Wrong Assumption

As Ming Ren ventured deeper into the cave, he cautiously enveloped himself in a thin veil of spiritual energy, a shield against the toxic gases that permeated the damp and cool air. The cave's walls were slick with moisture, and eerie shadows danced across the uneven terrain. His keen eyes picked up on unusual patterns etched into the stone, remnants of a powerful spiritual energy channeled over many years.

'This cave once belonged to a cultivator,' he realized, his senses sharpening as he noted the increasing density of metal Qi. 'The spirit beast within must be at least at the fifth layer of the Spirit Sea Realm… and even stronger within its own lair.'

The realization heightened his awareness, preparing him for the inevitable confrontation. The cave, a fusion of natural formations and remnants of ancient cultivation, was not only physically treacherous but also spiritually charged, demanding both respect and caution.

He tightened his grip on his sword, his focus unwavering. He had conserved his energy throughout his journey, avoiding unnecessary conflicts with other beasts and cultivators, all in preparation for this crucial encounter.

Facing a spirit beast at the fifth layer of the Spirit Sea Realm was a daunting challenge, even for a fully prepared cultivator. The beast's home turf advantage, amplified by the abundance of metal Qi within the cave, would make it an even more formidable opponent.

The idea of luring the beast out of the cave was quickly dismissed by Ming Ren. The risk of it escaping into the vast wilderness of Mount Ironclaw was too great, making it nearly impossible to track down again. The cave offered no tactical advantages, only a single, straight path leading deeper into darkness.

However, the lack of light posed no obstacle for Ming Ren. His spiritual sense, coupled with the enhanced vision of the Bright Eyes technique, allowed him to navigate the treacherous terrain with ease, perceiving the subtle flows of Qi and the intricate details of his surroundings. Each step was deliberate, his breath controlled, his mind alert to any potential threat lurking in the shadows.

Despite his stealth, the spirit beast detected his presence almost instantly. It carelessly discarded the half-dead cultivator it had been feeding on, its attention now fully focused on the intruder within its lair. Ming Ren noted the creature's keen senses, likely honed to perfection within the darkness of its domain.

'Powerful sensory abilities,' he thought, studying the monstrous insect before him. 'It doesn't resemble anything I've encountered before… as I suspected, it's a chimera, like the giant spider. I'm unsure of its capabilities, but it's likely poisonous.'

The beast's bulbous eyes, wide and unnerving, locked onto Ming Ren with an intense gaze. It buzzed softly, the sound vibrating through the air as if trying to assess the threat posed by the seemingly insignificant youth before it.

With a sudden burst of speed, Ming Ren closed the distance between himself and the monstrous insect, utilizing [Flash Step] to transform into a blur of motion. His sword, drawn and ready, aimed for a vital spot he had identified on the chimera's body.

The agile spirit beast, sensing the impending danger, reacted with lightning reflexes. As Ming Ren's blade descended, it leaped aside, its chitinous exoskeleton bristling with thousands of tiny, needle-like hairs. These hairs launched towards Ming Ren in a deadly volley, aimed with precision to pierce and immobilize.

Anticipating the counterattack, Ming Ren rolled to the side, his sword tracing a defensive arc as a thick, green mist erupted from the beast, filling the air with a noxious odor. Dozens of featherwing spirit bugs emerged from the mist, adding to the chaos of the battle.

Undeterred, Ming Ren's blade found its mark, slicing through the poisonous hairs and the beast's tough exterior, drawing green blood. He raised his sword for another strike, but the creature's underdeveloped wings suddenly transformed into hardened spikes, forcing him to retreat.

Ming Ren quickly assessed the situation. 'Poisonous hair, foul odor, mutating wings, and the parasites…' he thought, his mind racing. 'This chimera is a formidable opponent.'

He maintained the thin layer of spiritual energy around his body, shielding himself from the paralyzing effects of the mist. He also noted the increased activity of the parasites within him, a disturbing indication of their connection to the beast.

