Zou Chun, a 6th level Warrior King and the [Void Palace] Elder responsible for the 7th tower, had spent not a single hour in deep thought.

Just yesterday, a mix of cultivators from different powers had been occupying the tower, and while Zou Chun loathed to admit it, a few turned out to be not bad. He could not get angry at them for being good, even though they managed to injure the four of his disciples.

But during the night, the situation had changed, with some weakling demonic river sect members filling up the tower. In any other circumstances, Zou Chun would have cried tears of joy and rushed out to inflict some damage on the besiegers, but this time, he had to remain inside. After all, if he left, who would continue infusing qi into the wounded and exhausted disciples of his?

Close to an hour ago, the situation changed yet again. First, the weaklings had left and seemingly were killed just outside the tower. Then a truly strong, at least in the formation limit range, presence entered, followed right away by three similar ones.

Thankfully, this time Zou Chun had no need to stay in the dark, and using the control room's formations, he learned of their identities and even observed most of Bai Qi's and An Wei's duel. These latter events were good, as Bai Qi's identity was something he knew about, but for Zou Chun, they also raised the dilemma of what to do yet again.

{Elder Zou, what is the situation inside the tower? Is Bai Qi alright? Is he fighting? If yes, then against who?} Suddenly, a voice transferred via a void connection asked, and Zou Chun immediately half bowed to the nearly-invisible crack.

{Vice-head.}

{No need for formality. Give me a brief overview of what is happening.} The Vice-head of the [Void Palace] had been observing Bai Qi's actions, and while he did question some, overall, he considered them proper and even outstanding.

But while on the Palace grounds, there was no problem following after Bai Qi, it was another story inside. Because of the materials and formations applied to the tower, the [Void Tear Connection] inside was limited to the control room, so Tao Xuegang was in the dark.

***

{Take your disciples out of the room and allow them to gather qi on their own. As for the matter about the 8th tower, do not interfere with the duels or Bai Qi's plans, but do pass him the message. And if he requires, then help him with the cultivators outside.} Tao Xuegang ordered as soon as Zou Chun finished his retelling, and as the latter confirmed, the Vice-head dispelled the [Void Tear Connection].

Turning to face Meng Chin and Kongbai Meili, the only two people present in the Palace's command room, Tao Xuegang could not help but briefly chuckle.

"Vice-head Tao, I wonder what you find so funny in the current situation?" While they usually avoided formalities, Tao Xuegang's chuckle was so out of context that Kongbai Meili, as the Head of the Palace, could not ignore it.

"I am sorry, Head. It's just that Bai Qi is turning out as an amazing asset. While he isn't aware of the matter, he's acting as if he is. And his plan seems sensible as well, attracting a few Wolves and now fighting them, and if he wins, he will be able to use them either as a bargaining chip or information source." Tao Xuegang forced his face to regain a solemn expression.

"Not that he knows he will need them as a bargaining chip, Vice-head." Meng Chin interjected.

"Elder Zou will bring him up to date with that change, but otherwise, it seems that we can be more at ease with the affair." Tao Xuegang shrugged.

"You seem too relaxed, Vice-head, considering that it is your disciple's life in question." Kongbai Meili coldly noted.

"Ex-disciple, Head Kongbai, and she isn't in danger, whatever it may appear like. If He Delan did not want to fall prisoner, she wouldn't have. And considering that she's acting on your orders, why should I be the only one concerned?" Tao Xuegang rarely bared his fangs at others, but he disliked the scheme from the start, and when it was the previous generation's brightest star to be assigned to it, he had argued seriously with the Palace Head.

Tao Xuegang thought and then half-raised his hands, indicating he would not restart the previous bickering.

"Let's hope it goes well. We have to find out what is happening to the grand formations anyway, as Elder Shen's words were too alarming." Meng Chin decided to speak up to help diffuse the stressed situation.

As for what had happened to Head Kongbai deciding to risk an Elder, it was something that only a few knew. Since the start, the Elder responsible for the formations, Shen Kun, had considered that the [Shearing Restriction] formation, control of which was lost over a day ago, would be eliminated at some point. But, it did not happen. On the contrary, the nodes and cores were now being slowly repaired by the mysterious enemy Grandmaster.

And to find why, how, and check for other changes, access to a core was required. One of which was in the 8th tower's basement, and actually, Shen Kun himself was in the control room of the same tower. Still, as he had no way to break through the several dozen [Brave Wolf Gang] cultivators, he required a distraction.

He Delan was meant to serve as one, although no one of the Palace members knew how did she plan to accomplish her part. Neither they know that it wasn't just because of the mission that He Delan accepted right away, but because she had a goal of her own...

Initially, Bai Qi was skeptical about the Wolves' intentions to wait for him to prepare for the second duel. Even though he didn't feel any deceit from their words or actions, he maintained his guard up during all the time he used to absorb the pills, repair the slight damage to his circulation, and partially heal his wounds.

But his precaution turned out to be unrequired, as until the moment he rose, indicating his readiness, neither of the two remaining [Brave Wolf Gang] cultivators moved at all.

