The lord of life and death

In an open field, people form a circle, cheer, and shout," Grandmaster Gu, I bet 1 gold coin, that you can hold on for 10 minutes." " Grandmaster Gu, please land a hit on Grandmaster Yun. I bet 2 gold coins." " Grandmaster Yun, please defeat Grandmaster Gu in under 10 minutes." 

Inside the circle, Rain is attacking the Old Gu with his palm using the mother bear attack pattern and suppressing strength to the mother bear's strength. Because tonight is the time for the full moon, the starry night lotus will bloom at midnight.

Old Gu will be the main fighter against the mother bear while he takes care of the other stronger bear. Old Gu, Xue Lin, Gao Li, and three grandmasters will hold the mother bear for him to kill the father bear. Old Gu will be the primary one who blocks the mother bear's attack. 

So, Rain for the past three days has been training Old Gu. Old Gu with the resources advanced to the second realm of grandmaster and he did not train his body. So, his body strength remains the same as his realm. Which makes his strength and energy four smaller realms than the mother bear.

He alone facing the mother bear, even if Rain makes him familiar with the mother bear attack pattern is like feeding the mother bear with your own hands. The strength of the mother bear will make his understanding of her attack pattern negligible. 

So, Xue Lin and Gao Li will use the immortal spell which weakens the opponent. Their attack spells may not break the demon energy surrounding the mother bear's body. So, for them to hold the mother bear in line, the plan is for Old Gu to be the shield, Xue Lin and Gao Li will use their spells to weaken and distract the mother bear, and the three grandmasters to interfere when they find Old Gu is unable to defend.

Rain each palm strike lands on the Old Gu's spear and he steps back each time. Then the next palm lands on the spear with such force that with the spear, Old Gu is sent flying back crashing into the crowd behind him. 

Xue Lin says," Old Gu, improve from the previous day, he lasted 11 minutes against you."

Rain glances at Xue Lin," Not against me, it is against the mother bear."

Rain watched as Gao Li checked on Old Gu for any injuries but Rain was careful when his attack landed on Old Gu's body he pulled his strength back at the last moment, so he would not be seriously injured. 

Gao Li in the previous three days advanced to the refining energy realm and among the six master warriors, three advanced to the Grandmaster realm. Seeing Old Gu stand up, Rain," Let's try again this time Xue Lin, Gai Li, Grandmaster Ji, Grandmaster Jun, and Grandmaster Wan will help Old Gu."

Everyone Rain mentions nods and forms their formation.

Rain speaks," Use your full strength and do not think you are fighting me but the mother bear." After speaking, Rain charges against Old Gu. After a minute of attacking Old Gu, Rain feels his strength further weakening as Xue Lin's and Gao Li's spells land on him. 

He used the strength similar to the mother bear limit of the 6th realm grandmaster and spells weakened his strength to the initial 6th realm grandmaster. After 15 minutes the 6th pair of weakening spells lands on him from Gao Li and Xue Lin. But nothing happens, after the third pair of spells, the spells stop working on him. 

Decreasing his strength to a limit of the 5th realm of grandmaster. Rain shouts to inform Xue Lin and Gao Li," Stop using the weakening spell after three times. It's stopped working after the third time." Grandmaster Wan stands in front of Old Gu, who is unable to block his palm and lands on his chest throwing him into the crowd again.

Grandmaster Wan did not block his attack but attacked with his hammer. Rain's palm lands on the hammer and the hammer is pushed back. Because of the weight and size of the hammer, Grandmaster with his hammer staggers back. Rain stops and does not attack," If in my place is the mother bear, Grandmaster Wan's chest would have been ripped apart."

Rain looks at the other Grandmaster taking Grandmaster's Wan place," Do not stop the attack of the mother bear, join forces to block the mother bear attack." Rain started his attack again and the three tried to block his attack but were pushed back again but this time they did not leave an opening for him to attack.

And before he attacks again, the three grandmasters step aside as Old Gu charges with his spear. Rain catches the spear before the spear touches him and holding the spear, Rain starts to walk forward. Increasing his speed with each step as Old Gu steps back in difficulty to stabilize himself. 

A large sticky substance lands on Rain's face blocking his sight and his feet slip after he takes the next step. Rain stabilizes himself releases the spear removes the sticky substance from his face and looks at his feet to find a slippery liquid. Rain looks at Xue Lin and Gao Li," Yes, used spells like these to interfere with the mother bear."

And Rain starts their training again.

------

The full moon in its full glory, two huge red fur bears strolling around a pond. Rain and his group of six people's eyes did not even glance at the two bears. With their eyes trained on the lotus in the center of the pond. 

Rain advances to the 5th realm of the grandmaster and his strength increases similar to the initial seventh realm Grandmaster. He did not fight in hand-hand with the other bear who is a 1st order middle realm demon. So, its strength should be slightly higher or lower than his strength. Red bear's strength is three small realms higher than their cultivation realm.

