This time Bai Qi used the most careful way of approaching. Aura fully retracted, presence concealed with several spells, and even one of the two stealth talismans he found inside the storage ring.

For any cultivator below the King realm, the only way to discover him would be to bump into him, as the talisman protected him from being seen as well.

But it turned out to be unnecessary, as after spending an entire hour scanning the indicated spot, he did not encounter anyone or anything.

He had reached the correct spot, as a few traces of Gao Ping's aura were present, and the two tunnels could be seen but...

"The panic in her eyes as she recalled the ink beast was real, not faked. I don't believe I will not find even the slightest clue" Bai Qi resolved to spend whatever time was necessary. After all, it was just a too important matter. Any combat painting was extremely limited in how many times it could be used, and each time the power of the summon would be less. And so, who would use it just like that? There had to be some reason for its summoning, and it was not just to scare two 1st level Sages.

***

Bai Qi's effort paid off, as after several attempts, both with his senses and a couple of specialized arrays, he managed to discover a very slight, practically unnoticeable qi fluctuation remnant. One caused by either a high-tier weapon or by the use of a similar tier treasure.

Considering that a combat painting fell into the latter category, he decided to trace it towards its origin.

Following the cave wall, at least if this 'Underground Forest' location could be considered one, he slowly moved southward.

Bai Qi's tunnel made his exit on the South wall, and so, the more he moved now, the closer his starting point grew. But his objective, at least from the fluctuation trace he was following was a bit closer, in the place that the wall made a sharp turn.

"There!" Bai Qi inwardly exclaimed while looking at a tunnel maw located right on the intersection, a few feet above the ground.

The fluctuation trace was the strongest right at the spot below the tunnel, which meant that whoever had used the combat painting, used it right after jumping down.

And now that he was so close to its origin, Bai Qi was sure that it was nothing else than a painting.

After scanning the area with both senses and spells, he confirmed it again. And that it was not a very strong one, or maybe the summoned beasts weren't meant for fighting. Several Beasts!

"Six similar traces are starting from here, and they appear to have moved in different directions. Hmm, can it be some kind of scouting beast? But what would one use them for? Is there something special in the 'Underground Forest'? Something that not even Deng Guiying and the others know off?" Bai Qi muttered while memorizing the direction that each summoned ink beast took.

In any case, the time for any combat painting summon was limited, so they should have disappeared by now. Still, knowing the overall directions allowed Bai Qi to begin his main objective, the search for the user.

It turned out to be easier than he expected, with a wide opening between two of the traces making him guess that the user used it. And indeed, if you send scouting beasts to several directions but ignore one, you either know that there is nothing, or...

"Go that way hoping to find whatever you are searching for" Bai Qi concluded his thoughts with a nod and after confirming the direction, began moving.

***

Bai Qi encountered a couple of participants while moving, but neither of them could have been the user because of their cultivations. So he choose to avoid being seen, and simply sneaked past them.

As he moved, he tried to think of who could be the user. Gao Ping had mentioned him being over her level, and from Zhuan Kang's information, there were ten such Sages amongst the participants.

He was tracking all but two and with none of his marks in this direction, Bai Qi's suspect list was down to a single person. Indeed, as Zhen Zexi was a 1st level Sage, so it could not be her.

"But if I am right, what is the reason for Mao Xun's actions? Is the Trade Hall searching for something? Or maybe, someone?" Bai Qi's mind continued churning while he moved.

Scanning the area around him with his senses, he was sure to notice his target before, at least in theory. After all, he was given stealth talismans and so there was a high chance for the Trade Hall to have done the same for their genius.

___________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile. Western border of the 'Underground Forest'.

Mao Xun's search for the one that had tried to shoot him did not net anything. Not a single trace of aura, not a single physical trace, not even a hint about the location from where the shot was made.

So after losing an hour, he had decided to stop.

His reasoning was simple if he was the one targeted - then sooner or later, the attacker would make another attempt. And Mao Xun will be ready for it.

Right now, he was near the westernmost side of the cave that contained this part of the 'Underground Land of the River'. And from his senses, there was no one else nearby.

Thus, he had the best chance at finding, claiming the slates, and surpassing the challenges with no interference. Which he had been doing for the last two hours.

"Done!" He exclaimed while stretching his slightly tired body. This challenge, the sixth for him, had been quick. Still, it required a severe amount of qi to be spent during it. Adding the previous instances, Mao Xun felt that it was time to rest.

After expanding his senses and confirming the lack of any presence, he sat down near the biggest tree and entered a light meditative state.

___________________________________________________________________

Near the center of the 'Underground Forest'.

"I have moved over five miles, crossing almost half the area and there are no signs of any Sage cultivator" Bai Qi stopped and looked around, orienting himself.

He had not strayed off the direction that the painting user should have followed, but such a distance with not a single aura trace?

"I will only lose time if I continue searching like this. Time to change my approach" Bai Qi muttered. After choosing one of the weak presences inside his senses envelope, he darted towards it.

Recalling the previous meeting with other participants, Bai Qi announced his presence at the edge of the other cultivator senses.

"Hello there! I am Chen Guang, from the Dai Clan" Slowly approaching, he greeted and casually introduced himself.

Considering that his target was just an 8th level Soul realm cultivator and one he was not introduced to before, it appeared the proper choice.

