The moonlight filtered through the window of the inn, casting long, jagged shadows across Lou King's room. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Lou King took a deep breath and called out to the void of his mind.
"System!"
A crisp, mechanical chime echoed in his head.
[ Ding! Host Status Initialized... ]
Host: Lou King
Age: 19
Cultivation: Dou Shi (One-Star)
Secret Techniques: Necromancer (Summoning undead: 2 / awakened undead: 3), Undead Flame, Ice Source Annihilator
Technique: Ice Crystal
Inventory: Death Scythe: Soul Eater, Bloody Bone Hand Staff
soul point: 0
[SHOP] | [SPIN] | [FURNACE] | [QUEST BOARD]
Lou King reached into the system space, his hand disappearing into a ripple of black energy. He pulled out the Bloody Bone Hand Staff. The weapon felt cold, humming with a thirst for souls. He inspected its intricate carvings before setting it aside, his eyes fixed on the "Summoning" and "Awaken" options on his screen.
"System," Lou King whispered, his voice laced with curiosity. "How exactly do I summon the undead?"
[Ding! To summon, you must simply command the soul to 'Rise'.
Requirement: You must possess a physical part of the body, and the original owner must be completely deceased.]
A smirk played on Lou King's lips. This reminded him of the stories of Solo Leveling he had read back on Earth—the way the protagonist would command the shadows with a single word.
He placed his hand upon the Bloody Bone Hand Staff and focused his intent. The air in the room grew heavy, the temperature dropping until his breath turned to mist.
"ARISE!" he commanded.
Suddenly, the staff erupted with violent, crimson energy. Blood began to seep from the skeletal hand of the staff, pooling on the floor. The blood swirled and thickened, forming the shape of a human hand, then a skeleton. In a gruesome display of necromancy, flesh, muscle, and skin began to knit themselves over the bones.
The transformation was nearly complete when a red warning flashed before Lou King's eyes.
[ Ding! Error Detected! ]
[ System Warning: Host has used a System Product (Staff) to bypass standard summoning limits.
Re-summoning via System Products is now BANNED. However, due to a system glitch, this summon is permitted to remain. ]
[ Constraint Applied: Seals have been placed on the Undead's peak power to maintain balance. ]
Lou King's heart sank for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. While the seals were a setback, the fact that he was allowed to keep a summon generated from a high-tier system artifact meant this undead would be far stronger than any common corpse.
On the floor, the figure fully formed into an old man. His eyes snapped open, glowing with a faint, ghostly light.
"Where... where am I?" the Old Man gasped, clutching his throat. "I was dead... I remember the darkness. Who are you, boy?"
The old man stood up, his gaze sweeping the room with the arrogance of a former powerhouse. He glared at Lou King, his voice booming with authority. "I asked you a question! Who are you, and where have you taken me?"
Lou King's eyes narrowed. He didn't care for the old man's tone. "Old man, watch your tongue. If you keep speaking to me like that, things will not end well for you."
Enraged by the threat from a mere 19-year-old, the old man lunged forward. "You impudent brat! I'll—"
Suddenly, the old man screamed. He collapsed to his knees, clutching his head as if his skull were being crushed by invisible pliers. The more he tried to harbor ill intent toward Lou King, the more agonizing the pain became.
A cold, ethereal voice—the voice of the System—rang in the old man's ears: "You are now Undead. Lou King is your Master. To defy him is to invite eternal agony."
Trembling and covered in cold sweat, the old man backed away, his spirit broken by the absolute soul-bond. He looked up at Lou King, no longer with anger, but with fear and submission.
"My name..." the old man wheezed, "is Ba Ji."
Lou King smiled, a dark and satisfied expression. "You died, Ba Ji. I brought you back. As long as I draw breath, you shall exist. If I fall, you return to the void. From this moment on, you call me Master."
Ba Ji lowered his head, the reality of his new existence sinking in. Lou King leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "Now, tell me. After the system's seals, what is your current strength?"
Ba Ji closed his eyes, sensing the Qi flowing through his reconstructed meridians. "I am currently at the Peak of Nine-Star Dou Grand Master. My higher powers... I can feel them locked behind a gate. I cannot reach them."
Lou King nodded. A Nine-Star Dou Grand Master was a formidable shadow to have in his service. The journey had truly begun.
