"As long as you condense even a single transformation, you will be able to comprehend Dharma Intent. The more transformations you master, the deeper your understanding of the Laws of Wind will become."
"You have awakened Wind Escape. Among all technique-based transformations, this is the most profound one. It contains the purest essence of wind-aligned law."
"Even if you only know how it works, but not why it works, the mere existence of Wind Escape will make it far easier for you to comprehend other transformations than it is for anyone else."
Man Xiong Mu did not continue speaking.
Instead, he extended a finger.
A stream of light condensed from twelve runes shot forward and sank directly into Wu Tian's forehead.
After doing this, Man Xiong Mu turned around and walked back toward his cave dwelling.
Everything he had said was true.
However, there was one thing he did not tell Wu Tian.
These twelve transformations were also known as the Twelve Transformations of Ghost and God—one of the two core inheritances of Cloud Perch Cave.
The other inheritance was the Netherwind Art.
Together, the Netherwind Art and the Twelve Transformations of Ghost and God formed the very foundation of Cloud Perch Cave's lineage.
The Netherwind Art was a cultivation method born from the fusion of the Laws of Wind and Death.
When combined with the Twelve Transformations, it allowed the cultivator to manifest three heads—lion, tiger, and leopard—six arms wielding blade, staff, rope, bow, and arrow, and a body mounted upon a warhorse.
When fully fused, it produced the manifestation of a Three-Headed, Six-Armed Ghost God.
By fusing the Dharma Seed with this ghost-god form, one could condense a Ghost God Dao Embryo.
This was also the absolute upper limit of the Cloud Perch Cave lineage.
At best, one could condense a Dao Embryo—but never achieve the Primordial Spirit realm.
In fact, even Man Xiong Mu himself had not cultivated the Twelve Transformations to completion.
He had only mastered four transformations: hand, rope, blade, and leopard.
With his back to Wu Tian, a trace of sorrow surfaced on Man Xiong Mu's face.
The inheritance of Cloud Perch Cave was simply too shallow.
Whether it was the Netherwind Art or the Ghost and God Transformations, both only scratched the surface of the laws of heaven and earth.
The Ghost God Dao Embryo they could condense was of the lowest quality.
"The lineage of the Sect Master practices the White Bone Demon God Path. At most, it can cultivate thirty-six transformations."
"The Hundred Beast Soul Path was originally a simplified method split off from the White Bone Demon God Path."
"With thirty-six transformations, the White Bone Demon God Transformation can condense a Fourth-Grade Dao Embryo, far superior to our Ghost God Dao Embryo—only then does one have a chance to reach the Primordial Spirit realm."
"But even so, a Primordial Spirit formed through the White Bone Demon God Path…"
Man Xiong Mu's voice grew heavy.
"Other than the founding ancestor, no one has ever become a Loose Immortal through it."
He stepped into his secluded cultivation chamber.
The stone door slowly closed, dim light casting shadows across his face, making it appear dark and oppressive.
"It's said that the great sects of the Central Plains possess Dao Embryo methods with seventy-two transformations—capable of condensing Eighth-Grade Dao Embryos."
"I can't even imagine how terrifying that would be."
"If I wish to obtain a Seventh-Grade or higher Dao Embryo method in this lifetime…"
His eyes flickered.
"My only hope may be White Dragon."
"Chi Limu may have become that senior's disciple, but we share neither bonds nor obligations."
"High-grade Dao Embryo methods are priceless treasures—I have no chance of obtaining one from her."
"But White Dragon is different."
"There is a bond of master and disciple between us."
"With the talent he has shown, perhaps one day he can obtain such a method for me."
Man Xiong Mu sat down cross-legged on his cushion.
The chamber door sealed completely.
These thoughts had never crossed his mind before.
White Dragon's earlier aptitude had been limited, and he had not been taken in as a disciple by that senior figure.
But today—
White Dragon awakened Wind Escape.
Man Xiong Mu could no longer remain calm.
Jealousy was real.
Joy was also real.
And along with them came hopes he had never dared to harbor before.
That was why he had directly transmitted the Twelve Transformations of Ghost and God to White Dragon—to deepen their bond.
This somewhat utilitarian choice disturbed his heart.
Because with White Dragon's talent, he was destined to obtain far more profound transformation methods in the future.
The Ghost and God Transformations were only a stepping stone.
"Alas…"
Man Xiong Mu let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and returned to cultivation.
"The path to the Primordial Spirit is truly difficult."
Wu Tian was completely unaware of Man Xiong Mu's complicated thoughts.
All of his attention was focused on the Twelve Transformations he had just received.
Naturally, his system panel updated.
Twelve Transformations of Ghost and GodGrade: Second-Grade TechniqueDescription: Grants twelve transformations—hand, foot, mouth; lion, tiger, leopard; blade, staff, rope; bow, arrow, horse. Upon completion, one may manifest a Three-Headed, Six-Armed Ghost God Form.Note: When combined with a compatible Dharma Seed, it can condense a Second-Grade Dao Embryo.
Many of the terms appearing on the system panel were completely new to Wu Tian.
Second-grade technique.Ghost God Form.Dharma Seed.Second-grade Dao Embryo.
Even an idiot would understand that Man Xiong Mu had not transmitted an ordinary method.
This was a profound inheritance that reached the Dao Embryo realm.
"A three-headed, six-armed Ghost God form… interesting."
After careful inspection, Wu Tian realized that this technique was fundamentally different from ordinary skills.
It was effectively twelve separate techniques.
Each transformation had to be cultivated independently.
"It looks like I need to choose one or two transformations to focus on first."
"We leave the mountain tomorrow. At night, all my time must go into cultivating the Moon-Devouring Circulation."
"And I still have four incantation arts that haven't reached completion."
"There's very little time during the day. I need to make choices."
After careful consideration, Wu Tian first eliminated the lion, tiger, and leopard transformations.
He was already a beast—there was no need to cultivate beast-form transformations.
"For me, the most practical options are hand, blade, staff, and rope."
"Hand is universally useful—attack, restraint, and daily tasks."
"Blade and staff are offensive techniques that can compensate for my lack of direct killing methods."
"As for rope… it overlaps with my wish-fulfilling rope, but stacking the two might produce unexpected results."
After further thought, Wu Tian eliminated the rope transformation as well.
"Between blade and staff, I only need one. Compared to staff, blade is sharper and more lethal."
"So the best choice is hand and blade."
"I'll give it a try…"
He immersed his mind in the hand and blade transformations, comprehending the runes Man Xiong Mu had transmitted.
Time passed unnoticed.
By the time Wu Tian snapped out of it, night had already fallen.
His head throbbed, his mind flooded with rotating runes.
"No… it's too complex. Too obscure."
"This is far harder than even superior incantation arts."
"Let alone cultivating two transformations at once—even mastering a single one isn't something I can accomplish in the short term."
Left with no choice, Wu Tian abandoned the hand transformation—One Breath Grasping Hand—and chose to focus solely on the blade transformation.
Once he made progress there, he could consider others.
The blade transformation was known as Wind-Rending Blade.
It contained vast arrays of runes describing the nature of wind, blade techniques, mental will, and how to fuse them into a true Wind-Rending Blade.
Just glancing at it made his scalp tingle.
Wu Tian slowly withdrew his focus.
For now, he set the Wind-Rending Blade aside.
Instead, his gaze turned cold as he looked toward the direction of the dining hall.
"Tomorrow, we leave the mountain."
"Some grudges are finally due to be settled."