All the arena followed the descending image of the mace, and everyone wondered what Bai Qi would do. The latter calmly stood as if there wasn't a destructive force about to descend on him.

It only was as he was about to be touched by the aura and qi forming the mace that Bai Qi acted. His right arm went up, and only a few would see that only one finger of his hand was what he planned to face the mace!

[Finger of Fiery Devastation] was a skill Bai Qi obtained from the [Underground Land of the River] and only used a few times. Not one of Bai Qi's usual fighting methods, its only quality was the penetrative effect, far above any of his other skills. Although no one would understand what a finger movement could do to such destruction as he was about to face?

*BOOM*

The main arena's stage was the only one in the city made not from the local wood but [Earthwall Stone], an extremely durable spirit-tier material. Even so, protected by the formations, it had already cracked some from the fight, and as the [Heaven Shattering Mace] full force fell on it, it fractured, splintered, and small pieces of rock took the air.

But neither the public nor the Yi clan personnel cared about the destruction, unheard and unexpected, their eyes glued to the mace's slowly disappearing image and the spot where Bai Qi was standing just before.

"Did he dodge?

Did he block with some skill?

I still feel his aura from the same spot as before. But could it be that it was a ruse?" Questions resounded, each observer asking a companion or even the nearest person.

"Look! Where he was standing!" It would remain unknown who was the first to shout, but it was repeated by dozens of voices right away.

*Shatter*

It was as if Bai Qi had planned even the timing. As everyone's attention returned to the center of the mace's image, the still visible clone of the [Heaven Shattering Mace] suddenly shattered. And starting from the center, a finger-wide column of black flames emerged and did not dispel until it hit the protective formation half-mile above the stage, making the latter glow.

***

Yuwen Yahui was aware, from the moment that Bai Qi allowed him to prepare his trump card, that he was anything but close to his opponent. And so, he was probably the one less surprised that Bai Qi had not only braced the 'Shattering' but even broke through it.

*Plop*

Falling to one knee, entirely spent, he looked to the white-robed, undamaged, looking as if not done anything figure with a finger pointing to the heavens.

"My loss." And Yuwen Yahui spoke the words that he never expected to.

While no one would know, Yuwen Yahui and Bai Qi shared a few words via transmission, its contents even more surprising than the former's acceptance of defeat. After all, how could the arrogant, self-conceited brute of Yuwen Yahui actually ask to be taught?

{I can not help but ask, how? I don't feel that you destroyed it with brute force, so what did I fail in?}

{Your weapon is terrifying. Its genuine strength is enough to kill more advanced cultivators than me. Yet, it hasn't accepted you, not as its wielder. You are just a holder, for now, so the merge between your, the mace's, and the surrounding qi did not happen, it was merely a mix of the three, and by aiming at the weak links, I didn't even fight against a skill, just some nearly unrefined qi.}

{I see. Then, the next time, I will be an opponent able to fight you.} Yuwen Yahui wasn't sure how, but he inwardly decided it would be so.

{I will look forward to it.} For Bai Qi, looking forward to a fight with someone he had won against was unthinkable, or at least it had been so. But he didn't lie to Yuwen Yahui now, and if the latter found himself to feel ready, Bai Qi would accompany him again.

***

"Winner, Bai Qi!" The conclusion bell and commentary arrived, even if belated by the unexpected development. Similarly, clamor and cheers from the public only began nearly as Yuwen Yahui and Bai Qi moved off the stage to allow its [Unaging Monument] formation to repair all the damage.

Experts and powerhouses like the two present City Lords did not join the cheers, but even they inwardly were surprised. Bai Qi destroyed an attack that could have wounded even a more advanced cultivator, and he did so with a martial skill without being helped by any treasure or weapon!

In less time than one would use to drink a cup of tea, the stage finished repairing, and Yi Bingwen stepped on it, announcing the next combat, "Second round, rank 27 of the Earthen Lord Ranking Board, [Sea Piercing Spear], Yuwen Shui."

Yuwen Yahui's younger brother, Yuwen Shui, was the opposite of the former in looks. Who could even think of the skinny, low-statured, boyish-faced, and dressed in an austere martial robe, 22 years old, as related to his burly and extravagant brother?

Yet, they were family indeed. And the same arrogance of a noble family branch was present in the youngest of the three.

Yuwen Shui ascended on the stage as if he was the only one to be there. His usual vain manner visibly diminished because of the previous clash. But he was still a Yuwen, so though he did salute Bai Qi, his words weren't considerate or welcoming, more like a veiled mockery, "Let's have a good fight, although it is discouraging facing a wearied opponent. Especially one who had to deal with my older brother."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Ours will be my second of ten bouts, so it is not like I can make excuses about not being ready to face someone." Bai Qi always followed the notion of treating his opponents as they did to him, so he responded similarly, showing no care or interest as if Yuwen Shui was one more of the many faceless enemies any cultivator encountered.

The words fight could continue for longer, Bai Qi was always prepared to respond to anything, but Yi Bingwen commanded, "Let the battle commence!"

***

*Clang* *Clang*

For some time after the combat started, the only sound that filled the arena was one of steel crashing against steel.

