Chapter 9: The Prince [Third Update]

Yang Dai chatted with the four newly acquired shadow followers, asking them to introduce themselves while he recovered his physical strength. He soon realized his strength had doubled, far surpassing what it had been before. This was the ability of a Sovereign of the Myriad Realms: with each shadow follower absorbed, he gained a corresponding increase in power, the magnitude of which seemed to be linked to the follower’s own strength.

These four death row convicts were all solitary cultivators in the Deep Domain, going by the names Tian Buzhong, Zhang Xian, Zhou Liang, and Bai Wei. Tian Buzhong was the leader, his cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Gathering, adept at wielding a battle axe and proficient in three spells. The other three each had their own combat specialties.

Yang Dai was quite satisfied; with the addition of these four, the timing was perfect—three days had passed, and soon he could return to Wailing Ghost Ridge. If the opportunity arose, perhaps he could even hunt down Cheng the Hungry Ghost.

Shi Long, with only first level Qi Gathering, had managed to drive off Cheng the Hungry Ghost; disregarding the special nature of shadow followers, Cheng’s strength likely did not exceed the second level of Qi Gathering.

Yang Dai stored the four new shadow followers in his soul space, then gazed at the Deep Domain sigil on his palm and chose to re-enter the Deep Domain.

The world spun wildly again, but with his newly transformed physique, Yang Dai felt no discomfort. Upon landing, he opened his eyes and immediately summoned his twelve shadow followers: Shi Long, Liu Junjie’s group of seven, and the four new ones led by Tian Buzhong.

They all stared at each other in stunned silence.

Yang Dai took a moment to survey his surroundings. Indeed, it was the same place where he had previously exited the Deep Domain, only now it was daylight. Yet the sky remained dim, as though a heavy rain was imminent.

He gave his orders: “Tian Buzhong, you and your brothers burrow underground and follow us. Wait for my command.”

“Yes!” Tian Buzhong, Zhang Xian, Zhou Liang, and Bai Wei replied in unison before vanishing into the earth.

Yang Dai turned to Shi Long. “Lead the way. Three days have passed; we can now leave Wailing Ghost Ridge.”

Shi Long took a deep breath to steady his nerves and nodded in agreement, starting forward. The presence of Tian Buzhong’s group pressed heavily on him; he knew their cultivation far surpassed his own. When shadow followers were in the soul space, their consciousness froze as if in slumber, so Shi Long had no idea what had transpired—or how Yang Dai suddenly had four powerful new followers.

But in any case, it was a good thing; Yang Dai’s safety no longer depended on Shi Long alone.

As they journeyed onward, Liu Junjie asked Yang Dai about the mortality rate among this batch of trial-takers. Of the seven, only Liu Junjie had the courage to speak with him.

Yang Dai did not hide the truth and answered honestly.

Liu Junjie sighed with relief. “Good, at least the death rate hasn’t gone up.” Though he himself was dead, he still worried for his family, hoping life in the real world would go smoothly for them.

“Master, I suggest you make a thorough exploration of Wailing Ghost Ridge,” Liu Junjie advised earnestly. “From what I’ve gathered, the more dangerous the landing site for a trial-taker, the greater the opportunities. Those who land in towns may be safer, but they rarely make a name for themselves.”

Yang Dai’s face twitched as he recalled his first encounter with Liu Junjie—this fellow had been eager to break out, rallying his companions with wild enthusiasm, and then promptly met his end.

Shi Long added, “There are indeed great opportunities in Wailing Ghost Ridge. That’s why the major sects send their disciples here for trials. It’s said a tomb of a great cultivator at the Spirit Illuminating level has been unearthed here.”

Through the secret net, Yang Dai had learned about the cultivation realms: Qi Gathering, Heart Rotation, Spirit Illuminating, Void, and Soul Refinement. At present, the most powerful trial-taker on Earth had only reached Spirit Illuminating—the level of a national pillar.

