Chapter 108: The Arrival of the Celestial Dog (Part Two)

Old Dog Wen retreated several steps in terror. He couldn't help but slap himself viciously, again and again, until his face was swollen and both snot and tears were streaming down. Only then did he stop.

Previously, he had been dismissive of the directives issued by the Underworld Records Bureau, doubting that there could be so many so-called demons in the world. Now, overcome with regret, he felt as though he could tear his own heart out.

The vicious dog had fully transformed into a spectral entity. It opened its blood-stained maw, and as gore dripped from its jaws, it hissed and corroded the ground into shallow, pitted craters.

Terrified, Old Dog Wen let out a shriek and scrambled back into the pitch-black corridor, terrified that if he showed his face again, the specter would seize the chance to kill him. His only hope now lay with the immortals of the Underworld Records Bureau, and he prayed they would soon detect the anomaly here.

The specter, however, paid no mind to Old Dog Wen. After standing in the moonlight for a moment, it pushed its body to the limit of mutation before slowly leaping to the ground. Unlike the specter that had fought Zhou Bai, this one possessed a sturdier host, allowing for a much higher threshold; even after ten minutes in the moonlight, it showed no signs of collapsing.

The specter took a moment to acclimate to its body, then shook its head. Tentacles sprouting from various parts of its frame sensed the air, quickly locking onto the location of the wolfhound.

Seemingly sensing the approaching danger, the wolfhound tried to scramble from beneath its seat, only to realize that the chain around its neck was firmly snagged by the chair, rendering it immobile. The specter approached the wolfhound and sniffed its scent, the animal trembling uncontrollably in sheer terror.

A tentacle coiled around the wolfhound’s body and whipped it violently, casting it out into the moonlight. The wolfhound suffered grievous injuries; the iron chain snapped its neck, and many of its bones were shattered, yet its vigorous vitality allowed it to cling to life.

But the agony had only just begun. The shadows, already restless, surged forward to attack the wolfhound’s body. As the black fluid flowing from the shadows seeped into its flesh, the wolfhound let out a gurgling, rasping sound. Its head, held on by nothing more than a sliver of skin, fell from its neck. Then, the entire neck blossomed like a chrysanthemum, and a tentacle as thick as an arm protruded from the center. Its fur began to peel away, and its body swelled relentlessly.

Old Dog Wen could hear the ghostly howls outside. He huddled against the final iron cage in the corridor, seeking a shred of comfort. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a sharp intake of breath from the vicious dog beside him. Old Dog Wen realized instantly—he didn't know what kind of madness had taken the dog, but this was a sign of impending fury.

With a deafening bark, the black cloth covering the iron cage fell away.

In the darkness, a pair of purplish-red eyes ignited, revealing a massive canine face that looked like a demonic mask.

The largest province in the Nine Provinces is Xizhou, a vast expanse of grasslands where Buddhism flourishes and the Underworld Records Bureau also maintains a presence. Xizhou is home to a unique breed of canine known as the Mastiff, which can reach a length of 1.2 meters. They are typically gold, yellow, or black, possess immense strength, and are highly agile, though their stamina is somewhat lacking.

Old Dog Wen’s dog was also a Mastiff, but a variant: when mature, it could reach a length of 1.5 or 1.6 meters. Because its face resembled that of a ghost, it was known as a "Ghost Mastiff."

The Ghost Mastiff stood up. Old Dog Wen tried to soothe it, but it was to no avail. This breed of beast has little intelligence and is extremely aggressive; sometimes it ignores even its master's commands. It didn't care about the specter—it simply felt provoked.

The Ghost Mastiff backed to the edge of the cage and charged, slamming into the gate. The already precarious iron lock let out a sharp creak. The specter outside heard the commotion in the corridor and stood on the arena floor, waiting quietly as the wolfhound’s mutation reached its conclusion.

After a few more impacts, the cage door shattered open. The Ghost Mastiff fared no better; its head was bloody and one eye was swollen shut, making its appearance even more hideous. This, however, only fueled its ferocity. With a roar, it charged out from the corridor.

The terrifying sight of the specter did not daunt the Ghost Mastiff. The two collided, sending debris flying. Surprisingly, the Ghost Mastiff, fueled by its pent-up aggression, did not fall behind at first; its teeth and claws left deep bloody gashes on the specter.

But the tide turned quickly. The wolfhound’s mutation reached its limit, and it swelled to a size of three meters. The tentacles emerging from its chrysanthemum-like head were covered in barbs. The Wolf-Specter joined the fray, its tentacles lashing out at the Ghost Mastiff and leaving wounds deep enough to expose bone.

The Ghost Mastiff let out a mournful howl. The courage that had made it undefeated in the dog-fighting arena vanished, and instinct drove it to retreat. But just as it tried to flee, a dozen tentacles coiled around it, dragging it into the moonlight.

Taking advantage of the fight between the Ghost Mastiff and the specter, Old Dog Wen mustered his courage. He knew this was his only chance; if he didn't escape now, he would surely die here.

He crawled along the wall toward the exit, moving slowly to avoid making a sound. Just as he was less than two meters from the exit, a tentacle coiled around his right leg and dragged him back amidst his screams. However, the monsters were in no hurry to kill him; they merely dragged a cage over and locked him inside.

A moment later, a shadow loomed over the cage. The Ghost Mastiff had transformed into a giant monster roughly five meters in size. Its massive body lacked most deformities, lacking only a human face to look like something out of a Tang Yin painting.

The Mastiff-Specter appeared as if it were a sovereign, its aura terrifying. The other two specters immediately bowed, kneeling on the ground. It opened its massive maw, and a surge of tentacles emerged, first swallowing the smaller specter whole. Then, it consumed the Wolf-Specter. Neither offered the slightest resistance, submitting entirely to the Mastiff-Specter's will.

As it absorbed the flesh and blood in its stomach, the Mastiff-Specter’s body swelled once more, quickly reaching ten meters in height. Its head burst through the roof, emerging into the open air. With a powerful leap, it smashed through the building and charged out with a deafening crash.

Most of Hangzhou heard the commotion, and countless people were gripped by panic and unease.

Old Dog Wen, inside the cage, breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever happened, he had saved his life for now—until a tentacle reached down from above.

It snapped his neck instantly, then peeled his face away to take with it. As the Mastiff-Specter swallowed the face, its own features began to look increasingly human.

Thus, the Heavenly Dog descended upon the world.