Yi Bingwen did not enjoy being played or admonished by anyone, yet this time he received it as if it was nothing. In fact, he even agreed to both He Delan's outburst and now Bai Qi's words.

So now, the head manager of the arena faced a simple choice, either he could go along or not. He could not forbid Bai Qi to challenge Xun Gengxin, but he could make it impossible, at least for a while, forcing the pool combats to follow one after another.

Having reached a decision, Yi Bingwen made several arrangements. One of which managed to surprise even the arena public, as it was truly unexpected for the managers to give any advice to one of the participants, no matter how good, promising, or talented they appeared.

"Young friend Bai Qi. While I feel that your search for advancement is laudable, your mindset isn't right. It is not about selecting an opponent to suit your need but making your inspiration flourish with any adversary. It may appear hard and even counterproductive, but on your path, you can not honestly expect to meet the opponents you need when you require them."

"Thank you for the advice, Senior." Bai Qi, perfectly aware of what was going on, saluted in thanks before indicating that he would follow the guidance and enter the combatant pool.

"No need for thanks." Yi Bingwen dismissed the gratitude with a light movement of his hand, smiling to indicate that he did not expect them.

And what about the so-called protection?! They allowed her to do it and did not even request her to leave!>

Xun Gengxin brooded as he tried to recover. If he could choose, he would have retired for the day, but he had no way to do so.

Not after Song Lin's interference, and certainly not after the [Void King] said his piece, [If you screw up later, I guarantee you will wish you died before we ever met!].

The current plan was to use the right of challenge to go after the 2nd and 1st level Warrior Lords present, ones that Xun Gengxin could win against with no trouble. He would give them some fight, at least enough, so he did not attract scorn. Thankfully he could excuse himself as being wounded and not wanting to risk today if someone called him out for not challenging someone of his own category.

As Xun Gengxin contemplated, he did not pay much attention to the happenings in the 3rd stage, and it was a blunder on his part to do so. An even bigger mistake was to forget that he never was asked about leaving the pool.

These two mistakes would only appear obvious to him later when he heard the announcements and was forced unto the stage without a chance to refuse, less he wanted to lose his single point!

"First stage - Shi Huang versus Huo Ya.

Second stage - Xun Gengxin versus Bai Qi.

Third stage - Li Chin versus Ye Yijun.

Fourth stage - Du Gao versus Gai Ping."

Different exclamations followed the announcement, some full of surprise while others of excitement. But Xun Gengxin uttered nothing more than a gasp as all his plans went down the drain.

Inwardly, he screamed at the top of his lungs, only to be reprimanded by Song Lin's transmission, {Calm yourself! You can not lose!}.

But even Song Lin could not calm Xun Gengxin at this moment. Bai Qi was more powerful than him, and that was a fact. Even before the surge of power that concluded the previous fight, Bai Qi showed a 4th level Warrior Lord strength, coupled with authentic weapon mastery. Xun Gengxin wasn't the average cultivator either, but he could hardly match Bai Qi in a pure physical exchange.

{If there's no other way, enter the Void, attract him inside, and deal with him. I will not use my power lest I want someone to discover me, but inside the Void, he will be unable to channel that much force.}

{Then go and don't screw up. You HAVE to challenge Xinhuai today.}

***

Assured as he was with Song Lin's words and deep inside hopeful that the [Void King] would take action if things were not as he wished, Xun Gengxin raised and ascended the stage. And still, his confidence faltered once again as he saw Bai Qi. Where were the bloody rags of his robes? The flesh wounds that were so abundant before?

If not for the slight paleness and nearly unnoticeable shivering of the aura cover, one could think that the young cultivator in front had just arrived and had not fought several bouts before, one of which had left dozens of blood splatters on the stage!

To be fair to himself, Bai Qi was conscious that he was overstepping the limits of his body, even if he did choose what to show and what not.

The previous surge of power had come at a price, and several cracks on his meridians were now present.

Releasing the Ghostflame under the command of Kui Mulang's demonic essence, now part of his soul, wasn't easy on the body either.

There was also the matter of constantly containing his emotions, lest he wanted to allow the demonic entity, now part of him, to appear on the stage.

And still, with all of that weighing on him, Bai Qi had not a single doubt about his next combat.

