The Story of Ah Huang, the Loyal Dog

Pet Beast Scholars applied for research funding from the officials of various nations.

Chang Feng was a Champion Rank Beast Tamer under the Xia Kingdom government. The schools, public security, and forces in Yuzhong City and the surrounding areas all fell under his jurisdiction.

He conducted an initial review of funding applications from these regions, offered his recommendations, and then forwarded them onward.

Therefore, as soon as Jiang Xing submitted his application, Chang Feng immediately learned about the project and called him.

Jiang Xing heard the undisguised eagerness in his voice, but still chose to tell the truth.

"It isn't resurrection, but revival in the form of a Necro."

"Moreover, only one Secret Realm-native Howl Dog has successfully revived so far."

"Whether this change can be replicated, or applied to Pet Beasts other than Howl Dogs, remains unknown. Further testing is still needed..."

"Student Jiang Xing, you're an expert in Pet Beast research. I trust your judgment." Chang Feng asked excitedly, "What do you think the chances are of reviving Pet Beasts?"

"...For Howl Dogs alone, if the conditions are sufficient, I think there's a fifty percent chance of revival."

From Chang Feng's attitude, it was clear that he had lost a Pet Beast partner and had someone he desperately wished to bring back.

But as the saying went, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

The research project had not even begun. Jiang Xing did not want to sound overly confident, lest those Beast Tamers who had lost their partners suffer through another shattered hope.

So Jiang Xing said,

"As for other Pet Beasts, the probability cannot be guaranteed at all. Please don't hold too much hope, Champion Chang."

"...I understand."

Chang Feng looked somewhat disappointed. After a few seconds of silence, he pulled himself together and said seriously,

"A Howl Dog will do too. Student Jiang Xing, could you first let me visit the Death Secret Realm and confirm the existence of that Spirit-Guarding Dog?"

"I have something important to discuss with you."

"Of course."

Jiang Xing readily agreed.

The Death Regional Form of Howl Dog was a research project developed entirely around the Death Secret Realm.

As an official representative, it was perfectly normal for Chang Feng to wish to visit and verify the Secret Realm's authenticity.

Not long after the call ended, a giant eagle flew in from the horizon and descended amid howling winds.

Chang Feng, wearing black-rimmed glasses and looking refined and scholarly, leaped down and landed lightly. He took the initiative to extend his hand.

"Student Jiang Xing, we meet again."

Jiang Xing shook Chang Feng's hand, his gaze drawn to the giant eagle beside him.

It was nearly three meters tall, with crimson feathers like blazing flames. Its belly was pale cyan, while V-shaped golden plumes rose from its head and streamed backward like sharp blades, making it look exceptionally majestic.

A Fire God Eagle, with Fire and Wind attributes and a High-Level Monarch racial rank.

Its base form was the High-Level Extraordinary Starfire Bird, on the same level as a Howl Dog. Because of its decent potential, it was a popular "household bird" around Yuzhong.

However, Jiang Xing could tell that Chang Feng's Fire God Eagle had been raised exceptionally well. Its aura had far surpassed the limits of a High-Level Monarch.

He could not help asking,

"Overlord Rank?"

"That's right. It's already a Low-Level Overlord."

Chang Feng spoke proudly.

Jiang Xing's eyes also revealed surprise.

In the Beast Taming World, racial rank did not represent a Pet Beast's lower limit, but its upper limit.

For example, once a Mid-Level Commander Rainbow Dragon Cub reached the Mid-Level Commander rank, it would find it difficult to improve further. Only after evolving could it break through that shackle.

Only Pet Beasts with outstanding potential, which had gone through countless battles and completely surpassed themselves, could break their racial shackles through fortunate opportunities and obtain strength beyond their racial rank.

For this Fire God Eagle to break through to Overlord Rank, Chang Feng had clearly poured countless efforts into it.

Jiang Xing did not even need to test them to know that their Intimacy was certainly maxed out—mutually maxed out, at that. He could not help sighing.

