Chapter 14: The First Shadow (Part 2)

Zhang Yan's Demon Seed pulsed, a low, insistent throb that echoed in his chest. He focused on the shadow, drawing it toward him with his intent. At first, it resisted, as if clinging to the corpse out of some primal instinct. But Zhang Yan was relentless. His will was a blade, sharp and unyielding, and he carved through the resistance with ease.

The shadow began to unravel, tendrils of darkness seeping into his hand. It was cold, colder than anything he had ever felt, but there was a strange vitality to it, a raw, untamed energy that made his Demon Seed tremble with hunger. He guided the shadow into himself, feeling it merge with his own qi, his own essence. The process was slow, almost delicate, but with each passing moment, he could feel himself growing stronger.

When the last tendril of shadow was absorbed, Zhang Yan exhaled sharply, his breath misting in the cool night air. He opened his eyes and looked down at the corpse. It was just a body now, empty and lifeless, its shadow gone. But within Zhang Yan, something had changed. His qi felt denser, more potent, and his Demon Seed pulsed with a quiet satisfaction.

A slow smile spread across his face. It had worked. The Devouring Nine Shadows technique was as potent as the manual had promised. But this was only the beginning. One shadow was a drop in the ocean compared to what he needed to reach the Blood Assimilation Layer. He would need more—many more.

Zhang Yan rose to his feet, his movements fluid and unhurried. The forest seemed darker now, the shadows deeper and more inviting. He could feel the corrupted qi swirling around him, drawn to his presence like iron to a magnet. The hunger within him had grown, but it was a controlled hunger, a predator's hunger. He would feed, but on his own terms.

As he walked deeper into the forest, the moon cast his shadow long and sharp against the ground. It moved with him, a silent companion, but Zhang Yan knew it was more than that. It was his second life, his connection to the darkness. And with each step, he could feel it growing stronger.

The night was far from over, and neither was his hunt.