Duality of Shadows

It was a beautiful morning by the beach. A wave from the sea rolled towards the shore, and when the waters receded, a tiny little ice cube quickly rolled away.

The scene was strange, but the ice cube was so insignificant that it would go unnoticed if anyone were nearby. That insignificant thing rolled and rolled, until it moved far away from the ocean waves.

Suddenly, the cube stopped. Then, a white light and a black one pulsed in sync, flowing from that little existence.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

The sands of the beach curved and piled around it. It grew like a golem... or two; there were two strange humanoid figures. Both looked like twisted, incomplete monsters.

As if a strong wind blew, the sand scattered, and the two shapes vanished. Soon, the earth slowly gathered again, mixing with the nearby seawater.

After a few seconds, a single humanoid entity finally took shape. Then the elemental runes pulsed to life. It was like a metamorphosis that beasts used, but without any Qi, just with the laws of earth, Yang, and water.

It was a young man with short black hair, looking around twenty years old. His appearance was ordinary, so plain that nobody would give him a second glance on a busy street. However, there was something unsettling in his eyes: a depth that could draw in and consume anyone brave enough to stare into them for long enough.

’Are we cursed to share a single body by any chance?’ Alm spat, frustrated.

’We need to work together to control the Yin and Yang of the natural laws, or it won’t stay stable,’ Bruno replied calmly. ’I’d like to have two bodies too, but it’d just be psychological since we can’t move more than a few meters apart. And... it’d be weird for Ruri to walk around with two husbands at the same time...’

Alm ignored the last part and finally looked up. Suddenly, his eyes shook in shock.

Since there was light around, they weren’t in a Yin universe like in the underworld. But there wasn’t a shining sun like you’d expect in regular worlds. Instead, strange, radiant lights permeated all around.

Soon, their eyes were drawn to an even higher point. Then they glimpsed nine celestial globes, and calling them huge would be an understatement.

There were nine spheres, all aligned in a circular formation, spinning gently, as if dancing in a cosmic ballet.

Each of the nine globes emitted vibrant, mesmerizing colors. Two of them stood out impressively, having a distorted hue that changed constantly.

Upon closer inspection, Alm noticed that in one of them, the space around it twisted, creating a colorful and strange spectacle. Those were the laws of space.

In the other, the light was more uniform, but when he looked at it for a brief moment, a sensation that several minutes had passed enveloped him... and indeed, they had. Those were the laws of time.

They were the nine immortal elements of the Tree of Nine Stars. Each of those globes radiated its immortal-level laws, bathing the planet in an unceasing and powerful energy. The nine laws were interconnected, displaying an equal force that pulsed with a fascinating intensity.

However, those nine globes... were not just colossal. Alm and Bruno realized the cosmic distance that separated them from those titanic spheres. Even from so far away, the grandeur was undeniable. If those nine globes existed in a regular galaxy, all the planets would be able to see them, and even nearby galaxies could spot them in their impressive magnitude.

Turning to where the light didn’t touch in space, they felt that everything seemed dark and empty; the only light came from those nine splendid spheres.

At the same time, Alm and Bruno clearly sensed that the emptiness that normally existed in space wasn’t exactly what it appeared to be; everything there was the dense law of chaos circulating, like a current of invisible energy, enveloping them in its powerful and unstable presence.

’What a strange place, but incredibly powerful. Hard to believe there isn’t a drop of Qi here.’

Bruno murmured, feeling the new body formed by the natural laws. In the place where a heart should be, there was an ice cube – his true body.

’We’re not a Heavenly Elemental Spirit,’ Alm commented lightly. They had received divine knowledge from all the natural races by modifying the laws to create a new race.

Fides became curious, then Alm exploded: ’At the beginning of the universe, when the primitive laws and the law of chaos abounded, the Primordial Elemental Spirits emerged. Their power is on a higher level than the Heavenly Elemental Spirits. It’s like they’re their ancestors.’

