Alienated Shadow

By the time Lu Li regained consciousness, he was already lying on his own bed. Sitting up, he felt nothing unusual about his body; if anything, he felt slightly stronger, though physically fatigued. However, when he turned around, his shadow rippled. Just as Lu Li prepared to investigate further, a knock sounded at his door, followed by the voice of his cousin, Ji Yue: "Time to eat!"

"Oh!" Lu Li replied. The shadow behind him returned to stillness. He pushed open the door to find his uncle and aunt already eating. Without much conversation, Lu Li picked up a bowl and began to eat. His aunt was whispering something to Ji Yue, while his uncle took a bite of food, suddenly looked up, and asked Lu Li, "The college entrance exam is in a month. How are your studies?"

"Studies are fine. At the very least, getting into a university won't be a problem," Lu Li said indifferently. With the analytical and cognitive efficiency he possessed after unlocking his brain, even though he didn't study diligently, his grades remained consistently good—one might even say excellent. This was the reason his teachers tolerated his behavior.

"Have you decided which university to apply to?" His uncle deliberated before saying, "I heard that a foreign university branch is opening in the provincial capital this year. They say it's quite famous. What was it called? Something like Misi University?"

"...I'll handle the university matter myself. No need to worry," Lu Li said, finishing his last mouthful of rice. He cleared his bowl and chopsticks, then added, "I'll be moving out after the college entrance exam. I have something to take care of tonight, so I won't be back to sleep!"

After washing his bowl, he ignored his uncle's hesitant expression and walked out of the house, heading toward the river embankment. At the same time, he pulled up his data panel, and the information appeared:

[ID: YZ0135]

[Physical Assessment: 1.24 + 0.62 (Alienated Shadow bonus, varies based on environment); Life Energy Derivative: 0.1]

[Soul Assessment: 2.86; Spirit Energy Derivative: 0.38; Shadow Magic: 0.001]

[Innate Ability: Ultimate Control: A non-human level soul brings non-human level control; your control over your own body is exceptionally powerful!]

[Skill Slots: 3, No skills.]

[Inventory: Rule Module: Fixed; Fear; Will; Manipulation; Bestowal; Energy Module: Life; Control Module: Spirit; Special Module: Primary Intelligence;]

[Game Points: 550]

[Evaluation: You are no longer human, though your physical form remains so.]

Standing on the embankment, looking down at the Wu River, it was already seven or eight in the evening. The embankment was quite remote, and few people ever came here. Surrounded by bushes and plagued by mosquitoes, even those looking for a secluded spot wouldn't choose this place. The nearest light source was the bridge, but it was too far away; from the bridge, one couldn't even make out a silhouette, so there was no need to worry about being discovered. Lu Li calmed his mind and sensed his shadow.

Although there was no light, Lu Li could feel a mass beneath his feet merging into the darkness. He closed his eyes, focusing all his effort on controlling the shadow that had blended into the darkness beneath him.

Something stirred in the darkness. Following Lu Li's intent, a tentacle-like mass of shadow essence rose from behind him, extending bit by bit until it formed an irregular geometric shape. Lu Li directed the shadow to move behind him, only to find it shrinking; it seemed the shadow remained tethered to him, and as it moved away, part of its body flattened into a connecting line.

Frowning, Lu Li tried to sever the shadow line. The result was the immediate dissipation of the shadow mass, and he felt the shadow return to his feet. Opening his eyes, Lu Li sighed. It wasn't that his shadow couldn't leave his body, but that his control was insufficient; without the direct support of his intent, the detached shadow simply dispersed.

Do I need to multitask? Lu Li effectively possessed a second shadow avatar, but this avatar required his conscious control, or it would dissipate and return to his feet.

Insufficient control was a massive joke to Lu Li, yet it was the reality. With no other choice, Lu Li continued to practice, repeatedly controlling the shadow to detach. Finally, by midnight, he could control the shadow to move away without needing a tethering line.

"That really is difficult!" Lu Li moved his stiff body, and the shadow moving in the distance immediately collapsed, returning to his feet. Lu Li shook his head with a wry smile. Multitasking was truly hard to master. Controlling his own body was one thing, but controlling the shadow was like operating a separate system; it required him to slowly familiarize himself with it until certain actions became instinctual, freeing up his mental capacity.

The Wu River flowed on, the sound of the water never ceasing. It was now deep into the night, and most people had fallen asleep. Lu Li rested for a while and closed his eyes to drift off. Just as he was about to fall asleep, his brain unlocked, constantly sensing, analyzing, and reading all the surrounding data. He instantly snapped awake: "According to the analysis, that special feeling is the sensation of entering the Dream of Delusion, though it seems much weaker."

"It is confirmed: the Dream of Delusion exists in the real world, though it may be much weaker!" Lu Li had grasped that feeling in the ruined temple, and he had felt it again in the real world. What remained uncertain was whether he would enter the Dream of Delusion if he fell asleep now.

Feeling the mosquitoes, Lu Li closed his pores, caught the few mosquitoes sucking his blood against his skin, and crushed them one by one. He closed his eyes and entered sleep again. That special feeling flashed and vanished. Ten minutes later, Lu Li opened his eyes again with a strange expression. He could sense the existence of the Dream of Delusion, but he couldn't enter it. He had truly fallen asleep, but the sensation of the Dream of Delusion felt like a dream itself, as if there were some kind of membrane separating him from it.

Unable to reach a conclusion, Lu Li set the thought aside, closed his pores to isolate his aura, and truly drifted into a deep sleep.

Second update. Fellow readers, based on the existing hints, feel free to guess what kind of skills Lu Li will combine. A hint: some modules will be exchanged for corresponding modules, so don't worry about the module issue.