Immortal's Paradox

The villagers were surprisingly warm and welcoming as Lei and Mao entered the small settlement. A middle-aged man with a weathered face approached, introducing himself as Elder Ren, the leader of the village.

"Travelers are rare here," Elder Ren said, his kind smile revealing a missing tooth. "But we don't turn away those in need. You're welcome to stay and rest."

Lei exchanged a glance with Mao, who gave a subtle flick of its tail as if to say, Play along.

The villagers led them to a modest hut near the center of the village, where a meal of simple steamed vegetables and rice awaited. The food wasn't luxurious, but after days of foraging, Lei savored every bite. Mao, perched on a stool, sniffed at the offerings with disdain but eventually deigned to nibble on a piece of fish offered by a young girl.

As night fell, Lei found himself sitting under the stars, feeling a strange calm. The village was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional murmur of villagers or the rustling of trees.

Lei closed his eyes and began circulating his qi using the Zhao Qi Foundation Technique. The process was smoother now, with the technique's efficiency allowing him to draw in more qi than ever before. As the qi flowed through his meridians, he felt a subtle shift—a barrier within him crumbling.

His eyes snapped open as a faint golden glow surrounded him before dissipating.

"Well, well," Mao said from a nearby tree branch. "Congratulations. It seems you've had a minor breakthrough."

"A breakthrough?" Lei asked, standing and stretching. He felt lighter, his senses sharper.

"You've stepped into the next stage of the Mortal Realm," Mao explained, leaping down to sit beside him. "Let me enlighten you, mortal. Each cultivation realm is divided into three stages: Low, Mid, and High. You were at the Low stage before. Now you're Mid Mortal Realm."

Lei nodded, processing the information. "What's the difference?"

"At each stage, your control over qi becomes more refined, and your reserves increase," Mao said. "But don't get cocky. You're still barely scratching the surface of cultivation."

Lei smirked. "Coming from you, that almost sounds like a compliment."

"Don't flatter yourself," Mao retorted, flicking his tail. "Now, focus. If you slack off, you'll hit a wall before you know it."

As the night deepened, Lei noticed something odd about the village. Despite its outward warmth, there was an undercurrent of tension. The villagers' smiles seemed forced, their laughter a bit too loud.

"Something feels off," Lei muttered, glancing around.

Mao's golden eyes narrowed. "You're not imagining it. I've noticed it too. Their kindness is genuine, but there's fear in their hearts."

The next morning, Lei's suspicions grew. As he helped a group of villagers mend a fence, he noticed the way they constantly glanced over their shoulders, as though expecting something to leap out from the shadows.

Finally, Elder Ren approached him, his face grim. "I see you've noticed our plight," the old man said. "It's not something we like to talk about with outsiders, but perhaps you can help."

"What's going on?" Lei asked, his curiosity piqued.

Elder Ren hesitated, then gestured for Lei to follow him. They walked to the edge of the village, where a small shrine stood, half-buried in vines. The air around it felt heavy, oppressive.

"For generations, we've lived under the protection of this shrine," Elder Ren said. "But a few months ago, the crops began to wither, and the livestock started dying. Then people began disappearing."

"Disappearing?" Lei asked, frowning.

"They vanish without a trace," Elder Ren said, his voice trembling. "No signs of struggle, no blood. Just... gone. We've searched the forest, but there's no sign of them."

Lei's mind raced. "And you think it's connected to the shrine?"

Elder Ren nodded. "The shrine's protective aura has weakened. We don't know why. Some believe we angered the spirits of the land, while others think something dark has moved into the forest."

Mao, who had been listening quietly, sniffed the air. "It's not spirits. There's something alive out there."

Elder Ren turned pale. "You mean... a beast?"

"Perhaps," Mao said, its tone cryptic. "But it's no ordinary creature."

Lei felt a chill run down his spine. The villagers' fear was palpable, and the oppressive air around the shrine only deepened the sense of dread.

"We'll look into it," Lei said, determination hardening his voice.

Elder Ren's eyes widened in relief. "Thank you, young man. Please, be careful. Whatever is out there... it's not natural."

As Lei and Mao returned to the hut, the mystery of the disappearing villagers and the failing shrine weighed heavily on Lei's mind. Whatever awaited them in the forest, he knew it wouldn't be easy.