Chapter 75

Once again, it was the same old line: "You're too weak now." Bu Li didn't know what to say to Hu Wu. "I've only been a Wenhunter for a few days, you know. Even if you don't praise me, you shouldn't always belittle me. Although I know what you said is true, I still sighed, feeling a bit regretful. I really am too weak."

"I feel like my Wenhunter mark has gotten a bit stronger," Bu Li said somewhat ambiguously, unsure how to describe the changes in the vine Wenhunter mark.

Hu Wu, however, already knew and said, "Of course it's stronger. I told you before, Wenhunter marks are divided into five stages. When you entered the Divine Legacy Mountains, you were a beginner Wenhunter. By the time you came out, the old vine had already advanced to the second stage."

"Is there any difference?" Bu Li asked, not understanding.

"Each stage increases your abilities by about 20%. The vine might not leave a deep impression, but if it were a mountain leopard, you would feel the speed increase. However, the old vine has its own advantages. The trick you used on the Elder of the Henshan Sect was quite clever. To come up with such a sneaky plan right after getting a Wenhunter mark, you're not a good guy, but you suit my taste."

"..." Bu Li was speechless, unsure if Hu Wu was praising or belittling him.

It turns out that was the reason. He could feel some changes, like his muscles becoming more resilient, and his defense improving. If he fell into a crevice in the Divine Legacy Mountains now, the vine could support both him and Dahei. Perhaps this was progress.

"Also, I saw him again," Bu Li said, looking at Hu Wu's face under the dim oil lamp, trying to see any change in his expression. But Bu Li was disappointed to find that Hu Wu's expression didn't change at all, as if he already knew everything.

"You already knew?" Bu Li asked, puzzled.

"Of course. In the mirage, that little girl actually used the Eye of Truth in front of you, not knowing her limits!" Hu Wu scolded, clearly not having a good impression of Zhang Xitong.

"What happened next? How did the Ancestor punish that little girl?" Hu Wu asked.

Originally, Hu Wu seemed like a ghost, but now he became very curious. It was clear that this was what Hu Wu really wanted to know. It seemed that every move of the powerful existence in Bu Li's "dream" had become Hu Wu's only reason to live. As for Bu Li's life, if it had nothing to do with that existence, Hu Wu probably wouldn't even glance at him.

"My Ancestor said...," Bu Li said, feeling a bit amused. "I am your Ancestor. That fox, or your clan, won't be at a disadvantage. Since they didn't willingly become Wenhunter beasts, my Ancestor made the Wenhunter fox devour Zhang Xitong's other Wenhunter beasts and share the same body with her. He also said that if it weren't for a past encounter, he would have killed her outright."

Hu Wu clapped his hands and laughed, a cold and fierce laugh that sounded like a hundred ghosts roaming at night, full of vigor and ruthlessness, and extremely satisfying.

Cai Xiaoxian and Dahei didn't know what was happening inside. Hearing the laughter, Dahei, regardless of the fact that his ear was still pinched by Cai Xiaoxian, ran out as far as he could. Cai Xiaoxian was stunned, covering her ears with both hands, hesitating whether to leave but worried about Bu Li. She mustered her courage and pushed the door open, her legs trembling like sieves.

Bu Li quickly stood up, knowing that Cai Xiaoxian was afraid of Hu Wu's aura. Despite the fear, she still came in, probably worried about him. Feeling warm inside, he held Cai Xiaoxian's hand and shielded her behind him.

"My Tianlan clan, though few in number, as long as the Ancestor is there, who would dare to bully us?" Hu Wu's eyes turned red, and shadows flickered behind him as he spoke in a low, fierce voice.

"Uh... Are you a fox too?" Bu Li asked cautiously, though the possibility of Hu Wu going crazy was small, he still had to be careful.

"Back then, they killed my Tianlan clan members. I went to the Heavenly Dao Sect several times, but there were too many experts, and I couldn't get any benefits. Let's not talk about this..." Hu Wu waved his hand, ignoring Bu Li's question, and calmed down, sitting at the table. "I guess the Heavenly Dao Sect is cautious, so you got some benefits. Don't rush, take it slow, it will be faster."

Bu Li was a bit dissatisfied, comforting Cai Xiaoxian until she calmed down, then asked, "I'm taking Xiaoxian to the Henshan Sect, what should I do with her?"

"Build a hut at the foot of the Henshan Sect mountain. I'll go with you, don't worry about these trivial matters." Hu Wu seemed to have everything planned out, saying calmly, "Cai Xiaoxian is growing up, I'll give her some guidance in cultivation, otherwise it would be a waste of her talent."

