Er Ha VS Cheng Gang, Suppression

A Slender Dog with a body of pure silver stood with a lithe frame, its pointed ears erect, golden pupils as sharp as cold stars, and fur as smooth as satin.

It held its head high with its tail cocked, exuding an air of looking down upon the world.

Cheng Gang was stunned for a moment.

He had expected someone from the academy, not a dog.

"Where did this beast come from? Get lost."

Cheng Gang spoke in a deep voice, waving his hand to send a gust of Soul Power sweeping out, intending to drive the dog blocking the path away.

In his eyes, it was just a dog; no matter how majestic it looked, it was nothing more than a dog.

Er Ha did not move at all.

The gust of Soul Power struck its body like wind against a stone, failing to stir even a single hair.

Cheng Gang's brows furrowed.

"This Emperor is no beast."

Er Ha spoke, its voice not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity. "This Emperor is the White Emperor of the Martial Soul Academy.

Lao Da said to have your so-called princess get down and walk; carriages are not allowed at the academy entrance."

Cheng Gang's pupils constricted slightly.

A talking dog?

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

His right hand clenched tightly, his Thousand Jun Ant martial soul instantly released, and nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, five black—as the pressure of a level 91 Titled Douluo erupted.

The carriage shuddered, the horses neighed, and even the ground trembled slightly.

"Elder Cheng, wait—"

Princess Jiujiu's voice came from inside the carriage.

But Cheng Gang could no longer be bothered with that.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had suddenly appeared before him; who knew if it was friend or foe?

Striking first was better than being caught off guard.

"Move!"

Cheng Gang let out a low shout, clenched his right fist, and threw a punch.

His Thousand Jun Ant martial soul granted him extreme strength.

This punch had no fancy tricks, just pure, explosive force; wherever the fist wind passed, the air was compressed into a visible wave of pressure.

Er Ha's eyes brightened.

"Well done!"

It did not dodge or evade, instead raising its right front paw and swatting out lightly.

The paw and the fist collided.

Bang—!

A muffled sound rang out, and the shockwave spread outward, flattening the weeds by the roadside.

The Soul Beast horse Cheng Gang was riding sank its hooves into the ground, retreated three steps, and bled from its nose and mouth, nearly collapsing to its knees.

Cheng Gang did not retreat.

But his fist had been blocked by the dog's paw.

Steadily blocked.

Er Ha's paw remained motionless, even having enough strength left to pat Cheng Gang's fist, as if patting a junior on the shoulder.

"The force is decent, but it's too slow."

Er Ha critiqued, its tone sounding exactly like how Shen Zhou usually critiqued Huo Yuhao's cultivation. "Level 91 Thousand Jun Ant, is that all?"

Cheng Gang's expression changed completely.

He was a Titled Douluo.

Even if he was only a newly ascended level 91, he was still a Titled Douluo.

With one punch, he could split mountains and shatter rocks.

Yet this dog had caught it with a single paw.

No, not caught—it had blocked it with effortless ease.

It was as if his punch was not worth mentioning in the eyes of his opponent.

"Who exactly are you?"

Cheng Gang asked in a deep voice, retracting his fist as all nine Soul Rings lit up and his fifth Soul Ring flickered, clearly preparing to use a soul skill.

"This Emperor already told you, White Emperor."

Er Ha retracted his claw and licked the fur on his palm. "Lao Da also said to have your princess get out and walk; carriages aren't allowed through the academy gates. This Emperor is just here to deliver the message."

"If you're just delivering a message, why block my Soul Power?" Cheng Gang frowned.

"You called this Emperor a beast just now and even tried to slap me with your Soul Power." Er Ha's golden pupils narrowed slightly, his voice turning cold. "Although this Emperor is magnanimous, I am not someone just anyone can slap. You are a Titled Douluo, so I gave you face by taking your punch. Now, it is time for this Emperor to return the favor."

