Chapter 14: The First Shadow (Part 1)

The forest outside Zhang Yan's hut was a labyrinth of gnarled trees and tangled undergrowth, their silhouettes stark against the pale light of the moon. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures echoed through the darkness. Zhang Yan moved silently, his footsteps barely disturbing the fallen leaves beneath him. His senses were heightened, every sound and scent sharp and vivid, as if the forest itself were alive and watching.

He had left his hut with a single purpose: to test the Devouring Nine Shadows technique. The manual had spoken of devouring the shadows of the fallen, but to do that, he needed a fallen foe. And in this part of the forest, where the weak often fell prey to the strong, finding one wouldn't be difficult.

It didn't take long for him to find what he was looking for.

The scent of blood hit him first—a metallic tang that cut through the damp forest air. Zhang Yan's steps quickened, his pulse steady but his Demon Seed stirring with anticipation. He followed the trail, his eyes scanning the shadows until he found the source: a man, or what was left of him, sprawled at the base of a tree. His chest was torn open, and his lifeless eyes stared blankly at the canopy above. A beast, perhaps, or another cultivator. It didn't matter. What mattered was the faint, fading aura of qi that still clung to the corpse.

Zhang Yan crouched beside the body, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating light. This was his first test. The manual had described the process in detail, but theory was one thing; practice was another. He placed a hand on the corpse's chest, feeling the chill of death beneath his fingertips, and closed his eyes.

The Devouring Nine Shadows technique required more than just physical contact. It demanded focus, intent, and a willingness to embrace the darkness. Zhang Yan steadied his breathing, letting his awareness sink into the corpse. He could feel the remnants of the man's qi, faint and scattered, like embers dying in the wind. But there was something else, too—a shadow, not of the body, but of the man's essence. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there.