Immortal's Paradox

Lei's legs burned as he sprinted through the forest, the chilling growls of the cocoon-like creature echoing behind him. Mao clung tightly to his shoulder, its claws digging into his robe as it muttered, "Why do I always end up running with fools?"

The forest seemed to twist and turn unnaturally, each shadow stretching longer than it should, as though the very land itself sought to ensnare them. But as they ran, Lei noticed something strange. The oppressive warmth of the dark qi gave way to an almost biting cold. His breath turned to mist, and frost began to coat the leaves and branches.

"Why is it suddenly freezing?" Lei muttered, slowing his pace.

Mao's eyes narrowed. "It's not natural. Something here is affecting the environment. But on the bright side, it's keeping whatever that thing was from following us. Dark qi creatures don't do well in cold."

Lei shivered but pressed on. The unnatural cold seemed to thrum with its own energy, a stark contrast to the suffocating aura of the cocoon. Soon, they entered another clearing, this one shimmering faintly under the pale moonlight.

At the center stood a single plant, its blue petals radiating a soft glow. The air around it was visibly frosty, the ground blanketed in a thin layer of snow.

"That's it," Mao said, leaping down and walking toward the plant. "An Azure Frost Orchid. Rare, potent, and highly sought after by alchemists. It's also one of the herbs you need for your healing plan."

Lei crouched next to the plant, studying it closely. Its petals looked almost crystalline, as though they were carved from ice. The faint mist surrounding it made the air feel sharp and clean, a refreshing contrast to the cloying dark qi from before.

"How do I harvest it?" Lei asked. "I don't want to mess this up."

"Carefully," Mao replied with a smirk. "But more importantly, quickly. The longer we stay here, the more likely something will notice us. Rare plants like this always have guardians or traps."

Lei nodded and reached for the plant, using his qi to create a barrier around his fingers. As soon as he touched the stem, a surge of cold shot up his arm, making him wince.

"Keep going," Mao urged. "It's testing your resolve. If you stop now, it'll freeze your arm solid."

Gritting his teeth, Lei focused, channeling the warmth of his qi to counteract the chill. Slowly, he plucked the Azure Frost Orchid from the ground. The moment he did, the temperature in the clearing seemed to drop even further, and the faint sound of cracking ice echoed around them.

"Uh-oh," Mao muttered, its fur bristling. "We've overstayed our welcome."

The ground beneath them rumbled, and frost began to spread outward from where the Azure Frost Orchid had been growing. A moment later, an enormous shape emerged from the shadows—a wolf-like creature, its body made entirely of ice. Its glowing blue eyes locked onto Lei, and a low, menacing growl filled the clearing.

"An Icefang Guardian," Mao said, backing away. "This is bad."

"You could've warned me!" Lei hissed, clutching the orchid tightly.

"I thought the cold would scare you off!" Mao retorted.

The Icefang Guardian lunged, its claws slicing through the air with frightening speed. Lei barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the beast's claws gouged deep furrows into the frozen ground.

"Mortal, this is your fight!" Mao shouted, leaping onto a nearby branch. "Don't die. It would be inconvenient for me."

Lei groaned. "You're a lot of help!"

The beast lunged again, but this time, Lei activated the Mid Mortal Grade movement technique he had developed earlier. His body moved with fluid grace, dodging the beast's attacks as he analyzed its movements.

The Nanospirit chimed in his mind. Weakness detected: the crystalline structure of its chest is fragile. Target for optimal results.

"Easier said than done," Lei muttered, dodging another swipe.

He activated the Mortal Low-Grade punch skill he had learned from the Zhao family's memories, focusing his qi into his fist. As the beast lunged again, Lei sidestepped and struck its chest with all his might.

The blow landed, and cracks spread across the beast's icy armor, but it wasn't enough to take it down.

"Hit harder!" Mao shouted.

"I'm trying!" Lei yelled back, channeling more qi into his punch. He dodged another attack and struck again, this time shattering the crystalline structure in the beast's chest.

The Icefang Guardian let out a deafening roar before collapsing, its body breaking into shards of ice that scattered across the clearing.

Lei collapsed to his knees, panting. His body ached from the cold and exertion, but he held the Azure Frost Orchid tightly in his hand.

"Well done," Mao said, hopping down from its perch. "I'm almost impressed."

Lei shot the cat a glare but didn't have the energy to argue. He tucked the orchid into his pouch and stood.

"Let's get out of here before something worse shows up," Lei said.

"Agreed," Mao replied, its tail swishing.

As they left the clearing, Lei couldn't shake the feeling that the horrors of the forest were far from over. The missing villagers, the dark qi cocoon, and now the Icefang Guardian—it was all connected somehow. And he was determined to uncover the truth.