A month passed swiftly but lacking any meditation method I could only focus on improving my physique by following in the steps of Sir Baldy... I mean Saitama-san. Still, this month wasn't a total waste. Just by doing physical training, my level increased to 6, my physique increased by 4 and became 12, allowing me to lift 1200 kilos with some difficulty and my Mana increased due to the increase in my level and became 750.
I even gained two skills called Physical Conditioning which increased my physique gain by 1.7% at level 17 and Cooking which increased my cooking speed and the taste of food cooked by me by 27% at level 27.
Done reviewing my gains in the past month, I gaze at the passing scenary from the back of the bullock cart that old Tom borrowed from a villager. Fascinatingly this world has some regular animals like ox, cows, horses, dogs, and various domesticated animals from my past life.
Right now I'm on my way to Nuoding City with old Tom to attend the Junior Spirit Master Acadeony there. We've been travelling for about three hours now and old Tom says that the city gates are just a few kilometers away. That had been about ten minutes ago.
Suddenly old Tom called me to the front of the cart and there it was, the gates leading to Nuoding City and my future.
It took us fifteen minutes to reach the gate and another thirty to reach the Junior Academy. There a guard stopped us but upon showing the Martial Soul Certificate and giving him a few silver coins solved the problem.
From there I went alone, old Tom leaving immediately after saying his farewells to me. Following the directions given by the corrupt guard, I quickly arrived at the new student registration office. There a staff member quickly registered me in the academy's database, gave me a booklet and a class schedule and gave me the directions to reach Dorm 7, the dorm for work study students.
Once I reached the dorm room, it revealed itself to be empty within only two of the beds showing signs that they had been recently occupied.
I placed my things on one of the beds near the entrance of the dorms and took out the booklet the teacher had given me while lying down on my new bed. It was titled: Common Soul Power Meditation Method.
Thinking that I could finally cultivate, I happily opened the booklet, summoned my Artisan's Astral Compass and activated it's Perception Domain, which at my current level increased my learning ability by 12 times. I understood everything written in the booklet within about 10 minutes of reading it.
According to the book, I should summon my Martial Soul and use it as a medium to attract soul power which should feel the same as the energy I should have been feeling within me since my Martial Soul Awakening. After the Martial Soul absorbs atmospheric soul power, I have to send the soul power within my body to my Martial Soul where it will latch onto the soul power it has absorbed and bring it back to the nerves of my hands, from there I will have to take it to my heart and than to my lower abdomen where my dantian should be. It also said that once a person has gained 1 level of soul power, they will become proficient enough to Meditate without the help of their Martial Soul acting as a medium.
After doing this, I felt a slight increase in my soul power. Upon checking my Status Panel, the level parameter showed- Level: 6 ( 2.8%), and my Mana increased by 2.8 points. I also gained a skill called Soul Power Meditation at level 1 which increases how much soul power/ Mana I gain with every level gained in this skill, which is a nice bonus.
I spent the entire afternoon meditating which increased my progress to the next level to 16.2%. I only stopped meditating clue to feeling hunger.
...
Classes started the next day from morning till noon for a total of five hours, starting with theory classesin the morning and combat classes— a dignified term for roughhousing, in the last how of classes.
After that I and the other two work study student, more like the the only two work study students in the year with me, both of whom are boys, had to spend about an hour each day cleaning the academy premises for 10 copper coins a week. Only after all this were we allowed to do what we wanted and I ofcourse spent the time in the academy's library and doing physical and soul power training.
Just like that in a haze of training and studying two months flew by.
During this time I fully understood how overpowered the innate skill Golden Rule of my Artisan's Astral Compass Martial Soul is.
During the two months that have passed I gained a total of 15,000 gold soul coins, about 500 were picked from the roadside while the rest were found inside a low level storage soul tool that a crow dropped on my head.
At the price of one gold coin per week, I have delegated my work study tasks to the other two students in my dorm, freeing me to do my own things.
Even more than that, Golden Rule helped in my soulpower cultivation. Everytime I cultivate in the presence of my Artisan's Astral Compass, soulpower will rush into my dantian at several times the normal speed. Due to this my Soul Power rank/Level increased to 10 this morning.