'I must end this quickly,' he resolved.

He positioned his sword before him, channeling the One Breath Luminescence Law as his sword intent surged. His eyes narrowed in focus as he poured his spiritual energy into a single, devastating strike, hoping to bring a swift end to this dangerous battle.

Just as Ming Ren gathered his energy for the final strike, he sidestepped slightly, and a sharp pain ripped through his side. His instincts screamed danger, but it was too late. A black-clad assassin, hidden within the shadows, had struck, his thin blade piercing Ming Ren's flesh and aiming for a vital point. Blood oozed from the wound, sending waves of pain and dizziness through his body.

Gritting his teeth against the agony, Ming Ren reversed his grip on his sword and lunged at his attacker in a desperate counter-attack. The assassin, reacting with lightning speed, leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blade. He landed a short distance away, his laughter echoing mockingly through the cave.

"You dodged a fatal blow from that distance?" the assassin taunted, his voice laced with surprise and amusement. "I thought you were a fool to come here at the Body Tempering Realm, but for a moment, I feared my friend would fall to your blade."

Ming Ren struggled to remain upright, his vision blurring, his strength waning. Just as he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness, a surge of power from Jana's bloodline coursed through his veins, stabilizing his condition and keeping him combat-ready.

'How did I miss him with my spiritual sense and Bright Eyes...?' he thought, his mind reeling. Focusing his enhanced vision, he noticed something he had overlooked before – faint, shimmering runic patterns woven into the assassin's black attire. 'Spirit Gate stealth runes!' he realized.

The assassin, amused by Ming Ren's predicament, continued to taunt him. "Who are you? And how did you find us?"

Ming Ren's eyes darted between the menacing spirit beast and the sinister assassin, calculating his options. Escape seemed unlikely, and engaging in further combat with his injuries was a risky proposition.

"It's futile," the assassin sneered, his smirk widening as he observed Ming Ren's weakening state. "I am faster than you. Even if you tried to run… are you feeling faint already?"

"Poison!" Ming Ren gasped, feigning weakness as he collapsed to his knees, clutching his wounded side. "This… this isn't possible…"

The assassin laughed, twirling his blood-stained dagger. "I was surprised myself," he admitted. "This is a middle-grade first-rank weapon. It should have killed you instantly, even without poison. You have a body stronger than mine. Are you truly at the Body Tempering Realm?"

"You… bastard…" Ming Ren cursed weakly.

"Not only that, but you used external spiritual energy! At the Body Tempering Realm," the assassin continued, his curiosity piqued. "Tell me how you did it, and I might spare your life."

Ming Ren remained silent, his mind racing.

"Stubborn, aren't you?" the assassin sneered. "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to talk once my friend here starts draining your life away. He's been a bit rebellious lately, but your spiritual energy seems quite potent. Perhaps you're one of those Heaven Chosen from this country? What a pity. If only your cultivation were higher…"

'From this country?' Ming Ren seized on the assassin's words, allowing his body to slump further. "You… you… you're with the people who caused the spirit beast frenzy in the Vagrant Woods, aren't you…?" he rasped, his voice barely audible.

The assassin's laughter subsided, replaced by a sinister smile. "Oh, you're clever! Hehehe, does that mean you're a survivor from there? Those incompetent fools. They're ruining the young lord's plans."

"Young Lord…?" Ming Ren inquired, playing along.

"Hahaha, yes, the young lord!" the assassin boasted. "You think you're talented? Arrogant? You are nothing compared to my lord. This world will not be able to stop him."

His words revealed not only his allegiance but also the existence of a larger, more sinister plot involving a "young lord" with ambitious plans.

"If he's so powerful, why resort to such underhanded tactics to weaken this country?" Ming Ren challenged, watching closely as the assassin's amusement turned to anger.

