Shadow Chief

"I... I lost."

A student felt the icy touch at his neck and couldn't help trembling all over as he spoke in a quavering voice.

Hearing this, Cheng Xiaoyu slowly drew back his dagger, then turned and walked off the arena.

"The winner is the challenger, Cheng Xiaoyu, who claims the position of Shadow Chief!"

As the referee loudly announced the result, the venue erupted in cheers, and everyone began excitedly whispering among themselves.

"Holy crap, that Cheng Xiaoyu is way too freakish. I didn't even see when he made his move."

"He used just one move, and he didn't even seem to use magic. Is he really a mage?"

"What a letdown. I thought we were going to see a top-tier showdown, but it was over as soon as I sat down. I waited all this time for nothing."

Qin Yuer and Ding Yumian sat in a corner, watching Cheng Xiaoyu step down from the arena. Ding Yumian couldn't help pouting.

"Hmph, Junior Apprentice Brother is showing off again."

Well, he did look pretty handsome... No, Ding Yumian, what are you thinking? You're the Second Senior Sister!

"Mm, Junior Apprentice Brother really is amazing. That speed just now didn't seem like something a mage should be capable of. For a moment, I almost thought he'd used Instantaneous Movement."

Qin Yuer wore a Female Professional Suit today, which fully concealed her voluptuous figure, yet somehow only accentuated her graceful curves. Black Stockings covered her long, shapely legs, showing them off to perfection, while the High Heels on her delicate feet were sure to stir any man's heart!

Meanwhile, Mu Nujiao and Aitutu looked utterly stunned, as though they still hadn't come back to their senses after what they'd just witnessed. They had truly been dazzled.

"Sister Mu, was Brother Xiaoyu really that amazing?"

Hearing this, Mu Nujiao came back to herself. The image of that figure had left an incredibly deep impression on her, and she spoke softly.

"Yes. I think the elders in my family underestimated him. Brother Xiaoyu may be even more terrifying than they thought."

"Brother Xiaoyu only entered the Main Campus this semester, and he immediately challenged the Shadow Academy's chief. Then he won in one move! Sister Mu, don't you think he's handsome?"

"Mm, he really is handsome..."

"Hey, Sister Mu, you admitted it!"

"Well... I think every girl here would feel the same way. Tutu, don't you think Brother Xiaoyu is handsome?"

"Of course he is... Hehe, we agree on that, at least!"

Having left the bustling venue far behind, Cheng Xiaoyu walked along the campus avenue. He had already become famous on the campus forums, and every so often, girls nearby cast him admiring, bashful glances.

He had claimed the position of Shadow Chief almost as a matter of convenience. He simply wanted to secure his monthly cultivation resources, and he was also interested in getting access to the Three Step Tower once a month.

Although his teacher had promised that he could cultivate in the Three Step Tower for seven days each month, who would complain about getting more chances? Once he broke through to the advanced level, he could continue gathering materials for the Water of Life in Demon City...

"Yuer Jie, you still haven't told us what we're going out to do this time."

Cheng Xiaoyu sat in his seat, gazing out the window at the clear blue sky. He turned to Qin Yuer beside him and asked.

Qin Yuer wasn't wearing her sexy Female Professional Suit today. Her blouse couldn't conceal her full breasts, and her delicate, fair collarbones showed at the neckline. Her slender waist looked barely wide enough to wrap one's arms around.

She wore high-waisted, tight-fitting wide-leg pants below, which accentuated her full, pert rear. Her long, shapely legs were crossed.

Qin Yuer chuckled, opened her beautiful eyes, and looked at her puzzled Junior Apprentice Brother before explaining in a low voice.

"Junior Apprentice Brother, actually, this is a task Grandpa Xiao assigned me. Recently, Grandpa Xiao personally created a Water Element Array. We're going north this time to discuss the initial design of the Water Element array and prepare for the next stage of research."

Then she glanced at Ding Yumian on the other side, reached over to ruffle her hair, and said with a smile,

"Since we're going anyway, I thought I'd bring you two along for a bit of fun."

"Mm, I knew Yuer Jie was the best!"

Ding Yumian bobbed her head like a chick pecking at grain. Her bright, limpid eyes sparkled with delight, and her lovely face was lit up by a sweet, happy smile.

