Dog Master
“Alright, line up in front of me.”
Standing in the center of the training grounds with his hands clasped behind his back, Kael issued his command. Ella and Weger snapped to attention with rigid discipline. And beside them sat Oliver, wagging his tail in confusion, his hindquarters planted firmly on the ground.
Kael slowly scanned the trio—or rather, two people and one dog. He would impart martial arts to them, forging a small elite force. A faction was necessary, and it had to consist of trustworthy individuals. Right now, these two humans and one beast were the most reliable beings Kael had in this world.
The biggest issue is deciding which martial arts to teach them.
As the Heavenly Demon, what he knew best were naturally the demonic arts of his cult—the demonic arts. Overwhelmingly dominant, quick to master, boasting devastating destructive power. But Kael shook his head.
No, I absolutely cannot teach demonic arts.
Demonic arts were like a virulent poison that eroded the mind and reason. They squeezed out power by gnawing away at one's limits, so if an ordinary person practiced them, nine times out of ten they ended up as a bloodthirsty madman or a victim of qi deviation.
Kael had no desire whatsoever to turn these pure-hearted followers into killing machines.
In the end, the only option is orthodox sect arts.
He could only be grateful to his past self, who had slain countless orthodox fools from the Central Plains and plundered their manuals, stacking them in the Heavenly Demon Repository.
Kael's gaze first fell on none other than Oliver. The large retriever was panting with his tongue lolling out.
“Oliver. Come here.”
“Woof!”
Oliver's tail spun like a propeller as he trotted eagerly to Kael.
Weger asked in bewilderment, “Y-Young master, you're not seriously planning to teach martial arts to a dog, are you?”
“Why not? You think it's impossible?”
“Well... even if Oliver's clever... he's still...”
“Just watch quietly.”
Kael crouched down and placed his right hand on Oliver's massive head.
A beast's skeletal structure and meridians aren't much different from a human's. Unfortunately, the only options are southern barbarian beast arts.
The art Kael selected was the secret technique of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace he had acquired during a past visit to the southern wilds: Azure Wolf Fang.
It amplified the lightning-fast footwork of a wolf and the raw power of a predator to their limits—a beast art created solely for animals.
“Stay still, Oliver. It might sting a bit.”
“Woof!!”
As if declaring he could endure it. A smile tugged at Kael's lips.
“Good. Then let's begin.”
Kael drew forth the ashen Chaos Qi from his dantian and slowly channeled it into Oliver's body.
The true energy transmission method. A supreme way of imparting arts, where a master unblocks a disciple's meridians and directly carves the path of energy flow—requiring mastery of peak-level internal energy operation.
Kael was merely at the first-rate realm now, but that was just a matter of quantity. The techniques of energy manipulation were fully etched in his mind.
“Whine...”
Oliver flinched at the unfamiliar energy's intrusion, letting out a pained whimper. But Kael's qi circulated through his body with astonishing gentleness, gradually clearing the beast's blocked meridians one by one.
This is fun.
Strange cracking sounds echoed from Oliver's joints across the training grounds.
A moment later, as Kael withdrew his hand, faint azure qi rose like heat haze from Oliver's entire body before vanishing.
“Yip!!”
Oliver's eyes snapped open. The once docile, sparkling gaze now flashed with a predator's feral gleam.
“Now! Run!”
At Kael's shout, Oliver kicked off the ground.
Thud—!
With a light press of his front paws, the dog shot to the far end of the training grounds at a speed invisible to the eye.
Dogs were already as fast as humans using lightness skills. Layering martial arts on top produced an absurd velocity.
“Strike with your front paw!”
Another command from Kael.
Crack—!
The straw dummy Oliver's paw slammed into shattered from a single blow.
“Wh-what the hell!? O-Oliver!?”
Weger gaped in horror.
But the one most shocked was Kael himself, who had just completed the transmission. Oliver had instantly comprehended the Azure Wolf Fang energy circulation from a single guidance and executed it flawlessly.
Huh? What kind of ridiculous talent is this? If this guy had been born human, he'd be a once-in-a-millennium prodigy who could rewrite martial history.
The pity was the lack of transcendent beast arts for animals. Kael clicked his tongue regretfully and beckoned to the slack-jawed Weger.
“You're next, Weger. Step forward, sit cross-legged.”
“M-me? Will I become like Oliver?”
“No.”
“Oh! Then even stronger?”
“Oliver's talent is a hundred times yours. You think you can get full on the first sip?”
“Huh? But...”
Suddenly demoted below a dog, Weger plopped down with a sullen expression.
Kael examined Weger's sturdy shoulders and thick lower body.
Dense muscles, heavy stance. Not flashy trickster swordplay—blunt, smashing heavy sword techniques suit him.
The Zhongnan Sect's Thirty-Six Swords of the Realm was excellent and destructive enough. But Kael recalled a far superior art from the Heavenly Demon Repository.
Eight Heavenly True Sword.
Zhongnan's swordsmanship had lost the true essence of the Eight Heavenly True Sword over time, leading later descendants to develop the Thirty-Six Swords of the Realm as a makeshift to cover all directions.
Of course, as its derivative, it was still top-tier. But the Eight Heavenly True Sword didn't divide defenses into thirty-six—it split the space around the user into exactly eight directions, perfectly dominating all.
The lost origin of the Zhongnan Sect, an ancient art.
Everyone thinks Wang Chongyang was just the founder of Taoism, but he was a tremendous master.
Wang Chongyang, Taoism's founder, and his descendants, the Zhongnan Sect. In truth, their foundations surpassed even more prestigious Taoist sects like Huashan, Wudang, Kunlun, or Qingcheng.
“Close your eyes and memorize the flow of energy I push in.”
