"Did… did this dog become a spirit creature?" Huang the Fatty blurted out in shock.
Wu Aunt and Wu Xia'er immediately turned to look.
Wu Aunt examined Wu Tian carefully, even circulating her Qi to sense him. After a moment, her eyes widened.
"Well I'll be damned—it really did!"
She couldn't help but laugh in amazement."You little fellow actually broke through at the same time as Xia'er. That's quite the fate."
Wu Xia'er became even more excited. She stroked Wu Tian's fur enthusiastically.
"White Dragon! You broke through too?""Does that mean you're smarter now?"
"I heard that once beasts gain spirit, they become super intelligent!""Can you talk now? Come on, say something!"
Wu Aunt scolded her with a smile."Don't fool around. Only creatures that become true demons can reshape their bodies and speak human language."
"He's not there yet."
Wu Xia'er's eyes spun mischievously. She ran over and hugged her mother's arm.
"Mom, can you give me a Sound Transmission Talisman?"
Wu Aunt shook her head while working."What kind of bad idea are you thinking up now? What do you want a transmission talisman for? You'd be better off cultivating properly."
Sound Transmission Talismans were fairly common auxiliary talismans.
They came in paired Yin and Yang versions and allowed communication within ten li.More advanced versions could transmit across a hundred li—or even a thousand—but those were far beyond the reach of ordinary Skull Mountain disciples.
The talismans Wu Aunt possessed were used to contact disciples responsible for external procurement. The sect issued a small monthly quota.
Talismans were consumables. Depending on quality, each one could only be used a limited number of times.
The sect-issued versions were low-grade—if used daily, a single talisman would last barely half a month.
"Mom, please~" Wu Xia'er pleaded sweetly, shaking her arm."You're the best! Please, please, please!"
Wu Aunt hesitated.
Though not particularly precious, the family lived frugally. As Wu Xia'er advanced further in cultivation, the resources she would need would only increase.
Still, seeing her daughter's hopeful eyes, Wu Aunt's heart softened.
"Fine, fine," she muttered.
She went to the storage room and returned with a pair of talismans—one cyan, one pale white.
"Here. Use them sparingly. Don't waste them."
"You've just entered the Nurturing Qi Realm. Aperture opening comes next—no fooling around."
"Hehe, I knew Mom was the best!" Wu Xia'er cheered.
She ran straight to Wu Tian and pressed the cyan talisman onto his forehead.
"White Dragon, quick—use your Qi to activate it!"
Wu Tian circulated his Nether Qi to his brow.
The talisman glowed cyan, burned like flame, and vanished, leaving behind a glowing rune etched into his forehead.
Wu Xia'er giggled and stuck the white talisman onto her own arm.
A flash of light—A silver rune appeared on her skin.
"It works!" she laughed."White Dragon, go eat your food now!"
She ran off happily.
Huang the Fatty muttered darkly,"A Sound Transmission Talisman costs one minor merit point… and it's wasted on a dog."
The couple worked an entire month together just to earn twenty minor merit points.
Though the sect provided two talismans monthly to the Mess Hall, they often saved them or traded them to other disciples.
They pinched every penny, all to prepare resources for Wu Xia'er's future cultivation.
Seeing the talisman used so casually made Huang the Fatty's heart ache.
Wu Aunt shot him a glare."Xia'er broke through today. Consider it a gift."
"She's well-behaved enough—stop complaining."
Huang the Fatty shut up, but the look in his eyes toward Wu Tian subtly changed.
"If I remember correctly," he thought,"that disciple from Wild Dog Cave has been looking for spirit dogs to practice Beast Transformation and Soul Binding techniques…"
"Just providing information gets ten merit points."
"Catching a spirit dog could earn twenty to fifty…"
His heart began to race.
"Ten merit points for one message—that's a whole month of work."
"I won't even touch the dog myself. Just pass the information—no one will know."
"And Xia'er's about to take a master. She'll need resources."
"Besides," he reassured himself coldly,"a spirit dog never lives long anyway. Sooner or later it'll be skinned and its soul extracted."
The moment that malicious thought formed—
Wu Tian felt it.
His Fortune and Calamity Sense activated instantly.
A faint blood-red glow enveloped Huang the Fatty.
Above Wu Tian's own head, a dark cloud formed.
"He's harboring murderous intent toward me," Wu Tian realized calmly."He may even cause my death."
His gaze turned icy.
At that moment, the cyan rune on his forehead grew warm—vibrating faintly.
Wu Tian guided Nether Qi into it.
"White Dragon! Can you hear me?"Wu Xia'er's voice rang out brightly.
Wu Tian steadied his emotions and replied mentally.
"Xia'er… is that you? I can hear you."
"Ahhh! That's your voice?!" she squealed."It's so cute! You really can talk!"
She ran out of her room and hugged Wu Tian tightly.
"Dad! Mom! White Dragon spoke to me!"
Wu Tian sighed softly within her embrace.
After the excitement, Wu Xia'er left to report her breakthrough at the Transmission Hall.
Once recorded, the sect would assign her to one of the Thirty-Six Caves to formally take a master.
After she left, Wu Tian didn't touch the python meat prepared for him.
Taking advantage of Wu Aunt being distracted, he quietly slipped away.
As he reached the wall outside, he heard Wu Aunt's voice.
"Why didn't the little fellow eat?"
"Good riddance," Huang the Fatty muttered."Feeding that beast is a waste anyway."
Wu Tian glanced back once.
Through the Sound Transmission Talisman, he left a final message.
"Xia'er… starting tomorrow, I won't come to the Mess Hall anymore."
"Please tell Wu Aunt… and, um…"
"Take care. Cultivate well."
A reply echoed faintly—
But Wu Tian had already withdrawn his Nether Qi.
Without looking back, he disappeared into the distance.
(End of Chapter)