Immortal's Paradox

Lei Chen sat by the fire, chewing on a piece of roasted Spirit Wolf meat. Despite Mao's assurances, the taste left much to be desired—a strange mix of gamy toughness and metallic aftertaste. Yet, the moment he swallowed, a warm surge of qi flooded his body, revitalizing his tired muscles.

"See? What did I tell you?" Mao said, perched nearby with an air of smug satisfaction. "A meal fit for a fledgling cultivator like yourself."

Lei frowned. "Fledgling? I just killed an alpha Spirit Wolf. If anything, I'm moving up the ranks."

Mao snorted. "Killing a single Spirit Wolf doesn't make you powerful, mortal. It just makes you slightly less pitiful."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Lei muttered, taking another bite.

The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows across the clearing. The forest had grown unnervingly quiet after the wolves' retreat. No rustling leaves, no chirping insects—just an oppressive silence that set Lei's nerves on edge.

"You feel that?" he asked, glancing at Mao.

The cat's ears twitched, its golden eyes narrowing. "Something is watching us."

Lei's grip tightened on his blade. "Another wolf?"

Mao shook its head. "Wolves don't stalk prey out of revenge. This is something else."

Before Lei could respond, the fire flickered, its warm glow dimming as a chill swept through the clearing. From the shadows, faint whispers emerged—barely audible but enough to make his hair stand on end.

Warning: Presence of hostile spiritual entities detected. Recommend immediate defensive measures.

Lei rose to his feet, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Spiritual entities? You mean ghosts?"

"Not quite," Mao said, its voice unusually serious. "These are wraiths—fragments of souls that linger after death, consumed by hatred or regret. They're drawn to places of death and despair."

"Like the ruins we just left," Lei muttered.

"Precisely," Mao said. "And guess who's carrying a Qi Condensation Core that's like a beacon to them?"

"Fantastic," Lei said, activating his energy blade. The weapon hummed softly, its glow piercing the encroaching darkness.

The whispers grew louder, coalescing into a chilling wail. From the shadows emerged translucent figures, their forms twisting and writhing as though in agony. Their hollow eyes locked onto Lei, and he felt a cold dread seep into his bones.

"They don't look friendly," he said, backing toward the fire.

"They're not," Mao said. "And your blade won't work on them. Wraiths are immune to physical attacks."

"Then what am I supposed to do?!" Lei shouted as the wraiths closed in.

Mao leapt onto his shoulder, its claws digging in for balance. "Use the Nanospirit. Channel your qi through the blade—turn it into a spiritual weapon."

Lei blinked. "Will it work?"

"You'd better figure it out quickly," Mao said.

The nearest wraith lunged, its claw-like hands reaching for Lei. He dodged, the creature's icy touch grazing his arm and sending a numbing chill through his body.

Host energy reserves at 43%. Recommend qi infusion for spiritual combat.

"Fine!" Lei shouted, focusing inward. He visualized the qi flowing through his body, directing it toward the blade. The weapon's glow intensified, shifting from blue to a radiant gold.

The next wraith lunged, but this time, Lei swung the blade with purpose. The golden energy sliced through the creature, which dissolved into a wisp of smoke with an ear-piercing shriek.

"It worked!" Lei said, a grin breaking through his panic.

"Don't celebrate yet," Mao warned. "There are more."

The remaining wraiths hesitated, their forms flickering as though unsure of their next move. But their hesitation was short-lived. With a collective wail, they surged forward, a tide of shadow and despair.

Lei's heart pounded as he met the onslaught head-on, his blade a blur of golden light. Each strike sent a wraith dissipating into the ether, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming.

Energy reserves at 30%. Sustained combat not recommended.

"Not helpful right now!" Lei snapped, ducking under a wraith's swipe and countering with a slash.

Mao leapt from his shoulder, landing on a wraith and clawing at its translucent form. "You're slowing down, mortal. Pick up the pace!"

"I'd like to see you do better!" Lei retorted.

The battle raged on, the clearing a chaotic swirl of light and shadow. Lei's movements grew sluggish, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For every wraith he destroyed, it felt like two more took its place.

"Why aren't they stopping?!" he shouted.

"They're bound to something," Mao said, dodging another wraith. "Find what's anchoring them and destroy it!"

Lei's eyes darted around the clearing. At first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary—but then his gaze landed on the stream. The water's surface shimmered unnaturally, reflecting not the firelight but an eerie, pulsating glow.

"There!" Lei said, pointing to the stream.

Mao followed his gaze. "Of course. A cursed object buried in the water. You'll have to remove it."

"Easier said than done!" Lei said, fighting his way toward the stream. The wraiths seemed to sense his intent, their attacks growing more desperate and coordinated.

Warning: Host energy reserves critical.

Lei's vision blurred as fatigue threatened to overtake him. Gritting his teeth, he reached the stream and plunged his hand into the icy water. His fingers closed around a smooth, round object—a black stone etched with glowing runes.

"This must be it!" he said, yanking it free.

The wraiths let out an earsplitting wail, their forms flickering wildly.

"Destroy it!" Mao shouted.

Lei raised the stone, channeling the last of his qi into his blade. With a final, desperate swing, he shattered the stone into pieces.

The wraiths screamed as they dissolved into nothingness, the oppressive chill lifting from the clearing.

Lei collapsed to his knees, his body trembling. "That... was too close."

Mao padded over, looking surprisingly serious. "You survived, and that's what matters. But remember this, mortal: power always comes with a price. You've only just begun to understand the dangers of this world."

Lei nodded, his exhaustion too deep for a snarky reply. As the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, he resolved to grow stronger—not just for himself, but to face whatever horrors this world threw his way.