Abyss Plane.
The Seventy-Sixth Floor.
In the scorched earth, eleven shadows slowly rose from the ground, their bodies shrouded in darkness, unable to reflect even light.
"The chaotic aura filled with the smoke of gunpowder, how interesting."
Jiang Xiu's blood-red eyes swept across the boundless wilderness, and he sighed slightly, while the other ten shadows surrounded Jiang Xiu like loyal soldiers.
"So that's how it is. With the breakthrough of my main body, the shackles of the Shadow King have also been broken."
After silently sensing for a while, Jiang Xiu's eyes flashed with surprise, and he murmured to himself.
After breaking through to level ten, the Shadow King's powers were further unlocked.
He could now not only extract the shadows of ordinary dead, but also choose one shadow to become a legion commander.
The shadow who becomes the legion commander retains all their memories and strength from their previous life, and can continue to improve themselves through their shadow soldiers, helping Jiang Xiu command the mindless shadow legion.
The legion commander will remain 100% loyal to Jiang Xiu, taking him as their supreme command.
"And the choice of legion commander… I feel that the ant queen's king still retains his charm."
Jiang Xiu's choice of legion commander was naturally crucial.
To gradually control the entire Abyss, he first needed to deal with the ant queen's clan, and then use them as a springboard to conquer other Abyss races.
Therefore, the ant queen would inevitably clash with him sooner or later.
"The task is arduous and the road is long. I must improve my strength as soon as possible."
Jiang Xiu stroked Hei Yi's head, his gaze deep.
The Abyss plane has 108 layers, with a significant leap in strength every 36 layers.
In the last thirty-six levels, the king of each abyss species possesses strength comparable to a human Soul Master Title Douluo.
In the middle thirty-six levels, the king of each abyss species possesses strength comparable to a human Soul Master Super Douluo.
And in the first thirty-six levels, the emperor of each abyss species possesses strength comparable to a human Soul Master Limit Douluo demigod.
The few emperors at the very top have even stepped into the god-level in a certain field, such as the Spirit Emperor's spiritual power and the Fiery Emperor's own divine power.
And now, on the seventy-sixth level where Jiang Xiu resides, the Ant Emperor, the king of the Ant Emperor clan, possesses the strength of a Title Douluo.
"Come on, let the battle begin!"
This time, with abundant spiritual power, Jiang Xiu is determined to kill him to his heart's content, expanding the manpower of his Shadow Army.
"Squeak squeak squeak!"
Upon receiving their king's command, ten Abyss Shadow Ants instantly sprang into action, their scarlet eyes gleaming with ferocity.
They charged side-by-side at a slightly larger Abyss ant, their massive bite force comparable to that of a hyena-type Soul Beast.
Hei Yi even attacked from behind, repeatedly reaching back to snatch them. Jiang Xiu
followed behind, continuously extracting the shadows of the dead Abyss Ants, adding them to his glorious shadow army.
As time passed, the shadow army behind Jiang Xiu grew larger and larger.
By the time he had extracted the seventy-sixth ant, Jiang Xiu was already able to completely hunt down Abyss Ants comparable to those of Great Soul Masters.
As the shadow of this Abyss Ant appeared, a dark, ghostly light entered Jiang Xiu's body, and the strength of this shadow suddenly increased slightly.
"Is this a feedback loop?"
Jiang Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had thought of something, and then suddenly realized.
The shadows he extracted before were too weak; they burned out during the conversion process alone, let alone being able to replenish him.
But now, after killing this abyss ant comparable to a Great Soul Master, there was naturally extra energy to replenish him.
"Since this shadow can now level up on its own, I'll make it as strong as possible."
Jiang Xiu pondered for a moment and finalized his plan.
This shadow originally belonged to him, but it was lost in this abyss plane.
The Shadow Monarch Martial Soul acted as a medium, transmitting his consciousness to this shadow.
Perhaps one day, when the abyss plane attacks, this shadow will re-integrate into his main body, and this energy will naturally return to his main body.
The current accumulation is all preparation for the future.
"Perhaps the path to salvation that will lead to breaking through to the God level in the future lies within this..."
Jiang Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, he once again led his shadow army forward, even activating his Monarch Domain to enhance the combat power of these shadow soldiers and provide cover.
In an instant, chaos erupted in the area where Jiang Xiu was located, with roars and sounds of fighting mingling together.
But this small area was insignificant compared to the vast 76th level of the abyss.
Time passed slowly, and as Jiang Xiu's mental energy was about to be exhausted, the fighting gradually came to a halt.
Even so, Jiang Xiu's Shadow Legion had expanded to 150, and Jiang Xiu's shadow strength was about to reach the Great Soul Master level.
"Thanks to nature's gift."
Feeling his strength increase, Jiang Xiu sighed softly. There was nothing more satisfying than leveling up.
Just then, a dark purple abyss ant, as strong as a calf and with a mouthful of fangs, charged straight towards Jiang Xiu and his group, even taking the time to eat one of its own kind along the way.
There were five golden marks on the surface of this abyss ant.
"Take cover! Retreat!"
Jiang Xiu sensed the aura emanating from it, which was already comparable to a Soul King, and gave the order without hesitation.
Although his Shadow Legion wouldn't die, it would weaken with each death.
He had personally trained each soldier; how could he sacrifice them needlessly?
Moreover, the disparity in strength between the two sides was too great, and his mental energy was about to be exhausted.
A strategic retreat was the best course of action.
"Wait until next time I come, I'll kill you."
After giving it a deep look, Jiang Xiu led the Shadow Legion to sink completely underground.
The abyss ant, watching the Shadow Legion disappear before it, stamped its feet in frustration.
Lacking much intelligence, it soon went elsewhere to continue eating its own kind.
"It's about time; it's time to go back and rest."
After covering the Shadow Legion with his Monarch Domain, Jiang Xiu sighed softly and prepared to return to his main body.
After all, he needed to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform tomorrow to increase the age of his soul rings, and he had also figured out that the time flow here was the same as in the Douluo Continent.
"I estimate I'll encounter Leng Yaozhu's disciple, Na'er, at the Spirit Ascension Platform tomorrow,"
Jiang Xiu mused. He believed that Leng Yaozhu's decision to keep him in the Spirit Transmission Tower today was definitely not just about spirit ascension.
As Jiang Xiu's consciousness returned, the entire Monarch's Domain fell into silence.
At this moment, above the heads of the 150 Shadow Soldiers, a strand of transparent thread, no bigger than a hair, appeared and surged towards Jiang Xiu.
Finally, on the back of Jiang Xiu's right hand, a mark of an ant king roaring towards the sky appeared, almost imperceptible, yet undeniably real.
Immediately, the entire Monarch's Domain was plunged into eternal night once more…
(End of Chapter)