Xiao Qing, the [Little Azure Dragon], the one with bold declarations and a seemingly powerful background lost in less than a single round, with Qiu Shandian not even using his Mind power but simply using his lower level but still Sage level one - qi in a movement technique, one that couldn't be even called a skill, with him only using his inner reserves, but still gaining enough advantage over the situation and moving so close to the grandly preparing opponent that the latter could only surrender, lest he was humiliated even further.
The latter's brother, someone hailed as a hero from the previous incidents, wouldn't have the chance either. Even if Qing Long, the new [Azure Dragon], was a promise of the heights of the newly ascended [Azure Sky Sect], and having its headmaster as his master, a person who just broke through the 1st level of the realm and joined the Warrior Emperors' ranks, as well as having alliances to back him up, even if their power as itself was hardly above the other 4th-tiered ones or even below some untiered ones if not for the Grandmaster, Bai Qi would easily squash both expectations and promises, as well as the few so-called shouts for the hero's rescues, as with a single 9-th level of Mindpower induced initial-level spell, basically using the most basic of the spells, Qing Long fell, with the judge having no other choice but to give the with to Qiu Shandian.
And to the dismay of Qing Long, his master, who had considered his 3rd level Warrior Lord a genius and even declared the latter as an heir, Qing Shui, a Warrior Emperor in his right, came on the offender, not to attack but to recruit, with flowery words about their power's possibilities and wanting to get Qiu Shandian as either an elder or a guest, all for the latter to instruct the young, as the so-respected master of his even produced some treasures as a meeting gift.
Grandmaster Qing Shui, the venerable leader of the [Azure Sky Sect], carried himself with majestic decorum that defied his advanced years. Draped in regal robes embroidered with intricate dragon motifs, his piercing gaze and measured words normally exuded formidable strength. Yet now, he was lowering himself to some unknown man who won the battle by using some sorcery!
Qing Long could not even understand the reason, but he felt offended far more than when he was defeated or when his younger brother was forced to surrender, which was the initial event that made him act. "What is going on, you - damn trash, lower..!"
The phrase would be far more offensive as Qing Long was about to mention the Grandmaster and Bai Qi as he planned to, but - before he could even react, it was Grandmaster Qing Shui who sent the latter flying away with a strong slap, all while continuing his ingratiating manner with Qiu Shandian, "While the youngsters don't understand, such a mind-power, one that not even some Warrior Kings can display, and at such low cultivation, you must share your training with the youngsters, don't you think?"
Bai Qi had no choice but to reveal his barely peak Sage realm as he stepped into the arena, also the reason why he used only the utmost possible mind power for a Warrior Lord, not even one at the very peak of the mind path, far away from his actual mind power, one that could send this Elder, one that had more airs than actual power, feeling weaker than any 1st level Warrior Emperors Bai Qi had met lately, flying towards a quick defeat with some preparation. Still, having mind power a realm above his actual cultivation pointed him out as a genius, even his apparent age being of no issue, after all, if a power could get him to advance to the Earth realm, wouldn't he have time to improve even further, all while teaching to the newly ascended Sages and Warrior Lords, especially as the latter couldn't even hold a candle to his level of mind power?
While Bai Qi wouldn't want to refuse the gifts, his current position as Qiu Shandian and the fact that one of the gifts was truly precious to him, a pill of top-tier Spirit quality meant to adjust one's body to their cultivation, or in his case, to alleviate the symptoms of creating a second body during an escape, was just too welcome.
"Grandmaster Qing Shui, I am very sorry to only be able to accept your gifts and not give you an answer, as after all..." Using all of his charisma and the fact he was acting as an envoy for a power above the [Azure Sky Sect], his so-called patron city, Bai Qi accepted the part of the gifts that interested him, all while promising that he would definitively pay a visit to the [Sect] as soon as he was freed from official duties. As well as even giving in to the elder, as the latter asked after hearing about [Shoumen City] backing Qiu Shandian, a promise of dedicating some time to train the youngsters of the [Sect] as soon a chance appeared.
