Douluo Dalu Within A Martial World

"Bing Xian!".

The voice of the [Immortal Midnight Crane] entered Bing Xian's ears, and the almost limitless power generated from Bing Xian's body completely disappeared.

He fell to his knees immediately.

Without the support of the golden power generating from his Dantian, Bing Xian's body collapsed under its own weight. His Spiritual Power was almost completely exhausted and his body felt tired and itchy.

"Senior Crane?".

"Yes?", the silly bird responded.

"Wha.... what just happened?", he asked, still trying to collect his breath.

"I'll explain that".

The shadowed figure that Bing Xian saw earlier came out of the corner of the room.

It wasn't a human shaped figure, was Bing Xian's first initial thought.

Tall, taller than any normal human should be. A formless body, completely crafted out of shadows with cuneiform lettering covering its torso. It possessed no legs, but just a swirling pool of shadows that kept its body levitating mid air.

It had a pair of completely white eyes and no mouth or nose or any other facial feature for that matter. It's arms were huge, and were the defining feature of its huge 10 meter tall body.

"Hello. My name is Xiao An. I must say, I did not believe that a child, a human child at that matter would ever pass my test.... but it seems there are many changes in the world since my sentence began....".

The silly crane flew over to Bing Xian and sat comfortably on his head. It's intangible body unaffected by the grime beneath him.

Bing Xian raised an eyebrow and shot the bird a glance.

"Test? I apologize for not understanding....".

The silly bird whistled and looked the other way.

"Well you see-".

Xiao An stepped or levitated forward and cut in.

"It was my test. You are the first human to come here in several hundred years. My inheritance must be passed on and my days are numbered....".

The giant shadow Spirit Beast sighed remorsefully and looked at Bing Xian.

"I'm over 900,000 thousand years old. I retained an injury after going through my 6th Life Destruction and came to this planet to recuperate. After few millennia ago I was found by a group of human martial artists and they imprisoned me here in my weakened state. They tried to extort me for my techniques, and they eventually formed the [Myriad Blackening Sect] using an incomplete cultivation technique I gave them....".

Bing Xian and the silly crane listened intently to Xiao An's story.

"I told them that by staining the earth with Yin and Darkness attributed beast blood their cultivation rate would increase dramatically as well as increase their Law comprehension.... but it was only to attract the attention of other [Holy Shadow] Beasts so they could find me and rescue me....".

"....", Bing Xian and the silly crane were silent.

It was obvious that the [Holy Shadow] beast was either forgotten or abandoned by its Clan, and was forced to spent the remainder of its life imprisoned in this nine story pagoda.

The huge shadow beast in front of them sighed once again.

"There were a few humans that tried to rescue me over the years, but were killed by those who chained me here.... child, you coming here today was destiny and the Crane has already explained your situation to me.... you dėsɨrė to become a God? Is that correct?".

Bing Xian didn't think for even a second before nodding.

"I will become a God! That is not my goal... but my future!".

The aura that Bing Xian exuded earlier was still present in Xiao An and the silly crane's mind. It was an ancient and powerful aura that countered a 6th Stage Life Destruction's!

"I see.... and I also understand that you dėsɨrė me to become your Second Spirit Ring? Is that also correct?".

Bing Xian nodded once more.

Xiao An sat in silence, contemplating for a moment before reaching into his body and taking out three books.

"My race is blessed with a huge lifespan, far greater than humans or ordinary Spirit Beasts, but we all die the day we turn 9,999,999 as all nines must return to One. I have less than a hundred thousand years of live left and I do not dėsɨrė living in this broken pagoda for the remainder of it....".

Bing Xian's heart skipped a beat.

"So if you will have me.... I'll become your conscious Spirit Ring".

"Fuck yes!".

The six year leaped up, despite his aching body and shouted out to the world. He was about to break into song and dance before Xiao An placed those three books on the broken table in front of him.

"On the condition that you become my disciple!".

Xiao An stared down at Bing Xian with a serious look on his face.

"I will only agree to become your Spirit Ring if you become my disciple and cultivate using my techniques! You need not worry about the quality as I promise that no disciple of mine will never be without money!".

The [Holy Shadow] Beast looked down at Bing Xian, a kingly aura was generated from the massive 10 meter tall shadow.

Bing Xian narrowed his brows for a moment before kneeling and performing three kowtows in rapid succession.

"Student Bing Xian greets Teacher!".

The image of a young child with dual spirit essences bowing before a middle aged man with white hair flashed through Bing Xian's mind.

'I guess it's a little different to that....', he thought inwardly.

Xiao An nodded and passed the three books over towards his disciple.

"These three books are my only treasures left in the world! One is a cultivation technique! One is a Martial Movement Technique! One is a Encyclopedia! These are my gifts to my student".

'What domineering names!'.

Cultivation Technique: [Holy Shadow Blackening Art]!

Martial Movement Technique: [Thirteen Shadow Transformations]!

Inscription Encyclopedia: [Heavenly Inscription Chronicle]!