The ruckus' cause became apparent as Bai Qi and He Delan moved towards what was the main entrance of the combat palace.

And while it indeed served as the distraction that would allow them to continue towards their destination unchallenged, neither Bai Qi nor He Delan could do so. After all, they could not ignore Tao Xuegang's and Shen Kun's trouble.

One thing was to separate and move on towards an objective, acknowledging that the one left behind could not make it, but still, without seeing their demise. But, seeing it in front? And ignoring it while being entirely aware they could have been saved? Thus indeed, they could not.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Bai Qi released several throwing stars and daggers he had previously scavenged without making any sound, except for the one that the weapons made as they flew.

*Splatter* *Tear* *Tear* *Splatter*

And without senses to make the enemies react or the defensive effects of one's qi and aura, even the simple weapons were enough to end the life of several. Not that Bai Qi had the chance to observe how many, as he had started forward as soon as the last seven-pointed flower of steel left his hand.

He Delan followed suit, and they both crashed into the three or four dozens of enemies that surrounded the two, battered and wounded, elders of the [Void Palace].

A few minutes before this unexpected meeting.

Having decided to fight until their last breath in place of remaining captive, Tao Xuegang and Shen Kun had not attempted to act stealthily after breaking out. On the contrary, after a patrolling guard's throat was slit, they walked openly thru the corridors of the combat palace.

Their first stop had been the armory, where, as expected, they found all the training weapons in place.

Shen Kun had asked before why the Vice-head was so sure of them being in place, to which he got an answer that turned out to be the reality, "No one would bother stealing mortal-tier weapons."

Arming themselves with a long and a short weapon each, the two of them proceeded to visit the few rooms on the first floor. And there, finding wounded and crippled enemies, they killed them all without remorse.

Were they cold-blooded killers? Monsters? Demons? Some may clamor in affirmation, but that would be only the ones affected, the ones that would have done the same in the same situation.

These actions attracted both the attention and the bloodlust they wanted, and so, both Tao Xuegang and Shen Kun entered what they planned as their last fight.

But, with their backs against the wall near the main palace, where they had chosen to move to avoid being encircled, they suddenly found that maybe, just maybe, their final battle would not be here. Not that Tao Xuegang approved of Bai Qi's and He Delan's actions, something he informed them of with a loud curse, "You two idiot brats!"

*Slash* *Slash* *Splatter* *Tear* *Swoosh*

Bai Qi slashed, dodged, kicked, punched, and even bit one of the enemies as he fought what was probably the most precarious battle of his until the moment.

His body was already battered, he bled from several wounds that no mortal medicine could have healed so quickly, and now he was receiving even more damage. Still, somehow, Bai Qi fought and fought, and his results were truly frightening for the enemies. Indeed, how could they not grow terrified if their opponent was fighting against half a dozen, at the same time, while surrounded and still landed slash after slash? Got kill after kill?

Physically, all were in the same situation, as while Bai Qi's body was better trained, he had been fighting for the entirety of this day and had received dozens, if not close to a hundred, wounds.

Mastery-wise? Bai Qi had, indeed, an edge over most cultivators thanks to his cultivation method and the weapon understanding lapses. But, by now, he merely acted on instinct. Without all of the movements, technicalities, and finesse, the weapon in his hand, a sword, required.

And while Bai Qi's consciousness, even without any qi, gave him a better reaction and thought speed than even Warrior Kings had, he was too tired to capitalize on it. He simply... fought.

So, did Bai Qi have some kind of advantage over his enemies? The answer would be yes, although it was merely the lack of fear and the absolute dismissal of being devoid of qi. Still, those advantages weren't visible or tangible. And so, the enemies could only start drawing back in fear. In fear of an opponent that, while in the most disadvantageous position possible, was nonetheless advancing.

***

He Delan, using one of the scrap-iron sabers, regretfully the only weapon possible for her now, fought along with Bai Qi, and she wasn't taken less aback than the enemies as she observed the youth in the few glimpses she could spare.

Initially, she thought that Bai Qi would choose to ignore Tao Xuegang and Shen Kun, and actually, she was ready to accept that. Oh, there was no doubt that she would have stayed back, as under her cold, arrogant, and mostly uncaring nature, He Delan held not only respect but true feelings for her master, the [Void Palace] Vice-head, Tao Xuegang.

