https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-255-The-City-of-the-Shadow-Realm-the-Black-Market-of-Shadow-Beings/12850414/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-257-Bombing-Fish-with-This-Thing-It-s-the-Way-to-Go-/12850419/
Chapter 256: Imperial Death Shadow · Dark Armor King
Chapter 256: Imperial Death Shadow · Dark Armor King
"Your Majesty, Dark Armor King," Qin Mu Ye said, looking at the Imperial Death Shadow before him, the strongest among the death shadows.
The figure appeared round and plump, seemingly the shadow of a whale that had ultimately transformed into a death shadow.
He was actually quite surprised to be able to meet the Imperial Death Shadow. He had originally thought it would involve a lengthy process, but after reporting, he was allowed to meet within about five minutes.
"Why have you come to see me?" The other party did not beat around the bush but asked directly.
There was no such thing as visiting without a purpose. Given that they were not related and not close, it was impossible for him to come just to chat and drink tea.
"I would like to ask about the Ancient Shadow Beasts. Where can I find these terrifying beings?" Since the other party was being straightforward, Qin Mu Ye did not hold back and asked directly.
This question surprised the Imperial Death Shadow. He had not expected the other party to ask such a question, but he quickly became serious and said, "This is not a piece of information to be taken lightly. After all, the Ancient Shadow Beasts are incredibly powerful. Even I and your Chief of the Shadow Administration, Tian Peng, do not have a surefire chance against them."
The Imperial Death Shadow was a 5th-stage existence, not a 6th-stage, so his power was limited.
The Ancient Shadow Beasts seemed to be just one step away from becoming 6th-stage. Coupled with their size, multiple innate abilities, and skills, they were extremely difficult to defeat.
However, the Shadow Beasts were still beasts, far inferior to humans and death shadows, thus maintaining a precarious balance.
"I just want to see them," Qin Mu Ye pretended not to understand, playing dumb.
"Currently, there are records of twenty-one Ancient Shadow Beasts. If you are not afraid of death, I can give you this information," the Imperial Death Shadow said, seemingly lost in thought, and actually handed it over to Qin Mu Ye.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, Dark Armor King. I will take it," Qin Mu Ye said with a smile.
Soon, a map was brought by a death shadow, centered on Dark Shadow City, with twenty-one points marked on it.
These twenty-one points represented the twenty-one Ancient Shadow Beasts.
Qin Mu Ye glanced at it, then put it away and stood up. "I will take my leave first. When I return, I will come to thank Your Majesty, Dark Armor King."
With that, he left the palace on his own.
"Why did you give the map to this human, Your Majesty?" a death shadow beside him asked in a low voice after Qin Mu Ye left.
The Imperial Death Shadow waited until Qin Mu Ye's figure had completely disappeared before he let out a sigh of relief.
"This human is very strong, even stronger than Tian Peng. If we were to fight, I would not last long before being killed," the Imperial Death Shadow said gravely.
This made the death shadow beside him pause. "But he has not even fully awakened his shadow."
"I don't know," the Imperial Death Shadow replied, truly puzzled.
Hearing this, the death shadow did not ask further. It was impossible for the Imperial Death Shadow to have mistaken his perception; everyone knew how strong the Imperial Death Shadow was.
"Who would have thought that such a powerful existence would appear in the human world. I wonder if Tian Peng can sit still. Hmph," the Imperial Death Shadow sneered. He had no intention of reporting this, knowing that even if he did, the other side might not believe him.
As a death shadow, he was not like a Shadow Wielder who needed to load shadow equipment to form real combat power.
More importantly, this human was extremely well-disguised, not revealing the slightest issue. If not for his own strength, he would have seen this person as just another Shadow Wielder who had not fully awakened his shadow.
"Humans have deep roots. It seems even Yin Shan Jun has been unearthed recently. I thought he had been destroyed long ago, but it turns out he still exists."
The Imperial Death Shadow grew increasingly wary, grateful that he had no desire to rule the human world.
He had not even fully unified the Shadow Realm, so how could he have ambitions for the human world? Ambition, if it were to grow, would need time. The Imperial Death Shadow knew he was not invincible. Besides Qin Mu Ye, the Chief of the Shadow Administration, Tian Peng, could match him.
