"Why are you attacking me? We haven't met, so we should have no grudges between us, or could it be that you do have one?" Feeling safe behind the half-saint formation Zhen Zexi remained still. Only her half-hidden eyes moved, following each of Bai Qi's actions.

As for Bai Qi, he did not respond this time either. Slightly turning his body to prevent his left arm from being visible, he began concentrating qi on the glove while using his 'Ghostflame' covered right hand to claw at the formation.

"Or could it be that you intend to steal this?" Zhen Zexi's arm rose, presenting the small crimson stone in her palm. Then she waved her hand, and it disappeared into her Void Ring accompanied by the words - "Even if it is like that, you will not be able to. My master's formation is unbreakable by the likes of you!"

*Swoosh*

Ironically, he punched right as she finished saying that he would not destroy the formation.

*Crash*

And while Zhen Zexi's protective formation was good, the 'Bright Heavens' glove on Bai Qi's left hand first shattered it with just a single impact.

*Shatter*

Even the mask did not prevent Bai Qi from seeing how her eyes widened or how her face paled. Not that it stopped him from moving into her range, continuing the punch that destroyed the supposedly unbreakable formation.

"How dare you!" She yelled while using a movement technique and gliding back to avoid the punch.

Bai Qi had prepared for it, and so he immediately jumped forward, pursuing her while covering his gloved arm in 'Ghostflame' as well. "She can not dodge while in the middle of her flight. So the next thing will be a defensive technique!" He thought while nearing.

And indeed, as he got into striking range and launched a flame-covered right punch, Zhen Zexi's aura converged into a shield that appeared as if made of ink.

*Smash*

A hammer-like punch made the shield crack, and without losing time, Bai Qi sent another one with his left arm.

"Damn you!" Zhen Zexi could only exclaim. Even if she managed to land in time, she would be without time to avoid this follow-up attack.

Her hand began to reach for her chest to a last-resort protective amulet from her patriarch. But she stopped herself, in turn using the quickest technique she had. Qi would not usually harm the owner, but the energy behind the attack was always present.

"Zhenniao's Wing!" As she exclaimed and qi covered her arm, Bai Qi's flames were just a hair from her.

*Swoosh*

Bai Qi had expected something, but even he failed to imagine that she would attack herself, throwing her body from his attack's path.

*Crash* *Step*

As Zhen Zexi crashed on the ground, breaking into a small roll and jumping on her feet almost instantly, Bai Qi had landed calmly, as if it had been his plan all along.

Less than a breath later, Bai Qi was already rushing towards her. Both arms to the sides and slightly to the back, covered with 'Ghostflame' infused claws, he wasn't planning on giving her even a moment of respite.

"Barrier!" Zhen Zexi only had time to activate a talisman, but the 'Bright Heavens' glove was still active, and so Bai Qi tore through it with just one claw, as his other one extended and reached for her neck.

*BOOM*

Zhen Zexi again surprised Bai Qi as she used an explosive talisman directly on her own body!

*Swoosh*

*Crash*

Having less than an instant to react, Bai Qi only managed to solidify a small amount of aura. Placing it between himself and the explosion, he avoided most of it and then slid back to dissipate the blast's force. Still, the talisman was not of the lower tier but comparable to a peak Sage attack at least.

So albeit unharmed, he still was thrown out of balance by the explosion's wave and only managed to regain it when his back touched a tree five or so dozens feet behind.

"Not bad! Quick reaction, strong consciousness, and the degree of craziness that any cultivator needs" Bai Qi inwardly praised Zhen Zexi, not without also thanking her for the fact that the talisman had not been facing him. An unexpected but lucky thing, as otherwise Bai Qi would not be left uninjured.

The explosion had affected Zhen Zexi as well, even though she had been the one to activate the talisman. But she was ready for it, and she had used a prepared movement technique, allowing her to glide out of the blast zone without suffering any damage right at the moment the blast occurred.

As the dust settled, both found themselves standing with a hundred feet distance in between.

Less than a minute, that was the duration of the entire first clash between Bai Qi and Zhen Zexi. But during this minute, Bai Qi had spent almost a tenth of his overall soul and qi reserves. Not that Zhen Zexi was better, having not only spent qi, but also talismans and the protective formation of her mask.

Bai Qi's strategy was to continue attacking her from close, not allowing her to use her forte, summons. The first clash proved her experience and quick thinking, but her actual physical prowess was not comparable to his. Otherwise, she would have tried to counterattack or at least block his attacks, not just defend them with the limited use methods she had.

And so, if he managed to surprise her while closing in and thus land a hit, he would win.

But, what was Zhen Zexi planning to counter him? Bai Qi was curious, but he wouldn't wait to find the answer, lest he wanted to lose his opportunity.

*Swoosh*

He launched forward in a repetition of his previous attack.

