In the morning, I woke up fresh as a daisy—no headache, no hangover. My magical powers had already recovered. It's good to be young. Beautiful.
The ring had become several shades darker, and upon entering my inner world, I felt that cultivation had become easier, as if something was helping me from the outside. The ring had become a Spiritual Magic Tool, I thought.
Perfect. Now I can feed it more souls to strengthen it, and after getting into the elite class, I'll feed it a Nebula-level magic tool. The main thing is not to have the tool on me at that moment; I won't feel sorry for framing Mu Bai, his family has plenty of money anyway, and I can knock some of the arrogance out of him.
After meditating for the remaining time, I set out hunting again.
Back in the forest, I moved from tree to tree, not venturing too deep. At the first tier, the Stardust energy isn't much—about five uses—so I had to save strength. Feet, use your feet.
At one point, I stopped abruptly, feeling a heavy gaze on me. Panic setting in, I quickly formed the Shadow path and sank under my feet. Immediately, a One-Eyed Magic Wolf burst from the bushes and began to go wild at the spot where I had disappeared.
I was in trouble. This was a middle-tier Servant, about twice as strong as a rat—faster, stronger, but without magical surprises, no lasers from the eyes.
Moving to a wide tree about five meters from the wolf, I prepared my Poison Spit. A quick exit, a throw toward the wolf, then jumping behind the tree. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a grey shadow dash over the spot where I had been a second ago. Circling the tree, I sank into the shadow again.
Phew, they're fast. From the shadow space, I watched the movements of this overgrown mongrel that wanted to learn to walk on two legs. It somewhat resembled the werewolves from the movie about the boy who lived. Lean, long, about two meters tall, but with a more wolf-like snout and a single red eye in the middle of its forehead.
Suddenly, the monster stopped and let out a long, mournful howl. Fur began to fall from the left side of its belly, and the skin turned grey before my eyes. The monster stopped and started scratching at the wound until blood flowed, then howled even more pitifully and dashed back into the bushes. But I saw that in the bushes, it immediately curled up on the ground, whimpering. I hadn't expected my poison to bypass a middle-tier Servant's natural defense so easily.
Moving closer to the bushes and preparing my Poison Spit, I threw it where the monster's head should be, immediately hiding back in the shadow.
I hit somewhere on the back of the head. The monster whimpered louder and louder but still didn't want to die. After waiting a few more minutes, I decided not to waste Shadow energy and moved to a thick branch of a nearby tree. Settling on the branch, I began to wait.
After twenty minutes of waiting, the whimpering hadn't stopped, but I was honestly afraid to approach the wounded beast. I just threw one more spit at it from the tree.
Soon, two rats appeared from the forest, likely drawn by the whimpering of the wounded wolf or the smell of blood. I hid in my shelter. Standing near the bushes where the wolf lay, the rats fired from their eyes almost simultaneously, apparently hitting their opponent, and immediately rushed inside.
A struggle began in the bushes. Even wounded, the wolf remained a middle-tier Servant and could fight back. A tangled mess of scratching and biting wolf and rats tumbled out of the bushes. One rat soon flew aside, leaving a trail of blood and intestines behind it. The second rat clamped its jaws onto the wolf's neck, tearing at its belly and chest with its back legs. Soon, the fallen wolf stopped resisting and went still, and then a small light flew out of it and was absorbed into my ring amulet.
The rat raised its head and let out a victory half-roar, half-squeak, and began greedily tearing chunks from the wolf, swallowing them quickly.
The second rat, dragging the remains of its intestines, crawled toward the feasting friend but received only a threatening growl in response, stopping about two meters away.
Watching everything from above, I realized it was time to intervene if I wanted more souls for my amulet. Directly from the tree, I threw my spit at the head of the rat eating the wolf.
A moment ago, the rat, satisfied with life, shrieked and started dashing across the clearing they had trampled, filling the area with wild squeals.
The second rat didn't wait and attacked its comrade, but apparently, it had very little strength left, and even the blinded but capable rat quickly finished it off. My amulet absorbed another light!
