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The man laughed at Biyu’s words and then brought his hands back into his chest. Qi began to gather between his palms and bubble up out of his hands.

“Emperor’s s—”

Biyu glided toward the man and punched him in the jaw. Her body lightly spun with the blow, and then she turned back the other way, throwing a punch straight into where the man had been building his Qi.

Her left hand entered the space, opened, then closed, the Qi dissipating as if she’d snatched it away. Vanishing entirely as if it were never there.

“Thanks, for the Qi,” Biyu said and then blasted a low kick into the man’s thigh. There was a hideous crack as his leg bent in two.

Taking several steps back as soon as the bone broke, Biyu let her defensive posture fall. There was no further need for her to do anything. The man wouldn’t be able to continue.

Apparently she feels the same way I do.

No reason to wait for them to finish speaking.

“Indeed. It would seem so.”

Biyu placed her hands into one another and then bent her head toward them and her opponent. She said nothing and walked away, moving back to her position behind Ash.

“Well, that was… quick,” said the crowned prince. “I found it amusing. That was most definitely a pointer worth sharing between cultivators, I imagine.

“It would seem one shouldn’t commit to a flashy, and interruptible, move. Even someone with only martial arts would be able to scold a cultivator in this way.”

“That’s quite true. When I trained in the Spark’s Jump to open out Dantian’s, we often committed to physical martial arts,” Ash agreed with the crowned prince. “Should we continue? Or should we stop here? After all, a broken bone isn’t something that can just be sloughed off.”

Ash wasn’t really sure who or what cultivation family was backing up Tyan-yu but Ash was uncertain of how to push this. Given the fact that they had Qi he or Locke couldn’t identiy, he was unsure of how far to let this run.

He had the distinct impression that he really shouldn’t let this get out of hand. Likely he’d be forced to reveal more than he should, or the other cultivation group would be pushed to do that. In either case, there’d likely be many corpses littering the ground right after that.

“Of course not,” Tyan-yu said with a benevolent smile and holding his arms out. “After a single match we couldn’t just call it over. That’d be too swift.

“I’ll call out another of my people. They’re significantly stronger and more versed in battle.”

The cultivator’s behind the king were starting to look nervous. Apparently they hadn’t really considered how dangerous it was having cultivator’s in other parts of the family.

They were clearly now reorganizing their thoughts.

On top of that, the king looked like he now finally understood his position wasn’t that of a ruler, but that of a prisoner. He was beholden to both groups, and until one decided to kill him, or the other to replace him, he could do little to stop either.

His eyes had drifted over to rest upon Ju’s brother and his own uncle, who was sitting not far from the crowned prince. Ash didn’t miss it, nor did he mistake the gaze.

His son would only ask him to abdicate, treat him kindly, and likely give him a great deal of freedom. The king’s younger brother on the other hand was more likely to kill him after forcing him to abdicate.

Along with the rest of his family, more than likely. Ash couldn’t imagine the man letting anyone else live that might be able to call on a claim to the throne.

Regardless of who they call out, I think Chunhua would be good. She’ll likely show off her sorcery and maybe we can put an end to this.

“Agreed. A logical choice. After that, I’d say Jia or yourself, depending on who they bring up,” said Locke. “If it’s someone using life Qi, we can’t afford it to be anyone but you. We can manage whatever happens, I’m not sure the others could do the same.”

Tyan-yu lifted his arm and directed one of his cultivators forward. This one looked to be older than the previous, who was now being treated off to the side for his broken leg, though he didn’t look out of the ordinary either.

“No life Qi in him, its fine to send Chunhua,” confirmed Locke.

“Sorceress, it’s your time,” said Ash. “Let them understand the futility in this.”

“I understand,” Chunhua said and marched forward. She passed him by on his left and Ash had the distinct feeling of static electricity trailing along behind her.

Going to the center of the area, Chunhua took up a neutral stance just as Biyu had done, though it was clearly something different.

“I recognize that one,” whispered Ju. “The stance.”

Ash only nodded his head to that. He’d dumped the entire packet Locke had suggested on her.

Right now Ju was more akin to a martial master without any Qi.

It’d take time for her to process everything, and only she could determine the amount of power she’d be able to grasp with it since she’d have to work to integrate it all, but she was no longer without any weapons of her own. Ju was in charge of something that would directly effect her ability and likely her future.

The man Tyan-yu had called up was standing across from Chunhua. He’d taken up a considerable further distance away then the first man had. His dress, attire, and hair-style was very similar to the first man’s. So much so that it seemed they were also “in uniform” as it were.

Apparently the lesson had been learned that the Sheng family could easily dispatch with martial arts alone. They looked like they wanted to try something that was further away than in-fighting.

Amusingly, that was just perfect for Chunhua.

“You may strike first,” Chunhua said in a growl that sounded like a thundercloud rumbling.

“This would be a good time to remind you that she’s extremely talented. Talent isn’t the end all, be all, but it does allow for rapid growth, extreme understanding of Qi and one’s Dao, and level’s a disparity.

