All cultivators of the [Go-Zan Sect] mainly cultivated the path of weapons, with the Go part preferring the Mace or Hammer, as the [Mountain Shattering Kill], their method, was founded on a mix of blunt weapons and cultivation dedicated to improving raw power over any technicalities, even ignoring body arts. With the Zan part going for finesse over brute force and using the Whip and Fan path as supplementary in place of their main strength, the [Go-Zan Sect] was considered well-rounded - if one considered the distinct yet harmonious ways.
Regretfully, except for a couple of geniuses each dozen years, no one in the [Go-Zan Sect] could understand and learn from both ways - and Go Dai was not of them, even if being the grandson of a grand elder of the Go force of the sect, he had only trained in the [Mountain Shattering Kill], learning no other skills but the ones of his weapon of choice and worship, the [Hammer]. Very talented as he was, even reaching the [Advanced] level of the cultivation manual he was following, something that not every Warrior King could boast, he was still dependent on his weapon for rousing all of his energy or using any of his Martial Skills, with the latter all dependant on his weapon.
Go Zan did learn a few low-tier Martial Skills of the Fist path - to improve his body, but he was clear that no matter how he exerted himself, he was far from Bai Qi's level in such a setting. He was still sure that he would win as soon as he summoned his weapon, something he had not done as Bai Qi fought bare fist, but by now, Go Zan didn't care about formalities or rules, and while activating a low-ranked Martial Skill called [Mountain Cracking Fist], which with his achievement in the [Mountain Shattering Kill] and being of the same set could still somewhat be considered a medium-tier one, he immediately summoned his weapon, an Earth-tier Hammer called the [Mountain Breaker], which while just a low-tier Earth Weapon with no soul or weapon spirit, was still a treasure of the sect, as it contained some of the rules of the [Mountain Shattering Kill] cultivation manual, and when fully roused and combined with the circulation of the manual, could even rival some actual Earth-tier weapons, revealing the strength of one with a soul or spirit!
But as Bai Qi easily dismissed his [Mountain Cracking Fist] with no more than his body, Go Zan shivered, feeling that even his weapon wouldn't be enough to parry Bai Qi's claws.
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Only Go Zan, as the user of the martial skill could know that it was easily suppressed, even without actual expenditure of his qi or soul power. As for the observers, maybe except for true powerhouses, it seemed as if his fist had made Bai Qi slow down, even pushing him a bit back, no matter if it was Bai Qi's own decision to avoid weakening the two claws he was launching towards his opponent.
Regretfully, Yuwen Dong was not one of such, and he comprehended the fight as any other Warrior Lord would, considering that Go Zan's [Mountain Cracking Fist] had been enough to stop Bai Qi. With his shallow understanding, he even decided that as his champion released his hammer Bai Qi's defeat was set in stone.
As at several previous meetings, Sima Yijun ignored him now, her eyes fixed on the ongoing fight. Initially, she had no hope in Bai Qi, and while he did show prowess, the current events still had her continue lamenting her clan's fate.
Not that it stopped her from lashing out at Zhu Hu, someone who had claimed that this champion of her force, Bai Qi, wouldn't meet an equal in the Warrior Lord realm.
Yet, before Zhu Hu could respond, as he still saw how Bai Qi was superior, it would be Yan, the [Old Flame], who had kept himself hidden since the start of the battle, the one to stop her outburst, easily intercepting her qi-transmissions. {Young Lady, do not accuse Brother Zhu of anything, as he, as always, was always correct in his expectations. Even more than usual! Do not move or say anything, lest you want your champion to be blamed for cheating in this battle.}
{Cheating?! As in winning?!} Despite receiving only the best advice from her elder, Sima Yijun was astonished. She couldn't comprehend how someone who had been easily pushed back by a badly-timed, even if a pretty good attack, but one which she could have resisted despite the difference in their cultivation levels, could emerge victorious.
{Indeed... Look!} As the young lady was unable to comprehend the same, they, as Warrior Kings' did, Zhu Hu had not responded, taking on all of the young lady's words. But now, a change was coming, one which even a Sage realm cultivator would both feel and see - he broke his silence as he made Sima Yijun concentrate on the fight.
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Bai Qi had indeed stepped back to receive Go Dai's martial skill. But it wasn't because he couldn't crash through it right away, but to accumulate even more power in his claws, which he had summoned as the easiest-to-use skill available at his current cultivation.
Not a single breath after he retreated to resolve Go Dai's attack, Bai Qi closed the distance and overpowered his opponent.