( A/N: From now, Artisan's Astral Compass will be shortened to Astral Compass / AAC or just Compass.)
Now I just need to hunt myself a Spirit Ring to awaken my Shadow Monarch Martial Soul and remove the restriction from the Treasure Locator skill as well as unlock the base version of Dream Learning skill of my Astral Compass Martial Soul.
On my way to the academy's staffroom to request for leave to hunt a Soul Ring, I let out a sigh thinking about my Compass's Treasure Locator skill.
This is because it has been constantly pointing towards a waterfall in a distant mountain range with a red needle, meaning that place has a Red Grade treasure.
My Compass can provide a holographic map that shows the most efficient route to reach that place but does not show the names or details of unnecessary things so at that time I had happily gone to search for a map to see till which place I should rent a carriage for.
My happiness lasted only till the moment I looked through a normal map from the academy library and found that nestled at the foot of those mountains is a village called Holy Spirit Village, the current home of Tang San and more importantly of Tang Hao, a Title Duoluo, this gave me an idea about what the treasure could be and how difficult it would be to obtain at my current strength.
Sigh... Don't worry little grass, daddy will pick you soon enough.
There were a few other things that the skill pointed me to but the best item was only a thousand year old whale glue which increased my physique by 2 points so now its 14 allowing me to lift 1400 kilos.
Shaking my head, I enter the staff room and find a teacher to ask for leave to visit old Tom who is apparently 'sick'. Old Tom thanks for becoming my alibi, I'll treat you to some dumplings later. I could have asked for a teacher to help hunt a Spirit Ring for me but a Innate Level 5 Soul Scholar like me raising my Soul Power to 10, a full 5 ranks in just 2 months since gaining access to the most basic meditation method would attract all kinds of attention, especially the bad kind. Plus my gut is telling me that going alone will be more beneficial, so old Tom to the rescue.
The teacher granted me a week of leave after asking me some questions. And since all my belongings are in the storage soul tool ring that a crow delivered to me I directly leave the academy. Within the hour I'm sitting inside a rented carriage that will take me to the nearest Soul Beast Forest.
...
Early the next morning, we reached a small town named Wise Crow Town bordering a Spirit Hall sponsored Soul Hunting Forest. I had the carriage driver drop me at the Spirit Hall branch in this town where I spent 50 gold soul coins to acquire a one time use Soul Hunting Entrance Pass.
Upon nearing the forest gates, I was stopped by a guard who said, "Halt! Only those with an Entrance Pass are allowed to go in this forest."
Upon showing him my Pass, the guard had someone open the gates which closed immediately after I passed through.
Within a few steps I felt as if I had entered an ancient forest, surrounded by birdsong and the rustling of trees.
After walking for a few minutes, I started catching glimpses of small ten-year old rabbit and insect type Spirit Beasts, that scurried away upon hearing /smelling me.
Ignoring them, I took out my Compass Martial Soul and saw that it was pointing towards the east with a Black needle. Listening to my gut's idiotic instinct, I started heading east, cutting a path through the forest.
Along the way I stumbled upon many common herbs and spirit fruits at the 10 year level, some gold nuggets and a few small precious stones that had fallen from the rest of a 10 year crow type Soul Beast.
Just like that an hour passed then another and then one more hour passed before I reached a tranquil lake. On the other side of the lake lay a black, shadowy beast, looking like a fish-tailed cat with aquamarine eyes, fatally injured. A beast I remember reading about in a Soul Beast Encyclopedia back at the academy. This was a Carp-tailed Shadow Cat, though the book only described various 10 and 100-year Soul Beast.
This injured beast look way tougher than the 100 year old one version mentioned in that book even with it's missing left ear, right forelimb and a chest injury that showed a pulsing red mass within — its heart.
Taking a long look at the beast that stared right back in my eyes and then at my Compass, I resolve to never listen to my gut again and try to nope out of there.
Just as I reach the tree line and turn around to run back the way I came, I feel something 'whoosh' behind me and before I could do anything I was pinned to the ground.