Kael's hands touched Weger's back. He infused his energy following the principles of the Zhongnan Sect's internal art, Mysterious Heaven Qiankun Heart Method.
Rumble—!
“Grrraaahhh!!!”
A beastly scream erupted from Weger.
“Oliver endured it. Can't a grown man? If you make a sound from now on, you might die. If you want to protect me, endure this pain, Weger.”
It wasn't really true, but Kael figured scaring him was better. Sure enough, Weger gritted his teeth and bore it. Sweat poured like rain; black impurities oozed from his skin.
The guard who had crudely swung a sword alone all his life, choosing Kael as his master, was finally gaining a fateful encounter—a proper martial art.
I'll make sure you never regret choosing me.
As the transmission ended, Kael spoke to the eyes-closed Weger.
“Hoo. Don't respond—just listen. Circulate the internal energy... no, aura along the path I showed. Continue until I say stop.”
Hm, his grit is impressive.
Kael turned to the last, the pale-faced girl.
“Ella, you too. Come here.”
“Y-yes, Young master!”
Ella approached hesitantly, her face frozen. Kael had noted her light, agile movements and deft hands honed by cooking.
Fluid steps, flexible joints. Not Weger's brute swordplay—flashy techniques that deceive and dazzle the enemy suit her.
An illusion-focused art. Across martial history, for swordsmanship blending blinding splendor and sharpness, none topped the Huashan Sect's Plum Blossom Sword Art.
Kael had clashed with Huashan swordmasters hundreds, thousands of times, cutting them down. Moreover, he possessed the insight of a grandmaster who pierced the essence of all arts.
Closing his eyes, Kael replayed and dissected the dazzling sword paths of Huashan Taoists who had once charged at him.
Trim the sloppy forms, maximize lethality and flair.
Thus, he fused the agility of the Jade Maiden Thirteen Swords that Huashan maidens practiced with the Plum Blossom Sword Art, creating a new technique.
Plum Blossom Jade Maiden Sword—a fitting name.
He refined the basic Jade Maiden Heart Art to his taste, transforming it into a superior internal method with faster, purer circulation. He bundled it with the Jade Hand Twelve Forms palm techniques for dexterous hands, ready to cram into Ella's mind.
“Sit comfortably. Since you're a woman, I'll guide the energy more gently.”
“Y-yes! Um, Young master, I have a question!”
“What?”
“W-will that gross stuff come out of me too?”
“If you've lived righteously with few toxins, no.”
“R-really?”
“Yes. Don't worry—sit.”
Kael's palm lightly settled on Ella's back.
“Ahh...?”
A languid moan escaped Ella. Kael was slightly surprised.
Hoh? Her vegetarian diet left few impurities. Her meridians are far cleaner than Weger's.
Not entirely pure, just cleaner. The energy entering her impurity-light body felt less like pain and more like thrilling stimulation—a light, floating ecstasy. Warm qi from her dantian coursed through her limbs, softly embracing muscles and veins with elasticity.
“Done.”
Kael wiped sweat from his brow and stepped back.
Whew... exhausting. How long since I felt this fatigue?
Yet it was a satisfying weariness.
How much time passed? Ella and Weger, who had been sitting on the training grounds circulating qi, slowly rose.
Ella pinched her nose and muttered the moment she stood.
“Young master, you liar... What is this...?”
Kael chuckled at her whine.
“Still complaining with Weger right beside you?”
“...Yeah, I'm trash human.”
Black filth reeking of sewage dripped from their bodies amid the banter, but their eyes gleamed with unprecedented depth.
They knew their changes best. Feeling the transformation, Weger spoke in a trembling voice.
“H-how... Young master, how do you know such miraculous swordsmanship and breathing techniques?”
Ella nodded at his reasonable doubt, gazing at Kael with awe.
Unfazed, Kael shrugged shamelessly.
“You think I'm like you country bumpkins? I holed up in the ducal secret library, read tens of thousands of books, and mastered them alone.”
“Aah... of course...!”
The noble status of the duke's firstborn. Unable to question the secret library's contents, Weger and Ella could only nod and blindly praise their young master's vast knowledge.
Smirking inwardly, Kael assessed their auras.
Hm, both have rare martial bones. Meridians opened unusually fast from one transmission. Especially Ella—pure-hearted, she'll reach the Flower Realm with diligent practice on the Plum Blossom Jade Maiden Sword.
Fine gems that pleased even the world's greatest eye.
“First, wash off the filth and start training immediately. If you don't widen the paths I opened with your own power, it's useless.”
“Yes, sir! We'll keep it in mind!”
Thus, in this unfamiliar romance fantasy world, Kael's training based on lost orthodox supreme arts officially began.
Two weeks passed.
Under Kael's relentless day-and-night training and guidance, Ella, Weger, and Oliver improved daily by leaps and bounds.
The standout was...
Crack—!
Oliver leaped and shredded a massive tree with his teeth.
“Excellent, Oliver!”
Heh heh, a true dog master. Maybe I should properly develop animal martial arts.
Oliver barked in response to the praise.
“Woof!! Woof woof!! Pant pant!!”
Weger muttered in disbelief at the absurd sight.
“No way... how's a dog doing that?”
Not quite matching Oliver, but their growth dazzled too. From clumsy sword grips, they now wielded aura-infused blades with a warrior's poise.
After the grueling afternoon session, as they lay gasping on the grounds, Kael spoke indifferently.
“You've probably noticed by now.”
Ella and Weger jerked their heads up.
“Noticed what?”
“The main estate.”
“!!!”
Kael's eyes pierced toward the mountains hiding the main house and declared.
“It's time to return.”
Ella and Weger's hearts pounded wildly. To them, Kael was no longer the frail young master in hiding.
They instinctively knew the day their true lord drew his sword to reclaim his place was near.