"Master!" the sky-devouring dog called.
Its body trembled with excitement.
"Is this young man the successor you've found for me?"
the statue asked, surveying Austin closely.
Austin gazed directly at the statue.
When their eyes met, he felt an intense, suffocating sensation, as though the entire Sea of Chaos had
fallen on him.
To his relief, the pressure only lasted for an instant before it vanished.
Austin was awestruck. 'Incredible! It is so strong, '
Austin thought to himself, keeping his eyes trained on the statue.
'I couldn't even bear the power of its gaze.'
According to the sky-devouring dog, a wisp of its master's soul was left in the statue.
'Even the remnant of his soul is absolutely terrifying!
I can't imagine how powerful he was at his peak.'
Austin found himself impressed, respecting the power of the sky-devouring dog's master.
"Not bad.
Nothing outstanding, but he is enough to meet my requirements,"
a deep voice said issuing from the statue.
"I can consider accepting you as my successor, for my dog's sake.
After all, it has spent a lot of time and energy looking for a suitable successor for me,"
the statue remarked.
Austin felt slightly embarrassed by the lukewarm statements.
'It sounds like he's only willing to take me in as his disciple for the sake of his sky-devouring dog. Still,
I'll take it, for it will be a good thing to have such a powerful master.
With his guidance, I will be able to make rapid progress with my cultivation, ' Austin thought.
The statue's eyes bored into his. "Do not make the mistake of thinking that being my successor will be
easy.
There will be serious risks involved.
You might die at any time,"
the statue warned.
Austin swallowed, and the statue went on. "Before you, I have accepted ten disciples in total.
They were all incredibly talented, and quite famous in their own right.
However, as soon as others discovered that they were my disciples, they were in danger.
They were strong, but they still ended up getting killed."
The statue sighed heavily.
"So, I will give you some time to think it over. Don't make this decision on a whim.
Once you become my successor, you may very well meet the same fate as the others.
You must consider this very carefully,"
the statue said.
Austin's face had darkened as the statue spoke.
'Seriously? We've just met for the first time. What kind of master speaks like this to a potential disciple?
It's like he's placing a curse on my head, ' he thought with some resentment.
"My master is right.
You should think it over, Austin.
I will respect your decision, whatever it is,"
the sky-devouring dog said.
"Sir, is your enemy very powerful?
How strong is he?"
Austin asked.
"He is very strong. Indeed, any time he wanted to, he could easily destroy the Sea of Chaos and create
a new one,"
the statue replied.
Austin's eyes widened. "You can't be serious!
How would someone destroy the Sea of Chaos, much less create a new one?" he exclaimed, his
mouth open with shock.
It was unimaginable.
'Does such a powerful being really exist?
I can't believe it!' Austin thought.
"Sir, which vital energy realm does your enemy reach?
Is he the legendary..."
Austin trailed off, looking uncertainly at the statue.
"Yes, he is.
My foe is a being in charge of chaos... indeed, you could call him a god of chaos,"
the statue said slowly.
'Unbelievable! So the legends are true, and the gods of chaos exist!' Austin tried to remain calm, but
inwardly he was in turmoil.
The unexpected revelation had shaken him deeply, and he felt as though his world had been turned
upside down.
He struggled to speak in a calm, steady voice. "Sir, if I may ask, what was your own cultivation base?"
he asked, realizing that only an equally powerful being could have a nemesis like the god of chaos.
"I used to be a god of chaos too,"
the statue replied without missing a beat.
Austin's mouth dropped open again. 'He was a god of chaos!' he thought dazedly.
He stared fixedly at the statue in front of him, wondering if he was in a dream.
'The legendary god of chaos is right before my eyes!
No wonder the sky-devouring dog described its master as the god to the divine gods.
It's nothing less than the truth.
To ordinary divine gods, the god of chaos is the real god.
They are the masters who control everything, ' Austin thought, thrilled and astonished to be in the
presence of such an awesome being.
"Well, I have said enough today.
If I tell you more now, I will only get you in trouble.
For now, I can't tell you my name or my enemy's name.
If I told you, you would think about me, and my foe would know instantly,"
the statue said.
"Again, Austin, I must warn you to think about this carefully. Are you willing to be my master's
successor or not?
If you have decided against it, I won't force you.
Moreover, regardless of whether or not you agree, I will try to help you acquire the Chaotic Heaven
Body.
If you do decide to be my master's successor, you are committing yourself to avenge my master in the
future.
If you decide you don't want to, then I will erase the memory of this meeting with my master from your
Soul Sea,"
the sky-devouring dog said in a serious tone.
Silence fell over the square.
Both the sky-devouring dog and the statue were waiting for Austin's answer.
Austin closed his eyes, deep in thought. Several moments later, he finally broke the silence.
"I'm willing to be your disciple, sir,"
he said.
"Are you sure about this?
You will live in constant danger. You will be sworn to avenge my master against his enemy,"
the sky-devouring dog said, staring solemnly at Austin.
"I've made up my mind," Austin replied firmly.
"It's my honor to meet you, sir.
Fate brought me here.
In the three thousand big and small universes, I have struggled and worked, in order to advance from
my humble beginnings as a grunt disciple. I have narrowly escaped death countless times. I am not
afraid of hard work, and I know life is never easy.
I've never lived in comfort or luxury, and I am used to challenging myself.
To become your disciple would be the opportunity of a lifetime. I would have the chance to explore
different realms of martial arts and learn more new things.
That is the life I want.
It is not my style to turn down such an opportunity out of fear or hesitation."
It was a long speech. Austin was determined to be honest and open about the motivation behind his
decision.
"Great!" the sky-devouring dog said as it had grown more and more excited with every word Austin
spoke.
"Brat, I knew I was right about you.
The first time I saw you, I felt that you were different from others."
The sky-devouring dog looked quite pleased that Austin had chosen to become its master's successor.
"Well, since you have made your decision, then I will make mine.
I officially accept you as my successor,"
the statue said, with a trace of pleasure in its tone.
"Thank you, master!" Austin said.
He immediately knelt down and bowed to the statue.
"Master, our top priority now is to help Austin obtain the Chaotic Heaven Body.
This is a rare opportunity for him to improve his strength,"
the sky-devouring dog said.
"Very well.
Austin, I am going to help you control the chaotic heaven babies inside you. That way, you can focus
on refining them.
The energy possessed by the chaotic heaven babies is still too much for you to bear, for your
cultivation base is too low.
We must be patient. You will need to refine them gradually and continuously,"
the statue said.
"Understood, master," Austin said quickly, nodding.
He felt a secret thrill course through him as he received his first instructions from his new
master.
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