The Poison energy was almost at the bottom, literally one use left. Without thinking, forming the Shadow path, I jumped from the tree, activating magic beneath me.
It was cool. It's one thing to read about such a technique, another to immerse yourself in shadows. Jumping from a height of about four meters—I should try this from a skyscraper in the city, I thought. The shadow softly enveloped me from all sides without any resistance, gently braking my fall.
Approaching the rat and preparing my final strike, I threw the spell directly into the middle of its throat and ran back.
The rat began to go wild again but couldn't determine my direction. After spinning like a top, it quickly went silent. A bright ball of light flew toward me, about three times larger than all previous ones! Could it be a full soul essence instead of a fragment?! What luck!
The amulet absorbed the soul and vibrated slightly, gradually calming down.
"Please, glutton, grow big and strong."
And then it hit me that I was standing like an idiot in a clearing full of monster corpses, almost magically empty, while the smell of blood from the battle site was spreading further.
"I'm such an idiot!"
I quickly ran toward the city. I had enough Shadow energy for two more uses; I could hide if needed, but it was better not to enter a fight. I needed to recover and then continue my hunt.
I made it. I didn't meet anyone on the way, and that was nothing but luck. Murphy's Law always works: if something can go wrong, it will. But I made it.
Now, lying in a warm bed and hugging Le Ri, the day's events seem like a nightmare. I really walked the line; I need to spend more time planning and develop more effective tactics against groups and single monsters to exterminate the maximum number of enemies with minimum effort. And I need to think about countering magicians; I'm sure I'll face them sooner or later, and likely sooner. But that's all for tomorrow. Today I rest.
"Le Ri, there was no command to sleep, get over here!" I said, pinning the squeaking girl under me. It's good to be young, and even better to be a young magician!
So began my second year of study at Tian Lan Magic High School. I sat at my desk, thinking about what had happened in my life over the last month. I managed to go on twenty more outings, which brought me eight soul fragments from Colossal Rats. I wasn't being a hero; I killed a rat from the shadow, took its soul fragment, and immediately went back to the safe zone. I didn't always manage to find a monster before my Shadow energy dropped to half, at which point I'd return to the city.
Now I realize that during the second hunt, I was very lucky. The wolf probably lay in the bushes to lure me in and just didn't expect me to start throwing spells there, but the second hit definitely damaged something, otherwise, he would have easily overcome the rats.
I also discovered an interesting effect of my poison. When it hits a monster's skin, it literally absorbs inside instead of spreading over the surface. The monster weakens over time. The poison also has a cumulative effect, and three precise hits to the body are enough for a rat to die within half an hour or so.
The Shadow element was also pleasing. As I learned, the original Shadow element is black-grey; mine was black-purple. I haven't managed to solve its secret yet, but I think I will in time. Additionally, I accidentally found out that ordinary students can release magic three or four times in a row before exhausting themselves. This implies that either my elements are inherently stronger, or my main stars can store more spiritual energy. But I don't have enough reliable information or a sample for comparison yet. Everything I know about Shadow theory, Tang Yue told me. No, it wasn't a private meeting on the roof like Mo Fan's; it was all official. After class, I approached her and told her about my problem—that I couldn't find any information on Shadow magic and how to develop it. And I really had asked all the teachers about it.
After lessons, I met her in the teacher's lounge, where there were a dozen other teachers, so there was no flirting. Tang Yue gave me a short lecture, asked me to demonstrate a release—where she pointed out the unusual color—and that was it. I thanked her and left.
Where the hell am I supposed to get Dark Quartz, shadow beast organs saturated with magic, or Shadow Sources?
In the absence of other resources, we cultivate! I found nothing at all on the Poison element, only vague memories from a novel I once read. The Poison element is not common in China; the highest concentration of such magicians is in Brazil. Maybe I'll fly there someday.
I also conducted an experiment. Now I know that once immersed in the Shadow element, without moving or going back and forth, my spiritual strength lasts for one hour and eight minutes. I think that's enough for the venture I have in mind.