Today, she wore a pure white, fitted dress with a cinched waist that hugged her curvaceous, graceful figure. The hem stopped at mid-thigh, revealing a pair of long, snow-white legs—slender but still nicely rounded, making one want to reach out and play with them!

"A Water Element Array... As expected of our teacher. To think she came up with a spell formation like that."

Cheng Xiaoyu offered his usual sigh of admiration. Unlike Ding Yumian, whose curiosity was drawn to the outside world, he was more interested in just how powerful the Water Element Array would be once it was complete.

After Qin Yuer finished taking care of her business, she brought Cheng Xiaoyu and Ding Yumian to a Snowfield outside the Safe Zone. The scenery there was beautiful and enchanting, a sight rarely seen in the south.

But hidden within such beautiful surroundings were endless dangers!

"Yuer Jie, why did you bring us outside the Safe Zone?"

"Of course I brought you out for Wilderness Training. I'd like to see what you can do, Junior Apprentice Brother."

"That's right, Junior Apprentice Brother. Do your best!"

Seeing his two beautiful senior sisters cheering him on, Cheng Xiaoyu's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and he sighed helplessly.

Come on, wasn't this supposed to be a paid vacation? How had it turned into Wilderness Training?

"Yumian Jie, you wanted to kill Demon Beasts, didn't you? Aren't you coming with me?"

"I came out to see the scenery. I don't want to fight those disgusting Demon Beasts."

Ding Yumian seemed to catch on. Her beautiful eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them.

"Junior Apprentice Brother, don't tell me you thought I'd been wanting to come out just so I could kill those Demon Beasts?"

"H-how could I... Hahaha..."

Cheng Xiaoyu gave an awkward laugh. It seemed he really had misunderstood something.

"Hmph!"

Ding Yumian gave a delicate huff. It wasn't as if she were violent—she was perfectly ladylike, after all. Honestly, her Junior Apprentice Brother...

"Alright, you two. Junior Apprentice Brother, go ahead and give it your all. The only common Demon Beasts around here are the Ice Bear Clan, and the strongest are only Commander Level. Senior Sister will keep you safe."

"Good luck, Junior Apprentice Brother!"

With Qin Yuer and Ding Yumian looking at him encouragingly, what man wouldn't want to show off in front of two beautiful women? Cheng Xiaoyu naturally couldn't back out, and it would be a good chance to gain some levels.

He walked across the thick snow and headed into the forest. Along the way, he spotted obvious claw marks on the tree trunks, clearly left by Demon Beasts.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded. A massive, snow-white Ice Bear emerged from the forest and roared at Cheng Xiaoyu.

"Finally, one showed up."

Cheng Xiaoyu narrowed his eyes, planted his foot in the snow, and vanished from the spot, leaving only a cloud of snow dust billowing in the air.

The next second, he appeared above the Ice Bear. His arm swept through an arc, and his fist slammed into its head.

The Ice Bear had no time to react. Its body crashed to the ground, a fist-sized dent appearing in its skull as blood poured out.

After taking down the Ice Bear with one punch, Cheng Xiaoyu glanced at the tracks on the ground and followed its footprints deeper into the forest, eventually finding a massive cave.

As if sensing someone approaching, pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the dark cave. One enormous Ice Bear after another emerged, glaring at the human outside.

"Quite a few of them..."

Cheng Xiaoyu counted them roughly, a smile curling his lips. A dark glint flashed in his eyes as he said coldly,

"Arise!"

The pitch-black shadows stretched out, and one Shadow Soldier after another appeared. The imposing Yegelite stood respectfully behind Cheng Xiaoyu.

The Ice Bear King rose onto its hind legs and let out a furious roar. All the Ice Bears charged forward with roars of their own.

"Attack."

Cheng Xiaoyu uttered a single word, and the Shadow Soldiers behind him surged forward to meet the Ice Bears.

These Ice Bears were all quite strong. Some were at Commander Level, and it took only a few blows for one to smash a Shadow Soldier to death. But the next second, another Shadow Soldier cut it down.

The Shadow Soldiers weren't pushovers. After several battles, some had also reached Commander Level, making the fight even more intense!

"So this is... Junior Apprentice Brother's true ability?"