Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

As dawn barely broke, with a faint white line rising in the east, a small figure could be seen running along the country road of Chengjia Village.

"Huff… huff… huff…"

Cheng Xiao gasped for breath. This marked the third month of his training since inheriting the power of Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch. Thanks to the nourishment of shadow energy, his physical condition had greatly improved. Without it, training at the age of six would have been nothing short of a dream.

No matter how strong his willpower was, a weak body couldn't cope. Over-exerting himself to reach his physical limits too soon would only sabotage his foundation. However, with the shadow energy enhancing him, Cheng Xiao could clearly feel his body becoming lighter and stronger. After each training session, a good night's sleep was enough to fully recover by the next day.

This was precisely why Cheng Xiao had been able to continue training for three months without pause.

After completing his 20-kilometer run, Cheng Xiao stopped and smiled at the rising sun. Training was tedious and monotonous, but he felt an odd sense of addiction to it. After each session, he could sense a tangible improvement in his strength, and this feeling of growth was what kept him going.

It was worth remembering that even the second Shadow Monarch, Sung Jin Woo, had achieved his power step by step—he just happened to progress faster.

When Cheng Xiao returned home, he immediately saw the breakfast his grandfather had prepared for him: a steaming bowl of porridge, a peeled egg, and a hand-sized baked flatbread.

Originally, they didn't have eggs in the house, but ever since Cheng Xiao started his morning training, eggs had slowly become a part of the routine.

"Xiao, after breakfast, take a bath. I'll take you to Nuoding City's Soul Master Academy. Our village was given a spot for a working student, and it's been assigned to you," Grandpa Cheng said with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandpa." Cheng Xiao smiled back and began to eat his breakfast leisurely.

After years of living together, the bond between them had grown so strong that it could be described as no different from that of a real grandfather and grandson.

Once he finished eating, Cheng Xiao took a bath and changed into new clothes that his grandfather had bought for him a few days earlier in Nordin City. He didn't know how much they cost, but he cherished them because they were a gift from the man who raised him.

On the road, Cheng Xiao held tightly to his grandfather's hand. Whether it was the looming separation or something else, his grip remained firm.

Chengjia Village was not far from Nuoding City. If they set out in the morning, they would arrive by afternoon. After passing through the checkpoint and entering the city, they gazed at the imposing city walls in the distance.

"Xiao, after I drop you off at the academy, I'll head back. Study hard while you're there. If you encounter any problems, think them through. You've always been a smart kid, so I won't say much more," Grandpa Cheng said, patting Cheng Xiao on the head.

Cheng Xiao nodded, his eyes reddening. Even though he was a reincarnated soul, he couldn't help but feel the warmth of familial love in this world.

"Alright, young man, no tears. A true man saves his tears for only those he loves and who love him in return," his grandfather reminded him. "Otherwise, tears are too precious to waste."

Cheng Xiao sniffed, saying, "Grandpa, I'm not crying. I just don't want to part with you."

Hearing this, Grandpa Cheng chuckled. The two continued walking hand in hand. After asking for directions, they finally found the Soul Master Junior Academy, located in the western part of Nuoding City.

From a distance, Cheng Xiao saw the impressive stone archway with the grand words "Nuoding Academy" carved into it. The sight left him somewhat awestruck. As a reincarnator, seeing the academy in this world firsthand was truly... overwhelming.

To think that even a junior academy could be so grand spoke volumes about the importance of Soul Masters in the Douluo Continent.

As they approached the gate, Cheng Xiao realized that he wasn't the only one reporting for admission. Ahead, an old man and a young boy had arrived even earlier than he had. "Are you here to enroll as working students too?" the gatekeeper asked, noticing their simple attire.

Before Grandpa Cheng could answer, Cheng Xiao stepped forward. "Hello, here is my Martial Soul certification, stamped personally by Master Su Yuntao of the Martial Soul Hall."

He handed over the certification as he spoke.

Initially, the gatekeeper had wanted to mock their plain clothing. After all, it had been years since Nuoding Academy had accepted any working students. Now, two had shown up at once, and both from small villages—it was hard not to be skeptical. Of course, he didn't doubt the authenticity of the Martial Soul Hall's certification; rather, he saw an opportunity to exploit. Families without background or connections, especially from peasant households, often felt the need to bribe their way in, and the gatekeeper was more than willing to capitalize on that.

Cheng Xiao understood this well, which is why he immediately mentioned Su Yuntao's name, emphasizing that the certification bore the seal of the master himself.

Nuoding City was a small place, and as a supervisor in the Martial Soul Hall, Su Yuntao's reputation was surely well known. The gatekeeper's arrogance quickly subsided after hearing the name. He carefully examined Cheng Xiao's certification.

"Martial Soul: Shadow Soldier... Innate... full soul power?"

"Innate full soul power!"

The gatekeeper shouted in surprise, his gaze toward Cheng Xiao changing instantly, his voice even trembling.

"May I go in now?" Cheng Xiao asked with a smiling face.

"Yes… yes, of course." The gatekeeper stammered, hurriedly opening the gate for him, now wearing a flattering smile.

As Cheng Xiao entered the academy, a smile appeared on Grandpa Cheng's face as well. He glanced at the old man and boy still standing outside—Old Jack and Tang San—but said nothing as he slowly walked away.

"You deliberately made things difficult for us!" an angry voice suddenly sounded.

The gatekeeper was stunned at first, but then he looked at Old Jack impatiently. "Why are you two beggars still here? Do I need to kick you out?"

"Why was he allowed in?" Tang San, standing beside Old Jack, asked calmly. "If you think my Martial Soul certification is fake, what makes you so sure his is real?"

"Or is it because my Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass that you're intentionally causing us trouble?"

Although Tang San was young, he had been a disciple of the Tang Sect in his previous life. He wouldn't hesitate to deal with people like this gatekeeper. After all, the Mysterious Heaven Treasures Record's general principle was clear in his mind: If someone deserves death, do not hesitate, for sparing them will only bring trouble.

In Tang San's view, the gatekeeper's behavior showed clear disdain for them. If they were all working students, why was his Martial Soul certification accepted as legitimate while his own was questioned? Such blatant disrespect was enough to justify the use of lethal force.

If not for the fact that the gatekeeper hadn't physically harmed Old Jack, Tang San would have already taken action, possibly with a silent arrow to the throat.

He was confident that no one present would realize it was him. Without evidence, who could prove that he was the one who struck?

"You brat, you're asking for it!" Furious at being talked back to by a child, the gatekeeper raised his hand, about to slap Tang San across the face.

Seeing this, a cold light flashed in Tang San's eyes. His left hand subtly raised, the silent arrow in his sleeve ready to strike.

"What's going on here?" Just as Tang San was about to fire, a hoarse voice interrupted, stopping both the gatekeeper's actions and Tang San's deadly intent.

Hearing the voice, Cheng Xiao, who hadn't gone far, turned back to see a middle-aged man with a slightly thin build approaching slowly from behind Tang San.