Chapter 11: The Shadows Break the Rules, Cultivation Soars [Requesting Monthly Votes]

Late at night, deep within the woods.

Yang Dai sat on the ground. He had just taken a brief moment to return to reality, memorizing the first layer of cultivation methods from the “True Sutra of Freedom and Miraculous Methods,” and imparted them to Liu Junjie and Ying Ji.

The first layer required the cultivation of three distinct spells. Shi Long, Tian Buzhong, and the others had already cultivated their own techniques; starting anew would affect their current combat strength.

Yang Dai waited patiently, while Liu Junjie and Ying Ji repeatedly recalled the cultivation methods he had just explained.

Tian Buzhong, Zhang Xian, and Zhou Liang guarded the perimeter, along with several other shadow followers, forming a tight circle around Yang Dai and leaving no openings for a sneak attack.

Shi Long, Cheng Hungry Ghost, and Bai Wei headed off in different directions to scout the area, and had been gone for an hour.

Yang Dai needed to ensure there was no danger within a hundred miles before beginning his cultivation, lest sudden peril disrupt him and cause a backlash of spiritual energy, leading to internal demonic deviation.

“Aren’t you a prince? Why haven’t you cultivated before?” Liu Junjie asked Ying Ji, curiosity in his gaze.

Ying Ji answered helplessly, “I wanted to, but my father feared that too many immortal cultivators among the princes would threaten the crown prince’s status, so he told me to study instead, so I could assist the crown prince in the future.”

Liu Junjie patted his shoulder sympathetically, saying no more.

After a while, Shi Long, Cheng Hungry Ghost, and Bai Wei returned one after another, reporting no signs of humans or monsters—the area was safe.

“Let’s begin cultivating. The rest of you keep watch and don’t let your guard down,” Yang Dai instructed, then started cultivating the first layer of the “True Sutra of Freedom and Miraculous Methods.” Liu Junjie and Ying Ji followed suit.

Following the methods from memory, the three began breathing exercises, attempting to draw in spiritual energy from heaven and earth, refine a trace of spiritual power, and then form spell seals.

Breathing techniques varied depending on the method, and the rhythm was key. The so-called breathing exercise was simply controlling the breath—the number and rhythm of inhalations and exhalations mattered greatly, and the intake must be guided into the abdomen.

The spiritual energy on Earth was too sparse, making it difficult for humans to cultivate on their own. The same breathing technique in the Deep Domain would be a hundred times more effective.

With the same method and environment, the speed at which one first refined spiritual power revealed their aptitude.

Originally, Yang Dai had wanted to find a place rich in spiritual energy and devoid of people, but according to Tian Buzhong and the others, such places were called “blessed lands.” These generally hosted powerful cultivators, and finding an unclaimed blessed land was nearly impossible. Yang Dai could only settle for a random mountain wilderness.

After the time of a stick of incense, Ying Ji refined a trace of spiritual power, elated beyond measure.

The shadow followers truly could continue cultivating!

Yang Dai felt both envy and delight. If the Lord of Ten Thousand Realms’ shadow followers developed well, their upper limit might rival an SSS-level talent!

That Solar God’s SSS-level talent was powerful early on, instantly strong and remaining so until the end, shining like the sun.

The Lord of Ten Thousand Realms didn’t directly enhance its master at first; Yang Dai would need to nurture it slowly.

Liu Junjie, feeling the pressure, focused even harder.

Ten minutes later, Liu Junjie refined spiritual power, ecstatic, though he failed to notice the gloom on Yang Dai’s face.

“Damn, could my cultivation talent be terrible? Did I awaken the summoner talent because I’m utterly lacking?” Yang Dai’s heart sank.

Luckily, five minutes later, he too refined spiritual power.

It was acceptable—his aptitude wasn’t much worse than Liu Junjie’s.

As long as he wasn’t useless, Yang Dai was satisfied.

Having refined spiritual power, the three officially entered the path of cultivation.

They still needed to strengthen their spiritual power before forming spell seals.

When they could use spiritual power in combat, it would signify entry into the first layer of Qi Gathering.

[Congratulations! Trial participant ‘Descendant of the Dragon’ from the Xia Nation district has acquired an A-level talent.]

A prompt floated before Yang Dai’s eyes. Besides the periodic entry of high school seniors into the Deep Domain, adults also entered for the first time from time to time.

Yang Dai asked Liu Junjie if he’d seen the prompt just now.