"You!" the assassin snarled, his face contorted with rage. "You figured that out? You're dangerous… Wait, why aren't you getting weaker? The bleeding has even stopped… Y-you… you were baiting me to talk?!"

A triumphant smile spread across Ming Ren's face. The bleeding from his wound had ceased, and Jana's and the Jade Clan's combined bloodline rapidly neutralized the poison. However, the surge in power also invigorated the featherwing spirit bugs within him, significantly weakening his overall strength.

'I can't take them both on in this state,' he realized. 'It's either the bug or the tamer…'

His eyes blazed with determination. "You talked all on your own!" he declared, lunging forward.

He dodged the spirit beast's volley of spiky hairs and slashed at the assassin. The tamer evaded the attack, noting Ming Ren's diminished speed. In that instant, Ming Ren activated the One Breath Luminescence Law and the Divine Light Dragon Body, transforming the spiritual energy within his inner sea into potent Fire Qi.

The surge of Fire Qi weakened the parasitic spirit bugs, halting their energy drain. Ming Ren's power returned to its peak, and he [Flashed] towards the spirit beast, aiming to sever its connection with the parasites by ending its life.

The black-clothed assassin, sensing a sudden shift in power and a surge of impending doom, hesitated to intervene.

Ming Ren's sword danced through the air, a whirlwind of motion and spiritual energy. Each slash, empowered by his inner and external Qi, carried immense power and precision.

[Dance of the Clear Sword (Spirit Sea Realm)]

The spirit beast, despite its formidable defenses and fifth-layer Spirit Sea Realm cultivation, was no match for Ming Ren's relentless assault. His Dance of the Clear Sword carved through its spiky hairs and thick exoskeleton with ease, leaving a trail of dismembered limbs and spilled blood in its wake. The once-powerful creature, reduced to a mangled carcass, lay defeated at Ming Ren's feet.

But victory came at a steep cost. The exertion of wielding such a high-level technique, coupled with the depletion of his spiritual energy from the earlier fight and the parasitic drain, left Ming Ren utterly exhausted. His body went numb, his vision blurred, and a wave of nausea washed over him.

As the spirit beast perished, the parasites within him reacted violently, sending chills down his spine. Instead of dying or weakening, they grew stronger, flooding his body with toxins. His powerful bloodlines prevented immediate collapse, but the pain was excruciating, his internal organs hardening as if turning to stone.

The black-clothed assassin, his rage boiling over, roared in fury and despair. "You… What have you done! That beast was unique! All the young lord's effort… I WILL KILL YOU!" He tensed, ready to strike, but hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. Ming Ren's display of power had left him shaken, the realization that he could have been the target chilling him to his core.

Ming Ren attempted to raise his sword, but a sharp pain ripped through his body, forcing him to his knees. He had expected the parasites to die with the beast, but they had only grown stronger.

"It wasn't the host…?" he gasped, his voice strained with pain and disbelief.

"You... you know about the spirit bugs?!" the assassin exclaimed, his voice laced with both shock and a twisted sense of amusement. "Who the hell are you?! Fool, you thought it was the host? I AM the host!"

With a flourish, he flung open his cloak, revealing a horrifying sight. Beneath the fabric, a seething mass of featherwing spirit bugs swarmed and writhed, their tiny bodies pulsating with a malevolent energy. Ming Ren's eyes widened in horror as he realized the true nature of his adversary – not a mere human cultivator, but a living vessel for these parasitic creatures.

Ming Ren stumbled back, his body weakened by the parasitic drain on his Qi. He knew he had to eliminate the assassin at all costs, but in his current state, he was nearly defenseless. Using any other technique was out of the question; his only option was to unleash the power of his soul. However, the devastating consequences of his previous loss of control in the Vagrant Woods haunted him, leaving him hesitant to resort to such a dangerous measure.

The assassin, sensing Ming Ren's vulnerability, charged forward with murderous intent. His dagger, ready to deliver a fatal blow, gleamed in the fading light. "Die, you bastard!"