With his duel against Xun Gengxin secured, Bai Qi took the chance to swap his outer robe and even clean himself with his aura. He wasn't in his peak condition but was far from depletion. Bai Qi allowed his aura cover to shiver slightly, but it was mostly for show, as he still retained enough to block several full-strength attacks of the likes of Xun Gengxin.

As the thought traversed Bai Qi's mind, a small grin crossed his face. His fury was well contained, with his demonic part as well, but it would be released just when Bai Qi would will it.

***

*DONNN*

The main gong, signaling the start of the four combats, had yet to finish reverberating, and Bai Qi had already vaulted forward.

*Swoosh*

Propelling himself with a fair amount of his qi, Bai Qi appeared before Xun Gengxin instantly, barely allowing the latter any window to react.

Immediately, Bai Qi released an uncomplicated punch covered with just a bit of qi. It was of no actual threat but still forced Xun Gengxin to defend against it. After all, if he didn't, the edge of the stage was just a few feet behind, and Bai Qi could use such a maneuver to attempt to push him out right away.

Yet Bai Qi did not plan to push Xun Gengxin or use the feint to create an opening. His strategy was different. Bai Qi meant to force his opponent into a dead-end situation.

*Swoosh*

As soon as Xun Gengxin blocked, Bai Qi darted to the side and attacked again. It was a similar punch, but now, with slightly more qi incorporated.

Forced to block again, Xun Gengxin could only guess the meaning behind such attacks, but Bai Qi had already shuffled once again while releasing another punch just as he did.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Each of the consequent attacks contained more and more qi. It wasn't enough to severely wound the opponent, but Bai Qi wasn't looking for such an outcome. He planned to deny Xun Gengxin anything but blocking. For that reason, most of Bai Qi's speed and concentration was on the speed he moved and attacked with, not power.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

A dozen, a hundred, several hundreds of times. In barely an incense stick of time, Bai Qi had moved half a thousand times and, each time released an attack against his opponent. The same identical straight and unadorned punch, yet always coming in a manner that Xun Gengxin could either block or receive it. But when Xun Gengxin understood he should have received one of the punches and counterattacked, Bai Qi was using enough qi for the punches to pose a threat.

***

"What a masterful control of qi." On the second floor, on a balcony with ten seats from which only three were occupied at the moment, a melodious voice observed.

"He recalls the qi before the attack connects. So he has spent close to none on the punches. What's so amazing?" A low and rumbling voice asked with notable annoyance.

"What our Princess means, you oaf is that he is doing it perfectly each time since the start of the combat. Not you, not me, and probably none of the others could recreate such a feat without preparation. And he not only does that, but he's also controlling the expenditure of qi on his speed. See it yourself. This Bai Qi has spent nearly nothing since the combat start!" Another male voice chided the previous speaker.

"But even if that does not convinces you, Shi Zi, what about now?" The melodious voice owner, referred to as Princess before, asked a few moments later, making her two fellow Arena Masters look at the stage again.

***

Xun Gengxin could not help but curse at the damned opponent of his. Bai Qi kept showing off that he could attack without giving any break or quarter. And worse, he did so without leaving even a window of opportunity for Xun Gengxin to either counterattack or take his weapon out. {Keep your calm, you idiot. His attacks are barely leaving any ripples in the Void. He's only trying to upset you!}

Song Lin's input helped Xun Gengxin calm down and resist the urge to scream and curse out loud. Then, as he, once again, found no way to get out of this deadlock, Bai Qi suddenly stopped the barrage and even opened the distance to a few steps.

"You, just what are you showing off?!" Calmed or not, Xun Gengxin still angrily roared.

"Showing off? Maybe that's it." Bai Qi replied with a wondering expression before his lips turned into an evil smile as he added, "Oh, yes. I am displaying that you aren't nothing impressive." A nod later, Bai Qi continued even further, "Certainly not to merit the 1 to 2 odds for the combat. I think 1 to 20 would have been fairer."

Xun Gengxin went red in response to such words and again allowed Bai Qi to take the lead.

Bai Qi's control over qi wasn't limited to just spending. It also meant a far quicker activation of anything qi-related, in this case, his [Void Ring].

Bai Qi summoned the other pair of sabers in his possession, these golden but with a hint of a pale red hue. And as he launched forward, slashing at Xun Gengxin, the latter only managed to unsheath his saber, even though he had it outside all of the time!