"Are you ready?" The one that indicated before he would be the next to battle Bai Qi asked while taking a small step forward.

In response, Bai Qi nodded.

"Good. From the [Brave Wolf Gang], and previously the same An Family, An Dong." In the same manner but at a different timing than An Wei, the cultivator saluted, drew back the heavy hood, and took out his weapon.

An Dong was a slightly younger, cleanly shaved version of An Wei, and his weapon of choice was different, being a richly decorated [Reclining Moon Blade] with a jade dragon on each side of the blade.

An unrelated thought crossed Bai Qi's mind as he lamented that he did not have any similar weapon to use, as it would be interesting to meet glaive with a glaive. Regretfully, the only one Bai Qi had was a simple mortal-tier one, and it would not serve for anything in such a clash.

"Mmm, let's start." Bai Qi did not need to introduce himself again, so he only saluted and summoned out his [Spear of Blades], taking it into his left hand.

"Let's. And if you thought about it, no, we are not brothers, although we share some blood of the same lineage." An Dong suddenly explained while assuming the long tail stance, with the blade's spine almost touching the ground and most of the weapon behind his half-turned figure.

Bai Qi lightly smiled in response but did not assume any stance, with the spearpoint scraping the floor as he stood in a relaxed posture. He did not rush to meet the suddenly springing off An Dong either, standing still until the last moment, when the opponents glaive already made a half-circle, intending to hit his right, open side.

*Clang*

Bai Qi's left arm abruptly jerked to the right, interposing the spear's pole in the path of the glaive while using the long sleeve to hide his right hand, clenched into a fist. And as the weapons clashed, he abruptly stepped forward, closing the distance and practically opening himself as the spear's pole slid down the glaive's blade.

*Swoosh*

But before the glaive overpowered the light block, Bai Qi's hidden right punch flew forward, infused with far more qi than he used for the spear arm.

An Dong was left with two choices, either retreat or try to brace the punch, and continue his ongoing attack. Still, as he had seen Bai Qi's strength before and was aware that it wasn't lower than his own, the best would be to retreat, so he decided upon that.

But as An Dong was about to propel himself back, Bai Qi's face revealed a slight smile, and suddenly letting go of the spear, he pushed forward, entering a range so close that An Dong's weapon was rendered inutile.

*Thump* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Thump*

Bai Qi started a series of barehanded attacks, and An Dong managed to block most, but he had to let go of his weapon, as otherwise, he would have received the hits.

An Wei had proven their training wasn't lacking during the previous duel, so Bai Qi, since the start of this one, decided to change the rules to something different.

While their unarmed combat skills, assuming that both trained under the same methods and manuals, weren't low, Bai Qi still considered they could not be higher than their weapon mastery. But for Bai Qi, all of his usual skills and techniques were barehanded, so he should have a significant advantage. And indeed, with An Dong retreating back step by step, Bai Qi's thoughts had been entirely accurate.

"Sly, but my weapon is still present!" An Dong growled, and a strand of his aura called for his glaive as he broke off Bai Qi by over infusing his legs with qi.

"Mine is as well." Bai Qi shrugged, and as in a planned maneuver, his spear suddenly jerked up and flew towards An Dong, not intending to wound him, but to intercept the glaive!

*Clang* *Clang* *Clang*

An Dong attempted to recover his weapon thrice, and thrice Bai Qi's [Spear of Blades] intercepted it, throwing the glaive off course. Bai Qi's control over his aura, especially when manipulating objects, was near-absolute.

And rightfully so, if one considered that one of his primary weapons were the throwing daggers he controlled with aura.

"So you intend to have us fight barehanded, huh?" Acknowledging that he would be unable to win that tug of war, An Dong asked with a concealed sigh.

"Only as a change of pace, as you know, other fights are waiting for me." Bai Qi shrugged again.

A thing to note would be that neither of the two, especially Bai Qi, who held the advantage, had attempted to attack each other while battling for the weapons.

"No other way then." An Gong nodded to something and then, covering his arms with qi while allowing the latter to assume a blade-like form, launched forwards.

"Now, this can be interesting." Bai Qi lightly smiled, enjoying this and the previous duel to the fullest, and, imitating his opponent, stepped forward to meet him.

But while most of the both besieging and besieged cultivators in the [Void Palace] grounds remained unaware of it, the real plan of the [Seven Souls Sect] was about to start.

A plan that would be catastrophic for anyone who remained in the ravine after the next hour.

***

Two cultivators were speaking while concealed by a high-tier formation just a mile from the southern edge of the ravine.

Not even a Warrior Emperor would be able to spy on them, but if one did, the words and identities would make anyone alarmed. After all, anything that the [Seven Souls] Sectmaster could say, had always been enough to make dozens of surrounding powers tremble, be it in fear or fury...

"Everything is ready. Command our own to retreat. Leave only a few disposable ones to maintain the facade."

"Yes, Master. And the pawns?"

"Send the high elders to keep them company. And make sure that no runner of theirs can leave the camp."

"Understood."