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Chapter 3: Lord of Shadows
On the Awakening Stage, Nangong Ya remained the center of attention, her brilliance dazzling the entire hall.
Principal Wang, smiling with satisfaction, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. As the head of Changqing No. 1 Middle School, he knew how valuable such talent was and had no intention of being stingy.
"Nangong Ya, congratulations on awakening an S-rank martial soul," he announced warmly. "As the principal, I have always rewarded those with outstanding potential. So, I've prepared a special gift for you."
Nangong Ya instinctively took a step back, wary of the way he was looking at her—as if she were some rare treasure. Still, the mention of a reward piqued her curiosity.
"Principal, what kind of reward?" she asked hesitantly.
With a dramatic flourish, three items suddenly appeared in Principal Wang's hands.
"As the principal, I only offer the best," he said, though a brief flash of pain crossed his face.
He presented the items one by one:
1. Soft Armor – Crafted from the hide of a second-tier exotic beast, it was exceptionally tough and capable of withstanding a martial artist's attacks.
2. Soul-Fixing Pill – A first-tier elixir, perfect for stabilizing one's martial soul after awakening.
3. Ice Spirit Sword – A second-tier treasured sword, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud.
"Well? Do you like them?" Principal Wang asked proudly, clearly enjoying the envious gazes from the audience.
Xu Hong, among others, stared at the treasures with unrestrained greed. Even the teachers couldn't hide their admiration.
"Thank you, Principal. I like them very much," Nangong Ya said calmly, accepting the gifts.
However, as she looked at the so-called "treasures" in her hands, a strange expression flickered across her face. To others, these were priceless items, but to her? They were barely worth a glance.
She already wore third-tier armor, had a third-tier long whip wrapped around her waist like a belt, and possessed an abundance of second-tier elixirs at home.
She didn't actually need these rewards.
But if she didn't need them, someone else did.
Her gaze shifted to Yang Xie. Unlike her, he had no resources at all. These gifts would be far more valuable in his hands.
At that moment, Yang Xie was simply happy for Nangong Ya. These rewards would help her grow stronger and stay safe—which, in turn, meant he could continue relying on her.
Wait, no! He shook his head furiously.
What kind of cheap thoughts am I having? Living off my partner? That's disgraceful!
After handing over the rewards, Principal Wang addressed the students:
"Anyone who awakens an A-rank or higher martial soul will receive a similar reward. I hope the next awakening students work hard and earn their own gifts."
With that, he returned to his seat on the podium.
The ceremony resumed.
"Nangong Ya, you may step down," the presiding teacher said respectfully.
Not wanting to remain a spectacle any longer, Nangong Ya gracefully left the stage, protected by her Qingluan, and swiftly made her way to Yang Xie's side.
Then, the teacher's next words rang out:
"The Awakening Ceremony continues. Yang Xie, it's your turn."
Yang Xie sighed internally. This whole process felt like a performance, a public exhibition. But since it was his turn, he had no choice but to step up.
Before heading to the stage, he discreetly swallowed the pill Nangong Ya had given him. He turned to her with a smile, and she raised her delicate fist in encouragement.
"Go for it, Yang Xie! I believe in you. You will awaken for sure!"
With a deep breath, Yang Xie stepped forward.
Facing the Awakening Stone—a pillar that would determine his fate—he placed his hands on its surface.
Warm energy coursed through his arms, flowing into his body like a gentle current. It was as if the stone was scanning him, seeking something hidden within.
And then, something stirred.
The pill's power surged within him, amplifying the process. A force erupted inside his body, rushing upward, and then—
"Buzz!"
A strange sensation overtook him.
His vision darkened.
Suddenly, he was somewhere else.
A vast, endless void stretched before him, devoid of light, devoid of sound. Pure, absolute darkness.
Confused, Yang Xie hesitated. Was this part of the awakening process?
Blind and directionless, he wandered aimlessly.
Time became meaningless.
From frustration to acceptance, from impatience to calm, he adapted. He forgot why he was here.
Gradually, the darkness no longer felt oppressive. Instead, it became familiar, merging with him. He no longer needed light.
Then, just as he had fully embraced the shadows—
A single spark of light ignited.
It illuminated only him, while the rest of the world remained shrouded in darkness.
And in that moment, he understood.
Darkness was no longer something he feared. It was something he commanded.
—
When Yang Xie opened his eyes again, the noise of the crowd rushed back to his ears.
"Yang Xie, awakening successful. Martial Soul: Shadow Warrior, Grade D."
The teacher's voice carried a note of uncertainty. Something about this awakening felt different. But he couldn't quite pinpoint why.
Then came the reactions from the crowd.
"What?! A slum rat like Yang Xie actually awakened a martial soul?"
"And it's D-rank? Damn, this is unfair!"
Xu Hong's voice was unmistakable, his tone laced with disdain.
Yang Xie, however, barely heard him.
His mind was flooded with information.
God-Level Talent: Lord of Shadows
Talent 1: Shadow Legion – As long as darkness exists, he can summon an unlimited army of shadow soldiers. Their strength scales with his talent.
Talent 2: Shadow Eater – He and his soldiers can devour shadows, absorbing their power.
Talent 3: Shadow Master – In the presence of darkness, he is immortal.
Yang Xie's heart pounded.
Did… did the Awakening Stone only recognize one of his soldiers and label it as his talent?
Or was this god-level ability so far beyond comprehension that the stone simply failed to detect it?
A grin spread across his face. It didn't matter.
If the world thought he was weak, let them.
He would keep his power hidden.
For now.
—
"Yang Xie, congratulations on awakening your martial soul. You may step down," the teacher reminded him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Yang Xie dismissed his shadow soldier with a thought and stepped off the stage, his body humming with newfound strength.
He returned to Nangong Ya's side.
"Yaya, did anything strange happen during your awakening?" he asked casually.
"No, I just woke up normally," she replied, tilting her head. "Why? Did something happen to you?"
Yang Xie chuckled.
"Not really. It just felt… like I spent a long time up there."
Brushing off the subject, he grinned at her.
"But congratulations, S-rank talent! Looks like I'll have to rely on you now. As a mere D-rank novice, I'll be living off your success!"
Nangong Ya's face turned pink.
For some reason, she hesitated before murmuring softly:
"…Okay."
Her voice was barely audible.
And yet, it sent a strange warmth through Yang Xie's chest.
He wasn't sure why.
But he had a feeling that, from this moment forward, his life was about to change forever.
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