While there were a couple of complaints, Bai Qi's methods didn't attract so much attention or hostility from the surrounding cultivators, even the ones he nearly ran over. And as the nearly-mechanical voice registered him while no one from the [Delicate Forest] elders definitively overseeing the procedure didn't say anything, some others chose to emulate them even - turning the, until that moment, pretty calm process into a display of movement techniques, skills, and even one or two clashes, the latter happening as the number of spots diminished to just a few.

One or two moments, like same-power or group, already registered cultivators trying to push back anyone unrelated to them to get more spots for the ones that did have a connection to them nearly developed into a fully-fledged confrontation. But for that, the elders behind the scenes did intervene, a strong aura pushing both conflicting parties away from the obelisk, "Bloodshed will be not permitted."

***

Just a moment after the thousandth and first hand touched the wooden obelisk, the ones lucky enough to have reached it in time found themselves teleported to a new location, making even Bai Qi wink in surprise,

Unable to understand the reasons and feeling slightly unsettled for failing to notice the formation beforehand, Bai Qi considered everything and concluded that maybe the [Delicate Forest Palace] had also prepared something for the ones that didn't get a spot. Especially as why would the [Palace] summon so many, and in such a way? After all, there were not a few hundred that the first formation had sent them to the far fringes of the two-mile-wide plaza!

Just as Bai Qi thought of it, a woman appeared in the hall where the second formation sent the participants, and her words confirmed it.

"For the ones lucky and brave enough to get a spot, even if some did show an unexpected amount of overbearingness-" As a few eyes landed on Bai Qi, though he had been only the first, not the only, the woman paused for a bit, her eyes also landing on the humbly dressed, salt-pepper haired, and unwantedly turned into the center attention youth before continuing, "-congratulations! And if anyone is worried about friends back on the visitor's plaza, do not. They will not be leaving just yet, and, most probably, will depart with gains for this trek many of you attempted on such short advice."

Inwardly, Bai Qi was fuming as the short-haired, flower-robed, 4th-level Warrior King that appeared first turned half of the present people's attention on him and then continued as if nothing, relating the rules of the [Martial Path of Herbs]. It wasn't that he would feel something even if someone painted him as a target or else, but being used once again? And if it was so, in a plan that he himself had not the slightest idea or thought?

To this, Bai Qi had no doubt, as why else he would receive that unexpected transmission, the one that had made him act as he did?!

And while Bai Qi could not say it was so, he had the lingering feeling that even the first teleportation formation stopping its function just a couple of people after he used it wasn't a simple coincidence,

To clear his mind and be prepared for the event to follow, Bai Qi decided to take a walk around the hall and, if able, find out the most dangerous of the competitors while doing so.

***

"Move out of the way." Bai Qi glared at the cultivator in front, who had stepped in to block his way. Rarely showing respect to anyone who lacked it, Bai Qi was even ruder this time, adding, "I am not interested in looking at some ugly mug when in a fairy-filled forest."

"You! You dare push me away from the obelisk and now talk to me like that? Do you even know who I am?!" With the scuffle attracting attention, the slightly overweight twenty or so years man, his aura flaring, reveling his 5th level Warrior Lord cultivation.

"You still registered, didn't you? So what if I made you work out a bit? Heavens, it can be said I did you a favor!" Although the issue was insignificant and something Bai Qi usually would have solved with a few words, this time, Bai Qi acted differently. And feeling his words not provocative enough, he even added, playing at what seemed the man's weak point, "The small jolt and some movement, it helped your flabs to decrease, maybe not much, but with some more of such, you may even appear human!"

These last few weeks, for Dai Kun, an inner disciple of the [Shimmering Earth] sect, had been absolute hell. First, his uncle was killed by some unknown assaulters. And in the same attack that claimed the lives of all the sect's manor occupants in [Heibei], his current master, Zan Xi, also gets killed!

Then, without him even having a chance to grieve, not that he was honest in his grief for the old bastard as he was for the woman that helped him reach his current cultivation, it turned out that among the victims of that assault, there was that man, Wan Dong. On the well-being of which half of their sect's current funds depended, as the Wan's provided nearly half of the sect's income, even if Dai Kun had no idea of the reasons behind the arrangement, when one merchant family paid the expenses of an actual, established 3rd-tier power.

