Bai Qi believed that he would need to spend two full days to recover enough to be combat-capable. And he had been right. His current condition wasn't the best, but still, he had recuperated all of his qi, soul, and mind.

His wounds looked better now, and except for the burns, he had healed all the others so they would not affect him. A better environment coupled with a healing formation and at least a week would be needed to fully heal, but there was neither time nor means for him to do so currently. And so, on this 4th day of the 'Underground Land of the River', or as he discovered the '11th Spring Expanse' opening, Bai Qi returned to the challenge.

He had spent these two days inside Zhuan Min's starting cave, and ironically, the first person he saw as he emerged was her.

"Big Brother Chen! Are you feeling well?" She asked while raising up from a stone she had been using as a chair, right outside.

Bai Qi knew that she had followed him almost right after the incident with Chang Kun, but as she did not try to talk to him, he decided to respond in kind. He also knew that she spent the last two days waiting outside. Probably she would have even accompanied him inside, but Bai Qi had used all of his remaining talismans, and even the weak spells he could in his condition to seal it before beginning to heal in earnest.

Truthfully, he had expected her to leave, and the fact that she hadn't was both heartwarming and annoying at the same time. The former as Bai Qi really was grateful for her worry, as for the latter, well, he had always hated explaining his actions. And that an explanation about his conduct during Chang Kun's outrage would be needed, he never had any doubts.

But Zhuan Min surprised him again, as, after a brief nod as answer about his wellbeing, she said "I see, that's good. I am truly sorry about Chang Kun, and I will make sure he apologizes later. Now, I think it's time for me to go after the Challenge Slates as well!"

And without any moment for him to respond, she smiled and started into the forest.

"Heh, and here I was thinking about how to avoid explanations" Bai Qi lightly shook his head while a wry smile crossed his face.

***

During his healing, Bai Qi had examined the belongings of Hu Mu and had found no combat paintings. He had not found any information either and the examination of Hu Mu's Storage, not even Void, ring only made him think about the Blood cultivator's poverty.

Indeed, except for a few healing and restorative pills, all of the common-tier, the guy had nothing else than several changes of clothes. He did not have even a single talisman, which meant he had spent all of his supply. One that should have been very low, after all, the fight occurred when not even the 2nd day of the zone had started.

The only interesting belonging was his mask, but it would require a full investigation with the use of formations to reveal anything after being cut in two by Bai Qi. Still, from a cursory examination, it was made clear that it had served for cultivation concealment. And that its effect was the opposite one from what normally would be considered concealment. The mask had some kind of seal that would be applied the first time it was used. And when put on later, it would revert the seal and allow the cultivator to use their true cultivation. This latter was made apparent by the fact that Hu Mu's body had remained a 5th level Sage one even after the mask destruction.

In any case, Bai Qi had again returned to the starting point. He knew that someone was searching for something with the help of a combat painting. And that this mysterious participant was a Sage of the 2nd or above level.

Now that it was clear that this latter wasn't the one behind the killing, or killings as Bai Qi suspected, his suspicions towards Mao Xun returned.

Bai Qi could neither forget about Lord Sheng's task nor the rumored son of his running around as bait.

Before leaving Clearmind lake previously, Bai Qi had finished outlining out all of his mind power marks, and after a quick check, he found that every marked Sage participant was moving on their own around the 'Underground Forest'.

"It's close to noon, hmm. It's early for anyone to begin gathering in the lake's camp. Not to mention that if nobody sees me around, I will be the suspicious one" Bai Qi muttered while recalling the map of the zone.

He then singled the areas where 'Challenge Slates' were commonly seen, and chose the one nearer to a few of his marks.

"So as Zhuan Min said, time to go hunting for Challenge Slates" Bai Qi's mouth corners slightly rose at this inner joke, and then he began moving towards his selected area.

***

"Hey, this one is mine. I found it first!" As Bai Qi emerged from behind a tree, a chubby cultivator with hay-colored hair dressed in blue colors exclaimed while turning to face him.

"Mmm, and I do not intend to fight you for it. But the one here? It's one of mine" Bai Qi raised his hands and while talking pointed with his head towards a 'Challenge Slate' hidden between a few short trees.

"Oh? Oh yes, sorry, did not notice that one. Go ahead, and sorry for the outburst" Having confirmed Bai Qi's intentions, the cultivator said with a sheepish smile.

"No worries, I am Cheng Guang from the Dai clan, good luck with your challenge" Bai Qi lightly nodded while introducing himself and proceeded to walk towards the slate he had pointed at.

"Likewise" The chubby cultivator nodded as well while approaching his own slate, before stopping and with a small slap on his forehead adding "Where are my manners, I am Fu Wei, from the Fu Household"

"A pleasure. Now let's see what does this challenge entails" Bai Qi said before placing his hands on the slightly blue slate that he had chosen.

Having decided that the best way for him to proceed would be by remaining in the open, this was Bai Qi's third run-in with another participant. All of them appeared accidental, and each time they ended with a good note like this one. Although it wasn't strange, with Bai Qi carefully timing his appearance and only when there was another slate in view.