Before the words had even faded, Er Ha's figure vanished from where he stood.

Cheng Gang's pupils constricted sharply, and he instinctively crossed his arms to block.

Bang--!

A terrifying force slammed into his arms, feeling as if he had been struck by a mountain. He was sent flying backward off his horse, somersaulting twice in the air before landing on his feet and stumbling back seven or eight steps to barely steady himself. His arms were numb, the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers split, and blood dripped down through his fingers. Meanwhile, Er Ha had already returned to his original position, as if he had never moved at all.

"Was this Emperor's kick fierce enough?" Er Ha tilted his head, his tone full of smugness.

Cheng Gang looked down at his arms—his sleeves had been shredded into rags, and his exposed forearms were covered in bulging veins and fine cracks on the skin, caused by the backlash of the force. He looked up at the silver-white Slender Dog, his eyes filled with horror. He was a power-type Titled Douluo. His Thousand Jun Ant Martial Soul was renowned for its strength. Yet, in that last exchange, he hadn't even seen the opponent's movements before being sent flying. This dog's speed and strength were both far above his own. It wasn't just a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. It was at least over a hundred thousand years, or perhaps even... Cheng Gang didn't dare to continue that line of thought.

Inside the carriage, Princess Jiujiu lifted the curtain and witnessed the entire scene. Her pupils contracted slightly and her heart raced, but she maintained a calm expression on her face. "Elder Cheng, stand down."

Cheng Gang gritted his teeth, retracted his Martial Soul, and retreated to the side of the carriage. Princess Jiujiu stepped down from the carriage, smoothed her skirt, walked up to Er Ha, and bowed slightly. "Senior White Emperor, please forgive Elder Cheng for his earlier offense." Her voice was soft and proper, neither servile nor overbearing.

Er Ha looked her over—an eighteen-year-old girl, truly beautiful, with eyes as bright as stars and a temperament that was both dignified and spirited. "You are that princess?"

"Indeed. Xu Jiujiu."

"Hmm, you have better manners than this Emperor expected." Er Ha nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go, Lao Da is waiting at the gate. Leave the carriage outside; you people go in."

Princess Jiujiu glanced back at Cheng Gang. Cheng Gang shook his head slightly, signaling her not to act rashly. Princess Jiujiu smiled, however, and stepped toward the academy's main gate. Cheng Gang gritted his teeth and followed behind her. The wounds on his arms had stopped bleeding under the nourishment of his Soul Power, but the numbness had yet to fade. He walked behind the princess, his gaze locked firmly on the silver-white Slender Dog ahead, his mind in turmoil. A dog was actually able to crush him, a Titled Douluo. Just how strong must its master—that Shen Zhou—be?

In front of the academy's main gate, Shen Zhou stood with his hands behind his back. Seeing Er Ha leading Princess Jiujiu and Cheng Gang toward him, the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

"Lao Da!"

Er Ha ran over, lowering his voice, his dog eyes full of pride. "Was that kick I just gave fierce or not?"

"Fierce."

Shen Zhou nodded.

"Then didn't this Emperor make a great contribution?"

"Sort of."

"Then can we have extra food tonight? This Emperor wants to eat braised Earth Dragon meat."

"...Sure."

Er Ha wagged his tail in satisfaction and retreated behind Shen Zhou, striking a pose like "This Emperor is the hero."

Shen Zhou looked at Princess Jiujiu, who was walking towards him, and cupped his hands slightly.

"Martial Soul Academy, Shen Zhou."

Princess Jiujiu stopped and curtsied in return.

"Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiujiu."

The two exchanged a glance.

One smiled, his gaze as deep as an abyss.

The other smiled, starlight flowing in her eyes.

Cheng Gang behind them still felt his arms going numb, looking at Shen Zhou with apprehension.

And Er Ha behind Shen Zhou was already calculating how many bowls of braised meat he would eat tonight.

Heaven and earth are great, but eating is the greatest.