Xiao Ling laid still with heavy eyelids trying his best to stay awake, he knew for a fact that there was no way out for him in the situation he was in....so all he could do was to stare arrogantly at the 98th dungeon boss approaching him with a sinister smile of horror. He knew death was inevitable in this world of dungeon apocalypse so he wasn't afraid to die....he was just regretful and resentful as he reminisce of his adventures with his so called trusted comrades...yet they betrayed him for more skills and dungeon authorities from those so called gods and constellations. ' If I get a chance to redo it all,...... I'd feed them to the monsters little by little till they experience what exactly pain means. I, Xiao Ling, the one whom inherited the will of the shadow monarch, left in this state to meet my end..... isn't it so ironic?...Hehe '. He rediculed himself as he stared pathetically as the dungeon boss smiled more brightly stepping on his head which made him (XL) grunt in pain and coughed out blood. Xiao Ling was suffocated as the dungeon boss increase weight in his leg slowly crushing Xiao Ling's skull which made him passed out from the intense pain knowing that was the end of the road for him.

In a dark and leaky thatched cottage, Xiao Ling slowly opened his heavy eyelids. He tried to sit up but ended up grunting feeling his body heavy and aching all over, he stared blankly in the dark trying to figure out what was going on as he was so sure the dungeon monster had crushed him to death. He tried to adjust his sight and enable him to see in the dark but failed due to his whole body feeling weak and lifeless, he (XL) widened his eyes in horror when he saw a man laying beside him on the bed under the same quilt. He could see the man staring straight into his eyes as if searching deep within his soul which made Xiao Ling feel threatened and was on guard but he couldn't move or do anything to protect himself from the stranger beside him..

"....wife you are awake now? "

the man asked him in a very low and soothing voice, but Xiao Ling couldn't make anything out as he felt his head spinning.

" Wh...who are you?! "

was all he could mutter before passing out ..... In the dark cottage the man quietly stared at Xiao Ling who had completely passed out as if looking at something interesting, the corners of his lips slightly curled up as he placed a finger on Xiao Ling's forehead sending his qi into all parts of Xiao Ling's body. ' a different soul.....' he thought before retrieving his finger and closing his eyes as he went back to sleep.

In Xiao Ling's sleep, he had a disturbing dream where he was an ancient 17 year old boy who could birth children and was sold as a wife to a family in the same village to their son. Xiao Ling's family never liked him and was bullied and used as a slave for his parents and siblings, after being sold to the Jun family his life never got better but got worse. His so called husband wasn't even in the village when the marriage was done....when he came back from wherever he went he (XL) was forced into his husband Jun YanZhi, the eldest son of the Jun family. Jun YanZhi was reluctant to accept a wife randomly passed to him but quiet accepted since his stepmom and father forced him to. In this world of ancient time where there were three genders, men, women and gers....Xiao Ling thought he was having one hell of a bizarre dream feeling that it was because his soul wasn't happy with the way he died. The village he lived in was called Big Stone village due to the vast mountain at a side covering large acres of lands. There was a county about an hour walk or half an hour ride in an ox cart called Yucheng county, and the dynasty he was in was Qing dynasty.

Xiao Ling opened his groggy and sleepy tired eyes in daze when he heard a knock on the door with a very loud and irritating voice of a woman from outside whom he believes to be the third daughter-inlaw of the Jun family.

" eldest sister-law, the old lady ask me to call you out....the animals aren't going to feed themselves, stop laying around with the excuse of being sick and come out! "

Xiao Ling sneered coldly after the owner of the voice left, he just couldn't help but feel his heart ache...' if you were going to grant me a second chance...at least do a better job, now what am I supposed to do?!' he thought. He (XL) would definitely want to escape from this family and village if it was up to him, but he just couldn't do anything rush now since his deed was in the hands of his husband...at least that was a good thing since his sale deef was given to his husband, he could try talking it out with brother Yan, but still that wasn't enough since he knew nothing outside of Big Stone village. Ancient Xiao Ling had never been to anywhere else other than work his entire life in his family's fields...not even the county town so he was reluctant to do anything repulsive lest he dooms himself further. He decided to take a step at a time and think of what needs to be done....and the first thing was to separate from this family and make money.!

