Cheng Xiaoyu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Xiaoyu (程肖宇)
Alias(es)	Second Awakener; Shadow Monarch's successor; new Shadow Monarch 79 106
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Physical-type Hunter; inheritor of the Shadow Monarch's power 30 106
Status	Active; investigating the SS-class underground city alongside Xu Feng and Liu Zhikang 113 118
First Appearance	Chapter 30 — first on-page appearance in the Gloomy Ant Nest mission 30

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
E-Class physical-type Hunter	30	Registers for the Gloomy Ant Nest walkthrough as an E-Class Hunter despite abnormal combat ability.
Physical ability beyond registered rank	32	Displays approximately B-Class mid-level speed and C-Class peak strength; his injuries rapidly recover during a desperate battle with the spider leader.
Second Awakener	79	The Hunter Association detects his magic power at High S-Class, the upper limit of its measuring equipment; his actual strength remains unknown.
Shadow Monarch's successor	102 103	Accepts the System's stored memory data and begins receiving the former Shadow Monarch's memories as his Shadow Power resonates uncontrollably.
New Shadow Monarch	106	Awakens with the Shadow Monarch's memories and power. He is still adapting to the inheritance and integrating its overwhelming strength.

Background

Xu Feng's fragmented memories identify Cheng Xiaoyu as the future Shadow Monarch and the person destined to save the world. At the time, however, Xu Feng does not know which Cheng Xiaoyu among the many people sharing that name is the destined figure 1.

Before becoming known as a Second Awakener, Xiaoyu was regarded as Country H's weakest E-Class Hunter. His System enabled his rapid growth, though he remained guarded about its purpose and the dangers it could bring to his family 79.

Xiaoyu lives with his younger sister, Cheng Xiaoya, and their mother. Their father, Cheng Rihan, had been missing for more than a decade while secretly watching over them from a distance 79 83.

Appearance

Cheng Xiaoyu is a tall, thin young man with a restrained presence. His calm but sharp gaze and angular jawline give him a more severe appearance than his quiet manner initially suggests 30.

• Black, messy hair 30
• Calm, sharp eyes 30
• Distinctively angular jawline 30
• Initially wears a faded hunting suit and uses shabby equipment despite his unusual combat ability 32

Personality

Xiaoyu is reserved, observant, and intensely cautious around strangers. He immediately notices the suspicious composition of Huang Dongshi's team, remains wary when Xu Feng visits his home, and habitually prepares his Shadow Power even when no hostile intent is apparent 30 80 81.

His strongest motivation is protecting his family. He considers Dengfeng Martial Arts School primarily because it could give Xiaoya a way to defend herself, and he agrees to help Xu Feng only after ensuring that his own family will be safe 79 81 82.

Although he respects Xu Feng's strength and assistance, Xiaoyu does not follow him unquestioningly. He becomes concerned by the reverence Xu Feng inspires in his father and sister, openly questions whether Xu Feng influenced them, and later remarks that Xu Feng has begun to seem “more like... a god” 99 100.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Combat

Before inheriting the Shadow Monarch's full power, Xiaoyu is already an exceptional close-range combatant despite his E-Class registration.

• Moves at roughly B-Class mid-level speed, leaving afterimages while engaging the spider leader 32
• Uses agility to circle larger enemies and identify weak points, including the spider leader's compound eyes 32
• Possesses comparatively lower raw strength at this stage, making heavily armored targets difficult for him to damage 32
• Demonstrates an emergency recovery ability: his wounds heal visibly and his speed returns to peak condition under extreme pressure 32

Shadow Power

Xiaoyu can manipulate shadows through the power connected to his System and later through the Shadow Monarch's inheritance.

• Shadows respond to his vigilance and stir around him when he senses potential danger 80
• Can form shadow tentacles and blades; his power erupts uncontrollably when he receives the System's stored memories 102
• Uses Shadow Control, whose appearance Xu Feng compares to being surrounded by a legion of ghosts 81
• His shadow-based perception has limits: Cheng Rihan's aura-concealment ability prevents Xiaoyu from detecting him while he watches the family from nearby 79 83

Shadow Monarch Inheritance

The System's stored data contains the Shadow Monarch's legacy rather than a possession attempt.

