknowingly.
"Best results come from Thunder Resonance first, then Fire Eye, followed by Cloud Water, and finally Wind Gathering."
He noticed something strange.
After using Fire Eye, immediately activating Cloud Water dramatically increased its purifying effect—almost matching Fire Eye itself.
"I don't fully understand it," Wu Tian thought,"But it's probably related to the balance of water and fire."
"The Nether Communion Mantra no longer serves me."
"My focus now is fully opening all seventy-two apertures and beginning circulation training."
"From now on, my daily practice is four incantations plus aperture opening."
"At this pace, Opening Apertures won't take long."
Wu Tian settled into a steady rhythm.
After each incantation cycle, turbidity stirred. He immediately used that moment to open apertures.
Once turbidity stabilized again, he resumed incantations.
This was the small efficiency trick Man Xiongmu had taught.
But Wu Tian quickly realized something.
"This isn't just 'slightly' better efficiency…"
"The Thunder Resonance Mantra is the real reason."
"An upper-tier incantation truly lives up to its name."
"With this, my aperture opening speed will far exceed expectations."
By dawn, Wu Tian was mentally exhausted.
Yet his Nether Qi had grown noticeably purer, refined through repeated tempering.
Absorbing fire, water, wind, and thunder essence was far superior to relying on wind alone.
As the sun rose, he activated the Fire Eye Mantra and absorbed a strand of Morning Violet Qi before stopping.
Though tired, warmth flowed into his eyes and straight into his spiritual core.
"This technique nourishes the spirit…"
"Thunder Resonance purifies. Fire Eye nourishes."
"They are worlds apart from sect-standard techniques."
Wu Tian finally understood the gap between true inheritances and ordinary transmissions.
"The senior said that if I perfect my cauldron body within ten years and take human form, she'll bring me back to her sect."
"But according to Man Xiongmu, just completing the Nurturing Qi Realm alone takes ten years…"
"Time waits for no one."
Wu Tian hurried toward the Mess Hall.
From afar, he saw Wu Xia'er waiting by the side gate, dressed in red.
The moment she spotted him, she rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"White Dragon! I broke through! I broke through!"
Her laughter rang like silver bells.
Wu Tian was genuinely surprised.
Wu Xia'er had cultivated for only three years and already completed Foundation Establishment—talent rivaling Man Xiongmu himself.
With such aptitude, entering the Refining Law Realm in the future was not a dream.
In Skull Mountain, a Refining Law cultivator already qualified as an elder.
Most stewards were only at the Cauldron Forging stage.
"White Dragon, am I amazing?" Wu Xia'er laughed brightly.
She carried Wu Tian into the Mess Hall.
Wu Aunt greeted them with a smile.
"You're here, little dog. Xia'er broke through today—so you benefit too."
"I prepared refined python flesh for nourishment. I saved you a portion. Go eat."
Huang the Fatty muttered from the side,"Feeding such precious meat to a dog… what a waste. I wouldn't even eat that myself."
Mid-sentence, his gaze froze on Wu Tian.
"…Wait."
"This dog… doesn't look ordinary."
"Essence overflowing. Spiritual light radiating…"
"…Did it become a spirit creature?"
"…It really became one?!"
(End of Chapter)