Cheng Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Xiao (程霄)
Alias(es)	Shadow Monarch; King of Shadow Soul Beasts; Heir of the Third Generation Monarch 11 87
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator from Earth/Blue Star 1 250
Gender	Male
Martial Soul	Shadow Soldier (initial designation); Shadow Monarch 1 57
Affiliation	Nuoding Academy (former student); Imperial Dou Team; Seven Star Academy; Shadow Hall (founder) 44 58 115 239
Occupation/Role	Soul Master; commander of the Shadow Legion 59 262
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Shadow Monarch” 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Full Soul Power	1	Awakened the Shadow Soldier Martial Soul at Nuoding City’s Martial Soul Hall; his potential drew an offer from Spirit Hall, which he refused. 1
First Growth Soul Ring	11	Received a thousand-year Growth Soul Ring condensed from Shadow Power rather than acquired conventionally; it can improve as his level rises. 11
Level 13	17	Registered as a Soul Master. His Disguise skill caused observers to perceive his true purple ring as a hundred-year ring. 14 17
Level 30	44	Unlocked Shadow Extraction, Shadow Preservation, and Dominator’s Authority; Fang became available as his first Shadow Soldier. 44 45
Level 32	46	Expanded his legion by hunting fifteen thousand-year Soul Beasts, while reserving five recruitment spaces for stronger targets. 46
Level 35	58	Broke through after enduring Zhi Lin’s Soul Power pressure; divine energy fused with Shadow Power, granting Soul Power dissolution. 58 59
Level 40	104	Received Candiaru’s magic blessings and formed a fourth Soul Ring. All four rings reached forty-thousand-year age. 104
Level 72	235	Reached this level after absorbing the magic crystals of two Kings; his physique, speed, strength, and spiritual power were also strengthened. 235

Background / History

Cheng Xiao was an Earth transmigrator who arrived on the Douluo Continent without parents and was raised by Village Chief Cheng of Cheng Family Village. At age six, he awakened his Martial Soul at Nuoding City’s Martial Soul Hall and was recognized as possessing Innate Full Soul Power. He declined Su Yuntao’s invitation to join Spirit Hall, choosing the independence of a free Soul Master instead. 1 2

Soon after his awakening, Cheng Xiao unsuccessfully attempted to turn a chicken into a Shadow Soldier. This failure led to contact with Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch, who identified Cheng Xiao as his successor. Ashborn explained that Cheng Xiao’s inherited power and the size of his future army would grow alongside his level. 1

He trained rigorously before entering Nuoding Academy as a work-study student. Shadow Power enhanced his recovery and physical condition, but Cheng Xiao deliberately avoided overtraining his developing body. 2

After graduating from Nuoding Academy, Cheng Xiao entered the Star Dou Great Forest with Xiao Wu. Reaching level 30 allowed him to form and preserve Shadow Soldiers, beginning with Fang and later adding a Ghost Tiger, a Man-faced Demon Spider, and numerous other Soul Beasts to his legion. 44 45 46

Appearance

Cheng Xiao is described as a handsome young man with black hair. His appearance changes when he channels certain inherited or borrowed powers, often accompanied by black smoke, dark-purple eyes, and an oppressive aura of death. 10 58 226

• His eyes glow dark purple when releasing the Shadow Monarch’s power. 10 59
• His presence can spread black mist across an entire room and obscure other Soul Masters’ senses. 58
• When using Ah Yin’s power, his black hair becomes long blue hair and he takes on the noble aura of the Blue Silver Emperor. 226
• He can manifest dragon-like scales and gather draconic energy for powerful attacks. 191
• After fully unleashing the Shadow Monarch’s power, he can fly freely. 252

Personality

Cheng Xiao is fiercely independent. He rejects the security of Spirit Hall and repeatedly states that he would rather build his own power than serve as another faction’s pawn. His ambition eventually takes concrete form in his plan to establish Shadow Hall and a high-level Soul Master academy. 1 51 115 154

He is disciplined and pragmatic in combat. Cheng Xiao trains consistently, measures physical risks carefully, and prefers tactical advantages over honorable duels—using ambushes, distractions, massed Shadow Soldiers, and careful target selection whenever necessary. 2 46 47

