Yuwen Shui would have never expected someone who had just lost an exchange of skills to attack without even a brief respite. And so, even with the senses of a Warrior Lord, not affected by the steam around, he failed to notice Bai Qi nearly until the latter's spear-point crashed against the protective dome.

*Splatter*

Any fully encasing defensive skill was weak against piercing attacks, something of common knowledge. Yet, 'Protection of the Deep' went against this truth. As a water-element skill, created from nothing but the water particles from the surroundings and reinforced with qi and aura enough to defend against any attack of the user's or similar strength, it could also be manipulated and adjusted.

"Encircle!" While reacting slightly late, Yuwen Yahui showed uncanny prowess with his defensive skill, allowing the opponent's weapon to pass through and then commanding the dome to close up again, catching the spear a few inches below the tip.

With Bai Qi's weapon captured, it was the perfect moment for a counterattack, or so anyone would think. But how could someone like Bai Qi not be aware of the malleable properties of one of the main elements?

"Thank you for allowing me to close up." Bai Qi suddenly grinned, making Yuwen Shui's eyes go wide,

[Spear of Blades], a spear that wasn't a spear, or maybe was not just one?

On Bai Qi's prearranged command, the top of the spear, the fourth of the throwing knives making up its body and tip, flew forward.

With a distance of mere two feet, it was an attack nearly sure to hit the exposed opponent. With his aura infused in the protective dome and his spear occupied channeling and maintaining the skill, Yuwen Shui hardly had any chance against the qi-covered knife aimed at his heart.

*Clang*

Yet, Yuwen Shui showed that he wasn't a paper tiger but an experienced fighter once again, the butt of the [Sea Piercing Spear] intercepting and knocking off the trajectory of what could have been the last episode of the combat.

Regretfully, it only allowed the combat to extend for a few breaths more. With all attention on the knife and forced to move the spear, Yuwen Shui inadvertently weakened the only thing protecting him against the nearby Bai Qi.

While Bai Qi's plan for all the bouts was to crush trump cards and show outstanding prowess, he would be a flawed warrior if he missed such a chance.

*Swoosh* *Clang* *Clang* *Rip*

Bai Qi's hands danced, and in response, the remaining three knives, freed from their pole form, flew forward. Yuwen Shui continued showing excellent defensive reactions and managed to block two of them without being prepared. Yet, it had not been enough.

"Winner, Bai Qi!" Yi Bingweng's voice resounded, and the combat grew to a close. Such a decision was one to discuss, as there was no way to be sure that Bai Qi's knife would have fatally wounded Yuwen Shui in a fight to the death, but no one protested. And indeed, if Bai Qi cut the entire collar of his opponent's martial robe and left a shallow line all along the neck - What could have stopped him from slicing deeper?

Oh, he could have failed to kill right away, or Yuwen Shui could have reacted to ensure Bai Qi ended up wounded in turn, but this was an arena, not a death stage.

"It could have ended differently, but I accept that I showed myself as inferior. This time." In truth, Yuwen Shui wasn't feeling as accepting anything and considered that with enough time, preparation, and more information, he could have won against Bai Qi. Yet, there were no ifs.

The stage suffered no damage, so Bai Qi did not leave it, remaining steady for the next bout's announcement.

Not that he waited for long, Yi Bingwen speaking as Yuwen Shui descended, "Third round, rank 25 of the Earthen Lord Ranking Board, [Two Ax Butcher], Teng Lang."

Teng Lang was probably the oldest of the Arena Masters, being over fifty years. Bai Qi had fought Ten Bao, the man's son, just two days ago and won.

Bai Qi held no regret for how he acted. Neither did he feel anything for the perceptible animosity of the wild-looking man in front. He also ignored the lack of salute or even how Teng Lang spat on the ground in place of it.

In fact, Bai Qi showed nothing but courtesy to all the hostility and discourtesy, which surprised not a few people in the crowd. As the bell and command to start sounded, Bai Qi did not move, even allowing Teng Lang to move first. Although, it wasn't like he did so because of being considerate. He just wanted to gauge his opponent, as he had done before.

***

With Teng Lang's title and the eye-catching, colossal axes on his back, one would have expected him to use his famous weapons from the start. But he did not, as he fell on all four as the bell sounded, his aura surging and, at the same time, releasing a kind of inner seal.

The latter, evident from the sudden change in his qi. From the characteristic one defining a non-elemental cultivator to one that was more akin to a beast.

"Awooo!" Teng Lang howled as his aura assumed the form of a fur hide, his arms turning into enormous, wolf-like claws.

