Sometime before, at the beginning of the Rabbit Hour, [Budding Lake] courtyard's interior.

Bai Qi's condition at the start of his recovery session wasn't anything but awful. Yet the day and a half of calm meditation, coupled with an extensive supply of pills, herbs, medicines, and his own techniques, allowed him to recover.

Recover to a point where Bai Qi looked prepared for the fights to come as he opened the heavy, barrier-inlaid stone door of the meditation door. Some of the internal damage was yet to heal, but it would not affect his prowess, of that he was sure.

"Bai Qi!

You haven't left since your arrival.

Is everything all right?

Are you ready for your battles?" Sensing his presence, both [White Tiger] sisters immediately arrived at the room's entrance, greeting, questioning, and nearly launching themselves on him.

"Everything is fine, don't worry. How are Fan Jia and Chun Hua?" With a small smile to the nearly purring, as scary as it may be for others, huge tiger-like girls on both sides of him, Bai Qi asked with a hint of concern.

"No need to be troubled on their behalf. Both are doing well. Fan Jia woke up for a bit during the night, but I knocked her out again. As for Chun Hua, we should be able to wake her up tomorrow." The one to answer was He Delan, who arrived just in time to see Bai Qi squeezed between the beast girls. Her face was weary, and her raven hair lost some of its usual luster, but her smile was honest, so Bai Qi felt relieved, even if it wasn't so common for him to worry much.

"I see. Thank you for looking over the two. And how, or where is Ma Su?" While Bai Qi didn't expect anything to have happened to the ex-slaver, especially with seemingly nothing happening during his brief seclusion, he still asked after not seeing or sensing her around.

"I forced her to the other meditation room. The damned woman took your words too seriously and nearly overspent herself connecting each and every pathway of Fan Jia's! Even the ones that didn't require it. Heavens, she probably even reinforced the girl's circulation system, nearly to the detriment of her own." With a hint of exasperation, He Delan explained while pointing to the closed stone door next to the room from which Bai Qi emerged.

"I see?" Bai Qi didn't find anything to say to He Delan's words. It was true that he had asked Ma Su to take care of Fan Jia, but to a point where she almost hurt her own cultivation?

"Anyway, you probably should get on your way. Being late to such an event, especially with how announced it was, may go well with the image of an arrogant genius, but I doubt you want to have one of someone like that. The sisters will accompany you, and I will stay here, even if I would have liked to see the fights." With such words, and after wishing him the best of luck, unneeded as it may be, He Delan sent Bai Qi and the Bai sisters off.

***

The [Budding Lake] courtyard location was in the part of the city commonly referred to as the [Visitor's Delight], on the westernmost part of [Zihoadao]. Their destination, the [Main Arena], also called [Proof of Rank Stage], was on the northern side of the city, and it would indeed take some time to arrive if they chose to walk. Flying wasn't prohibited, but Bai Qi decided to walk anyway, using this time to concentrate on the upcoming fights.

Yet, after just a few streets, Bai Qi took the air, with the Bai sisters following close after him. "There are simply too many people on the street to pass undetected or without forcing our way through." He commented on his actions as Bai Rui wondered about the sudden change in plans.

But even the sky above the city was dotted with people moving towards the principal city's square, where the City Lord Manor and the Main Arena stood. Bai Qi chose to step higher than the usual mile above the ground, to get some free space and avoid others. Bai Qi reached the ceiling of his [Sky Walk], which would not require him to spend much qi, nearly two and a half miles.

Yet, as the events that followed this decision would demonstrate, it was a mistake to leave the senses envelope of everyone.

On the stage of the Main Arena, Dragon Hour, the time of the Conqueror Challenge Start.

"...and let the heavens and the Yi Clan people serve as my witnesses!" Bai Qi finalized his account of what happened when he took the high skies above [Zhihoadao] and the moment he arrived at the arena with the identical words as he had begun.

His statement was short, as what could he describe except the three Warrior Kings that assaulted him high in the sky? Two of them, a beginner and an intermediate of the same 3rd level, blocked the Bai sisters, while a weaker, 1st level one attacked him.

There were no talks or introductions, just a concentrated attempt on him. Yet the attackers had severely underestimated the prowess of Bai Ze and Bai Rui. While not used to fighting in the air, they matched their opponents and even managed to cover for Bai Qi's retreat with their combined aura.

And Bai Qi, while not enjoying running away or showing his back to an enemy, however strong the latter was, did what he had to, pull out. Stopping infusing qi and aura, he fell for over a mile before restarting his [Sky Walk]. And after singling out the presence of one of the tails that followed him and He Delan two days ago, he sent a qi transmission to the man, who immediately contacted his superiors.

