The [Void Space] was a space created by one's soul, and it was truly difficult to create one in earlier realms. Thus, even the Yellow Realm warriors who formed it as part of their training or special requirements would be usually considered to be geniuses. After all, a normal [Void Space], even if spanning a few feet, would be something privy to the Warrior King and above realms, and most of the common Warrior Kings would hardly even open it, only with Warrior Emperors starting to make use of the space to store their most precious belongings.
Even so, the searching formations that Bai Qi was forced through accounted even for such a fact. And still, even while imprisoned, Bai Qi had passed them without his [Void Space] being discovered.
For such, there could be only two reasons. Either Bai Qi had failed to cultivate his [Void Space], or maybe it was so small as to be unable to store even a few items, or, as it was in truth, it would be that he had merged his [Void Space] along with his [Spiritual Dantian], as well as trained it to a degree of forming a [Small World], which was known as a myth to anyone before the Saint level, with only a few Warrior Emperors even having an idea of such.
In any case, by now, Bai Qi had neither the interest nor the concentration to dwell on either reasons or the checks, his entire consciousness submerged into the inner world as he replayed what he had sensed between the two nearly-identical, but with such a difference in result, sword movements. He even stopped himself from scanning the prison or the latter's surroundings, fully concentrating on the sword feelings from before.
Bai Qi had already shown keen progress with either of his most trained weapons, be it the saber or the sword, even releasing an embryo form of [Weapon Intent] and [Weapon Breath], abilities that only the stage of the [Body as a Weapon] practitioners could have. Granted, simply an imitation of the latter, with him using his comprehension and own aura to act as such, but it was still something that only masters above the 6th level of any weapon path could do. Thus, as he submerged into his inner world, he found that not only his [Sword] path had advanced enough to border the 5th level, but also his other weapons improved slightly, with the saber already reaching the threshold between the 3rd and 4th levels, and that without him even practicing or learning new techniques or skills since the last breakthrough.
By analyzing his cultivation method, revisiting it as it was for the first time, a logical step to understanding just what was going on, he found that the words inside his mind, the absorbed manual's initial mantra and name, had somewhat changed. While it was still called the [Master of Everything, Ruler of Nothing], now, in letters barely discernible even to the actual practitioner of the unique, possibly divine method, it would also say [Apprentice, Master to Few]. As for the initial mantra, which had only the first phrase, [I now begin my path to become the Master of Everything and a Lord], it was now followed by a 2nd part, almost appearing as if a poem:
[I now heed the whispers, subtle and profound,
Guiding me along the dao, where treasures are found.
In realms untold, my steps take flight,
Mastering paths, a beacon in the night.]
Bai Qi was so engrossed in deciphering the cryptic words that had manifested within his manual, words previously unseen during his lightning-surviving breakthrough or subsequent cultivation sessions, that he failed to notice the quiet arrival of visitors to his cell. Now, only one figure remained, accompanied by a newly introduced table and stove. Upon the table lay an array of implements, each more sinister than the last - needles, whips, chains, blades, and even a pair of ominous hooks, their metal glinting malevolently under the dim light provided by the stove's coals.
Such conduct would make the new visitor, no one else than the city's heir, Dongpo Qingqiu, so shocked that he would simply stand there for over an incense stick of time, not finding what to say or how to react.
***
Dongpo Qingqiu had expected a lot of different reactions from Bai Qi, ranging from exposing his backers in either fear or arrogance to cries of injustice and pleas for mercy. Heavens, he could even do with some cold stare and shown indifference, which he would later break, shattering arrogance and assumed cold-blood with pain.
Finding Bai Qi with his eyes shut tight, his focus resembling that of a scholar pondering the most intricate secrets of cultivation, took Dongpo Qingqiu aback. The sight of the young man, barely past his teenage years, held the young city master's gaze for what felt like countless breaths, leaving him grappling with the scene before him and making his mind race to understand it.
