Into The Tiger’s Den

The intricacies of human emotions, especially those of the heart, remained a mystery even to the most seasoned cultivators. Ming Ren, observing Pan Ruolan with a mixture of amusement and admiration, couldn't help but appreciate her playful spirit. He realized that despite his vast knowledge and experience, he was still a novice in the realm of human connection.

He chuckled to himself, acknowledging the truth of his newfound realization. He had faced formidable enemies in the Scripture, unraveled ancient mysteries, and mastered powerful techniques, but when it came to matters of the heart, he felt like a bumbling apprentice.

Activating his [Bright Eyes Technique], he scanned the area, his spiritual sense searching for the elusive Spirit Bugs. They were concentrated within the villagers and near the burning corpses, posing a threat to anyone cultivating in their vicinity. However, they seemed immobile without external stimuli.

'As long as nothing disturbs them, they pose no immediate threat,' Ming Ren thought. 'This place lacks abundant spiritual energy or spirit veins. If they reach a location with a strong spiritual flow, it would be disastrous.'

He pointed towards a spot further from the village. "Anywhere over there is safe," he informed Pan Ruolan. "We should advise the villagers to avoid the areas where the corpses are burning. That type of fire cannot destroy the bugs."

"Who are you, really?" Pan Ruolan inquired, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "How can you possess more knowledge than my master?"

"A cultivator's secret," Ming Ren replied with a smile, deflecting her question.

Pan Ruolan glared at him, but she understood the importance of secrecy among cultivators. "Would you care to spar instead of cultivating?" she challenged, her curiosity piqued by this enigmatic young man. He seemed more like a wise sage than a junior cultivator, his knowledge and demeanor on par with her master's.

"Spar?" Ming Ren's mind flashed back to his encounters with Bai Xun and Yun Shufen, a smile spreading across his face. "Certainly, perhaps it will help me think."

"Do you believe you will have time to think about anything else?" Pan Ruolan retorted, a spark of anger igniting in her eyes.

With a determined stride, she moved towards a safe spot nearby.

"That's not what I meant – oh well," Ming Ren chuckled, realizing his misinterpretation. He quickly followed, taking a defensive stance opposite her. "Weapons?"

Pan Ruolan, her eyes focused, lowered her cultivation to match his and launched into a swift punch. They understood each other perfectly, their movements in sync as they prepared for battle. Ming Ren dodged her attack, deflecting a palm strike with ease.

'He's fast!' Pan Ruolan thought, launching a flurry of kicks.

Ming Ren's movements were fluid and precise, his body gracefully evading each strike. He anticipated her attacks, slipping away with uncanny ease, always one step ahead.

Frustration fueled Pan Ruolan's determination as she channeled her cultivation law, her spiritual energy surging through her veins. With a burst of power, she unleashed a lightning-fast frontal kick.

[Body Tempering Realm Earth Grade Art - Vanguard Kick]

Ming Ren sidestepped the attack, countering with a spinning kick that landed squarely on her side.

"Ugh!" Pan Ruolan grunted in pain, raising her guard as Ming Ren followed up with a straight punch. She barely managed to block the powerful blow.

'He is too strong,' she thought, her eyes widening in disbelief. 'Is he truly at the eighth layer?!'

"Stop holding back!" she demanded, assuming a fighting stance once more. "This is no spar if you underestimate me!"

She attacked again, each missed strike fueling her frustration. Ming Ren remained focused, his movements calculated, his senses sharp. The tension in the air was palpable as they circled each other, both determined to gain the upper hand in the unfolding battle.

"...Aren't you the one underestimating me?" Ming Ren countered with a serious expression. "Use your spiritual energy!"

Pan Ruolan hesitated for a moment, surprised by his request. Her cultivation was at the second layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

But her determination quickly returned, and with a resolute glint in her eyes, she unleashed her full power. Spiritual energy surged around her as she launched a ferocious side kick.

Ming Ren met her attack with ease, blocking her strike and countering with a powerful kick of his own that sent her skidding backward.

'No way!' she thought, her eyes wide with shock. 'He's as strong and fast as me, even when I'm using spiritual energy! Is this a dream? I need to be careful, or I'll get hurt.'

