104: Chapter 104 Top-Tier Watchdog! Who Dares to Cause Trouble?

The morning sunlight spilled onto the vermilion gates of Locust Tree Alley, coating the ancient residence in a layer of gold.

After the great battle last night...

The air in all of Jiangzhou seemed to have become much fresher.

At this moment, in front of the screen wall of the No. 44 Courtyard, a massive, golden-furred, and majestic dog was lying there napping.

It looked somewhat like a Golden Retriever, but its scales shimmered with a metallic luster under the sun.

The jade-colored single horn on its head exuded a sacred and inviolable majesty.

It was none other than the evolved Divine Beast—Rice Bucket.

Although its appearance was quite intimidating, it currently had its mouth open, drool leaking from the corners; it was clearly dreaming of eating something delicious.

From time to time, it would smack its lips twice. Its adorable, goofy appearance had absolutely nothing to do with the words "Divine Beast."

Just then.

Outside the courtyard wall, two sneaky figures were stepping on a ladder, attempting to climb over and enter.

"Big brother, why is this wall so slippery? And... why do I feel a bit creeped out?"

A small hoodlum with dyed yellow hair sat astride the wall, looking at the thin layer of mist in the courtyard, his heart thumping with fear.

"Stop talking nonsense! Fortune favors the bold!"

The bald elder brother below cursed at him.

"I heard from the brothers on the streets that a wealthy man lives in this courtyard. The day before yesterday at the mall, he bought over a dozen luxury items in one go without even blinking!"

"And I also heard that the big star Reba lives here too! If we can snap a few private photos... hehehe, then we'll be rich!"

"But big brother... I heard this place is haunted..."

"Haunted my ass! That's just feudal superstition! Hurry up and get down there to open the door for me!"

The bald brother gave a hard push. With a cry of pain, Yellow Hair fell into the bushes inside the courtyard.

In fact, under normal circumstances when the Nine Palaces Soul-Bewildering Formation was active, these two petty thieves wouldn't even be able to enter the alley entrance; they would just keep walking in circles outside.

But this morning, because Su Yang had just returned, the Formation was in a semi-dormant "Spirit Gathering" state.

Furthermore, with the Divine Beast "Rice Bucket" present, he had intentionally suppressed the Formation's repulsive force.

"Ouch... my waist..."

Yellow Hair rubbed his rear as he climbed up. Just as he raised his head, he met a pair of pale gold, playful beast pupils.

"Uh..."

Yellow Hair froze.

He looked at the "Golden Retriever" before him, which was sturdier than a tiger. Especially seeing those sharp fangs and the single horn on its head, his entire body stiffened.

"Bi... Big brother! There's a dog! A huge dog!"

"What's there to be afraid of a dog? Just give it a ham sausage and be done with it, right?"

The bald brother also climbed in, holding a prepared ham sausage in his hand.

"Go, feed it."

Trembling, Yellow Hair took the ham sausage, peeled off the skin, and approached with a fawning expression.

"Shh—good doggy, eat some meat..."

Rice Bucket's ears twitched.

It slowly stood up, its pupils reflecting that cheap, starchy ham sausage.

A sense of being "insulted" welled up within it.

This Divine Beast ate a Ghost King's Core last night! And Heavenly Thunder Beads the day before!

You're trying to fool me with this thing?!

"Roar..."

A low growl escaped Rice Bucket's throat.

Though the sound wasn't loud, it carried a terrifying pressure originating from an ancient Bloodline, instantly enveloping the two petty thieves.

*Plop.*

The ham sausage in Yellow Hair's hand dropped to the ground.

He only felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably and violently.

In his eyes, how was this a Golden Retriever?

This was clearly an ancient behemoth with a bloody maw, ready to devour someone at any moment!

"Bi... Big brother... this dog... this dog isn't right..."

"Nonsense! I can see that too!"

The bald brother was also scared into a cold sweat, but having seen a bit of the world, he forced himself to pull out a switchblade.

"Beast! Don't bark! Or else I'll slaughter you and have dog meat hotpot!"

"Awoo?" (Eat me?)

Rice Bucket tilted its head, a flash of human-like disdain crossing its eyes.