"Alight" A single character read on this slate, and still it was enough to make the challenge contents clear.

Spells, techniques, or even skills that illuminated an area around the cultivator grew obsolete as a cultivator trained his senses enough, or even entered the Earth realm, on which any sensing would be dependant on the aura. Something that Bai Qi had managed to do even during the Soul realm. Still, he knew a couple of spells of the type, and the challenge, more like a maze shrouded in absolute darkness was completed in just a few minutes.

"I wonder how did the Immortal manage to create such different challenges?" Even though he had finished it in record time, Bai Qi's mind took a few minutes to analyze it when outside.

He had reached the peak of the Sky realm himself, which was probably the same level as the 11th Spring Immortal had. Even so, Bai Qi was unsure that he could create such things. Obviously, he was a few steps behind in the path of formations and probably even runes, but still, he had not been a cultivator of the Knowledge path for naught. Even so, he could not understand even half of the processes here. The information from the obelisk allowed him to learn most of them, but understanding? That could only come after he took control of the formation.

Such thoughts made Bai Qi recall his previous life. One that had culminated with the title of not only the strongest but also the wisest cultivator of his entire plane. "Not that I can agree with either of the two after being unable to prevent my assassination" He thought as a small laugh escaped his mouth.

___________________________________________________________________

With three nights in, the Clearmind lakeshore had been transformed into a boisterous camp. None of the participants had the need to actually sleep or eat, with no one below the Soul realm present. But they did require a place to rest. As well as a place to gloat about the prizes they got and the challenges they surpassed.

Seemingly informed, or prepared beforehand by their families, households, clans, and masters, some of the participants had even brought cushions and camping supplies.

In fact, however crazy it may sound, there was even a pair from the Trade Hall that had brought in an entire trade stall!

"These two guys definitively are worthy successors for the Trade Hall" Bai Qi inwardly nodded in agreement to the words that he heard while approaching them.

One of them was manning the stall and selling common tier pills and talismans, but Bai Qi's attention was on the other guy. The one that was making a scene and attracting everyone around.

"Come on, everyone, approach. We will give start to the second night of reward trading. Did you receive a reward that you don't need? Are you hesitant to simply have it stored away until the zone closes? Offer it for trade today, and tomorrow you will be able to trade it for something that you may truly need!" As he repeatedly shouted, he pointed towards a scroll, where anyone willing could write the item they wanted to trade.

"Brother? I missed the previous night, so I am not aware of how it works. Could you please explain?" Bai Qi approached and asked in a casual manner while pointing at the scroll.

"Mmm, glad that you asked! It's actually pretty easy, you see..." The 14 years or so old 8th level of the Soul realm cultivator eagerly nodded and began explaining while wildly flailing his arms.

The system was indeed easy. And Bai Qi had to accept that it was even well thought. Anyone who had a reward that he wanted to trade would inscribe its type and description on the scroll on one night. Then, during the entire night and next day, offers could be written below. When the next night arrived, the seller could examine the offers, and if he was interested in any, the Trade Hall cultivators would search for the buyer and introduce the two. Surprisingly they even took security into account, and so neither of the two parties left any names.

"I see, and what do you two gain?" Bai Qi asked in wonder while thinking to himself "This can be actually used. At least if I discover what is the person with the combat painting searching for. Well, in the case that I am again mistaken about Mao Xun"

"Oh, we will ask for a commission if the deal is successful. It can be either with pills or talismans" The promising trader shrugged.

"And then sell them on your stall? Not bad, not bad!" Bai Qi laughed while pointing at the stall, one that was filled up with such items.

"You got us" Both of the Trade Hall cultivators laughed in unison before the one that had been making the explanation asked "So, are you interested in something of the list? Or maybe want to sell something?"

Bai Qi had actually approached the two of them because of their affiliation. No one from the people he had met today, or the ones he talked to in the lakeshore had any useful information. But this pair was another thing. There were six participants from the Trade Hall, and all of them had been a single group outside. Maybe they continued to communicate even inside? If that was so, they should know about Mao Xun. And even if they did not, they could have at least some idea.

"Oh, actually I am interested in one of the items" Bai Qi looked at the list and after finding something slightly useful, quickly scribbled his offer.

"Mmm, isn't that a bit overboard for a 'Flame Strenghtening' Pill? I would be a bad merchant to say something, but..." The guy from the stall approached and examined what had Bai Qi written.

"Oh, I know. But one of the challenges affected my flaming techniques. And as the reward for it was this 'Soul Raising' orb, it seems to be correct to spend it to get into top shape" Bai Qi made up a small story while summoning a wisp of his weakest possible 'Flaming' set flames.

Receiving a few nods in understanding, he then began gradually changing topics, intending to reach the one that he was interested in.

The pill? It was at least somewhat useful to him, while the orb would only work on weaker Yellow Realm souls anyway. So in truth, the small loss that he would incur would not even be a loss.