His growing power also affects his outlook. Cheng Xiao admits that killing has become increasingly easy for him to accept, then worries that he is becoming indifferent to life and dependent on power that was not originally his. 144 159

Abilities & Skills

Shadow Monarch Martial Soul

Cheng Xiao’s Martial Soul grants him Shadow Power and establishes him as the monarch of the Shadow Legion. His soldiers grow alongside him, but cannot surpass their King’s level. 1 14 46

• Shadow Extraction — Extracts residual energy from dead targets and turns them into Shadow Soldiers. A target has three extraction attempts; failure on all attempts causes it to return to nothingness. 44
• Shadow Preservation — Allows destroyed Shadow Soldiers such as Fang to be restored by expending Shadow Power. 44
• Shadow Legion — His force expanded from individual Soul Beasts to hundreds of Orc soldiers and eventually more than ten thousand legionnaires. 45 230 262
• Scaling limitation — Strong Soul Beasts are suppressed after extraction if Cheng Xiao’s level cannot support their original strength. 46
• Soul Power cost — Summoning greater numbers of Shadow Soldiers consumes correspondingly more Soul Power. 68

Growth Soul Rings and Combat Skills

His Soul Rings are formed from Shadow Power and scale beyond normal Soul Ring age limits as he becomes stronger. 11 104

• Throwing Dagger — A mastered active skill used alongside his short swords. 11 28
• Swift Walk / Divine Speed — Movement skills that provide exceptional bursts of speed; Divine Speed is the later upgraded form. 11 257
• Hit Vital Point — A close-combat technique aimed at vulnerable targets. 11 28
• Disguise — Conceals the true appearance of his Soul Rings from everyone except Cheng Xiao himself. 14

Dominator’s Authority

Dominator’s Authority allows Cheng Xiao to affect targets without physical contact. He later uses its advanced application, Dominator’s Hand, to seize and restrain enemies at range. 44 257 259

• Can manipulate or halt targets from a distance. 44 257
• Can be used to control the battlefield while his legion attacks. 230 271
• Is powerful enough to prevent the Beast King from escaping. 259

King’s Domain and Exclusive Authority

Cheng Xiao gains two major authorities after helping Ye Lingling obtain a Soul Ring. 174

• Exclusive Authority — Replicates abilities and strengthens Shadow Soldiers. 174
• King’s Domain — Covers the area in shadow, weakens enemies within it by thirty percent, and enhances Cheng Xiao and his legion. 174
• Limitation — At the time of acquisition, he could maintain the domain for only about one minute because of its high energy consumption. 174
• Legion-scale amplification — The energy cost does not increase with the number of Shadow Soldiers enhanced inside the domain. 174

Magic and Candiaru’s Blessing

Ashborn granted Cheng Xiao the Blessing of the Great Shaman Candiaru, enabling him to use magic in addition to Soul Master techniques. 104

• Summoned a colossal fire dragon immediately after receiving Candiaru’s magic. 104
• Can dissolve opposing Soul Power after divine energy fused with his Shadow Power. 58
• Gains immunity to negative effects and abnormal statuses through the shamanic blessing. 249
• Developed immunity to Demon King Baran’s blue lightning after adapting to it with Candiaru’s blessing. 241

Inherited and Borrowed Powers

Cheng Xiao can draw on powers associated with members of his legion and acquired Kingly artifacts.

• Nash’s Dragon Transformation Rune Stone — Lets him transform into a dragon and use Nash’s Breath of the Light Dragon. 150
• Ah Yin’s power — Grants the aura and authority of the Blue Silver Emperor, allowing him to suppress Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass and summon Blue Silver Emperors. 226
• Ice Empress’s power — Allows him to wield ultimate ice and resist Baran’s lightning in battle. 241
• Shadow weapons — Wields Shadow Longswords and twin Shadow Shortswords in high-level combat. 257 274 275

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twin short swords — Custom weapons commissioned from Nuoding City’s blacksmith shop; Tang San assisted in their crafting. 28
• Space Storage Soul Tool — Given by Chrysanthemum Douluo as a betrothal gift when Cheng Xiao became his disciple. 52
• Dragon Claw — An item Cheng Xiao sought to activate at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 127
• Demon King’s Longsword — Used alongside Dominator’s Authority and the power of the Hundred Flames King. 257
• Shadow Longsword / Shadow Shortswords — Kingly weapons used during his battle with the Dragon Emperor. 274 275

