Douluo Continent, the Fasnuo Province, Notting City.
"Hmm… This child's spirit… is it a beast spirit?"
In the Hall of Martial Souls in Notting City, the young man in the Hall of Martial Souls' deacon attire looked at the young boy standing before him, a look of confusion on his face.
"Su Yuntao, is he the only child left to have his spirit awakened?" An old man walked in, looking at the spirit awakening room with only one child remaining, and asked.
"Master Mashuno." Seeing the newcomer, Su Yuntao first respectfully saluted him, then said, "This child's spirit is one we've never seen before. Should we make a record of it?"
"Oh? A spirit we've never seen?" Master Mashuno's eyes flashed with light. "Make a record of it. Since it's a spirit we've never seen before, of course we need to record it." After saying that, he went into the office across the room.
Hearing this, Su Yuntao nodded. After watching Master Mashuno leave, he looked at the young boy in front of him and asked in a gentle tone, "Child, what's your name?"
"Master Su Yuntao, my name is Cheng Xiao."
"Cheng... Xiao, your parents must have been very learned soul masters," Su Yuntao praised.
Cheng Xiao nodded, not responding.
After all... as a transmigrator from Blue Star, being without parents seemed to be standard. After he transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, he was raised by the village chief of the Cheng Family Village, which was next to Holy Soul Village.
"So, Cheng Xiao, what is your martial soul? Is it a beast martial soul?" Su Yuntao asked curiously.
Cheng Xiao touched his nose, turned his head to look at the Shadow Monarch standing behind him, who was wearing a dark purple cloak and armor, with purple light emanating from his eyes through the helmet. He paused for a moment and said, "Master Su Yuntao, my martial soul is called Shadow Soldiers, and it is a beast martial soul."
"It really is a beast martial soul!" Upon getting Cheng Xiao's confirmation, Su Yuntao's eyes lit up. He took the blue crystal ball from the side and smiled, "Cheng Xiao, come and test your soul power!"
"Okay." Cheng Xiao nodded, extended his right hand, and placed it on the crystal ball.
The instant his hand touched the crystal ball, dark purple light immediately filled the entire Hall of Martial Souls.
"My God!" Su Yuntao exclaimed, "Innate Full Soul Power! This child has Innate Full Soul Power!"
Looking at the little boy in front of him, Su Yuntao was filled with joy. If Cheng Xiao could join the Hall of Martial Souls, wouldn't a promotion and raise be just around the corner?
"Ahem, Cheng Xiao, are you willing to join the Hall of Martial Souls?" Su Yuntao asked with a nervous heart.
"Uh..." Cheng Xiao scratched his head, "Master Su Yuntao, I'm afraid I might disappoint you."
"Hmm?" Su Yuntao was stunned, puzzled, "You don't want to join the Hall of Martial Souls?"
"Master Su Yuntao, I want to become a free Spirit Master, so..." Cheng Xiao paused for a moment, then slowly said.
"Free... Spirit Master." Hearing those words from a child, a hint of bitterness appeared on Su Yuntao's face. Once upon a time, he too wanted to become a free Spirit Master, but alas, reality was cruel, and he couldn't become that kind of free Spirit Master.
Douluo Continent... strength is everything.
"Hoo... alright." Taking a deep breath, Su Yuntao looked at Cheng Xiao's somewhat immature face and couldn't help but smile, "I believe in you. With your Innate Full Soul Power, you will surely have the ability to change this world. Since you want to become a free Spirit Master, I can't force you to join the Hall of Martial Souls. This is your choice."
"Thank you... Master Su Yuntao," Cheng Xiao said with a slight smile.
"Haha, no problem," Su Yuntao shook his head, then smiled. "Since you're not joining the Hall of Martial Souls, I'll give you a Spirit Soul certificate. With this, I'm sure any elementary academy will accept you."
Cheng Xiao nodded upon hearing this. After completing the Spirit Soul certificate with Su Yuntao, the two of them walked out of the gate, one after the other.