"Oh, then, it will work very well with our idea of strengthening the [Sect]. And please do tell us if we can help you in any way while you stay here in [Yuxuan City]." Hearing the latter talk, and obtaining something that felt more than an empty promise, Qing Shui relented from his intent to recruit Qiu Shandian.
At the end of this small interaction, except for the sullen Xiao Qing, his loss signifying there was not even a way for him to complete what he had been asked to do since the start, to woo the young girl that now led the remnants of the [Seven Stroke Hall], and an even more sullen older brother of his, one that was not only first launched out of the arena, but then was slapped by his own master, everyone else of the two parties left with a good impression of each other.
Xiao Qing would get slapped even further, as he tried to ask his master why Qiu Shandian suddenly became so important as to merit even attention, "You don't understand, damn idiot disciple?!" The Grandmaster roared as he slapped the young man once again before calming down and explaining, "So what if I gifted him a bit of what you two have been getting from the bets and fights for Li Xia's hand and your honor? That man is far more valuable!"
And seeing as both of the brothers, both adopted by the previously destitute power and now sharing the same surname as him, someone who elevated the power to the 4th-tier without having even the other Warrior King requirement, just because of his cultivation which could even try and reach the 3rd-tier even if his power was overall comprised of Warrior Lords and only a single Warrior King that joined after he advanced, Grandmaster Qing Shui continued in a bit of a softer tone, "The mind power he showed is already above the normal Warrior Lord, and I am sure that it wasn't even close to his maximum... Do you two understand that? He's an older Sage with no real martial prowess, debatable as he did show some - but still, he's a sage with an actual possibility to become a Grandmaster of the mind path, already reaching the base for the Master title just because of his above-the-realm power!"
It would take a good two or three slaps for the brothers to understand the overall idea, but when they did, they got another slap, as their first suggestion was to simply go and snag such a powerful person who could teach them, "Are you idiots, damn fools! He specifically said that he has come from [Shoumen City], and his badge proves it, do you want to see face-to-face people that are Warrior Emperors of levels far above than mine?!"
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***
The incident and the unexpected loot were good, but Bai Qi had no plans of leaving the [Grudge Arena] just now, with the [Azure Sky Sect] only garnering him some half of the attention he wanted before acting out. The elimination of one of the so-called champions for Li Xia's - unwilling - hand was good indeed, but a few other people were giving her trouble in the city, and what better place to get them than this arena, one in which while supposedly grudges were solved and its use was clarified even by the name, all of the youngsters and free cultivators gathered, trying to get a name in this free from death fighting stage.
With Li Xia being just a 2nd level Sage and from the information he gathered, the only elder, an old and previously injured 1st level Warrior King, incapacitated, leaving her as the spokesperson for the few youngsters, even if a couple of them being above in cultivation, everyone drooled like dogs. While the [Yuxuan City] main powers, especially the ruling clan, the [Gao Clan], had commanded that no harm should befall the refugees from the [Seven Strokes Hall], they didn't forbid interaction, also hoping for the integration of the now fallen rune-power, and, as for the ploys, they hadn't even noticed them for three reasons: the war, their city council being comprised by the same small clans doing all of it, and now, the incident in [Eastern Inscription City]. Well, it was normal that she was targeted.
Once again analyzing all the information, Bai Qi quickly pointed out a few men who were part of the powers planning something on Li Xia, as well as pointing out two other people, a young girl from the [Gao Clan] that could be useful for him as to understand what happened after he left the [Dongpo City], as well a hooded man that released an impressive killing aura as the latter looked at the same people Bai Qi had singled out, except for the young girl.
While the [Grudge Arena] had long deteriorated to just a decorated training hall, it was still a meeting point for the city's families and clans for dozens of issues, including even the [Gao Clan] youngsters visiting, not to mention outsiders.