“Right now… that young woman could take on a weak Empowered Mortal and probably win. So… a weak servant of the realm lord.”

Holy shit. That’s incredible.

“And a problem for later. We have too much power for the realm lord to ignore. Keep that in mind. There won’t be an opportunity for us to stop in our power climb. We must achieve the top.”

The man brought his hands back to his hips and then flung them outward to the sides. Extending his arms completely he was leaning backward and yelling something.

A giant red lightning bolt shot out from the man’s mouth as he suddenly thrust his head forward. The roll and peal of thunder was deafening.

Apparently Chunhua had been able to tell what the man had been preparing in advance. She’d already been dipping deeply into the elements and that’s what Ash had heard in her words and when she passed by.

Chunhuna speared the lightning bolt with her hand, causing the Qi-made attack to splinter apart completely. Becoming little more than red motes in the air.

Shaking her hand out, Chunhua took a step forward and thrust forward with her other hand.

A condensed wave of air that was visible to the eye washed forward. It went low to the ground then rose up as if it were a wave. Chunhua’s hand movement matched the way the air was behaving as well.

When she slammed her hand downward in what was like a palm-strike aimed to the ground, the wave of air blasted down onto the man. Pinning him to the floor as if he were a bug.

Chunhua stood there unmoving, her hand held in a low position. The man scrabbled about against the floor but clearly couldn’t escape her attack or grasp. It was like watching a bug attempting to pry it’s way out from under a finger.

“I believe that is enough, unless you would like more?” Chunhua asked in a tone without malice. It was almost condescending without it being so.

“Enough,” the man on the ground coughed out.

Chunhua relaxed her hand and then moved back to an at ease position. As if there were nothing wrong at all and she were just standing around.

“I think I underestimated how powerful you and your people are,” Ju said quietly from beside him. “You… you’re at a level that could take power from the realm lord, aren’t you? I’ve just joined the royal family to someone who could take over.”

“Sounds like a winning combination to me,” Ash said as Tyan-yu spoke with someone quietly. “A lot of good could be done for the realm if both sides of the government were in lock-step.”

Chunhua’s veiled face turned toward him as her opponent shuffled off back to where he came from. It was obvious she was looking for direction.

Practically leaping out of his seat, Ash waved Chunhua back to their own position. Ash took her place at the center of the area.

“Well! Should I assume that concludes the pointers you wished to exchange? I’m sure there were other matters that the family wished to discuss today,” said Ash. He was very concerned about pushing this encounter too far.

“Oh, now that we’re a bit closer I can say with certainty that they’re indeed using life-Qi, the souls of people, as a power source,” Locke said. “It’s… quite repulsive to use such a pure Qi in this way. Not to mention it makes me wonder what would happen to said soul for their next rebirth cycle. Does it truly end them being used like that?”

Ash barely managed to check the frown that wanted to appear on his face.

Looking to the king, Tyan-yu, and Weng, Ash hoped that this would be over for the time being. He couldn’t see it going better from here if it continued.

“I’d like to spar,” said a man that looked very different to the two had come up already. He had dark-brown hair that was layered with gray here and there. His eyes had a hard cast to them and Ash had the impression the man very much wanted to kill him. “With you, Ash Sheng. Clan leader against clan leader.”

“I’m afraid that my skills aren’t conducive to sparing,” Ash said apologetically. This was his last chance to put the breaks on this.

“That weak, huh?” said the man in a low tone as he moved to the center area with Ash.

“Filled to the brim with life-Qi, this man is clearly not someone we should be playing with,” warned Locke.

“No, that lethal. I’m afraid that I can’t spar as most of my skills are all quite lethal. Even in sect tournaments I’ve accidentally slain my foes,” explained Ash honestly. It was the truth as far as he was concerned.

“Ah, don’t worry about it young-one, I think you’re under-estimating your senior here,” said the man. “I’m certain there won’t be an issue. Let’s have that spar and see what happens.”

Ash clicked his tongue, shook his head, and then sighed.

“As you like. Just… everyone please remember this moment. I tried to stop this, to halt it,” Ash requested of everyone watching. “Remember this moment when everything goes terribly wrong and that I tried to stop it. I take no fault for this man’s maiming or death in this spar, as I was perfectly happy to not spar.”

Ash called on his abilities and brought them to the fore.

He already had an inkling that this man was likely a mid level Empowered Mortal, but he used Sneaky Peeky just to make sure.

Immediately a red box appeared and unrolled itself.

What would you like your tombstone to say?

Smiling, Ash felt rather confident.

In understanding his Dao, and his middle Dantian, Ash was now fairly confident in himself.

He could easily handle a Spirit Refiner regardless of their level. An Empowered Mortal would cause him issues and a peak level Empowered Mortal would require Ash to be completely on his game.

An Enlightened Mortal would be too much for him, but there was always the possibility of winning if he leaned heavily on his Dao.

When you control the momentum of a thing, you control that thing.

