Chapter 16: The Nine Legion Commanders, the Origin of the Abyssal Plane.
The Abyssal Plane, Level 76.
Eleven shadows slowly rose from the charred earth, shrouded in darkness, unable to even reflect light or shadow.
"This chaotic atmosphere, filled with gunpowder smoke, is truly fascinating,"
Jiang Xiu sighed softly as his blood-red eyes swept across the boundless wilderness. The other ten shadows formed a protective circle around Jiang Xiu, like loyal soldiers.
"So that's how it is. With my true self's breakthrough, the shackles of the Shadow King have also been broken,"
Jiang Xiu muttered, his eyes gleaming with wonder after a moment's silent reflection.
After reaching Level 10, the power of the Shadow King was further unlocked. He could now not only extract the shadows of ordinary deceased individuals, but also choose a shadow to become a legion commander.
The shadow that became a legion commander would not only retain all of their memories and abilities from their lifetime, but could also continue to improve through the shadow soldiers under their command, helping Jiang Xiu command the mindless shadow army.
The Legion Commander would remain 100% loyal to Jiang Xiu, and would take Jiang Xiu as his highest order.
"As for the choice of Legion Commander... I feel like the Emperor of the Ant King Clan still retains his charm."
Jiang Xiu's choice for the Legion Commander was naturally not to be sloppy. He wanted to gradually control the entire Abyss, and the first thing he had to do was to conquer the Ant King Clan. From there, he could use this as a springboard to conquer other Abyssal races, so sooner or later, the Ant King would have to confront him.
"The road ahead is long and arduous. We must improve our strength as quickly as possible."
Jiang Xiu stroked Hei Yi's head, his eyes dark.
The Abyssal Plane has a total of 108 levels, and every 36 levels represents a significant leap in strength.
In the last 36 levels, the King of each Abyssal species has the strength to rival a human spirit master, a Titled Douluo.
In the middle 36 levels, the King of each Abyssal species has the strength to rival a human spirit master, a Super Douluo.
On the first thirty-six floors, the emperors of each Abyssal species possessed strength comparable to that of a human spirit master, a Limit Douluo or a Demigod. Several emperors even reached god-level status in certain areas, such as the Spiritual Emperor's spiritual power and the Fierce Emperor's own divine power.
And on the seventy-sixth floor, where Jiang Xiu currently resided, the Ant Emperor, the king of the Ant Emperor clan, possessed the strength of a Titled Douluo.
"Come on, let the fight begin!"
This time, with abundant spiritual power, Jiang Xiu was determined to annihilate him swiftly, replenishing his shadow army.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
Receiving the order from their king, ten Abyssal Shadow Ants instantly sprang into action, their scarlet eyes gleaming with bravery. They charged shoulder to shoulder towards a slightly larger Abyssal Ant, their bite force rivaling that of a hyena-like spirit beast. Even Hei Yi attacked from behind, repeatedly striking back.
Jiang Xiu followed behind, extracting the shadows of the dead Abyssal Ants to join his glorious Shadow Army.
As time passed, the army of shadows behind Jiang Xiu grew larger and larger. By the time he had extracted his seventy-sixth soul, he was already able to completely hunt down an Abyss Ant comparable to a Grand Soul Master.
As the shadow of this Abyss Ant emerged, a dark, shimmering light unexpectedly entered Jiang Xiu's body, and the power of this shadow suddenly increased.
"Is this repaying the kindness?"
Jiang Xiu's eyebrows raised slightly, as if a thought occurred to him, and then a sudden realization dawned on him.
The shadows he had previously extracted were too weak; they would have burned out simply by transforming, let alone repaying him. But now, after killing this Grand Soul Master-level Abyss Ant, there would naturally be extra energy to feed back to him.
"Since my shadow can now upgrade on its own, I'll make it as powerful as possible."
Jiang Xiu pondered for a moment, then formed a plan.
This shadow had originally been his, lost in this Abyssal Plane. The Shadow King Martial Spirit acted as a medium, transmitting his consciousness to it.
Perhaps one day, when the Abyssal Plane attacked, his shadow would re-integrate into his true form, and these energies would naturally return to him.
All this accumulation now was preparation for the future.
"Perhaps the path to salvation, a breakthrough to the God-level, lies within this..."
Jiang Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, he led his shadow army forward once again, even activating the King's Domain to enhance the shadow soldiers' combat power and provide cover.
For a moment, the area Jiang Xiu was in erupted in chaos, a cacophony of roars and fighting.
But this small area was insignificant compared to the vastness of the entire 76th layer of the Abyss.
Time ticked by, and as Jiang Xiu's mental strength neared exhaustion, the fighting slowly ceased.
Even so, Jiang Xiu's Shadow Army had expanded to a full 150, and his shadow was poised to reach the level of a Grand Soul Master.
"Thank you, nature, for this gift,"
Jiang Xiu murmured, feeling his own growing strength. Nothing could be more satisfying than leveling up.
Just then, a dark purple Abyss Ant, as sturdy as a calf and brimming with fangs, charged towards Jiang Xiu and his men from a distance, even devouring its own kind along the way. Five golden streaks marked its body.
"Retreat!"
Jiang Xiu sensed the aura emanating from it, a force comparable to that of a Soul King, and he gave the order without hesitation.
While his Shadow Army wouldn't die, they would weaken with each death. He had personally raised every soldier, so how could he afford to sacrifice them in vain?
Furthermore, the disparity in strength between the enemy and us was too great, and his mental strength was nearly depleted. A strategic retreat was the best option.
"Wait until the next time you come, I'll kill you."
After giving it a deep look, Jiang Xiu led the Shadow Lords into the ground.
The Abyss Ant stamped its feet in anxiety as it watched the Shadow Army vanish before its eyes, but being a creature without much wisdom, it soon moved on to another place to continue its prey.
"It's almost time. Time to go back and rest."
After covering the Shadow Army with the Sovereign's Domain, Jiang Xiu sighed softly and prepared to return to his body. After all, he still had to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform to increase the age of his spirit rings tomorrow. He had also figured out that the speed of time here was the same as in the Douluo Plane.
"I'll probably meet Leng Yaozhu's disciple Na'er at the Spirit Ascension Platform tomorrow,"
Jiang Xiu thought thoughtfully. He believed that Leng Yaozhu's request to stay in the Spirit Transmission Tower today was for more than just a spirit ascension.
As Jiang Xiu regained consciousness, silence fell throughout the Sovereign's Domain.
At this moment, strands of transparent, hair-like threads appeared above the heads of each of the 150 Shadow Soldiers and surged towards him.
Finally, on the back of Jiang Xiu's right hand, a symbol of the Ant King roaring to the heavens appeared. Although it was almost invisible, it was still there.
Immediately, the entire monarch's domain was plunged into eternal night again...
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(End of this chapter)