Zhen Zexi had summoned 14 puppets. Half of them were based on animals and made of spiritual woods. As for the other half, 4 of them were rare saint beasts, modeled to look like beastmen made of metals while 3 looked human. If not for the stone used for their bodies, one could swear that they were alive.
Bai Qi had neither an idea nor the interest to find out about the reasons for her puppets forms. Nevertheless, he allowed himself to make a small mental commentary on the craftmanship - "Great work, if she was the one to create them, then I can only say that she is talented for both arts and the martial path!"
***
The combat puppet that Zhen Zexi had used against Mao Xun was one created by one of the Zhen clan's best craftsmen, and the formation on it had been made in a way to augment her powers. Thus, when she controlled it, it was even stronger than her cultivation.
As for the ones in front of her right now, they weren't like that. The materials were not bad, but they were hardly at the level to resist even a 1st level Sage full strength attack, what to say about her current opponent. The formations weren't masterworks either, just casual help from the Patriarch, and they could only allow her to infuse a small part of her overall qi into them.
So what could she do with them? Her initial plan was to use them as a distraction, but her opponent had concealed his true means, which the last surprise attack showed. If not for the life-saving amulet, she would have been already taken out. Thus, even if she commanded the puppets to attack, there was no guarantee that she would be able to escape. On the contrary, she would distract herself by controlling them, and if the opponent's movement skill was one that he could use freely - then she would open herself to an attack.
But like anything, this standoff could not continue forever. As soon as the amulet's effect ran off, which Zhen Zexi expected to happen in just a few breaths, she had to act somehow.
Negotiating with the attacker did not work, and she had nothing to scare him off, had she? "Wait, that's it!" She inwardly exclaimed, and a grin crossed her face.
"I do not know why you are so bent on attacking me, but you should leave me be" She looked straight at the readied youth while speaking up. Noticing no reaction, she at first attempted to call upon her clan.
"Whoever your backer is, they probably would not like you picking a fight with the Zhen clan. My master, the current Patriarch, is a Warrior Emperor!" She knew that probably this would not work, as all of the participants came from Shuomen City and so would be aware of her Clan strength.
As she anticipated, her attacker did not even wink at the mention of the Zhen clan. Such a reaction, or better said lack of, confirmed her thought that he did not care at all. Or, more probably, his backer would not care, which meant that he was someone from the Sheng clan!
"One of my ink beasts is currently nearing Tang Lei. And if you leave me be, I will recall it. If not, whatever happens next, his blood will be on your hands!" Neither of the two affirmations was true, as the beast required her to command it, and it was uncertain that a single ink hound would be able to deal with the Tang genius. She also did not mention that she would go after him when able in any case.
***
Bai Qi could be said to be amused at Zhen Zexi's attempts to make him desist from attacking her. However experienced and talented she was, she was still too young to play such a game.
And her youth showed in her thought process, with her first probing and then, after confirming that he had a better backing changing the threat right away.
He did not react in any way, knowing that even if she spoke the truth about having an ink beast near Tang Lei, it would be impossible for her to control it without taking the painting out. And if she did it while they fought, it would only distract her.
In any case, the amulet was about to stop working, and as soon as the Emperor's aura dispersed, Bai Qi would finish the fight.
It could get slightly dangerous because of the puppets. Weak as they were would still attack and be a nuisance in general. But Bai Qi had no other choice but to accept the risk, at least if he wanted to prevent her from escaping.
And he had no doubts about Zhen Zexi's intentions. Her senses were constantly scanning the surroundings, and probably she wanted to find a Challenge Slate. Indeed, if she managed to, she could hole up inside until the great formation kicked everyone out. And outside, Bai Qi would have no chance to capture her.
Not without provoking an accident, in which he wasn't sure that Sheng Huangye or Deng Guiying would interfere. At least not before he explained everything, and it would be hard to do with an enraged Zhen Patriarch around.
*Swoosh*
As soon as the purplish aura wavered, indicating that it was about to disappear, Bai Qi lunged forward. He had opened the distance between them for quite a bit, almost half a thousand feet. But with the aura wavering, he could close in at least three-fourths of that without feeling any pressure.
In response, Zhen Zexi could only curse under her breath and command her puppets to block him. She could not move, or the effect of the already wavering amulet would disappear instantly, so her only chance at an escape was to distract her opponent.
As the puppets and Bai Qi neared each other, the latter suddenly threw up his hands, and a curtain of black flames enveloped him. Using this moment when she wasn't visible, Zhen Zexi instantly began agitating her aura, interfering with her opponent's ability to track her. "The amulet will only hold for an instant more, and he can neither see nor sense me decently. It's time to run!"
