Bicker

In the distant Shrek City, within the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En was lost in deep thought. He gazed at the bright moon outside the window and let out a long, weary sigh.

He did not know that his old friend, Xuan Zi, would never be coming back.

Such a disturbance could not be hidden from him.

The night was deep, and the moonlight flowed like water.

Shen Zhou and Qian Daoliu set out on the road back to the Martial Soul Academy.

The wind of the wilderness blew from behind, carrying the scent of scorched earth and ash, but it was quickly dispersed by the fresh night breeze.

The two walked side by side, their pace steady and unhurried, as if they had merely gone out for a stroll rather than having just executed a Level 98 Super Douluo.

Er Ha was initially full of spirit, running ahead with its tail held high, incessantly boasting about its combat achievements from the evening.

"Was that claw of This Emperor not fierce?

That brat in black was sent flying three zhang away by a single swat from This Emperor!

And that burly man—This Emperor bit down on his martial soul, swung him around twice, and tossed him aside. It was clean and efficient!

Did you see that, Lao Da?"

"I saw it."

Shen Zhou replied casually.

"Is This Emperor not impressive?"

"Impressive."

"Then did This Emperor not perform a great service?"

"You did."

"Then how many extra dishes will you give This Emperor when we get back?"

"Three basins of braised pork."

"Fierce!"

Er Ha spun around in excitement before racing ahead once more.

Qian Daoliu watched Er Ha's retreating figure and shook his head.

"This dog certainly has boundless energy."

Shen Zhou smiled. "It just has a loose tongue."

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, Er Ha's pace began to slow.

Its tail no longer stood so high, its steps lost their lightness, and it even began to pant slightly.

Shen Zhou noticed the anomaly and frowned.

"White Emperor?"

"Lao Da, This Emperor... This Emperor is a bit tired."

Er Ha's voice sounded weak, and its golden dog eyes were no longer as bright.

Shen Zhou crouched down, placed a hand on Er Ha's head, and probed its body with his Soul Power.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his brow furrowing even deeper.

Er Ha had indeed overexerted itself tonight; it had single-handedly intercepted Ma Xiaotao and four members of the Inspection Group.

Although it spoke lightly of the encounter, the reality was that all six opponents were Soul Masters above the fifth ring, and Ma Xiaotao was a six-ring Soul Emperor who had later blackened into a state approaching the strength of a Soul Saint.

Er Ha had fought six against one; while it hadn't been injured, its consumption of Soul Power was immense.

It had even blocked a full-force strike from Xuan Zi.

"Get inside."

Shen Zhou patted Er Ha's head.

"What?"

Er Ha looked up.

"Enter the Consciousness Sea.

In your current state, if you keep wandering around outside, you'll be bedridden by tomorrow."

Er Ha blinked, hesitating.

"Lao Da, if This Emperor enters your Consciousness Sea, will I see things I shouldn't?"

"You're a dog; what could you possibly see that you shouldn't?"

"Then This Emperor is really going in."

With that, Er Ha transformed into a streak of silver-white light and vanished into the center of Shen Zhou's brow.

Within Shen Zhou's mind, the space of the Consciousness Sea slowly unfolded.

It was a vast, boundless golden ocean, and suspended above the surface hung a brilliant Golden Star; that was where the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm slumbered.

The sea surface was as calm as a mirror, with golden light circulating through the space, warm and peaceful.

The silver-white figure of Er Ha appeared within the Consciousness Sea, his four legs treading upon the golden surface and splashing ripples outward.

He looked around, his dog eyes filled with novelty.

"So this is Lao Da's Consciousness Sea?

It's so big, so bright, so warm... it's awesome!"

He took a deep breath, and golden specks of light drifted into his nostrils, making him feel instantly comfortable all over.

The sensation was like soaking in a hot spring, with all his fatigue melting away bit by bit.

"So comfortable... This Emperor is going to take a nap here."

Er Ha found a comfortable spot and lay down, just about to close his eyes, when a lazy voice drifted down from above.

