Shadow Soldier, Fang

After graduating from Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu and Cheng Xiao set off for the Star Dou Great Forest. Tang San went alone to Suotuo City, intending to follow Master's recommendation and attend an academy called Shrek.

Ever since reaching level thirty, Cheng Xiao had gained the abilities Shadow Extraction and Shadow Preservation. He even possessed a special ability: Dominator's Authority.

Dominator's Omnipotence: "Influence objects without needing to touch them directly."

Shadow Extraction: "Extract the residual energy within lifeless creatures and turn it into Shadow Soldiers. The stronger the extracted creature was and the longer it had been dead, the greater the chance of failure. At the current stage, there are only three extraction attempts. Once all three attempts fail, the target will return to nothingness and can never be extracted again. (The number of extraction attempts and the success rate will increase as the level rises.)"

Shadow Preservation: "Shadow Soldiers are stored within the Sovereign's shadow. They can be summoned or protected again according to the Sovereign's needs. (The number of Shadow Soldiers will increase as the level rises.)"

In the pitch-black night sky, a crescent moon hung alone overhead, its faint, chilly light spilling across the land.

Within the dark forest, a small bonfire flickered lightly, bringing a trace of warm light to the silent night.

Beside the fire, the young man leaned against a tree trunk, idly prodding the flames with the burning stick in his hand.

Counting today, Cheng Xiao had been in the Star Dou Great Forest for three days. After arriving, Xiao Wu had been taken back to the inner region by Er Ming. After discussing it with Da Ming, the Two Forest Emperors had decided to protect Xiao Wu until she completely broke through level sixty.

Casually tossing another log into the fire and making it burn much brighter, Cheng Xiao rested his chin on his palm and said blandly, "Fang, are there any Thousand-Year Soul Beasts nearby suitable for becoming soldiers?"

"..." A stream of black mist slowly emerged from Cheng Xiao's eyes. Then, a beast-like Shadow Soldier with exposed fangs and black fog billowing from its entire body appeared before him.

That was right. This beast-like Shadow Soldier called Fang was the Nether Demon Wolf that had died back in Soul Hunting Forest. For some unknown reason, after the Nether Demon Wolf had been killed by Cheng Xiao while possessed by the Shadow Monarch, all the energy within its body had entered Cheng Xiao's shadow.

When Cheng Xiao broke through to level thirty and condensed his third Thousand-Year Soul Ring, the dead Nether Demon Wolf had been automatically summoned. Perhaps because it was his first soldier, Cheng Xiao named it Fang. Its shadow rank was only Common.

Shadow ranks were divided into six grades: Common, Elite, Knight, Elite Knight, General, and Commander.

"I almost forgot. Your rank isn't high enough, so speaking is still rather difficult for you." Cheng Xiao muttered a few words and helplessly shook his head. His strength was still too weak. With Xiao Wu gone, he did not even have anyone beside him to talk to.

Fang: "(⊙﹏⊙)"

"Forget it. Since there aren't any suitable beast-type Soul Beasts, I'll kill some hundred-year Soul Beasts close to a thousand years old tomorrow." Cheng Xiao yawned, then ordered Fang to stand guard before sitting cross-legged in a cultivation posture.

Beside the bonfire, the young man slowly closed his eyes. The surroundings became silent once more, leaving only the soft crackling of firewood and the low chirping of insects.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Cheng Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and stood up with a slight frown.

The sudden consumption of Shadow Power within his body forced Cheng Xiao to become vigilant. Just now, Shadow Soldier Fang's connection with him had been severed. In other words, a powerful Soul Beast capable of instantly killing Fang had appeared nearby.

"Fang." Cheng Xiao extended his hand, and a wisp of black smoke arced down to the ground. Moments later, Shadow Soldier Fang appeared before him once again.

After reviving Fang, dark purple light lit up in the depths of Cheng Xiao's eyes. He could already sense that something big was approaching in his direction.

With a swift movement, he found a large tree and concealed himself behind it. Cheng Xiao then gave Shadow Soldier Fang another command. With a low roar, Fang instantly rushed toward the depths of the forest. As a Shadow Soldier, it could communicate with the Sovereign at any time and report the situation.

Watching Fang's disappearing figure, deep purple light flickered in Cheng Xiao's eyes. The Shadow Power within his body surged outward, spreading like a giant net. Everywhere it passed, he could clearly sense everything around him.

Through Shadow Power's coverage of the surroundings, Cheng Xiao found nothing within a kilometer that could draw his attention. Yet as the Shadow Power gradually spread farther, an ominous feeling inexplicably rose within his heart.

As the Shadow Power continued to expand, every living thing nearby, including every blade of grass and tree, was revealed in Cheng Xiao's mind. Fifteen hundred meters ahead, two Soul Beasts were fighting. Fang was hiding in the bushes nearby without daring to poke its head out.

"Roar!"

A high-pitched, piercing beast roar rang out. The surrounding vegetation rustled as though swept by an invisible gale, unable to resist.

The next moment, Cheng Xiao clearly saw the appearances of the two battling Soul Beasts. One of them was actually a Man Faced Demon Spider known as the Evil Slaughterer, while the Soul Beast fighting it was a Ghost Tiger. At that moment, both Soul Beasts had unleashed their strongest abilities, neither intending to let the other go.

Especially the Ghost Tiger. As it stared at the Evil Slaughterer before it, its blood-red eyes brimmed with fierce, savage might, its vicious aura completely exposed.

This was a Ghost Tiger nearing ten thousand years of cultivation. Its opponent seemed to be a five-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider. The latter could fight ordinary Thousand-Year Soul Beasts even at the hundred-year level. Moreover, as a terrifying Soul Beast that delighted in slaughter, it was often hunted by powerful Soul Beasts. Thus, reaching a thousand years of cultivation was already no easy feat, let alone ten thousand years.

However, the Man Faced Demon Spider possessed a formidable skill: Devouring. After consuming other types of Soul Beasts, it could convert the Soul Power in their bodies into its own strength. That was precisely why it was hunted by powerful Soul Beasts, in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

But now, this Ghost Tiger that was nearly ten thousand years old had been targeted by a five-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider. Judging from the bloody, mangled wounds on its back, it had likely been ambushed by the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Furthermore, white spiderwebs clung to the rear half of the Ghost Tiger's body. It had clearly been ambushed by the Man Faced Demon Spider without realizing it. However, the ambusher had not fared much better. Of its eight spider legs, only six remained. The other two had fallen off to the side, leaving it in a miserable state.