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She started acting right away, infusing the utmost possible amount of qi into her movement technique, called Gliding Zhenniao, and moving east. She had the highest chance of encountering a Challenge Slate there, at least from what she had managed to sense.
But she only managed to glide a few feet before she felt danger coming from the side. Having spent all of the possible defensive measures, she could only gather a small amount of aura to cover herself. She did right away, even before confirming the source, which only showed that Bai Qi's comments about her experience were accurate.
Regretfully, the gathered aura could hardly stop even a 1st level Sage attack. As for Bai Qi, it didn't even make him slow down.
*Crash*
His glove-covered left hand swept aside the shield, shattering it instantly.
*Grab*
And his right hand reached, this time successfully, catching Zhen Zexi's by her left shoulder.
"Surrender" He spoke up for the first time since the battle had started, and accompanied his words by tightening his grip and allowing a small amount of 'Ghosflame' to show.
Zhen Zexi seemingly did not agree to surrender, and probably would have tried to fight back. But no one would know, as at that moment she felt how a palm infused with qi slammed against her head. Her remaining aura and natural qi barrier did not even slow down the palm, and so, without being able to even struggle, she was knocked out.
Losing consciousness, Zhen Zexi concentrated on her puppets, only to confirm they were still fighting!
"How?" She weakly asked while falling to the ground.
***
"Pretty useful skill, but the need to spend exactly a third of one's qi and aura is still too much" Bai Qi muttered as he dispelled the 'Shadow Clone' he had used to lull her into a sense of security.
The 14 puppets had stopped moving right as Zhen Zexi lost consciousness, and so he did not need to maintain it anymore.
Bai Qi had always believed that the one that wins a fight is the one that hides his abilities best. And today's fight only served as a confirmation of it. It also allowed him to test several things he had not yet used in combat, and he was satisfied with the results.
The 'Bright Heavens' glove had surpassed even the high expectancies Bai Qi had for it. Not only did it allow him to crush a half-saint formation, but it also actually kept a part of the qi infused into it, continuously strengthening his left-arm attacks.
The 'Counting Steps' movement technique had again showed its uniqueness. And although Bai Qi had never doubted it, the fact that even Zhen Zexi's extremely good senses had not caught on it meant that it had improved even further.
But probably even more was surprising the 'Shadow Clone' skill. It consumed an enormous amount of qi, especially if Bai Qi's actual qi pool size was considered, but it was still impressive. His mastery over the skill was still low, with this being the first time he used it outside the time he learned it. And so he could not make the clone use his skills and techniques, but even so, it had managed to not only fool Zhen Zexi but also resist a few exchanges against the 14 puppets!
___________________________________________________________________
Zhen Zexi awoke only a few hours later. And found herself bound with a rune-covered rope that fully sealed her cultivation.
Apart from that and some pulsating pain on the back of her head, Zhen Zexi found that she felt pretty well.
Seemingly her attacker and now captor had fed her a restoration pill. And probably even a healing one as she did not feel even a single bruise on her body.
"Now the question is, what does he want from me? Why did he capture and not kill me? And what was the actual reason for his attack?" She gathered her thoughts, knowing that sooner or later, her captor would come to interrogate her. Thus, she had to make sure to get some answers from him as well.
Not to mention she had to find out who he was. After all, she was sure she had never seen him in the city or even heard of someone with such skill and cultivation level.
***
Usually, Bai Qi would have used a mind-searching spell. But he knew that for someone like Zhen Zexi, whose consciousness was several levels ahead of her cultivation the only ones to work would be the strongest. And between crippling her and killing her, neither was something he intended to do.
Even if Bai Qi did resort to such a spell, which he did not intend to do, he still had found that it would be close to impossible to glean something from her mind. The reason was that she had at least six, if not more, mind-blocks. A couple of them on a beginner level, probably her own, but some were truly impressive and reeked of a true master.
He had moved her into one of the starting caves as to avoid any interruptions. Like from people as Mao Xun, who would neither have the gall as to kill nor the needed will to interrogate. But would still try to intervene.
Less than three days were remaining for the formation to close and evict everyone. With Bai Qi's tasks complete, and even some challenges, he intended to simply wait it out. After all, even if something happened, it would probably be a small scuffle. And he would not interfere in such matters anyway.
"Zhen Zexi, you asked me several times why did I attack you, so before I ask a few questions, let me explain" He spoke right as he entered the cave and made sure that she noticed him. His words were to throw her out of balance, which worked out finely as her mouth opened, probably to question or complain, and closed right away.