From the corner of my vision I watched with a trembling heart, too scared to scream, as the beast leaned forward and sniffed my righthand... no it was sniffing my Shadow Monarch Martial Soul in its Ring form. I never bother deactivating it since it doesn't cost any soul power to maintain it in this state.
After thoroughly sniffing my Shadow Monarch Ring, the beast for some reason got off me.
I still didn't move, just laying there like a dead fish for a few minutes. When nothing happened to me, I got up from the ground and turned to the beast since I knew I couldn't outrun it. I became even surer of this fact after looking at the lake with a 600m diameter which the cat had somehow crossed in less than 2 seconds.
As soon as our eyes met the beast's eyes glowed an eerie blue and the beast turned into a woman in her twenties.
The beast or woman cleared her throat and made a few different sounds and then looking back at me, she said,"Human, what are you called? What is that thing on your claw?"
I remain too stunned to speak but a growl from her is enough to snap me back to attention and say, "My name is Li Rihan ma'am! And this is my Martial Soul." I extend my right hand at her.
She says, "It's your Martial Soul? Too bad I can't kill you and take it for myself, it smells super good and enticing. Hmm... You are here to hunt a Soul Ring right?"
At my hesistant nod she continues,"Alright! I'll be your Soul Ring! I'm dying anyway so atleast it won't be a waste of my life to become the Soul Ring of such a nice smelling Martial Soul! It won't be a problem, right Human—no Li Rihan?! It's a pity that I can't perform a sacrifice due to not being strong enough or I would have done that. Oh well! You will just have to endure the pain of absorbing a 10,000 year Soul Ring."
"No problem! No problem at all!" I say shaking my head like a rattle feeling as if I were in a dream when suddenly the surrounding cracked like a mirror and I was back infront of the Carp-tailed Shadow Cat, staring intently at me, waiting for me to make my move.
Taking out a normal knife from my storage ring, I take a step towards her, aim the knife at her left eye and plunge it in with my full strength.
Her limbs clenched the earth, her body slumped forward and her remaining right eye dimmed as all traces of life left her.
Above her now lifeless body appeared a Black Soul Ring giving a very oppressive feeling. Having not yet learned how to tell the age of Soul Rings beyond the thousand year level, I summon my Compass Martial Soul and use its innate skill Analysis.
A holographic blue screen appeared from the Compass Martial Soul with the details of the Soul Ring in front of me.
{
Item: Carp-tailed Shadow Cat Soul Ring.
Age: 18,869 years.
Item Description: A Soul Ring that belongs to a Carp-tailed Shadow Cat, who willingly gave her life to condense this Ring for the individual Li Rihan's Martial Soul Shadow Monarch.
Only the individual named Li Rihan may integrate this item safely, only applicable when Li Rihan uses the Shadow Monarch for the Ring's integration.
This Soul Ring contains the Soul Skill: Shadow Illusion.
Shadow Illusion: Allows the user to manipulate shadows to create realistic illusions. Cover the target or a limited area in shadows that will change their colour, texture, shape, smell, taste and pressure according to your desires. People with spiritual/mental strength vastly superior to the user may resist this skill.
Warning: Any individual other than Li Rihan using the Martial Soul Shadow Monarch wishing to integrate this Soul Ring will experience the full resentment contained within this ring.
Hint: Integrating this Soul Ring within the Perception Domain of the Martial Soul Artisan's Astral Compass may bring unexpected benefits.
Duration: This item will be destroyed if not used within : 58 minutes 29 seconds...
}
Taking a deep breath, I follow my gut, as for the promise to never do that, that's the past Rihan's promise, nothing to do with me, the present Rihan.
Activating the Perception Domain of my Compass, I will it to hover above my head which it can apparently do and then sit crossed leg in front of the still warm corpse.
Using my Soul Power to latch onto the hovering Spirit Ring, I bring the Spirit Ring towards my Shadow Monarch Soul and begin the integration process.
At first it just felt a little uncomfortable but soon that discomfort turned into deep agonizing pain. Only the active Perception Domain allowed me to keep myself rational amidst the sea of pain.
