Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"I accept your proposal, but let me make one thing clear first." Cheng Xiao smiled brightly, though his voice gradually turned cold. "Although I don't need to hunt soul beasts to form my spirit rings, my martial spirit is also unique. When the time comes that I need to enter the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts, I hope the two of you will not stand in my way."

"Human, are you threatening us?" The Sky Azure Bull Python's pupils contracted as it spoke coldly.

It hadn't expected this human to dare make such demands. Did he not realize the beings he was dealing with? If it weren't for Xiao Wu's sake, it would have crushed this human like an ant long ago.

"I'm not threatening you, I'm simply stating the facts." Cheng Xiao spread his hands helplessly, speaking calmly. "I don't intend to swear in front of you or Xiao Wu that I'll never hunt soul beasts. In my eyes, there are no such things as good or evil soul beasts. When I need to, I will kill soul beasts without mercy, just as soul beasts kill soul masters."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the surrounding soul beasts, especially the ten-thousand-year ones, couldn't hold back any longer. This human boy was far too arrogant! With only a single spirit ring to his name, how could he dare speak so brazenly?

"Hmph, you're quite candid." The Sky Azure Bull Python looked at Cheng Xiao coldly. "Human, you're certainly different from others. For Xiao Wu's sake, I will agree to your terms."

Hearing this, Cheng Xiao grinned, cupping his hands respectfully. "Good. Since you've agreed, I'll fulfill my promise."

Without any hesitation, Cheng Xiao sat down cross-legged before the two forest emperors, Xiao Wu, and the watching soul beasts.

Closing his eyes and sitting in a meditative posture, his hands formed a strange seal before him. His chest rose and fell lightly with each breath, and dark purple energy began to swirl around him.

"Big brother, I have a feeling this kid might actually succeed," the Titan Giant Ape whispered, watching Cheng Xiao's figure.

The Sky Azure Bull Python didn't respond, its gaze fixed on Cheng Xiao. If this human could succeed, perhaps one day he could change the fate of the soul beast race!

"Cheng Xiao, you'll succeed, won't you?" Xiao Wu's beautiful eyes were locked on him, a strange worry rising within her heart.

Time passed, and as night fell, many of the soul beasts that had been watching began to disperse. Cheng Xiao had been condensing his spirit ring from morning until dusk, and most of the soul beasts had already drawn their own conclusions. Yet, out of respect for the two forest emperors, they refrained from tearing the human apart.

Xiao Wu, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and the Titan Giant Ape still waited. Xiao Wu, now perched on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder, felt a wave of drowsiness. But to ensure that Cheng Xiao would see her first when he opened his eyes, she fought against the urge to sleep.

"Condense!"

With a low shout from the boy, the eyes of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape suddenly lit up. They could see a spirit ring slowly forming around Cheng Xiao.

Suddenly, a dense aura of death erupted from within him. Both forest emperors' expressions changed instantly. They hurriedly shielded Xiao Wu, focusing their attention on Cheng Xiao.

Behind him, a figure slowly emerged, as if born from the darkness itself. The figure had long, deep purple hair, and despite the growing darkness of the night, a thick black mist seemed to envelop the entire forest with his appearance. His body was clad in black armor, and beneath the helmet, a pair of purple eyes glowed with a chilling light. Noticing the gaze of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape, he cast a casual glance their way, sending a wave of death-like terror washing over them.

As though to warn the two forest emperors, the figure's body disintegrated into radiant shards of light, which then fused into Cheng Xiao's body.

When the shadowy figure vanished, the second spirit ring around Cheng Xiao finally solidified. This second spirit ring, still a deep, dark purple, appeared as a yellow hundred-year ring in the eyes of Xiao Wu and the others.

After condensing the ring, Cheng Xiao received a flood of information in his mind. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes.

Killing Intent: "Unleash a powerful aura that causes a designated enemy to experience a minute of terror, reducing all their attributes by fifty percent."

Invisibility: "In this state, speed is increased by thirty percent. Attacking or being attacked will end the invisibility."

As his mind cleared, the methods to use these two abilities were now firmly embedded in Cheng Xiao's consciousness, and a sense of familiarity washed over him.

By this point, the shadowy power within Cheng Xiao had nearly dissipated. Without the temporary state of restoration, the lack of soul power and shadow energy left him feeling overwhelmingly exhausted.

Forcing himself to stand, Cheng Xiao took a deep breath. Two dark purple spirit rings rose beneath him. Thanks to the reinforcement from the shadow energy, the spirit ring he could now bear had a lifespan of 1,300 years.

Unlike other soul masters, who acquired different spirit rings with varying lifespans and abilities, Cheng Xiao's rings were formed from his own power. As he grew stronger, the lifespan of his spirit rings would naturally increase, enhancing his abilities as well.

"Kid, I didn't expect you to actually succeed." The Sky Azure Bull Python stared at the two yellow rings rotating around Cheng Xiao, deeply shocked.

It hadn't anticipated that this human would succeed. But what truly unsettled it was the figure from before—seemingly born from the abyss of death itself. That mere glance had frozen its blood.

It was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, equivalent to a rank 95 Title Douluo in the human world. And yet, a single glance from that figure had left it utterly defenseless.

Clearly, that shadow's power far surpassed rank 95. The Sky Azure Bull Python had a faint suspicion that the figure might have been a god—one of the fabled divine beings who transcended rank 100 in the legends of the Douluo Continent! Could this human boy before them possess the potential to become a god?

"Heh, I hope the senior will honor your promise." Cheng Xiao cupped his hands again, his face pale. His voice trembled slightly, as if his body was on the verge of collapse.

"Human boy, do you think soul beasts are like humans?" The Sky Azure Bull Python glared at him. "I will honor my promise. But for now, you should rest. Otherwise, I fear you might die right here."