" System window"

Xiao Ling shouted as he hope desperately that his player authority came with him..

Player Attempting To Log Into System

Error! Player's Information Has Changed From Previous Log In

Renewing Player's Information

[Warning] The Difference Class Between The player's Soul And Body Is Too Big.....

" Wh...what the hell is this?! "

Xiao Ling was baffled and speechless

Re-adjustments Are Being Made In Player's Abilities

Player's Level Has Decreased To Level [ 30]

All Ranks Of Players Abilities Has Been Greatly Decreased

Some Skills Has Been Locked.

Player's System

Name: Xiao Ling

Level: 30

Class: Necromancer

Agility: 19

Health: 11

Magic:22

Strength:25

Skills

Skeleton Summoning [B]

Passive[C]

Shadow Clones[B]

Poison Resistance [D]

Locked Skills And Characteristics Are Not Shown

Locked Skills Are Automatically Unlocked When Conditions Are Met.

Xiao Ling was in shock when the evaluation of the system was done....he felt heartache since he worked hard in his previous life to reach level 95 and had lot more skills than this.... he checked his inventory and most of the items and weapons were not there which made him more sad and angry but there was nothing he could do about it...

" But at least I wasn't decreased to level 1... could manage with this "

he voiced out trying to cheer himself up, Xiao Ling got down from the bed and and inspected himself from head to toe looking disdainfully at the ragged clothes on his body with patches and sighed defeated. His body suddenly felt light weighted which made him swayed from side to side for a couple of seconds feeling a bit dizzy...

Ding! Ding!Ding!

Congratulations To The Shadow Monarch On His Awakening

Shadow Monarch Xiao Ling Has Yet To Meet The All Conditions To Use All Authorities

Some Authorities And Skills Are Locked Until Fully Awakened

Authorities

Shadow Monarch's Dungeon Level 1

Authority Over Shadowing level 1

Skills

Shadow Summoning [ A]

Summons: 1 [ Bee Level 5 [B+] ]

" What...?! What?! What?!....this is great. My Authorities are decreased and the dungeon too but this is still great for me! At least they're good skills "

Xiao Ling was so happy that he forgot the situation in which he was in,

" Summon, Bee "

In a blink of an eye a mass of Shadow gathered in front of him and slowly took the shape of a man, nothing could be seen expect dark terrifying aura

" Master, you summoned me"

it knelt on one knee and spoke in a very respectful tone which made Xiao Ling happier than he was.

" Master, punish your servant... he has failed to protect you.... your servant doesn't deserve to live"

Bee said in a very hurtful tone and in regret,

" What's done is done... and it wasn't your fault...I was neglectful too. But let the past be and let's focus on the present and future, it seems we're in a different world and I... we don't know anything about this place. I want you to get me useful informations, anything helpful will do "

" Master, your servant will.... "

" You broomstar! do you think you were married into my Jun family just to be fed and clothed?!... get out and come and work the sun isn't going to wait for you "

Bee was interrupted as the old lady of the Jun family knocked on the door in anger

" Grand Ma I'm coming... "

Xiao Ling answered politely and signaled Bee to leave before he also walked out of the room,

" Grandma, I wasn't feeling well that's why I couldn't get up early..."

Xiao Ling greeted the old lady with a smile as he stared right at her which shocked the old lady for a few seconds, Xiao Ling has always being timid and would always bow his head down...let alone speak, but that was the old Xiao Ling and they didn't know that. Grandma quickly regained her arrogant demeanor

" prepare the animal foods and feed them, after that feel the tank in the kitchen the water is almost finished. Your second and third sister-in-laws are helping me cook breakfast, hurry up and come and join them....the men will be home soon. "

Grandma left after she gave her command but Xiao Ling stood in place not knowing what to feed the animals, he had the previous Xiao Ling's memories but most were blurry so he didn't know what they fed the animals here. He just didn't want to do anything that'd make the old lady angry so he chose not to do it rather.

After awhile grandma returned to where she left Xiao Ling and found him standing still not doing what she ordered which enraged her..

