Black Opal Shadow Law

Bao Shi's eyes widened, momentarily stunned. "Take over...?"

Ming Ren's gaze held steady, a quiet intensity burning within, "To become my sword, you need that level of ambition." 

Bao Shi's fists clenched, knuckles whitening under the pressure of his grip, "I would stop at nothing to fulfill my mission," he declared, a flicker of doubt momentarily crossing his features. "But with my talent... rising to lead the Dark Society is a near impossibility."

"The Dark Society?" Ming Ren echoed, prompting the merchant to elaborate.

Bao Shi nodded grimly, "On the surface, the Jewel Clan is a merchant Clan. In truth, we are the Dark Society's hand, reaching into the Six Provinces and even the Royal Capital itself. As a Provincial Leader, I am qualified to vie for leadership of the Society."

Ming Ren listened intently, his expression unreadable, but his mind raced with possibilities.

"However," Bao Shi continued, a sigh escaping his lips, "among the seven candidates, I am the least likely to succeed. Were it not for your intervention, my lord, I would be nothing more than a corpse by now, another victim of the one known only as the Dark Society's Shadow."

"You don't know his true identity?" Ming Ren inquired, intrigued by the secrecy surrounding the society.

Bao Shi shook his head. "Anonymity is our shield," he explained. "We operate in the shadows, unaware of each other's true faces or the organizations that comprise the society. Enemies abound, and should one of us fall, the others remain protected. It is a harsh system, one that forces us to constantly expand our network and utilize every resource at our disposal to survive, to compete."

A flicker of understanding crossed Ming Ren's face, "So, your identity was compromised, and Shadow saw an opportunity to eliminate a rival."

"Indeed," Bao Shi confirmed, a hint of despair creeping into his voice, "There are only two paths to leadership, as far as I know. One is to earn the favor of the ancestor, a direct appointment bestowed upon the chosen. The other..." He paused, his gaze hardening, "is to dominate, to crush the other leaders, leaving them with no choice but to bend the knee or face oblivion."

He let out a long, weary breath. "Unfortunately, I possess neither the influence nor the talent to achieve either."

A faint smile played upon Ming Ren's lips, "You possess wisdom, Bao Shi," he remarked, his voice laced with a knowing confidence that surprised the merchant, "And more importantly, the Heavens favor you."

Bao Shi scoffed, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "A fool such as myself? Surely you jest, young lord."

"Not at all," Ming Ren countered, his green eyes gleaming with an inner light. "For you have crossed paths with me." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, "I guarantee that as long as your will remains unyielding, a path to greater heights shall unfold before you."

Bao Shi felt a surge of hope ignite within him, a flicker of ambition he had long suppressed. He dropped to one knee, head bowed in unwavering loyalty, "My lord," he declared, his voice ringing with conviction, "I already swore my loyalty to you. I will not waver!" 

"Rise, then," Ming Ren commanded, his tone shifting from enigmatic to pragmatic, "And show me the foundation upon which we shall build your ascent. Circulate your cultivation law."

For a fleeting moment, Bao Shi wondered if this was another test, a challenge to prove his worth. He banished the thought, knowing hesitation had no place in his newfound path. Without a word, he closed his eyes and channeled the flow of spiritual energy within his body, revealing the secrets of his cultivation to his young lord.

Ming Ren observed silently, his gaze piercing through the veil of Bao Shi's technique. A faint, almost imperceptible light flickered within his eyes, the enhanced Bright Eyes technique laying bare the truth of the merchant's cultivation. The merchant leader had nothing special.

"A common physique, burdened by a weak spiritual root," he murmured, his voice devoid of judgment, merely stating facts. "Poor comprehension, a shaky foundation... No sign of true elements or rare energies."

Bao Shi's shoulders slumped, his earlier hope dwindling under the weight of his limitations. He had long suspected his lack of talent, but hearing it confirmed by Ming Ren felt like a crushing blow.

