Immortal's Paradox

The carcass of the Titanhide Rhino lay lifeless in the clearing, its qi dissipated and its immense form finally still. Lei crouched beside it, a small knife in hand, as he meticulously harvested valuable materials.

The Nanospirit provided guidance, highlighting the most valuable parts. Extract the horn. Its qi-reinforced composition makes it ideal for crafting weapons. The hide, though heavy, can be processed into formidable armor and talismans. The hide is suitable for talismans found in the book of enchantments.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Lei muttered, his knife deftly working through the tough flesh.

Mao lounged nearby, his tail swishing lazily. "This maybe efficient, but you are too slow. At this rate, the sun will set before you're done."

"Feel free to lend a paw," Lei shot back, not even glancing at the cat.

Mao stretched and yawned. "I'm here for moral support."

Lei snorted but continued his work. After storing the materials in his spatial ring, he stood and dusted off his hands. "Alright, let's move. We've got a base to crash."

---

The bandit base came into view, and Lei immediately noticed the difference from the last one. Instead of the chaotic, disorganized rabble he had encountered before, this base looked like it was run by a military unit.

Wooden walls encircled the camp, with archers stationed in high towers. Scouts patrolled the perimeter, moving in disciplined formations. Inside, Lei could see bandits sparring and marching as if following military drills. Even the weapons they carried were polished and well-maintained.

"This isn't your average bandit camp," Lei muttered.

Mao perched lazily on his shoulder, yawning. "It's almost as if they were part of an army. Maybe deserters? Or mercenaries who turned rogue?"

"Whatever they are, this mission just got a lot more dangerous," Lei replied. He crouched low, scanning the area for weaknesses."Might need some distractions", Mao said while licking his paws.

"Some very big distractions", added Lei, while cutting the some monster hide carefully into rectangular peices.

---

The plan began with a bang—literally. Lei tossed a small explosive talisman toward the gate, the resulting blast shattering the wooden barrier and sending bandits scrambling. Basic talismans like explosion talismans were too easy to make, with the help of nanospirit. All it took was a steady flow of qi and machine like smooth movements.

"Alarm! We're under attack!" a voice bellowed, and the camp erupted into chaos.

Archers on the watchtowers scrambled to locate the source of the commotion. Scouts rushed toward the flames, weapons drawn, while bandits emerged from their tents, half-dressed and disoriented. Archers in the towers immediately readied their bows, scanning the treeline for the source of the explosion. The smoke acted like a screen that blocked their vision, from which a few more qi infused talismans flew in different directions adding fuel to the chaos.

Lei used the distraction to sneak closer, moving with the stealth and precision he had honed over countless battles. His Nanospirit-enhanced senses picked up on subtle movements, allowing him to avoid detection.

"Archer tower, 2 o'clock," Mao whispered.

Lei nodded, pulling out his enchanted mace. With a burst of qi, he leaped toward the nearest tower, his feet barely touching the ground. He struck the base of the tower with the mace, the vibrational force causing it to collapse with a groan into another tower. Sending it's archers tumbling into the ground.

The archers stationed there screamed as they fell, their cries lost amidst the chaos.

Two down, but there are still eight more towers, the Nanospirit informed him.

"I'll improvise," Lei replied, leaping to the next tower.

---

The camp's alarm bells rang incessantly, the shrill sound echoing through the air. Bandits rushed to their positions, their shouts and curses filling the air.

The archers soon recovered from the initial shock, and arrows began raining down. Lei darted between cover, his aerodynamic evasion techniques allowing him to dodge most of the projectiles. However, a sharp whistle from Mao caught his attention.

"Left flank, five o'clock!" Mao called.

Lei spun just in time to block an arrow with his mace, the weapon's enchantment deflecting it harmlessly. "Good call," he muttered, smirking at the cat.

"Don't get cocky," Mao replied.

The cries of prisoners reached Lei's ears, pulling his attention to the other side of the camp. "Mao, go check it out," he ordered.

Lei targeted the barracks next, setting it ablaze with a Molten Punch. Flames roared to life, consuming the tent and sending plumes of smoke into the sky.

"Barracks go down, chaos goes up," Lei said with a grim smile.

As he moved to take down another archer tower, the air suddenly shifted. A massive hammer flew toward him, catching him off guard.

"Shit!", Lei cursed while trying to duck, but it was too late.

The hammer struck Lei square in the face, the force of the blow sending him flying. He crashed into the camp's wall with a sickening thud, the wood splintering under the impact.

"Guh!" Lei groaned, shaking his head to clear the stars from his vision.

From the smoke and chaos emerged the bandit leader, a towering figure wielding a warhammer almost as large as Lei himself. His aura radiated power—he was clearly at the peak of the Qi Foundation Realm.

"Who do you think you are, attacking my base?" the leader bellowed, his voice booming.

Lei stood, wiping blood flowing from his broken nose. "Just a guy who doesn't like bullies", told Lei trying to get it back in place.

Injuries detected, nasal reconstruction initiated, nanospirit replied to his mental instruction.

Bandits swarmed around their leader, forming a semicircle that boxed Lei in. The air was tense, and the faint crackle of the burning tents added to the chaotic atmosphere. Swords and spears glinted in the sunlight as they closed in, their expressions a mix of anger and bloodlust.

The leader sneered at Lei, hefting his hammer. "You've made a big mistake, boy. You think you can waltz in here and cause trouble? Today I'll break more than your nose!"

Lei wiped a trickle of blood from his healed lip, smirk unfaltering. "Sounds like fun. But to me, you're just bugs with some fancy toys."

The leader's face darkened with rage. "Kill him!"

The bandits charged, weapons gleaming under the moonlight. Lei tightened his grip on his mace, his body low in a combat stance.

"Bring it on," he muttered. The real battle was just beginning.