With no sense of time, it was impossible to judge how much time passed while Bai Qi got accustomed to his condition.

Limited to only vision, hearing, and speech, as well as his thoughts, Bai Qi attempted to move or somewhat control the haze that formed his, if it could be considered one, body. But he met no success.

He then attempted to interact with the other three presences, if they were such, present. But again, Bai Qi obtained no result. The black, white, and green smoke, haze, or whatever it was, only repeated his words, showing no sentience at all.

Bai Qi did have a few ideas, even feelings about what each of them was, but he preferred to keep himself from thinking about that. After all, if the black one was Kui Mulang, and the green one was Wu Guang's contained soul, then the white should be Bai Qi's soul.

Bai Qi had never feared the unknown. Even more, it could be said that he enjoyed discovering new things.

Still, since his take over Wu Guang's body, he had never acted without being aware of at least half of what he would encounter next. Not to mention that his accumulated knowledge allowed him to solve any situation, doubt, or else.

But currently, Bai Qi was facing something he had no idea about. And worse, he had no way, at least a discovered one, to influence or solve it at all. So, even his inexhaustible resolve... wavered.

As time advanced, the sticky and disgusting ooze of fear began slowly trickling into his thoughts, and for the first time in both of his lives, Bai Qi had neither logical reasoning nor drive to push it back.

Even if I can't find a reason or an explanation for all this.

Even if I can't find a way to resolve it, or, at least, to act somehow.>

Gathering all of his willpower, Bai Qi managed to clear his mind, although understanding that without something to hold it in such a state, it was just a question of time for the desperation to return. Thus, Bai Qi chose to delve into his memories. And for them to serve as an anchor for his unstable state of mind.

With the intention being recovering calmness and not recalling something specific, Bai Qi allowed his memories to flow freely but still, he was somehow surprised by the event that surfaced first.

During his [White Scroll Immortal] life, Bai Qi had never been someone to look for a fight. Neither did he shy from them, but if there was a chance to avoid fighting and it did not impact his path or moral code, Bai Qi usually went with it.

But any cultivator will encounter moments where they have no other choice but to fight, even if the reasons behind the fight are both absurd and stupid...

*****

Before inheriting the [Sacred Forest], Bai Qi traveled over a hundred planes. Be it because of some discovery, myth, rare treasure, or to meet with one of the grand characters he was interested in, Bai Qi spent over half a century visiting planes he had never been on and could be considered an experienced traveler.

That, and the addition of his cultivation, skill, and charisma, allowed him to meet minimal dangers, as well as avoid most of the so-common incidents.

But on that day, just having broken into the Sky Realm, being referred to as an Immortal for the first time, Bai Qi met one of the unavoidable trouble that always transpired when meeting someone deliberately searching for trouble.

Being a newcomer to the [Immortal Moonlight] plane, Bai Qi had been already lucky to find a secluded place to make his breakthrough, where he could accept the [Heavenly Tribulation]. Thankfully, the spot had been safe indeed, and the tribulation did not leave any lasting damage. Thus, Bai Qi's tension drained off, and he even felt relaxed as he decided to head into the [Shen Zan Clan City], which was something like the sole noble clan of the [Silver Road Plains] he had selected for his breakthrough.

Referred to as an immortal near the gate, as the [Scanning] formation confirmed Bai Qi's cultivation and identity, Bai Qi's mood increased even more as he walked the streets of the enormous, over three miles from gate to gate, city, and felt how his new ascension placed him in a totally different level from the ordinary Earth realm individuals. And indeed, for a higher-tier plane, as [Immortal Moonlight] or [Four Forests], what else but an Immortal could be considered a genuine cultivator?

Bai Qi wasn't the strongest, but he was far above the average level in the entire city. And probably that last point had been the reason behind the following incident.

As to celebrate, as well as get used to his new cultivation and all the new sensations he was assaulted by, Bai Qi entered one of the luxurious tea houses. Where he ended up selecting a secluded spot in the garden, surrounded by blooming sky-tier trees called [Eternal Moon Blossom] and concentrated on his inner world while drinking herbal tea made of the latter.

Enjoying good tea and the solitude granted by both formations and trees, he did not expect to talk or even actually see anyone. But it seemed that a local Immortal had a different idea.

"Oho? A fellow Immortal? Come, drink with me and celebrate my last victory, Brother!" A coarse and slightly wavering, as if the owner had been drinking for long, and something enough to make even an Immortal drunk, voice entered Bai Qi's ears as a richly dressed but somewhat unkempt looking man dropped his arm on Bai Qi's shoulder.

Without looking back or opening his eyes, Bai Qi refused, excusing himself for not accepting the offer but congratulating the unknown man nonetheless.

"It's not like I'm asking for much, or you think that I, the [Shining Fang] of the [Shen Zan Clan], Shen Aiguo is too low for you?!" As the man roared, in faked anger as Bai Qi inwardly observed, his grip over Bai Qi's shoulder grew stronger, to the point that Bai Qi's aura, now evolved to an absolute domain released, in protection.

"You dare to try and attack me, damned foreigner monkey?!" The man seemingly had waited for such, as he immediately let go and jumped back.

"If you come searching for trouble, shouldn't you, at least try and be more subtle?" Having been distracted, offended without reason, and probably about to get into trouble with no reason either, Bai Qi stood up, fuming and bitingly asking back.

