Bai Qi misjudged Hu Mu's trump card skill. Or did not take into account that the latter had increased his speed as well. But no matter what was the reason, the fact that Bai Qi failed to fully avoid the 'Judgement Palms' remained.

*BOOM*

As Hu Mu's extended palms closed on Bai Qi, the latter quickly moved back. And then used his movement technique to move away from Hu Mu's range. But the palm skill wasn't just a close combat one, it also released the image of the palms in a straight line. An image comparable to the strength of the attack itself. And containing enough destructiveness as to make even the protective formation of the zone wane for a moment.

The speed wasn't low either, as a small amount of the attack managed to touch Bai Qi. It evaporated both the aura and qi-cover that protected him without losing more than a third of its potency. And only because Bai Qi had started moving before the attack was sent, the latter only lightly brushed his right leg.

"Ghh" Bai Qi did not allow himself to make any sound in response to the searing pain, but he did have to grind his teeth for it to be possible.

It could have seemed that a blood-related skill should have been of the Water element. Or with a strain of the Wood one, because of its affinity to life. But 'Judgement Palms' were of neither. Ironically, they were of the Ying element, the element most commonly associated with light, and even justice.

*Swoosh*

Having lost a few precious moments because of the unexpected pain, Bai Qi even did not check on the wound before activating 'Counting Steps' again. This time in the opposite direction.

And such a rush proved to be a mistake. The inflicted damage could not have been so bad as to impair his movement, but Bai Qi overlooked the point that one's blood would be easily sensed. And so, just as he appeared in front of Hu Mu, intending to take the latter by surprise, he found a punch flying towards him.

*Swipe* *Slam*

Bai Qi did manage to swipe with the 'Green Demon Claw', and even hit his planned mark - the still oozing pores on both Hu Mu's shoulders. But doing so, he allowed his opponent's fist to hit him squarely in the chest.

*Crash*

Sending him flying back and crashing into one of the trees. And even though the formation surrounding them was a tame one, without any counterattacks or even rebounding effect, it was still not better than crashing against a stone wall.

Feeling that at least a couple of ribs were broken and his spine also suffered some damage, Bai Qi got up. Only to feel some blood inside his mouth.

*Spit*

"Hah, not bad, coward. Not bad at all!" He forced himself to maintain a relaxed face and voice, even after spitting a mouthful of blood. Bai Qi's plan had more or less worked, and so now, he had to win time for one of the poisons to work.

Bai Qi, both as Wu Guang on 'Seven Islands' and Chen Guang on his current plane had bought, looted, obtained, or even were gifted hundreds of items.

And as most cultivators that dabbled in knowledge searching or similar paths, he tended to retain most of these items. After all, one never knew when something would be required.

At first, it had been hardly a holding pouch, but slowly that quantity grew enough to fill a holding pouch with other full such pouches. The 'Storage Ring' he got from the 'Three Hills Sect' had helped him somehow, but it was well filled even without his inheritance.

And so, when leaving the 'Seven Islands' plane, he was forced to use 4 'Storage Rings' just to hold the possessions he had at that moment.

Noting this, or simply to awe someone who could have not seen such an item, Deng Guiying, and City Lord Sheng had included a 'Void Ring' in the rewards he had gotten. Not only it was several, at least ten, times more spacious, but it also allowed the items to be summoned instantly - skipping over the process of qi infusion that rune items as the pouches required.

This very welcomed item had allowed Bai Qi to reorganize all of his things and allowed him to call any of them when necessary.

One of these items, one that he had almost forgotten about, was a pair of 'Dissolving Poison' filled up flasks. When entering one's blood, this poison would slowly activate, and then begin dissolving one's body from within.

It was a poison extremely deadly to any cultivator below the Sage realm and remained dangerous even to the latter. At least in the field, where no Healing Master was present, and no purging formations could be set up. After all, the only way to avoid its effects was to purge one's blood with qi, doable only to Warrior Lord and above cultivators.

Having tested Hu Mu's current physical state, and his nearly unbreakable defense, Bai Qi decided to attack his opponent from inside. "Having the means and not using them would be moronic" Were his exact thoughts on the matter as he planned, and then executed it.

Still, dangerous or not, Bai Qi could not assure that Hu Mu had no way to purge his blood from harmful effects. After all, the youth in question was a Blood Path cultivator. And so to mask his true attack, he had used his 'Green Demon Claws' and their qi-created poison as a feint.

"You still have the strength to try and insult me?" Hu Mu slowly began walking towards Bai Qi. Taking a long breath after his question, he continued "That's good, it means that you still have enough to scream and plead!"

The few last words were practically a growl, and Hu Mu started towards Bai Qi while exclaiming "Blood Path, Carving Nails"

As the name implied, it was akin to a claw skill. Hu Mu's already long nails suddenly grew and were covered with the scarlet qi that most of his techniques and skills were infused with.

"You should probably ask someone to cut your fingernails, you know?" Bai Qi did not plan to wait to be attacked, and neither did he want to. His condition was far from ideal, and even if it wasn't, the current Hu Mu was slightly over Bai Qi's physical prowess.