"You two seem very close."

"Of course. It was one of my first partners. It accompanied me in defeating countless opponents and helped me earn the title of Champion." Chang Feng smiled as he spoke, but his tone gradually grew heavier.

"Actually, the Golden Armor Monkey was also one of my initial partners. During one Secret Realm exploration, it took a fatal attack to protect me and never woke up again..."

"Screech!"

The Fire God Eagle cried out, raising its wings to shelter Chang Feng beneath them. It lowered its head and nudged him in comfort.

Watching this deeply moving scene between man and Pet Beast, Jiang Xing scratched his head.

Champion Chang had suddenly brought this up, clearly as a deliberate hint.

Jiang Xing could only say, "Once I complete the Spirit-Guarding Dog project and preserve the Death Secret Realm's special environment, I'll begin research into reviving other Pet Beasts as soon as possible..."

"I believe in you!" Chang Feng's sorrow turned to joy as he said with a smile, "Come on, let me see the Death Secret Realm first."

A few days earlier, after Jiang Xing returned to the research institute, he had used the Secret Realm Core to place the entrance to the Death Secret Realm in one of the institute's rooms.

Now, he led Chang Feng through the entrance and into the Death Secret Realm.

Once Chang Feng personally felt the omnipresent aura of death and saw the Spirit-Guarding Dog, which resembled a Howl Dog, all doubts vanished.

He asked, "Student Jiang Xing, have you ever heard the story of Ah Huang, the loyal dog?"

"Ah Huang?" Jiang Xing shook his head.

He had heard the story of Hachiko, the loyal dog, but that belonged to another timeline.

"That happened in Hefeng City. Your hometown is Jinqiu City, so it's normal that you haven't heard of it," Chang Feng said.

"Twenty years ago, poaching organizations had not yet been broken up, and poaching incidents were rampant. Some criminals not only hunted rare Pet Beasts, but also attacked civilians and silenced witnesses."

"At that time, in the countryside of Hefeng City, a group of low-level poachers was discovered by a child playing in the mountains. To prevent their trail from being exposed and the police from being alerted, they chose to kill the child."

"At the critical moment, the Howl Dog the child had brought along stepped forward and blocked the poachers' Pet Beast attacks. It not only gave the child a chance to escape, but also attracted Beast Tamers from nearby villages with its resounding howls."

"Apparently, that Howl Dog held off attacks from multiple Transcendental Rank Pet Beasts, including even a Commander Rank Pet Beast, all by itself. It displayed power beyond its limits—only after reinforcements arrived and the child was rescued did it collapse from exhaustion."

"In the end, the poachers were arrested, but the Howl Dog named Ah Huang remained in those mountains forever."

"Only its tale of loyalty was passed down and came to be known by others."

Loyalty, protection, fearlessness.

The qualities of a Howl Dog had been displayed to the fullest in Ah Huang.

Jiang Xing was deeply moved and suddenly understood.

"Champion Chang, you want to use the Death Secret Realm to revive Ah Huang?"

"That's right." Chang Feng nodded. "Ah Huang's owner, that child from back then, was named Meng Yuan. He later joined the police force and rendered tremendous service while pursuing poaching organizations."

"Now, he is already a Champion Rank Beast Tamer. He still fights on the front lines, standing against darkness."

"He is also my friend. If he had the chance to recover his former partner, he would surely be overjoyed."

Chang Feng paused, his expression solemn.

"And it's not only Ah Huang."

"As loyal and Brave Pet Beasts, Howl Dogs are among the common police Pet Beasts active on the front lines."

"Precisely because of this, their casualty rate is extremely high. Many officers have lost their closest partners because of it."

"Student Jiang Xing, on behalf of these frontline officers, I hope you can unravel the mysteries of the Death Secret Realm, awaken them from their long slumber, and return them to their masters' sides."

After saying this, Chang Feng bowed deeply.