Power Against Speed

A wave of astonishment washed over Bao Shi as he surveyed the fallen bandits, their bodies sprawled across the clearing like discarded puppets. He had never imagined possessing such power, such effortless control over his movements and attacks. The transformation brought about by Ming Ren's enhancements was nothing short of miraculous.

The young bandit leader, her previous confidence shattered, cast a bewildered glance at the old man beside her, "Did he hold back during our previous encounter?" 

The old man shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. "I believe something has fundamentally changed," he murmured, his gaze lingering on Ming Ren. "Perhaps an artifact of great power..."

Undeterred, the woman raised her blade, her eyes burning with renewed determination. "No matter," she snarled, her voice dripping with defiance. "I will crush him all the same!"

With a powerful surge of Qi, she lunged forward, her heavy blade descending towards Bao Shi with the force of a falling mountain. The merchant leader reacted instinctively, raising his battle spade to meet the attack head-on. The clash of steel resonated through the clearing, sending shockwaves of Qi pressure rippling outwards.

Despite his enhancements, Bao Shi found himself evenly matched against the young woman. Her raw strength and ferocity seemed to compensate for her lower cultivation level and the inferior rank of her techniques.

Ming Ren observed the battle intently, his eyes gleaming with an enigmatic light as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. 'Interesting,' he mused, noting the woman's untamed power and the unique flow of her Qi. 

Shame gnawed at Bao Shi's heart as he struggled to gain the upper hand. He had been blessed with a Heaven Grade cultivation law, his skills honed to another, yet he couldn't overcome this mountain bandit. The fear of disappointing his young lord fueled his frustration, pushing him to fight harder.

He channeled the full might of the Black Opal Shadow Law, his battle spade blurring into a whirlwind of motion as he executed the [Twister Strike], drawing upon the surrounding spiritual energy to amplify his attack.

[Jewel Clan Art - Twister Strike]

The woman's eyes flashed with a predatory glint as she countered with her own powerful technique, her dual blades slashing through the air in a deadly X formation. 

[Heavy Blade Art - X Slash]

The [X Slash] collided with the Twister Strike, creating a deafening explosion of energy that sent both combatants reeling backwards.

Frustration etched itself onto Bao Shi's face, but it paled in comparison to the fury burning within the bandit leader. Just hours ago, she had dominated this merchant with ease. Now, she found herself struggling to even land a blow.

"You bastards from the Clans and your dirty tricks!" The bandit leader didn't back down, attacking even more fiercely. Her blade style looked powerful, without any finesse, simply brute power. 

Bao Shi fought back with all his might, parrying and countering the woman's relentless assault. While the merchant leader surpassed his opponent in cultivation, law and martial arts rank, being capable of circulating Qi much faster thanks to his heaven grade spirit sea law, the strain of maintaining such a high level of power began to take its toll. His spiritual energy reserves dwindled rapidly, while the bandit leader seemed to possess an endless well of Qi, her attacks showing no signs of slowing.

"*huff**Huff*..." Bao Shi breathed heavily.

"Tiring already, Clan Leader?" she taunted, pointing one of her blades towards Bao Shi. "It seems your head will be mine soon."

Bao Shi gritted his teeth, his body trembling with exhaustion, but his fighting spirit remained unbroken. He was about to launch another desperate attack when Ming Ren's calm voice cut through the chaos.

"Bao Shi, retreat."

"But my lord," he protested, his pride wounded, "I can still fight!"

"My lord?" The bandit leader's eyes narrowed as she heard Bao Shi's address, a dangerous glint flashing within them. Why would a Clan Leader submit to this boy? He must be another arrogant young master from one of those self-righteous clans.

"On this mountain, in your current state, you are no match for her," Ming Ren stated. "Surely you have realized this as well."

With a heavy heart, Bao Shi acknowledged the truth of his young lord's words. He clenched his fists, his pride wounded, but he knew better than to disobey a direct order. "Yes, my lord," he conceded, reluctantly retreating from the fight.

"Coward!" the bandit leader sneered, her anger reaching a boiling point. "Trying to flee now?"

She was about to pursue when Ming Ren stepped forward, his hands clasped calmly before him. "Miss," he began, his voice steady and devoid of hostility, "we bear you no ill will. Must we resort to further violence? This man is under my protection. I urge you to reconsider your actions."

The woman's killing intent surged anew, her eyes blazing with fury. "No ill will?" she scoffed. "You arrogant clan bastards are all the same! You trample upon the common folk, spreading misery and suffering wherever you go. You kidnap our children, exploit our resources, and then dare to claim you have no ill will? Boy or not, since you are from the Clans, I will also take your head!"

"How dare you!" Bao Shi roared, his anger threatening to erupt once more, but Ming Ren's raised hand silenced him.

"It seems words won't reach you," Ming Ren sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "However, allow me to offer you a sliver of wisdom. With such limited strength and understanding, your dreams of overthrowing the cultivator clans are nothing but a fool's fantasy."