Even if Shen Xiaohui understood her client's reasons, she still felt cold feet as he defeated both the younger and then the actual [Azure Dragon Heir] of the [Azure Sky Sect] and offended a fourth-tier power, then got offered recruitment, refused, no fear for that. But then..! The man continued even further.
Singling his eyes on Lai Zedong from the [Lai Clan] that was just some distance from the [Gao Clan] that had ruled the city for the last years, and while just some random youngster from a clan wouldn't be a problem, Lai Zedong was a so-called promising disciple for the [Academy], someone taken great care by the clan now that the entrance exam was just some day away, Qiu Shandian, her client, didn't show any restraint as he mocked the youngster, "Just observing but not participating? It seems my friend wasn't mistaken about the low level of the new applicants."
To such an insult, and with Qiu Shandian only being a peak Sage, even if he had just defeated a Warrior Lord by his mind power ways, Lai Zedong couldn't resist but to tell the man that he was mistaken, even if in words unbecoming, and challenge the latter to a duel, as the basic idea of the [Grudge Arena] was, as no matter what, one had to be challenged - and there was to be a grudge, even if it had deteriorated from life-threatening to any possible excuse.
*Swoosh* *Crash*
The duel had hardly started as Lai Zedong was sent flying out of the arena by no one than her client, the latter using nothing but some qi to reinforce himself as he just used the [Lai Clan] genius' rush as the force to send him outside the arena's boundaries.
With such a result, between a sect genius and someone on the same martial level from the city, one could say that Qiu Shandian's objective was more or less complete, with people turning to look at him as his name was introduced as the victor for a 3rd time. And yet, to Shen Xiaohui's dismay, the man didn't stop there, actually taunting everyone present, "While the young friend resolved himself to fight, are the other applicants for the [Academy], or at least some challengers that think they merit a young dame as Miss Li Xia who think they can beat this elder, even as he represses his actual mastery path, the one of Mind Power against anyone who is on his cultivation level... cowards that can't even fight in such conditions?!"
With Qiu Shandian's declaration and the fact that he actually was removing, one that he had not used at all in either of his Sage realm duels, his Warrior Lord-level advantage,
***
And yet, by the 10th duel starting from the one with Lai Zedong, no matter if he struggled a bit with a few opponents, especially the armed ones, as Qiu Shandian had not taken any weapon and fought with his bare fists even against the most-scaring-looking swords, spears, and even an enormous fire-covered glaive, her client still won. And each time, it was such an absolute win, with him even giving out some explanations of errors, that Shen Xiaohui now thought that maybe the man called Qiu Shandian was sent here as an instructor?!"
Thanks to the protection of the [Gao Family], Li Xia could travel the entire [Yuxuan City] without revealing herself, a [Hiding Talisman] of the highest order possible, one nearing the mid-tier [Earth] quality, she had even entered the [Grudge Arena] for a look, especially as she learned she was now a prize between the youngest geniuses of the city.
***
With an older man humbling everyone, even winning against an actual Warrior Lord, not to mention using only his body skills against the so-called geniuses, clearly giving out some points but winning against both the [Academy] prospective talents but also against the ones that claimed they entered the arena to impress someone, no one more than herself, Li Xia couldn't help but somewhat feel something for the emancipated-looking medium-aged man, whose hair was so white as if he had already survived not a single life.
With a face that showed hardship, even if retaining some handsomeness, and a trained but somewhat thin body, for some reason, Li Xia was reminded of Bai Qi.
Not understanding even why she felt closer to the middle-aged cultivator, no matter his Mind power path, Li Xia couldn't think of anything else but observing the latter's duels,
And yet, by the 10th duel, one that actually showed the man struggling somewhat, Li Xia had to leave the arena and miss the most significant 11th one, missing the performance that Bai Qi, if she knew it was him, was about to put against Lai Yu, Lai Zedong's older sister by just some breaths, and the so-called star of this [Academy] recruitment year, placing far above even the [Gao Clan] geniuses of this batch...