Ming Ren's gaze, however, remained fixed on the merchant, a spark of intrigue returning to his eyes. 'Yet, despite these shortcomings, he rose to lead a clan,' he mused, recognizing the man's cunning and resourcefulness. 'To locate my scattered clansmen, I require eyes and ears throughout the land. And Bao Shi, with his network and connections, could provide just that.'

A plan began to form in Ming Ren's mind, "Teach me your cultivation law!" 

With unwavering trust, Bao Shi presented the manuals containing the Jewel Clan's secret arts, along with the details of his cultivation law. Ming Ren's eyes scanned the pages, his mind effortlessly absorbing the knowledge within. The techniques were familiar, similar in complexity to the Forest Clan's former arts, child's play to his enhanced comprehension.

He needed not even practice the movements, for the essence of each technique flowed seamlessly into his understanding. From stealthy footwork to silent assassination strikes, the arts of the Jewel Clan unveiled their secrets before him, reaching the pinnacle of mastery within moments. The biggest difference was that the Jewel Clan had many assassination and stealth arts as a Clan that supported work from the shadows.

"Your battle spade," Ming Ren requested, his gaze fixed on the merchant's weapon.

Curiosity sparked in Bao Shi's eyes as he handed over the spade. He had witnessed Ming Ren's swordsmanship, but the battle spade was a different beast altogether, requiring both finesse and brute force.

The moment the weapon touched Ming Ren's hand, it felt like an extension of his own body, an instrument he had wielded for a lifetime. With a fluid motion, he lifted the spade above his head, twisting it in a powerful circular arc before slamming it down with earth-shattering force.

"That's...!" Bao Shi gasped, recognizing the technique instantly.

[Jewel Arts - Twister Strike]

The [Twister Strike], a difficult maneuver even for seasoned Jewel Clan cultivators, executed flawlessly. 

"How…?" Bao Shi's jaw hung slack, disbelief etched across his features. Perfect mastery, achieved in an instant? Such a feat defied logic, surpassing anything he had ever witnessed. How can someone that had just learnt this martial art perform it at such a high level right away?

Ming Ren lowered the spade, a faint smile playing upon his lips. "A fascinating collection of techniques," he remarked, his voice laced with admiration. "Not only designed for combat, but also for the efficient acquisition of resources. How fitting for your clan's role."

He turned his attention to Bao Shi, his gaze piercing. "The Black Opal Shadow Law you practice," he began, analyzing the cultivation technique, "a middle-grade Body Tempering Realm law, comparable to the arts of a Fourth Rank influence. It emphasizes fluidity and adaptability, but..." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, "it was crafted by someone attuned to the True Element of Darkness. Without Shadow Qi, you will never unlock its full potential."

Bao Shi's eyes widened in surprise. He had always known the limitations of his cultivation, the frustration of being unable to harness the true power of the Dark Society's legacy. "The Society's founder was a master of Shadow Arts," he admitted, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I accepted long ago that such mastery was beyond my reach."

"Beyond your reach?" Ming Ren challenged, his smile widening. "Even without a True Element, Shadow Qi is the key. The path will be arduous, but not insurmountable." He opened his palm, and a swirling vortex of pure darkness materialized, the essence of Shadow Qi dancing at his fingertips.

"That's... Shadow Qi!" Bao Shi exclaimed, awestruck. "But how? My lord, you haven't even reached the Spirit Sea Realm..."

"The Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth is boundless," Ming Ren explained, his voice filled with the wisdom gleaned from countless lifetimes. "It can transform into any element, any energy, as long as one comprehends its primordial origins. Without a True Element, a unique treasure, or a powerful bloodline, you must rely on your own unwavering efforts. Do you understand?"

Bao Shi's eyes shone with newfound determination, the spark of ambition reignited within his soul. "Yes, my lord," he declared, his voice ringing with unwavering resolve. "I will not falter."

Ming Ren delved into the Black Opal Shadow Law, his mind dissecting and reconstructing the technique with lightning speed. Years spent immersed in the Bright Scripture had honed his comprehension to an unimaginable degree, allowing him to surpass even his previous feats of cultivation mastery.