"Hey, you dog."

Er Ha's ears pricked up, and he looked up.

A massive silkworm head poked out from the Golden Star.

Its entire body was like jade, crystal clear, and a pair of small eyes were half-squinted, looking at him with dissatisfaction.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Who are you?"

Er Ha tilted his head.

"Who is Brother?

Brother is the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, a Million-Year Soul Beast, Lao Da's first Soul Ring."

Tian Meng's tone was full of superiority. "And you?

A little ten-thousand-year puppy, how are you worthy of staying in Lao Da's Consciousness Sea?"

Er Ha's eyes went round in an instant.

"Who are you calling a little puppy?

This Emperor is the White Emperor!

I am Lao Da's companion Soul Beast!

I've been with him since he was born!

What about you?

An outsider who only got into the Consciousness Sea after sacrificing yourself, what right do you have to compare yourself to This Emperor?"

Tian Meng's silkworm face darkened.

"An outsider?

When Brother sacrificed himself, you didn't even know where to gnaw on bones."

"You're the one gnawing on bones!

This Emperor eats braised pork!"

"Braised pork?

Is that something a dog eats?"

"What would a silkworm like you know about braised pork?

You just eat leaves!"

"Brother eats the essence of heaven and earth!"

"Isn't that just air?

If you don't even eat meat, what's the point of living?"

"You--!"

Tian Meng was so angry his whole body trembled, and the Golden Star shook along with him.

He slid down from the star, twisting his massive silkworm body as he charged toward Er Ha.

"Brother is going to teach you a lesson today, you dog who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

"Bring it on, bring it on, you think This Emperor is afraid of you?"

Er Ha stood up, his four legs digging into the surface, baring his fangs, "Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're a Million-Year Soul Beast!

This Emperor just beat up six Soul Masters tonight and even fought a level 98 Super Douluo!

What about you?

Have you ever even fought?"

Tian Meng's silkworm body came to a sudden halt.

It... really had never fought before.

Its combat power was approximately equal to zero.

Never mind fighting a Titled Douluo, it couldn't even beat a thousand-year soul beast.

"Brother... Brother disdains fighting."

Tian Meng huffed and turned his head away, "Brother relies on his intellect."

"Intellect?"

Er Ha laughed so hard he rolled on the ground, "What kind of intellect does a worm like you have? You don't even have hands or feet!"

"Brother has spiritual power! Brother's spiritual power can cover a radius of a hundred miles!"

"So what? You can't eat that!"

"You--!"

"You what? This Emperor tells you, this Consciousness Sea, This Emperor came first! You came later, so you have to listen to This Emperor!"

"On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that This Emperor can fight!"

Tian Meng was so angry his worm body puffed up, but he truly had no way to refute this.

He really couldn't beat this dog.

Never mind fighting, he couldn't even move more than a few steps.

"Brother... Brother won't lower himself to your level."

Tian Meng huffed, twisted his body, and began to crawl toward the Golden Star. Halfway up, he turned back to glare at Er Ha, "But Brother warns you, you are not allowed to go near Brother's star. That is Brother's territory."

"Fine, fine, your star, This Emperor doesn't care for it."

Er Ha lay down and rested his head on his front paws, "This Emperor will just sleep by the sea. A sea-view room is much more comfortable than your lousy star."

"You--!"

Tian Meng was so angry he couldn't speak; he dove headfirst into the Golden Star and vanished.

Er Ha wagged his tail triumphantly and closed his eyes.

The Consciousness Sea space finally fell silent.

The corners of Shen Zhou's mouth curled up slightly.

He was, of course, clearly aware of the commotion within his Consciousness Sea.

These two clowns—one a dog with no filter, the other a lazy worm—it would be strange if they didn't bicker when put together.

But it was for the best; Tian Meng had been alone for too long and was bored, so Er Ha's arrival was perfect to keep him company.

"Eighth Brother, what are you smiling at?"

Qian Daoliu glanced at him.