Bruno nodded, feeling the same. According to the system, there were nine primordial races, and the Primordial Elemental Spirits were one of them.

The figure they created was a strange fusion of Alm’s and Bruno’s appearances. The two couldn’t decide how they would look, so they both came through at the same time.

They started to move. It took them a few seconds to adapt to the body made of laws. Without any Qi, they moved by twisting the runes of the laws, a new and strange experience.

They felt several hours pass as they slowly walked out of the beach. The area was mountainous, but there was pure and radiant vegetation. The high-level laws made that planet a sacred and unique place, even without Qi.

Even after more than forty hours, the light didn’t cease. There was no day or night there. The planet didn’t rotate, and only one side was constantly bathed in light and laws.

Realizing this, they headed to the planet’s central point, as far from the dark side as possible in all directions. That’s where the laws would be densest, and they hoped to find a city.

Along the way, they passed through forests, deserts, and mountains. They also sensed some silent forms of life— all Primordial Elemental Spirits—but no other type of cultivator.

Finally, they caught sight of the long-awaited city. Countless figures seemed to sense their presence. Alm and Bruno looked up, expecting... but, without QI, they couldn’t fly that easily.

Then, a figure rushed towards them from the city gates. Alm and Bruno widened their eyes, instantly recognizing his race. They had dealt with one of his kind recently.

He had two pairs of long horns, a long tail, and a tall, strong body. Besides an aura of Yin, he radiated a heavy feeling of death around him. He was an Ancestral Devil, the race that gave rise to all other demons.

The figure stopped in front of them and opened his mouth, but his words sounded incomprehensible to Alm and Bruno.

He wasn’t speaking the common language used in all cultivation universes. This language could be spoken physically or through Qi by all races. It was almost instinctive, stemming from heavenly laws. As soon as people from a primitive world started cultivating at very high levels, that same language naturally emerged.

But there was none of that here. Just like when they visited Corin’s primitive universe, where people spoke a unique language, the situation was the same here.

The figure kept talking, but upon noticing their confusion, he stopped. He looked visibly surprised, as if this was unexpected.

According to the system’s info, Alm and Bruno already knew that people here reincarnated to improve their cultivation and become immortal. From the demon’s expression, it seemed like people were born remembering some things. Speaking and other basic skills must have been something innate.

Alm and Bruno had encountered some races that passed on basic knowledge through bloodline to newborns, without the need for teaching. In the cultivation world, such things weren’t uncommon. Sure, newborns were pretty confused at first, but soon everything stabilized.

Reflecting on this, Alm and Bruno searched their memories for the language they had learned in the primitive universe. They compared it to what they heard now... it wasn’t the same, but it sounded a bit similar.

"I... born... now..." Bruno murmured, making an effort to communicate in the language he knew. The demon figure nodded, looking surprised.

"So you’re still very young, I see. You’re confused, but you finally managed to step out into the world. Congrats."

This time, the demon replied in the same language they had learned in Corin’s universe. It seemed like he was familiar with linguistic variations, and that was normal for him.

His extremely polite manner left Alm and Bruno even more confused. Noticing this, the demon figure bowed and introduced himself.

"I’m Vazi. I’m the receptionist for all the Primordial Elemental Spirits that emerge. My job is to guide and protect you."

"Why?" they quickly asked.

"You’ll know soon. I’ll take you to the city, where you can study everything and learn about the world. In short, no one dares to disrespect your race. If the King finds out, there will be a bloodbath."

Vazi said this calmly, gesturing to lead them to the city.

They moved slowly toward the city, while the demon kept a respectful step behind them, showing almost excessive respect.

"Have you chosen your name yet?" the demon asked gently.

"Hmm... Kakarotto." Bruno replied immediately, while Alm just scoffed, not giving it much thought.

They passed through the gates without any inspection, allowing them to catch a glimpse of the city. It gleamed under the light of the nine celestial orbs, its structures rising in harmony with the surrounding nature, as if they were living sculptures carved by a divine artist. Crystal and iridescent stone buildings reflected the vibrant colors of the immortal elements, creating a spectacle of light and shadow dancing across the streets paved with shimmering stones.