Bai Qi thought as he examined his opponent. He wasn't a stranger to all types of bloodlines, and a similar one to Teng Lang's one, he had encountered just some months ago, the Wolf clan of the Wildlands on [Seven Islands Plane] being considerably alike. Yet, Teng Lang's wolf form savageness and intensity felt far beyond the [Stone Wolf] clan Bai Qi had met and fought along.

*Swoosh*

Teng Lang lunged forwards, his eyes bloodshot. Standing on his feet, he released a savage series of swipes at Bai Qi as soon as the range allowed.

While anyone would have expected Bai Qi to dodge or meet the claws with some weapon, Bai Qi did neither. The aura around his hands turned greenish and assumed the form of two armored talons.

Bai Qi inwardly observed as he met claw with claw.

The battle of claws ensued, feeling the stage with the sounds of air ripping and the thumps of the similarly armored forearms of the combatants.

The raw, feral clash that ensued shocked not a few people. They knew of the [Two Ax Butcher] manner, and some even had seen it before, yet for Bai Qi to match a nearly-beastly way of fighting as he did before with the weapon-oriented cultivators, that was unexpected indeed.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Several breaths it was all that it took for nearly a hundred swipes, lunges, and slashes to be exchanged. And as the two combatants separated, one would notice that both had received their fair share of minor wounds, their robes showing rips and even some blood dripping unto the floor.

"No one has managed to endure my totem's force, yet you did and even went so far as to equal it." Teng Lang growled with a hint of surprise, and before Bai Qi said anything, added in a lower voice, "Now I understand why you so easily played with my son."

A few moments later, Teng Lang's eyes turned entirely bloodshot, and he pounced again, showing no care for received wounds.

The [Blood Craving Wolf], a Saint Beast that could reach even the peak if not for the fierce bloodlust it had, the latter forcing it to fight any living being, be it beast, cultivator, or even its own brood.

Teng Lang attempted to launch at Bai Qi similarly a few times more, but the result was the same each time. Bai Qi reacted with claw against claw, and as he switched to flame-covered ones, it was Teng Lang, the one to receive the most damage, his aura-cloak nearly entirely depleted, and several deep lacerations on his skin.

Bai Qi also received a few new wounds, but it was because he refused to use his aura cover to the utmost, considering that saving up his pool was more important than a few wounds that would close just with a few strands of qi.

***

Bai Qi rarely allowed himself to feel complacent and sure even of the most won battle, and yet, since the events that led his soul to incorporate three, he had somehow fallen into such vice. Not entirely or permanently, but as it had happened with Teng Lang's son, Teng Bao, before, Bai Qi would disconnect from a battle he felt was not dangerous.

Obviously, the man in the front right now was not an opponent to take lightly, but after establishing what kind of totem he was dealing with, Bai Qi did consider the opponent easier than before.

After all, it was of common knowledge that [Blood Craving Wolves] were prone to berserker fits, and the more they fought, the less they would think, simply launching at their opponent until one died. Teng Lang's actions, as he continued to pounce again and again, even after being burnt by the [Ghostflame], served as proof.

As his mind floated towards the strange feelings he had felt during his meditation, Bai Qi's body responded to the [Twin Ax Butcher] attacks. And while done mechanically, the result of the clashes remained the same, Bai Qi maintaining his advantage.

"Awoooo!" Teng Lang howled again, his remaining aura cloak standing up, almost as if it was real fur.

Assuming another lunge would follow, Bai Qi didn't pay much attention, occupied with the three images that had appeared in his mind before. Yet, this would prove disastrous, even if, at the last moment, Bai Qi managed to salvage the situation.

"It's my turn now." Yuwen Hanying did not wait for the announcement and walked up the stage.

"Best of luck." Her oldest brother briefly smiled as he muttered, though the self-centered girl didn't even notice, turning or responding out of the question.

{You saw how this Bai Qi fights. You have to avoid allowing him a respite. His means are just too strange, and I heard he also is a swordmaster. With enough time, he may win even against your sword.} Yuwen Shui knew that their sister was above both of them, but he offered some advice anyway.

Bai Qi would have loved to count on at least a few moments before the next fight, but it seemed impossible with his next opponent already on stage. He wasn't tired, and the wound he just received wasn't crippling, but changing three ways of fighting right after another and the constant circulation was stressful, even for him. That his mind lost concentration during the fight, leading to such a result, also weighed on him, only adding to his overall strained condition.

"Let us compare skill, spirit, and soul. And let our swords dance until satisfied." Contrary to her brothers, Yuwen Hanying made a customary salute, even if a bit old-fashioned.

It was rare for the young generation cultivators to remember both words and the timing one had to bow, so Bai Qi immediately assumed the girl was someone trained by an old expert. As for himself, he responded with the same, even though he did not consider himself a swordmaster, so he dropped the second part for the standard, "Let us fight to our heart's content."