He tailored the law to Bao Shi's unique pathways and constitution, weaving in principles of darkness and efficiency, transforming the once mediocre technique into a masterpiece of Shadow cultivation. The transfer back to Bao Shi was seamless, a stream of knowledge flowing directly into the merchant's mind. He became even faster since the time he improved the Forest Clan Arts.

Bao Shi staggered, overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of the improved law. He saw Ming Ren as a prodigy, but this... this was beyond human comprehension. As he comprehended deeper, unraveling the layers of the transformed Black Opal Shadow Law, his awe turned to disbelief. The law had ascended, reaching the coveted Heaven Grade, a level previously deemed unattainable for him.

"This... this is impossible!" he exclaimed, sinking to his knees, overcome with emotion. "Is this truly real?"

"Calm yourself and circulate the law," Ming Ren instructed, his voice a soothing balm to Bao Shi's turbulent emotions.

Returning to his senses, Bao Shi channeled the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, guiding it through the intricate pathways of the Black Opal Shadow Law. Despite his initial struggles to grasp its full complexity, the effects were immediate. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he felt a surge of power coursing through his meridians, his body invigorated as if awakened from a long slumber.

"As long as you can grasp this law, it will also help you in manipulating Shadow Qi," Ming Ren had woven strands of Darkness Rules into the law, attuning it to the very essence of Shadow Qi and the True Element of Darkness, 'Although I simplified it according to my principles, it's still too much for a normal cultivator to grasp in a short time. His progress is still acceptable, though."

After a while, Ming Ren instructed Bao Shi to cease his cultivation. With a flick of his wrist, he transferred the remaining secret arts of the Jewel Clan. If the improved cultivation law had left Bao Shi astounded, the sheer volume and variety of techniques threatened to overwhelm him completely.

Battle spade arts, movement techniques, stealth and assassination methods, bone-altering disciplines, the art of disguise, hidden weapons, poisons, and even a collection of pill formulas flooded his mind. He felt like a parched man suddenly submerged in a vast ocean, struggling to absorb the seemingly endless knowledge.

"My lord... this is..." Bao Shi stammered, speechless with gratitude and disbelief.

"With these," Ming Ren declared, his voice resonating with power and purpose, "you become my eyes and ears, extending my reach into the darkest corners of the land." A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "One last thing." He transferred a nameless physical cultivation art, a technique focused on forging the body into an unyielding weapon. 

It focused on developing extreme physical resilience and adaptability, drawing inspiration from the enduring nature of stone and the flowing adaptability of water, combining both hard and soft techniques. The lack of reliance on special resources or unique physiques makes the art accessible to a wider range of cultivators, offering a path to physical prowess for those without inherent advantages.

"For assassins and spies," he explained, "a resilient and adaptable physique can mean the difference between life and death. The training will be grueling, but it requires no special talents or affinities. Their bodies will become instruments of survival, weapons of silent lethality."

By now, Bao Shi had abandoned any attempt to decipher the enigma that was Ming Ren. The young lord's abilities defied explanation, his knowledge seemingly boundless, his mastery of cultivation bordering on the divine. In Bao Shi's eyes, Ming Ren had transcended the realm of mere mortals, becoming a figure worthy of reverence and unwavering loyalty.

"As for Bao An," Ming Ren added, his voice a soothing reassurance, "I will give her a suitable cultivation law in due time. Let not your worries burden your heart."

Tears welled up in Bao Shi's eyes, threatening to spill over. "My lord," he choked out, overcome with gratitude and devotion, "my life is yours to command. I would gladly lay it down at your feet."

"No," Ming Ren countered, his gaze steady and unwavering. "I need you alive, Bao Shi. The power I have bestowed upon you comes with duties and responsibilities. Remember my principles, and extend your protection to any member of the Bright Clan who crosses your path. Should you betray this trust..." A cold glint flickered in his eyes, "I will kill you myself."

"Such a betrayal will never occur!" Bao Shi declared, his voice ringing with conviction as he clasped his fists together. "I swear it upon the Heavens themselves."

"Good," Ming Ren acknowledged, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. "Then we-"

His words were cut short, his brow furrowing as he turned his gaze towards the distant treeline. A subtle shift in the air, a faint tremor in the ground beneath his feet, alerted him to approaching danger.