"I’ll take you to the central castle. Our planet isn’t much; we’re the sixth in power in the Empire Nine Secrets. There, all the support and knowledge will be at your disposal."

Vazi spoke kindly as he guided them through the bustling city. Alm and Bruno watched the wide variety of shapes and physiques of the people around them but noticed that all of them had extremely pure bloodlines.

’Hybrids must be banned; probably a law from the Queen that no one can break. It wouldn’t make sense to gather nine primitive races if they stained the bloodline,’ Alm commented dryly in his mind.

Minutes later, a castle that pierced the skies came into view. Vazi simply waved at the guards, who opened the main gate without hesitation. They stepped inside quickly.

Vazi turned and asked, "Do you want to start your cultivation right away, sir?"

"Take me to where I can learn about the world." Kakarotto spoke quickly.

He was led to a library and, as expected, there were no Jade Slips. Instead, they found endless mountains of books, very similar to those on Earth, but made from what were considered divine and sacred plants.

"You know how to talk, even if you’re still a bit confused; so reading shouldn’t be a problem, right?" Vazi asked, and Kakarotto nodded in confirmation.

"It’s all good; I’ll take my time here."

With that, he started moving, grabbing a book and opening it like a voracious, uncontrolled reader. The first thing Alm and Bruno looked for was information about the existing races.

Fortunately, they already knew about all the races thanks to the knowledge they received. There were nine in total; the Chromaraics, Alvs, Ancestral Devils, and Primordial Elemental Spirits weren’t new to them. What they already knew about these races matched exactly with the brief descriptions they were reading.

As for the other races, they had never seen them in person, only heard rumors or studied about them in racial knowledge.

The first one that caught their attention was the race known as Fiendgods. The reason was that the physical cultivation they practiced was called "Supreme Physical Cultivation Technique: FiendGod’s Hegemony." So, it was clear that the creator of this technique belonged to this race.

Fiendgods didn’t have a defined physical form; they could be humanoid, beast-like, or anything in between. Their main feature was their very dark, tall, and extremely strong bodies.

Next, they read about another race called Aberrants. They were like Ancestral Demon Beasts, with an unusual or deformed appearance, often monstrous. They could have asymmetrical forms, bizarre physical or magical abilities, and an unpredictable, dangerous nature.

In the seas, a primitive race called Deepmonsters reigned. They were sea beasts with varied forms, resembling different types of fish or marine creatures, and could have traits of divine or demonic beasts.

These three races were types of beasts with very distinct natures. Being primitive, their forms varied widely among members. However, the monstrous aura of the Aberrants made their presence clear. If a creature came from the sea, it was obviously a Deepmonster. If it had an impressive purity, then it was a Fiendgod.

In the realm of nature, there were the Immortal Lotus. They represented races of medicinal herbs, flowers, or other more delicate forms of plant life. The lotus, a symbol of purity, rebirth, and enlightenment, connected them to the plant world; their power seemed linked to the energies of the mind and soul.

Finally, there was the ancestral race of all trees: the Yggdrasil, the tree of the primordial world. This symbol represented the foundation of creation, the life force that sustained everything. They were like ancestral trees or beings that lived for millennia, and their main power was the manipulation of vital energy.

’The Queen handpicked primitive representatives of the races: humanoids, demons, elementals, sea dwellers, divine and demonic beasts, plus natural lives,’ Bruno said with a sigh. ’If Heaven’s Will placed us as Primordial Elemental Spirits, the others must have some connection to be here. We can guess which races they’re living in. They might have been working for a long time, just waiting for us.’

Alm didn’t say anything, avoiding cursing the situation like Bruno always does. But he felt that things wouldn’t be so simple. Besides, it was probably ten thousand years later... what happened during all that time? And what about the Queen’s universe? They needed to figure this out quickly.