But, Bai Qi had surprised her, again, by acting right away, not even stopping to ask. And now, while she struggled to maintain even grounds against four opponents, and still had to take a few steps back from time to time to avoid being encircled, Bai Qi managed to advance. And he did while being in a worse situation, both enemy and condition-wise!

He Delan could only spare a few thoughts on the matter, as most of her mind was occupied with fighting, but she did.

Not that she could answer. After all, the only reasons Bai Qi had shared with anyone was helping the [Void Palace] and making a name for himself. And now, both looked improbable, especially with the situation so bad.

Still, he did not try to retreat, hide, or escape. He Delan thought as she looked at Bai Qi's figure, barely visible between the enemies that launched at him with renewed force, understanding that he was currently the greatest threat.

***

While Tao Xuegang had cursed at the two brats before, it wasn't that he did not welcome the momentary respite or was unwelcoming to the thought of being rescued. He may be ready to die, and there were no buts with his resolve, still,

And so, pressing his right hand against his, since the first clashes, bloodied robe as to stop the bleeding from the three lost fingers just now, he waved the simple, meant for training bouts, iron glaive and invited the nearby enemies to attack.

"C'mon, you damned bastards. Weren't you so eager to kill me? To destroy our [Palace]?! Look! I am still standing, and the [Void Palace] stands as well!" Gathering his strength, Tao Xuegang roared, and even took a step forward, breaking from the safety that the wall provided.

"DIE!" "KILL!" "He's the Vice-head" "The reward will be impressive!" "Don't fear!"

A barrage of shouts, intermixed with curses he chose to ignore, was the answer for his actions. And to all this, Tao Xuegang could only smirk, He thought as he followed Bai Qi's route, and if everything went well, Bai Qi would be reaching the shouting group, who had assumed to be safe, in the next few breaths.

***

Shen Kun, influenced by Tao Xuegang's words and actions, did not doubt the decision to go and fight to the death. His own resolve wasn't so high as to die along with the [Palace] voluntarily, but he would not escape either. Thus, if death was something he could choose, as opposed to an unknown captivity, then indeed, prepared or not, it was the right choice.

And now, holding back a couple of opponents with wild and uncontrolled thrusts of the training spear he had taken from the armory, wounded and having lost an eye, he did not lament the situation. And while Bai Qi's and He Delan's arrival and intention to help them was something he welcomed, he would have agreed with them leaving either.

Shen Kun thought as he observed the youth, not even old enough to be considered an adult, advance while disregarding wounds, curses, pain, and everything else that usually would be enough to stop a lot of older, and more experienced cultivators.

Shen Kun added, recalling how Bai Qi was the first to recognize the formations and the only one to find a way to track the main core.

A wry reflection and one that could dispirit others actually had the opposite effect on Shen Kun. In place of sulking at the thought, it made him feel the need to take action.

And so, with a crazed growl, he discarded the spear, took out a short sword, and launched into close quarters without thinking anything else than,

***

As the last enemies either ran or fell down, Bai Qi forced himself to snap out of the daze he had been in. It wasn't that he was fearless, or a great fighter, or could ignore pain and wounds because it wasn't so.

Usually, Bai Qi followed a way of maintaining himself under control and fighting with a plan. But with a tired and wounded, qi-less and heavy body, and with an even more tired off mind, he had chosen to forget about everything and concentrate solely on fighting. It wasn't the same berserker state as he had been forced to utilize twice until now, but it was close to it.

And when he felt the admiration of Tao Xuegang and the other two voices, Bai Qi felt nothing but exhaustion.

Every part of his body ached, and while he would not say that he was the most wounded of all, he was heavily wounded indeed. During this fight, in exchange for downing nearly 20 enemies, Bai Qi received close to 40 wounds, of which two were severe and even life-threatening. And even he was doubtful about what was keeping him alive or propelling him to go further.

"Seniors, the enemies will return with reinforcements. We have to escape, now!" Only waiting enough time for everyone to take a couple of breaths and slightly calm after the fight, Bai Qi urged everyone forward.

And being the one that bled, fought, and killed the most, not even Tao Xuegang, someone who had over twelve times Bai Qi's age, said anything.

But if he had known what awaited him at the mortality formation's main core, Bai Qi would probably have chosen to stay back. To fall down unconscious, pretend to be too wounded to advance, or anything else. Especially as not even feigning was required...