Relationships

• Village Chief Cheng / Grandpa Cheng — His adoptive grandfather and guardian; secured Cheng Xiao’s work-study place at Nuoding Academy. 1 2
• Ashborn (Asben) — The Shadow Monarch whose power Cheng Xiao inherited; acts as his predecessor, guide, and source of Shadow Power. 1 104
• Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan — Cheng Xiao’s master. Their connection gives Cheng Xiao a powerful ally despite his refusal to become Spirit Hall’s subordinate. 51 52 160
• Dugu Bo — Close ally and frequent confidant. Cheng Xiao works with him at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and later builds Seven Star Academy around their cooperation. 104 115 154
• Qian Renxue / Xue Qinghe — Their Martial Souls resonate after she attacks him, creating a complicated connection. They later cooperate on establishing a Soul Master academy. 52 154
• Xiao Wu — Friend and former Nuoding Academy classmate who travels with Cheng Xiao to the Star Dou Great Forest after graduation. 28 44
• Tang San — Rival from Nuoding Academy; helped forge Cheng Xiao’s short swords before challenging him to a spar. 28
• Nash — High-ranking dragon Shadow Soldier and trusted adviser who reassures Cheng Xiao during his doubts about power and identity. 130 159
• Ye Lingling — Imperial Dou Team teammate and Soul Arena partner; she hunts for a suitable Soul Ring with Cheng Xiao’s support. 87 174
• Ice Empress and Snow Empress — Powerful allies who fight beside him against otherworldly Kings and witness his resurrection. 241 250
• Belyon — Commander-in-Chief of the Shadow Legion, later shown to have advanced to Marshal rank. 262 272

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nuoding Academy Arc

Cheng Xiao awakens Innate Full Soul Power, rejects Spirit Hall, and receives Ashborn’s legacy. At Nuoding Academy, he develops his physical abilities, gains a Growth Soul Ring, masters his initial combat skills, and begins his rivalry with Tang San. 1 11 17 28

Star Dou Great Forest Arc

Upon reaching level 30, Cheng Xiao gains Shadow Extraction and begins building his legion. He recruits powerful Soul Beasts, observes Qian Renxue’s sixth-ring absorption, and uses his soldiers to disrupt her guards while pursuing the Three-Eyed Demon Ape’s shadow. 44 45 46 47 49

Heaven Dou Royal Academy Arc

Disguised as Tang San, Cheng Xiao enters Heaven Dou Royal Academy through Xue Qinghe’s influence. He withstands Zhi Lin’s pressure, joins the Imperial Dou Team, and establishes himself as a level 35 Power Attack Type War Soul Elder despite being only twelve years old. 56 57 58 59

Shadow Hall and Seven Star Academy Arc

Cheng Xiao reveals his ambition to establish Shadow Hall rather than remain under Spirit Hall’s control. He later works with Dugu Bo and Xue Qinghe to create a high-level academy, drawing the Imperial Dou Team toward the future Seven Star Academy. 115 154

Soul Master Tournament Arc

During the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Cheng Xiao’s reputation intimidates other academies. He uses Shadow Soldiers openly against Shrek Academy, overwhelms Spirit Hall’s contestants, and rises to level 72 after absorbing the magic crystals of two Kings. 222 230 235

Otherworldly Kings Arc

Cheng Xiao battles otherworldly forces including the Cold Legion, Demon King Baran, the Beast King, and the Plague King. He turns fallen enemies into soldiers, expands the Shadow Legion dramatically, and learns that the Dragon Emperor and other Kings are preparing for war. 237 241 249 259

Resurrection and Final War Arc

After briefly awakening on Blue Star, Cheng Xiao refuses to abandon his unfinished business and resurrects with the Shadow Monarch’s power. He leads the Shadow Legion against the Dragon Emperor’s forces, fighting a multi-front war before facing the Dragon Emperor directly in the final battle. 250 271 272 274 275

Notable Quotes

“Now they are mine.” — Cheng Xiao, after claiming the fallen Orc warriors as Shadow Soldiers. 230

“Being merciful to enemies is being cruel to oneself.” 144

“As for soldiers, I have them too.” 241