1 Chapter One - The Empire's Dogs

Donghua Continent, Gou Family Courtyard.

Seated on a Zitan Chair in the middle of the courtyard was a handsome youth with jet-black hair dressed in dark robes. His calm bearing further enhanced his charm. Lifting his wooden flute to his mouth the youth began to play, his fingers dancing along the holes creating a beautiful melody with a hint of sadness. The name of this youth was Yue Chen.

"Chen'er the princess is at the academy, how can you sit at home idly!? Have you forgotten your duty is to protect the princess?" with big strides a burly man who wore dark golden robes entered the courtyard followed by a youth with similar facial features.

"Father, Second brother" Yue Chen's fingers halted as he greeted his father and sibling.

"Unfilial child!" an elderly figure entered the courtyard briskly.

"Grandfather Gou" Yue Chen bowed slightly to welcome the figure's arrival.

"Answer me, child," Gou PengLi said blatantly "to which family do you belong"

Half kneeling Yue Chen's expression became solemn "As long as Grandfather wills it this grandson shall always remain a member of the Gou Family and will always belong to the Gou Family" Yue Chen replied unhinged.

"Wrong!" Gou PengLi shouted with furrowed brows.

"As a member of the Gou Family, you belong not to us but to the Royal family of our Xuan Empire!" Gou PengLi stated firmly.

"Zhao Yali is obnoxious and unreasonable, why should I protect that woman?" Chen Yue disputed angrily. While it was his obligation to protect the fourth princess Yue Chen refused to concede to her.

Our Gou Family had guarded the Royal family for centuries. It is our sworn duty to protect those who carry the Royal blood from the shadows. We are the hounds of the empire that wonder the shadows. Never forget this" releasing a fierce aura Gou PengLi reprimanded Yue Chen seriously.

"Grandfather is right" clenching his hands Yue Chen bowed before leaving.

"Chen'er" Gou PengRan called out to the leaving Yue Chen.

"Father?" with his back faced to the three Yue Chen stood silently.

"This is the last time we'll warn you. The empire overlooked your behavior over the past few years as you were but a child. As you've turned 16 this year the empire won't be lenient." Gou PengRan said softly.

"I understand, father" sighing helplessly Yue Chen exited the courtyard.

It was the beginning of the 12,000th year of the Divine Calendar. It was also Yue Chen's 4th year at Xuanhua Academy

As the only Academy in the Continent of Donghua, Xuanhua Academy was well known for the talents it had produced. As such, every year, countless parents would want to register their children there.

Pushing the classroom door open Yue Chen was greeted by the sight of a graceful young lady about 18 to 19 years old standing at the magic board. Her name was Bing Nan.

"You're even more beautiful than the last time I saw you Miss Bing" Yue Chen praised with a grin.

"Flattery doesn't normally work on me but today's a little special" Bing Nan said with a smile.

"You're a fairy from the heavens Miss Bing" Yue Chen shamelessly praised once more.

The classroom watched the scene play out, already accustomed to Yue Chen's unrestrained behavior.

"Since you're already here, the third question is yours" releasing her upper button Bing Nan sat on her desk "give a detailed explanation of the fall of saints as well as an account of the lost magic spells"

"Miss Bing, can I pass?" Yue Chen smiled awkwardly as he found his desk.

"Would you rather the alternative?" with a cold smile Bing Nan tapped the desk lightly.

"Old witch" Yue Chen muttered under his voice.

"I didn't hear you quite clearly" Bing Nan smiled warmly and killing intent leaked from her body.

"Haha, senior sister seems to have misheard me just now. I was praising your angelic beauty that encompasses the earth and renders nature speechless" Yue Chen replied reverently, sweat beading down his face.

"Hehe, considering how honest junior brother is this senior sister shall ignore his previous blunder" Bing Nan responded proudly.

"Cough...More than 30,000 years ago Jun Li, the founder of the Magic Association as well as the world's first Magic Saint divided the realms of cultivation, namely the Elementary, Nascent, Human, Earth, Disaster, Nirvana, Spirit, Sky, True Essence, Melding and Magic Saints realm. The realms were further divided into the lower, middle, and upper sky. After a few thousand years with the training methods left by the Jun Li, the cultivation era thrived and Magic Saints appeared everywhere. Almost 300 years passed and Magic which was at the forefront of every known topic grew and evolved by leaps and bounds. New magic spells showed up each day for 10 years. These magic spells were far superior to the magic of today. These spells were known as 'Divine magic'. Each Nation with its own malicious intentions came together to host what came to be known as The Grand Gathering at Nelde's Royal Capital. The figurehead of each nation had agreed to exchange knowledge of the divine magic in each of their possessions and all the books were collected and locked away until the fated day would arrive.

In a moment of greed figureheads of every faction attempted to breach the vault which kept all the spells. Aware of the other's motives a war erupted in the capital of Nelde. The war of the Saint-level figures tore open space and destroyed countless mountains. The capital of Nelde was painted in blood and the neighboring cities were no better. Countless innocent people died. people completely unrelated to the ambitions of the saints. At the end of it, less than 5 percent of the population of saints was left. Did they obtain the divine spells? No. In an attempt to end the war, the empress of Nelde burned all the magic records before committing suicide. The history books later called this era " The Fall of Saints"

with a resigned look, Yue Chen continued "was it worth it?"

"Knowledge is power, Power is Authority. Without knowledge how can the saints rise above their current restraints? What harm is it to sacrifice a few thousand or even a million lives for power? It's naive to think that power comes without cost

well of course a dog wouldn't know better, isn't that right Yue Chen of the dog family?". a cold voice laced with mockery chimed from the corner of the class.

-Gou in Chinese means Dog