A silver-white Slender Dog stood there, sleek and agile, its pointed ears erect, its golden pupils sharp as cold stars, its fur as smooth as satin.
It held its head high, tail raised proudly, wearing an air of looking down upon the world.
Cheng Gang froze for a moment.
He had thought someone from the academy had come. He had not expected a dog.
"Where did this beast come from? Move aside."
Cheng Gang spoke in a low voice and casually waved his hand, sending out a gust of Soul Power to drive the dog blocking the road away.
In his eyes, it was only a dog. No matter how impressive it looked, it was still just a dog.
Er Ha did not move at all.
The gust of Soul Power struck it like wind against a stone, not even stirring a single hair.
Cheng Gang frowned.
"This Emperor is not a beast."
Er Ha spoke. Its voice was not loud, but every word reached everyone's ears clearly. "This Emperor is the White Emperor of Martial Soul Academy.
The boss said that whatever princess you have should get down and walk. Carriages are not allowed at the academy gates."
Cheng Gang's pupils contracted slightly.
A talking dog?
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
His right hand clenched abruptly. The Thousand Jun Ant Martial Soul instantly appeared, and nine Soul Rings rose beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and five black. The pressure of a level ninety-one Titled Douluo erupted with a bang.
The carriage trembled, the horses neighed, and even the ground quivered slightly.
"Elder Cheng, wait—"
Princess Jiujiu's voice came from within the carriage.
But Cheng Gang could no longer concern himself with that.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had suddenly appeared before him. Who knew whether it was friend or foe?
Striking first was better than being caught off guard.
"Move!"
Cheng Gang shouted lowly and threw a punch with his right fist.
The Thousand Jun Ant Martial Soul granted him ultimate strength.
There was no flourish to this punch, only a pure explosion of force. The air before it compressed into a visible wave.
Er Ha's eyes lit up.
"Good!"
It neither dodged nor retreated. It merely raised its right forepaw and lightly swatted forward.
Paw and fist collided.
Bang—!
A muffled boom rang out, and the shockwave spread outward, flattening the roadside grass against the earth.
The Soul Beast Horse Cheng Gang rode sank all four hooves into the ground and staggered back three steps, blood spilling from its nostrils and mouth as it nearly dropped to its knees.
Cheng Gang did not retreat.
But his fist had been stopped by that dog's paw.
Stopped completely.
Er Ha's paw did not budge in the slightest. It even had enough strength left to pat Cheng Gang's fist, as if patting the shoulder of a junior.
"Your strength's decent, but you're too slow."
Er Ha commented in exactly the same tone Shen Zhou usually used when judging Huo Yuhao's cultivation. "A level ninety-one Thousand Jun Ant, and that's it?"
Cheng Gang's expression changed completely.
He was a Titled Douluo.
Even if he had only just entered level ninety-one among Titled Douluo, he was still a Titled Douluo.
One punch from him could split mountains and shatter rocks.
Yet this dog had caught it with a single paw.
No, it had not caught it. It had casually blocked it.
As though his punch was not even worth mentioning in its eyes.
"Who exactly are you?"
Cheng Gang asked in a deep voice. He pulled back his fist as all nine Soul Rings lit up at once. His fifth Soul Ring flickered, clearly preparing to unleash a soul skill.
"This Emperor already told you. The White Emperor."
Er Ha withdrew its paw and licked the fur on its palm. "The boss also said to make your princess get out and walk. Carriages are not allowed at the academy gates.
This Emperor merely came to deliver a message."
"If you were delivering a message, why did you block my Soul Power?"
Cheng Gang frowned.
"You called This Emperor a beast just now, then tried to slap This Emperor with Soul Power."
Er Ha's golden pupils narrowed slightly, and its voice turned cold. "This Emperor may be generous, but not just anyone can slap This Emperor.
You are a Titled Douluo, so This Emperor gave you face and took one punch from you.
Now, it is This Emperor's turn to return the courtesy."