*Cling*
His right claw easily blocked, even creating sparks, as he met the [Mountain Breaker] - a true high-tier Spirit weapon that even peak Warrior Lords wouldn't receive barehanded.
*Shatter* *Drip*
As for his left one - it didn't only tear and rip through Go Zan's aura's protection but tore his right shoulder, nearly ripping the latter's arm, as if it was no Warrior Lord's but a simple mortal's body.
*Splatter*
With blood splattering on the arena's floor and a wound that left his bones revealed Go Dai was momentarily stunned. With his cultivation and talent, he had never met an opponent he couldn't easily overpower, especially as he released his weapon, not even among the famous disciples of the more powerful sects in the region.
***
Between Bai Qi's mood - from all the happenings in the city - and his desire to finish everything quickly to try and follow the inspiration he had felt during his unexpected, forced seclusion, he couldn't care more for Go Dai's understanding or feelings, and so, as soon as he had overpowered his opponent during the last clash, Bai Qi summoned the [Yin Flame], now anointed as [Demon Flame], and landed a powerful quick on his opponent's abdomen, not only wounding Go Dai's dantian area, with probable influences in the latter's cultivation but also sending him crashing against the arena formations.
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The crash against the formations, made to prevent others from interfering but also safeguard observers from being affected by the ones fighting inside, could be deadly if not for a sudden interference, which made the formations open a small gap, barely enough for Go Dai's body to pass, before announcing, in a voice that many, even before the latter's appearance, attributed to the mysterious minister of the [Sima] clan, the [Old Flame], Yan Feng declared, "Go Dai, champion of the [Yuwen] clan, fails. Bai Qi, representing the [Sima] clan, prevails."
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Two claws and a kick to winning the duel, even if he had appeared far weaker. Seventeen breaths since the first taunt to be declared the winner. Bai Qi's performance was so above any expectations that even Yuwen Dong, the challenging party, couldn't help but nod as he heard Yan Feng's announcement. No matter what he had expected, the result was in front of his face, and he had observed every development.
Maybe in a different situation, he would have opposed the result and even found reasons to do so, but right now, with the actual leader and influential cultivator of the city, Dongpo Ao present, Yuwen Dong, as well as his entire clan, couldn't help but be silent, accepting the result, and trying to think of a way to recuperate, as after all, the loss of the [Forbidden Cold-Death Pond], a powerful Yin element cultivation spot, no lesser in value than the [Grey Stream Mine] he had aimed for, was indeed a loss, one which represented over a tenth of their income. One mostly stemming from the city's visitors who cultivated the Yin powers and could pay the nine shards a day to use it.
Indeed, who were they, and what could they do against an actual Warrior Emperor? Especially with a clear result as the one in front of him, one that Yuwen Dong had failed to understand before - but now clearly saw - and could only applaud? Even with the winner being an opponent of his clan?!
***
While Zhu Hu and Yan Feng, who were not only far better connected but also the former one had met Bai Qi before, had expected the latter to win, the quick result surprised them no less than their current liege, Sima Yijun. While the agreement with the latter's father was shrouded in secrecy, they were honestly devoted to the young girl forced into the position.
No matter what, they wouldn't harm her and invited Bai Qi, someone held in high regard by an actual 2nd tier power as the [Void Palace], as well as an event winner and, by consideration, an esteemed guest of the [Delicate Forest Palace], a power that could act as an overlord in the surroundings, even while being just a 2nd-tier power but at the same time just beneath the [Boulder Forest Sect], the actual overlord of the entire central and west area, in attempt to resolve the constant domination of the [Yuwen] clan over the one they hailed as their own.
His win, while expected - after hearing about his prowess during his travels towards the city, was still a great surprise, as even them, two actual Warrior King-level personages, one in the Martial Path while the other in the Mind one, the latter being so rare that not many powers could boast of having enough Mind power cultivators, could not have expected that it would be so dominant, overbearing, and, in a way, simple.
With Yan Feng reacting quickly enough to announce it, especially with such figures as the acting City Lord and the actual City Lord present, the latter's intention to come still concealed - as who could believe that they came just for someone in the area, considering that there were just a few Warrior Kings, with most arriving along them - the result was set in stone.
Or at least so through most of the present, even the local [Yuwen].
But to the overall surprise, even for a powerhouse as Dongpo Ao, who couldn't help but react with a raised eyebrow, what to say about the two more related to Bai Qi, actual renowned Warrior Kings, Lei Su and Zhu Chen, who released their auras as to crush the mistimed disturbance, Go Dai roared as to being cheated upon - Bai Qi using forbidden techniques and skills.
