Xiao Wei performed the technique silently, his movements precise and fluid, but his mind was elsewhere.
Sword Pavilion... Outer Disciple spot...
He didn't envy Xiao Yen.
He didn't even particularly care about the Outer Disciple spot.
But he knew one thing—he needed to grow stronger.
Far stronger than the likes of Xiao Yen or others.
After an exhausting training session that lasted several hours, Elder Xu finally clapped his hands together.
"Training is dismissed! You may all leave."Elder Xu said.
The tired but spirited disciples bowed respectfully and began filing out of the hall.
Just as Xiao Wei turned to leave along with the others, Elder Xu's voice rang out again, sharp and deliberate.
"Xiao Wei, you stay."Elder Xu said.
The command made some of the disciples glance back with curiosity before they quickly scurried away, whispering among themselves.
Soon, the vast training hall was empty, leaving only Elder Xu and Xiao Wei standing alone beneath the high ceiling.
Xiao Wei stepped forward calmly.
He wasn't nervous or afraid.
After all, he had no idea why Elder Xu had called him.
Standing a few feet away from Xiao Wei, Elder Xu's face softened slightly—a rare expression for the usually strict elder.
"Xiao Wei because of your performance during the Tiger Mountain Trial, I won a bet with the other elders."Elder Xu began, his voice carrying a tone of satisfaction,
A faint smile tugged at the corner of the old man's mouth.
"I earned a very valuable reward—twenty Tier 3 Spiritual Power Pills."Elder Xu said.
Xiao Wei blinked, a little surprised.
He had heard the elders mention a bet during the competition, but he hadn't paid it much attention.
Now he realized that his unexpected contribution—the Ten Monster Cores he hunted—had tipped the scale in Xiao Xu's favor.
"For your contribution, I have decided to gift you one of the pills."Elder Xu said.
With a flick of his wrist, Elder Xu summoned a small jade bottle from his Storage Ring.
Even without opening it, Xiao Wei could sense the potent Spiritual Power sealed within.
Elder Xu handed it over solemnly.
Xiao Wei accepted it with both hands, bowing his head slightly in gratitude.
He quickly tucked the jade bottle into his own Storage Ring, careful not to display it openly.
Elder Xu's gaze became stern again.
"I will not ask you where you got your Storage Ring, but know this, such treasures attract unwanted attention."Elder Xu said bluntly
Xiao Wei nodded seriously. As he understood this perfectly.
In a world where strength ruled everything, possessing valuable items without sufficient strength was often a death sentence.
Even fellow clan members would not hesitate to act if temptation grew too great.
"Xiao Wei regarding the pill—do not consume it now."Elder Xu said.
Xiao Wei listened carefully, sensing the gravity behind the warning.
"This is a Tier 3 Spiritual Power Pill. It contains dense Spiritual Energy designed for Martial Grandmaster and above. If you take it before reaching that level... your meridians will rupture, and your body may explode from within."Elder Xu explained.
Elder Xu's voice was sharp as a blade when he said the word explode.
A cold shiver ran down Xiao Wei's spine as he nodded again, deeply.
"I understand, Elder Xu"Xiao Wei said respectfully as he left the training hall.
The training hall's heavy wooden doors creaked shut behind Xiao Wei as he made his way down the quiet corridor.
'One pill out of twenty... well it better than nothing'Xiao Wei thought bitterly as he walked back to his room.
As he entered his room, he sit down cross-legged on the floor. Xiao Wei took a deep breath and cleared his mind.
Xiao Wei take out one Tier 1 Spiritual Power Pill before he tossed the pill into his mouth, feeling the warmth as it melted on his tongue, and the flow of Spiritual Energy surged through his body. Slowly, he sank deeper into his Cultivation, letting the energy of the pill absorb by his dantian.
Minutes passed, then hours. His breathing deepened, and his Spiritual Energy grew ever stronger. Xiao Wei could feel his body responding, the Spiritual Energy within him expanding, pushing against the boundaries of his current Cultivation. He could feel the stirring of a breakthrough, something that would elevate him even higher in his journey.
But just as the Spiritual Energy inside him was reaching its peak, Xiao Wei's mind flickered, and an idea struck him like lightning.
"Arise."
The words were simple but commanding.
Immediately, a shadow in the front of him began to stir and starr materialising.
