Douluo: What the hell is the academic master development system?

Chapter 457 "Shrinking the Earth to an Inch"

"Hmph, Chen Ping, let's go. I'll show you around Haotian Fort."

After saying this, Wang Dong ignored the middle-aged man beside him and pulled Chen Ping toward Haotian Fortress ahead, leaving the middle-aged man scratching his head in embarrassment.

Chen Ping nodded slightly to the middle-aged man before following Wang Dong's steps.

This is probably the Titan Giant Ape Erming who could slap Zhao Wuji so hard that his Martial Soul True Body disintegrated back then.

Putting everything else aside, even if only a wisp of the oppressive aura emanating from the other party was released in a very restrained manner, it would still be terrifying enough.

Led by Wang Dong, they walked towards the castle.
The castle's arched gate bears three large characters: Haotian Castle.

To be honest, castles are not really suitable for living, at least not for humans to live in for a long time.

After all, on Earth, castles are essentially defensive structures, serving primarily a military purpose. They have narrow windows, low eaves, and semi-circular arches, emphasizing a heavy and solid appearance, giving no indication of any intention to break in.

However, in Douluo Continent, at least in Haotian Fortress, this principle is not followed. Instead, it is built more like a church. From the outside to the inside, all kinds of architectural structures are quite huge, and the windows on the walls that allow light in are generally as tall as a person.

Stepping inside the castle, the first floor is not decorated in any luxurious style; the overall layout is predominantly gray and black, with occasional traces of blue.

There are staircases on both sides that allow you to climb to higher places. The castle's structure is not very complicated; it has three floors, but it occupies a considerable area.

Chen Ping carefully examined the entire Haotian Fortress and discovered that it was almost entirely supported by eight pillars.

These eight pillars are each about as thick as five people could hug. Below them is a triangular platform. Each pillar doesn't look particularly eye-catching. They are painted with a light layer of lacquer and look simple and unadorned.

"These eight pillars are really thick. Even a thousand-year-old tree probably wouldn't grow this thick and sturdy."

Chen Ping sighed, and then saw Er Ming suddenly appear out of nowhere.

"Sturdy, right? These pillars used to build Haotian Fortress are not ordinary ancient trees. After all, they have to support the fortress, which weighs an unknown amount of weight. Ordinary pillars can't withstand the force."

This time, Erming showed a bright smile, and as he spoke, he winked at Chen Ping.

"Young man, your uncle was wrong just now. Please don't take it to heart. Don't let it affect your friendship with Xiaodong."

"Your uncle saw you earlier and saw that you are such a strong and energetic young man. Xiao Dong and your classmates always talk about you, so I couldn't resist testing you. You're pretty good, haha."

"Just call me Uncle Tai, like your classmates do. You were really tough when you withstood my pressure earlier, your back didn't even bend. I acknowledge you now, you're in for a treat tonight."

Erming's actions in smoothing things over in his own way earned Chen Ping's silent approval.

It's clear that, at least in Erming's heart, Wang Dong holds a very important place, perhaps even more so than Tang Wutong. Can you believe that, just to appease Wang Dong's feelings, Erming, a former 100,000-year-old soul beast, now a top-tier expert with a level 99 cultivation and sealed power, would actually tell a lowly level 40 soul master like him that he was wrong?

"Uncle Tai, you're too kind. I benefited greatly from your relentless pressure just now. I feel that the bottleneck to advancing to the next level has loosened up a bit. I'm so grateful to you, Uncle Tai."

"But if there's something good to eat tonight, I won't hold back. Just don't think I eat too much."

Chen Ping's next words immediately made Er Ming feel as if he had returned to the time tens of thousands of years ago when he found a beehive in the Star Dou Forest and was so happy that his eyes narrowed with laughter.

Look, kids in the human world are so good at talking. Soul Masters who can reach level 40 or higher at the age of 15 or 16 don't have any bottlenecks. They can just say that their bottlenecks have loosened because of their own pressure.

"Alright, alright, Uncle was worried you'd eat too much. You can't possibly eat more than that kid named Xie Huanyue and that kid named Huo Yuhao, can you? Just you wait and see."

As he spoke, Erming casually grabbed something, and the scene before him became illusory. Then, he took a step forward and disappeared from the hall of Haotian Fortress.

"My grass!"

Chen Ping was completely shocked by Er Ming's move; his jaw almost dropped, and he nearly let out a sharp crack.

"Hey, what's the big deal? This is my second father's soul skill, called Shrinking the Earth to an Inch. Isn't it interesting? He's probably out fishing. Just wait for the big meal tonight."

Seeing Chen Ping's shocked expression, Wang Dong explained to him with amusement.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping's gaze towards Wang Dong took on a peculiar quality, a quality that could be described as "the gaze of concern for the intellectually disabled."

Damn it, is Erming's "shrinking the earth to an inch" move real? Does Chen Ping think he can't tell?

He can conjure up a teleportation portal with his bare hands and drill a hole in the undead demiplane to enter. There might not be more than a handful of people in the entire Douluo Continent who have a higher level of spatial mastery than him.

Erming's move just now might have worked to fool Wang Dong, that silly goose, and Wang Dong would have believed him when Erming said it was a teleportation technique, but it wouldn't have been enough to fool Chen Ping, a magician apprentice who could actually open teleportation portals.

Before you can use your shrinking technique, you have to dig around with your hands, right? Who are you digging around?

Judging from the terrifying spatial fluctuations in front of Erming just now, which were so violent they could almost tear apart a Title Douluo in an instant, Chen Ping was certain that Erming's move just now was definitely not some kind of shrinking the earth to an inch technique, but rather he forcefully shattered space with his bare hands.

Yes, he used only his hands, his physical strength, and not even his soul power, to tear a hole in the space in front of him. Then, he used the terrifying power within his body to forcibly suppress the spatial turmoil that could have torn apart an ordinary soul master, and easily appeared at a distance of unknown distance from Haotian Fortress.

This exaggerated display of combat power was something that, if Chen Ping remembered correctly, only Di Tian in the original novel had accomplished. He could move around instantly using the power of space. Apart from him, even Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, who were both at level ninety-nine, could not do this.

This is probably related to Di Tian's Yin-Yang complementary dual soul cores and his understanding of spatial power over the long years. However, it is undeniable that Er Ming's combat power is probably at the same level.

(End of this chapter)