And the Ancient Shadow Beasts in the Shadow Realm were also extremely powerful. In a one-on-one fight, he could indeed kill an Ancient Shadow Beast, but it would not be worth it.
If he were to kill an Ancient Shadow Beast, he would also sustain serious injuries. If other Ancient Shadow Beasts were to attack at that moment or if Tian Peng were to lead the Shadow Administration to intervene, he would be unable to handle the situation.
He served as a deterrent, just like Tian Peng. If it came to a fight to the death, it would be no different from a full-scale war.
"Your Majesty, the Yin Shan Jun is not to be trifled with; otherwise, it would not have been sealed away. The Yin Shan Army's lineage would not have been severed back then," the death shadow said.
"However, you saw the power of the Yin Shan Jun. Just one Shadow Wielder can unleash a force comparable to mine," the Imperial Death Shadow remarked, then continued, "But this is also a good thing. The current Shadow Administration is not the Yin Shan Army of old."
"The current noble families and politicians have turned the once pure Yin Shan Army into a massive arena of interests and political struggles. Compared to the old Yin Shan Army, it is a world of difference. They will probably fight each other to the death just to gain control over the Yin Shan Jun."
The Imperial Death Shadow held the Shadow Administration in utter disdain.
Back when the Yin Shan Army's lineage was unbroken, someone like Tian Peng would not have been the leader but merely an elder. Now, the Yin Shan Army has declined.
At its peak, the Yin Shan Army had the Shadow Realm gasping for breath. After those people died, they became the Shadow Realm's foundation. He had ascended to the position of Imperial Death Shadow by hunting these newly born yet powerful death shadows.
The Imperial Death Shadow was also very envious of the Yin Shan Jun. Unfortunately, while Shadow Wielders could use it, death shadows could not.
He knew that the Yin Shan Jun was the most powerful and core part of the Yin Shan Army's lineage. If the lineage had not been severed, there would not be just one Yin Shan Jun now.
The decline of the Yin Shan Army was due to the loss of the Yin Shan Jun.
No ruler would want a force beyond their control, especially one that could easily overthrow their rule.
Thus, through generations of effort, the Yin Shan Jun was sealed, and the Yin Shan Army was reformed into a structure controlled by politicians and noble families. This not only drastically reduced its power but also diminished its efficiency.
Although it was far from the old Yin Shan Army, it met the upper echelons' criteria for stability.
As for the consequences, that was a matter for the future. After all, they valued interests and power more than long-term stability.
In the eyes of the noble families, no matter who was in power, their children would always have a place.
In the eyes of the politicians, it was no longer their concern once they stepped down.
Other branches might be better, but as the central headquarters, most of the Shadow Administration was composed of noble family members. Shadow Wielders without a background, like Qin Mu Ye, would either be relegated to a cold bench or be unable to join, no matter how great their achievements.
There have been attempts at reform, but the noble families and ambitious individuals were deeply entrenched. A complete overhaul of the Shadow Administration from top to bottom would be required; otherwise, it would be like cutting grass that grows back with the spring breeze.
"By the way, has the latest batch of supplies arrived?" the Imperial Death Shadow suddenly asked.
"The elder responsible for the supply channel, Lei Yuan, was attacked and killed. The new elder in charge, Huang Li, demands a price renegotiation, or the supply will be cut off," the death shadow replied.
The Imperial Death Shadow sneered, "Ha, they want to raise the price? Tell Huang Li that either Tian Peng comes to negotiate, or he sticks to the original price. He's not qualified to make demands."
In the Imperial Death Shadow's eyes, these people were truly reckless, daring to make demands without the necessary strength. Did they really think that because they played political games, everyone would follow their rules?
Here, they must follow his rules, not the other way around.
"Understood, I will inform Huang Li. In the meantime, we will withhold their batch of resources," the death shadow said.
The Shadow Administration's continuous supply of resources could not solely rely on excavating ruins; it also came from trade with their archenemies, the death shadows. Otherwise, how could they have so many resources?
However, due to public opinion, this arrangement was kept hidden from the majority of Shadow Wielders. After all, the current Shadow Administration was not like the old Yin Shan Army, which could simply storm the enemy's stronghold to get what it wanted.
(End of Chapter)
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