11 Episode 11 - Mind, Body, and Soul

The demon's blazing drill collided with the barrier, and the impact was immense. The barrier held, but Jiexin could feel the intense heat and pressure on the other side, threatening to break through.

The ground shook, and the night was illuminated by the fiery clash of forces. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath Jiexin's feet trembled violently. The fiery onslaught of the demon's attack sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, causing nearby glass windows to shatter.

"You can't withstand this, human!" The demon's voice echoed ominously as it continued its violent spin, determined to break through the barrier.

The barrier flickered, a warning sign that it was on the brink of collapsing under the overwhelming assault. Jiexin received guidance from the spirit's voice.

"Raise your arms and brace yourself!" The voice urged.

Jiexin struggled to keep his balance as an invisible force pressed him down like a crushing weight. He clenched his teeth and fought to maintain his stance, but the barrier was teetering on the edge of oblivion.

"It's too much," Jiexin gasped, his voice strained. "I fear the barrier won't hold."

"NEHAHAHA!" The demon laughed, noticing the barrier flickering..

"Connect your body, mind, and soul. It will strengthen your life energy," the voice advised, its tone urgent and intense.

Jiexin's face contorted as he struggled to endure. His body felt like it was being crushed under immense pressure, and his will was tested to the limit.

"How do I do that?"

"Try to relax. Your mind is filled with doubts, but your soul is kind, and your body is strong. Focus on what's important to you and who you're doing this for," the voice urged a sense of desperation in its words.

In the midst of this tense situation, Jiexin attempted to relax. It was difficult, almost impossible, but he needed to push through.

"I don't think I can do it," Jiexin admitted, his face displaying exhaustion and veins bulging from the intense pressure. His voice quivered, but his determination burned like a torch in the darkness.

"The doubts in your mind are holding you back. Don't think of anything else; focus on what truly matters to you," the voice implored, its urgency driving Jiexin to his limits.

This struck Jiexin, etched in his mind. 'What's important to me? ' he pondered.

He closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought, trying to pinpoint what truly mattered to him. Then countless heartfelt moments went through his memories. With the countless smiles, expressions of gratitude and happiness he had brought to people, the realization washed over him.

The warmth of those smiles and the genuine appreciation he had received from those he had helped filled him and made him who he is now. Jiexin remembered the boy's smile, a symbol of innocence and hope, which added to his newfound purpose.

With a deep breath, Jiexin began to focus, feeling the separation between his mind, body, and soul slowly dissolving. As if an invisible thread connected them, a surge of energy coursed through him. The connection strengthened, and he felt an unshakable resolve surging through his entire being.

As Jiexin's mind, body, and soul aligned, a yellow aura burst beneath his feet, and the light on his fingertips grew brighter, illuminating the night. His eyes turned yellow, like a glowing orb in the dark, signaling the successful strengthening of his Life Energy.

With this newfound energy, the barrier became thicker and stopped flickering. Jiexin still felt the weight, but it was much more manageable now.

"What's going on!?" the demon exclaimed, puzzled by the increased durability of the barrier.

"You did it, everything inside you has become one!" the voice in Jiexin's mind explained.

Jiexin's focus remained on the demon as he shouted,

"Light Shield, The Hands of Kei!"

A colossal hand, formed of glowing light, appeared above the spinning demon. Jiexin could only conjure one hand since the other was dedicated to maintaining the barrier. The demon, still spinning, couldn't avoid the enormous hand.

"How are you doing this!?" the demon demanded, utterly perplexed by Jiexin's sudden surge of power.

With remarkable precision, Jiexin's right hand controlled the ethereal appendage. It was a heavy burden, but it obeyed his commands as if he were moving a cursor on a computer screen.

Simultaneously, Jiexin maintained the barrier with his left hand, struggling but being able to endure it, which held strong against the demon's onslaught.

His focus was steady as he raised his right hand, and the colossal hand mirrored his movement, ascending with purpose. He intended to strike the demon like a mosquito swatted from the air.

Jiexin threw his right hand downward, intending to strike the demon, but as he saw it approaching, guilt and doubt consumed him. He couldn't bring himself to harm the demon, especially knowing that it was once a human, the boy's father.

The voice urgently questioned his actions, but Jiexin was lost in thought. The voice couldn't see his thoughts, but it could hear them.

"What are you thinking? Finish him, or you will die," the voice implored.

Jiexin's internal conflict raged on as he stared blankly, his eyes wide, and sweat continued to drip from his brow. 

Jiexin made a choice. He lowered his right hand, and the glowing hand dissipated.

"What a fool!" the demon taunted, "Humans can be soft-hearted and ruthless at the same time. You humans are nothing!"

But Jiexin wasn't done. He raised both his arms high, channeling all his life energy into the barrier.

"Let's see how long you can last," Jiexin declared with unwavering determination.

Jiexin understood that it was a battle of endurance. Whoever exhausted their resources first would be the one to fall. He was resolute and focused on maintaining the barrier by infusing it with his life energy.

"Are you crazy?" the voice exclaimed. "All of your life energy will be sucked out if you continue this!"

But Jiexin didn't waver; he trusted in his decision.

As the voice was about to say something more, it felt like there was a change in the situation.

"What's this?"