Secrets of the Withered Shadow

Some time after fainting.

A throbbing pain settled deep into Lu Chen's bones, as if his entire body had been wrung dry. His limbs felt heavy, his Qi depleted, and his mind foggy with exhaustion.

His eyes flew open, greeted by the familiar sight of rough stone walls and the faint glow of moonlight filtering into his hidden cave.

He was alive, he had escaped the Silent Willow Courtyard.

Lu Chen felt a true sense of progress.

...

Lu Chen sat down and took out some pills from his spatial ring to his recovery.

As he recovered, he noticed that the barrier to his cultivation seemed to have loosened.

It hadn't been long since he reached the 4th layer of Qi Condensation, yet he was already able to impact the barrier to the 5th layer.

During this process, he realized that this seemed to be thanks to the simulator.

Every time he simulated the future, exhaustion weighed on his body, mind, and soul. It appeared that he hadn't fully recovered since the last time he used it, and now that he was recovering again, this process was helping to loosen the barriers to his cultivation.

Without wasting any more time, he took out some pills that help with cultivation and began trying to impact the 5th layer.

...

Qi Condensation 5th layer. His wounds would heal, and he became stonger.

And more importantly… Her fingers traced around the black silk scroll, still pressed against his chest.

He hadn't just survived and breakthrough the 5th layer.

'The Forbidden Scroll - Path of the Withered Shadow'

Lu Chen carefully opened the black silk binding, revealing the aged parchment beneath. The faint scent of ink and dust filled the air, an ancient aura seemed to be excluded from the scroll… something older.

His fingers traced the faded calligraphy.

"The Path of the Withered Shadow, A Technique for Those Who Seek to Walk Between Life and Death."

The words alone told how dominant the technique was.

The more he read, the more he realized… This wasn't just a martial technique, It was a cultivation method.

Lu Chen focused, allowing his Qi sense to slowly draw out the scroll's deeper meanings.

The technique described a unique form of cultivation, one that relied on the concept of "Wither."

Instead of using Qi like a normal cultivator, it allowed one to consume vitality, draining the life force of the world itself.

Three key aspects stood out.

Decay Qi, Lifeless Body, and Shadow Step.

Decay Qi converts ordinary spiritual Qi into a corrosive energy that weakens an opponent's defenses over time.

Lifeless Body temporarily suppresses one's life presence, making detection nearly impossible.

Shadow Step is a movement technique that allows the user to blink between shadows, vanishing from sight for a fraction of a second.

Lu Chen was shocked and dumbfounded as the knowledge deepened. 

This was not something any sect would ever allow, it was no wonder that the scroll had been kept hidden and out of the public's knowledge.

No wonder an elder had been sneaking into that chamber, this technique was powerful, Capable of subverting the power balance. 

But it came at a cost.

Instead of simply absorbing Qi from the heavens, it required an exchange. A cultivator who practiced the Path of the Withered Shadow had to sacrifice something in return.

Some gave up years of their lifespan for temporary bursts of power, others offered their emotions, slowly becoming detached from the mortal world.

And in extreme cases… Some feed on the life force of other human beings.

This was a demonic technique in everything but the name.

Lu Chen closed his eyes, his mind running through the possible risks and benefits.

He was just a mid-qi condensation cultivator, his foundation was still weak. A technique like this, one that involved withering one's own essence could have horrible consequences.

But at the same time… Could he afford not to cultivate it?

He has just arrived in this world and has no support, his cultivation level is still too weak to protect himself.

His enemies, Zhao Feng, Gu Tianying, and the mysterious intruder in black robes, all had advantages over him.

Strength. Influence. Resources.

If he played by the moral's rules, he would always be several steps behind or even end up being killed.

Despite everything that happens, he knows very well that he has only survived until now due to a combination of factors such as the system itself, luck and the underestimation of his opponents.

he can't always count on it

His hands tightened around the scroll as he came to a decision.

He would not fully commit to the Path of the Withered Shadow, but he would test its abilities, adapting them into his way.

If used wisely, it could become a hidden trump card, one that would allow him to fight above his current level.

Lu Chen will walk this path carefully…

With steely determination, he memorized the technique's core principles before carefully sealing the scroll back in his spatial ring.

Just as he finished, a shift in the air indicated the presence of someone else in the cave.

Someone was approaching.

Although initially tense, Lu Chen soon relaxed as he recognized the visitor's presence, it wasn't an assassin.

A voice echoed from the entrance.

"Lu Chen. I hope you're awake."

Gu Tianying, the core disciple, had returned.

Lu Chen forced himself to calm his expression before stepping forward.

When he emerged from the cave, Gu Tianying was standing there with his usual relaxed posture, arms crossed, a faint smirk on his lips.

But his eyes as sharp and calculating as even, studied Lu Chen with renewed interest.

"You did well," Gu Tianying said, his tone amused. "Escaping from the inner sect without being caught? Impressive."

Lu Chen did not react, he knew better than to assume that this was just a casual visit.

Gu Tianying wasn't the type to waste time.

He asked the most important question.

"Did you discover what I wanted?"

Lu Chen chose his next words carefully.

"I found the restricted chamber," he said slowly. "There was something hidden inside… a scroll, locked away in a protective case."

Gu Tianying nodded. "Go on."

"I was about to take it. But I wasn't the only one there." At that, Gu Tianying's expression shifted.

"Oh?"

Lu Chen measured his words. He couldn't reveal everything.

"A masked intruder entered the chamber after I did. They were stronger than me, Foundation Establishment at least."

Gu Tianying's smile disappeared.

For the first time since Lu Chen had met him, the core disciple's expression darkened.

"A third party…"

Lu Chen carefully observed his reaction.

Whatever Gu Tianying was after, it was connected to this scroll, and now that Lu Chen had confirmed someone else was after it, Gu Tianying's interest had been piqued even further.

After a moment of silence, the core disciple let out a soft laugh.

"Interesting. Things just got more complicated, didn't they?"

Lu Chen said nothing.

Gu Tianying turned to him, his gaze piercing.

"You take the scroll?"

Lu Chen nodded. "Yes."

"Good."

Gu Tianying smiled again, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

"Then I believe we have more to discuss."

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