Elder Xu remained silent for a moment, then sighed again, this time with a trace of understanding.
"Very well. But don't take unnecessary risks. Come back alive."Elder Xu said.
"Thank you, Elder Xu. I will come back alive"Xiao Wei bowed deeply and said.
With that, Xiao Wei turned and walked out of the hall.
Without wasting a moment, Xiao Wei quietly left the Xiao Clan grounds, as he made his way toward the Tiger Mountain.
In the outer area of the Tiger Mountain
"Arise"Xiao Wei raised his hand and whispered calmly,
In response, two swirling masses of black mist rose from the shadow beneath his feet. The mist twisted and took shape, forming into the familiar figures of his Shadow Bear and Shadow Bird. The bear stood tall and powerful, its dark fur rippling with hidden flame-like patterns, while the bird hovered lightly beside it.
"Go, find any monster nearby and report back."Xiao Wei order the Shadow Bird, pointing toward the deeper parts of the forest.
Chirp! Chirp!
The bird let out a soft, high-pitched chirping sound, as if acknowledging the command. It flapped its shadowy wings and swiftly rose into the air, disappearing above the tree line in seconds.
After a few minutes of quiet waiting, Xiao Wei heard the familiar sound of wings cutting through the air. He looked up just in time to see the Shadow Bird returning, gliding swiftly between the trees before landing gracefully on his shoulder.
Without wasting a second, the bird tugged at his clothes with its beak, hopping slightly in place as if urging him to follow.
"You found something?"Xiao Wei asked, narrowing his eyes.
Chirp! Chirp!
The bird gave a sharp nod and let out soft chirps in response—quick and excited. That was all the confirmation he needed.
"Lead the way"Xiao Wei said.
The Shadow Bird immediately took flight, gliding low through the trees to guide him. Xiao Wei and Shadow Bear followed closely, his steps light and controlled, using Water Flow Steps to move swiftly and silently across the forest floor.
After a few minutes of moving deeper into the forest, the bird slowed down and landed silently on a branch up ahead. It tilted its head toward a small clearing just beyond a thick cluster of bushes.
Xiao Wei crouched low and peered through the foliage.
There, not far from him, was a large Fire Bear, it was currently unaware of Xiao Wei's presence, focused on chewing a patch of Spirit Plant's.
"A Tier 1 Level 6 Fire Bear… perfect for training"Xiao Wei whispered, his eyes gleaming with focus as he crouched behind the brush. The creature before him was powerful, maybe beyond his current strength—an ideal opponent to sharpen his combat skills.
He turned his head slightly toward the Shadow Bear and Shadow Bird.
"I'm going to fight it. You two stay hidden and watch the area. If any other beasts approach, warn me immediately."Xiao Wei said in a low but commanding voice.
The bird gave a soft chirp of acknowledgment, and the bear lowered its head slightly—both signaling their understanding.
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Xiao Wei stepped out of cover. He moved slowly, carefully, his feet gliding soundlessly over the forest floor using the Water Flow Steps technique. Like a stream flowing around stones, he maneuvered through the trees with grace, closing the distance between himself and the bear without alerting it.
When he reached the perfect range, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Xiao Wei used the Water Flow Steps and dashed forward instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the final gap between him and the Fire Bear. As the Fire Bear began to sense the disturbance, it lifted its head—but it was already too late.
Xiao Wei alredy used the Tiger Claw technique.
His hand slashed through the air, fingers curled like claws, glowing faintly with Spiritual Energy. He struck directly at the bear's head with the precision of a trained warrior, aiming to stagger or disorient it with a powerful first blow.
Xiao Wei's Tiger Claw strike landed cleanly on the Fire Bear's head with a loud, sickening crack. The force of the blow sent the massive beast crashing to the ground, its enormous body thudding heavily against the earth, scattering dirt and leaves in every direction.
A dark line of blood began to seep from the wound on its forehead, staining its fur and dripping slowly onto the forest floor. For a moment, everything was silent except for the sound of rustling leaves and Xiao Wei's steady breathing.
