Chapter 64

Outside the Xuantian Gate, in the southwest corner of the training ground.

Long Zhantian’s heart sank the moment he saw Cang Luo’s beast companion—it was a first-rank beast, the Flame-Devouring Wolf, capable of ranged attacks!

And it was a variant!

Just now I boasted I’d stand still and let him land three blows—what do I do now?

Cang Luo noticed Long Zhantian’s brief hesitation and smiled: “Brother Long, sorry to keep you waiting. I’m about to strike now—remember your promise: stand still and let me land three blows.”

With that, Cang Luo ordered the impatient two-headed Flame-Devouring Wolf: “Erha, burn off all his clothes.”

“Aowu! Aowu!”

Erha let out two howls, saliva dripping foul and thick, sprinting toward Long Zhantian. When it reached a distance of one zhang, its right wolf head opened and spat a streak of orange-red flame straight at Long Zhantian—the searing heat reddened his face.

Long Zhantian, facing Erha’s flame attack, wouldn’t just stand there to die. He was only a Warrior, not a Martial Master—he couldn’t manifest a protective qi shield. His only option was to dodge.

But by dodging, he broke his promise to stand still and let Cang Luo land three blows—he’d be mocked by the Xuantian Gate.

But if he didn’t dodge, would he just wait to die?

Let them laugh...

Sure enough, the moment he dodged the variant Flame-Devouring Wolf’s flame, a chorus of sighs rose from the Xuantian Gate side—full of mockery. The man named Cang was watching him with a smug smile.

Long Zhantian, furious and flushed, growled: “Hmph! I agreed to stand still and let you land three blows because my cultivation base is higher than yours—that’s already a huge advantage for you!”

“But I never imagined you’d summon a beast companion to fight for you—that’s cheating! It’s unfair to me!”

Long Zhantian’s words had some merit, but the Xuantian Gate disciples sided with their own, launching a wave of cold ridicule.

The Kong Sheng Academy side didn’t back down either—they immediately fired back, zeroing in on Cang Luo’s age as the fatal weakness. The two factions erupted into another round of mutual insults.

Xuan Qingqing and Murong Ye made no move to stop them, watching with quiet amusement.

As the party involved and a Xuantian Gate disciple, Cang Luo couldn’t remain aloof—but he didn’t join the shouting either.

He glanced at the Kong Sheng Academy group, cleared his throat, and announced loudly: “Confucius said: ‘A man without faith—how can he be trusted? A cart without a yoke, a carriage without a crossbar—how can it move?’”

“......”

At once, the Kong Sheng Academy group fell silent, staring at Cang Luo in stunned silence. One disciple whispered to his senior: “Senior Zhang, did Master Kong ever say this?”

Senior Zhang thought for a moment, frowning: “I think he did... I remember learning it in school before becoming a Martialist...”

“Really? I don’t recall it. What does it mean?”

“......” Senior Zhang’s face darkened and he said nothing.

Cang Luo laughed loudly and pointed at Long Zhantian: “Simply put—it means ‘A man without faith cannot stand.’”

Long Zhantian, hearing Cang Luo call him untrustworthy, roared: “You—you dare say I’m untrustworthy?!”

Cang Luo smiled: “Isn’t that exactly what you did? You first swore to stand still and let me land three blows because your cultivation was two levels higher. Then, when you saw me summon my beast companion, you brazenly told me to fight both me and the beast together. But the moment you saw my beast was a Flame-Devouring Wolf, you broke your promise outright—what else is that but untrustworthiness?”

Seeing Long Zhantian rendered speechless, Cang Luo continued: “Beast companions share life and death with their masters—they’re like a Martialist’s left and right arms. They’re a form of secret technique or martial art. Isn’t it perfectly valid for me to use one against you?”

“Besides, I’ve already given you three advantages. Haven’t you noticed I haven’t even moved?”

After Cang Luo finished speaking, Long Zhantian was seething, too furious to speak.

This waste had the audacity to claim he was too proud to move—when in truth, he’d drained his own qi after summoning the beast and couldn’t fight.

Seeing Long Zhantian successfully enraged and his qi in disarray, Cang Luo went on: “Alright, alright, Brother Long, don’t get so angry—you’ll harm your body. Didn’t Confucius also say: ‘The value of propriety lies in harmony’?”

“Let’s value harmony, value harmony—don’t damage the goodwill between our two sects.”

Cang Luo saw that Long Zhantian had successfully been provoked into anger, his qi swirling chaotically, and continued, “Alright, alright, Brother Long, don’t be angry—watch out, you’ll harm your body.”

