Chapter 44: Shadows of Death, Power of Life
The dark, twisting paths of Shadow Valley grew more treacherous the further Shiv (Yang Kai) and Yang Kang ventured. The valley seemed to warp around them, the shadows crawling and writhing as if they had a life of their own. The mist was thick and unnatural, obscuring their vision and distorting sound. Shiv remained cautious, his instincts screaming at him that something was wrong.
He knew Yang Kang would betray him eventually. His half-brother had always been a manipulator, and Shiv had no doubt that he was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As they approached a narrow ravine, Shiv's senses flared. The energy here was different—dark, cold, and unsettling. Something was watching them.
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A Sudden Attack
Without warning, a shadowy figure darted out of the mist with inhuman speed. Shiv barely had time to react as a sharp, invisible force sliced through the air, aiming directly for him. He managed to dodge most of the attack, but a powerful strike caught him across the chest, sending him tumbling to the ground.
His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to regain his footing. His chest burned with searing pain. When he looked down, blood was already soaking through his robes, staining the ground beneath him. The wound was deep and unnatural, like it had been inflicted by something far beyond mortal strength.
Yang Kang, seeing the opportunity, took a step back. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched his brother fall, though his expression quickly turned wary. "It wasn't me," he muttered, his gaze shifting to the shadows around them.
The shadowy assailant melted back into the mist before either of them could react further, leaving behind an ominous silence. Shiv struggled to get up, his mind racing with questions. The attack hadn't come from Yang Kang—that much was clear. But what, or who, had done this?
There was no time to ponder it. The pain in his chest was growing worse by the second, and he could feel his strength draining rapidly. It was as though the wound wasn't just physical—it was sapping his life force, slowly draining the very essence of his being.
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The Awakening of Power
As his vision blurred, Shiv felt something deep within him stir—something ancient and powerful. His Eternal Life ability, a gift he had carried since his reincarnation, had always been there, quietly extending his lifespan, but now it reacted to the threat of death in a way it hadn't before.
A surge of energy coursed through his body, rushing to the wound as if to heal it. But it wasn't enough. His Eternal Life ability was trying to fight back against the damage, but the wound was too severe. He needed more—more power, more energy.
Suddenly, the world around him slowed, and an unfamiliar sensation crept into his mind. It was as if he could feel the life force of everything around him—the trees, the plants, even the faint energy of Yang Kang standing nearby.
And then it happened.
His body, out of pure instinct, began to draw in the life force of the nearest living things. The energy around him surged toward him, flooding into his wound and his core. The life of the forest—the trees, the mist, and the small creatures hidden within—was being absorbed, sacrificed to heal his injury.
But it wasn't just healing. Shiv could feel his cultivation rising with every heartbeat. The True Element Boundary that had once felt so solid beneath his feet now seemed fluid, as if he could break through to the next stage at any moment. His wound began to close, the pain subsiding as the power flowed through him.
But with that power came something else—a hunger. A deep, primal need for more.
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A Dangerous Side Effect
As Shiv stood, his strength returning faster than he could comprehend, a strange heat filled his body. The healing had done more than just recover his lost vitality—it had awakened something else within him. A powerful desire, one that clawed at the edges of his mind, distracting him with thoughts he couldn't control.
His breath quickened, and his heart pounded as a fierce longing took hold of him. It wasn't just the power he craved—it was something far more primal. A desire for women. His senses seemed to heighten, and every sensation was magnified.
He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of lust that threatened to consume him. This is a side effect of my new ability... The realization hit him like a blow. His Eternal Life ability had granted him the power to absorb life force and recover from injuries, but it came with a cost—a deep, unquenchable hunger for more life force, and for women who carried powerful energy.
The shadows around him flickered, and for a brief moment, he wondered if this newfound power was a blessing or a curse.
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A New Path to Power
Yang Kang watched in stunned silence as Shiv rose to his feet, his wound completely healed, and his aura stronger than before. He had seen the life force of the forest drain into his brother, but he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"Impossible…" Yang Kang muttered, taking a step back. "What… what did you just do?"
Shiv ignored him. His mind was still focused on the new ability he had awakened. This power—the ability to absorb life force—was a dangerous gift. But it also opened new possibilities for him, especially in the Inheritance War. With this power, he could enhance his cultivation rapidly, drawing on the life force of others to push himself beyond his limits.
But the hunger… the desire for women… would he be able to control it? Would it lead him down a path of ruin?
For now, the answer didn't matter. What mattered was survival.
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Shiv's Resolve
The shadowy threat that had injured Shiv remained a mystery, but he had gained something valuable from the encounter. His body still hummed with power, his senses heightened in ways they hadn't been before. He could feel the pull of the life force around him, a constant temptation to absorb more, to grow stronger.
He glanced at Yang Kang, who was still watching him warily. This alliance, if it could be called that, was hanging by a thread. Yang Kang had witnessed his power, and that made him a threat. But Shiv wasn't ready to eliminate him just yet. There were more trials to come, and for now, he would keep Yang Kang close.
"Let's move," Shiv said coldly, turning toward the next path through the valley.
Yang Kang, shaken but not defeated, nodded and followed.
As they moved deeper into Shadow Valley, Shiv knew one thing for certain: this new power—this ability to absorb life force—would be the key to unlocking his full potential. No matter what the cost, he would use it to push his cultivation higher, to survive the Inheritance War, and to claim the Yang Family's legacy.
But deep down, the hunger remained, gnawing at him. The desire for power, for women, and for more.
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The Mysterious Threat
Unbeknownst to Shiv, the force that had attacked him was no ordinary enemy. Hidden deep within Shadow Valley was an ancient, malevolent entity—one that had been slumbering for centuries, waiting for the right moment to awaken. The entity had sensed Shiv's presence, drawn to the power of his Eternal Life ability.
It had reached out through the shadows, testing him with a deadly attack, but now it lay in wait, watching, biding its time. The truth behind the attack would remain hidden for now, but when the moment came, it would reveal itself in a way Shiv could never have anticipated.