In any case, after the [Heibei] incident, which the Sectmaster sent all elders to investigate but all returned with nothing except a few hints, the sect's situation only worsened, the news of Vice-head Lai being killed during an unexpected assault on [Zihoadao] reaching them.

To add insult to injury, Wan Dong's family had recently stormed the sect's headquarters, making even the so-powerful sectmaster grovel to avoid a worse fate. A fact that remained unknown to nearly everyone but a few people. People that were present there at that moment, like Dai Kun, who had been invited to the Sectmaster's quarters to talk about his future.

And now, when Dai Kun, at last, found a way to get away from the hellhole the [Shimmering Earth] sect had become, hoping to find a better place or at least forge some contacts during this sudden [Sword and Herb] festival, someone not only steps, pushes and nearly injures him during what appeared to be a simple registration process, but now it's making fun of him, in front of a thousand people, some of which Dai Kun had known for ages.

But while Dai Kun was happy to get a chance to beat his offender, deep inside, he felt that somehow he was being goaded into it and that the 4th-level Warrior Lord in front was anything but an easy opponent.

Could Bai Qi have held back and solved the issue without the need for open conflict? Yes, he could. But he didn't. Not that Bai Qi had a reason or will to defuse the situation. After all, the events related to the [Shimmering Earth] and their treatment of Bai Rui and Ma Su were recent, and taking his current state, one of a mix of anger and actual worry, again for Ma Su, Bai Qi considered this the perfect opportunity to slightly repay, even more than it was called-for, the so-called righteous sect while venting some of his current stress.

And so, what appeared to be some misunderstanding escalated to a fully-fledged confrontation, the 5th level Warrior Lord of the [Shimmering Earth] sect releasing his aura and even preparing to lunge at the standing still, smirking Bai Qi.

And Dai Kun would have lunged at Bai Qi, attempting to teach the guy a lesson, if not for the appearance of a couple of Warrior Lord disciples of the Palace dressed in white dresses with pink flowers decorating the otherwise plain garments, "Fights and bloodshed is prohibited outside the herbal grounds, all issues are for after the festival ends, such is the tradition, and so it should be."

With the dark-haired beauty finishing speaking, one could suppose the conflict between Bai Qi and Dai Kun would die off right there. But, to everyone's surprise, the other disciple, a 3rd level Warrior Lord with snow-like skin and unusual golden hair, interjected, "But the event requires no previous grudges to exist, so if you can not leave it behind..?"

With the pair of clear-water eyes looking straight at him, a hint of laughter concealed by a solemn expression, Bai Qi was between cursing and laughing himself. Yet, he managed to hold both emotions inside, replacing them with a cold look and a pair of words that, if confirmed by the other party as he wished, would seal the fate of one of them, "I'm sorry that our small feud goes against the traditions of this event, but giving it up? That, I can not, and I will not."

The next day;

Bai Qi chuckled at the thought, looking around the small room provided to him as private quarters for the night, a measure to prevent any interference with the decided duel.

With Dai Kun having not shied from the combat either, the two were immediately moved out of the hall housing the participants, and then, before an unexpectedly young elder of the Palace, a 3rd level Warrior King of just some thirty years of age that introduced herself as assistant elder Fan, both confirmed their intention to fight out their differences and accepted the conditions of the duel that the Palace felt entitled to propose. Now the latter was strange, as such a fight was a matter between the two cultivators, and only sometimes their powers could interject in any way. Yet, assistant elder Fan had a good explanation prepared, and as it supposedly didn't give an advantage to either of them, both Bai Qi and Dai Kun accepted to duel with weapons only on the so-called [Petal Stage].

***

The surprise for both fighters awaited them on the stage of their duel, as while Bai Qi and Dai Kun more-or-less were aware of how it would go, they could have never expected an actual high elder, member of the council, one of the twenty strongest and most respected cultivators of the Palace, to preside over their duel!

