Chapter 6

"White Liang? Hehe, what if I turn and run?" Bu Li asked with a smile, his heart filled with countless questions.

"Why do you think I came all the way to the forest? If you dare to run, I'll naturally break both your legs," the old man in black said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to break Bu Li's legs.

Cai Xiaoxian, hearing Hu Wu's words, poked her head out from behind Bu Li, making an angry face and saying, "You're a bad person!"

Although she looked angry, she appeared rather cute. Moreover, Cai Xiaoxian seemed to know no other way to insult people; anyone she disliked was simply a "bad person."

"I'm not a good person either. Your bloodline has awakened; try to control it. Tonight, I'll tell you about the ways of纹刻 (tattooing) and soul techniques," Hu Wu said.

Finally, finally, the day has come!

When Bu Li arrived on the Soul Wave Continent, he came with a sharp knife that looked like a butcher's knife and a powerful self-healing ability. This ability could not be controlled at will, and it had a natural restraint on tattooing, even preventing the accumulation of much soul power. As a result, a former genius became a useless person. Bu Li never gave up, even in the most desperate days, he persisted and worked hard. However, the omnipresent loneliness and despair always left him feeling lost and helpless.

Just when Bu Li was most lost and helpless, Hu Wu appeared in his life. It was as if he was destined to protect Bu Li, telling him some things and guiding him to adapt to life on the Soul Wave Continent. Regarding tattooing and soul power, Hu Wu only said that Bu Li could learn after his bloodline awakened. He then gave Bu Li three tattered pages and never spoke about cultivation again.

Over the years, every time Bu Li returned to Bai Ling Town, he stayed at the Bai Ling Clan temple guarded by Hu Wu, drinking a little wine, smoking a couple of cigarettes, and chatting about various topics. Hu Wu was very tight-lipped, and no matter how much Bu Li probed, he never revealed where he came from, why he stayed in this place, or why he treated Bu Li in such a way.

Hu Wu was well-informed, and from his mouth, Bu Li learned about the origins of the Soul Wave Continent and many anecdotes from other spaces, which made for a pleasant conversation over drinks.

Bu Li straightened his blood-stained clothes, his demeanor extremely solemn, as if he were wearing the most splendid attire and worshipping the sky on a high platform.

"May I ask the honored elder's name?" Bu Li had asked many times, but Hu Wu never said, only saying that everything would be revealed when Bu Li's bloodline awakened. Today, with his bloodline awakened, Bu Li did not rush to ask about the methods of tattooing and soul techniques but first respectfully asked for Hu Wu's name.

Hu Wu's expression was neutral, and he nodded slightly, saying, "Call me Hu Wu."

After saying this, Hu Wu rubbed his fingers, his gaunt face partially hidden by a black hood, his cheek exposed to the starlight, pulling a smile that looked like a cry, "Give me a cigarette."

Bu Li lit a cigarette and handed it to Hu Wu. Cai Xiaoxian, clearly feeling a deep fear of Hu Wu, hid behind Bu Li, not daring to face him directly.

Taking a deep drag on the cigarette, as if savoring it greatly, Hu Wu finally sat down on a green stone after a while, one hand holding the cigarette, the smoke curling and drifting in the night sky. With his other hand, he quickly made several hand signs, and a brilliant mirage spell appeared before them. Pointing to the mirage, Hu Wu began to explain.

"Tattooing comes from soul techniques, where the souls of powerful wild beasts are retained on one's body through certain means," Hu Wu's voice was still incredibly indifferent, like the voice of a ghost from the netherworld. "With the emergence of the path of tattooing, tattooing experts can draw on the strength of the tattooed beasts to enhance their physical abilities. This is a key factor that allows tattooing experts to surpass all soul masters. After several major battles, soul masters were thoroughly defeated, and the Soul Wave Continent has been dominated by the path of tattooing for over ten thousand years. Soul masters are now confined to the northeastern part of the Soul Wave Continent, barely surviving."

"Enough talk. The debate between pure soul techniques and the hybrid soul technique of tattooing, you will encounter in the future. Now, let's talk about tattooing. Tattooing refers to the nine parts of the body where tattooed beasts are inscribed," Hu Wu extended his right index finger, pointing to the man in the mirage, gesturing, "the face, neck, both arms, chest, abdomen, back, and both legs. Over ten thousand years of research has shown that these nine positions can bear the strength of tattooed beasts, so the tattooing experts on the Soul Wave Continent are divided into nine levels. If, like him, all nine parts of the body are tattooed, he is the top expert."

"Is that so." Bu Li pondered for a moment and then said, "I see that White Liang already has two tattooed beasts, so it shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

"Him?" A rare hint of disdain appeared in Hu Wu's tone, "He can't even control one tattooed beast. How could a true tattooing expert be defeated by an ordinary hunter like you?"

"He is talented, the strongest hunter," Bu Li said with a smile.

"No matter how talented, no matter how strong, it's only in comparison to ordinary people. The power of a tattooing expert is from another world. This time, you acted rashly, but by chance, you obtained the ability to awaken your bloodline. In the future, don't do such things. As long as you're alive, there will be countless opportunities to become stronger. Why struggle over a momentary impulse? Can they even catch Cai Xiaoxian?" Although Hu Wu's words were still cold, Bu Li felt a warmth in his heart.

"I understand. I didn't expect it this time either. I thought they were just coming to cause trouble, but who knew White Liang had ulterior motives. Besides, some things shouldn't be risked too much. I can't die, so it's nothing. Besides, even if I wasn't injured, wouldn't you still break both my legs?" Bu Li said seriously, deeply agreeing with the old man's lesson. Then he teased him playfully.

The old man nodded and continued, "Each level of tattooing goes through five stages: skin, flesh, bone, marrow, and soul. In the skin stage, you can summon the tattooed beast, which is stronger than the original wild beast but lacks intelligence and can only follow a few of the owner's commands. In the flesh stage, the tattooed beast becomes stronger, more agile, and more aggressive. In the bone stage, the tattooed beast's defense greatly increases. In the marrow stage, the tattooed beast gains intelligence, like a spirit, uh..."

The old man paused for a moment and said, "Like Dahei, except it can't speak or disobey you, it's basically like that."