stjorthotic Chapter 10 Lord of the Underworld! Making his subordinates do the work!
Chapter 10 Lord of the Underworld! Making his subordinates do the work!
Mingfei counted them.
Seventeen hundred-year-old soul beasts, one eight-hundred-year-old Netherworld Wolf, and one thousand-year-old Ghost Tiger.
Although their numbers are small, they are already a force to be reckoned with.
Especially the Ghost Tiger, which was one of the best among the thousand-year-old soul beasts in life. After it died and became a spirit, its strength not only did not decrease, but was slightly enhanced by the blessing of the underworld.
It is faster, its claws are sharper, and it has gained an ability it didn't have in its previous life: to become invisible in the gray fog.
This is a privilege granted to the dead by the underworld.
In this gray space, gray fog is everywhere.
For the undead marked with the mark of the underworld, the gray fog is their ally.
They can completely conceal themselves in the gray fog, making it difficult even for Mingfei to pinpoint their location using his mental power.
Then there were the three humans.
Mingfei found them.
The man on night watch, a three-ring defensive Soul Master wielding a shield, stood atop a mound, gazing at the distant gray fog.
His body had completely transformed into an undead form, his skin was an unhealthy grayish-white, but his features were clear, his expression was natural, and there was no sign of stiffness or blankness.
He was even frowning, as if he was thinking about something.
Seeing Mingfei approach, he jumped down from the mound, knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and lowered his head.
His movements were fluid and natural, no different from those of a normal person.
This is another characteristic of the spirits of the underworld: their flexibility.
They are not the kind of zombies or skeletons that only obey orders; they retain their memories, intelligence, combat experience, and personality traits from their previous lives.
This night watchman was an experienced hunter and warrior in life, and he remained so in death.
He will still think about tactics, assess the situation, and make the best choices in battle.
The only difference is that his loyalty no longer belongs to himself.
"Get up," Mingfei said.
The man stood up, his hands at his sides, his gaze respectful but not humble.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't make a sound.
Mingfei knew what he wanted to ask.
Who are you? Where is this? Why am I here?
But the answers to these questions will be slowly "instilled" into his spirits by the underworld in the days to come.
Without the need for the Netherworld to explain, the Underworld will automatically inject this information into their consciousness little by little, allowing them to gradually understand their new identity and new mission.
The other man, the second-ring agility-type Soul Master wielding a short sword, was further away.
He was squatting on the ground, drawing something on the scorched earth with his finger.
As Ming Fei approached, he raised his head, gave a slightly apologetic smile, then stood up and knelt on one knee in a salute.
His movements were more casual than the night watchman's, but also more fluid.
Mingfei noticed that his fingers were drawing a simple map on the scorched earth.
The topographic map of the northeastern part of Sunset Forest marks several streams, several mountain walls, and an area he did not have time to explore during his lifetime.
The memory is very well preserved.
Mingfei's opinion of the Underworld rose another point.
Finally, there was that woman.
She sat on a protruding rock, her legs together and her hands on her knees, her posture elegant and dignified.
The spot on her right shoulder where the ghost tiger had scratched her had completely healed; her undead body had no wounds, only a smooth, grayish-white skin.
Her sword lay horizontally on her knees, its blade reflecting a hazy, gray light.
Seeing Ming Fei approach, she did not kneel down, but slowly stood up and nodded slightly.
Her gaze was calm and profound, as if she had already accepted some unchangeable fate.
Mingfei didn't take her attitude to heart.
This woman's personality was different from those two men's; she was more proud and more clear-headed.
Whether one kneels or not, loyalty remains; the form is not important.
"I need a spirit ring," Mingfei said bluntly.
"Over 5,000 years old, with preference given to dark, yin, and demonic attributes. Plants or animals are both acceptable."
The woman looked at him without speaking, but her eyes brightened slightly—a sign of understanding and response.
Mingfei continued, "You were very familiar with Sunset Forest in your previous lives. I want you to enter the forest and secretly search for soul beasts that meet these conditions."
"Once you find it, don't disturb it. Just come back and tell me its location."
The woman nodded and spoke her first question: "How long?"
Her voice was lower than when she was alive, with an ethereal quality unique to the dead, as if it came from a very far place, but her pronunciation was clear and her tone was natural.
"The sooner the better," Mingfei said.
"But don't take any risks. You are my men now, and I don't need you to go and die."
The woman's lips twitched slightly, not in a smile, but more like an expression of agreement.
She turned and walked towards the two men, whispering a few words to them.
The man on night watch nodded, and the man from the second ring jumped up from the ground, dusted himself off, and grinned.
The three undead forms gradually became transparent in the gray mist, and then disappeared completely.
They have left the underworld and entered the Sunset Forest.
Mingfei could sense their presence, not through specific sight or hearing, but through a more direct perception, like three hearts beating deep within his consciousness.
Their direction of movement, speed, and state were all clearly visible within his perception range.
This is what it feels like to be the Lord of the Underworld.
He doesn't need to do everything himself; his subordinates will do it for him.
All he needs to do is sit here, wait for the results, and use this time to do something more meaningful: cultivate himself.
Mingfei sat cross-legged on the rock where the woman had sat, placed the Hades Sword across his lap, and closed his eyes.
The Hades Sword does not require meditation or cultivation; this was known from the very first day of its awakening.
However, "not needing meditation" does not mean "cannot practice".
For the Hades Sword, meditation is not a means to enhance soul power, but rather a more refined way of control.
Through meditation, he can perceive the flow of power within the Hades Sword more deeply, adjust the output of his soul power more precisely, and digest the feedback he gains from killing more efficiently.
He has another goal.
Soul Ring.
He had already absorbed Ghost Tiger's thousand-year soul ring, and the first Netherworld rune on the Netherworld Sword lit up with a faint light.
However, the potential of spirit rings has not been fully explored.
First Soul Skill: "Nether Tiger Assassination Technique"
It is a complete assassination system, including various abilities such as stealth, speed boost, critical hits, and surprise attacks.
However, the power and effectiveness of these abilities depend on his understanding and proficiency with the Soul Skills.
In other words, he needs to constantly hone this soul skill in actual combat in order to truly unleash the full value of the millennium soul ring.
But there is no opportunity for actual combat now.
He needs to wait.
He waited for his subordinates to find prey for the second spirit ring, for him to make preparations, and for the right opportunity.
.....