Pan Ruolan's spiritual energy gave her a clear advantage over Ming Ren's Body Tempering Realm cultivation. Her movements became swifter, her attacks more formidable.

She unleashed a relentless assault, a flurry of kicks and punches, but Ming Ren evaded them all with astonishing agility. His movements were flawless, as if he could predict her every move. He countered her attacks with precision and power, his strikes a perfect blend of strength and finesse.

It was clear that his prowess far surpassed his cultivation level. He moved like a seasoned warrior, his skills honed through countless battles and rigorous training.

Pan Ruolan knew that in a real fight, she would be at a severe disadvantage. His evasive tactics and precise counterattacks left her with little room to maneuver.

"How can your body be stronger than a cultivator at the Spirit Sea Realm?!" she exclaimed in disbelief. 'That's not just one or two layers above, but a whole different realm! His cultivation law… what kind of body tempering did he go through?!'

"If you keep talking, you'll get hurt!" Ming Ren warned, his focus unwavering.

As they continued their spar, the moon cast long shadows around them, adding an eerie ambiance to the fierce battle. Despite the intensity, there was a mutual respect between them. They recognized each other's skill and fought not out of animosity but out of a shared passion for martial arts and cultivation.

In the end, as they stood panting and catching their breath, it was clear that this battle had been more than just a test of their abilities. It was proof of the unyielding spirit of cultivators, always striving to push their limits and exceed their own expectations.

Ruolan possessed talent, but she was nowhere near the level of Lin Qiang or Yun Shufen. Ming Ren had been careful not to reveal his true strength, as it would only serve to frustrate her. Regardless, fighting someone at the Spirit Sea Realm showcased the incredible strength he had cultivated within his body.

Exhausted, they sat down to rest.

"You're a genius," Ruolan admitted, a hint of envy in her voice.

Ming Ren thought back to his countless hours of training within the Bright Scripture. He had dedicated far more time and effort than most cultivators, and while he didn't consider himself more talented than Ruolan, he recognized the value of his experience.

"Perhaps I had a natural aptitude for martial arts," he conceded. "But I couldn't cultivate as quickly as others. What some call talent is simply the result of my blood, sweat, and tears. Are you not the same?"

Ruolan smiled. It was refreshing to meet a cultivator who didn't carry themselves with arrogance. "Do you fear not sensing a true element?" she inquired, revealing a vulnerability she had kept hidden

'So that's what troubles her,' Ming Ren realized. 'She is a common cultivator, without a true element or rare energy.'

He gazed towards the heavens and replied, "From the moment we embark on this path, we seek strength. The best techniques, cultivation laws, true elements, rare energies, the finest armor, artifacts, and weapons. It is a world where strength reigns supreme. Is it not natural to worry about finding a true element?"

Pan Ruolan nodded in agreement. His words resonated with her deepest anxieties.

"But do you understand why a true element is so important?" Ming Ren continued.

"Why?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"True elements are a connection to primordial chaos and a component of the Dao," he explained. "The most crucial aspect is not the ability to transform spiritual energy into the element, but the connection itself."

"The connection itself?"

"Do you know why clans and sects are so eager to recruit True Element Cultivators?" Ming Ren asked. "When you reach the half-step into the Spirit Gate Realm, what is required to break through?"

"Opening an inner gate," Pan Ruolan answered, recalling her conversations with Xu Tian about the Spirit Gate Realm. "But opening a gate is incredibly difficult. That's why so many fail to break through."

"Indeed, because opening a gate requires a connection to the Primordial Chaos and the Heavens," Ming Ren elaborated. "Someone with a true element already possesses that connection and can open a corresponding gate. That is why true elements are so valuable."

Pan Ruolan's spirits sank. Did this mean she was doomed to remain stuck at the Spirit Sea Realm?

Ming Ren smiled reassuringly. "But in the end, it is merely a shortcut," he continued. "You can forge a connection by comprehending the mysteries of the world through bloodlines, fortunate encounters, or even with the aid of realm-breaking pills. The path of cultivation is full of mysteries and surprises. You may even bond with a true element later on."