Before the words had even faded, Er Ha vanished from where it stood.
Cheng Gang's pupils shrank sharply. He instinctively crossed his arms in front of himself to block.
Bang—!
A terrifying force crashed into his arms, as if an entire mountain had struck him.
His whole body flew backward from the horse's back. He flipped twice in midair, landed on both feet, then stumbled back another seven or eight steps before barely steadying himself.
His arms went numb, his tiger's mouths split open, and blood dripped through his fingers.
Meanwhile, Er Ha had already returned to its original spot, as though it had never moved.
"Was This Emperor's kick fierce or not?"
Er Ha tilted its head, its tone full of smugness.
Cheng Gang lowered his head and looked at his arms—his sleeves had already been shredded into strips. Veins bulged across his exposed arms, and dense cracks covered his skin, caused by the backlash of that force.
He raised his head and stared at the silver-white Slender Dog, his eyes filled with shock.
He was a power-type Titled Douluo.
The Thousand Jun Ant Martial Soul was famed for its strength.
Yet in that strike just now, he had not even seen the opponent move before being sent flying.
This dog's speed and strength were both far beyond his own.
It was not a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
It was at least older than one hundred thousand years, perhaps even...
Cheng Gang did not dare think any further.
Inside the carriage, Princess Jiujiu lifted the curtain and witnessed the entire scene.
Her pupils narrowed slightly and her heartbeat quickened, yet her face remained composed.
"Elder Cheng, stand down."
Cheng Gang gritted his teeth, withdrew his Martial Soul, and stepped back beside the carriage.
Princess Jiujiu got down from the carriage, smoothed her skirt, walked before Er Ha, and gave a slight bow.
"Senior White Emperor, Elder Cheng offended you just now. Please forgive him."
Her voice was gentle and proper, neither servile nor overbearing.
Er Ha looked her over—a girl of eighteen, indeed quite pretty, with eyes as bright as stars and a dignified yet lively bearing.
"You're that Princess?"
"That is correct.
Xu Jiujiu."
"Mm. You're more polite than This Emperor expected."
Er Ha nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go. The boss is waiting at the gate.
Leave the carriage outside. You people can go in."
Princess Jiujiu looked back at Cheng Gang.
Cheng Gang gave her a slight shake of his head, signaling her not to act rashly.
Princess Jiujiu merely smiled and headed toward the academy's main gate.
Cheng Gang gritted his teeth and followed behind her.
The injuries on his arms had stopped bleeding under the nourishment of Soul Power, but the numbness had yet to fade.
As he walked behind the Princess, he stared fixedly at the silver-white Slender Dog ahead, his heart churning like a stormy sea.
A dog had actually crushed him, a Titled Douluo.
Then how strong was its master—this Shen Zhou?
Before the academy's main gate, Shen Zhou stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
When he saw Er Ha leading Princess Jiujiu and Cheng Gang over, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
"Boss!"
Er Ha ran over and lowered its voice, its dog eyes brimming with pride. "Was This Emperor's kick fierce or not?"
"Fierce."
Shen Zhou nodded.
"Then did This Emperor render great service?"
"I suppose so."
"Then can we add another dish tonight? This Emperor wants Braised Earth Dragon meat."
"...Fine."
Er Ha wagged its tail in satisfaction and retreated behind Shen Zhou, carrying itself like a decorated hero.
Shen Zhou looked at Princess Jiujiu as she approached and slightly cupped his hands.
"Martial Soul Academy, Shen Zhou."
Princess Jiujiu stopped and returned the gesture with a small bow.
"Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiujiu."
The two looked at each other.
One wore a faint smile, his gaze deep as an abyss.
The other smiled as well, starlight flowing in her eyes.
Behind them, Cheng Gang's arms were still numb, and his gaze toward Shen Zhou was full of wariness.
Meanwhile, Er Ha behind Shen Zhou was already calculating how many bowls of Braised Pork it would eat that night.
Heaven and earth could be vast, but eating came first.
Before you continue