Chapter 67: Shadow Servant

Chapter 67 Shadow Attendant

From Vince’s memories, Li Wei learned there were three ways to access the Weave.

The first and most common method was through the Codex of the Weave—a special magical tome used to link into the Weave. The requirements were low; even an apprentice mage could use it.

The second method, favored by high-ranking mages, required at minimum the rank of Archmage. These mages linked directly to the Weave using their own mental force. Compared to the cumbersome and ever-present Codex, Archmages preferred the immediacy of direct connection.

The third method was the rarest—becoming a Chosen of the Goddess of Magic. Her chosen could enter the Weave anytime, anywhere, without condition. Even before the Codex existed, when only Archmages and above could access the Weave, many young, low-rank apprentices had already become her Chosen.

Unlike the chosen of other deities—bound by restrictions yet granted mighty divine powers—the magic goddess’s chosen received but one gift: unfettered access to the Weave, as if given a permanent seat at the loom of spells.

Later, when the Codex emerged, the goddess ceased actively selecting new Chosen. Centuries passed, and those few surviving Chosen had all grown into formidable mages. In that sense, they upheld the honor of being divine vessels—though their power stemmed not from divinity, but mastery.

For now, Li Wei could only rely on the first method: entering the Weave through a Codex.

The Maple City Mage Tower did possess such a tome. But unless he revealed himself as a first-rank mage, he would never be allowed near it.

His only option was to obtain a Codex of his own.

He recalled seeing one listed in the quartermaster’s exchange roster.

"Tch. No matter how I turn, I always circle back to merit."

The Codex was a physical object—something he couldn’t simply dream into existence.

Li Wei began seriously considering how to earn merit.

He didn’t want to take risks—but the allure of the Weave was overwhelming.

It contained countless spell matrices, nearly every incantation ever devised by mages across the world. Spells he longed for—*Ring of Fire Resistance*, *Meteor Swarm*—were all there. Even forbidden curses lay within its depths.

The selection far surpassed what the Maple City Mage Tower offered.

Perhaps that was precisely why the tower kept a Codex in the first place.

To a mage, spells were the ultimate temptation.

No mage could resist the desire for stronger, rarer magic.

Li Wei was no exception.

Nor were Martin, Marina, and the others.

"If I go out to earn merit, I’ll have to act alone."

"If only I had a Nightmare Servant at my side, my safety would increase dramatically."

"In the worst case, it could hold off enemies while I vanish and retreat."

Resolved, Li Wei searched the dreamscape for a suitable nightmare to cultivate.

After circling once, he spotted a newly formed, low-tier, first-rank nightmare near the city walls.

*Boom!*

A small fireball obliterated it. He retrieved the core and swiftly returned to his safehouse.

"A low-tier first-rank nightmare should suffice," he murmured.

Carefully, he fed spiritual energy into the core.

The core stirred, absorbing the energy. Gray mist swirled around it, thickening. His spiritual energy drained faster—his heart clenched.

Then, after a moment, he exhaled.

"As expected. Last time, the core was second-rank—it demanded too much energy, which caused the loss of control."

Now, though the consumption had accelerated several-fold, it remained within his grasp. There was no longer that terrifying sensation of being drained dry.

Ten minutes later, the core reached saturation.

A faint gray silhouette appeared before him—its form resembling his own by seven or eight parts.

The figure born from a first-rank nightmare was far paler than that of a second-rank. It flickered like mist, so thin one could see through it, front to back. Li Wei half-expected a single gust to scatter it into nothingness.

With a thought, the servant raised its hand, spun once, hopped a few times, then stilled.

Li Wei smiled. "Not bad. Feels a bit like piloting a remote-controlled doll."

A hazy consciousness brushed against his mind.

"Master."

He studied the wraith-like figure, pondering. Then he said, "From now on, you shall be called Shadow Attendant."

"Yes, Master."

He exited the dreamscape.

Back in reality, Li Wei sensed the core nestled somewhere within his body.

With a thought, a faint blue phantom slowly emerged from the air.

Shadow Attendant stepped from dream into reality—yet its core remained inside him, or perhaps within the dream cottage.

So long as the core endured, the attendant would not die.

Gazing at the creature’s unmistakable nightmare form, Li Wei willed again:

"Shadow tendril!"

A tendril of darkness stretched forth from the shadows.

"Absorb shadow elements."

Upon hearing the command, Shadow Servant reached out and touched the shadowy tendrils, slowly absorbing the shadow essence.

His form gradually shifted to gray, then to a faint black, becoming as insubstantial as a mere shadow.

Li Wei retracted the shadow tendrils, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

This idea had come from that second-rank nightmare he’d once burst open with sheer force—

and the result was unexpectedly excellent.

Now pulsing with pure shadow-elemental energy, he was unmistakably a creature of darkness. Who would dare call him a nightmare now?

"Hide within my shadow. Do not emerge without my order."

"Yes, Master."

The Shadow Servant slipped into Li Wei’s silhouette, merging seamlessly, an eternal companion.

After a night of labor, dawn had arrived.

Li Wei ate breakfast and made his way to the military camp’s training hall.

The bulletin board on the wall was plastered with notices of various missions.

When he arrived, many were already gathered there, eager to snatch up favorable tasks early.

"Hunt the roaming orcs near Hansha City—ongoing. Reward: 1–3,000 merits based on orc rank."

Below was a corresponding chart; Li Wei glanced over it.

Common orc soldiers: 1–2 merits. First-rank orcs: 5–30 merits. Second-rank: 30–100 merits. Third-rank: 100–500 merits.

Orcs bearing military titles received additional merit bonuses.

The highest reward: slay an orc general—a fourth-rank orc—worth 3,000 merits.

Li Wei turned to other postings.

"Destroy the small orc outpost west of Hansha City."

"Assassinate orc captain Gomora."

"Assassinate orc officer Teymorad."

"Destroy the orc army’s supply depot."

"Eradicate wandering orc spellcasters."

"Reconnoiter orc troop movements north of Hansha City."

"Investigate traces of orc assassins within Hansha City."

...

Li Wei circled the hall, then headed toward the quartermaster’s office.

"Basic magical item: Codex of the Arcane Web! Purchase price: five hundred merits."

"Second-tier magic scroll: Scroll of Instant Freeze! Price: three hundred merits."

"Second-tier magic scroll: Scroll of Hundred-Shattering Wind Blades! Price: four hundred merits."

He found the same scrolls Vince and Phesia had once used.

Seeing the prices, he couldn’t help but whistle in astonishment.

Truly, only the wealthy could afford such luxuries!

(End of Chapter)