Chapter 32: Shadows in the Immortal World
The silver coins in Asher's pouch clinked together as he strolled through the streets, humming to himself.
Money—secured.
Enemies—made.
And now, it was time for cultivation.
He needed techniques. Not just any techniques, but something that would allow him to rise fast. Strength was everything in this world. Without it, he was just another insect waiting to be crushed.
But first…
He glanced down at his own shadow.
There it was, flickering beneath him under the midday sun. Silent. Dormant. Waiting.
His real power.
The Summoning Shadow.
In his past life, Asher Damien had rewritten the rules of existence. Even without his former strength, something remained—a remnant of his true self. And it was just waiting to wake up.
But there was a problem.
It was too weak.
Without cultivation, his connection to the shadow's power was fragile. He could feel it, but it was distant, like a sleeping beast barely opening its eyes.
Fine.
He just had to feed it.
And the only way to do that?
Cultivation and battle.
The first stop was a martial arts shop.
A shabby building wedged between two larger stalls, selling techniques to the desperate and talentless. Exactly the kind of place Asher needed.
The moment he stepped inside, a greasy-looking merchant greeted him with a fake smile.
"Welcome, young master! Are you here to purchase a legendary technique to—"
"Lowest price, highest efficiency," Asher cut him off.
The merchant blinked. "…Ah."
The smile faded. He turned, rummaging through a dusty shelf, and pulled out three scrolls.
"These are all low-tier mortal techniques. Useless to geniuses, but for someone like you—"
"I'll take them," Asher said, dropping a few silver coins on the counter.
The merchant frowned. "You don't even want to read them first?"
"Nope."
He grabbed the scrolls and walked out before the man could say another word.
It wasn't about the techniques themselves. It was about understanding this world's structure.
Once he learned how they worked, he wouldn't need to buy techniques anymore.
He would create his own.
That night, Asher sat cross-legged in an abandoned courtyard. He spread the scrolls before him, the moonlight barely enough to illuminate the old parchment.
Steel Fist Manual – A technique that reinforced the body's strength by circulating Qi through the muscles.
Silent Steps – A movement technique that made footsteps undetectable.
Shadow Veil – A stealth technique that blurred the user's presence in darkness.
Asher smirked. Now we're talking.
He rolled up his sleeves, placed his hands on the ground, and closed his eyes.
Then, he began.
The first technique, Steel Fist, was primitive. It used Qi to strengthen the knuckles, improving durability and striking power.
Asher focused. Qi surged.
His body heated up. The energy coiled through his veins, sinking into his arms, his bones, his muscles.
Then—pain.
His fingers trembled as heat burned through them. His body was too weak.
A normal person would take months to adapt.
Asher?
He embraced the pain.
He pushed further, letting the technique reshape him. His skin hardened, his bones adjusted, his knuckles became weapons.
Crack.
His hands clenched into fists. His body had already changed.
"Good."
Next—Silent Steps.
Qi flowed to his legs, lightening his movement, making his steps feather-light. He stood, took a slow step forward—
Nothing.
No sound.
Perfect.
Finally—Shadow Veil.
Asher inhaled. This one was different. This wasn't just Qi control. It was about melding into darkness.
He closed his eyes, letting the shadows around him whisper. They were waiting. They were watching.
Then—he disappeared.
For a brief moment, his entire body faded.
Not gone. Not invisible. But unnoticed.
Asher's smirk widened.
It worked.
And then, in the silence of the night—the shadows trembled.
A whisper. A flicker beneath his feet.
His Summoning Shadow had reacted.
Time for a test.
Asher stretched his fingers, feeling the new strength in his limbs. His Qi still wasn't powerful, but it was there, coiled inside him like a resting beast.
And he knew exactly where to test it.
The Black Fang Gang.
A group of thugs that controlled the slums, extorting the weak and preying on mortals.
The same bastards that had tried to rob him yesterday.
They had a small hideout near the river. Ten men. One leader. All Qi Gathering cultivators.
To the old Asher? Child's play.
To the new Asher? A perfect challenge.
The Black Fang hideout was a rundown shack, barely standing. Lanterns flickered dimly inside. The sound of men laughing echoed through the night.
Asher stepped forward. His Silent Steps technique activated.
No sound.
No presence.
He melted into the darkness.
Inside, the gang members were drinking, gambling, talking about some poor merchant they had just robbed.
Asher's eyes locked onto the leader—a burly man with a scar across his face. The strongest in the room.
A plan formed.
He didn't need fair fights.
He needed wins.
The first move was simple.
He picked up a chair—and slammed it into the closest man's head.
CRACK!
The thug collapsed instantly.
The room froze.
"…The hell?"
Then, chaos.
Men jumped to their feet, weapons drawn.
Asher lunged.
The closest man swung a knife—too slow.
Asher dodged effortlessly, grabbed his wrist, and broke it.
SNAP!
The thug howled.
Another came at him—this one faster. A low-level Qi Gathering cultivator.
Asher sidestepped, planted his foot against the man's knee—and kicked.
The leg bent the wrong way.
Two down.
The gang leader growled, grabbing a massive battle axe. "You little shit—"
Asher vanished.
Shadow Veil activated.
The leader's eyes widened. "Where—?"
Asher appeared behind him.
A single punch—powered by Steel Fist slammed into the leader's ribs.
CRACK!
The man flew through the wall.
The remaining gang members froze.
Their leader—a Qi Gathering expert—was done in one hit.
Asher straightened, dusting himself off. "Alright, listen up."
Silence.
"I'll make this simple." He cracked his knuckles. "This slum? Mine now."
The men trembled.
"And if any of you have a problem with that…"
The shadows beneath him twisted unnaturally.
"…You can take it up with them."
The shadows laughed.