Using an Earth-tier material as the [Saint Metal] did net the desired result. Although something that others would have considered wasteful, Bai Qi's objective was to create a true Spirit-tier treasure, and he was successful.

Three simply looking bangle-like bracelets were refined in less than a couple of hours, and the three of them were absorbing qi at an even pace.

"Now it is time for the engraving." Bai Qi murmured as he took a few deep breaths and emptied his mind before taking out the engraving pen and concentrating. The runes used for a spiritual treasure [Storage] type enchantment were almost the same as the ones he used before, just arranged differently and with several additions.

[Void] To connect to the everpresent Void.

[Boundary] To separate a part of it and bind it to the bracelet.

[Space] To allow storing something into that void part.

[Wall] To maintain protection around the separate area to prevent a Void-travel capable cultivator from entering it.

[Owner] To bind the item.

[Boundary] To create a self-maintaining separation between the bracelet and the surroundings to avoid any attempts at tampering with the bracelet even if the owner wasn't present.

***

For the first one, Bai Qi did nothing but the basics. It was a success, and the result was a similar [Storage] item as his first ring. After inwardly debating, Bai Qi decided to improve the runes he used for the next one. The main factor was that he had three bracelets, so if he failed with the improvement, then he would use the already proven ones for the third.

Bai Qi pondered and decided on what he would add. A double set of [Void] and [Space], coupled with a [Barrier].

This process wasn't just more difficult, but it also took three times than the previous engravement. Still, with Bai Qi's absolute concentration on the task, even closing his senses, it turned out to be successful. Three times bigger, over two dozen cubic feet, and with a barrier that, if unbroken, could once a day protect the wearer against a 3rd or even 4th level Warrior Lord attack. And if it was overexerted, with the wearer using its qi and aura to maintain it, the barrier could hold back even a late Warrior Lord.

"Not bad!" Bai Qi exclaimed and gave himself a mental pat.

***

After repeating the same process on the 3rd bracelet without failing, Bai Qi entered deep thought.

For him, aesthetics did not matter much when compared to functionality. Still, if he planned them as gifts for Bai Ze and Bai Rui, then the looks mattered.

___________________________________________________________________

"It's done!" Bai Qi exclaimed as both of the bracelets floated in front of him. Five inches long, gleaming in a whitish-gold hue thanks to the material, and with tiger paw-like engravements all around them. The demon-like sealed scroll he had chosen as an emblem glittered in a darker color, sprinkled with a crushed spirit stone burned with the Ghostflame.

As an afterthought, he had even carved a separate, disconnected [Repair] rune set to allow the user to correct any damage if required.

"Hoo!" He heard someone exclaim from behind, and as he turned around, the new arrival added, "Truly beautiful, but they don't look like a simple ornament. What are they?"

Bai Qi had not released his senses back, confident that either Bai Ze or Bai Rui were keeping an eye on him. But it seemed he was wrong, as now that he expanded his senses, he found no traces of neither.

"A type of [Storage] bracelet." Bai Qi explained as he examined the Beastgirl that had arrived. Short for their race, being a full-head lower than Bai Qi's six feet, she also was sleek. Darker than ebony black fur with a slightly purplish tint, dressed in a very uncommon for the region human-like martial dress and holding a spear in her left claw.

She did share several characteristics with Heise Zhao, but her eyes were golden in place of amber, and the brush-like points of her ears were far longer. Having finished his examination, Bai Qi asked, more because of manners than to confirm, "Are you, Zhua?"

"Rrr, that I am." She nodded as her tail flickered from side to side, and her eyes darted around the room, stopping on each different material, ready item, the cauldron, and so on, before returning to Bai Qi's figure after a long stop on the few spears he had laying close.

"Those are not Spirit-tier. I left them to try some engraving on them later." Following her glance, Bai Qi explained.

"Oh, sorry, did not mean to." What she did mean to was something left unsaid, as she quickly changed topics with a shake of her head and a flick of her tail, "Zhao told me that you are interested in sparring?"

"Indeed." Bai Qi nodded as he stood up and stretched before asking, "I take that you are here for that? I did not notice the passage of time, but I am ready."

Bai Qi had spent a big chunk of his mind-power, but as far as his dantian and aura, both were nearly full.