"Oh? Sorry, I am Hu Mu from the Hu household. Can I help you with something, Brother Chen?" The thin young man dressed in a plain black vestment slightly bowed.

"I did not mean to startle you, just sensed someone nearby and decided to check" Bai Qi smiled and looked around, confirming the lack of any treasures or Challenge Slates.

***

A few minutes later, having chatted a bit with Hu Mu, Bai Qi left, intending to move to the 'Clearmind Lake' - a previously seen lake just a mile and half from here.

Hu Mu had not met anyone except a pair related to the Shou Clan, but he knew that everyone planned to meet near the lake at some point. With the Challenges spending most of one's reserves, it was far more reasonable to rest while surrounded by others. Or at least that was how Hu Mu thought of it.

Bai Qi's thoughts on the matter were two-sided. From one side, it was indeed reasonable and far safer. But from the other one, it limited the area that everyone could cover, allowing Challenge Slates to be missed.

After all, they appeared randomly, and by sheer logic, they would disappear at some interval as well. Because if they did not, the entire area would be a forest of Challenge Slates and not trees.

There was also the matter of the possible evildoers planning an attack, and though when everyone was gathered it was safe... It would also allow anyone to check on their target, well, if they had one.

In any case, for Bai Qi it was the ideal place. He could both find information and keep an eye on his marks. Well, if they all came. But even if they did not, the more people gathered together, the easier his main task would be.

The lake wasn't big, hardly being half a mile from shore to shore. As for the name, 'Clearmind', it was carved on a purple-colored obelisk that emerged from the lake center.

No one had yet arrived, probably either not tired enough or engrossed in one of the Challenges.

Usually, no item inside a formation meant for training or challenges was simple. And so, being the single one present, Bai Qi decided to examine the obelisk as it piqued his interest.

*Splash*

"Huh?!" Bai Qi exclaimed with a surprised expression while looking at his submerged feet. Any cultivator above the Spirit realm would learn to use qi while stepping on water, thus allowing to walk on it without sinking. And Bai Qi was sure that he had done it before jumping on, or as he now realized into the water.

"Curious" Bai Qi muttered after a failed attempt to cover his feet with qi before making a step. One that ended in the same way, with the qi not preventing his foot from entering the lake water.

He slowly inclined and scooped a small amount of the latter into his hand. Examining it closely with his senses, he infused a bit of qi, in an attempt to surround the water. But the qi failed to, in place entering the water. It ignored it and simply gathered in the center of his palm.

Bai Qi did not sense anything special about the water, so what was the reason for it to have such qualities? Deciding to leave the reason for later, as well thinking that maybe there would be some explanation present, Bai Qi shrugged and dived into the lake. Intending to swim towards the obelisk.

***

Just over a thousand feet to swim, how hard could it be? And how much time could it take?

The answer for both was right next to nothing, even less for a cultivator.

Or at least it should have been.

Bai Qi swam for several minutes, and he was yet to reach the obelisk. As for the shore, it was getting farther and farther - by this point a small line on the horizon.

An illusion?

A space bending formation?

Or something else?

Bai Qi could only guess to what it was, as he could not confirm or deny any of his thoughts.

"Whatever it is, it's definitively concealed. Otherwise, I would have sensed at least something previously" Bai Qi inwardly said while continuing to swim towards the obelisk. Even if he did not know what he had entered, there was a thing to never do in such a situation - cower and attempt to retreat. The only path in any challenge was to face it, at least for the ones that did not directly allow to forfeit.

And so, with each swing of his arms, he propelled himself forward.

"Clearmind... Clearmind... Could it be?" A few minutes passed before he was hit by an idea, one that he immediately followed...

___________________________________________________________________

At the same time. Somewhere inside the 'Underground Forest'.

"All-Heaven Spear Shield!" A young woman jumped and exclaimed while wildly rotating her spear before herself.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

The speed was such that it indeed appeared as if a shield had materialized in front of her.

"A mere trash technique is not enough to defend against my attack" A naked man, covered from head to toes in strange scarlet tattoos and with a metallic mask that hid most of his face said in a husky voice. His words were followed by a wave of his arm, and a small crimson drop, akin to blood, took flight.

"Ninety-Nine Blood Gods, TEAR!" He exclaimed as the blood drop touched the spear created dome...

And passed through it as if there was nothing, hitting the woman's glabella.

*Splatter* *Crash* *Cling*

Blood, far more blood than from the single drop fell on the ground. Followed by a headless body, and lastly, a silver-colored spear. One that if closely examined, would reveal a small hole near the tip.

"I did not want to kill anyone, but you left me no choice. No one that sees the holy lines can live, no one" Almost as if in reproach the man shook his head while approaching the remains of his victim. He then lowered himself and touched the body before muttering "Feast"

***

A minute later, the man could be seen walking away. He had donned a simple black martial vestment and the mask had been seemingly stored away, allowing a young man's face to be seen. With every step he did, his manner and expression changed.

In the beginning, it was a serious-looking one, and then a wide smile crossed his face. Only to be followed by a slightly disoriented expression coupled with a nervous walk.

Reaching the latter, he nodded, like if acknowledging the right one, and continued like that, leaving behind a dried, headless corpse and a silver spear. Both inside a small hole in the ground that was slowly closing by itself...