"Do you intend to continue hounding me? Damn mute!" Zhen Zexi angrily snarled, already envisioning a repetition of the disgraceful display from earlier.

***

Her usual combat strategy was to fight from afar using puppets and summons. Or in rarer cases, combat paintings produced by her Clan.

If the opponent was closer, then use her combat puppet to fight. If it wasn't enough, then use it to gain time to use her ink beasts or summons. But now, the puppet had been left behind and she had only a single one of that quality.

A secondary option was the Zhenniao ink beast that could be instantly summoned via a tattoo on the back of her hand. But she had already spent it, and it required to be redrawn with the special 'Purple Miasma Glowbloom' ink.

It did not mean that she had no means for close quarters, but her opponent's strength was superior to a 4th level Sage, while her own was hardly nearing the 2nd level.

Thus, her best option was to avoid the fight at all.

The life-saving amulet on her neck would be able to help, but she was reluctant to use it. It was simply too precious and could save her even from a Warrior King. It was also a gift from the Patriarch, and she did not want to lose it just like that.

Her opponent was already darting towards her again, and Zhen Zexi still had not found any way to fight. Suddenly, she recalled where she was.

The 'Underground Forest'! A place filled with challenge slates, which protected their challengers while active!

She could not sense one right now, but there would be definitively one somewhere close. She had to win time, and begin opening distance.

With this conclusion in mind, Zhen Zexi activated her movement technique and began moving to the left. Although her opponent swiftly corrected his course and would reach her just a breath later, it gave her the moment necessary to activate her Void Ring.

***

"She has some plan" Bai Qi inwardly noted as he changed headings mid-distance, not planning to allow her to run.

Until now, she had just moved back, but now she moved to the left, trying to win a few moments.

*Sweep*

Her sleeves waved, and Bai Qi saw how dozens of items had begun materializing in between them. "No, not items, puppets?!" He inwardly clamored in surprise.

Bai Qi could not allow her to activate them, and so as his foot took the next step, he over-infused qi in it and using it as a spring practically flew forward.

Some puppets looked like animals. Others looked like saint beasts, and even some appeared to be carved after the images of people. The materials were various, but all were Spirit-grade. Not so rare or strong as the void-stone, but still a true trove of treasure.

All of them had been of Zhen Zexi's design, and except for the Combat Puppet that she had left behind, she had carved them by herself. The Patriarch never interfered into her hobby, only once reasonably noticing that if she liked them so much, then she should use them in combat as well. And so carved a formation of control on each of them.

Zhen Zexi's control over her puppets and the formations that controlled them was on a level that not even the current Bai Qi could imitate. During the moment it took him to cross thirty and something feet, she already had summoned them from the void ring and sent strands of qi via her aura into the closest ones.

"Rouse! Innumerous puppets of mine!" She exclaimed as her qi and consciousness entered the puppets, making them stir.

"Now!" Bai Qi knew that he had just one chance now, so he activated 'Counting Steps' disappearing from where he was.

"Where?!" Even her consciousness was partially distracted by the need to activate the puppets, and so Bai Qi's disappearance had been far more theatrical for her. One moment her senses were tracking him, and on the next one, there was not a single trace of him?

'Counting steps towards Hell and Heaven' was not only an evolving technique that grew along with the user but could also hide the user's presence while moving. It was no perfect concealment but against someone weaker than oneself? It was enough.

Bai Qi reappeared a moment later, exactly behind Zhen Zexi. And before she could react quickly chopped at the back of her neck with one hand while palming towards the dantian area with his other one.

*Crash*

But as his hands were supposed to knock her unconscious, she was surrounded by a purple glow that protected her.

"A life-saving amulet? Just how many methods she has on herself?" Bai Qi could only inwardly curse at the number of resources and treasures invested or given to Zhen Zexi.

He would be unable to touch her while the amulet was active, and not even the 'Bright Heavens' glove would be of no help.

Amulets differed from carved formations like the one on her mask. Amulets did not need to use the surrounding or the user's qi being filled with the creator's own. Thus, they could be activated even with the user sealed, or even in some cases unconscious.

In this case, Zhen Zexi's amulet activated on its own, as she was in unavoidable danger. And what an amulet! It contained a small amount of a Warrior Emperor's aura, enough to block any attacks from cultivators beneath that realm for the duration of its effect!

*Swoosh*

This time the one to retreat with utmost speed was Bai Qi, as the small amount of aura that the amulet contained, even if was meant for the defense, was still enough to crush a Yellow Realm cultivator to death.

"You will pay for making me spend the patriarch's amulet!" Zhen Zexi angrily yelled. Then after a small breath, she sent a command to all her puppets "Rouse!"

As for Bai Qi, he perked all of his senses on the purple glow. As soon as it dissipated, Zhen Zexi would be left without methods of defense. And this time, it should be for sure.