Jiang Xiu's blood-red eyes flickered as he muttered under his breath.
Over these four years, he had once felt an immensely powerful wave of spiritual power sweep past. He was certain it had transcended the mortal realm and reached God Level—the Divine Origin Realm.
When that wave of spiritual power swept across the 76th Layer, the entire layer fell silent.
Jiang Xiu guessed that its owner was the Spirit Monarch, ranked second in the Abyss and tasked with overseeing the Abyss Plane in the Abyssal Sage King's stead.
Throughout the entire Abyss Plane, only the Abyssal Sage King and the Spirit Monarch had spiritual power that had broken through to God Level.
Fortunately, he had sunk the Shadow Legion underground that time and kept his Monarch Domain expanded. Otherwise, his shadow and the Shadow Legion would have been lost.
Over these four years, as his shadow continuously extracted the power fed back by the Shadow Soldiers, his cultivation had broken through to Soul King.
If he hadn't been afraid to hunt high-level Abyss Ants on a large scale, and if higher cultivation didn't require more energy, his shadow's cultivation would have been even higher.
After all, cultivating on your own could never be as fast as devouring.
And in the Abyss Plane, there wasn't enough time for him to develop at his leisure.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"
Just as Jiang Xiu was pondering, a mass of shadows in the distance hauled over an enormous Abyss Ant that had lost an arm and a leg.
The Shadow Soldiers within the mass of shadows eagerly showed off to Jiang Xiu.
"Not bad, not bad. From now on, stick to these three principles."
Jiang Xiu nodded slightly and praised them.
This mass of shadows consisted of Shadow Soldiers he had carefully selected, ones capable of retaining a little consciousness. They could even coordinate their attacks while carrying out his orders.
The three principles he had given them were: first, strike the legs to prevent escape; second, strike the head to prevent resistance; third, strike the mouth to prevent begging.
It wasn't that the Shadow Soldiers were too slow. He just wanted to be able to see clearly.
"To follow me is your honor. You needn't struggle in vain."
Jiang Xiu's blade fell, ending the Abyss Ant's life. As it turned into a mass of black light and tried to scatter away, Jiang Xiu had already raised his right hand, and darkness instantly wound around it.
Perhaps because Abyssal Creatures instinctively returned to their source, and because the gap between their cultivations was so great, the black light still managed a feeble struggle.
But Jiang Xiu remained utterly calm. On the back of his right hand, the mark of a purple-gold Ant Emperor roaring at the heavens glimmered faintly. An indescribable pressure crashed down upon the mass of black light.
In an instant, the black light stopped struggling, and Jiang Xiu successfully extracted a massive shadow.
"This Abyss Plane really does have a strict hierarchy."
After absorbing the energy fed back to him, Jiang Xiu stroked the mark on his right hand and murmured.
The Ant Emperor Mark had appeared four years ago, when his Shadow Legion had surpassed a hundred soldiers. After studying it for some time, he had gradually figured out what it was.
Compared with the Douluo Plane, the Abyss Plane wasn't a complete plane. It was merely a plunderer in the starry universe.
The 108 layers of the Abyss Plane were, broadly speaking, one whole, but each layer also had its own Abyss Source. Much of that Abyss Source resided in the kings of the various tribes.
Just as Tang Wulin had used the Golden Dragon Spear to slay two Abyss Kings during the Abyssal Tide, the layers of the Abyss Plane those kings had belonged to collapsed as soon as Tang Wulin absorbed their source energy. Even the two Abyssal tribes were completely annihilated.
Aside from the source within each tribe's Abyss King, the rest was divided into countless tiny fragments and hidden within every Abyssal Creature.
That was why Abyssal Creatures could return to the Abyss Plane after death and be reforged again and again.
When he extracted the shadows of these Abyssal Creatures, the Shadow Monarch extracted their sources along with them. Unlike the Golden Dragon Spear, which devoured them directly, the Shadow Monarch converted the source and passed it on to his shadow.
"Once I control most of the source, I can command the entire Ant Emperor tribe. While increasing the number of Shadow Monarchs, I also have to gradually make contact with the Ant Emperor."
Jiang Xiu reviewed his plan, weighing it carefully.
The Ant Emperor definitely held the most Abyss Source—perhaps even more than half of it. Jiang Xiu had to take him down and turn him into one of his Shadow Soldiers, or even a Legion Commander.
Only then could he reap the benefits without causing this layer of the Abyss Plane to collapse, while quietly taking control of the 76th Layer.
"Titled Douluo... The grand plan isn't complete yet. I still have to keep working."
After giving himself a word of encouragement, Jiang Xiu prepared to return his consciousness to his main body.
But just then, a special memory appeared before him from the shadow he had just extracted.
"This is an Abyssal Dark Lotus!"
In the enormous Abyss Ant's memory, a black-and-white lotus floated in a Nether Spring. It radiated a strange, shadowy glow, and its petals numbered twenty-four, divided distinctly between black and white.
The Abyss Plane might not compare to the Douluo Plane, but it was still a plane in its own right, and it held all kinds of rare treasures. The Abyssal Dark Lotus was one of them.
"Well, well. The Ant Emperor even sent someone to guard it. Guess I'll have to steal it."
After browsing through the entire memory, excitement flickered in Jiang Xiu's blood-red eyes.
This Abyss Ant could be considered one of the Ant Emperor's peripheral guards. It had previously been sent, along with other Ant Emperor experts, to protect the Abyssal Dark Lotus.
The Ant Emperor wanted to use the Abyssal Dark Lotus to break through again. After all, the rankings of the 108 Abyssal tribes weren't fixed. A tribe could rise in rank through special forms of combat, and a higher ranking meant the entire tribe would grow stronger.
No tribal king could refuse such a temptation—except the Spirit Monarch, ranked second. To rise any higher, he would probably have to go up against the Abyssal Sage King.
"Next time I come, I'll have to find a way to take it."
Jiang Xiu made up his mind. The further his shadow progressed, the more energy it would take to break through, and the Abyssal Dark Lotus was just what he needed. Besides, if the Ant Emperor broke through, taking the 76th Layer would become even harder.
Then Jiang Xiu didn't hesitate any longer. He drew the Shadow Legion back into his Monarch Domain, and his consciousness slowly returned.
Inside Jiang Xiu's room.
"Phew!"
Jiang Xiu slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through his violet pupils as he rose from the bed.
He was now tall and slender, with handsome features. Beneath his violet eyes lingered an air of nobility, and combined with his uniquely proud bearing, he looked every bit the dashing young gentleman.
Creak!
The door opened.
"Jiang Xiu, you broke through?!"
Hearing the door open, Na'er immediately hopped down from the wooden stool and exclaimed in delight.
"Mm, I broke through. Next, it's time to get my second Soul Spirit."
Looking at Na'er, Jiang Xiu smiled.
"Jiang Xiu, I think someone's set me up."
At that moment, Na'er suddenly stepped in front of Jiang Xiu and said cautiously.
"Hmm? Let's hear it."
Jiang Xiu raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've already broken through to Soul Elder, while I'm only at level twenty-nine. We usually cultivate together and learn forging together, but I still haven't broken through. Doesn't that mean someone's been secretly setting me up?"
Na'er lifted her pretty face and said matter-of-factly.
"..."
"Na'er, I don't know whether anyone's set you up, but if you haven't finished the task I gave you yesterday, you're done for."
Before Jiang Xiu could answer, a thin figure appeared behind them. Then came a slight cough, followed by the words.
Hearing that voice, Na'er's pretty face froze. She slowly turned around like a machine, and the instant she saw the person behind her, one thought filled her mind.
"I'm toast!"
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