"Really?" Pan Ruolan's eyes sparkled with newfound hope. "I've never heard of such a thing!"

"I read a lot," Ming Ren joked. "There are many talented cultivators who will never reach the peak, while those deemed untalented will soar to great heights. The most important quality for a cultivator to possess is an unyielding will to reach the Heavens!"

"You sound like an old man," Pan Ruolan chuckled. "Thank you. I'm going to cultivate now."

She walked towards the safe spot Ming Ren had identified, casting a final glance over her shoulder, her gaze filled with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

Meanwhile, Ming Ren moved to a secluded area, ensuring he was out of range of Xu Tian's powerful spiritual sense. He settled down in a quiet corner of the nearby woods, ready to attend to his own matters.

Sitting in a lotus position, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate, immersing himself in the flow of spiritual energy. His concentration was unwavering as he channeled the essence of Heaven and Earth into his inner sea, strengthening his cultivation.

Time seemed to lose all meaning as he delved deeper into his practice. The sounds of the forest faded into the background as he focused solely on his inner world. The woods around him seemed to come alive with energy, responding to the potent aura emanating from the young cultivator.

After a while, he opened his eyes and spoke, a knowing smile playing upon his lips. "Oh, still lurking? You can come out now."

He had sensed the presence of the figures who had been trailing him, their attempts at stealth failing to escape his keen awareness.

Three figures emerged from the shadows, their faces etched with surprise and annoyance. They had underestimated the young cultivator's perceptiveness.

"What an arrogant brat!" one of the figures spat, his voice dripping with disdain. Clad in a black assassin's garb, he exuded an aura of danger, his short sword and dagger glinting ominously. "You knew we were following you and still came here?"

"You're strong for your cultivation level," another figure emerged, wielding a chain sickle with razor-sharp blades. "But do you think we are pushovers?"

"Surrender your cultivation law, and we will spare your life," the final figure commanded, his voice cold and confident, his hands adorned with lethal-looking claws.

All three figures emanated the powerful aura of the fourth layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

"When did assassins become so talkative?" Ming Ren scoffed, his voice laced with amusement. He remained seated in the lotus position, his calm demeanor further provoking their ire. "You aren't very good at your job, are you?"

The assassins exchanged surprised glances, taken aback by his audacity. They had expected fear, not mockery.

"Heh, trying to taunt us won't work, brat," one of them sneered.

"Taunt you? No, no," Ming Ren chuckled. "I'm actually feeling a little insulted. Only three of you came. Since you enjoy talking so much, tell me, did Bao Shi send you, or did you come on your own accord?"

The assassin's eyes widened in shock. "You... how do you know that?! Are you a spy from another clan?"

He channeled his spiritual energy into his chain sickle and lunged at Ming Ren, aiming for a fatal blow.

Ming Ren reacted instinctively, rolling away from the attack and springing to his feet, his body ready for battle.

As he lunged forward, the assassin pulled the chain taut, preparing to strike. But Ming Ren's movements were fluid and unpredictable, his body weaving out of harm's way.

The other two assassins joined the fray, their swords, daggers, and claws flashing in the moonlight. The sword and dagger-wielding assassin lunged forward, his blades flashing in the moonlight as he aimed a swift and deadly slash at Ming Ren. But the young cultivator's instincts were razor-sharp. With lightning reflexes, he launched a perfectly timed kick, striking the attacker's hand and disrupting the trajectory of the blade. The force of the blow sent the assassin stumbling backward, momentarily disarmed and disoriented.

Before Ming Ren could even catch his breath, the third assassin, armed with lethal claws, descended upon him like a predator pouncing on its prey. His eyes narrowed with focus as he executed a backward roll, evading the deadly claws with impeccable timing. 

The three assassins exchanged bewildered glances, their confidence shaken to its core. Never before had they encountered a target who could so effortlessly outmaneuver their combined assault, especially one at the seemingly insignificant Body Tempering Realm.

But Ming Ren was just getting started. The One Breath Luminescence Law coursed through his body. His eyes blazed with intensity, igniting a beastly nature that lay dormant within him.

"Why are you surprised?" he growled, his voice filled with a newfound ferocity. "None of you will see another sunrise."