None of the seven shadow followers had seen it, meaning they had truly shed their trial status.

Throughout the night, Yang Dai and his two companions cultivated. He had other shadow followers take turns cultivating as well, with someone always on guard.

At dawn, Yang Dai exited the Deep Domain. He picked up his tablet to memorize the cultivation methods for the “True Heart Thunder Sutra.” He found his memory had improved dramatically—not quite photographic, but after two readings, he had it committed.

Yang Dai smiled with satisfaction.

Just then, the phone assigned to him by the Intelligence Bureau rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.

He answered and heard a familiar voice.

“Little Dai, how’s life at the Intelligence Bureau?”

It was his mother. Because Yang Dai had left in a hurry, he hadn’t brought his own phone, and the Intelligence Bureau had provided him with a new one, thoughtfully passing his contact info to his parents.

Yang Dai and his mother chatted about family matters, with his mother doing most of the talking. The Bureau had delivered on their promises in just four days; today, his family was moving.

As he listened, Yang Dai noticed something odd.

Who were Xiao Chao and Xiao Yan?

Wasn’t he an only child?

In his previous life, Yang Dai’s father was a fan of the Three Kingdoms, naming him Dai after Ma Chao. He’d had an older brother, Yang Chao, but Yang Chao had died in utero.

Yang Dai didn’t dare ask who Xiao Chao and Xiao Yan were. This parallel world was indeed quite different.

As the conversation went on, Yang Dai discovered that Yang Chao and Yang Yan were his younger siblings, both in elementary school.

After finishing his call with his mother, he went online to investigate.

Ten years ago, the apocalypse erupted. Plants and animals grew wildly, nearly collapsing human civilization. But with advanced technology, humanity stabilized the situation within a year—no matter how ferocious the monsters, they couldn’t withstand modern weaponry. Yet, good times didn’t last. Ghosts began appearing, immune to hot weapons, and though their numbers were low, they drove humanity to despair.

In the three years following the apocalypse, the human population plummeted. Only the arrival of the Deep Domain and the emergence of many cultivators helped stabilize the death rate. For the sake of humanity, governments encouraged childbirth, offering various benefits. Unlike the original world, Yang Dai’s parents had a second and third child in this context.

After researching, Yang Dai was deeply moved.

Having younger siblings wasn’t bad.

Still, he felt no urge to return home. His priority was to grow stronger.

News of cities attacked by monsters and spirits appeared daily, showing that reality remained dangerous. He needed to become powerful quickly to protect his family.

If he became strong enough, perhaps he could even defend his country!

The Intelligence Bureau cultivated him so carefully because of his tremendous talent and potential. Sooner or later, he’d have to justify the resources invested in him, and he didn’t object.

Who wouldn’t want to be a hero?

Yang Dai did, of course—provided he had the strength!

After resting a few hours, Yang Dai returned to the Deep Domain and taught the “True Heart Thunder Sutra” to the six trial shadow followers. By the end of the day, all six had refined spiritual power.

For the next month, Yang Dai stayed in the deserted mountains, cultivating the “True Sutra of Freedom and Miraculous Methods” like a hermit.

He, Liu Junjie, and Ying Ji finally mastered the first layer, each wielding spell seals and officially becoming first-layer Qi Gathering cultivators.

Just as Yang Dai expected, the shadow followers were one with him. When they mastered spell seals, it was as if he did, and the three seals combined could unleash frightening destructive power.

Thanks to the “True Sutra of Freedom and Miraculous Methods,” Tian Buzhong said Yang Dai’s spiritual power was already comparable to someone at the second layer of Qi Gathering. The Bureau’s top-tier cultivation method was indeed formidable.

Yang Dai also discovered something that thrilled him: the shadow followers’ cultivation increased his spiritual power. Though each added only a little, together, fourteen shadow followers’ month of cultivation equaled half a month’s progress for him.

His ambitions soared.

He wanted more shadow followers—the more, the better!

With enough shadow followers, his cultivation speed would rocket!

One day, just as Yang Dai was about to enter the Deep Domain, Hu Li sought him out.

He patted Yang Dai’s shoulder and smiled, “Little Yang, the death rate among new trial participants this year is too high. The Deep Domain Headquarters is organizing a tournament for new trial participants. Anyone with less than a year’s experience can join. It’s meant to showcase the benefits of the Deep Domain to the public. You’ve got to participate—your SS-level talent will certainly inspire hope in many!”