Considering all the above, I began to use a proven soul-gathering tactic: moving through the forest, at the slightest suspicion of a monster's presence, I'd go into the shadow and scout the surroundings. Finding the target, I'd emerge behind them, attack with poison, and hide back in the shadow. Then I'd find the nearest thick tree, climb its branches, and wait.
Of course, the rats tried to climb the tree or attack me with their heat vision, but I always aimed for the back legs, after which the monster couldn't climb, and the heat beam dispersed harmlessly at a distance of eight meters after the attack.
After waiting about ten minutes, I'd go into the shadow again. By that time, the rat had usually switched its focus from me to its wound and didn't have time to notice my next attack, which hit it from the side of the head. Then a roll and back into the shadow.
After another ten minutes of waiting, the monster was partially paralyzed and faced a third portion of poison, right in the eye! Then I'd just sink into the shadow and wait for a new glowing soul fragment to appear. After receiving it, I'd quickly run to the safe zone.
This tactic almost never failed, and a steady stream of souls began to flow into my talisman. Even now, it gave me about a fifty percent boost to my cultivation. I hope to increase its productivity to twofold by the time of the field practice. I have high hopes for the Nebula-level magic tool; at least in the original, it upgraded Mo Fan's amulet quite well.
So, I am fourth in the elite class. First place is taken by our protagonist Mo Fan, second by the teeth-grinding Mu Bai, third by Xu Zhaoting—the only known Lightning magician in our school—and I take a modest fourth place. One can say the plan succeeded. Who's interested in a modest Shadow magician who isn't even in the top three?
Teacher Xue entered the classroom—our former homeroom teacher. Apparently, he was promoted to the homeroom teacher of the elite class because it contained the most students from his former Class 8. He probably got a raise, too! No wonder he's been walking around looking so satisfied lately.
The teacher placed a small briefcase on the table and opened it. Inside lay a small bracelet created by magical blacksmiths from the flesh, blood, and soul of a Servant-level monster. This Stardust Magic Tool increases a magician's cultivation speed by thirty percent.
From the teacher's speech, everyone learned that the first place could cultivate with it for two weeks, second and third for a week and a half, and fourth through tenth for one week. Then the cycle repeats. If you want it in your possession, make sure to be in the top ten.
Receiving his tool, Mo Fan went back to his desk with a satisfied smile. Let him be happy for now; he'll break it tonight anyway.
Two weeks passed. Today the teacher handed the cultivation tool to Mu Bai. Time to pull off our little scam!
After school, Mu Bai headed home to the Mu Clan villa. He didn't notice that his shadow was slightly darker than usual. But who pays attention to shadows? Exactly! Almost no one.
Half an hour later, Mu Bai returned home, changed, and went to a secluded gazebo in the park to cultivate. When he sat on the mat, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate, his shadow twitched slightly, and a peer with a smirk materialized from it. Silently removing the ring from the ring finger of his right hand, he touched the talisman in the open palms of the intensely cultivating boy.
A few seconds passed, and the smirker's grin widened. He quickly put the ring back on and silently stepped into the shadow of the gazebo.
While a small shadow spot floated across the ground toward the fence, Mu Bai slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at his palms in bewilderment, his eyes widening in horror. The next moment, he was already racing toward the manor at an unthinkable speed, carefully clutching the fragments of the shattered amulet to his chest.
The operation was a success! Of course, I took a risk, but the only two strong magicians, Mu Zhuoyun and his brother Mu He, had gone to some important clan meeting. Mu Bai had told his lackey Zhao Kun San about this, and I had been near him almost all the time lately. Aside from those two Advanced Magicians, the manor was mostly filled with Basic Magicians who couldn't feel me at all.
Also, almost everyone in our school knows that Mu Bai cultivates immediately after school and almost never breaks this rule. Truly, a blabbermouth is a spy's treasure!
Time to celebrate. Calling my girlfriend, I heard, "Hello, darling, have you finally finished your business and remembered you have a girlfriend?" Le Ri's indignant voice came through.
"Hello, dear. You're a smart girl and you understand that I can't drop in the class rankings; I really need the cultivation tool!"
"Of course, I understand, but we haven't seen each other in a week. If I didn't know you were a study fanatic, I'd think you were cheating on me."