And as he did, a Warrior King aura surrounded him, clearly showing that one of the elders of the [Go-Zan Sect] was present and protected him from retaliation. Well, except the one from the unexpected observers of the duel, which, in the face of several Warrior Kings and even a Warrior Emperor, each far more powerful, and who had no trouble in dismissing the [Go-Zan Sect] elder aura and even looked him with strange eyes, surprised as such a person, just a 5th level Warrior King, dared to stand in their way.
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Zan Guo, an esteemed elder of the [Go-Zan Sect], could have been more disgusted when assigned as Go Dai's guard. While the latter was indeed talented, not only did he come from the Go path of the sect, but he was also known for his tyrannical behavior, one that he had sometimes supported by winning duels but quickly spattered by acting arrogant when he should concede or killing mortals that had nothing to do with the conflicts of the plane.
Not daring to go to the war front, Go Dai had even feigned an injury, which stemmed from a duel with a 3rd-tier power elite, provoking strife and internal fighting when unity was required. No matter that the duel had happened just because Go Dai had tried to assault a fellow cultivator of the domain, who had rushed to fight at the front, he was still very well protected in the sect, with elder Zan Guo even admonished for bringing up such an issue as their star, Go Dai, simply took a liking some trash, in their own words, of one of the weakest powers in the area.
Even as Elder Zan Guo entirely reported the duel between a cultivator of the far stronger [Baoshi Hua], an actual 3rd-tier power city, and Go Dai, provoked by the latter's attempt to force himself upon the young girl of the [Flower's Goddess Blessing Dojo], a weak non-tiered power, it would be him the one admonished for not protecting Go Dai from being injured, even after he confirmed, even offering a voluntary soul search, that Baoshi Zhuan, the 2nd prince of the [Baoshi Hua] manor, had made Go Dai flee, without inflicting any injuries but the ones towards his mindset, proving that a true cultivator, even if on the same realm, was far above a sacred child that received the best resources and had no troubles in his life, had not helped him at all.
Now, Go Dai had accepted some goods from the [Yuwen] clan. And while the latter was related to the [Go-Zan Sect] and several of his fellow cultivators carried the surname [Yuwen], even Zan Guo understood that the matter was fishy. The [Yuwen] couldn't influence the sect directly, no matter how much people of their clan were cultivators of it, and so couldn't do more than to go through Go Dai, who had already benefited, even during his training, from the resources invested into him by the so-called noble family.
Not that it was strange, as every weak family, clan, dojo, or whatever name they took as a power had always sought a powerful backer. No matter their morals, or even if some had gone under ice, entirely uprooted as they defended their so-called morals, they still, even at absolute doom, had expected that someone with the same mindset but with forces above them would save and protect them.
For the [Yuwen] clan, their obvious choice would be Go Dai, who, while a lauded genius of the sect, had so many vices and desires that it would be hard not to find something to control him. And with the former so closely intertwined with the [Go-Zan Sect], especially with the Go part of the latter, and having no prospects but becoming dogs of the latter's, how could they have missed such an opportunity? What could a few resources or pretty girls matter when they were essentially controlling the future head of the sect?
And so, with the accumulated influence, even if going so far as to give actual bribes to the [Go] part, the result of his reports would be none but the same as any events akin to the most delinquent one, the assault on a fellow cultivator of the region. Zan Guo's comments and considerations dismissed by the sect's leadership, with the actual headmaster, Go Huang, even threatening him to either protect his adopted disciple or die.
Zan Guo, an esteemed elder of the [Go-Zan Sect] and the assigned guardian to such a star as Go Dai, couldn't hate more his assignment, but he could do much. And so, as Go Dai started shouting about being cheated upon, he couldn't do much but protect him. Even if unexpected, for so many actual powerhouses to be present for what could have appeared as a small battle between unranked powers, he couldn't help but shroud the arrogant brat he was forced to guard with his aura, only hoping that he wouldn't offend the true powerhouses present.
***
"A mere elder of the [Go-Zan Sect] dares to act so high and mighty before my eyes?! Even your sect leader would have to pay respects. What to say to you!" Since the events in the mansion and subsequent calming because of a powerhouse she couldn't confront, Lei Su had been holding back her anger. But now, with a weaker cultivator, one coming from a power that she herself could snuff out, protecting someone who had clearly lost but could understand it, she snapped. Her powerful presence, which could rival even the weakest Warrior Emperors, crushed Zan Guo and captured the still-swearing Go Dai.