It shook its golden fur, and then...

*Zzzt zzzt zzzt—*

A blue-white electric arc danced upon the single horn on its head.

"Thunderous Roar!"

Boom!

A bolt of lightning only as thick as a finger shot from its mouth, accurately striking the switchblade in the bald man's hand.

"Ahhh—!!!"

The bald man screamed. His whole body convulsed wildly as if he had been electrocuted, dancing a frantic breakdance right there.

Yellow Hair beside him wasn't much better; he was shocked by the stray current until he foamed at the mouth, his eyes rolling back as he fainted.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? What's that noise outside?"

The door to the main house was pushed open.

Reba was the first to rush out.

Following closely, Ye Yuqing and Liu Waner also ran out.

When they saw the two petty thieves in the courtyard, charred on the outside and tender on the inside, still smoking, and Rice Bucket sitting innocently to the side licking its paws, they understood everything instantly.

"Is this... a break-in?"

Reba's eyes widened, and then she ran over with a look of pleasant surprise and squatted beside Rice Bucket.

"Wow! Rice Bucket, you're so amazing!"

"You can actually discharge electricity? Are you a Pikachu?"

She couldn't help but reach out and pat Rice Bucket's large head.

Rice Bucket gave a proud huff but didn't dodge, even narrowing its eyes in enjoyment.

"Sister Yuqing, Waner, look! This is the legendary Divine Beast guarding the door! It feels so secure!"

Reba excitedly called out to her sisters.

"With Rice Bucket here, who would dare to come and run wild at our place in the future?"

"Truly impressive."

Ye Yuqing looked at the two unlucky fellows and shook her head.

"These two thieves are also unlucky. Of all the houses to steal from, they just had to pick... a monster's den."

"What's all the noise so early in the morning?"

At this time, Su Yang walked slowly out of the west wing, holding a cup of Spiritual Tea.

He glanced at the two petty thieves on the ground and beckoned to Rice Bucket.

"Rice Bucket, well done. I'll give you an extra chicken leg at lunch."

"Awoo!"

Rice Bucket wagged its tail happily and lunged at Su Yang, begging for a hug.

"Boss, what should we do with these two? Call the police?" Ye Yuqing asked.

"Why call the police? It's a waste of police resources."

Su Yang took a sip of tea, his gaze cold.

"Since they like climbing walls, then break their legs and let them stay on the wall for a while longer."

"Chu Ling!"

"Here!"

Chu Ling floated down excitedly from the roof.

"Break their legs and hang them on the crooked-neck tree at the entrance to dry for a day."

"By the way, write a sign and hang it around their necks: 'Beware of Vicious Dog. Enter at your own risk. Consequences are your own responsibility.'"

"You got it!"

With a wave of Chu Ling's hand, two *cracks* sounded as the two men's leg bones suffered comminuted fractures on the spot, and they were subsequently hung onto the tree branches.

Watching this scene, Reba's eyes were full of little stars, her sense of security overflowing.

"Boss! Something's come up!"

Just then, Ye Yuqing suddenly walked over in a hurry, holding a red invitation in her hand.

"We just found this invitation at the door. I don't know who delivered it."

"An invitation?"

Su Yang put down his teacup and took it to look.

The invitation was blood-red all over, with several large characters written in gold powder: [Jiangzhou Occult Assembly].

Opening it, the signature was strikingly: [Qingcheng Mountain · Xuan Chengzi].

"Occult Assembly? Discussing the Dao?"

Su Yang looked at the contents of the invitation, a cold smile curling on his lips.

"What 'discussing the Dao.'"

"This is clearly those old fogies not liking the look of me and wanting to set up a Hongmen Banquet to lay down the rules."

Ever since he became famous in the battle at Nine Dragons Bridge and displayed top-tier Daoist techniques like the Yang Five Thunders, the Jiangzhou metaphysics circle had long been in an uproar.

Those so-called orthodox sects could no longer sit still.

"Just as well."

A ball of fire rose from Su Yang's hand, burning the invitation to ashes.

"I also want to go and see just how many monsters and demons are in this Jiangzhou occult circle."

"Since we're going to play, let's play big!"