Lou King listened to Ba Ji's report. Though there was little he could do at the moment to change the current circumstances, the information was sufficient for his immediate plans. Looking at the dark figure, Lou King commanded, "Ba Ji, return to the Undead Space for now. Rest there and focus your efforts on breaking your seal." With a silent nod, Ba Ji dissolved into a flickering shadow and vanished into thin air.
Stretching his limbs, Lou King stood up from his bed, his mind racing with strategy. "I am limited right now," he thought. "To break Ba Ji's seal, I need rare medicinal pills, jade herbs, and powerful artifacts. I need to find a way to let him fight in the Undead Arena so he can shatter those shackles through combat." Resolved, he stepped out of his room, heading toward the family's common areas.
As Lou King walked through the Xiao family backyard, he saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei practicing their techniques together, surrounded by other disciples. The moment his figure appeared in the courtyard, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations died down, and a wave of nervousness washed over the younger generation. News of his dominant performance in the Main Hall yesterday had spread like wildfire. The disciples bowed respectfully, keeping their distance as they hurried back to their training.
"Greetings, Brother King," Xiao Mei said with a sweet smile.
"Greetings, Brother Lou King," Xiao Yan added, approaching him.
The two of them walked over to talk. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lou King scanned the area and asked about Xiao Yu. The two shared a mischievous glance and began to tease him. "Brother Lou King, we haven't seen Xiao Yu since this morning. She's likely sulking in her room," Xiao Yan said with a grin.
Lou King made his way to Xiao Yu's quarters. He knocked softly—tap, tap—but there was no answer. Just as he was about to knock a second time, the door creaked open. Xiao Yu stood there, dressed in a striking red outfit that accentuated her elegance and beauty. However, the moment she saw Lou King, she ignored him entirely and turned back into the room.
Confused and concerned, Lou King followed her inside and shut the door behind him. Xiao Yu turned on him, her voice laced with anger and jealousy. "Oh, so you finally found the time to visit me? Why bother coming here when you have Xun'er to keep you company all night?"
Lou King realized she was stung by the fact that he had spent the entire night in Xun'er's room. "Xiao Yu, it's not what you think," he explained calmly. "Xun'er was upset, and it took a long time to soothe her. When she asked me to stay, I couldn't refuse without making her angrier. I promise, nothing happened between us that would upset you."
Xiao Yu scoffed, crossing her arms. "Do you really expect me to believe that? A beautiful girl like Xun'er and a man alone in a room all night, and 'nothing happened'?"
"You know as well as I do that Xun'er comes from a mysterious and powerful background," Lou King said seriously. "If her family found out about any improper behavior, it would mean disaster for both of us. We both know the stakes. Nothing happened."
Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Xiao Yu's resolve began to soften, though she remained pouting. Lou King stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace. She struggled for a moment but eventually leaned into him, her anger turning into a lingering annoyance.
"If you forgive me, I have a very special gift for you," Lou King whispered, playing his final card.
Xiao Yu's curiosity was piqued. "A gift? Show me first."
Lou King didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, a vibrant pill appeared in his palm. A refreshing, potent fragrance filled the room instantly. "What is this?" Xiao Yu asked, her eyes widening with excitement.
"This is a Bloodline Pill," Lou King explained. "It allows a cultivator to break through their current bottlenecks and reach the level of Da Dou Shi (Dou Grandmaster) with ease. It also permanently increases your cultivation speed."
Xiao Yu was stunned. "What tier is this? Where did you get something so valuable?"
"The details don't matter right now," Lou King teased. "Just know it's yours. Use it well, or Xun'er and I will leave you far behind in strength."
Frustrated by his teasing but glowing with happiness, Xiao Yu suddenly leaned in and planted a quick, soft kiss on his lips. "That was your punishment for making me worry!" she shouted, blushing furiously as she turned and ran out of the room.
Watching her go, Lou King smiled. Now, he had work to do. He needed to leave the Xiao residence and head into the heart of Wu Tan City.
"I need to scout the markets," he mused as he walked toward the estate gates. "I need materials to strengthen Ba Ji's seal and resources to push my own level even higher. The real journey begins now."
With a steady stride, Lou King stepped out of the shadows of the Xiao family and into the bustling streets of the Wu Tan City marketplace.