"Rrr, yes. And I also came to say thank you for creating such a beautiful spear." Her eyes slightly twinkled as they went all along the black pole and rested on the [Bluesteel] seven-inch long leaf-like blade.

"I am honored that someone considers one of my first creations to be beautiful." Bai Qi sheepishly smiled but did inwardly suppose he had earned such praise. He then asked as a wisp of aura sent one of the non-spirit spears into his grasp, "Shall we test my work then?"

"Agreed. But, we should change locations." She quickly asserted before turning around and exiting.

***

"I lose, again." Bai Qi lowered his spear as Zhua's speartip stopped half an inch from his neck.

"Rrr, how come that someone that creates such wonderful weapons isn't capable of using them?" Zhua growled in annoyance as Bai Qi conceded the third exchange of the three they had until the moment.

These exchanges had been without qi or aura, just a clash between two spears. And while Bai Qi always believed, and rightfully, that his reaction speed was far above a Warrior King, Zhua's unorthodox manner of fighting was impossible to discern even for him. One moment she was using the spear in her left hand, only to attack with the butt and suddenly change hands. His second loss was even to a crazier thing, as Zhua suddenly let go the spear and then used her tail to grab on the pole and attack from an impossible angle.

As for Bai Qi, he only had learned a few orthodox movements with the spear, and truthfully, he wasn't even close to the first step of the Spear Dao.

"Sorry, the spear isn't my weapon of choice. Or better said, I haven't been using weapons much." Bai Qi smiled before exclaiming, "But no excuses, again!" While jumping a few steps back, opening the distance for a new clash.

***

Three continuous hours of such exchanges, and from the overall number, 34, Bai Qi won only one and even that by a fluke. Still, even the constantly grumbling lynx had to admit that Bai Qi was improving with an impressive speed. The uncomplicated school he had called [Stinging Bee] was quickly evolving from exchange to exchange, and by the last ones, Zhua required her utmost speed and skill to win.

"Not bad, break?" She asked while lowering the spear.

"Mmm, agreed." Neither of them was truly tired, but Bai Qi felt a chance for insight about the Spear Dao, and he did not want to miss it. As for Zhua, probably it was time for her to eat.

And indeed, as soon as both of them sat down, she reached for a small bag she had brought with her and took out a few pieces of dried meat.

"Do you want some?" She started to ask but stopped after noticing that the human had closed his eyes and his aura was slowly pulsating. She wondered with a tinge of envy. She had trained for several months before she even felt something about the spear, and it took the human only a few hours to be blessed?

Probably she would have bitted his head off if Bai Qi explained that his cultivation set allowed him to feel insights all the time, even with a small amount of training. And that if he had the spear manuals he required, he would have already reached or even surpassed her rank. It would make much difference without training, but being on a similar weapon dao step would neutralize all her advantages and allow him to employ his better reaction and senses.

"Did you say something?" Bai Qi opened his eyes and asked with a smile. The insight opportunity had been a real one, and he felt that a single instance of a qi weapon technique and he would be able to take the 1st step of the path.

"You don't need to eat anyway." She lightly growled before standing up and asking, "Continue?"

"Mmm, yes, but let's try to spar in power this time. I have no techniques for the spear, but I should be able to defend myself." Bai Qi suggested, concealing that he would look at her techniques and skills to try and create something of his own.

"Don't be mad later, then." Zhua's mouth curved, allowing her fangs to show, and she instantly released her aura.

Bai Qi felt right away while worrying for real as for his safety. Sparing or not, he was unsure about equaling someone equivalent to a peak 6th level Warrior Lord!

***

*Crash* *Snap* *Thump*

And Bai Qi's worries had been on the spot. Although Zhua did control the force of her attacks, honestly trying to avoid wounding him, she was powerful indeed.

A single sweeping wave of what she called 'Fake Sky Sweep' had been enough to send Bai Qi flying back, crashing into a tree several dozens of feet away, and with enough force as for the tree to break in two.

"Are you okay? And, did I sense your aura increase? How?" She lightly jumped to arrive next to the rising Bai Qi.

"Yes and yes. As for the how, it's just part of having a slightly stronger Soul than my cultivation is currently." Bai Qi honestly explained while dusting himself. He had to infuse more Soul power into his aura, indeed. And not a low amount, but directly jumping half a realm to avoid being injured by that attack.