Standing before him, still as a statue, was the Shadow Soldier.
It was the Martial Master boy who had died by his hand in the Tiger Mountain. His body was now a swirling mass of darkness, his eyes deep dark black.
The Shadow Soldier stood before him, waiting, its expression unreadable.
"Sit down in a lotus position"Xiao Wei ordered, his voice firm but not unkind.
Without hesitation, the Shadow Soldier moved, it sat cross-legged on the floor, mirroring Xiao Wei's own position.
"Good"Xiao Wei muttered to himself.
His next move was decisive. From his Storage Ring, he pulled out a pile of twenty Tier 1 Spiritual Power Pills. The pile gleamed in the dim light of his room. Xiao Wei was about to put them in a experiment.
"Eat them"Xiao Wei instructed, his tone unwavering.
The Shadow Soldier's dark eyes flickered, and without a word, it opened its gaping mouth, wide and black as a bottomless pit. The Shadow Soldier swallowed all twenty pills in one go. The pill disappeared into the Shadow Soldier's body, and the shadow's body seemed to ripple with energy, as though absorbing the essence of the pill.
Xiao Wei's mind began to race.
'Will this make him stronger?'Xiao Wei wondered.
Back in his past life, he had a Shadow Soldier named Ignia—one of his most powerful and loyal allies. But Ignia hadn't been strong at first. Over time, through combat and resources, Ignia had evolved into a mighty warrior, one capable of standing toe-to-toe with even the most powerful monster.
Xiao Wei couldn't help but wonder if this Shadow Soldier could follow a similar path.
"How could a mere shadow become stronger? Or… is it not a shadow at all? Perhaps they have their own soul."Xiao Wei muttered to himself.
But he keep thinking about the question that had lingered in his mind. It was a question that had remained unanswered even in his past life.
Xiao Wei paused, turning the thought over in his mind, but the complexity of it all made his head ache. The idea was too much for him to fully grasp at the moment. For now, he needed to focus on what was tangible, what was right in front of him—his goal to become stronger, to surpass his limits.
He still had more than two hundred Tier 1 Spirit Power Pills in his Storage Ring. He had enough to experiment, to see if this theory of his held any weight. He made a quick decision.
Without hesitation, Xiao Wei take out more Tier 1 pills before allowing the Shadow Soldier to swallow them, who sit motionless, its black, featureless form only revealing its piercing dark eyes.
Few minutes later.
The room was still, the only sound the faint rustle of the Shadow Soldier as it sat, awaiting the effects of the pill. Xiao Wei couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation. He had never tried something like this before on Shadow Soldiers.
He was eager to see the results, and soon, the air in the room seemed to crackle with energy.
The pills seemed to make no visible change, but Xiao Wei wasn't discouraged. He quickly fed the Shadow Soldier another, then another. Each time, the Soldier's figure seemed to flicker slightly, its black eyes glowing a little brighter with each pill.
After Shadow Soldier swallowed 60 Tier 1 Spirit Power Pills.
A sudden, noticeable shift occurred. The Shadow Soldier's body rippled like dark smoke, its edges blurring and sharpening as if it were being molded from the very air itself. Then, with a sharp crack of force, the Shadow Soldier's aura surged, its shadowy figure now exuding a solid, powerful presence.
Xiao Wei's breath caught in his throat as he felt the pressure of the Shadow Soldier's newfound strength. He watched as the once-still form of the Shadow Soldier now exuded a powerful aura.
Xiao Wei's heart pounded in his chest. Because his Shadow Soldier had advanced to the Second Layer Of Martial Master Realm.
The excitement bubbling in his chest threatened to overflow. The results were more than he had hoped for. Xiao Wei had never imagined this would be possible.
Xiao Wei raised an eyebrow.
"Which martial techniques did you learn in the Mo Clan?"Xiao Wei asked, his voice steady but curious.
The Shadow Soldier moved with practiced ease, demonstrating a series of intricate fist techniques followed by a few movement techniques. The fluidity and precision of his movements were remarkable, each technique executed with the discipline of a seasoned Martial Artist.
Xiao Wei's lips twitched in approval.
"Enough"Xiao Wei order the Shadow Soldier to stop.
After that he stood up and left his room briefly, returning with four empty books and a brush and ink. He set the books down in front of the Shadow Soldier and spoke clearly.