Like most natives of the sunless [Immortal Moonlight] plane, Shen Aiguo was pale and his hair had a silver-like hue. A well-trained body, rich clothes, almost a head above Bai Qi's 6'2. And if not for the reek of alcohol, reddened face, and messy short beard, Shen Aiguo could be said to be impressive-looking.

"So you want to challenge me, huh?! Let's do it, but openly then. Tomorrow at noon in the settlement square, or you are a coward that should never cultivate more!" Bai Qi had not offended or slighted the man, but he immediately went to the extreme and challenged Bai Qi for no apparent reason.

It was easy to understand that Bai Qi could not word his way out of it, and in truth, he had no desire to do it either. He had just advanced, and while Shen Aiguo seemed to be a more experienced Immortal, they both were on the 1st level of the [Human Immortal], also called the [First Immortal], realm. Nothing else than the Body step of the Sky realm. Thus, Bai Qi agreed, expecting to use this unexpected challenge to test his new strength.

"But real men do not fight just like that. It will be a life or death match!" Seeing that Bai Qi remained calm and collected even to the challenge, Shen Aiguo suddenly proclaimed.

The logical question of why such an outcome for opponents that seemingly had no grievances, Shen Aiguo only shrugged, and only again repeated the words about BAi Qi being a coward.

"I see, so your victories are nothing else than bullying an opponent you think you can beat... I agree, life or death, tomorrow. But, don't forget to order yourself a casket!" His anger breaking all dams, Bai Qi half growled, and pushing Shen Aiguo back, walked away from the teahouse, only stopping as to fling a spirit stone to the waiter.

***

The current Bai Qi, enclosed in a strange inner world, one that did not feel like his but at the same time did, surrounded by the souls that his body contained, mulled over the remembrance.

***

Bai Qi was offered the chance to avoid the fight, indeed.

First, as soon as he had left the tea house, as a servant-looking man, but with cultivation on the peak of the Saint realm, approached Bai Qi and offered Shen Aiguo to forfeit the duel in exchange for ten thousand big spirit stones. Such a quantity was a fortune even for a lot of people from a divine-tier plane, so Bai Qi not only refused but sent the servant back with a piece of his mind about paying a deadman.

The second time, it had been during the night, as Bai Qi secluded himself in an inn catered for cultivators like him, with rich qi flow and special formations in each room. A woman that looked in her thirties but easily surpassed that age tenfold, an Earth Immortal realm cultivator, suddenly visited him and asked him to depart town.

"I will not be crossed out as a coward. Shen Aiguo himself challenged me, even if I gave no reason for it. Now, let the heavens judge if he is worthy of surviving." Bai Qi had always acted with respect for seniors, especially at that point he was just 52 himself, but the situation had truly gotten on his nerves.

"Then, you should be wise and not kill him. Give him a lesson, beat him if you can, but do not kill or cripple him." The woman insisted as she released a wisp of qi, allowing Bai Qi to feel just how much she was stronger than him.

"So he can kill me, and I can not?! I may be a newcomer to the plane, but I am not a nobody to be pushed around!" Bai Qi practically lost himself for a moment as he nearly roared and then pointed towards the door, "Leave. I may not seek a fight with your clan, and I do understand that he's your family, but he offended and challenged me himself. Now, let the heavens decide. If I die, then so be it. If he dies, it will be because he chose to fight a duel to the death."

"You... I know that the badge you used to enter the city was one expedited by the [Platinum Plated Immortal Palace] and that they would only need to spit for our city to be destroyed. I only ask you not to kill him, and in exchange, I will stop the duel if he intends to kill you." The woman pleaded, revealing that Bai Qi's words about her being a member of the city clan were correct, and also revealing that they had already run a background check on him as well.

"I will ask him tomorrow again. If he selects life or death, then it will be so." Bai Qi cut off, and now aware that his backers, the ones that had actually invited him to explore the plane under their protection, were in play, felt more secure to run the woman off.

***

Neither the previous nor the current Bai Qi cared about the result of that duel, where Shen Aiguo died. And the following aftermath, in which the [Shen Zan Clan] declared Bai Qi a criminal, something that led to a few deaths, injuries, and even a time in captivity, mattered to Bai Qi.

***

As for the reasons, they had been stupid, absurd, but at the same time, common - greed and envy.

Shen Aiguo, the [Shining Fang]. Since his birth, he had been considered one of the bright stars of the [Shen Zan Clan]. And the resources, mentors, rare treasures, and other benefits into him had been proved worthy. After all, his cultivation surpassed all of his peers, except for a couple of geniuses from the higher-ranked, more powerful, families of the [Silver Moonglow] area, for more than ten years straight.

Regretfully, his moral compass was nearly inexistent, and his willpower was not enough to resist the temptation of the vices or the allure of his desires. At some point, the constant incidents surrounding him, and even more constant debts, made the clan leader, his uncle, stop giving him anything, and force him out of the clan's compound with the words, "If you want something, then go acquire it!"

But Shen Aiguo understood the meaning of acquiring in the wrong way, or maybe in the only way he could have done so. Looting, pillaging, sacking, but all under the pretense of offenses, duels, and even staged incidents and the unspoken protection of his clan.

Bai Qi was supposed to be just one of his victims, but as it turned out, Bai Qi had been the justice.