Doehring Cowart

"Whoosh!"

Zhao Nan and Linley watched as the dazzling glow rapidly shrank, then turned into a hazy streak of light that flew out of the Coiling Dragon Ring.

After flying out of the ring, the streak of light transformed into a human figure. It was Doehring Cowart.

Doehring Cowart wore a moon-white robe. His hair and beard were completely white, and his face was kind and gentle.

The moment Doehring Cowart appeared, the Coiling Dragon Ring dropped limply into Zhao Nan's palm.

"Hello, I'm Doehring Cowart, a Saint-level Magus of the Pu'ang Empire." Doehring Cowart greeted Zhao Nan and Linley with a genial smile.

But then Doehring Cowart suddenly stared at Zhao Nan in astonishment, his voice trembling a little as he said, "You... you're... a Saint... a Saint-level powerhouse?"

Zhao Nan smiled at Doehring Cowart. "Aren't you a Saint-level Magus yourself?"

Doehring Cowart was taken aback by Zhao Nan's words, then nodded.

Seeing Doehring Cowart nod in confirmation, Zhao Nan continued, "But, Mr. Doehring Cowart, that Pu'ang Empire you mentioned was destroyed more than five thousand years ago.

"The empires today include the Yulan Empire and the O'Brien Empire, along with two others."

Zhao Nan felt he ought to bring Doehring Cowart up to speed on the basic state of the Yulan Continent.

Having read the original Coiling Dragon novel thoroughly, Zhao Nan naturally knew that the Pu'ang Empire had been founded more than eight thousand years ago, but had fallen apart five thousand years ago because of Beirut's actions.

If Beirut hadn't seized the Sovereign Spark, perhaps the Pu'ang Empire would have remained the ruler of the entire continent.

When Zhao Nan told him that the Pu'ang Empire had fallen, Doehring Cowart was taken aback again. Then he sighed. "Alas!

"I've been asleep inside the Ring of Earth all this time, without sensing the passage of time at all. I never imagined that, by the time I awoke again, more than five thousand years would have passed since my homeland vanished.

"Things truly have changed beyond recognition!"

Zhao Nan shook his head. "Old sir, things may have changed, but you're still here on this continent."

"That's true." Doehring Cowart nodded at Zhao Nan's words.

Just then, Linley suddenly spoke up. "Grandpa, why do you call my ring the Ring of Earth?

"This ring of mine is called the Coiling Dragon Ring."

Doehring Cowart was taken aback. Looking at the young Linley, he then smiled warmly. "Yes, yes, it's the Coiling Dragon Ring.

"I'm getting on in years and forgot its original name."

Linley raised his head happily at Doehring Cowart's words, looking rather proud.

Zhao Nan and Doehring Cowart exchanged glances at Linley's expression, then laughed.

"Old sir, how did you end up inside the Coiling Dragon Ring?" Zhao Nan asked.

Although Zhao Nan knew Doehring Cowart's origins very well, he still had to ask. After all, he had no other way to explain how he knew.

Doehring Cowart pondered Zhao Nan's question for a moment, then began to tell them about himself.

After Zhao Nan and Linley listened to Doehring Cowart's story, Zhao Nan continued chatting with him for a long while, learning all the basic details of Doehring Cowart's circumstances.

When they had finished talking, Zhao Nan said to Doehring Cowart, "Old sir, since you sealed your spiritual power inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, I'll have to trouble you to guide Linley from now on."

At that, Doehring Cowart was just about to agree when Linley suddenly turned to Zhao Nan. "Teacher, are you not going to look after me anymore?"

"Of course I am.

"How could I stop looking after you?" Zhao Nan reassured Linley, then continued, "But your teacher has things to do as well, so I can't stay by your side all the time. That's when Old Sir Doehring can help you with some of your cultivation problems."

Linley didn't quite understand what Zhao Nan meant, but he still nodded obediently.

After Linley nodded, Doehring Cowart also agreed with a warm smile.

Even though Doehring Cowart had lived for so many years and had even become a Saint-level powerhouse, he still had no children. Now that he had met Linley, he truly liked him.

Even though they had just met, Doehring Cowart already treated Linley like one of his own.

Seeing this, Zhao Nan smiled at Doehring Cowart. "Old sir, looking after one sheep is no different from looking after a whole flock.

"I happen to have a few other disciples, too. When you have time, could you keep an eye on them as well?"

Doehring Cowart was taken aback. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

In the end, he could only nod helplessly.

After that, Zhao Nan had Linley take Doehring Cowart to the place where Ace and the Bark Five Brothers were training.

When they arrived, Zhao Nan introduced Doehring Cowart to Ace and the Bark Five Brothers.

After the introductions, Zhao Nan entrusted the cultivation of all seven of them to Doehring Cowart.

Of course, Zhao Nan wasn't asking Doehring Cowart to help for nothing. He planned to teach him some theories about becoming a god.

"Old sir, how did you become a Saint-level powerhouse?" Zhao Nan asked Doehring Cowart.

Doehring Cowart was taken aback, but still answered, "I comprehended spatial pressure."

At those words, Zhao Nan immediately understood. Doehring Cowart must have comprehended the Profundity of Gravity Space.

After learning which profundity Doehring Cowart had comprehended, Zhao Nan continued, "Mr. Doehring, you know how one advances from the ninth rank to the Saint level.

"It all comes down to the spatial pressure you comprehended. What you call spatial pressure is actually a Law Profundity."

After briefly explaining what the spatial pressure he had comprehended actually was, Zhao Nan continued, "When we cultivate, there are seven elemental schools of magic: light, darkness, wind, fire, earth, water, and lightning. Then there are four types of rule magic: Destruction, Life, Fate, and Death.

"Among the Four Edicts, there are no fixed Law Profundities.

"Of the seven elemental schools of magic, all but wind have six Law Profundities each. Mr. Doehring, the spatial pressure you comprehended is actually the Law Profundity of Gravity Space."

After explaining the basics of cultivation in the Coiling Dragon World, Zhao Nan continued, "Mr. Doehring, there should have been god-level powerhouses in your era as well.

"For a Saint-level powerhouse to become a god, they need to fully comprehend the Law Profundity they've chosen.

"Once they reach that point, they can become a god."