Chapter 61: Preaching the Way

"Damn it, damn it..." Ancestor Howling Moon was covered in blood, the wound on his back still oozing. Every part of his body ached terribly, and even one of his eyes had been blinded. The pain inflicted upon him by Yu Wuqing was something he would never forget, not in a lifetime.

He had failed—not only failed, but dragged his entire tribe down with him, likely to be wiped from existence. Had he known his fate would be so dire, why endure humiliation in the City of the Feathered God? Would he not have been better off fleeing early?

Still, it mattered little. One day, he would repay every humiliation in full. But that day was not now. At present, his predicament was urgent; survival took precedence. Eventually, he could return for vengeance. No need to rush. No need at all.

Fleeing south, Ancestor Howling Moon soon reached the seashore. But standing at the edge of the sea, he hesitated. Was he truly to leave this land and venture into the unknown? Perhaps not. Yu Wuqing was formidable, but she had not terrified him to the point of cowardice.

Analyzing calmly, Ancestor Howling Moon’s strength was not much inferior to Yu Wuqing’s. Though he was battered, a few months’ recuperation would see him healed, without even a scar left behind. There would be no lasting aftereffects. He still possessed the means to challenge Yu Wuqing.

Though Yu Wuqing appeared unscathed, she had also suffered several fierce counterattacks and bore internal injuries that would require months of recovery. Thus, their abilities were nearly equal, perhaps tilted slightly in her favor. Ancestor Howling Moon could not easily kill Yu Wuqing, nor could Yu Wuqing easily kill him.

With this realization, Ancestor Howling Moon’s courage swelled. Why should he flee? He was alone, while Yu Wuqing had a whole clan to protect. He could remain in the wild, harassing them from time to time—was this not delightful?

Not only that, he would cultivate more demon tribes to fight at his side and destroy the feathered clan! But for now, cultivation was paramount.

Day after day, Ancestor Howling Moon devoted himself to cultivation, ceaselessly inhaling and exhaling, from night until dawn. When the morning sun rose and purple energy filled the east, he captured that energy, striving to absorb it into his golden core before it dissipated under the blazing sun.

After four months, Ancestor Howling Moon finally exhaled a breath of foul air, his wounds completely healed. With the blessing of the world’s spiritual energy and the essence of sun and moon, a cultivator’s lifespan increased greatly. For example, wolves that once lived barely more than a decade could now easily reach over a hundred years. For someone as gifted as Ancestor Howling Moon—a demon cultivator who had formed his golden core in just thirty years—living for a thousand or two thousand years was no issue. At this stage, longevity was not a concern.

Yet after forming the golden core, the path ahead was obscure; Ancestor Howling Moon knew not where it led, and could only grope his way forward. For now, however, his spirits soared, for the joy of recovery after long suffering was undeniable.

Once healed, Ancestor Howling Moon wasted no time. He threw back his head and let out a long, resounding wolf howl that echoed through the entire forest.

"Awoo—!!"

All animals who heard the sound trembled, cowering in tree hollows and nests, not daring to move. But Ancestor Howling Moon did not stop there. He began to emit his spiritual energy, drawing creatures from all corners of the land.

Spiritual energy was a treasure, usually hidden in the essence of sun and moon and hard to sense, but now, with Ancestor Howling Moon actively dispersing it, countless animals rushed toward him in frenzy. Among them were fierce tigers and cunning rabbits, wolves and lambs—any creature from the air or earth instinctively drew nearer.

Here, whether carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore, none hunted for survival. They simply lay quietly before Ancestor Howling Moon, as if awaiting something.

Seeing the gathering throngs, Ancestor Howling Moon was pleased. To find them one by one would be too troublesome. He would transmit his way of cultivation to all at once, so they might all begin their practice! Though their talents varied, with his guidance, they would start to breathe and absorb energy. Over time, demon tribes would emerge!

Thus, Ancestor Howling Moon would truly be the patriarch of the demon tribe, not merely a self-proclaimed leader.

With the animals assembled, Ancestor Howling Moon began imparting his teachings without hesitation.

Yet these creatures, lacking innate spiritual awareness, struggled through the initial steps.

...

A month later, within the ancestral lands of the feathered clan, Yu Wuqing rose from her lotus, gazing into the distance.

Her wounds were lighter than Ancestor Howling Moon’s, but her recovery was slower. Firstly, her constitution was less robust than that of the demon tribe represented by Ancestor Howling Moon. Secondly, as a feathered shaman, she was responsible for overseeing clan affairs. After purging many elders in one sweep, she had to approve the selection of new ones.

Thus, her healing lagged behind. Fortunately, her lotus talent prevented her from dragging on for three or four years.

Still, the feathered clan had not been idle these months. Yunji and Yunyao, lacking exceptional talent, had been set aside by Yu Wuqing from cultivation and assigned to teach the breathing and absorption techniques throughout the clan, selecting those with aptitude for cultivation.

Whether elderly feathered folk of a hundred and forty years or children just able to comprehend, all received instruction.

Originally, Yu Wuqing planned to select a few individuals first, thoroughly explore the path of cultivation, and then disseminate it, lest the whole tribe stray. But now, there was no time.

The animal frenzy a month ago had been witnessed by many feathered people.

Besides Yunji and Yunyao, Yunzhao was also mobilized by Yu Wuqing, leading a group of guards without talent northward to open new routes, seek resources, and establish more cities.

"Shaman!"

Just then, a respectful voice sounded from outside. Yu Wuqing recognized Yunji’s voice.

"What is it?"

"Some clansmen have ignited the sacred fire before the totem and received Lord Bifang’s blessing, becoming totem warriors!"

"What?"