"Don't talk nonsense. Let's meet and go for a walk instead."
"Yes, of course. Can you come to our dormitory in two hours?"
"Alright, I'll be there in two hours. Kiss."
"Kiss, bye-bye!"
Two hours later, I stood before the girls' dormitory, chewing gum and waiting for Le Ri. I was wearing a fitted white T-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. I had showered and used cologne before the meeting. Say what you will, but girls always like well-groomed guys, so it's better to match on a date. It's hard to imagine a girl who didn't meticulously beautify herself before a meeting.
Le Ri was wearing a loose white knee-length dress, beige sandals with wide, low heels, and a tiny white handbag crammed to the limit hung from her shoulder, threatening to burst at any moment. Her hair was gathered in a hairstyle of several ponytails joining at the back, with one free lock hanging from each temple. She had winged eyeliner. After Teacher Tang Yue transferred to us, many girls started drawing them, as the teacher was never seen without them. The girls were very jealous of her popularity, and she unwittingly became a style icon in our school.
"Hello, darling, what are we doing today?"
I silently approached her, lightly tilted her head by the chin, and kissed her on the lips.
"What are you doing? People are looking! We're on school grounds! Stop it!"
She began to lightly swat my shoulder with her small hand with the enthusiasm of a combat hamster. At the same time, her eyes were sparkling, and a satisfied smile wouldn't leave her face.
The girl is truly in love with me. Besides, first teenage love is the brightest and strongest, and perhaps the purest. Of course, I knew Le Ri decided on the relationship and agreed to share my bed because she considers me a good match, but we all know that a beautiful girl falling for an ordinary loser who has nothing only happens in fairy tales or Japanese anime.
Be that as it may, I understood the girl truly loved me. I tried to simulate love, but unfortunately, it's very hard for a person who was once betrayed to let someone that close again and fully open up emotionally. I think Le Ri felt something was wrong with her female intuition, but she lacked the experience to figure it out. So, there was a slight tension between us, but it didn't particularly affect our relationship.
"What are we doing today?" Le Ri asked, taking my hand.
"I haven't decided yet, but we'll definitely start with dinner," I replied.
"Good!" After a few seconds of silence as we started walking, she asked, "Won't you tell me where you've been disappearing to all month? During our past meetings, you skillfully changed the subject, but today I want you to tell me everything."
Usually, if I didn't want to talk about something, she'd back off quickly, but apparently not this time. If I stayed silent now, she'd definitely make something up herself. I was never good at lying; omitting things or slightly altering facts was something I was good at. But as for outright lying, I was always caught quickly. So, I'll play with the facts.
"Fine, but don't tell anyone, promise?"
"If you ask, then yes."
"I was going after a cultivation resource."
"What kind of resource? Something illegal? You have Shadow magic, and that's Dark magic."
"The resource itself isn't forbidden, but it's at the border of the safe zone and isn't transportable."
"So you were cultivating at the border of the safe zone?"
"Yes, but don't worry, I was being watched over."
"And what kind of resource?"
"The remains of some monster. A couple of factors aligned and a small zone of accelerated cultivation appeared. It won't help my acquaintance anymore, but it's perfect for me."
"Wow! You're very lucky to have such a good acquaintance!"
"Yes, but he asked not to tell anyone because he should have reported it to the association, but he held the information for me."
"Of course, I won't tell anyone, don't worry!"
I just gave her a kind smile and a gentle kiss, which prompted her to swat my shoulders again. But I know she's only protesting for form's sake.
Le Ri believed me. She doesn't need to know that the place is a bit beyond the border and that my "acquaintance" is the local monsters who create cultivation spots for me with their souls.
The evening went fairly calmly. I think we'll be meeting more often now; after all, starting from the second year, our magic practice began, where we release our magic to the bottom almost every day, and going on a mission without a full energy reserve is very dangerous.
Later in the evening, we were returning from the cinema to our dormitory. After the cafe, we went to a movie theater where I chose some popular comedy that turned out to be genuinely funny. Le Ri was chirping away beside me, talking about her roommates and friends, when she suddenly stopped abruptly, staring at a young couple.