With this “Confucius said,” the Kong Sheng Academy disciples froze like statues, mouths agape, staring at Cang Luo. Long Zhantian nearly spat blood.

One disciple muttered bitterly: “Who’s the real Kong Sheng Academy disciple—him or us? Where did he even hear these teachings from Master Kong? He knows them better than we do...”

The disciples nodded in agreement; a few even pulled out the Analects and flipped through them.

Cang Luo rolled his eyes. Of course—he’d spent over a decade studying, and he hadn’t passed the imperial exams for nothing.

Cang Luo smiled, then continued solemnly: “Confucius said: ‘How should one repay virtue? Repay resentment with uprightness; repay virtue with virtue.’”

“Alright then—I see you’re also a disciple of Master Kong. So I’ll repay resentment with virtue. I allow you to break your promise. Fight my beast companion yourself—no need to let it land three blows.”

With that, Cang Luo let out a heavy sigh, wearing an expression of profound grievance as he stared at the Kong Sheng Academy group and Long Zhantian.

Now, the Kong Sheng Academy was thoroughly enraged. Someone shouted: “Brother Long, enough hesitation—rip his mouth open first!”

A clever disciple suddenly piped up: “Brother Long, your promise to stand still and let him land three blows was directed at him—not his beast. So kill the variant Flame-Devouring Wolf first, then honor your promise.”

Long Zhantian’s eyes lit up.

Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?

With his mind cleared, Long Zhantian didn’t even glance at Cang Luo, who sat on the ground. Without another word, he activated his movement technique and charged toward the variant Flame-Devouring Wolf.

Though the Flame-Devouring Wolf with ranged attacks was powerful—even a Martial General would flee if faced with a pack—it was harmless alone. Long Zhantian didn’t fear it. He feared the fire, yes—but he could dodge. Once its qi ran out, it would die.

This match was only a sparring duel—not a life-or-death battle—so killing was forbidden. But killing a beast companion? That was allowed.

Thinking this, Long Zhantian smirked, deciding to kill Cang Luo’s beast companion—and eagerly anticipating the expression on Cang Luo’s face when he saw his beast die.

As he thought, Long Zhantian appeared one zhang before the variant Flame-Devouring Wolf—the maximum range of its flame.

As expected, the wolf instantly spat a searing flame at him. He was ready, and dodged effortlessly.

After dodging, before the wolf could close in, Long Zhantian retreated to a safe distance using his refined movement technique, then charged again—once more dodging the wolf’s flame attack...

Long Zhantian repeated this three times in, three times out, draining the wolf’s qi.

He recalled the information in the Ten Thousand Beasts Codex: a mature Flame-Devouring Wolf could spit flame seven to ten times when fully charged.

This variant wolf was clearly immature—let’s say five spits. But it had two heads—perhaps two beast cores—so maybe ten spits.

No, better safe than sorry—let’s say fifteen!

So if he dodged fifteen flames, its death was certain!

The tactic was obvious to all. A Kong Sheng Academy disciple cheered: “A first-rank beast is still a first-rank beast—low intelligence. With a little provocation, Brother Long can toy with it. Once the Flame-Devouring Wolf dies, that waste Cang will be helpless.”

The Xuantian Gate also realized this. Li Zhan immediately warned: “Brother Cang, command your beast quickly—or it’ll be played to death!”

Cang Luo nodded. In truth, he’d been commanding Erha all along—via telepathy.

Now, to conceal his ability to communicate telepathically with Erha, he began shouting orders.

But it had no effect—Erha’s speed couldn’t match Long Zhantian’s. The flames were fierce, but never reached him.

To the onlookers, it was clear: Erha’s qi would soon be exhausted, and defeat was inevitable.

Yet Cang Luo didn’t care—he only sneered inwardly.

Someone in Xuantian Gate had also thought of it; Li Zhan immediately warned, “Brother Cang, hurry and command your beast companion, or it’ll be toyed to death by the opponent.”

Ha! Funny—I’m draining yours.

Erha shares my infinite qi. Can you?

Soon you’ll learn—you’re less than a dog.

To the onlookers, if things continued this way, the Fire-Devouring Wolf’s Qi would soon be exhausted by Long Zhantian, and defeat was certain!

Yet Cang Luo paid no mind; instead, he sneered inwardly.

Heh! You’re draining Erha’s Qi?

Ha! Funny thing—I’m draining yours too.

Erha can share my infinite Qi—can you?

Then you’ll learn you’re worse than a dog!