Is he simply ignorant of what is about to happen? Is it a way to cope with what's to happen? Or it's to show absolute disdain to me?!> Dismissing the first as impossible, as otherwise, why would Bai Qi even allow himself to be captured, and with the second being impossible, Dongpo Qinqiu found himself angered at the fourth, which probably wasn't an option but his own emotions speaking. But he found it the only one possible. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. *Snap* Grabbing a three-headed, metal spiked whip, Dongpo Qinqiu whipped the wall just some inches from Bai Qi, only to find him absolutely impassive, his eyes closed as they were, and showing not a single reaction to the heavily runed torture implement, which could injure any restrained cultivator, even to a fatal result. "You..!" Not finding even words, the heir to a woman known for her cruelty snapped, his arm raising as the whip got into position to be sent against Bai Qi himself. *Snap* *Tear* Contrary to the [Dongpo] clan's young master's expectations, Bai Qi didn't react as he aimed against the latter's body. Neither would Bai Qi show any reaction as the first of the three tails of the whip tore through his robe. *Clang* *Clang* In fact, Dongpo Qingqiu was the one to gasp as he saw how two of the three tails of the whip, created with the skin of a [Three-headed Shark] and spiked with the latter spiritual-iron-reinforced teeth, were repelled by Bai Qi's skin without any harm. *Rip* *Splatter* It would be the third one of the whip's tails the only one to meet success, albeit a small one, as it only managed to somewhat rip Bai Qi's cheek, tearing out a bit of blood and muscle. But even so, Bai Qi would show no reaction, provoking Dongpo Qingqu's anger to rise. He had never felt so ignored and offended before, not even once in his life. And while Bai Qi's resistance, one that wasn't faked at all, was something, to a degree, scaring, the young lord of the city found himself only angered by it. *** The top-tier runed [Thrice Biting Shark] whip swooshed through the air a dozen times in quick succession, tearing Bai Qi's robes and leaving marks or even wounds on his skin. But no matter how much Dongpo Qingqu raged, how many wounds he left, or how much force he applied behind the hits, Bai Qi still displayed no reaction. It was as if the whip hit a simple ragdoll or puppet, with the few bloody wounds inflicted being just part of some sick show. Not the torture that Dongpo Qingqu had planned to inflict on the man who had participated not only in the disrespectful actions against the clan and, most importantly, himself but also killed off his strongest followers! Facing such, the young city lord heir found himself unable to comprehend just what was going on, and still, such a bizarre situation did not do anything but agitate his already enraged mind. ---------------------------------------- Zhu Gao, the Head Warden of [Dongpo] city and the head of the military-oriented [Zhu]s, a subsidiary of the [Dongpo] clan, would usually keep himself out of the situations that the young lord of the master clan constantly created. He also kept himself mostly clean from all affairs of the [Dongpo]s, except for ones in which the current City Lord, Lady Lian, commanded him to intervene. This time, it would be the same if not for his eyes landing on the failure of a nephew and one of the young lord's cronies, Zhu Mo. For some reason, the experienced Zhu Gao felt uneasy with how easily Bai Qi had fought against the far stronger cultivators and then surrendered, almost as if he wasn't worried about what would expect him after falling into the city's prison. One could even think Bai Qi had some plan, if not for the entire ambush being an idiotic idea of Dongpo Qinqiu's buddies. Thinking as such, Zhu Gao did something he would never have and approached the storage items confiscated from the young man, infusing qi into the three holding pouches, one of which was inside another, and cracking the protection of the [Storage] rings with his aura, not even requiring the [Aura-Copying] talisman, his cultivation of a 7th level Warrior King enough to crack such low-tier treasures. "Damned moron!" As he looked at the three badges neatly placed inside the robe, Zhu Gao couldn't help but roar out before hurrying toward the cell where, hopefully, Dongpo Qingqiu hadn't crossed any lines that couldn't be crossed. Bai Qi had obtained his first badge on the plane from [Shoumen] City's hall, marking him as one of their residents and even a member of the Lord's hall itself. That had been extended to Chen Guang, so he had kept it stored and even later gave it to Ye Su to guarantee her safety and allow her to take over his mansion in the city. Still, after the events in the [Void Palace], during the farewell with the [Great Gate Elder] Deng Guying, the latter had given him another one, which was of a slightly different class, being made of black iron and simply stating that he was an expert under the [Shoumen] City Hall orders. To ease his passage in case of trouble. Expedited by Deng Guying himself, it wasn't so powerful as to call for Shoumen's aid, but it served as proof of Bai Qi's relationship with the unique city considered outside the vassal and overlord system. And while the [Void Palace] essentially had run Bai Qi off, they did send him away with a [Void Stone] badge, which guaranteed him an outer elder treatment inside their lands while also showing his importance to the now 2nd-tier power. Then, from [Zihoadao] city lord, Bai Qi obtained the badge of arena conqueror. And with the reverse imprinted with some of Lord Yi's remaining aura and the words [Friend and Defender of Pride Island], it was clear how high his actual standing was for the essentially uncontrolled city that responded to no one but the [Great Forest Sect]. He had also obtained a special badge showing his achievements in the [Sword and Herbs] event, but that one he had stored along with the rewards, considering that there was no need to flash such if he didn't want to attract even more trouble. Considering that a lot of people already knew and tried to rob him, why would he go around and get even more of them? Just any of the powers behind the badges could escalate the issue to such heights that the ailing [Dongpo] clan would not be able to even speak in self-defense. And while it was clear that for a mere Bai Qi, it wouldn't happen, but for their reputations and to show their might..? "Notify Minister Tan to come over on the quickest!" As he rushed past the guards of the 4th-floor basement, Zhu Gao commanded, hoping that the old man, the City Lord's advisor, would come up with a solution better than Zhu Gao could.