Yuwen Shui's fighting methods differed from his brother's straightforward manner, and aware of Bai Qi's prowess, he had chosen to invoke his treasured weapon since the start.

As the [Sea Piercing Spear] materialized, shining in green, blue, and black hues, releasing the distinctive aura of a half-awoken Earth-tier weapon, Bai Qi took it as an invitation.

His own black and crimson [Spear of Blades] was a mere Spirit weapon, and it looked far less impressive than the seven-foot-long, gemstone-inlaid, nearly sentient weapon of Yuwen Shui's. Yet, as the spears clashed in the most basic physical exchange, Bai Qi proved that mastery was always above wealth if one would consider an Earth-tier treasure simple wealth.

*Clang* *Clang*

Yuwen Shui wasn't weak. He was even slightly more powerful than his older brother. Not in the physical aspect, but his spirit, soul, and speed exceeded the average. The latter, especially, as Bai Qi had to use his utmost non-qi speed to keep up.

And yet, while Bai Qi dodged and blocked with evident ease, Yuwen Shui found himself hard-pressed to maintain the same tranquility as his opponent.

Having stepped on the 3rd step of the Spear path a year ago, the noble family scion considered himself at the peak of his similars, at least with his weapon of choice. Regretfully for him, Bai Qi had stepped on the same 3rd step. But while he did so just a few months ago, his constant life-threatening experiences, bloody fights, and past-life experience allowed him to show mastery that could be easily confused with the 4th, even 5th step at times.

"Grrr, don't get cocky because you can swing better than some!" With the same sin as his brother, Yuwen Shui was easily enraged and lost himself to the feeling, making him act in ways that weren't ideal for what still was even combat.

Releasing a martial skill first was a way, in any plane, to show that you were inferior to your opponent. Yuwen Shui didn't care about that, as the only thought in his mind was to win.

"Pierce!" Jumping back, opening the distance, he shouted as the green jade, one of the three gemstones on the broad tip of his spear, shone, releasing something that looked like a speartip woven of air.

*Swoosh* *Step*

Yuwen Shui's martial skill was incredibly swift, but he had given too many signals, like breaking the distance or gathering his aura. And so, while Bai Qi couldn't read the opponent's aim from the brief exchange until now, it only took a quick, even if last moment, sidestep to allow the wind-leaf-shaped blade to pass without harm.

"Piercing Spear of the Storm!" Even though Bai Qi dodged, it appeared as if Yuwen Shui's movement was yet to end as he shouted again and shoved his spear forward.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

With each movement of the spear, a leaf-like wind projectile flew at Bai Qi.

*Swoosh* *Step* *Swoosh* *Step*

For a few, Bai Qi sidestepped. For some, Bai Qi merely inclined his body. Yet, the speed of the projectiles wasn't a jest, and their amount kept increasing as Yuwen Shui increased the rhythm of his attack.

*Swoosh* *Clang* *Swoosh* *Step* *Clang* *Clang*

At some point, Bai Qi had to start blocking the projectiles, lest he wanted to receive one with his body. His [Spear of Blades] danced wildly in his hands, covered in a coat of aura, breaking and deflecting the wind blades as if they were some unseen pest.

"Haaa..." It took not a few breaths for the barrage to end, and both sides exhaled. Looking from the side, Yuwen Shui had shown considerable prowess with his skill, as he had forced Bai Qi to remain passive for that time. And yet, the latter remained untouched.

Bai Qi's aura and qi remained stable as if no combat was going on. All this made Bai Qi look like the victor, compared with Yuwen Shui's decreased aura, sweaty face, and ragged breathing.

"Now, probably, it is my turn." Bai Qi remarked to no one as his spear drew a wide circle and then pointed forward, speartip aimed at his opponent's chest.

*Roar*

A side effect of either Kui Mulang's or the small amount of [White Tiger] essence within him, all of Bai Qi's created weapon skills during his training in the [Steel Fang] region, even ones made with the silent [Ghostflame], had a distinctive roaring sound. The carelessly named [Fiery Piercer] or its black flame [Demon Piercer] version not being different.

A simple change of the [Finger of Fiery Devastation] from finger to spear, it was nonetheless a decent skill that didn't look less impressive than any of the famous ones.

*Swoosh*

As the torrent of fire flew towards him, Yuwen Shui moved to the side in an attempt to dodge it.

Yet, the torrent didn't stop, and with Bai Qi moving the spear, it lunged, nearly a flaming whip after the Yuwen's offspring. Thus, leaving him no choice but to defend.

"Protection of the Deep." Yuwen Shui called, and the [Sea Piercing Spear] responded. The blue stone on the tip glowing, an immense amount of qi gathered, and combining with its user's aura, formed a water dome around him.

*Boom* *Shhhhsh*

As Bai Qi's normal flames whipped at the rippling dome, they fell to a disadvantage both in force, as the skill's forte was piercing, and element. An explosion followed by the disappearance of the flames, the skill dispelled as vapor filled up the stage.

*Swoosh*

Bai Qi did not wait for his opponent and lunged forward, breaking through the mist curtain, his spear now covered in pure qi...