"My lord?" Bao Shi inquired, sensing the change in Ming Ren's demeanor.

"We have company," Ming Ren stated simply, his eyes narrowing as he observed the approaching figures.

A sense of unease settled upon Bao Shi as the group drew closer, led by a young woman radiating an aura of power and confidence. Her long brown hair, braided and reaching down to her waist, swayed with each step, and her muscular arms effortlessly carried two massive heavy blades, one in each hand.

"I thought you would be food for worms by now, noble scum," the woman sneered, "To think I would still have the pleasure of ending your miserable life with my own hands."

"Damn them," Bao Shi cursed under his breath, recognizing the newcomers. "Those mountain bandits again..." 

He stepped forward, placing himself between Ming Ren and the approaching threat, his body tensed and ready to defend his young lord.

Ming Ren's gaze swept over the group, taking in their number and assessing their strength. His eyes lingered on an elderly man standing slightly behind the young woman, his cultivation level noticeably higher than the others. Most of the bandits were at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, with a few in the early stages of the Spirit Sea Realm. The old man, however, stood at the sixth layer of the spirit sea.

"So, did all of your subordinates die?" the woman taunted, "And where did this noble boy come from?"

Bao Shi gritted his teeth at the mention of his fallen comrades, his anger barely contained. He leaned towards Ming Ren, his voice a hushed whisper. "My lord, allow me to hold them off while you escape. This woman... she is only at the fourth layer, but stronger than she appears."

"Did the old man behind her fight?" Ming Ren inquired, ignoring Bao Shi's plea. His gaze remained fixed on the elderly bandit, a spark of curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"He did not. I can handle the others," Bao Shi admitted, his voice a low growl, "but the girl... she is beyond my capabilities."

Ming Ren's gaze sharpened as he focused his Bright Eyes technique on the young woman, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Then let them serve as whetstones upon which you shall hone your newfound skills," he declared, his voice carrying clearly across the clearing, reaching the ears of the approaching bandits, "They will be good practice opponents for you."

Bao Shi's eyes widened in surprise. "My lord," he protested, a tremor of apprehension in his voice, "that is far too risky. These bandits are more formidable than the assassins we faced earlier."

"Have you forgotten?" Ming Ren countered, his tone calm and unwavering. "You are no longer the man you once were. Consider this an opportunity. This is the perfect opportunity for me to guide you."

"Practice?" The woman roared, her face contorted with fury. "This arrogant whelp speaks of practice? I will tear you apart!" She turned to her followers, "Kill them all!"

With a bloodthirsty roar, the mountain bandits surged forward, weapons drawn and eyes filled with malice. Ming Ren stood motionless, his expression serene, while Bao Shi stepped forward, gripping his battle spade with newfound confidence.

Even before his transformation, Bao Shi, at the sixth layer of the Body Tempering Realm, could have held his own against these bandits. But now, empowered by the Heaven Grade Black Opal Shadow Law, he was a force to be reckoned with.

Spiritual energy flowed through his meridians like a raging torrent, fueling his every movement with effortless power and precision. He weaved through the bandits' attacks with the grace of a shadow, his battle spade a blur of deadly arcs as he countered each strike with devastating force.

A sweeping leg sweep sent two bandits crashing to the ground. A swift thrust of the spade disarmed another, followed by a crushing blow to the chest that sent him flying backwards. Bao Shi moved like a whirlwind of darkness, his strikes precise and efficient, leaving no opening for his opponents to exploit.

The spiritual energy inside his body flowed much faster, powering his every move easily, without effort. The difference between a middle-grade Body Tempering Realm Law and a Heaven Grade Spirit Sea Law was the difference between Heaven and Earth.

One by one, the bandits fell before him, their attacks clumsy and predictable compared to his speed and agility. Their expressions morphed from confidence to fear as they realized the futility of their assault. Soon, the clearing was littered with groaning bodies, their weapons scattered across the bloodstained ground. 

In the blink of an eye, Bao Shi defeated the bandits.