• Receives memories of ancient wars, the Monarchs, and the Shadow Monarch's final choice 102 106
• Awakens as the new Shadow Monarch while retaining his own identity and consciousness 106
• The inherited power severs Klaesi's access to the System, overriding contingencies established by its creator 106
• Requires time and combat experience to adapt to the vast quantity of newly inherited power 106 113

Equipment / Items

• Black short dagger — his primary close-combat weapon during the Gloomy Ant Nest mission 32
• System storage — keeps his dagger in System space when not using it 80
• Katenon Temple key — opens the sealed entrance to Katenon Temple 100
• Blood-red pendant — receives Xu Feng's message through it before joining the SS-class underground city expedition 113

Relationships

• Xu Feng — First meets Xu Feng during the Gloomy Ant Nest mission. Xu Feng recognizes Xiaoyu's potential, gives him the mission spoils, later asks him to protect the Xu family, and accompanies him into Katenon Temple. Xiaoyu respects Xu Feng but remains uneasy about his growing influence over others 30 32 33 81 99 100.
• Cheng Xiaoya — Younger sister. Xiaoyu is deeply protective of her and specifically requests that she be accepted into Dengfeng Martial Arts School so she can protect herself 79 81.
• Cheng Rihan — Father, absent for over a decade while secretly protecting the family. Xiaoyu allows him to return after learning that he had his own reasons for leaving 83 97.
• Liu Chenhao — Fellow Hunter during the Gloomy Ant Nest walkthrough. They survive Huang Dongshi's betrayal alongside Xu Feng and exchange contact information afterward 30 33.
• Klaesi — Initially a tense encounter after Xiaoyu's awakening; Klaesi suggests killing him, but Xiaoyu confronts him after overhearing the discussion 106.
• Progenitor Monarch — Recognizes Xiaoyu as the Shadow Monarch's successor and attempts to persuade him to break his chains by claiming knowledge of the Rulers' plans 118.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Gloomy Ant Nest

Xiaoyu joins Xu Feng, Liu Chenhao, and Huang Dongshi's team to clear the C-Class Gloomy Ant Nest. He and Xu Feng independently recognize that Huang Dongshi's healer-less team is suspicious 30.

When a spider leader blocks the group, Xiaoyu takes the lead in battle. He endures injuries, discovers the creature's weak point, and kills it after an explosive recovery and speed burst. Xu Feng rewards him with 30 million for the corpse and ore deposit, describing the payment as an investment in his potential 32.

After Huang Dongshi's team betrays the group, Xiaoyu witnesses Xu Feng reveal far greater power than his B-Class archer identity suggested. The survivors divide the recovered spoils and exchange contact information before separating 33.

Family Protection Agreement

After becoming a recognized Second Awakener, Xiaoyu considers joining Dengfeng Martial Arts School so Xiaoya can gain the strength to protect herself. His concern is that enemies targeting him could endanger his sister and mother when he is absent 79.

Xu Feng approaches Xiaoyu with a proposal: Xiaoyu will help protect the Xu family, while Xu Feng offers a villa, assistance with Xiaoyu's problems, and support in finding Cheng Rihan. Xiaoyu accepts, but makes Xiaoya's admission into Dengfeng Martial Arts School his condition 81.

Xiaoyu moves his family into the Liuhe Villa Area for safety. When Cheng Rihan finally returns, Xiaoyu chooses reconciliation and asks only that his father not leave again 82 97.

Katenon Temple and the Shadow Monarch's Legacy

Xiaoyu enters Katenon Temple with Xu Feng to uncover the truth behind his System. At the temple's center, he accepts the System prompt to receive its stored memory data, causing his Shadow Power to spiral out of control as he receives the Shadow Monarch's memories 100 102.

He awakens as the new Shadow Monarch, inheriting the previous Monarch's power and understanding that the former Shadow Monarch chose to pass on his legacy rather than possess him. Xiaoyu thanks Xu Feng for allowing him to make that choice himself 106.

SS-Class Underground City

After adapting through combat in an A-Class underground city, Xiaoyu answers Xu Feng's summons to investigate an SS-Class underground city over Country R 113.

Within the giants' palace, Xiaoyu witnesses Xu Feng convert the giants' magic power into Qi and Blood and bind their loyalty to himself. The event reinforces Xiaoyu's concerns about Xu Feng's influence, though he recognizes that the giants benefit from the transformation 116 117.

At the palace's end, the imprisoned Progenitor Monarch recognizes Xiaoyu as the Shadow Monarch's successor and tries to manipulate him into granting freedom. Xiaoyu remains uncertain of the Monarch's motives rather than immediately accepting his claims 118.