" Ai ai.... now the broomstar is disrespecting me......my children come and look at the broomstar disrespecting this old woman "

Xiao Ling was bewildered as he stared at the grandma in disbelief as she pointed at his nose and shouted...' when did I disrespect this old lady ' Xiao Ling thought.

" YanZhi, now your wife has started to disrespect me too, you're teaching him to ignore my words since you do too right? Ai..wu wu...I know you don't like me but I'm your father's mother! "

Xiao Ling turned his back to watch behind him at whom Grandma called YanZhi...he was shocked, surprised, intrigued...he just couldn't describe his emotions and there was no words for what he was feeling then...he stared wide eye at YanZhi not saying anything and so did YanZhi. No one has ever escaped his passive skills and there was never a moment when he hadn't noticed when someone walked behind or tailed him unless he chose to ignore, but yet he didn't even hear or notice the arrival of YanZhi, even tho his skills had decreased....he still would have noticed YanZhi's arrival. Xiao Ling quickly got his thoughts back and stared at YanZhi embarrassedly..

" I ... I don't know how to...it wasn't that I didn't want to.. "

Xiao Ling prepared and embraced himself for YanZhi's anger or answer but it never came... infact he had no memory of YanZhi talking much to him or scolding him before. He slowly raised his head to meet the eyes of YanZhi staring at him blankly...Xiao Ling tried to read the expression of YanZhi but all he got was blank...he had always been able to read his opponents expression but he couldn't read that of YanZhi which made him feel threatened, danger, and was on guard....YanZhi noticed all that but still stared blankly as he ( JYZ) could feel the qi of death from Xiao Ling. He released a bit of his qi as he pried a little into Xiao Ling's consciousness, YanZhi still couldn't figure out why Xiao Ling hard a bit of demonic qi but he was sure Xiao Ling wasn't a cultivator and wasn't practicing demonic arts so he (JYZ) shrugged it off and decided not to mind. But Xiao Ling felt terrified of YanZhi staring horrifiedly at him.... Xiao Ling felt as the man in front of him was very beautiful like a delicate flower but was very dangerous and he had to stay away...all which YanZhi noticed but pretended not to notice and picked up the bucket which Grandma left for Xiao Ling to use, YanZhi turned his back to walk away but stopped in his tracks when he was two feet away from Xiao Ling

" I'll do it..."

He ( JYZ) walked away after saying three words leaving Xiao Ling terrified on spot.

Xiao Ling went with grandma to the kitchen to help with breakfast after YanZhi decided to help with the feeding of the animals.....' these people are very stingy.... there's no even a trace of oil in the stir fry, they might as well as not put oil at all' he (XL) thought staring disdainfully at the dishes prepared for breakfast. He helped served the food on the table as the men were taking their various seats at the table....the head of the family Jun Daqiang took the honor of the head seat.... The Jun family hold consisted of The head; Jun Daqiang, 40 years old...The old lady; grandma Jun, 55 years...Du Shi; Jun Daqiang's wife and stepmom to YanZhi, 36 years...Jun YanZhi; 25 years and eldest son, the only one with a different mother in the family, his mother died two years later after giving birth to YanZhi.....Xiao Ling; YanZhi's ger wife, 17 years.....Jun Xangren; Second child of the Jun family, 20 years and married to Zhao Shi, their eldest son Jun Dabao 5 years and youngest son Jun Xiaobao 3 years....Jun Xiangyi; third child of the Jun family, 18 years and married to Qian Shi, with one daughter named Jun Xinxin 3 years....Jun Xiangli; fourth child of the Jun family, 17 years not married....Jun Xiangzhi and Jun Chuntao; a pair of twins and fifth and sixth children of the Jun family, 15 years, Xiangzhi is studying to be a scholar.

All children were present except Jun Xiangzhi who was studying in the county who wasn't present now, they all took their seat after the head of the family....the men seated at one side and the women at the other, but Xiao Ling didn't have the heart to seat with the women even tho he knew that in this world he was equivalent to a woman but in his heart he was a man. He took the seat next to YanZhi which made the old lady stared at him in anger

" eldest sister-law, don't you know where your seat is today?....did you perhaps hit your head for you to be forgetful...hehe "

Zhao Shi the second daughter-inlaw said in a sarcastic time which made Xiao Ling almost sneered at her...