But the silence didn't last long.
With a low, guttural growl, the Fire Bear began to stir. Its powerful limbs pushed against the ground as it slowly rose, shaking its head in pain and fury. The injury clearly enraged it—its glowing red eyes now locked onto Xiao Wei with burning hostility.
Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed in surprise as It got back up even after a direct hit to the head.
The bear's massive frame trembled slightly with anger, and its thick claws dug into the dirt.
Xiao Wei did not panic, keeping his stance light and ready.
"As I thought… my Tiger Claw still isn't strong enough to finish something like this in a single strike"Xiao Wei muttered under his breath, watching the Fire Bear closely.
Despite the surprise, his expression didn't show fear. Instead, a flicker of excitement lit up in his eyes.
"Attack the bear!"Xiao Wei commanded sharply, knowing full well that in a one-on-one battle, he might not stand a chance against the raging Fire Bear.
At his words, the Shadow Bear—lurking silently nearby—launched forward with incredible speed, its black body moving like a black streak across the forest floor.
Because the Fire Bear was fully focused on Xiao Wei, it could not react to the Shadow Bear attack and was slammed into its side with full force. The surprise tackle sent the beast crashing violently into a thick nearby tree. The trunk cracked from the impact, leaves and bark exploding into the air as the Fire Bear let out a deep, stunned roar.
Seizing the perfect opportunity, Xiao Wei didn't hesitate.
His figure blurred as he once again activated Water Flow Steps, closing the distance in an instant. With a sharp breath and focused energy, he raised his clawed hand glowing with Spiritual Energy and used the Tiger Claw technique, putting all his strength into the strike.
With precision and power, he struck the same spot on the Fire Bear's forehead, where his earlier attack had left a bleeding wound. The force of the second blow caused the bear's head to jerk violently before ripping apart, and blood sprayed through the air, dark and thick.
The combined assault of man and shadow beast had caught the Fire Bear completely off-guard.
Xiao Wei landed back with light steps, his breath a little heavier, as he knew the Fire Bear is dead.
"Finally, killed it"Xiao Wei muttered as he walk towards its corpse.
Standing over the still, lifeless body of the Fire Bear, Xiao Wei exhaled slowly and extended his hand over the corpse.
"Arise"Xiao Wei commanded, his voice steady and firm.
The Fire Bear's corpse trembled slightly, then convulsed as tendrils of darkness wrapped around it. The mist thickened, swirling faster and faster until it completely engulfed the body.
Moments later, another Shadow Bear had joined Xiao Wei's growing army.
After that, Xiao Wei kneel beside the Fire Bear original body, and take out its Monster Core.
He carefully stored the Monster Core inside his Storage Ring, followed by the remains of the bear's body.
After everything was settled, Xiao Wei made his way back to the familiar cave he had been living in for the past month.
After he entered the cave, Xiao Wei start preparing to roast a piece of the First Bear's meat he had saved earlier. The aroma of roasting meat soon filled the small space.
Outside, his Shadow Soldiers stood silently at the entrance, their forms still and alert, acting as faithful sentinels to guard him from any unexpected threats.
As he sat by the fire, chewing slowly, Xiao Wei stared into the flames, deep in thought.
"This time… my shadows helped me kill the Fire Bear. But this isn't my past world… Here, I can't reveal my shadow abilities to others. I need to grow stronger… strong enough to defeat beasts like that on my own, without relying on my Shadow Soldiers. Only then will I truly be prepared for the battles to come."Xiao Wei murmured quietly to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
With determination burning in his eyes, Xiao Wei leaned back slightly, letting the warmth of the fire soothe his tired body. But deep in his heart, he had already made his next goal clear—to master his techniques, gain real combat experience, and rely on his own strength.
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[Author's Note – The Levels of monsters correspond to their Cultivation Realm Layers. For example, Level 1 means the monster is at the 1st Layer of its realm, Level 2 indicates the 2nd Layer, and so on... Level 10 represents the peak, or 10th Layer, of that particular realm.]