"Was that because of you, Guǐ Shā Shǒu…?" Lian murmured, lifting the blade to examine its shin.
"This is the first time the Celestial Blade technique unfolded so smoothly for me."
The blade tuned back into blackened steel, and Lian Xing slid the weapon back into the Spirit Book, sealing its restless intent, then turned toward Huǒ Yànhuā, who had already forced herself upright.
She rushed toward him.
"Hey, you—"
The moment her hand touched his sleeve, Qi surged violently between them.
Lian felt his Flame Qi swell within his dantian, responding instinctively, drawn toward the cold, piercing purity of her Ice Qi. The clash was brief but sharp, like sparks striking flint.
Before either of them could react.
"Enough, little rabbits."
The voice boomed; it carried no anger nor malice, but an invisible commanding force that made the entire battlefield freeze.
Cài Lǐ had spoken.
"No more fighting," he continued calmly. "Time is up."
No one dared to move, or rather, you could say they couldn't; every word he spoke carried his martial intent.
"Well then," he said lightly, extending his martial will through the entire space, "it's time to sort out the weeds."
His hands lifted, fingers dancing through the air with casual precision. Blue lines of Qi formed beneath his movements, and as his fingertips traced ancient patterns.
Rumble!
The ground trembled.
Brilliant blue sigils erupted from beneath the earth, layer upon layer of glowing arrays unfolding across the battlefield like a vast chessboard.
High above, Bo let out a low whistle, still drinking from his gourd.
"You know, no matter how many times I see it, it's always impressive," he said. "The way you form and control arrays just using your Qi without any tools."
Cài Lǐ chuckled.
"Oh? Want me to teach you?" he teased. "I might consider it, if you give me that Silver Silk Wine of yours."
"No—no—absolutely not," Bo waved him off immediately. "Even if you taught me, I wouldn't learn it properly. I have no talent for that kind of thing."
He shrugged.
"The only thing I understand is the blade."
"Mm—hmph, fine then." Cài Lǐ smiled faintly. "Suit yourself, you cheapskate. I'm certain that if I offered to teach you for free, you'd leap at the opportunity."
"It's always one thing after another with these people," Lian muttered.
His eyes darted around instinctively as his Will Qi spread outward in every direction—thin, probing threads searching the space around him.
Nothing.
No presence.
No fluctuation.
Yet his instincts still screamed.
"You even mimicked a martial will…" Bo's eyes locked on Lian. "Just what kind of talent am I dealing with here…? I should warn him."
"Stop prying, or you will get yourself into trouble."
The voice boomed directly inside his mind.
Lian stiffened.
"What?" He snapped his head around, eyes scanning the skies, the battlefield, the empty air. "Who said that?"
There was no one.
"Withdraw your Qi," the voice continued calmly, yet with unmistakable menace.
"If you don't want to lose your life."
Then silence.
The pressure vanished.
Lian didn't hesitate.
He retracted his Will Qi instantly, drawing it back into himself as fast as he could. His heart slammed violently against his ribs, pounding twice as fast as before.
"Who the hell was that…?" he whispered, eyes wide.
"He would kill me if I didn't pull it back…?"
High above, hidden among the clouds, Bo glanced downward.
"Mmm… seems Cài Lǐ didn't sense it," he mused softly.
Below, Lian was still turning in place, his gaze sweeping the air—his Qi subtly reinforcing his eyes, trying to see the unseen.
Bo burst into laughter.
"Would you look at this kid," he said, amused. "Anyone else would've curled up by now, too scared to even look around."
He grinned.
"But this one he is still searching for me, by concentrating all his Qi on his eyes."
"Hahaha… I think we're going to get along just fine." He Chuckled.
"Array complete."
Cài Lǐ's voice rang out across the battlefield.
The glowing sigils beneath their feet pulsed, now laced with crimson and gold, incredible Qi humming through every line.
"Transport."
He placed two fingers in front of him and commanded.
In an instant, all the children who had managed to gather five jade tokens vanished, space folding as they were swept away from the battlefield.
"Mm. Those of you who failed to gather enough jades…" Cài Lǐ said calmly, his voice carrying without effort,
"…shall now become fodder for my Spirit-Devouring Array."
A faint smile touched his lips.
Before anyone could scream, plead, or run, the array activated.
He and Bo vanished, their figures dissolving into the air as if they had never been there at all.