The Martial Master boy gasped, his mouth opening in shock—but no words came. He looked down in horror to see Xiao Wei's hand buried deep in his chest, his heart clenched in Xiao Wei's blood-soaked claw.
"You shouldn't have tried to kill me"Xiao Wei said coldly, his eyes expressionless.
With a sharp twist, he ripped the heart free, and the boy's body went limp—his eyes frozen wide in disbelief as he slumped forward, lifeless.
Xiao Wei let the heart drop to the forest floor with a dull, wet thud. He took a slow breath, blood still dripping from his fingers, and gazed silently at the corpse.
A subtle wave of relief washed over him. The threat was gone. The hunter had become the hunted—and the hunted had triumphed.
Xiao Wei stood silently over the corpse of the Martial Master boy, his bloodstained hand clenched at his side. His gaze, however, was not one of disdain or disgust—it was one of deep contemplation… and ambition.
He crouched beside the body, studying it like a valuable treasure. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"A Martial Master… finally. If I can turn this into a Shadow Soldier, I'll have my first real powerhouse under my control."Xiao Wei muttered, a faint grin forming at the corner of his lips.
Taking a deep breath, he extended his hand over the corpse.
"Arise"Xiao Wei whispered, his voice laced with power.
But nothing happened. No movement. No shadow. Just silence.
Xiao Wei's smile faltered slightly, but his resolve didn't waver.
"Arise"Xiao Wei said again, this time louder, more commanding.
Still nothing.
He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He tried again. And again.
Suddenly, on the sixth try, the corpse twitched.
Xiao Wei's eyes widened with hope—but then the body fell still once more.
"Damn it!"Xiao Wei cursed.
Refusing to give up, Xiao Wei kept trying. He didn't know how much time passed—only that the number of attempts had passed a dozens. Sweat trickled down his brow. His breath grew uneven. His heart pounded.
But still, he didn't stop.
"Martial Master Realm is really on a different level, Martial Apprentice Realm can't compare it."Xiao Wei said through clenched teeth.
"Lets try just one more time. If I fail then I will believe I am not strong enough to summon you"Xiao Wei muttered to himself.
He stood tall, his expression calm but intense, and raised his hand for the final attempt. This time, his voice was no longer just a chant—it was an absolute command that echoed through the forest.
"Arise."
The corpse trembled. Then again.
And this time… it didn't stop.
Dark mist began to spill from the edges of the body, swirling around it like ink in water. Soon the dark mist start forming limbs, then a torso, then a face—a perfect dark replica of the Martial Master boy, its black eyes glowing faintly with eerie light.
Xiao Wei's lips curled into a victorious smile.
"Finally… I summoned it. Although it is only at the First Layer of Martial Master Realm, he can use his Martial Techniques which makes him stronger than monsters"Xiao Wei whispered.
The Shadow Soldier dropped to one knee before him, awaiting orders.
"Get inside my shadow"Xiao Wei said.
Without a word, the dark figure melted back into the shadows beneath Xiao Wei's feet, vanishing completely.
Xiao Wei was fully exhausted, his Spiritual Energy was also almost depleted but he was satisfied with his new Shadow Soldier.
Xiao Wei turned and looked toward the direction of the outer area.
"It's time to leave this place"Xiao Wei murmured as he start returning to the outer area.
In the Outer Area of Tiger Mountain.
After the brutal battle in the inner region, Xiao Wei made his way back to the outer area of Tiger Mountain. The dense trees and distant roars of beasts felt strangely calming now, like the mountain itself was giving him a moment of respite.
He moved swiftly, navigating through the underbrush until he reached his hidden cave. He stepped into the cave, the air inside was cool with the soft echo of dripping water from a crack in the stone wall.
Xiao Wei sat cross-legged on the ground, letting out a long breath. He closed his eyes, steadying his thoughts as he began recovering his Spiritual Energy.
Three hours passed in silence.
Inside the silent cave, Xiao Wei's body trembled slightly. His breathing deepened. The Spiritual Energy around him stirred, like a breeze before a storm.
Suddenly, a soft crack echoed within him—like a barrier breaking.
His eyes snapped open, a glint of joy flashing through them.
"Finally…"Xiao Wei whispered with excitement.
