Chapter 11: The Gift of the Monarch

"Endurance": A passive skill that activates when stamina falls below 30%, reducing incoming damage by 50%.

"Recovery Status": A passive skill that, after intense physical exertion, completely clears any fatigue following a certain degree of rest, restoring the body to peak condition.

"Dash": An active skill that increases movement speed by 30%.

"Vital Strike": A close-range attack skill that allows the user to find flaws in an enemy's defense, delivering significant damage.

"Throwing Dagger": A long-range attack skill that allows the user to throw a dagger, dealing damage to the enemy. As the skill level increases, accuracy and damage also improve.

"This is…" With one hand on his head, the sudden influx of information made Cheng Xiao feel a slight ache in his brain. However, as his mind gradually cleared, he quickly regained full awareness.

It turns out that as Cheng Xiao's synchronization with the power of shadows increased, so too did his level—just like Sung Jin Woo, who had a system. Cheng Xiao would continue to level up, and with each level, he would unlock corresponding skills.

The skills that appeared in his mind were just a fraction of the many legacies left behind by the Shadow Monarch for him.

At the same time, a soul ring marked with strange patterns and glowing dark purple condensed around Cheng Xiao. This was not a soul ring from the world of Douluo, but rather a soul ring condensed from the power of shadows within him—a symbol of his kingship! The soul rings created by shadow power were not based on years of cultivation but on the highest intensity Cheng Xiao's body could withstand. In other words, the soul rings formed by shadow power would grow in strength as Cheng Xiao leveled up. These were evolving soul rings!

Cheng Xiao's first soul ring wasn't of hundred-year strength; it was of a thousand-year intensity. Even though he hadn't consumed any rare treasures to fortify his body, it had been nourished by shadow power. How could his physique possibly be comparable to that of ordinary spirit masters?

As the first soul ring slowly manifested around Cheng Xiao, the ghost wolf immediately sensed a deep-seated fear emanating from its very soul. The terror surpassed anything related to bloodline—it was a suppression of life itself. Even though the person standing before it appeared to be just a low-level spirit master, a one-ring spirit master at that, the ghost wolf felt an inexplicable sense of looming death.

"Awwoo~~"

Realizing that inaction would lead to certain death, the ghost wolf howled skyward, seemingly trying to soothe its fearful heart. Its wolfish eyes locked onto Cheng Xiao, its fangs bared, and it charged at him with its gaping jaws.

However, faced with the charging wolf and its menacing maw, Cheng Xiao remained expressionless. He raised his arm and extended a single finger. A beam of dark purple light shot out from his fingertip.

As the light burst from his finger, the ghost wolf's body froze. A thumb-sized hole had appeared on its forehead, radiating the essence of death.

The next moment, the ghost wolf collapsed powerlessly at Cheng Xiao's feet, its wide-open wolf eyes filled with shock. It could never have imagined that a mere one-ring spirit master could kill it so effortlessly.

Of course, what the ghost wolf didn't know was that the person standing before it wasn't Cheng Xiao himself, but the Shadow Monarch utilizing his body. This was the power the king had left behind within Cheng Xiao.

Boom—

A surge of shadow power swept out, and Cheng Xiao's body suddenly felt weak. He collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. The purple glow in his eyes gradually faded away.

Ding!

At that moment, an emotionless, cold voice echoed in Cheng Xiao's mind:

"The system administrator has been killed. You no longer have system player privileges... Reassigning identity... You are now the heir to the Shadow Monarch... The Monarch's gifts have been distributed... Good luck."

"Wolf Slayer title acquired. When facing beast-type soul beasts, all stats will increase by 40%.

"Unknown Skill MAX": A passive skill; its effects are unknown.

"Descent of the Otherworldly King" (already used)

"Temporary Recovery Status": Instantly restores the body to its peak state (already used)

The next moment, Cheng Xiao felt his depleted soul power recovering at an astonishing speed. Following that, an indescribable sense of comfort washed over him. It was a sensation that defied explanation, as if he were floating high above the clouds or experiencing an ultimate ecstasy, so soothing and relaxing.

He had no idea how much time had passed, but when Cheng Xiao finally opened his eyes again, the sky had already darkened. Getting up from the ground, he was surprised to discover that his body seemed to have undergone some changes, likely due to the formation of the soul ring. His once sturdy physique had grown taller, and his already handsome face had become even more refined.

Looking down at his arm, even though the night had fully fallen, he could still see the fundamental changes in his skin. It was as if his body had been completely purified.

"It seems the Shadow Monarch's gift pack has run its course," Cheng Xiao murmured, summoning his martial spirit once again. But this time, there was no abnormal phenomenon. A dark purple mist hovered over his right hand, and within that mist were the roaring cries of countless souls and whispered oaths of loyalty.

Retracting his martial spirit, Cheng Xiao immediately sat down to meditate. His mind was filled with a huge amount of information, which he needed to process. Skills like Dash, Hit the Weak Spot, and Throwing Dagger all felt incredibly familiar, but since he hadn't actually used them yet, he had to take time to fully digest and master them.

Meanwhile, in front of Cheng Xiao, the corpse of the ghost wolf—killed by the Shadow King—began to emit wisps of black smoke. Before the smoke could fully form, it seemed to sense something and swiftly disappeared into Cheng Xiao's shadow.

As the black smoke entered Cheng Xiao's shadow, a faint yellow ring of light began to rise from the ghost wolf's corpse. This was the soul ring it had left behind. However, the energy it emitted was exceptionally weak, seemingly even less potent than a ten-year soul beast's ring.

...

Night had fully fallen by the time Tang San and his master, who had abandoned Cheng Xiao, stopped running. Their luck hadn't been great. Due to the master pushing himself beyond his limits, his stamina was quickly exhausted.

Their plan to leave the Soul Hunting Forest and seek help had to be postponed. Since the Nether Demon Wolf had not pursued them, they decided to rest under a large tree until they regained some strength, then continue their escape from the forest.

In the pitch-black forest, the first thing visible was a temporary campfire. The pale yellow flames crackled as they burned the wood, the sound of popping filling the quiet night. Tang San and his master sat by the fire, their faces pale.

It was clear that their flight had been anything but easy. Even though they had successfully escaped the Nether Demon wolf, they were left utterly exhausted.