Immortal's Paradox

Lei Chen sat cross-legged beneath the warding stone, his body still trembling from the Nightfang chase. The faint hum of the Nanospirit Core resonated in his mind, like a machine quietly whirring in the background. For the first time since his rebirth, Lei had a moment to breathe—and to think.

"Mao," he said, breaking the silence, "I need to understand what this... Nanospirit Core can do."

The black cat stretched lazily, its golden eyes gleaming. "So, you're finally acknowledging your little 'cheat' as useful?"

"Cheat?" Lei frowned.

Mao flicked its tail. "Yes. That glowing machine embedded in your soul. You think the laws of this world will let you play with such a foreign force without consequences?"

"Consequences?" Lei's tone was wary.

"Oh, nothing to worry about right now," Mao said airily. "But let's just say, if you're careless, you'll attract attention. Dangerous attention."

Lei's jaw tightened. "I don't have much of a choice. I don't know how to cultivate yet, and this Nanospirit might be the only thing keeping me alive."

As if responding to his determination, the Nanospirit Core's mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

System ready. User queries may be processed.

"Alright," Lei whispered, closing his eyes to focus inward. "What can you do for me?"

Capabilities include: Physical augmentation, environmental analysis, material manipulation (limited), medical diagnostics, and basic energy channeling.

The list filled Lei with a cautious sense of excitement. "Energy channeling? Does that mean you can help me cultivate?"

Negative. Cultivation pathways require environmental adaptation. Current host's knowledge insufficient to proceed.

Lei sighed. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. "Fine. Let's start with something practical. Can you enhance my strength?"

Affirmative. Temporary muscle reinforcement available. Warning: Overuse may result in tissue damage.

"That's... reassuring," Lei muttered. "Alright, let's test it."

He stood up, his muscles aching from the day's exertion. Mao watched him with a bemused expression, clearly enjoying the show.

"Try not to tear yourself apart, mortal," the cat quipped.

Ignoring Mao, Lei focused inward. "Nanospirit, reinforce my strength."

Activating muscle reinforcement.

A sudden surge of power coursed through Lei's body. His arms felt like coiled springs, his legs buzzing with energy. He clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound strength.

"Let's see how far this goes," Lei said, eyeing a nearby boulder that looked too large for any normal human to lift. He approached it cautiously, Mao trailing behind him with an expression that screamed skepticism.

"You're going to hurt yourself," Mao warned.

"Only one way to find out," Lei replied.

Planting his feet firmly, Lei gripped the edges of the boulder. At first, it didn't budge, but then he poured more focus into the Nanospirit's reinforcement. His muscles burned as the rock shifted, then slowly rose off the ground.

"Hah!" Lei exclaimed, holding the massive stone above his head for a moment before dropping it with a thud.

Mao's eyes widened, but the cat quickly masked its surprise. "Impressive. For a mortal. But brute strength won't help you against a cultivator."

Lei frowned, rubbing his aching arms. "Why not?"

"Cultivators don't fight with their fists, fool," Mao said. "They manipulate spiritual energy—qi—to enhance their attacks, defend themselves, and even use mystical techniques. Your mechanical toy might make you stronger, but without qi, you're like a child swinging a hammer against a swordsman."

"That's why I need to learn," Lei said, determination hardening his voice.

"Then stop wasting time lifting rocks," Mao snapped. "We need to find a proper place to begin your training."

Lei hesitated. "What about the Nanospirit's other functions? Couldn't it analyze qi or something?"

Mao raised an eyebrow. "If it can do that, you'll be the first mortal I've seen cheat their way into understanding qi without years of effort."

Taking that as a challenge, Lei turned inward again. "Nanospirit, can you analyze qi in the environment?"

Analyzing... Local qi density: Low. Current host incapable of direct absorption. Recommend constructing an external conduit for initial cultivation.

"External conduit?" Lei murmured.

"Care to share with the class?" Mao asked dryly.

Lei explained the Nanospirit's analysis, and Mao's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Fascinating. Your machine might actually be useful after all."

"You sound surprised," Lei said.

"Don't flatter yourself," Mao retorted. "But if it can create an artificial method to interact with qi, we might have a shortcut to kickstart your cultivation."

Lei's excitement grew. "Nanospirit, can you guide me in constructing this conduit?"

Affirmative. Materials required: conductive metal, spiritual crystal, and organic binding agent.

"Great," Lei muttered. "And where am I supposed to find those?"

Mao snorted. "This is a cultivation world, mortal. Materials like that are everywhere—if you're brave enough to fight for them."

Lei sighed. "Figures. So, where do we start?"

The cat leapt onto his shoulder, claws digging in just enough to be annoying. "There's a ruined sect not far from here. The disciples are long dead, but their treasures might still remain. Of course, the place is likely crawling with beasts and traps, but I'm sure you'll manage."

"Great," Lei said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ruins filled with monsters. My favorite."

"Look on the bright side," Mao said. "If you die, I'll still have time to find a more competent host."

Lei shot the cat a glare but said nothing. As much as he hated to admit it, Mao's plan was the best option they had.

With the warding stone's protection still holding, Lei and Mao set off toward the ruins. The Nanospirit's steady hum in his mind was both reassuring and unsettling—a reminder of the power he wielded and the dangers it might attract.

As they moved deeper into the forest, Lei couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and his eyes darted to every shadow.

"Relax," Mao said, though its ears twitched nervously. "You're paranoid."

"Am I?" Lei asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before Mao could respond, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead. Lei froze, his heart pounding as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.

"Another Nightfang?" Lei whispered.

"No," Mao said, its tone suddenly serious. "Something worse."

The creature stepped into the moonlight, revealing a grotesque form—half wolf, half lizard, with scales covering its muscular body and venom dripping from its fangs. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, and its low growl sent chills down Lei's spine.

"Well," Mao said, leaping from Lei's shoulder, "this should be entertaining."

Lei groaned. "Great. Just great."

As the beast lunged, Lei braced himself, the Nanospirit's voice cold and steady in his mind:

Threat level: Moderate. Activating combat protocols.

Lei grinned despite himself. He might not know much about this world yet, but one thing was certain—he wasn't going down without a fight.