The Deep Domain had only descended upon Earth ten years ago, and Xia Nation had only conscripted high school seniors to enter the Deep Domain for three years. The greatest trial-taker on Earth wasn’t in Xia, but in Europe—a monster with SSS-level talent, known as the Sun God. From the moment he awakened, he was incredibly powerful, rumored to absorb the sun’s energy, making him immortal as long as the sun endured. In Europe, he was truly worshipped as a deity.

When Yang Dai read about this figure online, he was deeply shaken. There’s always someone stronger, he mused; even among the blessed, there are those more blessed.

Yet in terms of sheer numbers of Spirit Illuminating experts, Xia Nation still led.

Yang Dai mused, “I’ll explore later. For now, let’s leave Wailing Ghost Ridge and find a place to cultivate. I have five cultivation methods and want you all to train with me. If we keep gathering shadow followers, imagine—if I collect ten thousand Qi Gathering cultivators, exploring Wailing Ghost Ridge would be a breeze.”

Shi Long swallowed hard. “Ten thousand Qi Gathering cultivators would be the strength of a major sect.”

Liu Junjie and the six other trial-taker followers looked at Yang Dai in stunned disbelief.

“What level is your talent, exactly?” Liu Junjie asked warily.

“SS,” Yang Dai replied calmly.

A collective gasp swept through the group.

Shi Long, however, was mystified. “Ess-ess? What’s that?”

Yang Dai smirked inwardly—Liu Junjie wouldn’t dare encourage reckless actions from now on.

Along the way, they didn’t encounter a single living soul—only corpses, their spirits wrenched away, their deaths horrifying. After more than three hours of travel, Shi Long finally led them to an exit on the edge of Wailing Ghost Ridge.

The terrain here was gentle, with dense fog ahead, as if the world itself had been cut off. There was one gap in the fog, leading into a forest.

Yang Dai breathed a sigh of relief—they were almost out. The only regret was not encountering Cheng the Hungry Ghost.

Protected by his shadow followers, Yang Dai entered the forest.

The woods were lush and entirely unlike those within Wailing Ghost Ridge. The trees here stood tall and straight, flowers and grass flourished, and a faint mist drifted through the forest, giving it an ethereal, mysterious air.

They hadn’t gone far when Yang Dai spotted a figure ahead, slumped against a large tree, apparently resting.

Shi Long drew his blade and took the lead.

Yang Dai halted, letting Shi Long investigate while the other seven shadow followers waited anxiously—they, like Yang Dai, were newcomers to the Deep Domain.

Shi Long’s voice floated back: “Master, this man is unconscious and has no cultivation. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Hearing this, Yang Dai led his group over.

The man was young, frail, and strikingly handsome, with a scholarly appearance. His lips were parched and peeling, his breath weak.

One of the female shadow followers asked cautiously, “Should we help him?”

Yang Dai replied serenely, “We’re strangers passing by. Why would we save him? Let him join your company instead.”

The girl fell silent.

Shi Long nodded in agreement. “There are no mortal settlements near Wailing Ghost Ridge. This man is likely disguised as a scholar, but with no cultivation and the audacity to come here, it’s best not to meddle. We don’t want to get drawn into trouble.”

After all, he was already dead—he’d rather Yang Dai not save anyone else, but let them end up like himself.

At that moment, the scholar’s eyelids fluttered. He struggled to open his eyes, feebly raising his right hand. “Help… help me…”

Yang Dai said nothing.

The seven shadow followers gazed at him impassively, their expressions even tinged with anticipation.

Seeing the green light emanating from their bodies, the scholar thought himself at death’s door, hallucinating. He stammered, “Please… save me… I am… a prince… I will surely reward you…”

A prince?

All the more reason not to intervene—getting caught in royal intrigue would spell disaster.

For other trial-takers, saving a prince might earn them status within the Grand Xia Dynasty. But Yang Dai had fought hard to be reborn, to turn his life around; why invite trouble now?

He would not play the saint before he was strong.

The Intelligence Bureau had cultivated him to help humanity in the real world, not to meddle in the affairs of Deep Domain’s otherworlders.