“You may lead the spar,” Ash said and then brought his hands up in front of himself. He took a small step to the side to keep himself at an angled advance on his opponent.

Ash dove into his Dao headfirst and let it take him over as the other man closed in on him quickly.

Or at least, Ash saw him closing in quickly through his Dao.

The world of sand had materialized almost instantly. It was exactly as it was last time, though it seemed more stable and less chaotic. It was already showing Ash what would be in a handful of seconds.

Darting in, the man swung a punch into Ash’s face, put a second into his liver, and then a kick with his left foot into Ash’s knee. An attack that was fast like a snake striking.

A Qi empowered assault that left a haze through the air as the man passed through it.

Ash moved his head to the left, his right hand capturing his opponent’s own. Then Ash gently laid his left onto the man’s shoulder.

Redirecting the energy of the punch back into the man.

Taking a step back Ash brought the bottom of his foot up and neatly caught the man’s liver punch with the bottom of his boot, and pushed off it.

It gave Ash an easy chance to use the momentum of the punch to bounce two steps away.

Casually as could be, Ash connected the two chains to his waist and looked to his opponent.

The man’s shoulder was twisted in an odd way that made it look like it’d been dislocated or broken. His left hand was grabbing at it and he looked to be very surprised by what had just happened.

“Shall we stop?” Ash asked even as the man began to charge him again in the world of his Dao after putting his right arm back into position.

This time he was using his left arm to start a combo. A green snake with fiery eyes was wrapped around his fist and went all the way to his shoulder. His feet were completely wreathed in flaming wolves. Their mouths wide open in a howl at the front of his boots.

The Qi Ash was draining away had an odd feel to it.

Extremely potent but also with what felt like a taint to it.

As if he were drinking water from a fresh spring that had a layer of slime over the top of it.

“I’m ejecting most of the Qi we’re getting from him. It’s all life-Qi and not something I think we want. It would tarnish the purity of our Qi,” Locke warned.

The attack the man launched wasn’t something Ash could casually catch this time. He needed to redirect it without actually taking it head on.

Ash stepped right into the man’s reach, putting him right up against his chest practically. With his left hand Ash struck the man’s elbow with an open palm and rotating his right shoulder backward.

Then he launched a Spring-Step empowered blow directly into the middle of the man’s diaphragm. Putting his entire body into the punch and rotating his hips and shoulders to do so.

With a whump the man was knocked a handful of steps backward, coming to a stop with his hand resting on his middle.

Except it was his right hand, as his left arm wasn’t usable. His elbow was bent the wrong way and looked quite grotesque. His hand and fingers flexing in a weird way.

“I think this would be a good time to stop this. Lest permanent injury occur,” said Ash, calmly attaching the new chains to his body.

The older man bent his elbow back into place as if it were nothing at all. In fact, even his dislocated shoulder seemed to not bother him at all anymore.

His ability to shrug off debilitating injuries was abnormal.

Once more he charged forward right at Ash.

The vision of the future showed Ash a flurry of Qi enhanced strikes, one after another. Some that streaked for his head, many for his torso and stomach, and even those that went for his legs.

Ash met each one and simply blocked them, turned them aside, or dodged them outright. His wrists and forearms doing most of the work in this defensive work.

He was hoping to show that the man couldn’t beat him regardless of how he tried. Each and every block merely added another chain to Ash’s collection.

The power flowing into him was on a near ridiculous level now.

Eventually the man leapt away and put some distance between himself and Ash. Glaring at him one again.

He was looking at Ash as if he were considering how to proceed. That he wanted to continue this course of action, but it was obvious that he couldn’t do so without looking bad to everyone else here.

Ash could see the man stand there, glaring at him in the present, and in the future.

Then suddenly he made a gesture to the others he’d been with off to the side. Then he drew his arm back and made a massive over-hand throw toward the crown prince.

Clearly attacking the man.

Diving forward, Ash got right up in the man’s face, only a foot away.

In doing so, he’d broken the flow of the future. Breaking apart what the man would have done if Ash had just stood there.

“Shall we continue?” Ash asked, opening his hand and summoning his Qi into his hand. Shaped it into a pair of butterfly swords. He casually moved one to his other hand and held them both ready.

He already knew what this man was about and what he was willing to do in a spur of the moment. That he could just as easily attack as he might back down.

The man stared at Ash, his future self doing the same.

Then the man lashed out with an attack that Ash couldn’t really understand. It looked like just a barrage of Qi from his palms that would obliterate the area and what was behind Ash.

Taking a step to the side, Ash put his back to where the rest of the man’s people were, including Tyan-yu. Once more Ash broke the future plans of the man.

Staring at one another, Ash and the man did nothing.

Finally the future changed a final time.

The man put his hands together in a salute, bowed his head, and went back to his group. Apparently Ash had done enough to cow the man into letting things end.

Standing there, Ash just waited for the moment to happen.

Until it did he wouldn’t be backing down.

Then the man did as the future vision had shown. He saluted, bowed his head, and left the center.

Finally.