Chapter 29: The Shadow’s Challenge

“Why are you here?”

The shadow clung to Feng Ling, its red eyes filled with disbelief.

“Instinct. Do you believe in that?”

Mo Ya spoke, his hands gathering magic.

The black ouroboros, like a hunter awakening, slithered eerily across his arm. Dark mist enveloped him, swirling with an ominous presence. If one looked closely, the black mist was clearly the shape of a giant snake!

It was like a larger version of the ouroboros on his arm. Vague black mist coiled around Mo Ya, and the shadow felt terror as it sensed an unknown magic. It felt as if it were being watched by serpentine eyes.

But it didn’t matter. As long as it possessed half of the girl, this man wouldn’t act.

No, even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. The shadow secretly rejoiced. No one knew that its true form was hidden within the girl’s heart. It had perfectly fused with her, and as long as she lived, it would never die. Forever!

But the girl didn’t think this way. She looked at Mo Ya, suddenly appearing before her, her eyes shimmering with conflicting emotions.

She should have been alone, her last struggle a futile plea. She never imagined Mo Ya would come.

Yet, here he was, standing before her.

“Sister, I’m not entirely against it.”

Mo Ya placed his hand on the side of his neck, flexing his already agile head. He stared at the shadow, which seemed unsettled, as if it were being hunted, becoming the prey.

This was unacceptable. Only it could hunt others.

Mo Ya had challenged the shadow’s pride, and the dark form detached from Feng Ling, falling to the ground like maggots, writhing oddly.

Then, these seemingly sluggish maggots transformed in an instant, elongating their bodies to strike at Mo Ya.

“Idiot, get out of the way!”

Feng Ling, restricted in her movements, could only warn Mo Ya. But he remained still.

The reason was simple: Mo Ya was a king.

A king could not flee.

Dark matter lunged at Mo Ya, and the ouroboros grew more agitated, its usually black scales now emitting an eerie red glow.

For it was time to feed.

“Devour to your heart’s content.”

Mo Ya didn’t move, but the dark mist intensified at his command. When the shadow’s dark matter struck the mist, it vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Simultaneously, the shadow lost connection with its fragment. Its spirit, embedded in the dark matter, was consumed, and the spiritual backlash left it dizzy. It sensed danger.

This couldn’t continue. Though it couldn’t fully absorb Feng Ling’s spirit, staying outside was too risky. It decided to seal her consciousness, delaying the torment for a moment.

Thinking this, the shadow accelerated its invasion. Black matter entered Feng Ling’s small mouth, and she felt suffocated, her consciousness fading rapidly.

She mustered all her strength to lower her head, looking at Mo Ya, engulfed in black mist.

Her last sight was of Mo Ya’s twisted, icy expression, and his eyes, which had turned into golden snake eyes.

Feng Ling sank into a sea of unconsciousness, her eyes vacant, drool trickling from her mouth. Mo Ya stood silently.

But all this happened in mere moments. Feng Ling’s eyes refocused, her gaze different from before. Gone was the loneliness and strength; now, there was a playful, teasing light.

Feng Ling mimicked Mo Ya, twisting her neck and patting her small hands across her body, finally resting them on her chest.

“Tch…”

Her first words upon regaining consciousness, she seemed dissatisfied with her chest.

And rightfully so, for Feng Ling was only a nine-year-old loli.

Feng Ling stood still, smoothing her disheveled hair from bending down, her tear-streaked eyes blinking as she looked at Mo Ya.

“Who knew you’d really come to save me, brother~” She flashed a playful smile, her voice sweet and innocent. “Feng Ling has been hoping you’d come and play with me~ Hey, won’t you come play with me?”

Seeing Feng Ling’s act of coquetry, Mo Ya couldn’t help but smile wickedly.

“Sure, but the price is your life.”

“My life? Do you mean you’re going to kill both me and this girl?” The shadow controlling Feng Ling revealed itself, emerging from behind her. It grinned smugly at Mo Ya.

“We’re already one and the same, or do you…” The shadow quickly retreated back into her body, and Feng Ling moved again, gracefully spinning in place before facing Mo Ya.

“Brother, you won’t kill me, will you?”

Mo Ya didn’t speak, his golden snake eyes filled with coldness. He seemed ready to do just that.

Feng Ling’s playful expression vanished, replaced by anxiety.

She flailed her small arms, her emotions escalating.

“Are you crazy? You don’t plan to save this body?”

The black mist gradually dissipated from Mo Ya, returning to the mark on his arm, but his golden snake eyes remained cold. In a flash, he appeared before Feng Ling.

“Why… I can’t move…”

Feng Ling, held by Mo Ya’s gaze, lost her ability to act, and the shadow began to panic. But this was just the beginning of the nightmare.

Through Feng Ling’s eyes, the shadow saw that the man before it was changing. White scales emerged on his face, covering his features.

The shadow sensed the devouring power.

“This can’t be… you… are you the Devourer?”

“You know, I can erase the spirits of any creature.”