The moment the door opened, Cheng Xiao's grandfather, the village chief, anxiously stepped forward.
"Official, how is it? Can our little Xiao become a Soul Master?"
As soon as the grandfather finished speaking, Su Yuntao immediately laughed and said, "Village Chief Cheng, your grandson, Cheng Xiao, has become a Soul Master, and he has Innate Full Soul Power!"
"In... Innate Full Soul Power!" The village chief's gaze turned to Cheng Xiao, who was standing beside Su Yuntao. A hint of surprise appeared on his aged face as he laughed heartily, "That's great! That's great! My grandson has Innate Full Soul Power!"
"Grandpa, keep your voice down!" Seeing this, Cheng Xiao quickly walked to his grandfather's side and whispered a reminder.
"Cheng Xiao, although you didn't join the Hall of Martial Souls, if you have any trouble in the future, you can come to me at the Hall of Martial Souls anytime," Su Yuntao said.
"Xiao, hurry up and thank the Enforcer!" Cheng the village head immediately patted his grandson's shoulder when he heard this.
"No need." Su Yuntao waved his hand and said with a smile, "I'm going to Holy Soul Village later, so I won't delay you."
After speaking, Su Yuntao smiled slightly at Cheng Xiao, then strode away.
After learning that Cheng Xiao had Innate Full Soul Power, Cheng the village head returned to the village and told everyone that his grandson had Innate Full Soul Power, his mouth couldn't close from happiness.
Because of this, Cheng Xiao was quite helpless, but there was nothing he could do. His grandfather was proud of his grandson, and he didn't need to spoil the old man's fun.
However, he had one thing he needed to figure out now, and that was whether he could make dead creatures become his Shadow Soldiers like Cheng Xiaoyu after awakening the Shadow Monarch's martial soul.
The next morning, Cheng Xiao couldn't wait to buy a live chicken from the neighbors. He couldn't deal with soul beasts, but he had no problem with poultry.
After processing the chicken, Cheng Xiao took a deep breath, first summoning his martial soul, then said coldly, "Rise!"
[...]
"Well, it looks like it failed," Cheng Xiao sighed.
Just then, a clear, low, calm, and majestic voice echoed in Cheng Xiao's mind.
"I am the Shadow Monarch, Asben. Are you prepared to accept my power, my new successor?"
"Asben!" Cheng Xiao's pupils contracted. He knew everything about the Shadow Monarch; after all, the reason he'd been able to travel to the Douluo Continent was because he'd stayed up all night watching "Solo Leveling," and then, being exhausted, he'd skipped the stairs and elevator on his way out in the morning, ending up here.
"It seems the reason my power arrived in this world is inextricably linked to you, my successor," said the Shadow Monarch, Asben.
"I guess so... maybe," Cheng Xiao scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.
"Maybe? The rules of power in this world are rather interesting. Above this world, there seems to be an even greater power," the Shadow Monarch, Asben, said calmly.
"They are gods, gods above this world," Cheng Xiao said.
"Gods? I haven't heard that title in ages," the Shadow Monarch, Asben, said. "Accept my power, soon-to-be inheritor of the third generation of the Shadow Monarch!"
As the words fell, Cheng Xiao felt his heart being pulled in some way, beginning to beat violently. His chest felt like it was weighed down, making it hard to breathe.
The sudden pain made Cheng Xiao unable to stand any longer. He curled up on the ground, his body arched like a shrimp.
"You are different from Cheng Xiaoyu. He has a system created by the designer. Because of the difference in the world's energy, I can't let you level up slowly and accept my power like Cheng Xiaoyu."
"But this power I leave within you will get stronger as your level rises. When you are strong enough, your Shadow Soldiers will become even more numerous!"
"One person is an army, a true king. I hope that when we meet again, you will have become a true… Shadow Monarch!"
(End of this chapter)