"My God, Li Kai, that's my sister Le Xu's fiancé. Why is he hugging that trash?"
I looked at the young, tipsy couple near a bar. It would have been nothing, but at that moment, they started kissing.
Le Ri quickly ran toward him, jumped up, and delivered a sharp slap to the guy's face.
The guy's head snapped to the side, and his cheek began to turn red. Staring at Le Ri, recognition appeared in his eyes and he shouted, "Are you crazy, girl?"
"You and Le Xu are getting married soon! How can you do this to my sister?"
"Our relationship is our business. Get out of here!"
He raised his hand at Le Ri.
"Hey, asshole!" I shouted loudly. "If you touch her with even one finger, I'll break your legs!"
"And who the hell are you? This bitch's lover?"
I paused for a second, processing what I heard.
"You're dead," I said calmly and approached the guy. He tried to grab my shirt, but I swiped his hand aside and landed a direct punch with all my weight to his face. The guy fell, blood coming from his nose. Pinning his chest with my knee, I started hitting his face. After a few strikes, the guy went limp.
Standing up and dusting off my bloody hand, I said to Le Ri, "Let's go home."
"Alright," she said quietly.
All the way to the dormitory, Le Ri was silent, avoiding my gaze. Not wanting to pressure the girl who had already been through a lot today, I walked her to the girls' dormitory and headed to mine. I wasn't too worried about what had happened; that idiot couldn't do anything to me anyway, and magicians in this world are in a special position. So, returning, I fell asleep peacefully.
The next day after classes, Le Ri asked me to meet in the park near the school. Arriving at the appointed time, I waited for her calmly.
A group of seven men stopped nearby. The oldest of them separated and headed toward me. He looked to be about fifty, with grey hair at the temples, quite tall for a Chinese man—half a head taller than me. He didn't take his eyes off me, and they expressed nothing but contempt. Approaching, he asked, almost shouting, "Are you Li Kai?"
"What's it to you?" I said calmly.
"My name is Su Pan Xi. I am the father of Su Pan Wei, whom you, you son of a dog, beat up yesterday."
"And who is that even?"
"Don't pretend! I know for sure it was you! And for that, I will punish you so that you remain disabled for the rest of your life."
"Boys!" he shouted to the other men standing a couple of meters away. "Break his arms and legs."
"Ah... I remember... That's the idiot whose face I broke yesterday!" I exclaimed with a smile. "Well... give it a try!"
At that same moment, the Shadow stars swirled around me, forming a constellation, and I plunged into my familiar world. Being in the shadow gave me a sense of peace and security, as this place had saved me from death more than once.
My mind immediately shifted to combat mode, extraneous thoughts left my head, and killing intent began to emanate from me.
My first victim was the one furthest away. He was the smallest and probably loved attacking from behind. My mind immediately noted that he was trying to hide behind his larger companions. Often, such types carry knives to stab you in the stomach during the confusion.
I emerged behind him. A strong kick under the knee, and the opponent drops as expected. Then both hands clap over his ears. He grabs his head and doubles over. My right foot comes down on his nape, slamming his face into the asphalt. One down.
The others only just had time to turn around, not understanding how I got there, and hesitated.
A Spartan kick lands on the chest of the next opponent. He flies back, taking two more down, while I disappear, only to reappear at that same moment behind the rightmost opponent. A side kick to the knee, followed by a wet crack. A magician's body is about twice as tough and strong as an ordinary human's, so I don't worry about the safety of my own limbs. My opponent falls to the ground with a loud scream; a broken knee is very painful. Two down.
Right next to me lies the guy who was knocked over by his flying comrade. His arm is positioned so conveniently. A step forward, and my left leg comes down, breaking another victim's forearm. Three down.
Three relatively healthy opponents remain: one lying on the ground holding his chest while pinning his unhurt comrade, and another standing to my right. The latter is the largest of them. Stern face, a tattoo peeking from under his collar.
