Zhang Yu looked at Bai Wang. Having heard his explanation, he now understood why he had sensed that Qing Shuo was another self as well—because the two streams of qi had originally come from the same source, this man.
This man's tactical planning had been sound enough. He had used Qing Shuo to fight Zhang Yu, then borrowed the divine qi Qing Shuo had connected with the world to return to it and shape a worldly body.
Yet there was one thing he did not understand, so he asked, "When Qing Shuo and I were fighting just now, I seemed to see karmic burdens upon him. Was that Your Excellency's doing?"
Bai Wang said with a smile, "Though I bestowed divine qi upon him, I did not give it to him for nothing. I used Qing Shuo's hand to refine the method, then took it back once he had achieved something. Thus, my divine qi could become more complete.
"But after Qing Shuo attained the Dao, that divine qi fused completely with him. Restricted by my divine ability, I could not take it back on my own initiative. Thus, I needed to borrow the hand of another 'outer self.' As the two of you contended, I naturally hoped that Fellow Daoist would win."
Zhang Yu looked at him and said, "It seems Your Excellency has already reclaimed that strand of divine qi."
Bai Wang nodded with a smile. "Naturally. That is why I said I must thank Fellow Daoist for fulfilling my wish. My cultivation and magical power have risen another degree, but I still remain short of the consummation of the Dao. And what I lack is precisely Fellow Daoist."
But Zhang Yu merely looked at him and said, "Your Excellency is mistaken."
Bai Wang said in surprise, "Where