He clenched his fists, feeling the raw, surging power flowing through his body. His aura had grown noticeably stronger.
"I've broken through the Seventh Layer of Martial Apprentice Realm!"Xiao Wei said, a rare smile lighting up his face.
The satisfaction of steady growth warmed his chest. He knew that even small breakthroughs in this harsh Cultivation World could mean the difference between life and death.
After basking in the feeling for a few moments, he exhaled slowly and closed his eyes again.
"I'll finish recovering my Spiritual Energy first. Once I'm back at full strength, I'll resume the hunt…"Xiao Wei muttered to himself as he once again close his eyes and start recovering his Spiritual Energy.
The next morning, outside the Tiger Mountain
The golden rays of the morning sun spilled across the grassy plains outside Tiger Mountain, bathing the area in a warm, gentle glow. A soft breeze stirred the leaves of nearby trees, while the chirping of birds echoed faintly in the distance. The atmosphere was calm—almost deceptively peaceful—compared to the trials the young Cultivators faced inside the mountain.
At the foot of the towering cliffs, three figures stood. These were the respected elders from the three great clans of Mo City—each waiting for the return of their clan's younger generation from the hunting competition.
Elder Xu of the Xiao Clan stood with his hands behind his back, his long silver hair tied neatly and his expression as calm as still water—though his eyes occasionally drifted toward the mountain with hidden anxiety.
Not far from him, Elder Sun of the Hu Clan stood with a slight smirk on his face. The glint in his eye suggested mischief, or perhaps confidence.
"Xiao Xu, do you dare to make a little bet with me?"Hu Sun said, breaking the silence with a teasing tone.
Elder Xu turned to him with a raised brow.
"What kind of bet?"Elder Xu asked.
Hu Sun stroked his beard and chuckled.
"Let's wager on which clan will claim first place in this year's competition. Surely, you still have faith in your Xiao Clan?"Hu Sun said.
Elder Xu's gaze narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. Inwardly, his thoughts stirred.
'This old fox knows perfectly well that the Xiao Clan has never taken first place in the history of this competition… yet he still provokes me. Is he trying to humiliate me in front of everyone?'
Before Elder Xu could respond, Elder Mo of the Mo Clan chuckled and joined in.
"Hah! Sounds interesting. Count me in too."Elder Mo said.
Hu Sun nodded in approval.
"Very well then. The clan that takes first place will receive ten Tier 3 Spirit Power Pills from each of the losing parties."Hu Sun said.
The stakes caused a slight shift in the air. Even Elder Xu's eyes flickered with surprise.
Elder Mo agreed without hesitation.
"No problem. The Mo Clan will win this competition like always."Elder Mo said.
All eyes turned to Elder Xu.
Though calm on the surface, Elder Xu's inner thoughts swirled.
'Tier 3 Spirit Power Pills… In Mo City, even we Grandmasters struggle to get our hands on such pills. There isn't a single Tier 3 Alchemist in the entire city, and this Hu Sun dares to offer them up like candies. How deep are his connections?'
Still, the pride of the Xiao Clan could not be easily dismissed. Elder Xu raised his chin slightly and responded in a firm voice.
"Fine. I accept the wager."Elder Xu said.
A thin smile crept onto Hu Sun's face.
One hour later, outside Tiger Mountain.
The sun had climbed higher into the sky, casting longer shadows across the clearing outside Tiger Mountain. A warm breeze stirred the dust at the feet of three elders standing solemnly before the main entrance, their gazes fixed intently on the rocky trail descending from the mountain.
Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed, and five figures emerged from the forested path, their clothes torn and dirty, but their expressions full of pride and accomplishment.
"Greetings, Elders!"the five Hu Clan youths said in unison, bowing respectfully.
Elder Hu Sun smiled warmly, nodding in approval. His sharp eyes quickly swept over them, confirming that all his clan members had returned safely.
"Good"Hu Sun said simply.
The group respectfully stepped behind him, standing tall but silently, awaiting further instructions.
"Let's wait for everyone to come out before we begin counting the Monster Cores"Elder Mo suggested, his voice calm but authoritative.
"A wise suggestion"Hu Sun agreed with a chuckle.
The elders turned their eyes once again to the mountain path, their robes fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.