Bu Li asked some more trivial questions, but Hu Wu ignored them, looking like he was about to fall asleep. Hu Wu, having learned what he wanted to know, immediately stopped paying attention to Bu Li. Really, he should save the news about the existence in his "dream" for last, to drive this guy crazy. Bu Li thought angrily.

With no choice, he stood up and said goodbye. Bu Li and Cai Xiaoxian walked out of the small black room, seeing Dahei peeking from behind a short wall.

This guy. Bu Li cursed in his heart, wondering how he could be so timid.

The residents of Bailin Town were extremely afraid of Bu Li, not like the friendly atmosphere of the past. After killing Bai Liang's family, his ruthless methods made him seem like a terrifying ghost to ordinary people.

Bu Li didn't care about this, holding Cai Xiaoxian's hand and calling Dahei to leave Bailin Town. They found a sheltered spot in the mountains to start practicing the "General Guidelines" given by Hu Wu.

Comparing the secret manual he memorized in the underground chamber, Bu Li gained some insights.

Still, his soul power was too little, and Bu Li felt a bit regretful. But thinking about it, he had just become a Wenhunter, and there was no way around it. With his innate resilience, he could just work hard, what was there to fear!

Cai Xiaoxian didn't disturb Bu Li. Seeing him start his practice, she and Dahei moved far away, with Cai Xiaoxian pulling on Dahei's ear and asking all sorts of questions. Every moment in the Divine Legacy Mountains, Cai Xiaoxian wanted to know everything, and Dahei was overwhelmed.

===

A few days passed quickly, and Bu Li gradually figured out some methods. Comparing the two sets of techniques, he found it much more effective than just following one. His soul power increased slightly, which made him very happy.

It wasn't until Hu Wu came to find Bu Li and said that a disciple from the Henshan Sect had arrived to escort him that Bu Li reluctantly stopped practicing.

The disciple from the Henshan Sect was a woman, around twenty-five years old, wearing a dark blue robe with a vulture embroidered on it. Despite the vulture being a scavenger, it was embroidered in a cute and adorable way. Perhaps Hu Wu's insistence on using a king-level Wenhunter beast was right; most people would immediately get a Wenhunter mark on their body, without much choice.

If it weren't for Hu Wu's insistence on using a king-level Wenhunter beast, he might not have survived this "Great Trial of the Remnant Clans."

Bu Li greeted her with a smile, being warm but not overly so.

The female disciple from the Henshan Sect, seeing Bu Li in animal skins, looked somewhat annoyed and said, "The Sect Master has ordered me to take you to the Henshan Sect."

"Thank you. I don't have much to prepare, let's set off now." Bu Li said. "May I ask for your name, Senior Sister?"

"Hmph." The female disciple didn't answer, as if her name would be tainted by Bu Li hearing it.

Seeing Hu Wu and Cai Xiaoxian following Bu Li, the female disciple from the Henshan Sect angrily said, "The sect is making an exception to accept you, but why are you bringing others? Don't you know that the Western Mountain Remnant Clans can't leave the Western Mountains for 300 miles?!"

Bu Li, usually kind to others, was not one to be bullied. Seeing the female disciple from the Henshan Sect scold him without any reason, he felt a surge of anger.

"We are not from the Western Mountain Remnant Clans, so we are not bound by the rules," Hu Wu said, stepping forward and politely addressing the female disciple.

Dahei, following Hu Wu's movement, shifted a bit to keep a distance from him. Even though he wasn't as afraid of Hu Wu as before, he still preferred to stay far away.

"Not from the Western Mountain Remnant Clans? Then why are you here?" the female disciple from the Henshan Sect asked.

"Sorry." Bu Li smiled, a bit mischievously. "If that's the case, please go back and inform Sect Master Luo that I am unworthy of his favor and will not go."

"Uh?" The female disciple from the Henshan Sect was surprised. Entering the Henshan Sect was the greatest wish of all the Western Mountain Remnant Clans, and this time Sect Master Luo Qingquan had specially chosen this boy. How could he refuse so easily? She didn't even consider that her attitude might be the problem.

Living in the mountains for a long time, the female disciple from the Henshan Sect was out of touch with the world, and her arrogant and superior attitude towards the Western Mountain Remnant Clans was a result of this. Hearing Bu Li's refusal, she frowned and shouted, "You dare!"

"What's there to be afraid of? At worst, you have strong soul power and can beat me to death here." Bu Li laughed, a bright and sunny smile, not taking the matter of life and death seriously. It was a joke; even if the female disciple from the Henshan Sect didn't know her limits and attacked, would Hu Wu just watch him die? Given Sect Master Luo Qingquan's attitude and Yu Ze's instructions, if he killed the female disciple from the Henshan Sect in Bailin Town and made her a cauldron, Luo Qingquan probably wouldn't say anything.

Bu Li was determined, smiling at the female disciple from the Henshan Sect.