Wu Tian naturally noticed Man Xiong Mu as well.
His eyes rolled once. Then, with a sudden leap, his body vanished straight into the wind.
"Hm?"
Man Xiong Mu watched Wu Tian disappear right before his eyes. Before he could even react, a sharp bark sounded from behind him.
Startled, he nearly lashed out with a burst of Netherwind.
When he turned around, Wu Tian was already standing less than three feet behind him.
Man Xiong Mu's pupils shrank violently as he blurted out,"How did you do that?!"
Wu Tian wagged his tail and dashed over excitedly, spinning in circles as he barked nonstop."Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Man Xiong Mu finally lost his composure. He shot the overexcited dog a glare."Enough nonsense. Speak. What exactly is going on?"
Wu Tian was so excited that he even rolled on the ground once before finally collapsing at Man Xiong Mu's feet, tongue hanging out as he panted heavily. His stamina had been drained almost dry.
"Master… I think I've awakened a new talent," Wu Tian transmitted weakly."I can ride the wind… and it seems I can even merge into it."
"Wind Escape?!"
Man Xiong Mu shouted in shock, his eyes nearly popping out. He immediately bent down and grabbed Wu Tian, inspecting him from front to back, left and right, with extreme seriousness.
"I'm seriously starting to suspect you're an offspring of a Demon King."
"No… could it be that some Demon King accidentally lost you in the White Hound Village?"
Wu Tian's face nearly turned green.
He was a male—healthy, strong, dignified Southern Border White Hound. Being grabbed and flipped around by an old man like this was far too much.
When Man Xiong Mu's hands started wandering a little too enthusiastically, Wu Tian finally snapped. Ignoring his exhausted body, he rolled sideways. A faint breeze swept through—and he slipped straight out of Man Xiong Mu's grasp.
This time, Wu Tian vanished right in front of Man Xiong Mu's eyes.
Yet Man Xiong Mu was still too slow to stop him. He could only watch Wu Tian reappear a moment later, tumbling out of the wind like a dead dog and crashing onto the ground, panting violently.
"This is Wind Escape. There's no mistake," Man Xiong Mu muttered.
"Back when I was younger, disciples from major Central Plains sects came to the Southern Border to hunt demons. I've seen someone use Wind Escape before."
"Among all techniques, escape arts are the most precious—and the most profound."
"They are the number one method for preserving one's Dao."
His voice was filled with awe and longing.
"Our Skull Mountain only has one escape art—the Earth Escape of the sect master's lineage, the White Bone Demon God Path."
"That was the foundation that allowed our ancestral founder to establish a foothold in the Hundred Thousand Mountains."
"Demons are everywhere here. Demon Kings rampage from time to time. Back then, the founder relied on Earth Escape and the White Bone Demon God to survive and claim territory."
Man Xiong Mu looked at Wu Tian with blazing intensity."White Dragon… your bloodline is absolutely extraordinary. There is no way you're just an ordinary Southern Border White Hound."
"At the Refining Arts Realm, cultivators plant Dharma Seeds to cultivate spells. Great demons awaken innate demon arts."
"Though the names and paths differ, both ultimately draw upon the laws of heaven and earth."
"The difference is this—cultivators nurture true qi within, shaping it through natural forms to comprehend intent, then forge a true cauldron to grasp laws."
"But demons awaken power directly through their bloodlines. They are born strong."
"For demons, bloodline determines their foundation—and their future."
"You've awakened Wind Escape. If you cultivate steadily, becoming a great demon is all but guaranteed."
"Only breaking through to Demon King remains the greatest shackle of all demonkind."
"Bloodline grants power… and also imposes limits."
Wu Tian listened until his head started spinning. Completely confused, he finally transmitted,"So… what's your point?!"
Man Xiong Mu fell silent.
He stiffened slightly.
His hands felt itchy.
Jealousy.
Yes—definitely jealousy.
This damn dog had casually obtained a technique that took him decades of cultivation to achieve.
And not just any technique.
An escape art—the foremost of all arts.
Advance or retreat at will. Kill or flee freely. Innately aligned with a fundamental law of heaven and earth.
Why are escape arts called the greatest Dao-protecting techniques?
Because they kill, preserve life, and fundamentally enhance one's affinity and comprehension of natural laws.
Among countless cultivation methods, escape arts are among the rarest and hardest to master. Without sufficient talent and comprehension, even if one is handed an escape art, entry is impossible.
Yet this silly-looking dog had simply awakened Wind Escape.
"Calm down. Don't get angry. Don't be jealous," Man Xiong Mu silently reminded himself."He's a dog. Humans shouldn't argue with dogs."
After steadying his emotions, he put on a calm, unfathomable expression and said,"Nothing. Let's go back to the cave."
However—
As he passed by the dog sprawled on the ground, panting…
Oops.
Totally accidentally.
He stepped on Wu Tian's tail.
Definitely an accident.
Wu Tian instantly sprang up, baring his teeth and barking furiously."Woof! Woof! Wooooof!"
"Oh?"
Man Xiong Mu turned around, hands clasped behind his back to hide his clenched fists."White Dragon, are you dissatisfied with your master?"
"Do you think awakening Wind Escape makes you bold enough to bare your teeth at me?"
"I—I didn't—!" Wu Tian's eyes widened in terror. He tucked his tail and carefully backed away.
Too late.
Man Xiong Mu's cloak suddenly surged upward, transforming into a violent black wind. The wind coiled in midair—
And a snow-white Cloud Leopard leapt out.
It was incredibly fast, as if stepping upon the wind itself. In the blink of an eye, it pounced toward Wu Tian.
Wu Tian tried to run.
But he had already exhausted too much stamina from playing around—especially after repeatedly using Wind Escape.
The fact that he was still standing was already impressive.
Before he could even fully turn around, the Cloud Leopard slammed him into the ground.
"Look at you," Man Xiong Mu said calmly, hands behind his back."Your courage is outrageous. Baring your teeth at your master?"
"If I don't discipline you properly now, won't you cause a catastrophe once you reach the Central Plains?"
"I'm doing this for your own good."
The Cloud Leopard was far less gentle.
With a flick of its tail, Wu Tian was flung straight into the air.
Then it stepped on the wind again and pounced from above.
"No—Master! I was wrong! Aaaah—woof—!"
Wu Tian finally understood.
His seemingly calm and mature master was burning with jealousy and wanted to work off his frustration.
"Oh dear," Man Xiong Mu said with a benevolent tone."Even your speech is sloppy—you insist on barking instead of communicating properly. Bad habit."
"You'll be laughed at outside. Needs fixing."
"Your master will help you correct it."
With an expression full of goodwill, he continued,"Watch carefully. Learn well. The combat arts of the Qi Yun Cave pair perfectly with your Wind Escape."
"If you master them, you'll move with the wind itself—killing at will."
"Unless you encounter a direct counter, you'll be able to come and go freely even under the nose of a great demon."
As he spoke, Man Xiong Mu's eyes turned pitch black, deep and terrifying like the night sky.
He slowly raised his right hand.
A spiral of black wind formed in his palm, countless runes weaving together. The wind surged upward, transforming into a gigantic hand several meters tall.
Wu Tian felt the sky darken instantly.
Dark clouds pressed down. Yin wind howled.
The Cloud Leopard vanished into the wind.
Man Xiong Mu flipped his palm.
The massive hand followed.
He looked at Wu Tian and smiled faintly.
Then—
He pressed downward.
Boom—!
With the deafening roar of a raging storm, the giant hand slammed down violently.