"Rrr, so you have been holding back?" She half-roared at him with barely contained anger.

"Ah, no. An aura increase would not help much against you anyway, just used it to avoid the splinters." Bai Qi joked in response.

"Use your full power then!" She roared as her spear made a full circle, and then the point flew towards Bai Qi's face.

"Oh, so an actual fight it is? I will accompany you then!" Although Bai Qi did roar back, he felt pretty good about it. An opponent that could push him back was a welcome change and his actual objective, as well.

He opened his hand, and the spear fell from his hands.

*Clank*

But even before it landed, Bai Qi's hands turned into claws as he roared, "Green Demon Claws!"

*Clink*

And just in time to use one of the claws to diverge the attack, allowing it to pass next to his head. Zhua immediately changed to a sweep, intending to hit him on the temple, but Bai Qi crouched in time to avoid it and sent a sweep with his other claw.

*Swipe* *Swoosh*

Zhua only lightly stepped and bounced several feet high, allowing Bai Qi's swipe to pass without harm.

*Thump*

And before he could even react landed the pole of the spear on his head. It was a light thump, and one that Bai Qi even did not feel, but only because she did not use even an ounce of strength.

"Haaa, damn, you win!" Bai Qi exhaled as he dismissed his skills.

"Rrrr, but now, I am looking for a full-strength match even more." She snarled, but interest replaced her previous irritation.

"Me too, me too. But let's keep to sparring for today, as I need to make a few preparations if I want to win." Bai Qi shrugged while smiling.

"Win? Now I am rrrealy looking forward to how you will do it. But sparring? Fine!" She growled and then lightly chuckled while breaking distance and only then, motioning Bai Qi to pick up his spear.

"Not spear." Bai Qi shook his head and summoned the saber he had bought from the [Three Hills Sect]. He disliked its name, [Gravity Slasher], but it was undoubtedly the weapon he felt the most affinity for. The five feet long saber made from beast bones glimmered in a milky-hue as he took it out for the first time in more than half a year. The original 50 pounds of weight were like a feather to the current Bai Qi, so he immediately activated the runes, increasing the weight fivefold.

*Swoosh*

Moving such a weight at full speed had been impossible for him during the Spirit realm, and even a Sage would feel slightly uncomfortable with it. But Bai Qi's physical strength was a realm ahead, so he felt the 250 pounds ideal.

"Hoh, quite a weapon. Beast bone?" Zhua's eyes glimmered, showing that Bai Qi's thoughts about her being a weapon enthusiast had been on the spot.

"Mmm, my first true weapon." Bai Qi nodded before assuming a low stance.

"Start!" Both of them exclaimed at the same time and clashed.

***

By using a mix of 'Shivering Disruption' and several held back 'Imperial Blade' skills, Bai Qi did manage to hold up against Zhua pretty well. At least he did not lose quickly, but only after a relentless exchange of over two hours.

After another Zhua meal break, Bai Qi changed to the [Sun Disks] chakrams. And using the unorthodox weapon pair that could be both a melee and a ranged one, combining it with the weapon skills and again the 'Imperial Blade' martial skill, their last exchange ended as a draw after three hours.

In the end, both concluded that it was fun and agreed to continue their sparrings for a few more days. Something for what Bai Qi was very grateful to the [Death Hunter] beast girl.

***

"Still, she is indeed a relentless one." Bai Qi murmured as he found himself entirely drained and practically crawled back home.

"Had fun, huh?" A snarl full of irritation received him as he entered what served him as his room.

"Actually, I did. Sparring is one of the few things that always feels good." Bai Qi answered while feigning ignorance. Although he wasn't so oblivious as to fail to understand Bai Rui, as it was no one else than her, he immediately continued, "If I were stronger, I would have asked you two, but well, I am still weak. So, I am still under your care, okay?"

"Go fall off a cliff or something." He got as an answer in turn.

"I think I will sleep tonight, for the first time in who knows how long. Is the offer for that nice pelts inside your tent still open?" Bai Qi jokingly asked. He did intend to sleep, which was something strange but not unwelcome. He thought while looking directly into Bai Rui's widened eyes and noting how astonishment replaced her irritation.

"Grrr, fool!" In the end, she growled and simply walked off.

"Wait! I got a gift!" Bai Qi chuckled as he followed after her a few moments later...