During the process I was pulled into a space that should be my Spiritual Sea that opened on its own and found myself face to face with the Cat which almost scared me to death with how sudden the transition was. Thankfully, after confirming that it was me absorbing her Ring, she dissipated on her own. Thrusting me right back in that painful sea which slowly, very slowly turned into a warm and gentle feeling enveloping my entire body.
I don't know exactly how long it lasted but by the Sun's position atleast four hours had gone by before I fully absorbed the Soul Ring.
Relaxing my posture, I lie down on the grass I'd been sitting on and ignore my sweat soaked clothes as I move my hands and feel the raw physical power coursing through them. Upon checking my Soul Power I realised that it'd increased to level 16, giving me a full six levels for the new Spirit Ring, making me feel that the pain had been worth it.
Along with my Soul Power, my Physique, Mind and Soul all increased by 25 points each and became 39,34 and 31 respectively.
Ignoring the blue screen hovering in the corner of my vision and acting on my just occurred thoughts I use my Analysis skill on the Cat's corpse.
{
Name: N/A
Species: Carp-tailed Shadow Cat.
Age: 10,002 years.
Cultivation: 18,869 years.
Gender: Female.
Bloodline: Extremely diluted bloodlines:- Cloud Water Dragon, Shadow Wind Lion.
Status: Dead
Attributes: (+)
Skills: (+)
Description: A Soul Beast that escaped from the Star Dou Great Forest after offending a 100,000 year old Soul Beast and recieving fatal injuries during her escape. Knowing that she won't survive her injuries, she gave her life and Soul Ring to Li Rihan because his Shadow Monarch Soul smelt nice (the skill Golden Rule would like to announce that all this Good Luck happened because it pulled its weight in the background and would like to be recognised for its ability).
This corpse has high nutritional value and contains an 18,869 year old Skull Soul Bone. The Soul Bone is located in the forehead, right between the eyes.
Skull Soul Bone: Illusion Affinity: Increases Spiritual strength and decreases the cost of using Illusion type abilities by 20%.
}
Quickly, I thank Golden Rule and the Cat and take out my knife again and with a few precise cuts to the forehead a shimmering black and purple Soul Bone falls out of the cut.
I keep it in my storage ring, thinking that I'll use it if I don't find a more suitable skull bone by the time I reach Level 70.
Then I store the Cat's corpse in my storage ring after which I finally turn to the blue screen in the corner of my vision.
{
The Martial Soul: Shadow Monarch is has awakened. Click here to view full details.
}
Excitedly I click on the screen and it is replaced by another bigger screen.
{
Martial Soul: Shadow Monarch (Awakened)
Type: Control/ Attack / Summon.
Description: A manifestation of dominion over shadows, darkness, and the ethereal boundary between life and death. The Shadow Monarch Martial Soul is an embodiment of sovereignty within the shadow realm, commanding armies of spectral entities and manipulating the battlefield with unparalleled stealth and power.
Appearance: When awakened, the Shadow Monarch manifests as a dark, semi-translucent crown adorned with shadowy tendrils that flow like liquid night, studded with purple stars. It transforms into an unassuming ring during its dormant state, veiling its immense potential. Upon activation, the surroundings darken slightly, and shadowy silhouettes flicker at the edges of perception.
Attributes: Extreme Space, Ultimate Darkness, Ultimate Shadow, Ultimate Death, Ultimate Life, Divine Soul.
Current Form:- Ring: Grants the Passive ability to see the owner's own Status. After awakening allows the user to use the Shadow Monarch's Innate Skills at 10% of their base power for every Soul Ring the use gains till the Innate Skills can unleash 100% of their base power. Soul Skills can be used normally in this form.
Main Form:- Crown: Allows the user to use the Shadow Monarch's Innate Skills at 100% of their normal power. Base Power of both Innate and Soul Skills increases by 20% for each Soul Ring the user has.
Note: To change Form, just command the Martial Soul mentally.
Innate Skills:
Shadow Extraction: The ability to raise the dead as loyal Shadow Soldiers. These shadows retain all traits from their past lives, such as strength and skills. The Shadow soldiers will grow and evolve along with their Monarch and through battle. As long as the Monarch lives, the Soldiers cannot die permanently, they can only die if their core is destroyed.
