Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

There was still a short while before the Kung Fu Headband Trial Card would expire.

As spatial ripples spread, Tom—who was swimming leisurely at the bottom of the lake—sensed something amiss.

There was no need to explain a cat's curiosity.

Tom immediately kicked his legs like propellers, swiftly diving several hundred meters deep.

His instincts as a martial arts grandmaster told him that something strange had just occurred right here.

After examining the area carefully, he still saw nothing more than some rocky outcrops. However, some crystals were arranged in a hexagram pattern.

Eyes wide, Tom slapped one paw down, sending ripples of silver light across the rocks. His feline intuition told him that stepping in here was definitely no ordinary act.

Without hesitation, Tom stepped forward. A cat that doesn't check out the unknown—is that even a real cat?

At that moment, Jerry was sniffing the lingering scent Tom had left behind. Naturally, he dove into the lake as well. As soon as he entered, he caught a flash of silver light—and vanished.

Jerry paused only briefly to consider. He figured he should check it out too. Breathing underwater? For a cat and a mouse, that's no big deal.

Tom: I'm a martial arts grandmaster, of course I can breathe underwater.

Jerry: If Tom can do it, so can I.

Being a sly and cautious cat, Tom had used his Turtle Breathing Technique when crossing through the silver light—just to ensure no one noticed.

Once through, Tom was astonished by the scene before him: trees flourished, birds chirped, the air was fresh—it was even more beautiful than the outside world.

The pads on Tom's paws puffed up slightly, allowing him to walk without making a sound.

After a while, he arrived beside a lake. The lake's water was as clear as deep blue glass, teeming with the aura of life.

Tom gazed at it curiously and jumped in, feeling that there was some hidden secret beneath the surface.

Though the lake was deep, he found nothing within—yet he could hear a strange heartbeat.

He discovered a space within the lake where the water flowed gently into an almost imperceptible spatial node.

Without hesitation, Tom slipped into the invisible entrance.

In the dim space, his cat eyes glowed bright. Then he covered his mouth in shock. What did he just see?!

A mountain-sized dragon lay in slumber. It was entirely silver, its body covered with flawless hexagonal scales.

This dragon was sheer perfection—as if crafted by the hand of a divine creator. Only its breath was slightly weakened.

Tom's eyes lit up, and he swallowed hard. He had never tasted dragon meat before.

Without a second thought, Tom dashed over to the dragon's massive tail, ready to take a bite.

Elsewhere, within an isolated dimension, Di Tian lounged while observing the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, which was currently bound and immobile by a formation. "Still not releasing your energy? If not, you'll regret it."

The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm looked weak and dull, passively releasing its Heaven and Earth energy. Sensing the rich surrounding energy, a smile crept onto Di Tian's face.

If he could fully absorb the Ice Silkworm's cultivation, he might break the limit preventing soul beasts from becoming gods. That would be a great boon for the soul beast race.

However, Di Tian's eyelids twitched uncontrollably—an inexplicable occurrence for someone of godlike strength.

He muttered inwardly, Is it that anti-dragon aura I sensed that's bothering me? Forget it. The inner and outer spaces of the Lake of Life are sealed. Not even deities can get in.

With that, he chose to ignore the feeling and continued cultivating—for the great revival of soul beasts.

Tom paused, then reluctantly let go of the dragon's massive tail. After all, he was now a grandmaster. He couldn't just act without honor.

This silver dragon seemed injured. Better to heal her first, then wake her up—then he could eat her.

The Kung Fu Headband had clearly influenced Tom's behavior. If it were the old Tom, he would've been the most shameless of them all.

He pulled out a small roll of bandages—his usual go-to for injuries. It worked like a charm.

Somehow, with just one roll, he managed to wrap up the colossal Silver Dragon King completely.

Though unconscious, the Silver Dragon King instinctively absorbed the vitality of the Lake of Life. But now, she suddenly felt that both her physical and spiritual wounds were healing at a miraculous pace.

Before long, in the dim space, the Silver Dragon King suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze lit up the surroundings in a shade of violet.

"Cat, it was you who woke me!" the Silver Dragon King declared with authority.

She scrutinized the cat before her. It walked on two legs and wore a red headband. It looked quite nimble.

She could hardly believe it was this cat who saved her. Her injuries—even with the help of the Lake of Life—should've taken ten thousand years to recover.

But now? From when she first sensed that strange energy until now, no more than half an hour had passed.

Even gods couldn't do that. How could an ordinary-looking cat achieve it? And yet, there seemed to be no one else here.

Saved you? Well, sort of, Tom thought, giving a small nod.

The Silver Dragon King fell silent for a moment. She couldn't explain it. Still, as the ruler of the soul beasts, she had to reward this hero.

"Very well. Your merit is great. I hereby name you the Soul Beast Emissary. From now on, your status among the soul beasts will be second only to mine."

Tom was stunned. He hadn't expected someone would try to recruit him, Tom the Heavenly Emperor—and not even offer food, just some empty title.

Tom narrowed his eyes. He wasn't interested. Better to try eating some dragon meat instead.

The Silver Dragon King noticed that instead of kneeling in gratitude, the cat was giving her a rebellious look. She was immediately displeased.

"You dare not kneel and accept the honor I bestow?" she said in an imperious tone.

By now, her power had fully returned to the God King level.

With careful planning and the retrieval of the Golden Dragon King, she believed she could restore the Dragon God's glory—and the soul beasts' former glory.

She was feeling very confident now.

Tom quietly rolled up his sleeves. Kneel? Me? The only time Tom the Cat ever kneels is to beg my master after I've caused trouble!

The Silver Dragon King grew even angrier. She decided to teach this insolent feline a lesson and show him what it meant to face the ruler of all soul beasts.

Water, fire, earth, wind, light, darkness, and space—elemental energies rapidly gathered around her, radiating terrifying pressure.

"If you apologize and swear loyalty now, I'll overlook your insolence in light of your contribution," she said, her mighty voice echoing through the space.

Tom had already pounced.

This dragon is absolutely delusional. Tom has only one master—Shen An! A loyal cat serves no second lord!

Seeing Tom refuse to yield, the Silver Dragon King lunged at him too. Cat and dragon collided.

"Meow meow meow meow meow meow! (Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms!)"

Within this secluded pocket of space, agonized dragon howls echoed without pause.

Meanwhile, Jerry also arrived in the true space within the Lake of Life. He looked around impatiently. More scenes? More layers? And where the heck did that stupid cat run off to?

The savage beasts surrounding the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm were still furiously absorbing his power.

Bi Ji opened her eyes. "Just now… did a little mouse run past?"

Di Tian didn't even twitch. "I've sealed this space. Not even a god can enter. Bi Ji, you're imagining things."