Rain speaks, " We will start our attack when the Lotus starts blooming, it takes around 2 hours to fully bloom. And it stays blooming for 10 minutes. So we have 2 hours to pluck the lotus."

" If I am unable to kill the other bear in that time." looking at the three newly promoted grandmasters. Rain continues," Then you three pluck the lotus and ran toward the camp."

" Xue Lin, Gao Li, and Old Gu, you three also escape behind them."

Xue Lin's eyes trained on Rain," And you?"

Rain," Do not worry, without you all, it is easier for me to escape."

After a few hours, the lotus spots start shining and make it look like stars shining on their petals. And sending energy waves outwards along the water of the pond. Noticing these the two Bears start roaring.

Rain," Get ready." after saying this Rain's eyes surveyed the forest around the clearing, and after his survey Rain's face turned ugly. As he spots, multiple two pairs of bright spots around the forest. 

Rain," We have to change our plan." He forgot the valley is inside a forest, filled with first-order demons. And starry night lotus is not only a treasure for them.

Grandmaster Ji," Why?"

Rain, " Look around the clearing at the forest surrounding. Starry Night Lotus is a treasure not only for us."

After a few seconds, Rain hears curses from all of them. Old Gu," Then what is the new plan." 

Rain," I think a battle royal will take place for the starry night lotus. So, I alone will join."

Gao Li," Yun, it will be dangerous for you."

Xue Lin," Yes, we do not need the starry night lotus." everyone in the group agrees with her.

Rain looks at their face which shows reluctance but they speak for his well-being. He is happy but," But I want it." Rain wants to quickly increase his strength even if not for the competition. He in all the world has insecurities because of his strength.

He is afraid, someone will kill him. Even with the three clones in three different worlds, his insecurities did not disappear. So, any chance that can increase his strength, he will take it.

He is confident in his strength, he even is unable to get the starry night lotus, and he can escape without any serious injury. 

As his eyes are always trained on the lotus, he finds at the first moment that it starts to bloom. And Rain feels like a bell rang in a fight match and demons step out of the forward. Rain also follows them and steps out in the open.

Seeing them the two bears started roaring and got a reply of roar from all the demons in the clearing. Rain thinks the bear may have expected these, as he did not notice the three baby bears. 

Rain finds 12 demons with him and two bears make 15 participants for the prize- Starry Night Lotus. From the aura, all 12 demons are middle first-order demon realm. Everyone looks at each other, either side of Rain is a Black Horn Deer and a Bone Armor Lizard. And the lotus parts further bloom and every moment all of them vanish from the spot.

Rain's fist plants on the face of the Bone Armor Lizard and the Bone Armor Lizard claws on his leg. Because they were surrounded by their energy, it slowed down their attack and the attack only grazed on their skin.

The next moment they disappear spot, Black Horn Deer sends out a black energy attack and lands on the spot where they are standing.

Rain next appears, his fist landing on the jaws of a Rock Python as it tries to bite a Wind Wolf fighting a Frozen poison Cobra. They are not the same species of snake but Rain notices they together targeting the Wind Wolf.

Rain concludes the two different species of snake. This made him remember, that they look like animals but they are demons with each realm advancement their strength their wisdom also increase. So he must always remain vigilant against demons.

Rain's fist moves the python's head away and the wolf and the cobra notice him. The Wolf nods and barks at him but the Cobra sprays a poison cloud at him. From Wolf's mouth, a gust of wind appears blowing away the poisonous cloud.

Rain nods at the wind wolf and starts fighting the python. But after a few minutes, the rocks on the python's skin started shining, and the rocks like bullets shot in all directions. Rain sent out a fire energy palm attack to block the rocks coming at him. 

And those rocks were not stopped by his attack slowing down some falls before they reached him, others only grazed his energy defense. Rain walks forward to attack again but the python with his tail starts to spin crazily at the spot.

Rain steps back from the tail reach, he frowns he cannot get close to attack again. So he sends out flames from his hand like a flamethrower. Rain's flame meets the spinning python to form a flame tornado. And block his vision from the python.

He was not aware if his attack was damaging the python, so he did not stop his attack. Rain then spots a Rhino barreling toward him from his right. Rain curses because even if the flame does not damage the python, the high temperature will damage it because the rocks embedded in the python's skin are no longer there, decreasing its defense.

Rain jumps back at the very last moment and the rhino barrels past his eyes. Rain's attack is interrupted, and his eyes take a glance at the flame tornado for a moment, which, with his help, is slowly disappearing. Rain stares at the rhino as it turns around to face him after it destroys some trees with his previous charge. 

As the Rhino kicks his leg to barrel toward Rain again. Rain sees the flame tornado fizzled out and its place remains the python laying motionless without its skin. And the smell of barbeque spreads from him, if Rain had not spotted the python breathing, he would have thought it died.

Rain stares at the rhino's eyes and then both of them move from their spot. The Rhino's foot lands on the python's body crushing it and Rain's palm attack lands on the python's head shattering its head. And the very next moment Rain turns to catch the rhino horns as it attacks him.