So in place of bracing himself, Bai Qi did the most logical thing, he ran. Activating 'Counting Steps', he moved a couple of hundred feet to the left. And as Hu Mu changed his heading, Bai Qi again mocked - "If you don't know how, or you can't, just ask someone! There should be someone in the Holy cowards' clan that will help you!"

And as soon as he finished talking, he again moved, continuing his counterclockwise movement around the clearing.

***

Move, mock and repeat. Such a strategy would normally not win any fight, but it was good for winning time. Especially when one's opponent was angered to a point of not thinking clearly.

And Hu Mu was indeed in such a state. After all, with his enormous advantage in ranged attacks, why would he go running around after Bai Qi while swinging his clawed arms?

"Who's the coward now?"

"Sooner or later you will run out of qi"

"I will kill you then"

"For offending my clan you deserve the worst"

"Don't think that your trash qi poison will affect me"

Judging from the words that he said last, Hu Mu had indeed sensed the poison from the 'Green Demon Claw', and took some kind of measure against it.

"So you discovered it? A shame, now I will have to simply wait until your body turns to normal" Bai Qi attempted to casually shrug while speaking in a slightly shaky voice. This, as well his eyes that darted in 'panic' were nothing more than a continuation of his play.

"He has not discovered the 'Dissolving Poison' yet, but I can not continue such running for long or he will sense something before it truly affects him" Bai Qi thought while acknowledging that Hu Mu had again surprised him. Indeed, the poison was supposed to work after an incense stick worth of time, and by now almost double of that had passed. "Probably the resistance stems from his combat mode skill, but it will work shortly in any case" Bai Qi surmised while changing position again.

Bai Qi deeply inhaled, feeling how his broken ribs reacted with pain. He would require time to heal them, time that he did not have during the fight. But for his next movement, he had to at least fixate them with qi.

*Snap*

It was clearly heard how the bones moved into their original positions, and Bai Qi's teeth gritted against each other again.

A healing pill materialized in his hand, and he immediately consumed it. Most of the effect would be lost as he could not let it work, but what remained still could help to keep them from provoking internal injuries.

"You can not run now!" Hu Mu roared and used all his aura to lock on the still Bai Qi. It would hardly be able to stop him from escaping, with their respective auras being of similar strength, but at least it would slightly slow him down.

"And who says I am planning to? I am tired from playing, so let's just finish this" Bai Qi said with fake bravado. And even though his bravado was faked, his words were not. He then muttered in a low voice "Let's test you out, Bright Heavens"

Bai Qi had not bound with the glove as he found it impossible before. Whatever the City Lord and Deng Guiying thought about it recognizing its owner was only partially true, as they simply did not know the requirements. Still, they were right about it being connected to this zone.

After all, amongst the information Bai Qi learned from the obelisk, there was a small mention about the 'Heavenly Vestments'.

An Earth-grade set of inner armor when worn as a set. Peak Spirit two-piece armor with its respective boots and gloves as single items. Separated and obtainable from the six special 'Challenge Slates' that appeared once per opening. The way to bind them, use them inside the '11th Spring Expanse', where the daylight is always present.

"Meet your death!" Hu Mu bellowed while running forward, slightly surprised at the fact that his opponent remained unmoving. "Has he given up? I don't believe it. But what can he do now?" His thoughts were clear, on the contrary from what Bai Qi had assumed. Still, the 'Blood Path, Combat' was indeed a skill that when activated would limit the user to close quarters.

Bai Qi did not answer, simply pouring all the qi he could into the invisible glove.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Two arms, one dark-skinned and with long scarlet nails, the other covered by a barely transparent green armor moved.

*Bam*

And clashed in a claw-to-claw exchange.

*Snap* *Snap* *Tear* *Drip*

The sound of bones snapping, skin tearing, and blood dripping followed it, as the two youths took a few steps backward each.

Hu Mu had expected that the clash would end as the previous ones, with him easily overpowering his opponent and sending the latter flying.

Bai Qi expected that the glove would release the infused qi and help him equal his opponent strength.

But both had been mistaken, as the clash ended with both of them receiving injuries.

*Plop* *Plop*

"Bastard, what did you do to me?! What did you mix in my blood?!" Hu Mu crazily yelled as he fell to his knees. He did not even pay attention to his twisted arm, or the bone that had snapped and emerged just an inch above his wrist, perforating even his reinforced skin. All of his attention was grabbed by the blood that oozed from the wound. A slimy, dark-colored, and noxiously smelling blood. Blood that exuded the impossible to mistake smell and fumes of an acid.

Bai Qi also lowered to one knee. He had expected his ribs to give him problems and took all the possible measures to avoid it. But what he could not have expected, was for the glove, which absorbed almost a tenth of his remaining qi, add so much force.

So much that his already battered left arm did not resist it. Muscles and tendons snapped from the aftershock, and though his bones resisted it, the arm was bent unnaturally.

"Heavens, let's just hope that this thing is controllable when bound" Bai Qi thought after dispelling the claw and throwing a glance on the now visible golden threaded glove that covered his left hand up to the wrist.