Limit: 0/30. At leve 20, the limit will increase by 10x, at 30 it will increase by another 10x and so on till level 100 where the Monarch may raise and store as many shadow soldiers as he wants.
Note: Only beings that the Monarch or his Shadow Soldiers slay without any external help can be raised as soldiers. Beings that have been injured by someone/thing other than the Monarch and his Army and haven't completely recovered can be raised bythe Shadow Monarch if the injured being gives away its life willingly.
(A/N: LvI.10 = 30 soldiers; Lvl.20=300; 30=3000; 40=30,000; 50=300,000; 60=3,000,000; 70= 30,000,000; 80= 300,000,000; 90=3,000,000,000; 100=♾️)
Shadow Storage: Shadows and unresisting items/beings can be stored in a dimensional space within the Monarch's shadow and summoned at will. At level 20, the shadow soldiers can be stored inside the shadow of other beings and items. Any conscious being that's not a Shadow will fall into a deep sleep, only awakening upon exiting the storage. The storage is unaffected by time.
Shadow Exchange: Instantly swap places with any shadow under the Monarch's control.
Monarch's Domain: Create an area where the Shadow Monarch's and his Army's powers are amplified, and enemies are weakened. Unlocks at level 60.
Shadow Manipulation: Control shadows to attack or defend using Mana. Can only be improved with practice.
Traits:
Mage: Allows the user to learn and use magic with similar attribute to the Shadow Monarch Martial Soul.
Black Heart: Connects the user's heart to all shadows and darkness in existence which continuously absorb and store Mana that the user can use as they desire, theoretically giving the user limitless Mana. Reach level 99 to unlock this skill.
Note: A new Trait parameter has been added to the users's Status Panel.
}
I stare at the screen for a few moments, my jaw touching the ground with drool escaping from the side. Taking one final look at the screen, especially the Black Heart skill, I close the screen, wipe my mouth and take a few deep, calming breaths.
Focusing on the skills I can use right now I bring out the Carp-tailed Shadow Cat's corpse and try using the Shadow Extraction skill. The blue screen appears again and asks if I would like to set an activation key.
Remembering the exhilaration I felt while watching Solo Leveling anime, I decide to pay homage and set the activation phase as:
"Arise."
The shadows converge on the Cat's corpse, covering it in a shadowy cacoon which bursts open after a few seconds and from within it rises the Cat, she would've looked the same as before if not for the glowing purple tribal tattoos and slicker more compact frame.
Using the Analysis skill of my Compass I get her information.
{
Name: N/a
Species: Shadow, Carp-tailed Shadow Cat
Strength: Commander level Shadow
Attributes: Advanced Water, Advanced Death, High Shadows.
Skills: Shadow Illusion, Shadow Travel, Nether Claws, Aqua Jet.
Description: A 10,000 year Soul Beast that has been transformed into a Commander level Shadow Soldier by the budding future Shadow Monarch Li Rihan. She is completely loyal to Li Rihan and eagerly anticipates getting named by her Master.
}
Commander level! My first shadow is Commander level! 'Breathe in... breathe out... repeat... repeat... This many shocks can't be good for the heart.
Based on this I deduce the approximate level of shadow soldiers compared to Soul Beasts :
Normal level ≈ 10+ years.
Epic level ≈ 100+ years.
Named level ≈ 1,000+years.
Commander level ≈ 10,000+years.
Unique/Mythical level≈ 100,000+ years.
Monarch Shadow ≈ God+ level
With sparkles in my eyes turn to my first Shadow soldier and say, "From this day, your Name shall be Nyx - the Goddess of Night."
"Yes, My Lord!" Nyx exclaims clearly.
"You can speak normally?!" I blurt out in surprise, having forgotten that Commander level Shadows could do that.
At her affirmation, I calm myself and decide to ask any further questions later, after getting out of the forest.
Though her form had become slicker, she was still big enough to ride comfortably.
Telling her the directions to the forest entrance I hang on for dear life, deciding to properly check my Status after having a good nights sleep.
...tbc...
Word Count: 4,144