" eldest, your wife is being disrespectful to our Jun family changing the rules set by generations"

Du Shi said signaling YanZhi to scold Xiao Ling...but YanZhi yet held Xiao Ling's leg with force keeping him in place

" my wife will seat with me.. "

YanZhi voiced out giving no place for negotiation... Xiao Ling was looking forward to the decision of YanZhi thinking of where to place YanZhi in his heart. As a guy from the modern world he (XL) wasn't planning on following every thing these ancient people decide....if YanZhi had followed along with his family he (XL) would find any way possible to escape from the Jun family no matter the consequences, but hearing YanZhi now, Xiao Ling thought of giving him a chance at least.....even tho for now he had no special feeling for the man.

" Eldest are you throwing away our traditions for that broomstar....ai ai, both of you are bad luck to my Jun family! "

" mother, I'm hungry let's eat....let him sit there since it's an empty seat anyway"

father Jun cut grandma off since he didn't want to hear them bicker early in the morning for their neighbors to laugh at them....

" I ... I'll listen to you "

tho grandma and the rest were reluctant to let Xiao Ling sit with the men but they still had to listen to the head of the family. They all quietly ate in silence, but Xiao Ling felt his throat hurt having a hard time swallowing the buns and the dishes which had no taste,...the buns were so hard making him (XL) wonder how it was made or what was used in making the buns and the lack of oil in the dishes made them taste very bland and dissatisfying....but the rest of the family were swallowing the food in twos as if they were fighting for the food. Xiao Ling turned his attention towards YanZhi thinking he'd be eating just like his family but what met him (XL) made him stunned, YanZhi eating gracefully and unhurried as if he (YZ) had no worries for the world. YanZhi turned his gaze to Xiao Ling when he felt Xiao Ling's heated gaze on him, Xiao Ling suddenly felt heat creeped on his face which made him blushed and his ears turned red...he quickly turned away from YanZhi's gaze trying to cool down the new emotion he just felt and the heat. ' What an interesting child.....hm' YanZhi thought before focusing back on eating.

After eating the men got ready to head back to the fields whiles their wifes work at home....

" Eldest daughter-inlaw, take the clothes to the river to wash "

Du Shi instructed Xiao Ling which made him happy, he'd do anything just to get away from them.

" Okay mother "

Xiao Ling answered happily, but soon regretted it when he saw the mass of clothes Du Shi gave him to wash, but never the less it was better than staying and working alongside them. He quietly gathered the clothes with a heavy heart making his way to the Riverside,

" Brother Yan.......can I talk to you? "

Xiao Ling hurriedly called out to YanZhi when he saw him making his way out of the house with a sickle.... YanZhi stopped in his tracks and turned back to stared blankly at Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling felt suffocated due to YanZhi's heated gaze which made him feel like his soul was being pried into but he couldn't resist or defend himself...

" when I get back "

" okay"

Xiao Ling responded and watched YanZhi's back slowly disappeared from his line of sight....He quickly made his way to the river as he bypassed and greeted the villagers along the way. Those he greeted were all shocked at his new behavior and gossipped with their fellows after he left which he heard all but Xiao Ling didn't want to bother with them, he found a corner by the riverside with no one and started to beat the clothes.

" master, who was the man you talk to earlier with? "

Bee appeared by his side and asked in a worried tone.

" you're back?....did you get any useful information?.... That was the husband of the Xiao Ling from this era which makes him my husband....why..did you ask?

Xiao Ling stopped beating the clothes and turned his attention to bee, he asked in a suspicious tone

" I feel danger coming from that man...I feel the man isn't someone to be messed with and he doesn't fit with the people here. Tho I've lost most of my strength and all and it feels like his suppressing his aura....I still feel danger from him and he makes me.... terrified, earlier it felt like he was looking at me tho you hadn't noticed me when I got back to your shadow but that man did "

Bee explained in a cracked and terrified tone making Xiao Ling stared silently for a while

" I feel so too, I've never felt anything like what I feel when he stares at me....it makes me terrified like he's looking deep within my soul, even the constellations have never made me feel that terrified of them but Brother Yan...I don't know how to explain. I first thought it was because my strength decreased...but, I don't think so now. Tell me what you found out. "