His words struck the bandit leader like a thunderbolt, igniting a storm of fury within her.

"To challenge the established order, to reshape this world according to your ideals, to rule over the clans and change them," Ming Ren continued, his voice calm amidst the rising tension, "requires power that transcends mortal limitations. Do you possess such unwavering determination, or are you merely a delusional child playing at rebellion?"

"SHUT UP!" The woman shrieked, unable to contain her rage any longer. She lunged forward, channeling her Qi and unleashing a devastating blow with her heavy blade.

Ming Ren sidestepped the attack with effortless grace, his movements fluid and precise.

Frustration gnawed at the bandit leader as she launched a flurry of blows, each one met with empty air or the unyielding ground. The young man seemed to anticipate her every move, dodging and weaving through her attacks with an almost supernatural awareness.

"Stop hiding behind your tricks and face me!" she roared, her Qi flaring as she unleashed her most powerful technique. The [X Slash] ripped through the air, a torrent of wind and spiritual energy aimed directly at Ming Ren's heart.

[Heavy Blade Art - X Slash]

This time, instead of evading, Ming Ren stepped forward, his fist meeting the blades head-on. With a resounding clang, he deflected the attack, sending the heavy blades spinning away to either side.

"What?!" The bandit leader was shocked. No matter what she did, she was unable to touch this young man.

"Bao Shi," Ming Ren addressed the merchant leader, ignoring the stunned bandit, "do you comprehend why you struggled against her despite your superior cultivation and techniques?"

"Enlighten me, my lord," Bao Shi requested, eager to understand his shortcomings.

"Although you have nearly reached the late stages of the Spirit Sea Realm," Ming Ren explained, "your cultivation law remained rooted in the Body Tempering Realm for far too long. Consequently, you have not yet grasped the true art of manipulating spiritual energy." He circulated his own cultivation law, demonstrating the concept. "Your attacks rely solely on inner energy, projecting only a weakened form of external force."

He clenched his fist, and a visible layer of condensed spiritual energy formed around it, shimmering like a translucent armor. "This is the next step you must master, Bao Shi: True External Spiritual Energy."

"Yes, my lord!" Bao Shi affirmed, his eyes focused and determined.

"But that is merely the beginning," Ming Ren continued, his voice carrying the weight of experience and wisdom. "To reach half-step into the Spirit Gate Realm, you must refine your control over external energy, shaping it at will to form a thin layer around your body, and even projecting it with devastating force."

Bao Shi, along with the old man and the young bandit leader, listened intently, captivated by Ming Ren's teachings. It was unheard of for a cultivator at the Body Tempering Realm to possess such profound understanding and insight.

"Are you hiding your true cultivation level?" the bandit leader asked, her voice a mix of suspicion and awe.

"Do you understand how foolish your dreams of destroying the Clans are? Ming Ren countered, his gaze piercing. "You cannot even defeat a young master at the Body Tempering Realm, let alone challenge the might of the cultivator clans."

His words ignited a spark of defiance within the bandit leader, her Qi flaring once more. However, this time, instead of internal energy, a surge of external spiritual energy erupted from her inner sea, coating her blades in a shimmering aura of power.

'She has comprehended True External Spiritual Energy already?' Ming Ren marveled inwardly, impressed by the woman's rapid progress.

But the surprises didn't end there. A surge of immense pressure emanated from the bandit leader's arms, a force far surpassing mere spiritual energy. It was a power born from a deeper understanding of the world, a connection to the fundamental principles that governed reality itself.

"Block this, if you can!" she roared, her voice filled with a newfound confidence.

"Young lady, stop!" the old man cried out, his voice filled with concern, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Even Ming Ren's composure faltered for a moment as he recognized the power she wielded, 'Strength Principle!' 

The heavy blades descended, infused with external spiritual energy and the raw power of the Strength Principle. The ground beneath her shattered, forming a deep X-shaped crater as the force of her attack rippled outwards.

"My lord!" Bao Shi cried out, instinctively raising his arms to shield himself from the onslaught of Qi pressure.

The bandit leader stumbled back, her breath ragged and her muscles screaming in protest, but a triumphant smile spread across her face. She had unleashed her full power, leaving nothing in reserve. Surely, such a devastating attack would have obliterated her target, even someone at the early stages of the Spirit Gate Realm.

"To think you possessed such strength..." a calm voice echoed beside her.

The young woman whipped around, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Ming Ren standing unharmed, his expression as serene as ever.

"You... how?!" she stammered, her mind reeling from the impossible sight.

As she gathered her remaining energy for another attack, Ming Ren's expression hardened. He channeled the One Breath Luminescence Law, his inner Qi flowing to his palm, preparing to strike back.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the treeline, interrupting the impending clash.

"Sister Huian! Sir! Please wait!"