Immortal's Paradox

Lei sat cross-legged in the dense forest, his body still as the faint mist of qi flowed around him. He had spent the last several hours meditating, reaching a delicate balance between focus and relaxation. The jaguar's essence still coursed through him, its strength and agility subtly integrating into his body. However, Lei had one goal in mind: breaking through to the next realm.

He focused on the energy swirling within his dantian, letting the Nanospirit guide his absorption. Unlike before, Lei stopped relying on his cultivation technique and directly commanded the Nanospirit to take over the process. A subtle hum echoed in his mind as the system worked with mechanical precision, drawing in qi from the surroundings at an alarming rate. The dense energy converged within him, forming a vortex in his core.

Host energy reserves at capacity, the Nanospirit's mechanical voice reported.

With a sharp exhale, Lei pushed past his limits, forcing the accumulated qi to shatter the barrier that had held him back for so long. A wave of energy spread through his meridians, signaling his advancement into Foundation Establishment.

Lei's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with the intensity of his breakthrough. But as he tried circulating the energy, a familiar frustration returned. His meridians still bore the scars of his past body's faults, limiting his effective energy storage.

"Damn these defective meridians," Lei muttered, clenching his fists. "At this rate, I'll always be at a disadvantage, no matter how fast I absorb qi."

Mao, perched lazily on a nearby branch, yawned. "You're lucky you're alive, let alone cultivating with those pathetic veins. Stop whining and adapt, or perish. Simple as that."

Lei shot a glare at the smug feline but decided to channel his irritation into action. "Nanospirit, I need a way to improve my combat capabilities, especially kicks. Develop a technique similar to my Molten Iron Punch, but for my legs."

Affirmative. Designing Molten Iron Kick: circulation speed through leg meridians increased by 73%. Expected visual effect: glowing red legs during execution, the Nanospirit replied.

Lei smirked. "Good. And while you're at it, scan through my memories—every martial arts move, book, or movie fight I've seen. Create a mixed martial arts technique incorporating Molten Iron Punch , Kick and my movement skill. Simulate and make it efficient for my body's current state."

Process initiated. Estimated completion time: 20 minutes, the Nanospirit confirmed.

Satisfied, Lei stood and stretched, his body feeling stronger and more agile than ever. He threw a few practice kicks, already sensing the raw power that the Molten Iron Kick would unleash.

Mao lazily opened one eye. "Still playing with your little gadgets, I see. You can't rely on that thing forever, you know."

"I'm not relying on it," Lei snapped. "I'm using every resource I have to get stronger. Isn't that what surviving means?"

The cat stretched and leapt gracefully to the ground. "Surviving also means knowing when you're outmatched. Don't let that toy give you a false sense of confidence. You're still nothing compared to the real monsters out there."

Lei's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he closed his eyes and resumed practicing his kicks, each one more precise and powerful than the last. Mao might have been irritating, but the cat wasn't wrong. Lei still had a long way to go before he could take on the Zhao family or anyone else hunting him.

For now, he focused on refining his techniques. He knew the Nanospirit was working tirelessly in the background, shaping the foundation of his combat style. Once the new martial art was complete, Lei would be ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead—even if it meant fighting his way through an entire bandit camp to prove it.