*Clang*

Fan Jia's sword clashed with the opponent's spear and, while screeching, slid down its metal shaft, sending the spear to the side while closing on Ye Yijun's right hand.

*Clang*

A clever movement of her wrist and the weight at the end of the short spear blocked Fan Jia's sword while allowing Ye Yijun to renew her attack.

*Screech* *Clang*

Without her weapon breaking contact, Fan Jia jerked her hand, and the sword slid upwards along the shaft, stopping as it connected with the speartip.

Their combat had started with a feeling that Fan Jia rarely felt, equality. Ye Yijun did not feel like an average cultivator, and with her being a disciple of a power, Fan Jia had not expected to match her physically. Yet, it happened.

Attacking and defending, Fan Jia and Ye Yijun's roles swapped with each breath. And until now, neither of them had shown any advantage over the other.

While Fan Jia used a sword as her primary weapon, she had never trained with it earnestly, and she was a mere 1st step Swordmaster. And even that latter was not because of authentic swordsmanship but a side-effect from her Warrior Lord breakthrough.

As for Ye Yijun, her aura did not reveal any mastery of the spear path, not even a 1st level one. Her physical prowess was slightly over Fan Jia's, though. And it was thanks to it that they appeared so equally matched.

But the combat could not continue in such a manner, with both aiming for a win after all. Fan Jia had spent most of the time trying to feel and understand her weapon. She had hoped for Ye Yijun to be weaker or, even better, stronger than her, with the former giving her an opportunity to concentrate and the latter forcing her to overexert.

Fan Jia, as a decently experienced cultivator in her own right, did not believe that Ye Yijun could have become an inner disciple of a power, even if it was 4th tier one, without having some ability. And so, her opponent was either preparing something or waiting for Fan Jia to reveal her trump card.

Thinking like that, Fan Jia restarted the exchange with renewed strength. All while starting to channel part of her inner qi and a smaller part of her outer aura into what would become the base of her trump card.

Fan Jia's illusions weren't easy to prepare or use, and she had hoped to find another way to win. Yet, in such an equal fight, and with unknown variables, they were her only chance for a resolution.

***

"Is she trying to move in a manner resembling Bai Qi?" Seated, observing the three combats, Ma Su requested He Delan's input on Fan Jia's changed manner, which indeed resembled the one Bai Qi was using against Fu Guo, quick and full of sudden movements.

"Hmm? It seems so indeed. But I am unsure if it will serve her any good, with her senses and reaction speed being average, far from Bai Qi's ones. And that's even while he's holding back." With her attention divided between Bai Qi's and Chun Hua's fights, it took a few breaths for He Delan to answer, and she only did after paying close attention to Fan Jia's slowly changing manner.

*Clang* *Clang*

Saber in one hand, qi-covered sheath in the other, Xun Gengxin stopped Chun Hua's daggers and applied enough force to send them back flying. Neither the unexpected appearance, using a [Void Corridor], nor the extreme sharpness and speed of the high-tier Spirit weapons had served anything.

"A very high level of control over the Void, yet, it's not enough." Xun Gengxin's words could be treated both as a compliment and slight. But between his deadpan expression and contempt-filled tone, no one could consider it anything but an insult.

Chun Hua ignored her opponent's slights as her hands danced, seal following after seal. She did not need seals to control the void, yet, she was always conscious of what Bai Qi's words to his companions were, "Do not allow anyone to find out your true ability, at least if you aren't on the verge of dying. And in the latter, never leave survivors."

Chun Hua's thoughts were disconnected from the combat, but they did not slow her movement at all.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Clang* *Swoosh* *Clang*

Yet, on the path of each of her [Void Corridor] sent attacks, either a sheath or blade would interject. And between the ease with which Xun Gengxin blocked them, and the latter constant contempt-filled comments, Chun Hua began to lose it.

"You, you think you are something amazing?!" Chun Hua's eyes blazed with fury. And however, she would like to consider herself a being with no emotions; it was clear that she very felt it.

"No, you are just too weak." Xun Gengxin provoked again, even looking up to show his disdain. But as he lowered his gaze in an attempt to slight his opponent further, he found himself looking at an empty stage.

Xun Gengxin felt pressure for the first time since the combat started. Anyone in this arena, except him, would consider Chun Hua a dangerous opponent. After all, the void corridors were impossible to sense without a mix of time and deep concentration.

It was thanks to his innate ability to sense or blur the changes in the surrounding space which allowed him to show such a lack of care and to feel sure of provoking Chun Hua into a dumb movement like close combat.

An ability that had served him well for both cultivation and to get to the nice and cozy position he currently enjoyed below Song Lin. The latter was known as the [King of Space], a well-known and somewhat despised rogue cultivator known for unscrupulous mercenary work.

The same innate ability that allowed him to use his master's strength without being discovered and was so valued by the latter. In all truth, that was the main reason for the win against the [Shanxiao], an ape-like 3rd level Saint Beast specialized in using the void to both hide and attack. After all, he could not have won against a beast as strong as a peak Warrior Lord, could he?

{She jumped into the deepest part of the void! Concentrate, you dumb idiot! You need to get five wins and challenge Xinhuai!} Usually, all qi transmissions would be cut off by the formations surrounding the stages, yet Song Lin's voice penetrated Xun Gengxin's mind. A small side-effect from his innate ability and another reason for a 7th-level Warrior King to be so interested in a mere, nearly average Warrior Lord.

Xun Gengxin inwardly thanked them for the help and concentrated all of his self on the void-feeling unique of him.

The duel between Bai Qi and Fu Guo continued as before. While Bai Qi did spare a few glances to the 1st and 4th stages, he did not change his approach. Moving as if he wasn't a human, his attack angles and speed went far past what the average Warrior Lord could hope to achieve.

Bai Qi was still holding his aura back, revealing a peak 3rd level Warrior Lord, with a prowess of a beginner 4th level one. Fu Guo did the same, though Bai Qi was growing more and more sure that his opponent was not holding back because he wanted to.

*CLANG*

As sheath and sword clashed, a nearly equal in force sword intent did so as well.

*Rip* *Rip* *Splatter*

Cloth pieces and droplets of blood fell from both combatants, as neither cared about the miniature, splinter-like manifestations of intent.

Their battle had been going for an hour already, yet both parties held back. They had not released even a single martial skill. And while their clashes appeared to be savage, and blood was spilled, it was clear that neither of the two combatants was even close to obtaining any advantage over the other.

The only question present in the mind of every observer was, "For how long do they plan to spar?"