"Master, are you angry?"

"No. I'm just tired."

"Oh! Then..." He jumped forward to grab Ren's hand. "Can I keep you company while you rest?"

"That's not necessary. I need to be alone."

Han pouted, "But master let's Clay keep him company. Why is Master refusing me?"

Ren sighed. His mental fatigue was starting to put some weight on his soul. And this interaction was only draining him further. 'I can keep him around like a little brother,' he decided opening his eyes. "But can you leave this tree wi-"

"Of course!" Han squeaked elated to have Ren's permission. "I can travel all around master's quarters and a little outside. But when I transform, I can be with Master always."

"Okay. Then get me out of here."

Han grinned before obeying.

In his next breath, Ren was in his body and the vines were lowering him to the ground. Han's human phantom appeared by his side. "I miss you talking to me, Master. You told me so many things that I couldn't understand then, but now that I'm a little enlightened, I can understand some of them."

Ren wanted to punch his face as he recalled some of the embarrassing and intimate things he told Han about himself in an attempt to cumber his loneliness without turning to other people.

"Forget everything I said in the past. None of it matters."

He walked through the open doors. On the bed prepared only for him was... Clay.

"This little guy, hibernating again." He ran his hand on the protective barrier that appeared to be made of luminous blue scales that were a little translucent. "Won't you wake up to welcome me?"

"Master, I'll keep you company today in Clay's stead. Or do you only like Clay?"

"Han, could you please stop saying things like that? I don't like emotional blackmail. I took you with me because I found you unique and needed something to remind me of the mountain. I, however, do not have any special feelings for anyone under me. You're all my responsibility." There was some truth in his words, as well as some lies. Han did mean something to him because he was his first companion before he met Liuyue and the others. But to him, he was someone or something Ren had to take care of for willingly entangling himself with them.

Han frowned releasing Ren's arm. "Fine. Han won't bother you. I'll go and won't come out until you call for me." He turned and vanished.

"So immature." But he understood the spirit clearly. Its soul was new without any experience with other beings. Of course, it'd act childish before it could develop fully. But Ren wouldn't let that excuse be the reason he spoils Han. There had to be rules and boundaries Han shouldn't cross, like manipulating him to sympathize with him.

"Haa! Finally, a bed. I missed these little luxuries."

##################

"Senior sister, look! It's that disciple from Dragon Sword Sect again." A veiled young woman beckoned Xu'er's attention, pointing at the round platform in the arena. "This is his third match this week. He keeps coming back even when he loses."

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"Shh..." Xu'er silenced her junior. "I want to first watch the duel before making my judgment on his skills."

But in truth, she had come here after she overheard news about Ren's arrival back in the city a day ago. There were rumors that he would come to watch his disciple's match, which was why Xu'er had come even though she hated the crowds. Ever since the meeting between her master and Ren, she had looked forward to meeting him again without any grudges between them.

While she wasn't attracted to him sexually, she wanted to find an opportunity and request a duel with him just to test his mysterious skills and techniques. She wanted to learn the void, and her master didn't disapprove of it as long as she learned it directly from Ren.

Her determination led her to befriend the disciples in hopes of building a relationship with them. It was a selfish move, but she was desperate.

With a skill like that, she'd be invisible, not even the core disciples would bully her.

Innate abilities could be taught to others as skills, but those who learned would not possess the power to use the abilities to their full potential unlike those naturally born with them. Every being had a special ability, though not unique, but their strength depended heavily on a cultivator's level and sometimes, their stage.

Wu Tao saluted, "Wu Tao, Dragon Sword Sect. May our duel be a display of skills and honor."

His opponent scoffed and spat on the ground between them, openly showing his contempt.

It was a weaponless battle meant to test physical and soul skills. Wu Tao had been signing up for such battles to polish his ability.

"Less nonsense and more fighting!" The opponent growled punching his own palm.

They were about the same body size, but Wu Tao's combat skills were a little lacking since he hadn't started his cultivation journey not too long ago. If it wasn't for Ren, it may have taken him ten years to rise so steadily. Now all he had to do was stabilize and hone his skills and abilities by engaging in such fights.

Wu Tao took a defensive stance, his eyes keen to pick up his opponent's movements as he rushed forward. "Take that!" The second male yelled, shoving his qi-covered fist at Wu Tao's abdomen. Wu Tao blocked it by crossing his arms and channeling his qi in them to withstand the heavy blow.

He was pushed back a few steps.

"I see, you're a little tough. I like tough guys," the opponent said driving more qi into his fists and legs to fortify his attacks before pouncing at Wu Tao. He rained endless punches on him, giving Wu Tao little time to attack back.

But this was Wu Tao's strategy, souls weakened when the physical body grew exhausted.

He would tire his opponents first for a chance to spot the weak spots in their souls.

"Hahaha! What a loser! All you can do is dodge and get hit. You're tough for nothing!"

He jumped at Wu Tao, ready to knock him out of the platform with the undersides of his arms.

Wu Tao gritted his teeth and ducked the vicious attack while hitting his opponent with qi meant to infiltrate the soul.

When he was hit with the soul energy, the opponent collapsed in midair, choking. He rubbed his throat, his eyes bulging and his heart thudding heavily as if it'd fly right out of his chest.

Wu Tao grabbed this chance to deliver his first physical blow, smacking the opponent's jaw, making certain that he shed some blood just like he had.

"I'm not a loser!" Wu Tao hissed adding another blow and then a kick.

But his leg was grabbed and pulled as the opponent pulled himself off the ground, blood leaking from the left corner of his lips. "I'm going to be serious-"

Wu Tao stretched his right palm and released another soul attack, instantly distancing and weakening his opponent.

"Argh!" The opponent cried out clutching his chest as he doubled over, pain throbbing from the depths of his soul.

It was as if someone was driving a nail through his chest and then pounding on it.

Breathing heavily, Wu Tao grabbed the opponent's head while his right knee shot up to meet his face. The blow broke the opponent's nose, causing blood to spill in an instant.

He moved back to regain his breath and prepare for the final attack. 'I can win this. I have to win so that I can recover the moment I've lost this week. I have been practicing for weeks, I can't keep losing.' He motivated himself, hardening his eyes.

"Good. Good. You've managed to draw blood from me, I'll praise you for that. But I'm now down wasting my time here."

He ripped his robe apart, leaving only his pants as strong qi began swirling around his body, unleashing his innate ability which was The divine body.

Black markings started appearing all over his chest, abdomen, and arms. Intricate patterns that held much more depth than Wu Tao could understand.

"Come on. Let us finish this."

Wu Tao braved himself one last time, telling himself that even if he lost, he'd first give it his all.

He unleashed his qi like a whirling wind around himself before he groaned, running to attack his opponent with a fist infused with qi, whose purpose was to attack both physically and soul. He hopped, his fist aiming at his opponent's chest where a human's weakness was positioned.

But he was countered with a fist from the opponent which was equally as strong as his own.

It flipped Wu Tao in the air, sending him face down on the hard ground while his opponent only received pain in his soul. Which he expelled by burning more qi to heal it. "You're not bad. If you were a little stronger, that soul attack would have been enough to make me crumble before you."

Coughing and in pain, Wu Tao raised his head which was half covered in his blood.

He ran the back of his hand across his lips, wiping off the blood coming from his mouth while he pulled his body up.

There was intense pain coursing through his right arm from the last equal blow they had shared, but he hid it to maintain his composure and not show his weakness.

"Come again!" He yelled determined. "Let us keep going."