After hesitating for a long time, Wu Tian eliminated Hidden Armament as his first choice.
The quality of weapons could always be improved later through various means. Compared to that, the other two talents were far rarer.
Yet the remaining options still made the decision painfully difficult.
"In ancient legends, there were Demon Kings who could swallow entire armies in a single breath, ravaging the mortal world. Swallowing a city was nothing to them—let alone the mythical Heavenly Hound that devoured the sun and moon…"
"The Devour the Mountain talent isn't just about storage. Its future potential is terrifying."
"On Skull Mountain, I've never even seen anyone with true spatial treasures like storage rings or storage pouches. At best, people use sleeves refined with the Wish Art—small on the outside, but capable of holding a sack of supplies."
"As for legendary treasures that contain vast inner worlds… I've never even heard of such things."
"The Iron Stomach talent is also terrifying. If it keeps evolving, it could allow me to devour metal, forge an iron body, and gain terrifying recovery abilities. That's an extremely powerful combat talent."
"One leans toward spatial profundity and rarity. The other is a growth-type combat talent."
After long consideration, Wu Tian ultimately chose Devour the Mountain.
He had his own belongings, and in the future his spoils and resources would only continue to increase. Keeping everything inside his own body was far safer.
As for combat talents, those could be compensated for through spells, artifacts, and future awakenings. He was certain he would obtain more combat-related talents sooner or later.
But a talent like Devour the Mountain?
That was truly once-in-a-lifetime.
Once the decision was made, Wu Tian hesitated no longer.
The moment he chose it, the former Stomach Pouch Art underwent a fundamental transformation.
It was as if a cavern had opened within his body—a dim, boundless space. Though still vague, Wu Tian could sense that its size roughly matched his own body.
After months of cultivation, his physique had grown to nearly four feet in length. As a Southern Border White Hound, he had already reached full maturity.
"Haha! No matter what, I finally have my own private inner space—though I can't live in it."
Brimming with excitement, Wu Tian dashed back into the cave dwelling and opened his mouth.
A powerful suction erupted.
The Millennium Ironwood Core resting on the table was instantly swallowed whole.
"Excellent, excellent! From now on, anything valuable goes straight into my belly."
"Once it enters my mouth, no one's taking it back!"
His thoughts raced to the countless natural treasures scattered throughout the mountains. He could hardly wait to start collecting them all.
He rushed outside again to experiment.
The moment he opened his mouth, a terrifying pulling force exploded outward.
Sand, stones, and dust were ripped from the ground and swept into the air, swirling violently before being swallowed into his body.
Even Man Xiongmu, who had been meditating inside, was startled and hurried out.
He saw a white hound standing there, baring its fangs. Its mouth looked like a bottomless abyss, pulling in rocks and earth like a raging vortex.
Even the bitter bamboo growing beside the cave rattled violently, its leaves shaking as if it might be uprooted from the stone cracks.
Only then did Wu Tian stop.
But he wasn't finished.
With a thunderous roar, he exhaled violently.
A furious gale burst forth, spewing out all the sand and stones he had just swallowed. The debris blasted outward, carried by wild winds.
In an instant, sand and rocks flew everywhere, plunging the surroundings into chaos and darkness.
"Heavens above… what kind of terrifying talent did White Dragon awaken?!"
Man Xiongmu stood there dumbfounded.
That single inhale and exhale already carried the oppressive presence of a great demon.
Moments later, Wu Tian finished expelling everything. The winds gradually faded, leaving only a mess of scattered stones across the ground.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Wu Tian barked excitedly, dashing back and forth at the cave entrance.
This talent far exceeded his expectations—it was even more perfect than he had imagined.
"The suction and repulsion depend on the size of my internal space. If this talent evolves further…"
"One breath to darken heaven and earth. One roar to send sand and stones flying."
"That's just insanely cool!"
"Not to mention—if I store blades and rocks inside and unleash them all at once…"
Man Xiongmu laughed loudly at the sight.
"You little fellow… your talent is truly extraordinary. I'm starting to doubt whether you were ever just an ordinary white hound from the village."
"You might carry the bloodline of a great demon—or perhaps even, with a tiny chance, the bloodline of a Demon King."
"Otherwise, how could you be this outrageous? Hahaha!"
"Perhaps your talent was dormant before, only now being awakened through cultivation."
Wu Tian silently retorted in his heart:
"Bloodline my foot. I'm just an ordinary Southern Border White Hound."
"Everything I have today comes from hard work!"
"Woof—woof—!"
He barked toward the sky, proudly declaring his innocence.
After spending so much time together, Man Xiongmu could now roughly understand Wu Tian's intentions even without telepathic messages.
He laughed heartily.
Cultivation was lonely and harsh, but with this dog around, even the cave dwelling felt lively.
After the excitement died down, Man Xiongmu suddenly sighed.
"I've already confirmed it. This was indeed Senior Brother's decision. The patrol mission was officially issued by the Mountain Watch Hall—three years in total."
"He couldn't possibly be unaware that you carry that senior's decree."
"I truly don't understand what he's trying to do."
Wu Tian lifted his head and glanced toward the White Bone Hall.
That naked malice had already taken shape in his perception, like a ferocious demon ready to devour its prey.
Yet there was no bloodshed intent—only hostility, not murder.
"So… he wants to send me down the mountain?"
Wu Tian shook his head and rubbed against Man Xiongmu's leg.
"It's fine. I just can't figure it out," Man Xiongmu sighed. "If only the Sect Master would leave seclusion soon…"
He stopped dwelling on it.
"Come on. I've already arranged things with the Mountain Watch Hall. We'll have two months to prepare before heading down."
"You should use this rare time to improve your strength."
"Once we descend… there will be no shortage of bloodshed."