I approach him. He throws a straight punch to my head with his right hand. Too slow; a magician's reaction also exceeds that than of ordinary people. A light tilt to the left, tuck my left arm under, and a sharp hook to the liver. I heard the big guy exhale sharply after the blow as he began to double over involuntarily. Another hook with the right, and I feel the nose cartilage break under my fist. His head snaps back and he begins to slump. I strike his throat with an open palm as he falls and quickly turn around. Four down.
My last opponent tries to stand, helping his friend who took the hit to the chest. I don't stop him. He straightens up, supporting his friend who is trying to breathe normally, and surveys the battlefield.
There was so much resentment in his eyes it's hard to put into words, but he doesn't give up. He lets go of his friend, who drops to his knees gasping for air. Yes, King Leonidas taught well!
My opponent takes some eastern martial arts stance and with a loud cry of "Kiya!" kicks at my head. Honestly, I almost laughed; it looked like a cliché.
I catch his leg and strike his shin with my heel. Another crack, and the opponent falls to the ground screaming, starting to roll around. Blood appears on his trouser leg. An open fracture. I hope he doesn't die; it's unlikely I could cover up a murder at my current level. Five down.
I approach the last opponent who isn't lying on the ground but is sitting on his knees, holding his chest and trying to learn how to breathe again. Without thinking twice, I just swing and hit his jaw, breaking it. Six down.
The man who came to punish me stands there staring with wide eyes, not knowing what to do with himself. I understand him; he came to punish a cheeky youth who beat his son and got this instead.
I walk over to the first opponent I knocked out and search his pockets. Sure enough, a knife—a folding button knife with "Ganzo" written on the blade. "Well, Mr. Su Pan Xi, let's talk more specifically."
I walk right up to him and give him a light punch to the stomach. And what do you think? A very unappealing sound of a starting tractor erupts, and the foul smell of someone else's fresh crap reaches my nose.
"They really do say only your own doesn't stink. Tell me, dead man, did you even smell it?"
The man started shaking violently. Afraid to look me in the eye, he stammered, "Please, don't kill me! I have money! I'll pay!"
I think for a couple of seconds. I grab him by the scruff of the neck and drag him into the nearest bushes.
The local small Su Clan was one of the city's developers. It was founded by Su Pan Xi's grandfather, who was a Basic Magician of the third tier in the Earth element. In exchange for ending the hostility between us, he would transfer two million yuan to my account and swore not to cause trouble for me or my family. Otherwise, I promised to slaughter his entire clan and hide the bodies in my shadow as trophies.
Of course, I wouldn't actually do that. What fool would carry a small cemetery in their shadow? No amount of energy would be enough.
I also learned that Le Ri's sister and his son decided to forget about his little affair and continued preparing for the wedding. And Le Ri was forbidden by her family from communicating with me. Stupid people. No matter how rich the Su Clan was, they were ordinary people. In a couple of years, I'll be able to look down on such clans from the height of the Intermediate level. Even now, they can't do anything to me.
Considering everything I learned, I decided to settle the matter once and for all.
Approaching the girls' dormitory, I sank into the shadow and emerged directly in Le Ri's room.
The girl was sitting on her bed with eyes as red as a Colossal Rat's. Seeing me, she jumped up and hugged me.
"I thought they killed you. I'm sorry, my father made me make that call. They told me I'm forbidden from dating you. They even forbade me from talking to you!"
"And what did you choose?"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot disobey my family."
"I understand. Goodbye."
Turning around, I decided to add, "You know? I don't think you've realized you're a magician yet. You know it, but you don't understand it. Goodbye, Le Ri!"
It hurt. It hurt like hell. But as you grow up, you learn to let people go. How many friends have I stopped talking to? Almost all of them, and it wasn't because of fights; they just faded away over time. Communication and interests dwindled, and some moved to other cities. I had plenty of girlfriends in my youth, too; I learned how to part ways. The only thing that broke me was the loss of a family—the family I always dreamed of after losing mine as a child. A home where you're loved just because you are you, where there's always support and help. A place you always want to return to.
And then it hit me! I realized what I want from life! I will create what I've almost always been deprived of! And I will reach my goal!