Bai Qi himself, a peak 3rd level Warrior Lord with the prowess of a 7th level;

He Delan, an intermediate 7th level Warrior King, and judging from what Bai Qi had sensed initially, a prowess of a peak of the realm one;

Shen Kun, a beginner 6th level Warrior King with no prowess but a keen mind and an above-average mindpower, stemming from his Grandmaster level in the formation path;

Tao Xuegang a peak 5th level Warrior Emperor, and considering his age and realm, it was safe to assume that Tao Xuegang wasn't average;

With such a group, even as they moved out at a walking pace and did not expend any qi bare the minimum to defend against the constantly falling long-range attacks from outside, there was no reason to fear anything or anyone. At least inside the ravine.

While Bai Qi never considered himself one to pay attention to describing a situation, preferring to concentrate on solving it, he could not help but agree with the words of the [Brave Wolf Gang] members, or the similar ones said later by Shen Kun. "This is not madness but the truest portrayal of hell!"

The constantly falling projectiles, techniques, and skills had destroyed most of what were the tower's grounds. The attacks themselves weren't so powerful, being weakened by both lack of qi and distance, but still, several hundreds of them had fallen, and Bai Qi could not even be sure of how many unprepared lives they could have claimed.

With each step, they took, only devastated lands entered their eyes, with the towers standing as some strange beast fangs and not the beautiful and serene constructs they were.

"Senior Tao, if I may ask?" As the four moved, passing the 7th and then the 6th tower, they did not meet or even see anyone. Thus, Bai Qi felt the need to ask, but of consideration, he decided to confirm it would be well received. Only receiving a nod of assurance Bai Qi continued, "The towers around here were cleared, but did all of the hostiles remain in this hellish situation? Or did some try to escape?"

"Mmm, we encountered only a couple in each tower, at least from the ten that I checked on, so I would think they did escape. Still, it's not like it served them much." Tao Xuegang shrugged before adding, "But I see what you are getting at. You think they may be offered safety in exchange for a crazed attack?"

"Senior Tao is right. Weaklings or not, this all may develop into a fight of mortals, and losses will be unavoidable." Bai Qi did not like to be the one to mention that, but he had to.

From what Bai Qi and the palace members had found out, the changes to the formations inside the ravine weren't limited to what was now the qi-less zone source.

The shielding formation of the Palace grounds was also affected, although differently. Now it was blocking anyone from leaving while allowing the attacks from outside to penetrate, and by being supplied with qi outside the qi-less ravine, it would be extremely hard to destroy.

Before, the [Seven Souls Sect] had joined forces and opened a breach, from where all their so-called allies entered. But now, at least from the rumors about a [Void Palace] head granting passage and similar, it had been closed as well.

Tao Xuegang thought about Bai Qi's words for a few moments before explaining, "Mmm, but I would not be worried about them. Head Kongbai should be reaching the southern area, and anything short of the Sectmaster will be unable to touch her. Even if they bombard her with attacks from the outside and she is limited in qi. After all, she isn't called the [Void Choosen] for naught!"

"We are being waited for." He Delan said just as the Vice-head finished, pointing towards the front, to the junction between the 6th tower's grounds and what was the guest square.

Tao Xuegang's senses expanded for a single instant, retreating right away to avoid qi-consumption. "Eighteen Warrior Lords, two Warrior Kings. All of them are part of the [Seven Souls Sect]. Try to conserve qi. I am sure they will call for more. And, I will go first, so follow after me."

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Such a distance was close to nothing even for a Yellow realm cultivator, but without qi to replenish and aura to control one's movement skills and senses it was not only dangerous but stupid to try and reach there in one movement. Thus, as decided from the start, Bai Qi and the three Elders of the [Void Palace] prepared to advance slowly, destroying all opposition. This latter mainly to avoid being encircled. After all, as both Bai Qi and Shen Kun had pointed out previously, there was no way that the main core would be undefended or not require time to be destroyed.

Though the fight appeared to be more akin to one between mortals, with the Warrior Emperor Tao Xuegang using nothing but physical attacks, it ended quickly and in the same way as one with qi and aura would have.

And indeed, an Emperor's basic strength, even the one coming from the slowest possible circulation to conserve qi, was still superior to a full-strength Warrior King. Thus, a single punch of Tao Xuegang's had been enough to break not only through the suddenly activated qi-barrier of the [Seven Souls Sect] Warrior King he fought first but to destroy the latter's body entirely.

The second Warrior King and three Warrior Lords followed next, and then Tao Xuegang chose to step back, conserving his qi and allowing his companions to act.

With 15 opponents left, Bai Qi assumed they would take on five each, but he was wrong. With no previous signs, He Delan suddenly lunged forward, activating a movement technique, appeared near the grouped leather-cloaked Soul palace members. And as if she was mad, surrounded herself with a whirlpool of blood, gore, and body parts. All produced by the violet chakram in her hands.

"Is that what she considers conserving qi?" Shen Kun half-sighed as he advanced, using his bare fists to counter a sword from the nearest opponent.

Bai Qi acted similarly, although he preferred to call for the [Bright Heavens] glove to prevent qi loss. The glove may be a sponge for his qi, but it didn't lose almost any of it when used for defense.

***

While Bai Qi and his companions fought in a way to conserve qi and so did not use any techniques or even reduced their guards, the same could not be said about the enemies. Each of them attacked at full force and used techniques as if they had no care for running out of reserves.

Still, a few minutes after the battle started, the last of the [Seven Souls Sect] was killed with a clean throw of He Delan's chakram.

Curiously, He Delan, even with her crazed fighting style and seven kills to Bai Qi's five and Shen Kun's three, was the only one to remain unharmed. Bai Qi had chosen to accept a claw-like ice technique that left him a shallow tear on the side, avoiding the expenditure to defend against it. While one of Shen Kun's opponents got lucky and overpowered the latter's weak qi-cover, granting the Elder a cut on the back.

Bai Qi thought with a hint of respect as he looked at He Delan, who had bent over to pick up her chakram.

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Mao Lei, Chun Hua's fellow disciple, left the tower, intending to make his way towards the main palace as instructed. Having spent a few hours in the control room and before that fought, his reserves were truly at the low. Still, he did not allow himself to despair. Neither he allowed himself to distract from the task at hand. And distractions he had many, or better said, a single one that caused all of them, Chun Hua.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

His senses were retracted to conserve his already dwindling qi. But as he heard the approach of something from above, he immediately raised his head.

Unable to use the [Void] or a movement skill as both his methods depended on aura, Mao Lei increased his speed, intending to reach the nearest tower and wait it off.

*Swoosh*

But his speed was not enough to get to the tower in time before the first of the several fireball-like projectiles, and so, while cursing, he roused his qi and surrounded himself in a barrier.

*Swoosh* *Shatter*

Regretfully for him, it had not been enough.

"NO!" As his qi-cover shattered, Mao Lei could only shout.

*Boom*

A lucky attack, or an unlucky defense, no one could say what was more appropriate. But still, whatever the words, the result did not change. Indeed, nothing could change the fact that the body count of the victims of this siege increased one more.

***

Inside the hall of the 2nd guest courtyard, the location of the [Mortality Formation].

A sudden, loud, but emotionless laughter filled the entire empty, except for the white stone obelisk, room. But if one observed closely, the word unnatural would float into mind right away. And it would be the right one indeed. After all, how could a stone obelisk laugh?!

"Just five hundred more!" The same voice, coming from the obelisk declared, and a moment later, it was echoed by one of a cloaked figure, that entered the room as if summoned by the previous laughter, "Just five hundred more!"