"You are a duel to first blood, using only weapons and weapon intent, on this grudge-solving [Petal Stage]." Short, nearly bited off remarks, not even the usual confirmation, were the first and only words of the several hundred-old, but still looking as she was hardly some fifty years of age, 8th level Warrior Emperor, known as [Wise Elfin], named Huang Song.

And with both Bai Qi and Dai Kun already on stage, the slightly greyed black hair of the woman moved in tact with a nod, which served as a signal for two disciples of the Palace to approach them, requesting all storage items, defensive treasures, hidden pills, concealed weapons, and everything else that cultivators usually carried.

"Now, choose one of the [Petal's Marks] to stand on, and the relevant weapon, the character of which you stand on, will appear before you." As the disciples left the stage, one hardly carrying anything but a ring, the other with a whole load of rings, bracelets, and amulets, assistant elder Fan took the scene, pointing towards the twenty-four characters carved on the wooden surface.

Eight types of swords, [Thin], [Broad], [Short], [Paired], [Giant], [Thorn], [Whip], and [Jian];

Four types of daggers, [Assasin], [Curved], [Paired], and [Double];

Six types of polearms, [Short Spear], [Long Spear], [Glaive], [Dagger-Axe], [Staff], and [Halberd];

Three types of sabers, [Short], [Long], and [Paired];

And surprisingly, only three other weapons of the most commonly used by cultivators of the path of battle, [Axe], [Mace], and [Club].

While Dai Kun quickly rushed towards what appeared to be his weapon of choice, the [Halberd], Bai Qi stood still as if he didn't plan to get one before the battle started. Not that it was so, as no matter how confident he was of his skill, Bai Qi was definitively not handicapping himself voluntarily. And as Dai Kun snapped at him, in an attempt to calm himself or to agitate his opponent, "Where is your previous bravery now? Not that you would duel me in place of pleading for forgiveness? One that I could have given you before! But now?!"

"The duel will only start as both stand on one of the weapon's characters." Elder Fan interjected, reminding them of the rules explained previously.

"Mmm, I was just allowing my opponent to choose first." In all truth, Bai Qi hoped for the release of Dai Kun's weapon to give him an idea of the latter's mastery, but as it didn't happen, he could only slightly shrug and start walking to the nearest character, the [Straight] sword.

At the same time, a concealed balcony above the [Petal Stage].

"So, what does the esteemed Head Elder thinks about this boy?" An aged female voice asked, her words and intonation denoting utmost politeness.

"Arrogant and self-conceited, or at least he wants everyone to think so about him." A slightly younger voice responded, even though, in all truth, it was the Head Elder, Hudie Xiuying, the [Brave Hairstreak], the oldest of everyone present on the Palace's grounds, having been a witness to the birth of the entire region as it was now.

"So it seems that the Head Elder considers him something else?" A young voice - that Bai Qi would have recognized as the assistant elder Fan who had just left the stage - asked after a brief pause.

"And don't you, Lin'er?" A fourth voice asked, interjecting before the Head Elder gave any answer if she planned to do so.

"...I do, he is too calm before every one of the elders he has seen, and except for some waves of hidden anger, I have felt nothing but amusement from him. So, if I may say..." Taking some moments to collect her thoughts, Fan Lin explained what she had felt until now from this strange boy, a simple Warrior Lord that had attracted even the attention of who, to all extent, was the acting head of the entire Palace.

"You already have the answer, so why talk just for the sake of doing so?" The first one to have spoken, a woman so wrapped in a blanket that not even a strand of her hair was visible, cut Fan Lin's thought short.

"Don't you think it is fate to encounter someone connected so closely to both people who made the [Fairy's First Root] reverberate? And for it to be a boy about the same age and cultivation as the rumored first man to touch it?" With a light, yet somewhat saddened, laugh, the Head Elder finalized their conversation, bringing everyone's attention to the stage as she nodded towards it, "Now it's a matter of observation. To see if the [First Petal Stage] will accept him, or if during the event the root will shake as it has done for the two girls that call him friend, master, or whatever he is for them."