"What our young friend here tells certainly happened, but it seems he has hidden a few details, probably not to sour the occasion. I would be a bad host if I allowed my guests, especially ones meant to fight in MY arena, to be assaulted. Yet, if his choice is to continue without saying more, so be it, and I, Yi Lao, will not interfere further until the end of the combats." The City Lord took the word and, while speaking, also contacted Bai Qi via a qi transmission, {As I understand, you aren't planning to reveal the identity or who sent the ones that attacked you and your companions?}

"Thank you, Lord Yi. I, indeed, would like to continue with the challenge as intended. I related the incident merely to excuse myself for the strangeness of my arrival and timing, not to avoid the fight or blame anyone. Let the culprit know that I know. The rest? The heavens will decide." Bai Qi answered both voiced and transmitted questions.

Yi Lao nodded as he listened to the reply and proclaimed, "Then so be it. Let us give the young Bai Qi some time to prepare, as he only arrived a few moments before me, and then give start to the event that everyone is here to see."

{If you want the challenge to continue normally, it will be so, but later, I will have you explain everything. But even if I am unsure what Lai Luoyang or his sect holds against you, I will not allow anyone to act freely on [Zihoadao]. The [Yi Clan] isn't in full force, but the [Shimmering Earth] sect is deeply mistaken about having any say in MY lands.} Yi Lao concluded and finished the connection.

***

While Bai Qi left the stage for some time to change his robes and finish digesting a pill he took on arrival, nearly everyone in the arena started discussing the assault. No one except a few actually knew, but guesses there were a lot, some even far-fetched as to claim it was one of the arena masters' backers.

Lord Yi declined to inform anyone of his entourage, simply announcing that the Clan would have to look into it later and that he did know the name behind the situation. Yet, he contacted two people on the 2nd-floor balcony and divulged Lai Luoyang's name.

"What a bastard! Not content with everything else, he even sends people after the boy. Lord Yi probably will be against it, but I say we go and face the old dog now!"

The Lord of [Heibei], Xu Wen, felt a similar urge to go and deal with Lai Luoyang. But he controlled his emotions better than his friend, "Our duel is tomorrow, and I see no trouble in adding another reason for it to end with the death part of our [Life and Death] agreement."

"You may be right *sigh* but shouldn't we explain the reasons behind Bai Qi's feud to Lord Yi?" Cai Zhenkang was a resident expert of the [Yi Clan], so he wasn't so bound by honor to reveal all he knew right away, yet he felt no need to hide it either.

"I think we can trust that Lord Yi will ask Bai Qi himself. I would do it, and I am far from being his equal. Lai Luoyang aside, I think the [Shimmering Earth] sectmaster deserves to have a very long talk with Lord Yi, and I will be only glad to add some details if required." Xu Wen answered after taking some moments to think about the need to reveal the incident in Heibei just a few days ago.

"Bai Qi and his companions had to do what they did. Their identities weren't exposed, so Lai Luoyang probably planned to force some answers out of the boy but messed up by not accounting for the latter's companions and current importance. So, you may be right. Let Lord Yi judge by himself. As for the old dog, if you don't finish him off. Rest assured, I will." Calmed by his life-long friend, Cai Zhenkang concluded, but he didn't shy from a brief but very informative glare towards one of the private balconies on the same floor, where a few members of the [Shimmering Earth] sat.

"Now, we will give start to the Arena Conqueror Challenge for the Beginner Warrior Lord rank." Yi Bingwen announced half an hour after Bai Qi left the stage to prepare.

As the clamoring in response to the announcement subsided, Yi Bingwen went over the rules. The most important change to the common fights that took place on other stages would be the deactivation of the limiting formations, as well as the far lower responsiveness of the [Life-Saving] one.

Other changes included that items, treasures, talismans, and other means of fighting and support would be allowed, the only exception being healing or qi-replenishing pills.

After allowing the information to sink in, Yi Bingweng continued, "The ten bouts will follow one after another, with no respites in between. The order will be by the Board's rank the Arena Masters hold."

***

As Bai Qi stepped onto the stage, one nearly three times bigger than the ones he fought on before, he cleared his mind from everything unrelated to the upcoming fight. Gone were any distractions, and gone was any emotion. There was only a clear understanding that he had to win and that he would do so.

"First round, rank 28 of the Earthen Lord Ranking Board, [Heaven Shattering Mace], Yuwen Yahui." Ying Bingwen announced the man that strode up the stage.

About thirty years of age, Yuwen Yahui was a muscular, tall man of average looks and known for a weird definition of fashion. While his robes were luxurious as they come, more tasteless were the dozens of precious stones, with even some spiritual ones that addorned the robes, rings on his fingers, and even hung from his ears.

His manners were vulgar as his looks. In place of the customary greeting or salute, he directly belittled Bai Qi, "Little boy, you may have surprised others, but you only came to be laughed at when you ascended on this stage!"

Bai Qi shrugged. Such provocations would not affect his mental state, but neither he felt a need to hold back. Thus, he went with a one-word response while skipping the salute, "Low-grade."

"Let the battle commence!" As Ying Bingwen spoke, the Main Arena bell sounded, giving a start to the battle!